Washington Wizards improved their roster by adding Bojan Bogdanovic and Brandon Jennings, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are still too deep.
NBA pundits expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to run away with the Eastern Conference crown before the 2016-17 season began. But with roughly 20 games remaining in the season, the Cavaliers haven’t done enough to secure the first seed just yet.
After a brutal start, the Washington Wizards have become one of the Cavaliers’ primary challengers for the top spot, sitting third in the East, five games below Cleveland.
Washington is on-pace to finish the season with 50 wins, which they haven’t done since 1978 – their lone championship year.
Ernie Grunfeld has addressed some of the team’s needs after botching free agency by acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic in a trade deadline deal and scooping Brandon Jennings off waivers.
Still, the team has been up and down – beating the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, then losing to the Raptors at home. Washington is also coming off a one-point victory over the lottery bound Orlando Magic.
No team, including the Wizards, has done enough to cement their place as the top team in the East. But, with that said, can the Wizards actually challenge the Cavaliers, who’ll naturally play at a higher level in the postseason?
That’s the topic for this week’s mailbag.
how do you feel about the play of bojan?
— Ryan (@AlmightyRyan10) March 6, 2017
Bojan Bogdanovic has been a godsend for the Washington Wizards and probably the best sixth man the team’s had since John Wall arrived in 2010.
Bogdanovic is a lights out shooter, capable of playing in spot-up situations, but also surprisingly solid at creating for himself. While he’ll never wow anyone with his athleticism, he knows how to create space.
When the Washington Wizards played the Brooklyn Nets earlier this season, Bogdanovic used his 6-foot-8 frame to back Bradley Beal down in the post, scoring consecutive times. Beal is quicker and more explosive than Bogdanovic, but couldn’t stop him from scoring.
The little things, like knowing how to post smaller defenders, is what Bogdanovic adds to Washington.
Perhaps most importantly, Bogdanovic isn’t afraid to shoot.
More from Wiz of Awes
- It would be a mistake for the Wizards to trade for this elite sharpshooter
- When is the 2024 NBA trade deadline? Everything you need to know
- 5 early predictions for the 2023-24 Washington Wizards
- 4 most interesting Washington Wizards storylines for the 2023-24 season
- Washington Wizards: 3 teams that would be perfect fit for Danilo Gallinari
He’s streaky, as any scorer with limited minutes, but never allows his confidence to get shaken.
Against the Magic on Sunday, Bogdanovic knocked down eight 3-point shots.
Some of that could be attributed to Washington’s ball movement, particularly John Wall’s elite court vision, but Bogdanovic checked into the game knowing he could make a difference.
The Wizards were down by double-digits for most of the contest, but the momentum shifted when Bogdanovic stepped onto the court.
He immediately started firing (and hitting) from deep. He has a Peja Stojakovic-like quality to him.
When he’s on, he’s on. And even when he’s off, it feels like he’s going to find a way to turn it on.
Bogdanovic is exactly what the Washington Wizards needed. It’s only been a few weeks since he arrived to D.C., but he’s already had two 27-point games off the bench.
If he spent the entire season in Washington, he’d be a legitimate candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
https://twitter.com/imdancarillo/status/838762379701690369
Hey, Dan.
It really came down to the Washington Wizards wanting to “win now,” so to speak.
Danuel House never played this season, and when the opportunity was there, he was out with a broken wrist. Scott Brooks never got a real chance to evaluate him as a player. He seemed to have 3-and-D skills, but without playing time, it would’ve been hard to thrust him out there.
Trey Burke has been underwhelming. Players that are traded for nothing, like Burke was by the Utah Jazz, typically aren’t very good. Expectations for Burke coming to Washington weren’t that high, but he hasn’t produced.
At this point, that’s all that should matter. Whether it’s John Wall or Trey Burke, the same thing is expected: production (the degree of production will vary, but the point remains). If a player doesn’t produce, then he shouldn’t play. That’s where Burke is.
So, to answer your question, the Washington Wizards kept him over House because he’s played this season. Plus, he’s a veteran. He hit some big shots for Michigan in college. He’s had a more successful basketball career than House.
Washington knows what they would get out of Burke. The same can’t be said for House. At the end, though, the Wizards don’t want to be in a position where they’re dependent on Burke for production – because they won’t get it.
Enter, Brandon Jennings.
https://twitter.com/imdancarillo/status/838761963064717313
Let’s see:
- Kyrie Irving, Deron Williams
- Kyle Korver, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith
- LeBron James, Richard Jefferson
- Kevin Love, Channing Frye
- Tristan Thompson, Andrew Bogut
The Cleveland Cavaliers are probably the deepest team in the NBA, including the Golden State Warriors. LeBron cried and asked for him, and he got it.
Ty Lue has starters coming off his bench. Williams and Bogut both started for the Dallas Mavericks this season. Shumpert, Korver and Smith are all interchangeable. For some teams – albeit losing ones – Frye can start, too.
Let’s break down the Wizards’ rotation:
- John Wall, Brandon Jennings
- Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre
- Otto Porter, Bojan Bogdanovic
- Markieff Morris, Jason Smith
- Marcin Gortat, Ian Mahinmi
See the difference?
Washington’s starting group has been super productive, but the bench has been horrid. They’re almost last in scoring and assists, so the offense is nonexistent. For other contending teams, Oubre wouldn’t be in the rotation. And for now, Jason Smith hasn’t been in the rotation, either.
There’s a difference on paper and there’s going to be a difference on the court. Beating LeBron is a massive hurdle in and of itself. Now add two more All-Stars (Irving and Love) and four other starting-caliber players.
Their depth is almost unfair.
The evidence points toward the Cavaliers being too deep for any team in the East, despite not being ahead by much in the standings.
Next: Why Jennings Is Better Than Burke
Washington improved. The Jennings and Bogdanovic additions will certainly help. But the Wizards’ second unit cannot compete with Cleveland’s.