The State of the Washington Wizards

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 15: Scott Brooks of the Washington Wizards reacts against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the NBA Eastern Conference Semi-Finals at TD Garden on May 15, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Whole Team Including Coach Scott Brooks

Defense is Washington’s weakest link, and hopefully by the time next season rolls around, they will have learned to protect the ball, and grab both offensive and defensive rebounds. Please, we don’t want to see Isaiah Thomas grabbing a rebound again over 4 Wizards’ players. Please don’t embarrass us in The Garden. Everyone should be looking to grab the rebound. Everyone should be helping out their teammate.

Now, I didn’t do a write-up on Game 7 and I’m still not ready to go back there yet. But, it starts from the top. It was beyond comprehension that Coach Brooks did not put in Jason Smith and Kelly Oubre for quality minutes for the third quarter. Those two had fresh legs, and we have witnessed Smith come out and the second he’s in, knock down jumpers.

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Why did Boston trust their bench more than Washington did theirs? Rotation is what lost that game. Wall’s legs were gone by the third quarter, and everyone saw that, particularly Boston and used that to their advantage. They had their second unit out there with fresh legs.

Washington lost that game by the third quarter. It was like a scene from the video game Mortal Kombat, when the 4th Quarter buzzer sounded, I saw Brad Stevens’ mouth, “Finish Them!”

You have to trust your players, because in the final analysis these are NBA players. Yes, Oubre can be a liability, because he draws quick fouls when he reaches in. He wasn’t going to get fouled out, by putting him in the third, and he could have done a lot of damage on the defensive end. Smith thrives under pressure. We could’ve used those quick short jumpers, and rebounds.

More importantly Wall would’ve been afforded rest, so he could’ve went turbo mode in the 4th quarter. That’s the only reason why Thomas is the so-called King of the Fourth, because Boston has a reliable bench, and he could rest throughout the game.

If you don’t trust your bench, it’s hard for them to trust themselves. Washington went into Boston undermanned. That can’t happen again, and I don’t believe it will. All hands on deck were needed in that elimination game. I still don’t know why Smith and Oubre weren’t utilized. Because one can honestly say, that it doesn’t matter whether Oubre is playing at home or away.

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He may be the only player on the team that doesn’t have, what I like to call, a “mental roadblock”. It could be the ring or the octagon, Oubre is bringing the same defensive intensity no matter where he is, and he fears no one.

And in Closing My Fellow Wizards’ Fans

The State of the Washington Wizards is in pretty good shape. They retained their core, which was only one game away from the ECF. They added new pieces to the bench. The Wizards have no way to go but up.

If they learn to win on the road, play better defense, grab rebounds and utilize better rotations, there is nothing stopping them. Some people say, the road is easier, because Kyrie Irving may no longer be in Cleveland. Irving never factored into my assessment of the Wizards. If anything, whoever replaces Irving may make the Cavaliers even better.

The only thing preventing the Wizards from reaching their goals was their inability to win on the road.

Next: Wizards 2017 Season Review: John Wall

Last season, they were two teams. A home team that could beat anyone, and an away team that could be beaten by anyone. I believe Washington has finally found their identity and in the words of Brooks, “there’s only one team” – a team on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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