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Washington Wizards: What to make of the Wizards new bench as this team rounds into form

By Donnell Coley

WASHINGTON, DC -  OCTOBER 18: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the 2017-18 regular season game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 18, 2017 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images).
WASHINGTON, DC -  OCTOBER 18: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the 2017-18 regular season game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 18, 2017 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images). /
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WASHINGTON, DC –  OCTOBER 18: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the 2017-18 regular season game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 18, 2017 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images).
WASHINGTON, DC –  OCTOBER 18: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the 2017-18 regular season game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 18, 2017 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images). /

The Washington Wizards are 12 games into the new season and are starting to round into shape now that everyone is healthy.  One of the biggest questions they have to answer this year is if their bench has improved.

We’ve entered the second month of the season and the inconsistent Washington Wizards (7-5) have survived some key injuries. Now that they’ve weathered the early storm, especially with Markieff Morris back, the team looks to make a run. Their latest home win featured a surprising effort from the bench, closing out the visiting Hawks, 113-94, on Saturday.

Washington’s bench was a major disappointment a season ago. Many pundits and fans thought they were the difference in the team’s loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

This offseason, the franchise’s front office did their best to address this concern with the additions of guards Jodie Meeks and Tim Frazier, then adding Mike Scott later in the summer. It was hard to determine if the revamped second unit was an upgrade in the first couple weeks. Now, with 12 games under their belts and healthy starters, it’s an appropriate time for our first round of assessments

The Wizards’ Sixth Man

Kelly Oubre Jr. has improved every facet of his game and is one of the best surprises of the early season. He’s averaging career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (5.9), and 3-point percentages (42.9).

He was a viable replacement for the injured Morris in the Wizards starting lineup, because of his two-way ability. Coach Scott Brooks loves that about him, and is most happy when the budding sixth man plays both ends.

“When he’s solid defensively, he always has great games offensively, and the game rewards him that way,” Brooks said to the Washington Post after Saturday’s win over the Hawks. Oubre posted 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

He’s clearly an integral part of Washington’s success this year, and he expects to contribute as a scorer. This is evident after one of the few games he’s shot poorly this year (a win over the Lakers).

It’s this type of work ethic and determination to be great, that will help the team when it looks for a spark off the bench.

Scoring Spark off the Bench

Speaking of sparks, the sharpshooting Meeks was brought into Washington to do just that. So far, he hasn’t disappointed.

Though he’s not shooting particularly well from deep (31 percent), he’s hitting wide open 3’s when the team needs them.

Meeks is also getting to the free throw line and knocking them down. He shoots two per game and leads the team in percentage, shooting 92 percent from the charity stripe.

The Wizards will need Meeks and the bench to sustain leads and/or build momentum for the starters. That’s the recipe the great teams use to win important games.

Second Five

It’s early, but Brooks would be leery to rest all the starters at once and go with a second five, if you will.

Without much success, Brooks has tried doing this as Frazier, Meeks, Oubre, Scott and Ian Mahinmi have played 34 minutes together this year. According to basketball reference, the Frazier-Meeks-Oubre-Scott-Mahinmi lineup have been outscored by 19 points per 100 possessions.

There could be light at the end of the tunnel, however, as this same five practically closed out the Hawks with a 23-10 run to start the fourth quarter. They also excel in getting to the free throw line as they are a plus-18.8 in free throws made per 100 possessions.

It’ll be interesting to see how many more times this unit can come close to their output in Saturday’s win against the Hawks. Doing so, however, will keep starters fresh not only in the regular season, but for the long run as the team hopes to make a deep playoff run.

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