Wall’s Wizards Surging in the East
Much has transpired over the course of this NBA season. It seems, beneath the one spot which the Cavs have held firmly, teams have switched around like a game of basketball-themed musical chairs. Emerging gracefully from the kerfuffle are the Washington Wizards led by point guard and former Kentucky blue-chip John Wall. Going into the season, the likely contenders were the Atlanta Hawks, the Toronto Raptors, and the Indiana Pacers. But the Wizards have come on as a likely two or three seed in the postseason. To what or whom does this squad owe their successes in 2016-17?
It begins with the Wizards’ starting lineup. The starters–John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter Jr., Morris and Marcin Gortat–have constituted one of the best lineups in the league in 2016-17. This group has spent more time on the court than any other lineup in the NBA, with a combined 904 minutes over 45 games. With those guys on the court, the Wizards have outscored their opponents by 204 points. And here’s where their greatness shines through: there is only one other lineup that’s been more effective offensively this year; that lineup is the starting five of the Golden State Warriors.
The star atop the Christmas tree that is the Wizards starting five, John Wall, happens to be having the best season of his career. For the previous six seasons, Wall has averaged 18 points and 8.8 assists per game. In the previous two years Wall has averaged 10+ assists a game. This year alone, he has drastically improved his numbers. Now, he averages 23 points and 10.5 assists a night. Not to mention he’s snagging 2.2 steals a game. It’s a big leap forward on a team that desperately needed a player to call its star. And now they’ve found it in Wall. Also, let’s not overlook the fact that he’ll be appearing in his fourth consecutive All-Star game this coming Sunday. Without Wall who knows where this team would be?
Then again Washington has received major contributions from shooting guard Bradley Beal. Like Wall, Beal is having an unprecedented year statistically speaking. Last year he averaged 17.4 points per game; this year it’s up to 22.3 points. It helps that he’s getting 3.6 more minutes a night; it also helps that he’s improved his field goal percentage by .02, such that he’s hitting nearly half the shots he’s taking. Beal and Wall alone have been major forces for the Wizards.
Morris, Porter Jr., and Gortat, too have been integral to the Wizards’ success, as we’ve discussed. Gortat is grabbing 11.6 boards a game. Morris and Porter Jr. are neck and neck statistically. Morris is averaging a stat line of 14.6 points and 6.8 boards; Porter Jr. a line of 14.4 points and 6.6 boards. These are guys that Wizards head coach Scott Brooks can rely on night in and night out to play their parts.
But here’s the rub: The Wizards are 29th in bench scoring. Case in point: in a game where the Wizards scored 135 points against the Cavs this past week, the Wizards bench scored 16 points. Ultimately, one might say, in watching that game, that a lack of roster depth was to blame for the loss. The Wizards aren’t exactly dominant when the bench is in the game–far from it, in fact. After the loss to the Cavs, Washington’s backups were ranked in the bottom five of the league in reserve scoring. While guys like Kelly Oubre, Jr. are stepping their game up, it’s not enough of a push to secure a second seed in the Eastern Conference. As of now, the Celtics and Raptors are still firmly in the hunt.
A move before the deadline is clearly what this team needs to solidify their place in the standings. Problem is, much of the East is in a dead heat for playoff contention… meaning teams will be less likely to part with depth talent. Nonetheless, the Wiz have fared well in the past in this arena. Only time will tell between now and next Sunday.
But as of now, the Wizards are without a doubt one of the more exciting teams in the league, led by Wall and Beal. All anyone needs as proof is last Monday’s scorcher against Cleveland. The Wizards demonstrated that they’re capable of going toe to toe with the East’s top dogs. But the real question is, could they hang in there for an entire seven game series? That remains to be seen. That said, how they proceed before the deadline will likely dictate whether the answer to that question is no or a resounding, hopeful yes.
