Through 22 games, the Washington Wizards sit at an uninspiring 7-15. The record is terrible on paper, but there are so many reasons to feel good about this team. In a lot of games this year, the Wizards have found themselves down big, short-handed, and/or exhausted. In the years past, this team would cave in, but these players continue to fight for 48 minutes every single night. Since getting whopped by the two most talented teams in the NBA – Clippers & Lakers – the Wizards have been playing good basketball.
The West Coast Trip
In their second game out West, the Wizards picked up an impressive win in phoenix 140-132, but the positives of the trip ended there. Following their win against a surprisingly solid Suns team, the Wizards got demolished by the Clippers and the Lakers. The clippers have too much offensive firepower and too many lockdown defenders for a Wizards team with only one offensive star, while the Lakers are simply too big and strong for this young Wizards team to match up with. Although the West Coast run was a little rough, the Wizards have shown a lot since that stretch ended.
Injuries Hit, but the Wizards Are Playing… Better?
Since coming back to the East Coast, the Wizards have played every game short-handed. Jordan Mcrae recently got surgery on his right ring finger, CJ Miles received surgery on his wrist, IT obtained a calf injury, and Thomas Bryant is nursing a stress reaction in his foot. So, two starters and two regular rotation players have been out the last 5 games.
On the surface, you’d assume that the Wizards would be worse off shorthanded. However, as I’ve said before, IT and Thomas Bryant are both pitiful defenders, so their absence helps in some areas. Wagner is now getting more minutes at Center and taking advantage by harassing opposing bigs, knocking down shots, and crashing the glass. He still needs to stop fouling so much and work on staying under control on offense, but those things should improve with experience.
Ish Smith has clearly been the best PG on the roster this year and is continuing to play like it in his new starting role. In the last 5 games, he has averaged a little over 15 points a game while proving to be a better defender and decision-maker than IT.
With all of these injuries, the Wizards have beaten the 76ers, taken the heat down to the wire on the road, and played the LA Clippers really tough at home for 45/48 minutes. This roster is not a winning roster, but they are not rolling over and just getting throttled every night. Although I hope Bryant, Miles, Thomas, and McRae can get healthy again soon, the Wizards have been playing better basketball without them.
Beal and Bertans Lead the Offense
Beal continues to do Beal things, and all I want to say is that you truly owe it to yourself to turn on a Wizards game every couple of days just to witness his talent. Since he is in D.C., the rest of the country probably doesn’t watch him play very often, but as Wizards fans, we shouldn’t take him for granted.
Along with Beal, Davis Bertans has been putting up crazy numbers. He has shot 45% from 3 this season and has been averaging 24.4 ppg in the last 5. Bertans is proving that his incredible shooting last year was nowhere near a fluke, and he is an extremely nice role player. Obviously, it would be great to have him for years to come, but we’ll worry about those things when the season is closer to over.
Brown Is Struggling, but Rui Is Thriving
Thus far, Troy Brown jr. has probably been the most disappointing storyline of the season. He is a smart player with a lot of talent but definitely has not been at his best lately. Since coming back from injury, he has only been averaging 7.6 ppg while shooting a pedestrian 25.7% from beyond the arc. Uncharacteristically, he has not been rebounding the ball well and has looked uncomfortable at times leading to an increase in his turnovers. As a result of his lackluster play, Scott Brooks has been bringing him off of the bench, and he gave Isaac Bonga the start the last couple of games instead. Hopefully, this will give Brown a little spark.
Unlike Troy Brown, Rui has looked very comfortable lately. All of the injuries to the rest of the roster have lead to him having an increased role on offense, and he is not shying away. In his last 5 games, he has been putting up a little over 18 and 7 a night, including a double-double in Charlotte. He could use a little work with on-ball defense (blown by too often) and his jump shot (it is way too flat), but he has a high motor and a lot of talent. With time, everything should come together very nicely for Rui.
This has been a fun year so far even though the Wizards have not won very many games, so I’m hoping you all turn the TV to Comcast sports net every once in a while to watch this team compete!
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