Without John Wall, Wizards are doomed by turnovers in Game 4
Sometimes, it's not what a player does on the court that's missed most when he goes down with injury. Instead, it's what he doesn't do that's most noticeable. The Washington Wizards are learning the hard way that the absence of John Wall means turnovers at all the wrong times -- mistakes that the All-Star point guard almost certainly wouldn't make.
Washington isn't necessarily committing more turnovers than normal with Wall on the bench. But that's not as good as it sounds. Wall was actually more secure with the ball on a per-minute basis in the postseason than he was during the regular season; his ability to get good looks for the Wizards without the risk of a turnover was a huge part of Washington's offensive explosion in the playoffs.
And when Washington did turn the ball over in Game 4, those miscues often came just as the Wizards were closing the gap against the Hawks. Time after time, a big Washington run would see a turnover or two that turned right back into a double-digit Atlanta lead. As Troy Haliburton of Truth About It writes:
"In the second half, the Wizards were able to find a better rhythm defensively, limiting the Hawks to just 41 points. The problem for the Wizards was not being able to take advantage of all of the Hawks misses and mistakes. There were far too many Wizards second half possessions that ended up in rushed shots or turnovers. The Wizards lost the turnover battle 13-17 and the timing of those turnovers proved to be too costly to overcome in the long run."
It will be incumbent on Ramon Sessions and Will Bynum to take care of the rock in Game 5 if the Wizards want to reclaim the advantage in this series. That goes double if Bradley Beal once again takes on as much of a play-making burden as he's assumed in Wall's absence. Beal is growing with every game, but he's by no means a point guard, and he's committed eight turnovers over the past two games.
With Wall's continued absence a likely bet, the Wizards face a daunting task. But they're up for the fight.
(h/t Truth About It)
Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports
