The first look at your new Washington Wizards produced a loss in their preseason opener. The Wizards fell to the Houston Rockets, 124-119.
No biggie. That wasn’t the storyline.
For starters it was the first game as head coach for Wes Unseld Jr. The son of a legend went against another son of a legend in Stephen Silas.
Starters: Kyle Kuzma, Corey Kispert, Daniel Gafford, Spencer Dinwiddie and Bradley Beal.
Under The Microscope: Corey Kispert
The Wizards could’ve gone in a lot of different directions on draft night. Even though, Moses Moody would’ve been great for this team, Washington wouldn’t get a chance to draft him. He was taken right before the Wizards pick at 15 by the Golden State Warriors.
Washington would draft another shooter in Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert. It might seem like a tad bit of overkill considering the Wizards have Davis Bertans but Kispert’s presence could make Bertans expendable to an asset or two if Washington sees fit.
Statistically, Kispert got off to a solid start. He shot 5-9 from the field 2-6 from three for 12 points.
Known for his three point shooting, Kispert’s first make came on 19 foot step back after starting the game anchored in the corner. Kispert took the ball out and got it back in a hand back above the three point line. In space Kispert threatened the lane off the dribble setting up his step back.
The move in space was a nice touch and, at least on that play, exhibit more than just a catch and shoot jump shot.
In the second quarter, Kispert shot -3 including an airball. The airball came on a catch-and-shoot, off a relocation, from just above the corner. He had plenty of space. It was just a bad shot. With that being said, the Wizards got the offensive rebound and Kispert smartly cut to the basket and got a layup.
In the second half, Kispert was looked a little more comfortable.
His first make came on a relocation when his man pinched in on a Dinwiddie drive-Gafford dive. Since Dinwiddie attacked the right side of the floor, Kispert’s relocation on the left provided plenty of space for his jump shot. Had Dinwiddie’s drive came on the same side as Kispert’s relocation, the shot might not have been in as much of a rhythm.
A few trips later, Washington ran the same action with Beal and Gafford. Kispert received the ball in almost the same spot. This time, with a defender charging hard at him, Kispert put the ball on the floor and made a dump down pass for the Gafford dunk. Smart play considering how the defender played him on that possession.
Kispert’s only miss of the third quarter was a bit of a head scratcher. He received a skip pass and he rushed the three pointer that didn’t need to be rushed. He had plenty of space due to Houston’s slow rotation but he more than made up for it on the next possession where dribble penetration led to a wide open three pointer.
The fourth quarter saw Kispert knock down a free throw line jumper and miss a wing three.
Kispert spent a lot of the game starting in the corner opposite of the intended action giving him room. It’s something that could give him some easy looks when Dinwiddie and Beal are in the game.
Only time will tell what other actions Unseld Jr. plans to put Kispert in.
