Ranking the potential heroes for Game 7 between the Celtics and Wizards
It took a while, but the Celtics and Wizards finally delivered a second great game in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup on Friday night. John Wall hit a late 3-pointer to give Washington a win and send us to Game 7 which means one thing. Someone has to be a hero on Monday night. But who?
Below is a completely unscientific breakdown of all 26 potential candidates. Number 26 was easy. Number 1 not so much. But it was all fun. So let’s get into this starting with the guy least likely to be the hero:
26. Brandon Jennings
This isn’t even a bitter Bucks fan thing either. Jennings has been terrible for while now and any minute he plays is a giant win for Boston. It is just about impossible to see a way Jennings does enough positive to be called a hero, no matter how many chances he gets.
25. Trey Burke
Burke probably isn’t an NBA player anymore. But he also isn’t Brandon Jennings and plays the same position. So maybe he steals minutes from Jennings somehow and doesn’t completely stink? That would qualify him as a hero, I guess.
24. James Young
He did some stuff in the D-League once. So why not?
23. Tyler Zeller
He is big. Washington attacks the rim a lot. Maybe foul trouble forces Zeller into the game and he blocks a few shots or something?
22. Sheldon McClennan
Again, foul trouble is the way here. Maybe the Wizards need McClennan to come in and play some final possession defense after some guys foul out, and he gets a stop.
21. Jonas Jerebko
Jerebko is normally pretty good when he gets minutes. The only thing keeping him this low is that he seems unlikely to get them. Him getting into the game and knocking down like three 3s in six minutes doesn’t feel impossible though.
20. Jason Smith
Ian Mahinmi has struggled to defend in space throughout the series. Smith has a slightly better shot to do that if he is completely healthy. Fifteen minutes of solid play off the bench is the kind of stuff that can swing the game for Washington. It remains to be seen if Smith’s calf is good enough to allow him to do that.
19. Gerald Green
Sometimes Green starts. Other times he doesn’t play. Sometimes he eats chicken fingers before games. You never know what Green is going to do, but he swung the series against the Bulls. Maybe he has one more scorching performance from 3-point land in him to push Boston past the Wizards.
18. Ian Mahinmi
Marcin Gortat has been great in the games Washington wins. But he can’t play 48 minutes. Mahinmi is a good backup center when healthy. Maybe Monday is the moment he earns his contract after a rough first season in DC. It isn’t crazy to think he could bully the Celtics backup bigs for easy points.
17. Amir Johnson
I can’t imagine how it would happen but he probably starts, so you never know.
16. Bojan Bogdanovic
His defense limits his hero ceiling but, man, can he shoot the ball. Maybe he gets super hot from behind the arc and helps Washington race out to a big lead early? That is about the only way though because anything close means no Bogdanovic on the floor late.
15. Jaylen Brown
We are now getting to the point where anyone feels truly possible. Brown may not play double-digit minutes. Or he may play 30. His athleticism and defense can change games for Boston. Maybe it does just that in Game 7.
14. Terry Rozier
I’m rooting so hard for this not to happen after Rozier supposedly was the sticking point in so many trade discussions.
13. Kelly Olynyk
It feels more likely Olynyk does something dirty that injures someone, but maybe he hits a bunch of 3-pointers off the bench.
12. Tomas Satoransky
He isn’t Brandon Jennings. John Wall needs like five minutes of rest. Competent point guard play when Wall rests could be the difference. Enter Satoransky.
11. Kelly Oubre Jr.
After the kerfuffle earlier in the series this would be pretty great.
10. Marcus Smart
It would be the ultimate troll move for Marcus Smart to go like 6-of-6 from 3-point range. So expect that, probably.
9. Jae Crowder
I never feel like Jae Crowder makes any shots when I watch the Celtics. Maybe Monday is the night he does.
8. Marcin Gortat
When Washington wins Gortat is a big reason why. His screens, while not always legal, are solid. He gets his hands on every Washington miss. He finishes inside in the pick-and-roll. A 15-point 15-rebound game isn’t likely but it feels possible.
7. Markieff Morris
Boston is fine with Morris shooting 3s when Washington has the ball. It only takes one hot spell to swing a game.
6. Otto Porter Jr.
Porter has been a revelation this season. He hurt Boston when they tried to hide Isaiah Thomas on him earlier in the series, but he hasn’t had a lights-out shooting night yet. The guy shot 41 percent from 3 this season. He is shooting 21 percent this series. Does he progress to the mean in Game 7?
5. Al Horford
He has been great all playoffs. Washington is ok with him shooting 3s and is trying to make non-Thomas Celtics beat them. Horford is good enough to do that.
4. Bradley Beal
Washington’s second star still hasn’t shot well from 3 in this series. Is Monday the night that changes?
3. Avery Bradley
Has been great for Boston all series on both ends. The scoring is always a nice bonus but Bradley harassing John Wall into another tough night may be what pushes the Celtics over the edge (and sets Bradley up for a gigantic pay day next summer).
2. John Wall
We all saw Game 6 right?
Next: The 20 different emotions of Gregg Popovich
1. Isaiah Thomas
Thomas having a giant night in Game 7, in Boston, feels destined after this season. Sure, the Celtics are going to get destroyed by the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. But would anyone remember that if Thomas goes for 50 or hits a buzzer beater in Game 7? I tend to think not.