The Washington Wizards shed to the Celtics 144-102 in Boston on Sunday afternoon. Listed here are 5 observations from what went down…
Celtics are tricky
The Wizards have not long ago been taking part in their best basketball in months and when they ran into a buzzsaw on Friday night from the Mavericks, they jammed the blade. But on Sunday, the buzzsaw lower right by way of, as the red-sizzling Boston Celtics steamrolled the Wizards by 42 factors in a recreation they have been in control every action of the way.
Whilst the Wizards led the Mavs by 34 details, the differential was even even worse in this one. Boston was up by 43 points at their peak and the 42-stage loss differential was the most significant for the Wizards in five decades.
The loss snapped the Wizards out of a extend in which they received four of five game titles. Washington dropped to 34-44 on the time with just four online games remaining to participate in.
The reduction to Boston began a 3-sport street excursion, as the Wizards will next head to Minnesota to see the Timberwolves. They also engage in the Hawks in Atlanta the up coming evening in what will be their remaining back-to-back again of the 2021-22 time.
3-place protection
The Wizards had big challenges locking down the perimeter from a Celtics crew that entered the working day ranked ninth in the NBA in threes manufactured. Boston begun out 9-for-13 from lengthy selection and completed the recreation 23-for-44. The 23 built threes were being tied for the second-most ever authorized by the Wizards franchise. It really is tough to get versus a crew taking pictures that nicely and it was adequate to offset what was a superior offensive match from the Wizards.
There were being a few threes manufactured by the Celtics that have been just hard shots, but also as well many wherever men were still left open in the corners and on the wings. There had been quite a few interaction breakdowns that remaining as well substantially daylight for open photographs. The Wizards performed off Grant Williams a bit too considerably and he made them pay with 16 points on four threes. Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard also experienced four threes apiece, though Derrick White added 3.
Ish Smith was on
The Wizards obtained a good raise off their bench from Ish Smith, who came out on hearth, hitting his initial five pictures. He made a sequence of crafty performs around the rim and commonly appeared to give the Celtics complications with his speed and quickness. He had 16 details (8-10 FG), five helps and two steals a sound all-about sport for the longtime NBA veteran.
Smith stays a pleasure to check out, as he darts in and out of website traffic, nonetheless a stage forward of most regardless of being 33 yrs aged. There have been very a handful of Wizards video games above the previous several seasons exactly where the team misplaced, but Smith offered a bright place with his work and vitality. In some cases, in a disappointing time, you have to appreciate the positives and Smith coming back again at the trade deadline and performing his matter has been one particular of them.
Two Jays
The Celtics are looking like a group nobody desires to face in the playoffs. They have the greatest record in the East since Jan. 1, now at 32-11, though Brown and Jayson Tatum are actively playing like an elite duo. Brown scored the Celtics’ initial 11 factors in this recreation, outscoring the Wizards 11-6 throughout that span. He ended up with 32 factors, 7 rebounds, 5 helps and two steals.
Tatum has always been a marvel to enjoy and you can see he’s continuing to grow. He observed Brown with a a person-handed bounce go in the second quarter that was truly remarkable, in particular if you think about how superior he is as a scorer. If he can make plays for other folks like that much more continually, he will go from one particular of the ideal scorers in the league to possibly just one of the very most effective players in the league. Tatum had 22 factors, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, two steals and a block.
KP and KCP
The Wizards had been winning some video games not long ago by enjoying superior protection and sharing the ball on offense. But even with the ball movement and unselfish engage in, there has been a hierarchy to their offense with Kristaps Porzingis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leading the way and Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija as the third and 4 choices. In this sport, Caldwell-Pope saved it rolling with 17 factors. It was the relaxation of the workforce, exterior of Smith, that struggled.
Porzingis was excellent early, but was held to 17 points on 5-for-15 shooting. Hachimura had a rare off-night with zero details on -for-5 from the area. Avdija picked up two swift fouls in 45 seconds and that hurt his rhythm, however he finished up with 10 factors on 4-for-7 shooting. It was going to be difficult for the Wizards’ offense in typical, as the Celtics have the No. 1 protection. They do a fantastic position of switching and stopping the ball with physical fronts. Their elite protection is a further purpose why Boston appears to be able of a deep postseason operate. The Wizards just happened to catch them as they are surging towards the playoffs.