By Mark Bacon
The new four-out, one-in offense was on full display for the Washington Wizards in their first preseason game of the new season. Philadelphia was the victim, wholly dismantled 129-95. The Wizards played fast, moved the ball efficiently and shot a boatload of threes. They attempted 26 threes – more than in 84 of last season’s games. Not only did they shoot a lot of threes, they were very effective from distance, dropping 15/26. Eight different Wizards knocked down shots from beyond the arc, and seven finished in double figures.
At one point during the game, referee Danny Crawford asked Coach Wittman an unusual question. “Are y’all going to play like this the whole season?” the referee asked, according to Wizards guard Garrett Temple. “Because I’m not ready for this.” The Wizards’ traditional reliance on big men in the front court, gave over to a frenzied pace throughout. A pace better suited for the thoroughbred backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal.
Wall just missed a preseason double-double, going for 10 points and nine assists in his 20 minutes. He did commit four turnovers, though. Beal lit it up, and while he did take several midrange jumpers, he made a conscious effort to get to the rack. He shot 9/13 from the field and finished with 19 points.
Otto Porter carried his playoff form over to this preseason, starting off on absolute fire (13 points in 1st quarter, 3/3 from long distance.) He finished with a game-high 22 points on a perfect 4/4 shooting from outside. Porter is the type of player who does not fall in love with one particular thing on the court. It is what makes him so valuable.
Coach Randy Wittman said of Porter “I thought he had, start to finish, as good a game as you can play. Activity, hands on balls. Forget about the shots he made, being in position. His knack for being at the right place at the right time, whether it’s offensively or defensively, his reads and cuts to the basket.”.
Gary Neal made a solid impression in his first appearance in a Wizards' uniform, showing some of the shooting touch Washington brought him here for. He went 3/4 from deep and scored 13 points.
The Wizards’ new commitment to the four-out and one-in offense was evident in who played power forward. Kris Humphries, not Nene, got the start Tuesday. Coach Wittman maintains he was experimenting with combinations and will continue to do so.
“I can view a lot of starting lineups with this team depending on who we’re playing,” Wittman said. “I’ll have to keep working at that, and look at Nene at the five and [Gortat] at the five and see what we can produce there.”
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