Wizards (42-27) at Celtics (44-26)
March 20, 2017 at 7:30PM TD Garden | Boston, MA TV: CSN Mid-Atlantic Radio: 1500 AM
Last time they met was..
January 24, 2017 - Verizon Center, Washington, DC: Wizards 123, Celtics 108
What to watch:
Can the Wizards offset their recent struggles with a monster win in Beantown?
Despite losing 3 of their last 4 games, the Wizards remain right in the thick of the 2-seed sweepstakes, sitting just 1.5 games behind the Celtics going into tonight. A win in Boston tonight would bring them to within half a game and tie them with the C's in the loss column. Moreover, a win would wrap up the season series in favor of the Wizards. That's pretty amazing considering the recent fallout. Boston did struggle earlier in the month as well, also losing 3 of 4 and lost to Philly yesterday, so that contributes to our cause.
Key Matchup:
John Wall vs. his feelings
There are few things in this world that annoy the piss out of John Wall: ref non-calls, and the Boston Celtics. After the Hornets loss, Wall was undoubtedly in his feelings:
A few times this season against Boston, Wall was undoubtedly in his feelings. Like when he dropped Marcus Smart:
And when he slap-tapped Jae Crowder:
For anyone, being around this many people you don't like is pure cause for drama. Wall is two technical fouls shy of a one-game suspension. Let's hope he understands that.
X-Factor:
IT support available?
Isaiah Thomas is listed as questionable for tonight's game still nursing an injured knee. He's missed the last two games for Boston (1-1). Marcus Smart has started in his absence at point guard, something that hasn't fared well for the Celtics. In fact, it's absolutely sucked. In two games, Smart has missed 20 of 26 shots from the field for a total of 20 points. His tough guy backup, Terry Rozier, has been worse. Rozier has shot 4-of-20 from the field in the last two games (went 0-8 against Brooklyn), but still managed a double-double against Philly yesterday with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Regardless, whether Boston does end up without IT tonight, or he plays injured, the Wizards must absolutely exploit the drawback.
Fun Factor:
Issa rivalry!
The Celtics and Wizards have become an unexpected rivalry this season, but there was some foresight going back to last season, when Jae Crowder and then-Wizards coach Randy Wittman got into a back and forth. Crowder claimed Wittman called him soft (understandably) and there was a moment when Crowder was seen barking at the Wizards bench and pointing a finger at Randy Wittman. Not helping the cause was John Wall committed a chase-down block on Crowder and then talking shit to him while stepping over Crowder's sprawled out body on the Garden hardwood.
Flash forward to this season (or just scroll to the above segment) and you've got the tussle between Wall and Smart, followed by the tussle between Wall and Crowder, followed by the whole "funeral" escapade, followed by a big Wizards win. Dab the ongoing dilemma with a little bit of high stakes and the pursuit top playoff seeding late in the season, and you've got yourself an all-out drama, my friends. Butter your popcorn. Let's go.