Wall has to work for recognition among top NBA point guards
WASHINGTON — Fresh off scoring 51 points against the Washington Wizards, reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry praised John Wall, who dropped a quiet 41 against the Warriors.
“He’s a top-tier point guard,” Curry said, “and it’s like that — not his caliber every night — but obviously at the e point guard position you’re going to have some talent on the other side of the ball most nights.” ”
Wall has never ver played better in whathat is now a point-guard league.ague.
It doesn’t stop with Curry. The talent pool l includes Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, to name a few.
“I think I’m having a career year,” Wall said. “I can say I’m playing my best basketball, but not the way I want to play because it’s not equaling up to wins.”
Wall is an All-Star for the third time but gets lost in the packed field of “top- tier” point guards. His 20.1 points a game are sixth at the position, while his 9.9 assists are third behind only Sacramento’s Rajon Rondo and Westbrook.
But some nights there is just no denying his talents.
Like Tuesday at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Wall had 28 points and 17 assists to lead Washington past the Knicks. It was another showcase performance during a season that hasn’t gone the way he or the Wiza Wizards have wanted.
The Wizards will b be a sub-. 500 team and outside side the Eastern ConferenceConfe playoff picture at the All-Star break. InjuriesInjuri to sidekick Bradley Beal and many others haveha hampered Washington this season.
But Wall is hol holding up his end and is playing ing like a top-five point guard.
He has an all-around game — the ability to beat defenders off the dribble, to spot up, pass, use his court vision and rebound. As Celtics coach Brad Stevens said recently, “you have to pick your poison” when defending Wall.
“Being able to shoot the ball off the pick and roll with great consistency — that’s what makes defenses choose what to do next,” Stevens said. “He’s been a great passer off the pick and roll.”
There’s no shortage of admiration around the league for Wall, who Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown deemed “the fastest guard in the NBA.”