Garrett Temple available for Wizards in 2nd round of playoffs

Every potential matchup and every potential gain at the margins matters in the playoffs.

After a torrid first-round sweep of the Toronto Raptors, the Washington Wizards are set to improve their lineup flexibility some while receiving a marginal defensive gain.

Garrett Temple will be available to play in the second round after missing the entire series against the Raptors. 

Sidelined since March 9 with a right hamstring strain, Temple doesn't figure to be a major part of the Wizards' game plan, but represents an extra perimeter defender to throw at the Atlanta Hawks or Brooklyn Nets. His standing as maybe the team's best one-on-one defender would be more valuable against the favored Hawks.

Ramon Sessions is the team's backup point guard and can put pressure on opposing teams with his driving ability, but Sessions is a major defensive liability, and Will Bynum isn't likely to be trusted in the playoffs. 

Temple averaged just 3.9 points and 1.1 assists in 14.1 minutes this season, but opponents scored 2.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. At 6-foot-6 with the versatility to play alongside one of the team's point guards - he played 76.9 percent of his minutes with John Wall - Temple should factor in at some point in the Eastern Conference semifinals.