Without John Wall, the Washington Wizards were supposed to wither away in their second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. Everything appeared to be going to script when the Wizards lost Game 2 after taking Game 1. Then in Game 3 Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged: second-year swingman Otto Porter.
Otto Porter is taking advantage of his opportunity to shine
Porter is proving to be an essential cog in the Wizards’ offense with John Wall on the bench.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Porter, who averaged just 4.4 points in 15 minutes per game in March, was 7-of-15 from the field with 17 points and nine rebounds in Game 3. The Wizards stormed out of the gates and held on for a 103-101 win -- thanks to a game-winner from Paul Pierce -- that gave them a 2-1 series lead.
The Wizards played like the regular-season Hawks -- they got help from everyone who stepped on the court. Five Wizards scored in double figures and all nine players who got minutes scored. The entire team elevated their play, including Porter, who has been given a chance to prove his worth with Wall out with a wrist injury.
After averaging six points and three rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game in the regular season, Porter has taken advantage of his chance to play and excelled in the playoffs. He’s scoring 11.4 points and grabbing 8.1 rebounds in 33.2 minutes per game. Plus, he’s shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from behind the arc. In the two games without Wall, Porter is one of the Wizards’ most valuable offensive threats.
And Wall approves:
Porter isn't just throwing down big dunks, he's also hitting shots from the perimeter and helping open up the lane for Bradley Beal, Ramon Sessions and Will Bynum.
Porter roams the sideline looking for open threes, and even though he was just 2-of-6 from deep in Game 3, he's 6-of-14 in the series. Even with Wall out, Beal can get into the lane and dish out for open looks, and Porter knows how to find the open spot along the arc. But he doesn't confine himself to the perimeter. He cuts to the basket, too. Below, Porter hits a corner three and then gets away from DeMarre Carroll for a layup.
Not to mention, Porter is hustling. He was lambasted for his defensive lapses this season, but he is giving his all in this series. In the first quarter he missed a runner in the lane, but he didn’t give up on the play, instead fighting for the board and hitting a tough layup to get a bucket.
Not that everything was perfect for the Wizards on Saturday. If it wasn’t for the heroics of Pierce, they would have squandered a double-digit lead in the final quarter. However, they proved that they can play without Wall.
Porter will need to continue to hit shots and find seams in the Hawks’ defense. After his Game 3 performance, the Wizards are going to count on him. Porter is making a name for himself in the playoffs, just when the Wizards needed him most.
The Wizards aren’t as good as they are with Wall, but thanks to the elevated play of Porter and other role players, they’re still good enough to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
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