Wizards Find Success with Point Guardless Lineup to Close Out The Timberwolves 

The Washington Wizards outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 92-89 effort. The game saw them playing without their leader and four-time all-star, John Wall. In his absence, Coach Scott Brooks was forced to get creative with his lineups.

He found success with a closing lineup that did not feature any player who usually plays point guard. Though back up point guards Tim Frazier and Tomas Satoransky took over in Wall’s absence through the first three quarters and much of the forth, Brooks had Beal switch from his traditional shooting guard role to take over the point position in the game’s closing minutes.

Frazier got the start at point guard, but only ended up playing sixteen minutes as his defensive deficiencies and his offensive tentativeness was exploited by the Timberwolves. Though he dished out four assists, he only took two shots and had two points. Satoransky, who rarely sees minutes, took over in Frazier’s usual role backup point guard role. He played a well-rounded game, getting seven points, six assists, and grabbing five boards. In general, the team struggled and fell behind with Frazier at the point and made surges during Satoransky’s minutes.

Though Beal ran the offense as the point guard during the closing minutes and helped them edge out the Timberwolves, he didn’t play as well as he usually does. Timberwolves' defensive powerhouse Jimmy Butler guarded him throughout most of the game and hounded him. Beal attempted just 11 shots, and made two, scoring eight points. These numbers are far lower than the 23.4 points and 18.0 attempts he’s taking this season.

The team trailed throughout most of the game until the closing minutes when Beal took over as a point guard. Even though he had shot horribly, the Timberwolves knew he was an offensive threat. He used this threat to his advantage, drew defenders to him and dished out six assists on the game.

The Wizards shot mediocre in the game at 43.4% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range, but they got the job done by playing strong defense and taking care of the ball. They held the Timberwolves to 41.2% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Wizards had just seven turnovers in the game and backup point guard Frazier and Satoransky had no turnovers at all.

Though the Wizards have it tougher now that their leader John Wall is absent, Beal, Frazier, and Satoransky just combined for sixteen assists and with only one turnover. There is far more than one capable ball handler on the Wizards, and Brooks can find success in Wall’s absence by getting creative with his lineups. It will be interesting to see whether Brooks keeps using Beal at the point to close out games in Wall’s absence.