The Washington Wizards are having a great season. John Wall has taken another step to stardom, and has led the Wizards to one of the best records in the Eastern Conference. But lately, the Wizards have taken a turn for the worst. They are 2-7 in their last nine games and are currently on a five game losing streak. While some of these losses have been to very good teams, the games haven’t even been. Now, after a 20-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, there needs to be some concern for this young team.
It is impossible to talk about the Wizards struggles without bringing up Bradley Beal. Beal is a very talented player, and one of the up and coming two guards in the league. He has been out with a fibula injury, and it has really hurt the Wizards offense. Beal has been John Wall’s back court buddy all year, and the Wizards really miss his three point shooting. In order for the Wizards to get back on track, he needs to come back as soon as possible. The current record makes it obvious how vital Beal is to the Wizards.
Everyone in the sports world can agree that John Wall is the leader of the Wizards. He has taken strides in his game every year, and is making a case to be one of the best point guards in the league. In this tough stretch for the team, Wall needs to make sure he keeps his composure. All great teams will eventually go through a rough patch during the season. As a young team, it is important that Wall keeps this team focused on winning and getting prepared for a postseason run. When he is at his best, the Wizards show how great they can be. He has a chance to show the entire league how great of a leader he is. If the Wizards are able to get back on track, all the credit will be given to Wall for keeping this team together.
While Beal and Wall are the main focus of the Wizards, there are other players who could help get the team out of the slump. Nene, Marcin Gortat, and Paul Pierce are all very important to the success of the Wizards. Pierce is known for his toughness and leadership. With his veteran experience, he needs to get his message across to this young team. He has been in this situation before, and knows exactly what to do to fix this. For Nene and Gortat, they are the big, tough guys of the team. When they show frustration, it will kick in to everyone else that something is really going on. The pick up of Ramon Sessions was a great one for the Wizards. He is a veteran player who brings more leadership and experience to a very young team.
These next few games will be very important for the Wizards. With them being a young team, it is important they get back on track quickly. With the playoffs nearing, a successful end to the season will give them a lot of confidence. If they don’t get it together, I can’t see them having too much playoff success.
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