Scott Brooks wants Otto Porter more involved offensively on West Coast trip

The looks for Otto Porter were there early and often in Saturday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. And this time, for a half at least, the Wizards forward took his shots.

But by the end of the Wizards’ 117-113 loss, the focus was on Porter’s lack of aggressiveness. Again.

Porter, the Wizards’ third-highest paid player, took only two shots in the second half after taking seven over the first two quarters. Further, Porter played just 25 minutes — and when asked about the low total, coach Scott Brooks said he wanted guys who “play hard.”

Guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, the team’s two highest paid stars, by comparison, played 34 and 35 minutes, respectively.

For Brooks, Porter’s performance wasn’t just about fewer shot attempts — though that was a problem, too. It was a lack of effort.

“You got to move,” Brooks said. “You got to set yourself up. You’ve got to run the floor. We’ve got a fast point guard [in John Wall]. I don’t know if you guys know that, but he’s fast. And if our wings aren’t running, what good is it when you’re going to have a one-man break? What makes teams play with pace is guys running.”

That will need to change soon as the Wizards embark on a five-game road trip out west, beginning Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

This, however, is far from the first time Brooks has demanded more from Porter. Last month, he jokingly begged the media to ask the small forward why he doesn’t shoot more 3-pointers. Over the last two seasons, Porter has attempted just 4.2 3-pointers per game — despite shooting 43.7 percent from deep.

But it was surprising for Brooks to be as critical as he was following a game. Typically, the coach will try to couch his remarks with praise or say that it’s on the team as a whole to get Porter more involved.

Part of Brooks’ frustration: the Wizards want to play faster this season, and Porter’s athleticism is important in order to do that. Washington needs him to get out and run.

“We’ve got to play hard,” Brooks said when asked about Porter playing only 25 minutes. “You don’t need extra minutes to play not hard.”

Still, Porter’s involvement can be a frustrating topic for the Wizards, who were also asked about it following Thursday’s loss to the Heat. In that game, Porter went without a 3-point attempt.

Wall even told reporters after Saturday’s loss, “This will be the last time I talk about Otto Porter getting threes.” Defenders, he said, switch often, and that usually dictates who gets open.

Guard Bradley Beal also emphasized Porter “is fine,” saying the swingman just needs to keep shooting.

Beal said he understood Brooks’ decision to sit Porter for large stretches.

“He preaches every day he wants guys being aggressive,” Beal said of Brooks. “He’s going to do what he needs at this point. It’s his third year here. We know what the standard is for him. And what he wants and expects out of us. So if we don’t give it to him, he has guys in which he can put in and do it.”

Since Porter signed a max four-year, $106 million contract in 2017, the Wizards have said repeatedly they want Porter to stick to his strengths of being a 3-and-D player.

But the team also knows for its core to continue to grow, Porter will have to take a step forward.

“I love Otto,” Brooks said. “You guys know that, but he has to play faster. He has to. … He makes winning basketball plays. He gets in plays. But he has to do that consistently for us. He can’t do it a half. He has to do it for the entire game.”