John Wall mystifies Celtics on this delicious dime (Video)
By John Buhler
Washington Wizards point guard John Wall just did something with the basketball that completely mystified the Boston Celtics defense.
Most of the conference semifinals series of the 2017 NBA Playoffs have been grossly one-sided, but not the series between the No. 1 Boston Celtics and the No. 4 Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference. Both teams hate each other and John Wall is an insanely skilled point guard for the Wizards.
Late in the second quarter of Game 4 in Washington, Wall unleashes his latest source of wizardry at the point. He might be faster than any human being in transition offense, but his distributive skills are second to no one in the Eastern Conference.
Wall recognizes an obvious mismatch at the top of the key with Celtics diminutive star point guard Isaiah Thomas guarding him. Thomas is outstanding offensively, but can’t guard a point guard as dynamic as Wall.
Wall shakes Thomas and then uses Wizards center Marcin Gortat in a crafty pick-and-roll. He uses Gortat’s large frame to bewilder Celtics center Kelly Olynyk in the paint. Wall would then whip the rock around Gortat for an easy layup for the Wizards.
Boston and Washington were tied at 48 points apiece heading into halftime. The Celtics may have a 2-1 series lead over the Wizards, but Game 4 could go either way. Washington has been a dominant team at home this season, but has been lackluster at best away from the Verizon Center. Boston has shown an uncanny ability to win evenly at home or on the road.
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The winner of this best-of-seven series will face the two-time defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland has come off its second sweep of the NBA Playoffs, having eliminated the Toronto Raptors in only four games on Sunday afternoon.