Converting from power to speed and space took the Washington Wizards about six months. Playoff matchups necessitating and inviting the change finally turned Washington from its thundering frontcourt approach into a team willing to do what so much of the league was already doing. The Wizards went small, changing their playoff fortunes. They now have to consider how this changes their future.
After jettisoning the Toronto Raptors in four games and losing a should-have series against the Atlanta Hawks, the offseason will provide Washington an opportunity to twist its roster toward more “small ball.” Wizards coach Randy Wittman said the team knows what it has to add — which seems to be additional stretch-four options plus better athleticism — in the offseason. Since the core of team will be back, Washington will be on the hunt for pieces to round out its flexibility.
“Obviously, playing small is successful for us,” Wittman said. “Playing faster. Those are the things that I want to try to improve this team moving forward with. Being able to play smaller. Being able to play faster. I think this team proved that in the playoffs. We’ve got to be able to have the pieces to do that in the regular season. Those are areas you’d like to maybe try to get better at.”
Pursuit of more speed and space is a natural attempt to exploit what John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter do well. Wall’s speed is a counter to any defensive strategy from another team. If he has few teammates who can fly up the floor with him, however, his swiftness is not maximized.
Playing small, with a small forward who can make 3-pointers deployed at power forward, also benefited Marcin Gortat and Nene inside. The truncated space that resulted from the duo being on the floor together suddenly opened. Gortat had more room to roll after picks. Nene had more area to work one-on-one, though plantar fasciitis and weary knees had zapped much of his explosiveness by season’s end.
Two of the Wizards’ keys to playing the smaller lineup may not be back. Drew Gooden is an unrestricted free agent. Paul Pierce has a player option to return to the Wizards, but could retire or opt out of his contract in order to join another team. They also have to figure out how to manage Gortat and Nene in more of a small-ball world.
Throughout the playoffs, the pair was split more often than together on the floor. Nene played center, a position he would prefer not to play against true centers, and Gortat was in the middle when Nene was off the floor. The pair started games and third quarters together before quickly splitting time.
Nene was a generalist when asked his thoughts about the approach.
“Was [Wittman’s] plan,” Nene said. “And he decides who they are going to play and how they are going to play. We just need to follow orders.”
He was also asked if he would be willing to come off the bench.
“I do whatever I need to do to help my team,” Nene said. “You can’t ask me that. You have to ask coach.”
Bringing Nene off the bench could change several dynamics for the Wizards. It would allow them to start the game with a smaller lineup — provided they were facing the appropriate matchup. He would give the second unit post scoring and a player in the paint to run offense through since he is an excellent passer. It could also allow the Wizards to manage his playing time in a more effective manner, trying to fend off a body that traditionally betrays him. Nene averaged the fewest regular-season minutes among the starting five.
Gortat professed his love for Nene during the same explanation of his preference to play with a stretch four.
“I would love to play with a stretch four,” Gortat said. “With a guy who shoots the ball from the 3-point line because that automatically gives me more room under the basket to operate, gives me more opportunity to play pick and roll to roll to the paint. But, also being with Nene it’s a huge upgrade for me, too, because he brings a lot of attention offensively. The better defender is actually guarding him, so that I assume I usually have the weaker defender on me.”
Playing smaller is not a direct route to the NBA Finals. However, it does give the Wizards flexibility to deal with teams constructed like the Raptors and Hawks, while leaving them options against the Chicago Bulls, who often play two big men. There also is a caveat to the smaller approach. Though the smaller lineup brought extra scoring in the playoffs, it also ran into an issue in the second round.
Washington pulverized Toronto in rebounding during a first-round sweep, outrebounding the Raptors, 185-144, in four games. That made sense since the Wizards entered the playoffs tied for third in the NBA in rebounding differential and Toronto was tied for 20th. But, against the even more mobile Hawks, the Wizards’ small unit had trouble gathering long rebounds or being organized enough to box out cutters from the wing. The Hawks were tied for 27th in rebound differential during the regular season — even worse than the Raptors — but were outrebounded only 279-268 in their six-game series win against the Wizards.
The Wizards mastering their smaller lineup still requires better personnel and skill, which leaves those pursuits atop the offseason priority list.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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