Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards: Diagnosing the Team’s Road Struggles

By Osman Baig

Jan 3, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) battle for a loose ball during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) battle for a loose ball during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bench

Washington’s bench – to put it bluntly – is bad.

Prior to the game versus the Milwaukee Bucks, Washington’s bench ranked 29th in the NBA in points, 28th in the NBA in plus/minus, 30th in the NBA in rebounding, 30th in the NBA in assists, and 27th in 3-point percentage.

By any metric, they’re a below average group.

It’s a bench that has struggled all season in terms of consistency and production, forcing the starters to rank 2nd in the NBA in minutes played.

Scott Brooks has tried any and all combinations imaginable, but to be frank, the talent isn’t there and there’s no reason to think this is going to change other than the possible return of Ian Mahinmi.

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While there is a drop-off in play from the bench on the road versus at home, it’s not overwhelming.

The bench, frankly, isn’t good no matter where they play.

Shooting percentages drop, but overall, in terms of points, rebounds and assists, the drop-off isn’t monumental.

That doesn’t excuse the bench the Wizards’ front office has built.

Washington does not have that bench player who can come in and score a consistent 12-15 points, providing that spark on nights where the starters come out of the gates slowly or maintain earlier momentum the starters may have established.

Leads are routinely lost, and by the time starters come back in, it’s difficult to regain momentum.

Washington doesn’t have an Eric Gordon, Louis Williams, Jamal Crawfor  or Will Barton.

Because of that, they have relied most heavily for bench scoring on Marcus Thornton – their leading bench scorer who averages an underwhelming 6.6 points on 40 percent shooting from the field.

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