At the heart of a decisive week, which saw them notably face the Hawks twice, the Wizards lost the first round of this double confrontation tonight. A defeat conceded on the wire, against a direct opponent in the race for the playoffs and the play-in, despite the 43 points of Kristaps Porzingis (his new career high).
Irreproachable on the offensive level (17/22 in shooting, including 7/10 from 3-points), but beaten, the Latvian obviously could not hide his frustration after the meeting. He who wants to be positive and optimistic in all circumstances…
” We showed good things, we fought hard, we can find all the excuses in the world, especially regarding the calendar, but the reality is there. We want the job done, it would feel totally different, and we didn’t. So you have to live with… », he regretted Thus.
A setback all the more infuriating as Washington led by fifteen points in the third quarter. But, as too often this season, the players from the capital have not been able to maintain their lead and this is one of the reasons which pushes them to settle for only 10th place in their conference (31 -35).
Fight, to end on a high note
Already called to order on Tuesday evening in Detroit, incidentally the worst team in the East and which they only beat on a “game winner” at Daniel Gafford’s buzzer, the Wizards this time were purely and simply punished by Atlanta.
In particular for their balls lost in abundance (17) and their inability to adjust the cursor in defense, while the attack was however running at full speed (57% of address, including 41% at 3-points…). Not to mention for their poorly managed endgame.
Typically the kind of match where the negative comes out as much as the positive and which does not really help to perceive the ambitions of Wes Unseld Jr.’s men at the end of the season.
” We obviously want to make the playoffs, that’s the main objective “recalled in any case Kristaps Porzingis. ” We have to end the season on a positive note. It’s important to show that we want to be a winning team and that there is excitement to be had for the future, things to look forward to. So I really want to finish on a high note and make the playoffs. »
” I don’t like it when we’re not hungry. That’s really what bothers me the most. »
We also imagine that, like his teammate Kyle Kuzma, the interior of Washington needs collective guarantees more than ever, he who will have the opportunity to test the market this summer, by giving up on his “player option” of 36 millions of dollars. But, for the time being, we cannot say that the Latvian permanently appreciates what he observes from his team…
” What frustrates me the most is when we’re behind or we’re not playing our best basketball and I don’t feel like we want it. “, explained Kristaps Porzingis. ” I hate that. We’re supposed to be the hungriest team on the court. We haven’t done anything yet, we’re not even in the Top 6, so I don’t like it when we’re not starving. That’s really what bothers me the most. But […] against Toronto and Milwaukee, I felt that hunger in us. I felt that we wanted it, that we were chasing it [la victoire], that we were fighting hard. It’s only when we’re not fighting that it bothers me. »
Somewhat frustrated, but not completely dejected, the 27-year-old does not lose hope, exactly one month from the end of the regular season.
” It’s a frustrating game, a frustrating loss, but what other option do we have but to keep hanging on, keep pushing and keep trying to get those wins? concluded Kristaps Porzingis.
| Kristaps Porzingis | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | NYK | 72 | 28 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 83.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 14.3 |
| 2016-17 | NYK | 66 | 33 | 45.0 | 35.7 | 78.6 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 18.1 |
| 2017-18 | NYK | 48 | 32 | 43.9 | 39.5 | 79.3 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 22.7 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 57 | 32 | 42.7 | 35.2 | 79.9 | 1.8 | 7.7 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 20.4 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 43 | 31 | 47.6 | 37.6 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 7.0 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 20.1 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 51 | 29 | 45.9 | 31.0 | 86.7 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 20.2 |
| 2021-22 * | DAL | 34 | 30 | 45.1 | 28.3 | 86.5 | 1.9 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 19.2 |
| 2021-22 * | WAS | 17 | 28 | 47.5 | 36.7 | 87.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 22.1 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 55 | 33 | 48.9 | 37.7 | 84.8 | 2.0 | 6.7 | 8.6 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 22.9 |
| Total | 392 | 31 | 45.0 | 35.7 | 82.6 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 19.5 | |
