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Washington Wizards: 3 Keys To Clinching First-Round Series

By Jerran Anderson

Apr 26, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) dunks the ball as Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) looks on in the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) dunks the ball as Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) looks on in the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 26, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates with Washington Wizards guard Brandon Jennings (7) against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates with Washington Wizards guard Brandon Jennings (7) against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Find Their Groove From Three-Point Land

The Washington Wizards are still trying to find their groove from the three-point line. Game 6 will be interesting as they haven’t shot the ball well from three all series (29.6 percent).

Bradley Beal shot 1-for-9 from three in Game 5 although he scored the first seven points for Washington. For the series, Beal is 12-of-50 (24 percent) from three.

He is well below his regular season average of 40.4 percent from three-point land, but the good thing is he shot well overall from the floor (11-of-22) in Game 5.

Bojan Bogdanovic and Otto Porter were able to pick up the slack for Beal from behind the arc. Bogdanovic and Porter made two three-pointers each in Washington’s victory last night.

They still haven’t been able to improve as a team from three, but the dip in percentage falls mostly on Beal. He’s averaging 2.9 three-pointers and 7.2 attempts per game, both career-highs.

Next: 2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 12

Beal made up for his bad three-point shooting in other ways, particularly on defense, where he had three blocks and three steals. He’ll need to go into Game 6 with a lot more focus as the Wizards have a chance to clinch the series.