“I had the Wizards in the second round of the playoffs with control of the series over the top seed in the East.” Said no one before the NBA season began.
I, like many others, had them making a playoff run in a weak Eastern conference. The Wizards winning 39 to 41 games and getting anywhere from a sixth to eighth seed seemed plausible. Gone were players like Javale McGee and Nick Young. Majority owner Ted Leonsis wanted to surround John Wall with talent that not only fed off of his skillset but veterans who could be a solid influence on him.
But did I think the Wizards would be looking more composed and consistent than a Pacers team thought to be contending for a championship? Heck no.
Teams such as the Thunder, Spurs, Heat, and Pacers have been the establishment for the better part of the last few years. The Clippers are in the midst of their finest season despite distractions and have been a contender as well the past few years. The Nets are on their last legs (literally) and look to not have much left. Lastly, the Blazers are a new injection into the playoff scene after dispatching the Rockets. Yet they look every bit a fresh face after two games against the Spurs, losing by a combined 41 points.
It all started with adding Wall first overall in 2010. While he was initially criticized for his pre-game routine, Wall has grown leaps and bounds since then. He could always run with great velocity and beat others down the court, but now he has the ability to change his speed to accommodate the situation and play under control.
After adding Nene in 2012, the Wizards traded for Trevor Ariza. Eight days later, Washington drafted sharpshooter Bradley Beal out of Florida to compliment Wall. This past offseason they traded for Marcin Gortat. While none of these players were THE man, they didn’t have to be. It’s Wall’s car to drive. The rest of the team just had to gel together to form a valuable core- and they have.
Nene has had a few injury speedbumps (SIA Profile), but when he’s on the court he is very effective. He shoots 51% and is averaging 16.7 points per contest in the playoffs. He can draw out his defender with his solid mid-range shooting abilities or dish it to a teammate cutting into the lane. While his meager 6.2 rebounds per game is a bit worrisome, it’s mitigated by Gortat’s 10.6 postseason average. Gortat has been everywhere and looks more motivated than ever. Without his 21 and 11 in Game 2, the Wizards wouldn’t have been anywhere in position to keep the game close. This dunk was the “Polish Hammer’s” cherry on top.
Beal has blossomed into the shooting guard Wizards fans hoped he’d become. While a potential trade for James Harden was discussed at one time, fans in the nation’s capital can rest assured they have their shooting guard of the future. Beal has been scintillating this postseason, averaging 20.1 points per game on 45% shooting from deep. At the free throw line he’s shot 81%. He plays beyond his years, draining shot after shot. With Wall leading the break, Beal just has to get open and do what he does best: make buckets.
While the team is coming off a 92-86 loss Wednesday night to the Indiana Pacers, they have nothing to hang their heads about. They won convincingly in Game 1 on the road against a previously-perceived championship contender. The game was a difference of six points, but that was in part to three late three-pointers by Indiana’s George Hill. After a 0 point, 0 rebound Game 1 abomination, Roy Hibbert showed up to the tune of 28 points and 9 boards. The Pacers have plenty more questions to be answered before they are considered favorites in this series.The fact that Washington winning the game wouldn’t have been a surprise after winning Game 1 shows how far they have come in the last few years.
Washington is not a lock to win the series, but they have proven so far that winning it is not out of the question. Their shooting, defense andunselfishness has been on display. With Wall as their leader, it’s still possible that anyone can be the star in a given night.
What I never saw coming in October was their grittiness. They don’t fold in the face of pressure- they thrive on it, as shown by their comeback wins in the Chicago series. They have chosen the best time of year to play their best basketball, and that can only mean good things for Wizards fans and bad things for any of their opponents.
Thank you for reading. Sean O’Brien is a LastWordOnSports NBA Analyst. For more of his articles, follow him on Twitter @SeanNeutron. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and “liking” our Facebook page.
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