Washington Wizards Need John Wall To Be More Aggressive

Washington Wizards need John Wall to be more aggressive, as the former first pick surprisingly struggles to get to the free throw line

John Wall doesn’t get nearly the amount of love that he deserves.

Having played on some of the worst teams assembled in recent NBA history, it’s a miracle that Wall hasn’t forced his way out of the nation’s capital.

He’s endured countless losses, played with horrific teammates and incompetent coaches. Still, Wall has somehow managed to climb his way out of a mountainous heap of dung.

The success Wall’s had in Washington is a testament to his character and willingness to work.

He’s rarely been frustrated and has been incredibly patient.

Others would have pouted, demanded change – and some might argue that Wall should, indeed, do that – but he’s stayed true to himself and shown unwavering faith in the franchise.

Wall has become a 20 and 10 point guard, a perennial All-Star and a real role model off the court. He’s everything that you would want from your franchise player. But, he’s not perfect – and he knows that too.

Wall has made great strides since the Washington Wizards picked him first overall in 2010. He’s learned to use the speed he possesses to his advantage – not the opposition’s.

Instead of barrelling into defenders like he did during his first few years in the NBA, Wall has developed a sense of when to use his turbo, so to speak.

Wall’s jump shot – a part of his game that was largely nonexistent upon entering the league – has steadily improved too.

After shooting a brutal 18.8 percent from three during the first three years of his career, Wall has made 33.4 percent of his threes during the past three seasons.

More importantly, he made over 35 percent of his shots from deep this past season while attempting a career-high 4.3 threes per game.

The jump shot has come a long way, he’s gotten better defensively (he was an All-NBA defender two seasons ago) and he continues to be one of the best passers in the world.

The one aspect of the game that he’s been missing – an aspect that could potentially catapult him into MVP contention – is the ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line.

Wall is undoubtedly one of the most explosive and dynamic point guards to ever play the game.

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His quickness, coupled with his ability to change direction and finish inside is second to none.

Wall should be getting to the free throw line a lot more than he does, to put it bluntly.

But, for some reason, that just hasn’t been the case.

Despite being one of the most physically gifted point guards in the NBA, Wall just hasn’t utilized it enough in ways that could really make a difference.

Last season, Wall was 27th in total free throws attempted. He took a total of 344 shots from the charity stripe.

For comparison, Russell Westbrook, who was sixth in total free throws attempted, took 573.

Lou Williams, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Danilo Gallinari, Gordon Hayward, Damian Lillard, Kemba Walker, Jimmy Butler, Isaiah Thomas, Paul Millsap, Dwyane Wade and Brook Lopez all got to the free throw line more than Wall.

Thankfully for the Washington Wizards, this problem in Wall’s game is very correctable.

Under Randy Wittman, Wall was told to “take what the defense gives him.” That implies not utilizing his speed nor strength, but rather settling for open mid-range jump shots. Because of that, Wall was eighth in the NBA in field goals missed. His efficiency dipped as a result.

There’s no reason why Wall shouldn’t be top-10 in total free throws.

It’s not a coincidence that Wall is at his best when he’s attacking the basket, and ultimately finding open teammates. When he’s not settling for outside shots, specifically long two point tries, Wall is virtually unstoppable.

The whole notion of “take what the defense gives you” is terribly flawed. The point of basketball is not to give into the defense, but rather utilize your strengths and put pressure on the defense.

Scott Brooks will certainly look to address this area of Wall’s game, and once it’s corrected, Wall’s numbers should improve substantially. Getting to the free throw line is a lost art and it’s something the Wizards have been awful at doing.

Next: Wizards' Second Unit Has Been Completely Revamped

A simple thing, like driving instead of shooting a pull-up jump shot, could make all of the difference in John Wall’s game. Playing with an aggressive mindset is not easy and it takes a toll on the body. With repaired knees and a new coach, though, Wall should finally realize his potential in Washington.

All stats used are from NBA.com/stats

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Washington Wizards Need John Wall To Be More Aggressive, Get To Free Throw Line

By Ben Mehic | Aug 2, 2016

Washington Wizards need John Wall to be more aggressive, as the former first pick surprisingly struggles to get to the free throw line