Washington can clinch spot in 2nd round Friday
out of the paint, so we have to figure out ways to get him some opportunities to score . . . but I like when he just plays. And if the shot comes to him, it comes to him.”
As the Wizards head back to Atlanta holding a 3-2 series edge, there is little the Hawks are doing to surprise Brooks anymore. Likewise, Atlanta has had time to figure out Washington on defense, and Howard is playing better after a revitalization on his home court. Gortat started the series with consecutive 14-point performances in Games 1 and 2 before he scored just nine points in the past three games combined.
A big part of that drop-off, Brooks said, is the two teams settling into their game plans. Atlanta packing the paint and keying in on Wall simply doesn't allow for many chances for Gortat.
“With John, John did an excellent job in the first two games finding Marc late to where he just catch it and finish,” Howard said during the Hawks' practice at Verizon Center before Game 5. “We've been trying to take that away, do a good job on the pick and roll with John, forcing them to take tough shots. He's been making a lot of tough shots, but we'd rather had that than Marcin getting those easy buckets and getting into a rhythm.”
Even without Gortat scoring in double digits, the Wizards have praised their center for contributing on defense - particularly so on Wednesday night, one of the stronger defensive outings for the team in the entire series.
While he scored just two points in Washington's Game 4 loss in Atlanta on Monday, Gortat pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds and led the team with three blocks. He had nine rebounds the previous game.
“I mean, everybody wants to feel involved on the offensive end, I get that - I was frustrated for 11 years playing - but it's part of being a team, you've got to sacrifice,” Brooks said when asked if Gortat feels any frustration over his lack of output. “There's gonna be games, there's gonna be series that, the way teams are scheming, you might not get looks. They're not giving Otto any air space on the three-point line, and they shouldn't, he's one of the best three-point shooters in the league. You think John or myself only want to give Otto two or three threes? I want Otto to shoot 10 threes a game. But they're not giving those opportunities. And they shouldn't. And the same thing with Marc. But it's about doing other things to help your team win, and I think he's done a good job doing that defending, rebounding, setting screens, just being a guy that can clog the paint.
“The scoreboard is more important than his stat line, and that's how I feel with all the guys. We had four more points than them, and he's a big part of those four points.”
Note: Brooks said Thursday that Jason Smith, who left Wednesday's game with a left calf strain, would likely be a game-time decision ahead of Friday's Game 6 in Atlanta.