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Washington Wizards Should Consider Resting Starters Before 2017 NBA Playoffs

By Ben Mehic

Feb 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards haven’t gotten much production from their second unit this season, but Scott Brooks needs to rest his starters before the NBA Playoffs.

Fans pay hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars to watch their favorite basketball players…play.

Sometimes, though, they don’t get the product they expected.

With the NBA Playoffs about a month away, coaches have begun strategically implementing Gregg Popovich’s philosophy, opting to rob fans of the opportunity to watch their favorite players on the court for the sake of health and rest.

Recently, high-profiled teams, like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, rested their star plays during nationally televised games, causing the league office to react in a way that might force the commissioner to set new rules.

Teams, ultimately, play for themselves and will do whatever it takes to increase their chances of succeeding in the postseason.

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If that means a kid who traveled hours to see LeBron James play will leave Cleveland with dry tears on his face, then so be it.

Washington Wizards star John Wall isn’t a fan of that philosophy, saying the league has gotten softer as a result.

Wall, who dealt with injuries early in his career, is a proponent of playing, even when hurt.

Ironically, the Wizards’ most recent slip can serve as evidence for teams that are pro-rest.

Washington has lost two straight games, with their most recent loss coming in Boston.

After moving up to the second spot in the Eastern Conference, the Wizards have found themselves back in third, 2.5 games behind the Celtics.

The Toronto Raptors are also creeping up to Washington, moving up within a game in the standings.

Washington allowed over 120 points per game in their most recent five-game road trip. The Wizards gave up 131 points to the lottery-bound Phoenix Suns in regulation and 123 to the Denver Nuggets.

Those numbers, even on the base level, aren’t indicative of a team that’s going to move past the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

On paper, there’s no direct reason for the Washington Wizards’ slippage after climbing up the standings.

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Ian Mahinmi‘s return should’ve elevated the team’s interior defense and the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic should’ve given Scott Brooks more versatility.

But there’s one thing the Wizards have done more than any other team in the league, which could be the cause of their decline: the starters’ minutes.

According to numberfire, the Washington Wizards’ starting lineup is the only lineup in the entire league to have played over 1,000 minutes this season.

Naturally, when the starters have been on the court, Washington has played better, leading to their surprising rise in the standings.

But their struggles, at least as of late, could be pinned to the starters being overplayed.

Instead of conserving the starters for the postseason, the Washington Wizards have been all-in on rising in the standings and securing homecourt advantage.

That mentality – the desire to finish with 50-plus wins and a top three seed – has caused wear and tear, and it’s clearly affecting the performance of the Washington Wizards.

Next: Why the Wizards Can Make the NBA Finals

Teams that rest their starters late in the regular season can expect their stars to be fresh once the playoffs begin. If Brooks doesn’t yank his starters soon, the Wizards could find themselves on the losing end of an upset.

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