7 teams the Washington Wizards can hope to emulate if they get 8th seed
By Keith Cork
4. 2011-12 New York Knicks
The 2011-12 was a shortened NBA season due to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expiring and the 2011 NBA lockout. But the New York Knicks, lead by 27-year-old Carmelo Anthony (just one year older than Bradley Beal), finished the season in the 7th seed of the Eastern Conference.
While it may seem like nothing, the playoff experience for their young core at the time, 21-year old Iman Shumpert, 23-year-old Jeremy Lin, and 23-year-old Landry Fields, was priceless.
This was the “magical season” for Jeremy Lin, as he went off on one of the most awesome tears of an undrafted player in recent memory and started off “Linsanity” across the NBA. While Lin would eventually join the Houston Rockets the following season (another team on this list, by the way), he would take that experience with him.
It’s also interesting to note that Lin suffered a season-ending injury and veteran guard Baron Davis stepped in to finish this one out and play in the playoffs.
The following season, 2012-13, would see the Knicks achieve their highest win total since the 1996-97 season as they went on to win 54 games and make it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
If one of the Washington Wizards’ young players can pop off with a bit of “Linsanity,” there’s no telling how this season for the Wizards could wind up. Just stay healthy through the playoffs, please.
Record at all-star break: 17-18
2011-12 Final record & result : 36-30, Lost in 1st round
2012-13 season record & result: 54-28, Lost in Eastern Conference Finals