Washington Wizards: A Missed Opportunity In Game 2 And What Lies Ahead In Game 3
After a missed opportunity in Game 2, we look ahead to what’s in store for the Washington Wizards in Game 3
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After upending — and surprising the masses — the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in Game 1, the Washington Wizards were sitting pretty. They had just stole homecourt advantage and it appeared that the Wizards were going to push the Hawks in this series, if not win it.
Although, after a Game 1 victory, that’s just a cute idea. Not sure how many people actually believed in said premise that didn’t live in DC or sported the Wizards’ colors. Nevertheless, that all changed in Game 2.
Specifically as crunch time approached in the fourth quarter and when the Wizards were in position to steal another game on the road — this time without their fearless leader, John Wall.
With 8:44 left in the game, Paul Pierce — as he’s been doing time and time again during this postseason — hit a cold-blooded 3 to get the Wizards within 84-81. That was the Wizards chance.
Instead of seizing the moment in an attempt to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, before heading back to DC for Games 3 and 4, the Wizards did the complete opposite. The Hawks closed the game on a 22-9 run and won Game 2.
Opportunity lost.
My philosophy is that in the NBA playoffs, there is no house money. Unless you truly believe you can’t win a series. That’s the only instance.
Assuming you believe the Wizards could beat the Hawks, which you should, Washington missed a big opportunity Tuesday night. They weren’t playing with “house money” in Game 2. Doubt was creeping into the minds of the Hawks and Pierce had just hit one of his signature “I’m not old 3’s”.
The chance was there for Washington, but late in the game the absence of Wall proved costly. If Wall suits up for Game 2, do the Wizards win?
Maybe. Perhaps. There’s no way to really know that.
What we do know though, is that the Wizards missed an opportunity. Taking a 2-0 series lead to DC is a much different thing than taking a 1-1 series tie back home.
Washington is still in a good position, but they could very well be in a great position right now. They’re not.
And the difference between good and great, especially when playing against a top-seeded threat like the Hawks, could be the difference in winning and losing a playoff series.
But, now, the Wizards’ goal — and focus — should be on Game 3. And hoping that Wall will be healthy enough to suit up. All Washington needs to do is protect homecourt. If they can do that, they will win the series. Easy enough.
It’s never that simple.
And if the Washington Wizards blow another missed opportunity, which will begin this with this weekend’s Game 3, we might look back at Game 2 and play the “what if” game for years to come.