Editorial by Graydon Fox

Prizes:

1^st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2^nd -5^th Place: $10 Amazon gift card

Top 5 winners

1. Terry Van Sickle (500 PTS)
2. tatm***@gmail.com (500 PTS)
3. donjones2***@gmail.com (500 PTS)
4. Robert F Yocum (367 PTS)
5. Roy Garrett (358 PTS)

Overview:

On Wednesday, April 25^th, the Washington Wizards will be on the road to take on the Toronto Raptors in game five of their Eastern Conference Playoff Series.  The series is tied (2-2).

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Raptors 107.1 – Wizards 101.7 with an over/under of 208.8.

Statistical Breakdown (2017-18 season):

Point differential: Raptors +7.8 (2^nd) > Wizards +0.6 (15^th)

Points per game: Raptors 111.7 (4^th) > Wizards 106.6 (13^th)

Points allowed per game: Raptors 103.9 (6^th) > Wizards 106.0 (15^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Raptors 47.2% (7^th) > Wizards 46.7% (11^th)

Three Point Percentage: Wizards 37.5% (3^rd) > Raptors 35.8% (18^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Raptors 44.9% (5^th) > Wizards 46.2% (15^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Raptors 12.7 (4^th) > Wizards 14.0 (18^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Wizards 14.4 (7^th) > Raptors 13.7 (12^th)

Rebounds per game: Raptors 44.0 (13^th) > Wizards 43.1 (23^rd)

Assists per game: Wizards 25.2 (4^th) > Raptors 24.3 (6^th)

Summary:

The series is now tied (2-2) after the Wizards defeated the Raptors 106-98 in Washington.  The Wizards shot 46% from the field and outrebounded the Raptors 56-52.  John Wall stuffed the stat sheet with 27 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals.  Bradley Beal scored 31 points and the Wizards were able to maintain their lead despite Beal fouling out with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter.  Wall and Beal combined to take 43 of Washington’s 85 total shots.  Otto Porter and Marcin Gortat each added 12 points in the victory.  This postseason the Wizards are averaging 113.3 points per game (3^rd) and allowing 111.3 (13^th).

The Raptors let two games slip away in Washington but still have home court advantage moving forward.  Toronto was held to 43% shooting from the field and were unable to overcome 17 turnovers in the game four loss.  The Raptors allowed a 14-point lead slip away in the loss.  DeMar Derozan scored 35 points but shot an ugly 10-29 from the field.  Kyle Lowry had a nice game with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Toronto has to get more production from their supporting cast which certainly disappointed Sunday’s loss.  In the playoffs, the Raptors are averaging 111.3 points per game (4^th) and allowing 111.3 (14^th).

Bottom Line:

DeMar Derozan has to be more efficient if the Raptors want to win game five and take control of the series.  The Raptors got virtually no production from a bench unit that was one of the team’s greatest strengths in the regular season.  John Wall and Bradley Beal will get theirs but I have less faith in their supporting cast.  I expect the Raptors to win game five at home where they are a stunning (36-7) this season.

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