2018 NBA Playoffs: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards preview

2. Can Washington’s bench give them anything?

While Toronto’s bench has thrived as arguably the best second unit in the NBA, Washington’s bench has failed to produce for what seems like forever. Guys like Kelly Oubre Jr., Mike Scott, and Jodie Meeks are capable of scoring the basketball, but none can do it with the ball in his hands.

The point of a bench is to allow the starters to grab a breather without fear of losing or giving back a lead. What good are those three guys if they can’t take some of the pressure off Wall and Beal?

The key to Washington’s bench could lie in second-year point guard Tomas Satoransky. A 26-year-old from Prague, Satoransky did an admirable job filling in for Wall while the five-time All-Star nursed his way back onto the court from knee surgery.

During that time, Satoransky averaged 5.9 assists in 26 games, showing the ability to run the offense for stretches at a time.

If Satoransky can come into the games and get open shots for Meeks and Oubre, it would allow Wall to take a breather every so often, making sure he’s fresh for what is sure to be some tight games down the stretch.