NBA basketball is in full swing, and since the season has started, the Wizards have been on a windy road that has ultimately lead to a 3-8 start. At the end of the day, the record of this team should be of least interest to spectators because everyone knows that this roster is not playoff-worthy. Instead, the focus should be on the development of the young guys, the morale of the team as a whole, and the health/stardom of Bradley Beal. Even though the Wizards have started just 3-8, there has been a healthy dose of things to feel good about as well as other things that have been total head-scratchers.
Hachimura and Wagner Can Ball
A few months ago, Hachimura was one of my “possible players to draft with the 8th pick” due to the long-term upside I saw in him. However, I will be the first to admit that I did not see this level of success coming so soon for the Japanese American forward. So far this season, Rui has been one of the top-5 rookies in the league, averaging an efficient 13.1 PPG and 5.5 RPG. Although he is very smart, talented, and poised for a young guy, he still has a lot of room for improvement. The two areas in which Rui needs to improve most are 3-point shooting (21%) and ball handling. Better shooting will come with more reps, but when Rui brings the ball up or tries to break down a defender on the perimeter, he often still looks like a high school big that hasn’t yet grown into his body. I have no doubts that it will become much easier for him to score once he’s less awkward handling the rock. Overall, as Rui rounds out his game, he is going to be a real issue in this league.
On top of Hachimura looking very promising, Wagner is having a good start to his second campaign in the NBA. Off of the bench, he has averaged 12.7 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Wagner can finish around the rim with either hand, can shoot the 3, and plays solid defense. A few nights ago, he had the best game of his young career by dropping 30 and 15 on Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mo is a pest on defense and gets under the skin of opposing bigs, but he needs to do a better job of staying out of foul trouble. At the moment though, I really like where his game is headed.
Bryant and Bonga Need Improvements
Thomas Bryant is still playing solid basketball with a lot of energy, but he is taking too many outside shots and is still often out of position on defense. Bryant too easily lets bigs get position on the block early in possessions, and KAT absolutely worked him on both ends of the floor on Friday, which is why Wagner got the nod for the entire 4th quarter. Hopefully, with time, Bryant’s pick and roll and post defense will improve, but right now it doesn’t look much better than it did a season ago. On offense, Bryant has the ability to hit outside shots, but I see him trying to force the issue a lot as if he has something to prove. The young center out of Indiana works hard and plays with passion, but he needs to balance himself out by letting the game come to him a little more.
Bryant may have some areas to improve upon, but Isaac Bonga needs to improve fast if he even wants to stay in this league for the long term. Bonga is only 20, so there is no need to give up on him at this point, but I really haven’t seen a lot out of him so far. While the Wizards were waiting for Troy Brown Jr. to come back from injury, Bonga was in the starting lineup. He is tall, athletic, and long, but he cannot shoot and cannot be counted on to create for others consistently. As of now, the scouting report on Bonga would be that he is a good athlete that plays slightly above-average defense and has no effect on the offensive side of the ball.
IT Still Can’t Play Defense but is Sharing the Ball More
Isaiah Thomas is an absolutely awful on-ball defender, and there’s not much use in trying to describe it further. Simply put, the Wizards are often scrambling on defense because once a screen is set or once the opposing ball handler makes a move, IT is beat and it’s 4 on 5.
On top of his defensive shortcomings, I’ve had my worries about IT shooting too much because the point of the season is to get the young guys to develop. However, over the last 4 games, his shot attempts have seen a small decline including 2 games with under 10 shots. Hopefully, that will continue because, although I’m glad IT has found his joy in playing basketball again, this season is about developing the team for the future.
Beal is a Super Star in Need of Reinforcements
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1195730768380727297
I’m extraordinarily glad that the Wizards could extend Beal’s contract because he is a shining star. Currently, he is averaging the 2nd most points in the NBA (30.1) and the 14th most assists (6.9); Both are career highs. To make it even better, Beal is doing all of this efficiently (47.8 FG%, 36.5 3P%). He is so smooth, fundamentally sound in all areas, a good defender, a great finisher, a knockdown shooter, etc. However, he needs help to win ball games. As the young guys improve, as Wall gets healthy, and as better free agents are added with the impending termination of Ian Mahinmi’s contract, the reinforcements will come. For now, we just have to enjoy watching him dominate and the young guys grow around him.
Boo On The Bullets 