WASHINGTON — Ish Smith had an open layup, but he didn’t see it. Fortunately, John Wall did.



Wall said before the start of this season he would consider himself a pseudo assistant coach during a year he’s unlikely to play. Chances are, he won’t be participating in meaningful basketball until the fall as he recovers from an Achilles rupture he suffered 13 months ago. But amidst a strenuous year-plus during which he hasn’t been able to toss any dimes or throw down any classically dynamic slams, he’s learned a new way to assist: With his mind. And for the past few months, it’s been an extension of Smith’s.



The five-time All-Star has held true to his promise. Each game, he’ll notice tiny idiosyncrasies and relay them to the Wizards’ backup point guard. On this night in mid-January, the Hawks were running ICE coverage on pick-and-rolls, meaning Atlanta was trying to push Smith to the sideline when he ran...