The Washington Wizards blew a 17-point first-quarter lead to the Chicago Bulls in game two of their first-round playoff series and looked like they were going to let slip a golden opportunity to take both games in Chicago.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Wizards were stuck five points, and saw that deficit grow to as many as 10. But then something seemed to click within Washington.
Martell Webster hit a clutch triple, off a great find from John Wall, and that seemed to spark the Wizards’ defence—in the last 6:48 of the fourth quarter, the Bulls only managed to muster four points (two free throws, one field goal).
It’s true the Bulls’ offence always seems to dry up, but full credit is owed to the Wizards for bearing down, contesting shots and forcing turnovers. Bradley Beal was brilliant in that fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 26 total points in the frame, but he couldn’t have shined the way he did if not for the Bullish defence his team displayed late.
The second-year man out of Florida also wouldn’t be grabbing headlines if not for teammate Nene. Here’s more on that, along with a few other observations from a busy three-game Tuesday night:
Noah with no answer for Nene
Joakim Noah was deservedly named Defensive Player of the Year for this season, but watching him try to guard the Wizards’ Nene, you’d think those who cast votes in the landslide must’ve been blind.
The Brazilian big man has lit Noah up for 21 points per game on 62.1 percent shooting through the first two games with the Bulls’ centre as his primary defender. He also put up six of his 17 game two points in overtime, basically clinching the game for the Wizards.
Noah has been hesitant to close out on Nene’s mid-range jumper because of his reluctance to step out of the paint and leave Marcin Gortat unattended. Down 0-2 and heading to Washington, however, the Bulls might have to open things up for Gortat since there’s no indication Nene’s play will drop off.
Landry locks down Brooklyn
After seeing Paul Pierce completely sink Toronto in game one, Raptors coach Dwane Casey decided to roll the dice and give Landry Fields some burn to try to stop “The Truth.”
The result? Jackpot.
Pierce only scored seven points on 2-of-11 shooting with Fields shadowing him most of the way Tuesday night. Fields nullified the quickness Pierce normally exploits with power forwards guarding him and also managed to shutdown the Nets veteran on the low block.
Finishing a plus-eight without taking a single shot in the game, Fields’ defensive fingerprints were all over game two. As a team, the Brooklyn Nets shot just 40.1 percent when Fields was on the floor, as compared to 46 percent with him on the bench.
It’s unlikely that Casey has completely cracked the Nets’ code with Fields, but his decision to play him (after not giving him any run in the Raptors’ last nine games), is the exact kind of adjustment that can win you a playoff series.
The return of Paul George
Superstars step up when their teams need it most and on Tuesday, Paul George reminded us all just why he was elevated to that elite category this season.
Knowing his team couldn’t go down 0-2 and still hope to contend in the East, George put up a monstrous line of 27 points (on 9-of-16 shooting), 10 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block.
He scored eight points in the Pacers’ big third quarter and, most importantly was able to slow down Jeff Teague just enough on the defensive end.
Teague finished with 14 points, on 6-for-13 shooting, to go with five assists and five rebounds, so George didn’t exactly shut him down, but he also didn’t allow the Hawks’ point guard to torch him like George Hill did in game one—an impressive feat considering Teague is a six-foot-two lightning bolt who should be able to get around George’s six-foot-nine frame.
Scola the savior
As good as George was, it was Luis Scola who almost single-handedly saved the Pacers in the first half.
David West sat much of the first two quarters with three fouls, forcing head coach Frank Vogel to use Scola more than normal. The Argentine veteran rewarded his coach with 13 first-half points, on his way to a 20-point, seven-rebound night.
Those 13 points were significant as, without his offence, it’s possible the Pacers could have been down as much as 20 at the half, as opposed to just four.