Wizards
Satoransky makes case for more playing time with effort
“Our record is not good. That’s one. And other than that, probably two, I like his ability to accept his role. That’s important factor to how he plays,” Brooks said after the Wizards beat the Nets, 102-88, a performance that was underscored by wire-to-wire energy by a team that has been criticized for its inconsistent and sluggish habits through the season’s first six weeks.
Satoransky appeared to be something of an antidote Saturday night, although he will never be mistaken for a high-volume scorer. He finished with just seven points. But in replacing Kelly Oubre Jr. in the lineup, the 27-year-old Czech guard allowed Washington to use a three-guard look along with John Wall (30 points) and Bradley Beal (22 points).
Satoransky’s ballhandling and ball movement on the perimeter helped facilitate an offense that finally put together a strong start and finished with a 51.9 percent shooting performance. Moreover, it was Satoransky’s hustle on both ends that led Brooks to concede afterward that he sees Satoransky starting again when the team begins a four-game road trip on Monday night at the New York Knicks.
“He’s a ball mover. He hustles. He does everything that, when you first started playing the game, you did. You take care of the ball and you play as hard as you can,” Brooks said of Satoransky, who had three assists against just one turnover in 26 minutes Saturday. “I needed to reward him. It’s well deserved and the team loves it, because he plays hard. You celebrate his effort. And it’s important that we start doing that, play with more effort.”
Brooks hopes the lineup change can help spark Washington on the road after it suffered losses at New Orleans and Philadelphia by a combined 46 points. There were other encouraging developments Friday night, including the return of Otto Porter Jr., who missed Friday night’s game at Philadelphia because of a personal matter but came back Saturday with a strong all-around performance (seven points, 11 rebounds, three assists).
Markieff Morris continued to embrace his new role off the bench and feasted on the Nets' small lineup to score 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter. Washington’s bench was without reserve Jeff Green (lower back spasms) but finished with a combined 34 points and 11 rebounds.
Satoransky earned plenty of praise for his defensive effort, helping Washington hold the Nets to just 37 percent shooting and forcing 17 turnovers, the kind of collective effort that has been missing for long stretches of the season. Satoransky might have made his first start of the season Saturday, but he’s been in this position before, making 30 starts for the Wizards a year ago. He’s seen a bump in his minutes, logging at least 22 minutes in four of his last six games.
He doesn’t have the electrifying offensive game of Oubre, but his skill-set shined particularly early on in the third quarter when Washington made an 11-0 run to create a cushion it wouldn’t relinquish.
“He’s moving the ball. He’s not scared to take shots,” Wall said. “He’s also defending at a high-level for us.”
Satoransky had worked to carve his own role out with the second unit earlier this season, but his job Saturday night was to complement a starting lineup that is also relying on young Bryant, who is filling in for injured big man Dwight Howard. Like Satoransky, Bryant is a recent addition to the starting lineup and provided a jolt on Saturday night, a player Beal says has “infinite energy.”
“I just tell him to stay humble and continue to take advantage of your opportunities,” Beal said. “A year ago, you weren’t even in this position. Now you’re starting. That’s amazing in itself.”
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
