The Wizards offered a collective shrug of the shoulders after Game 1. They knew their tactics had failed, at least when it came to containing LeBron James. They also knew there was time to adjust.
They also knew the key to winning in the playoffs was the ability to adjust. Washington has done that, which is why the series is tied at 2 heading into Game 5 Wednesday.
“You always make adjustments,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. “But you can’t do something that’s new to the team that you haven’t done [during the season]. They just don’t have confidence in it.”
Many of their adjustments have worked. Here’s two:
» Going small. The Wizards will use lineups featuring Antawn Jamison and Jared Jeffries as the big men. Jeffries is 6-foot-11, but usually plays guard.
The quick lineup helps them rotate better and play better help defense against James and Cleveland’s other penetrators. It’s why James was called for four charges Sunday.
Offensively, when the Wizards go small, they’ll spread the court more and look for gaps to drive. Cleveland’s bigger, but slower, front line, is not as quick to help. Instead of charges, they get called for blocks.
It’s a big reason they got to the foul line 40 times Sunday.
“Teams aren’t used to having five guys on the perimeter driving to the rim and getting angles,” Jeffries said.
» Letting them play. At halftime Sunday, Jordan told the Wizards he would stop calling plays. The offense had stagnated in the first half, leading to easy opportunities for Cleveland in transition.
Given freedom, the improved attack not only led to more Wizards’ points, but fewer good opportunitiesfor Cleveland.
“I told them to play out of principles, share the ball,” Jordan said. “It’s a quick pass, quick movement and guys could find driving lanes.”
