Stepping up and filling in for an All-Star player is never an easy task. Ask Antonio Daniels when he had to fill in at point for two seasons in a row after Gilbert Areans’ knee injury. Ask Ramon Sessions when he had that same role in the 2015 playoffs with John Wall’s wrist and hand injury. Throughout the course of the 2017-18 season, Wall has played through a banged up left knee. By the time the Wizards suffered a tough road loss to the Thunder on January 25 in Oklahoma City, Wall’s left knee reached the point of more swelling and discomfort per head coach Scott Brooks. Wall would sit out the following game in Atlanta and then underwent surgery in Cleveland four days later.
(Photo: Ned Dishman via Getty Images)
With the news following the procedure that Wall would be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks, it left a significant hole not just at the point guard position, but the whole team. In turn, the team had to come together, work together and continue to pile up wins as they chase towards the playoffs and securing the best seed they can possibly get in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
“We just take it a game at a time. We’re getting better every day. We’re enjoying the process, enjoying the moment of it. We want John to take his time with his recovery because we want him back 100 percent, not 85 or 90 straight 100,” Bradley Beal said following a win over the Raptors on Feb. 1.
Enter Tomas Satoransky, a player who was drafted back in 2012 but didn’t make his Wizards debut until last season due to spending two seasons at FC Barcelona Lassa overseas. Satoransky was thurst into the role of a starting point guard to fill in for Wall for the time being. Those are some big shoes to fill but despite that, Satoransky has performed well.
In all, Satoransky has averaged 11.8 points per game and 5.3 assists per game during the eight games the Wizards have played since Wall sat out at that game in Atlanta. Satoransky has reached double figures on the stat sheet in five of those eight games.
After a win over the Hawks where Satoransky had 11 points and seven assists, the Wizards had two big games at Capital One Arena against the Thunder and then the Raptors. This put Satoransky with the tasks of having to guard reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and then All-Star Kyle Lowry. Satoransky was up to the task. After Westbrook dropped 46 points in their win against the Wizards five days prior, he was held to just 13 in the rematch, which was his third-lowest point total of the season. Most importantly, the Wizards won that rematch and then defeated the Raptors two nights later.
“He (Satoransky) guarded the two All-Star point guards in each conference the last two nights. Welcome to the starting lineup. There are so many great point guards in this league and there is never a night off but I think he battles. I love his effort, I love his ability to just stay in plays and keep pursuing and using his length,” said Wizards head coach Scott Brooks after that win over the Raptors.
Two nights after that win over Toronto, Satoransky dropped 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting including a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc in a 115-98 win over the Magic.
One week later, Satoransky outdid himself with an impressive 25-point performance in a 101-90 win over the Chicago Bulls. Not only was his 25 points a career-high, it was also the most points scored by an NBA player from the Czech Republic. Satoransky shot 10-of-12 and 5-of-6 from three. His 10 field goals and five three pointers were also career-highs as well as his two steals and 37 minutes of play.
“He played well. He started the game off making shots. Give him credit, he’s really worked on his outside shot. That’s one of the things we’ve talked about going home for the summer, coming back a better shooter and he has. He’s worked with our coaches, he continues to improve, he cares. His care level is as high as it gets and I love that about him,” Brooks told the media after the game.
Things got ugly in the final minutes. As Satoransky was going up for a baseline dunk, Bobby Portis grabbed his arm while he was in mid-air. Satoransky came down hard with his head slamming the floor. Portis was ejected from the game with a flagrant.
“Everybody knows the rule. It’s a dangerous play,” said Brooks.
After the game, we all found out that Satoransky underwent the concussion protocol. With the next Wizards game not for another three days and an all-star break following that Wednesday night contest with the Knicks, the Wizards and their fans hope Satoransky will be fully healthy to continue to lead the team at the point during this stretch without Wall.
“It’s a good time to have three days off before our next game and then we’re gonna need some time off after the break. It’s well deserved. Our guys have been fighting and battling all year. We’ve had some tough luck on some injuries but we’ve chipped away. We have an opportunity to get one more win before the break,” said Brooks.