We tuned in to see John Wall matched up on Evan Turner — and we got a little of that late in the game.
But it ended up being about a lot more. It ended up being about Andray Blatche finding the guy from the end of last season. It ended up being about whether or not to foul when up three late. It ended up being one of the more entertaining games of the young season — Wizards won 116-115 in overtime.
It even started out entertaining, with Wall doing the dougie out to the other starters before the game. Washington is all about Wall.
Then for the first six minutes of the rookie’s home opener, Jrue Holiday took Wall to school. On one of the first possessions, Holiday just stepped behind a screen and knocked down a two. Two possessions later he was coming off the baseline out to the wing, felt Wall overplaying and denying the pass so Holiday went backdoor and just lost him and got a dunk. On a Wizards possession a couple plays later Wall gets the handoff coming off a wing screen and tries to drive but Holiday catches him and ties him up. At least Wall won the tip. A little bit later, Holiday with a long two over Wall.
Wall is going to be very good, but nerves and another good point guard gave him a wake up call.
Then Wall settled down Lou Williams came in for Holiday. Wall was too quick, too strong for Williams and he started getting in deep, getting good looks or getting fouled. Wall ended up with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Meanwhile Wall just seemed to go off: Half of Wall’s 16 shots came at the rim (dunks and layups) and he was 7-8 at the rim, 2-8 on jump shots (both deep twos). Wall also was fouled a lot and got to the line 14 times. He was aggressive at both ends, getting nine steals.
Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick of the Sixers, doesn’t bring the dynamic play of Wall, but you can see him starting to find his way through and around the NBA game and the Sixers play.
Well, you didn’t see that in the first half. He really just floated through the half, playing but not really impacting the game at all. But in the second half he started to find his spots, he got to play a little point guard late, he seemed able to assert himself more that way. He got all his points in the midrange — he cannot explode to the rim like Wall.
While Wall was a star, tonight saw the return of the Andray Blatche from the end of last season that carried the Wizards — because he stopped settling and started just attacking the rim. Something he said he would do before the game — 7 of his 17 shots came at the rim. More than that he drew contact and got to the line for 14 free throws.
Nowhere was that aggression more evident than the game-winning basket in overtime, where Blatche set a down screen for Al Thornton, then popped to 12 feet, got the pass, jab stepped then went by Elton Brand like he was a statue to get to the rim. Brand had to foul, Blatche drained the free throws. Blatche has so many skills — he’s not always efficient with them but he has the skills — and when he just goes at it and attacks those skills are hard to stop.
The one other interesting thing was something Sebastian Pruiti wrote about at NBA Playbook — the Sixers fouling at the end of regulation up three. Pruiti and I disagree about whether or not to foul in that situation. I think you do it at the six second mark or less. But I agree with Pruiti on this — the first last foul, on Wall was too early and in a bad spot. They fouled Wall while he was dribbling early and not in a dangerous spot on the floor. The second time — Cartier Martin’s tying shot, they did not foul when a quick foul was what they needed.
The Sixers did not execute the late fouling strategy well, extended the game and gave the opposing team a chance. And lost.