How the Washington Wizards Would Cope Without John Wall
Five non-displaced fractures were found in John Wall's left wrist and hand on Thursday, the Washington Wizards announced Thursday (h/t Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com). The Washington Wizards are now scrambling to figure out how to replace their floor general, and Washington sports fans are left asking themselves:
Again?
In 2013, quarterback Robert Griffin blew out his knee in a playoff game after giving Washington Redskins fans hope they had not felt in two decades. In 2012, the Washington Nationals shut down pitcher Stephen Strasburg despite being in position for the franchise's first playoff appearance in 30 years.
Wall suffered his injury on Sunday during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. He finished the game, though, leading the Wizards to a comeback victory and their fifth straight win to begin the postseason.
Wall did not play on Tuesday in Game 2 as the Wizards lost their first game this postseason. Now that his injury is more severe than Washington hoped it would be, the Wizards are unsure if Wall will be available to play again at all this postseason.
If Wall is sidelined for this injury, even for one game, Washington will have to find answers to the problems that were present in Game 2. During the playoffs, the Wizards are averaging 115.7 points per 100 possessions with Wall on the floor, and only 96.0 points per 100 possessions without him. That's a hefty difference.
Paul Pierce, the veteran leader of the Wizards, told Youngmisuk that although the injury was "devastating," the players have not lost confidence. "By no means do we feel like this series is over or our goals change," Pierce said. "We’re going to continue to go out there, reach for our goals and continue to fight each and every night."
Head coach Randy Wittman echoed Pierce's message, saying that Wall's injury does not eliminate Washington's chances. Whitman told NBA.com's John Schuhmann that although Wall is "no question, a big part of our team," the injury "doesn’t limit what this team can continue to do.”
But morale alone will not save the Wizards if Wall is unable to play. The team must find a way to replace his 12.6 assists and 30.8 points created by assist per game, both of which lead the league during the playoffs.
No single player on the Wizards is capable of replacing Wall's ability to distribute the basketball. A number of players would have to play outside of their typical roles in order to compensate for Wall's absence.
First, Bradley Beal must take control on offense and aggressively seek shots. He leads the team in scoring already this postseason with 21.8 points per game but will need more than that to replace Wall's production.
If Beal can shoot efficiently from three-point range, it should draw tighter defense from the Hawks. This would allow more room for Washington's big men, Marcin Gortat and Nene Hilario, to score from the post. The two combined for just 12 points in Game 2, not nearly enough to rival the scoring of Paul Millsap and Al Horford, Atlanta's big men.
Pierce and Ramon Sessions, Washington's backup point guard, will also need to score early and often to help make room for Gortat and Nene. Pierce has shot an impressive 54 percent from three-point range this postseason. And Sessions proved that he can replace Wall's scoring with a team-high 21 points in Game 2.
Perhaps the hardest part of replacing Wall would be on defense. Sessions does not have the quickness or size that Wall does, and Beal will be busy chasing sharpshooter Kyle Korver around.
Without Wall, the best defense for Washington will be a good offense. Millsap and Horford scored 18 points each for the Hawks in Game 2, largely because neither was expending much energy on the defensive end. Gortat and Nene must be aggressive offensively and force Atlanta's big men to work hard on defense in order to decrease Millsap and Horford's scoring numbers.
The most important factors in determining Washington's hopes without Wall will be confidence and effort. Beyond any single matchup or player lies a team's ability to play fluidly and united, and the Wizards were unable to find any fluidity in Game 2.
Each player who touched the floor for the Wizards in Game 2 had a negative plus-minus. The team must play with more confidence as a whole in order to compete with the Hawks.
Although it may feel that Wall is definitely out, his status is still uncertain. Perhaps he plays and Washington will return to its dominant form. If he does not, though, many people will write off the Wizards as another Washington team that could not quite make it over the hump.
The media has already begun to give up on the Wizards. Schuhmann wrote, "assuming Wall is out, [the Wizards] are in trouble." Youngmisuk from ESPN wrote, "Washington will reach only as far as Wall's left hand will allow it to." Michael Lee of the Washington Post said, "the Wizards’ best opportunity to reach the conference finals...since 1979 has been ruined."
It appears that the media has given up on the Wizards, because even if Wall returns, he will not be at full health. But how can a team led by future Hall of Famer and champion Paul Pierce ever be hopeless? How can a team with this blend of young talent and veteran savvy be counted out?
Washington will survive. This team has the ability to turn Washington fans' fortunes around. The Wizards are returning home for two games and have every reason to feel confident, with or without their best player.
If he's not available, his teammates plan to play with an added purpose.
Pierce told Schuhmann: "it’s up to everybody to rally around one another, use some motivation, and try to win these games, especially for John."
