The Washington Wizards must show pride and determination in game 6

In athletics, every game matters. Every victory is uplifting, while every defeat is frustrating. Every game matters to the coaches and players who care about their craft. Every game matters to fans who identify with the team and sincerely want their favorite team to win.

So far, the Washington Wizards have had a disappointing season. Instead of earning s high seed in the playoffs, the Wizards received an 8th seed. Instead of being favorites to win an Eastern Conference championship, the Wizards became underdogs who lacked home court advantage. Instead of reaping the rewards of a rebuilding effort that began with the drafting of John Wall 8 years ago, the Wizards may be considering major changes.

Now, the Wizards have their backs against the wall, as they try to stave off elimination against the Toronto Raptors. They need to muster the pride to defend their home court and force a game 7 back at Toronto. Even in a disappointing season, a team can play with pride and conviction in an elimination game. Even in a frustrating season, a team can play with purpose and strength. The Wizards must show their fans and the NBA what they are made of. In game 6, the Wizards need to show determination and focus.

Many athletes have acknowledged that sport is a meritocracy. Everything must be earned. Nothing is given. An athlete and a team must earn respect. Credibility comes with victories and championships. Historical acknowledgement comes from substantive achievements. Teams must abhor losing and value winning.

Pride and effort manifest themselves in several ways on a basketball court. A determined team fights for every rebound and loose ball. A resolute squad plays help defense and contests every shot. A focused team shows good shot selection and makes the extra pass. Showing maximum effort involves running the fast break, creating turnovers and blocking shots. In a word, the Wizards must try and play a complete game.

The Wizards need to play better than they did in game 5. Washington needs to have fewer turnovers in game 6. Washington had 15 turnovers. Wall had 7 of those turnovers. The Wizards need to protect the basketball and avoid carelessness. Turning the basketball over makes it more difficult to beat a team as good as Toronto. Every team makes mistakes, but the Wizards need to limit mistakes.

The Wizards also need to create turnovers. Stealing the basketball can give a team a lot of momentum. Stealing the basketball can help Washington to score fast break points, which are necessary for a team that wants to beat a team as talented as the Raptors.

Additionally, the Wizards must shoot better from three point range in game 6. Washington shot a mere 19% from beyond the arc in game 5, while Toronto shot a very respectable 44%. John Wall, Otto Porter,jr, Kelly Oubre and Markief Morris shot a combined 1-16 from three point range. At least three of these players need to do better in game 6.

Despite the game 5 loss, the Wizards dominated the boards. The Wizards outrebounded the Raptors 50-35. Marcin Gortat finished with 12 rebounds and was a constant presence underneath the boards. The Wizards need to continue that dominance in game 6.

Washington also needs to create a balance between the interior and the perimeter. The Wizards, like most NBA teams, rely a lot on perimeter shooting, specifically three point shooting. However, a strong interior game is important, too. The Wizards need to work the ball into Gortat so that he can shoot short range shots.

The Wizards also need more scoring from Markief Morris. He needs to make mid range shots and become a better scoring option.

John Wall and Bradley Beal will need to play well. Both will need to shoot well and handle the basketball well. Both need to avoid turnovers and make their open shots.

The Wizards need to get position and fight for every rebound. They need to fight for every loose basketball and out hustle the Raptors. Washington needs to get ahead in transition and score fast break points. They need to have good shot selection and move well without the basketball.

The Wizards need to switch on defense and not allow the Raptors to get by defenders. The Wizards must not allow a clear path to the basket. In addition to avoiding turnovers, they must create turnovers. Stealing the basketball should lead to fast break opportunities and point in transition.

Game 6 is a defining game for the Wizards. Tonight's game will test their resolve and determination. Game 6 will show what the Wizards are made of. Are they capable of pushing the series to a game 7? Are they capable of defending their home court and forcing the Raptors to play a decisive game at home? In a disappointing season, the Wizards can have a signature win in game 6. The Wizards can play a game that they and their fans can be proud of.

The Washington Wizards need to play better on the road if they want to advance into the second round of the NBA playoffs

If the Washington Wizards are going to advance into the second round of the NBA playoffs, they need to play better on the road. They must win at least one game on the road against Toronto in order to advance into the second round.

They play well at home. The Wizards have won 7 straight playoff games at home. Only the Golden State Warriors have won as many consecutive games at home in the playoffs. However, good teams win on the road.

John Wall, after the Wizards' game four victory at home, said that the Wizards do not give up, and that they play tough when their backs are up against the wall. However, they do not play as tough as they need to on the road. Teams that are truly resilient and tough play well on the road. It is easier to play inspired basketball when the home crowd is cheering a team on. It is much tougher to play well when a team is facing a hostile crowd.

The Wizards played well in games 3 and 4 as they evened their series with the Toronto Raptors at 2 games a piece. In both games, they played better as the game went on.

In game 3, the Wizards shot 55% from the field including 43% from 3 point range. They outrebounded Toronto 39-34 and dished out 9 more assists than the Raptors. The Wizards had 10 steals and 8 blocked shots. Additionally, the Wizards got 21 points off of fast breaks. The Raptors had only 10 fast break points. The Wizards clearly out played Toronto as they won 122-103.

However, even though they outplayed Toronto in game 3, the Wizards gave up 28 points off of turnovers. The Wizards cannot allow that to happen in game 5 at Toronto. The Wizards must take care of the basketball. Turnovers prevent a team from scoring and give the opposition a scoring opportunity. Additionally, turnovers take away a team's momentum and give the opposition momentum. The Wizards must avoid turnovers the rest of the series.

In game 4, the Wizards trailed 54-40 early in the 3rd quarter. However, they were able to erase the deficit behind clutch shooting by Otto Porter jr. who hit a couple of threes early in the quarter. This gave the Wizards some momentum. Additionally, Wall played well down the stretch. After Bradley Beal fouled out, the Wizards outscored the Raptors 14-6 to close out the game. Wall finished with 27 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds. Wall needs to have a similar performance against the Raptors in game 5.

In game 1, the Wizards lost to the Raptors 114-106. The Wizards actually led this game at the half. However, Washington was outscored 59-47 by Toronto in the second half. The Wizards shot only 38% from three point range and had only 10 fast break points. In contrast, the Raptors shot a blistering 53% from behind the arc and had 6 more fast break points. If the Wizards are going to advance, they need to shoot a high percentage from three point range and get more fast break points. Additionally, they cannot allow the Raptors to shoot over 50% from three point range.

In game 2, the Wizards were outrebounded by the Raptors 55-40. Toronto outscored Washington 44-27 in the first quarter. The Wizards could not overcome their slow start or the outstanding shooting by the Raptors at the start of the game. Washington cannot start slowly in game 5. Additionally, the Wizards cannot be outrebounded on the road. Washington has to get position in the paint and rebound the basketball better than Toronto if it wants to win game 5.

The Wizards must avoid the mistakes of the fist two games in order to advance. They need to play a complete game in game 5 in order to win. They need to outrebound the Raptors. They need to score fast break points. The Wizards need to limit turnovers, make a high percentage of their three point shots, score points in the paint and play strong defense. Additionally, the Wizards need to start strong so that they do not have to overcome a huge deficit on the road.

Despite a disappointing regular season, the Washington Wizards can still advance in the post season

With a core of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter, jr., the Washington Wizards have had high expectations. They had hoped to compete for an Eastern Conference championship. However, this current era has been disappointing for the Wizards. So far they have not lived up the expectations that have been set for them.

The Wizards are in the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. They will play the Toronto Raptors in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Making the playoffs is a minimal accomplishment in the NBA, where half of the teams qualify for the post season. In order for this season to be a success for Washington, they need to advance.

Despite their mediocre play this season, the Wizards have the talent to advance in the playoffs. However, several things need to happen for the Wizards to advance.

Wall, the team's point guard, needs to fully recovery from his injury and play well. Wall is one of the best passing point guards in the NBA. He is fast, skilled and athletic. He needs to create opportunities for his teammates by driving into the lane and dishing off to teammates.

Secondly, Wall needs to limit turnovers, While he plays quickly and athletically, he needs to play within control of himself. He needs to make good decisions with the basketball. His assist to turnover ratio needs to be good in the playoffs.

Additionally, Wall needs to make his jump shots. When Wall entered the NBA, he was not a good jump shooter. He worked on his game and developed a decent jump shot. Wall needs to shoot a high percentage in the series. He needs to make opposing defenses respect his ability to drive and shoot.



Beal, one of the best pure shooters in the NBA, needs to be on his game. Beal needs to come off screens and hit open shots. He also needs to create his own shots. He needs to be consistently good in the playoffs.

Porter, Jr., needs to be good from beyond the arc. His ability to hit three point shots stretches the defenses of the Wizards' opponents. Porter's three point shooting adds versatility to the Wizards' game. Porter's ability to make three point shots means that Washington does not have to exclusively rely on Wall and Beal for offensive strength.

Marcin Gortat needs to make shots close to the basket. Gortat also needs to be a force on the offensive and defensive boards. He needs to rebound the basketball and give the Wizards second chance opportunities and limit the Raptors' second chance opportunities.

Gortat needs to be a strong interior presence for Washington. When the Wizards play well, Gortat seems to be a big part of their success. While there is great emphasis on the perimeter in today's NBA, a team's interior play can often make the difference between winning and losing.

Wall and Gortat could also implement the pick and roll, which is a play that they run very well. This is an effective part of their offense and it gives the Wizards an important option in their half court offense.

In this scenario, Gortat sets a pick for Wall, who often draws a double team. When a team double covers Wall, Gortat is open. Sometimes Gortat moves towards the basket and Wall throws it over the defense, so that only Gortat can get it. At other times, Gortat trails Wall and gets the pass and then drives to the basket and finishes strong.

The pick and roll is difficult to defend in part because the defense does not know where Wall will dribble to and where Gortat will be. The Wizards run variations of the play which keeps the defenders guessing. In any event, it is a very effective play, and the Wizards need to run it well in order to advance in the playoffs.

Additionally, Gortat needs to be a strong defensive presence in the interior. He needs to play tough defense and get his share of offensive and defense rebounds as well.

Marquis Morris can make mid range jump shots. He needs to be a consistent option for the Wizards in this area. He needs to be able to move to the area around the foul line and consistently make jump shots. If he can be consistent in this area, then the Wizards can have another option to go along with Wall, Beal, Porter and Gortat.

Ian Mahinmi can make a difference off the bench as well. He can score close to the basket. He is adept at scoring with his left or his right hand close to the hoop. His rebounding ability can help the Wizards' second unit. If Mahinmi can rebound and score off of misses, that will help the Wizards' bench to be competitive. Additionally, Mahinmi has a strong move to the basket and can dunk well. Also, if Mahinmi can play well, that will allow the Wizards to rest Gortat.

Kelly Oubre can also provide help off the bench. Oubre is athletic and he can shoot well beyond the arc. He is also good in transition. Oubre needs to be a dynamic presence for the Wizards' second unit. If he plays well, that would allow the Wizards to rest Porter, jr. at times.

Additionally, Tomas Satoransky can lead the second unit as a point guard. He's an adept handler of the basketball with passing skills. If Oubre, Saroransky, Mahinmi and the other reserves play well, then the Wizards will be able to maintain leads when the starters are resting.

Playing good defense will also be key. Each Wizards' player needs to play tough defense for the entire game. They need to observe the fundamentals of strong defensive play. They need to stay between their man and the basketball, deny passes to the interior, constest shots, play with grit and toughness and be in good position to get offensive and defensive rebounds. There is simply no substitute for strong defensive play.

The Wizards also need to do their best to not allow points in transition. Wall, because of his quickness, can get back in transition. His speed even allows him to block lay ups during a fast break. It's essential that the Wizards do not concede points. Every shot must be contested.

Perhaps, above all, the Wizards need to be mentally strong. They need to play hard on every play and limit their mistakes. They need good shot selection and a strong commitment to offensive and defensive rebounding. They have to avoid mental lapses and they have to give maximum effort on every play.

During the playoffs, a team shows how much pride it has. The playoffs reveal how badly a team wants to win. The playoffs show the character of a team.