SCOUT’S BREAKDOWN
Beal will be key for Wizards, DeRozan has to attack Pierce who is ‘basically done,’ veteran observer says
Beal will be key for Wizards, NBA veteran observer says,
To help break down the Raptors-Wizards playoff series, the Star enlisted the aid of a longtime NBA advance scout currently employed by an Eastern Conference team. Here’s his take on the series: “I really feel like this is a series that Toronto should win. If they don’t win, this will be a very big disappointment . . . I think they’re just a better team, but I’m not saying for sure they will.
“The key for Washington, to me, is Bradley Beal. If he can stay healthy and he has games that he’s capable of he’s going to make the series interesting. Part of their struggles in the second half of the year is because Beal was nicked up with injuries, that’s kind of limited him.
“The other thing about Washington, from my perspective, was they have a very shaky bench. Their bench is not that good. I feel like their second-line players get really questionable. Rasual Butler had a good start to the year, he played out of his mind and he’s cooled off and their bench is just not that good. (Martell) Webster is always inconsistent, he always gets hurt a lot, too. Their backup point guard situation — now they’ve got (Ramon) Sessions and they weren’t happy with Andre Miller — is weak.
“I like the kid (Kevin) Seraphin a little bit because he can score, but the bench is an issue.
“What’s going on with Amir (Johnson)? What’s going on? Hurt again? It seems every time I’ve seen them lately, late in the game (Patrick) Patterson’s been on the floor and I was kind of saying to myself, why is Patterson on the floor and Amir Johnson isn’t? But if Amir’s injured that’s what they have to do.
“As far as the matchup up front, I think it should be a good matchup, very interesting with (Jonas) Valan- ciunas against (Marcin) Gortat and you never know about Nene, you never know if he’s going to show up or not, he’s kind of inconsistent, too. But otherwise it should be a good matchup with the bigs if Amir plays, it could be a fascinating matchup.
“Let’s face it, I think Valanciunas, he’s got to be a factor. It seems like he’s awfully inconsistent and I know he doesn’t get enough touches. That’s what people around the league tell me, but it’s about time for him to step up and be a man. I mean, be more of a dominant player.
“If (Paul) Pierce guards (DeMar) DeRozan, then DeRozan has to go to town on him. I’ll be honest with you, I think Pierce is basically done, I just think they have to attack him, make him run. I think his legs are gone, he’s getting old, plain and simple. I think DeRozan has to attack him off the dribble; that’s a matchup I’d like if I’m Toronto. (Terrence) Ross could run him, absolutely. You want to run him, the only thing he can do now is hit some spot up jumpers or whatever, but even with that, he’s just not the player that he was even last year in Brooklyn.
“For Washington to win, (John) Wall and Beal both have to have dominant series. Wall can get in the
“I think (Paul Pierce’s) legs are gone, he’s getting old, plain and simple . . . DeRozan has to attack him off the dribble.” EASTERN CONFERENCE SCOUT
lane, attack the basket, get to the foul line and I think he’s going to have success. (Greivis) Vasquez isn’t going to stop him. They’re going to have to contain John Wall. But if they can contain John Wall and keep Bradley Beal under control, I don’t see any reason why Toronto can’t win the series, I really don’t.”