John Wall Shows Out At The Garden
John Wall’s All-Star performance helped to lift the Washington Wizards against the New York Knicks.
It was a thriller at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night. The Washington Wizards had a 10-point lead during the last few minutes in the game. The free throw shooting was a problem and closing out the game was a struggle at certain times in the game. It wasn’t pretty, but the Wizards escaped the New York Knicks with a 111-108 victory.
The team was led by their All-Star point guard, John Wall, who put his stamp on the game. He led the team with 28 points and 17 assists in the game.
It was Wall’s fourth straight game with double-digit assists. I’ve recently said that I think that Wall is one of the more traditional point guards we have in the league. And his recent play has proven that during this stretch. Getting his team the ball while also being able to get himself involved are reasons why he is averaging a career high in points (20.1) and almost double-digit assists (9.9).
Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Washington Wizards
In fact, Wall is third in the league in assists per game behind Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook. I also like the fact that he is constantly getting his teammates involved.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
He has also been much improved from downtown. Tuesday night he shot 3-for-5 from the three-point line–improving his shooting to 11-for-17 from distance in his last four games, a 64.7 percent clip. I feel that Wall improving his jump shot over the years will do wonders for the team.
It will also help Bradley Beal and Jared Dudley in the sense that it help them to have another shot maker to help them create space.
I also think it shows guys around the league that Wall will be an even bigger threat on the court because he has another weapon in his arsenal. What was even more impressive was that Wall finished the game with only one turnover. Being a point guard in the league means to handle the position with a lot of care.
That is especially true because of the array of elite guards that are in the league (Stephen Curry, Westbrook, Chris Paul); you must not make many mistakes against them. If not, you will be in for a long night.
Wall has been doing a great job of taking care of the ball as of late. However, with him being the leader of the team he must continue to urge the guys to play more consistent ball. With the win, the team is now 23-27 and only four games back of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. He is also not making any excuses for why they have been losing.
More hoops habit: 50 Greatest NBA Players Of The 1980s
I feel a game like his will not only build Wall’s confidence but the team’s confidence as well. It will show them that in tough moments they can lean on their point guard. I also think it will force management to make a big move at the trade deadline to help Wall and Beal make a run at the playoffs and get back to respectability in the league.