Washington Wizards: The Beguiling Brandon Jennings
Washington Wizards needed to increase their energy, and more importantly, their confidence. Brandon Jennings has provided both factors.
It was the NBA trade deadline Washington Wizards fans were anxiously watching to see what President Ernie Grunfeld would pull out of his hat.
Grunfeld already landed Bojan Bogdanovic who proved to be a skilled sharpshooter during the regular season, but the Wizards still needed to find a playmaker behind John Wall. Instead of going the trade route, Washington displayed patience in addressing the need.
When the New York Knicks cut Brandon Jennings after the deadline, the Wizards waited for Jennings to clear waivers.
The post-trade deadline acquisition of Jennings wasn’t earth shattering. But Washington got an 8-year point guard with starting experience – someone who was deemed one of the best young guards in the NBA not too long ago.
But even moreso than his potential, Jennings has something beguiling about him. It started, really, when the Wizards’ first unit lacked energy and would often sleepwalk through the first half.
Jennings would then come out guns blazing to start the second half.
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Jennings would start doing Harlem Globetrotters moves with behind-the-back and no-look passes, steals leading to transition dunks, gaining necessary momentum to go on a run.
Jennings was no longer a focal point in the opposition’s scouting report. His passing certainly wasn’t something teams cared about.
Jennings no-look passes are almost dirty, leaving defenders on their heels for the sake of a highlight play.
Jennings is fast in both transition and passes. Sometimes, he creates a blur similar to Wall.
In Game 3 of the Wizards’ playoff loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Jennings off the bench to score 13 points along with 4 assists in only 17 minutes of play.
His impact goes beyond the stat sheet, too.
Jennings plays with a fearless attitude, not afraid to guard anyone on the opposite end (even if it often leads to foul trouble).
Two things plagued the Wizards during the regular season: the lack of defense and energy. Jennings provides both. Everyone on the Wizards feeds off Jennings’ electricity.
Jennings didn’t come to D.C. with the mindset that he has to know the team and adjust to their style of play. As far as Jennings was concerned, the only ones that had to adjust was the player who had the unfortunate duty of having to defend him.
The mental aspect of basketball cannot be understated. Sometimes to a fault, Jennings plays with untouchable swagger and confidence. He plays like he’s the best player on the floor.
The softness that some people complained about last season is nowhere to be seen in this year’s iteration, mostly because of Markieff Morris, Kelly Oubre and Jennings.
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Washington’s success in the NBA Playoffs will be determined by the core – John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter – but Jennings’ effort has sparked the team. The single highlight play created by Jennings compiles into increased confidence, eventually ending in a playoff victory. The diminutive guard has been key to Washington’s improved play since the All-Star break.