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Wizards bring back the two towers, and Nene and Marcin Gortat step up Wizards bring back the two towers, and Nene and Marcin Gortat step up
(about 1 hour later)
When the Washington Wizards elected to adopt a smaller, pace-and-space style this season, they decided the transition required breaking up the starting front court of Nene and Marcin Gortat, a pairing crucial to their consecutive postseason appearances, in favor of adding another three-point shooter on the floor. For 39 games the Wizards held steady and Gortat and Nene were kept separate, each serving as the lone traditional big man whenever they were on the court. When the Washington Wizards elected to adopt a smaller, pace-and-space style this season, they decided the transition required breaking up the starting front court of Nene and Marcin Gortat, a pairing crucial to their consecutive postseason appearances, in favor of putting another three-point shooter on the floor. For 39 games the Wizards held steady and Gortat and Nene were kept separate, each serving as the lone traditional big man whenever they were on the court.
But Wizards Coach Randy Wittman reunited the pair in Monday’s loss the Portland Trail Blazers because, he said, his options were limited because of injuries. The reunion was unsightly — Washington was outscored by 11 points in the eight minutes Gortat and Nene shared the floor — but it didn’t stop Wittman from trying again in Wednesday’s 106-87 wire-to-wire victory over the Miami Heat. But Wizards Coach Randy Wittman reunited the pair in Monday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers because, he said, his options were limited because of injuries. The reunion didn’t conjure positive memories — Washington was outscored by 11 points in the eight minutes Gortat and Nene shared the floor — but it didn’t stop Wittman from trying again in Wednesday’s 106-87 wire-to-wire victory over the Miami Heat.
In search of a spark, and a counter to a formidable Heat front court, Wittman started Gortat and Nene together for the first time this season. The second trial was far more fruitful. The old friends combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds to guide the Wizards past limping Miami and snap a two-game losing skid to close the first half of their schedule. Wittman replaced Jared Dudley with Nene and paired him with Gortat in the starting lineup for the first time this season, and the second trial was far more fruitful. The old buddies fueled a strong start and combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds to guide the Wizards past a limping Miami club and snap a two-game skid to close the first half of their schedule.
For once, the Wizards, severely undermanned nearly the entire season, encountered a team with a longer injury list. While Washington was without four players, the Heat began the night with five – including all-star Dwayne Wade, and point guards Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih – in street clothes. Miami’s woes only continued when Hassan Whiteside — an interior force who overwhelmed the Wizards in a 97-75 victory on Jan. 3 — exited the contest in the second quarter with a strained oblique. “It’s awesome,” Wizards guard Bradley Beal said. “That reminds me of the past three years that we’ve been all playing together. It’s great to see those two out here working and battling together.”
Down to two starters and their third-string point guard, Tyler Johnson, the Heat (24-19) committed 19 turnovers and never led. Miami has lost seven of nine — five by double digits. [Alan Anderson to miss another ‘few weeks’ before making his debut]
Washington shot just 4 of 15 from three-point range but connected on 51.2 percent from the field, outscored Miami in the paint, 46-30, and tallied 15 of its 19 fast-break points in the second half. John Wall and Bradley Beal each posted 18 points. Wall, who shot 7 of 14 from the floor, added 10 assists for his 23rd double-double of the season. Gortat tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds for his third straight double-double, while Nene contributed 16 points and six rebounds. Washington is now 4-0 when Nene starts. For once, the Wizards, ravaged by injuries, encountered an opponent with a longer injury list. While Washington was without four players, the Heat (24-19) began the night with five — including all-star Dwyane Wade, and point guards Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih — unavailable.
The Gortat-Nene partnership, a starting tandem for the first time since the Wizards were eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last May, thrived from the start with Nene scoring six of Washington’s first eight points. The Wizards were up three when Wittman gave Nene a breather. Miami’s woes only continued when Hassan Whiteside — an interior force who overwhelmed the Wizards in a 97-75 victory on Jan. 3 — exited the game in the second quarter with a strained oblique and Luol Deng staggered off late in the fourth period with a towel over his right eye. By the end of the night, Chris Bosh was the only healthy starter.
The gap widened to 26-14 with Gortat and Jared Dudley, the Wizards’ usual starting front court, sharing the floor before the Heat somehow scrapped enough offense to counter with an 8-0 spurt, which Luol Deng completed with two corner three-pointers. “I don’t want to hear about anybody else’s problems,” Wittman said. “We got enough of our own problems.”
Amar’e Stoudemire, another former top-flight scorer relegated to complimentary duties when the Heat are at full strength, assumed the offensive production to start the second quarter. Stoudemire netted seven straight points to start the period, falling three shy of his season high in just over three minutes. The unexpected surge from the six-time all-star sustained the Heat, who stayed within two points. The Heat’s dire situation, coupled with the fact that it was playing the second game of a back-to-back, made Miami ripe for a trouncing. But that isn’t a guarantee against the Wizards, who have compiled head-scratching lackluster home efforts this season and were fresh off Monday’s loss to Portland.
But Miami’s scoring sources quickly dried up. The Heat lost Whiteside with 6:18 remaining in the second period and Miami scored 10 points over the final 8:59 of the half. Washington, meanwhile, methodically buried the visitors. On Wednesday, the Wizards did not stumble. They pounced from the tip, building a 12-point lead in the first quarter that grew to 24 in the second half. Down to their third-string point guard, Tyler Johnson, the Heat committed 21 turnovers and lost for the seventh time in nine games — five by double digits.
The Wizards constructed a 51-37 lead anyway by scoring 18 points off 16 Miami turnovers, shooting an even 50 percent from the field, and assisting on 16 of 21 made baskets. “We wanted to come in and jump on them early and we were able to do that,” Wizards guard Garrett Temple said.
The Heat turned to Chris Bosh, their lone remaining all-star, to generate a 6-0 spurt and trim Washington’s lead to 61-56 with 5:06 left in the third quarter, but the Wizards answered with an 8-2 run, sparked by a dunk from Nene on an assist from Gortat that pushed the lead to 11 and Miami didn’t have the firepower to recover Washington shot just 5 of 16 from three-point range but connected on 52.3 percent from the field, outscored Miami in the paint 46-32 and tallied 15 of its 19 fast-break points in the second half. John Wall and Beal each posted 18 points. Wall, who shot 7 of 14 from the floor, added 10 assists for his 23rd double-double of the season.
Gortat tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds for his third straight double-double, while Nene, appearing in his 20th game this season, contributed 16 points and six rebounds. Washington is 4-0 when Nene starts.
[Gortat puts Wizards’ injury problems on the players]
Wittman explained that he chose to start Nene alongside Gortat for two reasons: The Heat boasts a big front court in Bosh and Whiteside, and it often shifts Deng, a traditional small forward, to power forward with the second unit. Wittman figured starting the 6-foot-7 Dudley on Bosh and having the 6-11 Nene oppose Deng created two mismatches, so he made the move.
“Again, it will be matchups,” Wittman said. “I think moving forward here, hopefully, we can get healthier and healthier, then we will look at those things.”
The Gortat-Nene partnership, rekindled as a starting tandem for the first time since the Wizards were eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last May, thrived from the start with Nene scoring six of Washington’s first eight points. The Wizards were up three when Wittman gave Nene a breather seven minutes into the game.
The gap widened to 26-14 with Gortat and Dudley sharing the floor, and the Wizards buried the Heat in the second quarter once they lost Whiteside with 6:18 remaining. Miami scored 10 points over the final 8:59 of the half. Washington, meanwhile, methodically buried the visitors. By halftime the lead had ballooned to 14, and Miami’s limited firepower faded.
“We did a great job tonight of just being aggressive from the start,” Beal said, “and we continued it throughout the game.”