Washington Wizards: 3 takeaways from Game 7 loss vs. Celtics

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:52 p.m. ET

Fansided, Jerran Anderson/FanSided via Hoops Habit

May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) hugs Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) after defeating the Wizards in game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards' 2016-17 season is over, but it was fun while it lasted. Here are three takeaways from their Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The Washington Wizards were eliminated in Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, 115-105. It ended an otherwise remarkable season for the Wizards on the road. They were 1-6 on the road in the NBA Playoffs.

John Wall nearly flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. However, unlike his teammates, he faltered when things got close.

The defense was poor all-around for the Wizards. They allowed 58 points in the paint in Game 7, a category they dominated all series long.

Celtics center Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points off the bench while shooting 10-of-14 from the floor. In a way, the Washington Wizards made Olynyk look like an All-Star while containing the rest of Boston's starters.

Isaiah Thomas did score 29 points and rack up 12 assists as well, but the most glaring statistic is what Olynyk did for the Celtics' off the bench to clinch Game 7. While Washington held guys like Avery Bradley (nine points) in check, other guys stepped up off the bench. The Celtics outscored the Wizards' bench 48-5.

The bench points were scored by Bojan Bogdanovic (five points) while everybody else went scoreless. Backup center Ian Mahinmi had four fouls off the bench in 10 minutes. Brandon Jennings lasted just about six minutes. Jason Smith played roughly three minutes but was somehow a -13.

Here are three takeaways from the Wizards final defeat in the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the first half in game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Wizards ran out of magic

The Washington Wizards' magic ran out in the fourth quarter but ultimately it wasn't totally on them. Their lack of true depth finally reared its head against a tough road opponent, and the Celtics made them pay.

Other than center Marcin Gortat having just six points, one could say the Wizards starters played a nearly perfect game. Bradley Beal scored a game-high 38 points (third-most in a Game 7 in franchise history) with four rebounds and two assists. He shot 11-for-22 from the floor and made five threes.

Bradley Beal scores 38 points, but the Wizards fall to the Celtics 115-105 in Game 7. pic.twitter.com/IqmnUQVsbN

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 16, 2017

Forward Otto Porter posted a double-double, the second of his playoff career, with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Markieff Morris followed that up with 18 points and nine rebounds.

However, Wall and Beal played over 40 minutes in the game, which wasn't a good formula for success down the stretch. Porter played 39 minutes as well.

By the time the fourth quarter happened, the Wizards were dead tired and it showed. The Wizards' starters outscored Boston's 100-67, but again, the bench depth was the key to the game and Boston won that battle rather easily.

May 15, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Washington Wizards center Ian Mahinmi (28) dribbles the ball between Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) and forward Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half in game seven of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

2. Bench production must improve for the Wizards this offseason

The Washington Wizards have a great starting lineup, arguably one of the best in the NBA. They were third in the NBA this season in points per game (82.2), fifth in rebounds per game (30.2), third in assists per game (18.4) and second in steals per game (6.2) in the regular season.

However, when it came time for the bench to do its thing, fans in Washington had to hold their breath and hope for the best. The weakness of the bench showed itself mightily in Game 7 against the Celtics. Again, they were outscored 48-5 in the game.

Kelly Olynyk scored 14 of his 26 points in the 4th Quarter to lift the @celtics past the Wizards in Game 7! pic.twitter.com/Dc3d89HJ2U

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 16, 2017

The Wizards did do their best to improve their bench before the NBA Trade Deadline, acquiring former Brooklyn Nets forward Bojan Bogdanovic. After seeing how they fared in Game 7, it's apparent it's still not enough.

They didn't get much out of Ian Mahinmi this season despite signing him to a four-year deal worth $64 million this past offseason. Mahinmi was injured throughout the season and only appeared in just 31 games this season.

In the playoffs he couldn't find much of a rhythm, missing most of the first round and playing sporadically in the second round against the Celtics.

It will be interesting to see how the Wizards shore up the bench this offseason. Otto Porter, Bojan Bogdanovic and Brandon Jennings will all be free agents, so the front office will have some decisions to make.

1. John Wall has to work on his shot selection

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall didn't play terribly in Game 7, but he didn't choose a good time to shoot poorly. He had 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds but was 8-of-23 from the floor and 1-of-8 from three.

The criticism for Wall will continue until he can improve his shot selection, or realize he's not a three-point shooter. He did do his best to keep Bradley Beal engaged in the fourth quarter. Wall had six assists while Beal had 12 points in the final frame.

However, Wall shot 2-for-13 in the second half of Game 7 against the Celtics. At some point, Wall has to improve his midrange game to take the next step in his career.

He did well to lead the Wizards this season but to get over the next obstacle, his shot selection will have to improve. Granted, it showed he was tired, but that's where he has to start to establish some trust in his teammates.

Washington wasn't the greatest three-point shooting team in the NBA this season but they can be with Beal and Porter on the roster. Wall will need to figure out his role with those two shooters on the floor as it would benefit him to rely on their three-point shooting rather than his own.