John Wall: Wizards also a favorite to reach conference finals

Wall had a hand in this team’s makeup

Remember before the start of last season, when Wall told Beal, “we all we got bro”? This was after Kyrie Irving was traded to Boston. You can find my write up here.

Well, this time around, Wall got most of what he wanted. Management moved Gortat and Austin Rivers in now in Washington. While Wall chose Dwight Howard.

"“I heard about [Howard’s] reputation. A lot of people had a reputation about me that I just enjoy the lifestyle but don’t love the game of basketball and don’t put the work in. But guys that have become my teammates know it’s totally different,” Wall told Yahoo Sports. “I was just dealing with the injuries. People are always going to have their perceptions of you. It only matters if you care about that person and want to see that perception change or if that’s really them. I understand what Dwight’s perception is. If you say it’s something different, show it.”"

Howard has a chance to change his perceived reputation. While Wall has a chance to play with a player who he can whip the ball to.

Wall has held back on some of his abilities. He plays a type of ball that isn’t taught in organized sports. When Keef joined the team, I thought that Wall finally had an alley-oop partner.

But no more do you have to worry about Wall whipping the ball and knocking Gortat down. I’m not saying Wall and Howard are going to be a mini Harlem Globetrotters, but the game is going to move faster and everyone will have to keep their eyes on the ball.

This is how Wall sees the duo:

"Howard’s “played with some great point guards, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think he’s played with a guy who is capable of what I can do,” Wall told Yahoo Sports. “Just imagine us, you penetrate, having a guy who can catch lobs. A guy that can block shots. A guy you can throw it to in the post and score. Those little things. Those things are big. I’m coming off pick-and-roll, coming downhill, either you’re getting dunked on, you’re catching a lob or a wide-open three. It makes it a little bit easier.”"

When Isaiah Thomas played for Boston, he was known as King of the Fourth.

When Kyrie Irving brought Boston from the brink against the Wizards in Washington last season, it was during the fourth, that sent the game into overtime. What did these two guards have in common?

Because of Boston’s deep roster, the two guards could “rest” and then light up teams in the fourth.

The Wizards’ backcourt never had that option. They played at optimum level in the first half, such that they were tired by the second. Fresh legs and fresh arms always win.

If Wall is still at peak in the fourth quarter, because Howard took off some of the burden, then yes the Wizards are a much better team than last season.

Bottom line everyone in the Wizards will share the burden, that’s what a team does.

If there are any locker room issues, it is Wall and Beal’s job to get their team to focus on one goal—winning. That’s it. That’s the goal.

Don’t become the team that everyone is expecting. A team divided. Before you step onto the court, your opponent has already won. They no longer need to beat you, you did that already.

Remember when coach Brooks said, there’s only one team. If the Wizards can remember that— one team. Then and only then is the East truly wide open.

Now to the Wizards:

You guys are brothers. Just for one season remember that. You’re not always going to like your brothers. There are some days you’re going to hate him. But you always love your brother.

I’m going to take off my editorial hat and speak as a fan. The enemy is out there, not in the locker room.

John Wall has nothing left to prove. You’re an elite point guard. So what if people want to rank you. You know who you are.

Bradley Beal, you have nothing left to prove. Don’t even think about racking up minutes.

Markieff Morris, you still have a little to prove. Just kidding. But save your toughness for on the court. Teams should fear you once again.

Otto Porter, Jr.? Light them up. You don’t have to keep throwing your body in harm’s way. You’re a shooter, shoot.

Dwight Howard. You don’t have to prove your critics wrong. Let them talk and let them write. You just have to prove to your team, that you won’t let them down.

Maybe everyone is underestimating the Wizards. But when the Wizards overestimated themselves, look what happened.

Just be a team again. One team with one goal.