[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

These are the Washington Wizards that I’ve been looking for since the season has begun. John Wall been playing the best ball in his career, Brad Beal backing up the criticism that he faced when he signed that huge deal, Otto Porter Jr. been playing like the Most Improved Player, and Scott Brooks been proving people wrong that he was the problem with the OKC Thunder. These the Wizards that I felt like the could compete to get to the conference finals.

The Wizards just came into a game when they said beforehand that they will wear all black for the Celtics "funeral", won the game by 15, and punk the Celtics while doing it. I know some hate what the Wizards did last night for wearing all black for a regular season game, but I love it. The Celtics and the Wizards became a rivalry and the Wizards came into that game to end the them. I love that in a regular season that the only major story lines are trade rumors, revenge games, and GSW v. CLE.

Scott Brooks been coaching his mind off this year and he deserve to be Coach of The Year for what he’s doing with this Wizards team. This is the most fun I’ve seen from this team since John Wall came into the league. The only enjoyable person to watch during the John Wall-era was John Wall, mostly that was because of how trash Randy Wittman was on offense. This offense have players cutting more, the offense looks cleaner, and Brad Beal looks unlocked. This offense looks totally different than the Scott Brooks led OKC team when the offense looks way too stagnant and the ball either stuck in either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook hand.

Now, I don’t believe Otto Porter should get the award for Most Improved Player because I believe he’s been the same player since the midpoint of last season. A lot was saying he was a bust, but I love that he proved that they was wrong with that statement. I wish he get more shots and more touches because he’s literally shoots great at every area on the floor, literally if you look at his shot chart, all area are green. He’ a beast. I believe the Wizards have the best chance in upsetting the Cavs in the playoffs, they just need to improve the bench a little and hope Ian Mahimi comes back.

 

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 coming into his own as a Team Leader & a big time Star in this League. 

Wall & Beal have been phenominal & I agree Porter is finding his niche. The Wizards have been just about unbeatable at him & when a young team develops a home court advantage they can be Crazy dangerous in the playoffs b/c they Know they only have to steal one road game & they can win any series.

They have really seperated themselves from the pack of 11 teams in the East that are after the Top 4 (Cavs, Raptors, Celtics & Hawks) & they have a lock on that 5th seed. 

If they play Atlanta in the 1st round in a 4/5 seed match up that would be a fantastic series. 

Long term, I’d really like to see Washington get their hands on an athletic 5 man like Noel or Cauley-Stein so they can protect the Rim & take advantage of those fantrastic guards in transition; or a horse down low on the block who maybe is not as athletic to protect the rim but the great guards could protect defensively like they do now w/ Gortat but unlike Gortat they could find a horse w/ some offensive talent who could stand up to the playoff Grind & running some pick & roll action in a 1/2 court set which so much of the playoffs turns into – guys like Nurkic, Okafor, Monroe….

 

 

 

 

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 The thing with the Wizards though is that they do not have cap space to make bunch of moves because they invested it on Jason Smith, Ian Mahimi, and Andrew Nicholson. I believe their best cource of action is look to bank in on the deep draft and hope for a player like Jarrett Allen to declare and drop into their lap, I believe he will be pretty good in the next level. Their only asset is that draft pick and I don’t believe it would be wise to move it, unless it’s on a young vet.

Another Wizard that I failed to mention that is playing well is Kelly Oubre. He was getting clowned for declaring early, but he is finding his niche in today’s NBA. As a Heat fan, I liked Oubre more than I liked Justice Winslow and Stanley Johnson pre-draft, and I still like him more than them now. Kelly Oubre been a spark plug these past 10 games while playing great defense and shooting close to 40% from downtown.

I believe if they add a better backup point guard, power forward, or center, that would put them over the edge of an Atlanta and could potentially go for the 3rd seed.

 

 

[warson24]

Right.
The contracts of Jason Smith, Ian Mahinmi and Nicholson is really forcing the Wizards’ hands this summer.
Horford went to Celtics indtead of Wizards, and I almost fell off my chair fainted away when I saw they’re throwing that enormous money to Mahinmi. He’s a below average backup center in my mind. With Willie Reed at veteran minimum the Wizards would have the same W/L as with Mahinmi (indeed, he’s only played one game, but I doubt he’ll boost the Wizards when he’s returning)

 

[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 I wouldn’t say Ian is below average, I believe he can start for a good number of teams like the Rockets, Hornets, Pelicans, Bucks, Bulls, and so on. I got his contract, but Jason Smith and Andrew Nicholson (who fell out the rotation) getting paid 15 mil combine? That’s crazy. They could’ve spent that money on Seth Curry, Luol Deng, Randy Foye, etc….

[Author]

Posts