The point of a backup point guard
Yes, if the Wizards want to take it to the next level, or return to the level they were playing at in 2016-17, then there has to be a change in mindset.
One can always change players, but changing a player’s mind requires a unique type of leadership.
For example, Wall doesn’t believe in rest. He showed this season, that by missing 41 games the world didn’t stop.
Wall’s minutes should be reduced next season, just so his backup can get more quality minutes. Again, Sato was a great leader during the regular season, but he wasn’t playoff tested.
The number one priority throughout the season should be to get Sato playoff ready. Therefore, Wall shouldn’t feel like he has to play almost the entire game, while other elite guards are resting up for the fourth quarter to go in for the kill.
As a leader, Wall can help Sato with that. Why should other elite guards get rest and not Wall during the postseason?
Comment away. In the Raptors series, Wall was the best player on both teams. But everyone now knows the Wizards’ secret: If Wall plays heavy minutes than we win the game.
The blueprint was set for the league in the 2017 Boston Series. Unless, the Wizards really develop Sato or another guard for the postseason, then the same thing will occur again.
Not going to try and guess the cause of Wall’s turnovers. He knows the cause and he will have to figure it out and curtail that habit. There’s no two ways about that.
Don’t start from a position fear
Another mindset that has to be changed, is stating who you want and don’t want to play in the playoffs. You were supposed to be feared by other teams, not the other way around.
Everyone knows LeBron James is not from this universe. But please stop with “we don’t want to see the Cavaliers in the playoffs”. You got your wish. The only thing you need to concentrate on is seeing yourself in the playoffs.
Hang up the DeathRow DC moniker. The Raptors quietly thrashed you. Stop trying to portray a tough guy image. I don’t know if there’s more of a quieter player in the league than DeMar DeRozan.
Which brings me back to Beal. Bradley Beal didn’t show up in the first two games of the playoffs, not because he played all 82 games. That’s what all players are supposed to do. But he chose to play extended minutes near the end of the season in games which didn’t warrant it.
The Wizards were playing from behind to start the playoffs. That’s not what lost the series, but hopefully, Beal will also be more judicial with his minutes to allow his new backup to also be playoff ready. (Of course what happened to Meeks was out of his hand).