Forgettable Game 3 for Wizards

After taking the first game at home, the Wizards have now dropped the last two, including their first of the series at home.

Let's start with what I liked: Nenê in the high post. 

Despite his poor shooting effort, Nenê was very effective in the high post. Nenê's ability to space the floor with his midrange shot, soft touch, and court vision allow the Wizards to run their offense through him. Every time Nenê touches the ball in the high post, he puts significant pressure on the defense. Either Bradley Beal or John Wall comes off Nenê to receive the handoff, curl towards the paint, or quickly change direction back towards the baseline. The defender has to make a split-second decision on how to defend the play. George Hill, when guarding Wall, goes under Nenê every time in an attempt to force Wall into a midrange jumper. I liked Wall's willingness to use his quickness off the dribble to get into the paint and create easy scoring opportunities for Marcin Gortat and a slashing Trevor Ariza in the first half. 


That leads to the only other thing I liked from the Wizards this game: Trevor Ariza and Drew Gooden's hustle and effort on the boards. 

Trevor Ariza continuously out rebounded Lance Stephenson in the first half to help keep with Wizards in the game. He had 6 second chance points at the half in a low scoring, grind it out game. 

Drew Gooden's energy throughout the game, similar to games 1 and 2, forced Indiana to work for every rebound when he was in the area. 

That's about all the good in this game.

Now to the bad.

The Wizards' third quarter shooting was absolutely atrocious. From the field and from the free throw line. The Wizards were able to manufacture decent looks, but unable to come up with any points. 

The long drought during the third quarter negatively affected the team's mindset going into the fourth. As the game wound down, Wall and Beal began jacking up shots early in the shot clock off the dribble with no ball movement. The game was over by then, but that does not excuse the poor shot selection. 

Hopefully the Wizards get their shooting touch back and are able to take game 4 at home on Monday night.