3 Reasons to be optimistic about the Washington Wizards in the bubble
By Ethan Smith
They’re Ahead of Schedule
Entering the bubble at 24-60, the Washington Wizards are nowhere near the top tier of the NBA. Although they’re technically still scratching for a possible playoff birth, they really can’t compete with the top half of the conference.
That said, they’re still better than most people expected. When the season stopped, the Wizards were on pace to finish 31-51, better than the experts at ESPN and in Vegas predicted. They were 28th in Sports Illustrated’s preseason power rankings, behind the likes of the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Atlanta Hawks, but were one of 22 teams invited to Orlando. The Knicks, Pistons, and Hawks are all at home.
Although the Wizards haven’t shattered expectations like the Memphis Grizzlies have, they have definitely done better than most people expected. While it’s cooled off some as the season progressed, the offense has been highly flammable and can heat up for 120+ points on any given night. The bench unit is one of the NBA’s most productive. The record is bad, but there are areas where this team does perform above league average.
And while Bradley Beal‘s shoulders are undoubtedly sore from carrying this squad all season (he’s literally missing the final stretch of the season with a shoulder injury), he hasn’t always had to do it himself this season. Another reason to be optimistic.