Kelly Olynyk, Celtics win Game 7 over Wizards: 3 takeaways
By John Buhler
Kelly Olynyk comes up huge off the Boston Celtics bench to help his team win Game 7 over the Washington Wizards to reach the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
This second-round series between the No. 1 Boston Celtics and the No. 4 Washington Wizards deserved to go seven games. While the home team won all seven games in this best-of-seven series, it did not disappoint.
Washington had its moments to steal Game 7 on the road, but inherent sloppiness at the end of the third quarter allowed Boston to take a sizable lead through the rest of the game. Boston will now face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from Boston’s 115-105 Game 7 victory over Washington.
Takeaways
The Kelly Olynyk Game? The Kelly Olynyk Game. When you woke up today, did you really think we were going to see The Kelly Olynyk Game? Outside of Kelly Olynyk himself, probably not. The former Gonzaga Bulldog standout and Celtics rotational big had by far and away his most impactful game of his NBA career.
When Celtics starting power forward Amir Johnson got into foul trouble almost immediately, Olynyk went to work in this must-win Game 7. He would play 28 minutes, scoring 26 points on 10-14 shooting, collecting five rebounds and dishing out four assists.
Technically, point guard Isaiah Thomas had more points than Olynyk for Boston, but this was his game. Man buns and dudes named Kelly won tonight. Except for Kelly Oubre Jr. He definitely didn’t win tonight. The collective scored as many points as Oubre did. In the War of the Kellys, Olynyk prevailed.
Washington might as well have played four-on five. The Wizards had approximately four players tonight: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr., Markieff Morris, and that’s it. It was an embarrassment coming off the bench. Head coach Scott Brooks might as well have played a five-man rotation. Five points — come on!
It was just the reserves that severely limited Washington’s effectiveness down the wire. Center Marcin Gortat looked befuddled the entire time. He had disappeared offensively on multiple occasions throughout the NBA Playoffs. 11 rebounds, six points and four turnovers in the low post didn’t cut it.
It was a shame really, as Wall and Beal had to do everything in their power to keep Washington in this. Beal had 38 points. Wall had 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Even Morris and Porter combined for 38 points and 19 rebounds. Washington might as well have had been dealt a red card from the jump. The Wizards have to fix their bench this summer. It could not be worse.
Al Horford can beat the Wizards to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. For as much fun as it was to see Olynyk play out of his mind on Monday night, Boston is well aware that level of play from their third big man is not sustainable. What does look to be sustainable is the improved play in the postseason by center Al Horford.
This is his 10th trip to the Eastern Conference Playoffs in his career and his second trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in three seasons. Horford had been an All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks, but would disappear in huge moments while with Atlanta. Boston has certainly seen this disappearing act from Horford from time to time this season.
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While he is talented enough to be the second-best player on a championship contender, he hasn’t always shown that. To date, this was his best series in the NBA Playoffs. Coincidentally, his two best have come against Wizards in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Boston could win a game or two in the Eastern Conference Finals, but Horford needs get over his Cavalier demons to do so. Game 7 showed us that he’s all-in this year.