No matter how many wins the Washington Wizards have this season, if they don’t reach the Eastern Conference Finals, then their season won’t be considered a success.
The Washington Wizards finished with a 49-33 record last season, and were just one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. The goal for the 2017-18 season is to make it to the conference finals. Anything short of that, then this season won’t be labeled a success.
The Wizards have to tighten up their ship, and everyone has to do their job with all hands on deck.
Wizards backcourt must be the backbone
John Wall doesn’t believe in sitting out games. Even during games last season, he didn’t have the luxury of rest. The second unit would drain away leads, that the starters had built up. Once Wall came back in, he and the starters had to dig the team out of a hole. But sometimes that hole was just too deep.
He finally has a reliable backup in Tim Frazier. Having Frazier accomplishes two things. First, Wall can get rest, and a rested Wall is a faster Wall, once he checks back in. No one catch Turbo Wall.
Secondly, with Frazier running the second unit’s offense, Wall will be able to log less minutes this season. Therefore, he won’t be too tired once the postseason rolls around.
Both Cleveland and Boston rest their players, so they have fresh legs during the playoffs. It would be good if Wall did sit out games, but having Frazier is the great compromise.
Wall has to limit his turnovers. He’s the best passer in the league, so there’s no reason to have multiple turnovers during a game. No one expects Wall to be perfect, but if he can protect the ball, then that’s half the battle.
Bradley Beal had the best season of his career last year, and he may have indeed been snubbed, when he didn’t get an All-Star nod. Nonetheless, he is ready this year to take it to another level. Whether or not the Wizards are the best team in the East, doesn’t matter. What matters is that Beal believes it. If the shooting guard improves his defense, and comes out guns blazing every night, then they could be the best team in their conference.
Wizards frontcourt must take center court
Otto Porter, Jr. also had his best season last year. At one point he led the league in three-point shooting. Porter has to be a sharpshooter all year. He also has to be more aggressive on defense, and not let bigs push him around. This season, teams should fear the wing player.
Once Markieff Morris returns, the Wizards will be on full cylinders. Morris when he checks in has to make sure his attitude checks out. Getting into foul trouble only hurts the Wizards’ chances, from going deep into the postseason. Morris is an integral part of what this team is trying to accomplish. Sitting on the bench hurts the team.
Marcin Gortat is dependable and he shows up. But showing up is not going to be enough for the Polish Machine. Attacking the rim is part of his job. But he also has to defend the perimeter, because bigs like Al Horford and DeMarcus Cousins are out there knocking down threes.
Maybe it’s too late for Gortat to change his game, but the game has changed. In this pace and space era, the bigs are stretching the floor. He wasn’t able to defend Horford last season, and he was a defensive liability against Boston.
Inside the paint is no longer Gortat’s home. This season, he has to defend outside, just as well as he does inside. If Gortat is unable to stay in front of his man, then he has to switch off with Morris. Unfortunately, Ian Mahinmi, who is a great rim protector, isn’t fast enough either to defend the three-point line.
The one position, this offseason, in which the Wizards didn’t add enough depth was the center.
If ‘zero points having during two games in the Finals last season’ Tristan Thompson was still starting for the CAVS, then Gortat matches up well with him. But Thompson, rightfully so, is coming off the bench. Cleveland moved Kevin Love to the five, and Jae Crowder will be starting at the four. Those are two outside shooters.
Keef matches up with Crowder. While Gortat may be able to take Love on the inside, Love shot 37 percent from deep last season.
Wizards’ weaknesses
The Wizards biggest two weaknesses are perimeter defense and away games. This season, Washington can’t allow teams to turn into the Harlem Globetrotters at the 3-point line. They shouldn’t give anyone airspace.
Secondly, the Wizards have to learn to beat the Celtics in Boston. Although, the Wizards are the better team, they still have to get over their mental roadblock.
It’s unclear whether the Boston fans simply take them out of the game, or if the Wizards haven’t yet learned to be one team. They’re a playoff team at home, and sometimes they’re a lottery team on the road.
If the Wizards can be laser focused, and realize that they’re just up against the five players on the floor, that’s half the battle. Trying to become a road team during the playoffs will be too late, just like it was last season.
Let’s run it back. Wall is the best point guard in the East, and Beal is one of the best shooters in the league. The two leaders have to gather their troops for battle. That includes Wall limiting his turnovers. Beal on the defensive end has to stay on his man, and if that requires a Bradley Beal flop, then so be it.
There will be times when Gortat has to play outside his defensive comfort zone. While Porter has to do what he does best, and that’s shooting lights out. Keef, nothing to add.
If the Wizards are able to defend the perimeter and win on the road, then there’s nothing stopping them from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.