The Washington Wizards host their most winnable game of the season on Friday night, as they play the John Beilein-less Cavaliers fresh out of the All-Star break.
Before the All-Star break, the Washington Wizards were playing their best basketball of the season. They went 7-5 over their final dozen games and started to put things together (finally) on the defensive end. The post-All-Star break horizon looked bright. Then it looked even brighter when their first opponent in over a week started falling apart.
Late on Monday evening, it was reported that Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach John Beilein would be stepping down from his position, leaving the Cavs with interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff for the foreseeable future.
Story filed to ESPN: After a brief and tumultuous tenure, John Beilein is leaving as Cleveland's coach. Associate HC JB Bickerstaff will be elevated to head coach. Beilein's expected to say goodbye to staff and players on Wednesday upon team's return from All-Star Break.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2020
Beilein’s rocky tenure as the head coach in Cleveland lasted just 54 games. In that time, the Cavs went 14-40, are currently dead last in the Eastern Conference, and only the Golden State Warriors have fewer wins as NBA action picks back up. But at least they have Andre Drummond?
With the Washington Wizards hosting the Cavs on Friday, it’d be easy to assume that the Wizards are being handed an easy victory. And while this could really be true, time and experience have taught us NEVER to underestimate an opponent with nothing to lose.
This season, the Wizards are 1-1 versus Cleveland. If they are serious about a late-season playoff run, the Wizards need to win games like these; games against downtrodden and downright bad basketball teams.
Here are three keys for a Washington Wizards victory on Friday…