Finally, Kyshawn George showed what he can bring to the Washington Wizards’ offense in the 124-120 win over the Chicago Bulls.
The team ranks 12th in offensive rating early in the year, leading to two huge early-season victories. But throughout their first two games, George has struggled as a creator, turning the ball over eight times in a loss to the Raptors and four times in the season opener.
On Saturday night against the Bulls, the young guard helped shift the narrative. He dished out five assists to go with his most productive offensive outing: 22 points on 8-17 shooting from the field.
After a highlight-worthy outing, George showcased all the traits that make him a key piece for the Wizards- an effective downhill scorer with serious upside on defense. The Wizards need his progression to continue, as they seek their first playoff appearance in six seasons.
Kyshawn George limited the turnovers in Wizards win over Bulls
The largest criticism of the Washington guard’s play this season has been George's decision-making on offense. This was especially true during Friday’s game, with the Raptors clamping down on him as he attempted to initiate offense and forcing errant passes.
The level of competition wasn’t quite as strong against the Bulls, but the guard’s ability to take the reins of the team was quite impressive.
With Washington holding onto a slight lead, George erupted in the third quarter. His ability to maneuver the defense in the paint and draw physical contact helped slow the game down to his desired pace.
George is at his most efficient when operating at a controlled speed in the halfcourt- a style that has been in conflict with how Washington seeks to play. With Trae Young and other speedy guards on the floor, the team looks to move with speed in transition, a weakness for their other young star.
In Chicago, Washington showcased a balance of both. With Young on the floor, the team was effective at pushing the pace, with George working off of the fellow superstar. And with George as the primary playmaker, the team showed the ability to attack inside effectively.
To balance the strengths of their two players, coach Brian Keefe would be smart to use both on offense. By maximizing both of their skills, the Wizards can continue to strive towards their playoff hopes.
Kyshawn George still has room to grow
While Saturday night was George’s most impressive game, he still showed he has plenty of room to grow.
The young player's 3-point shooting woes continued, as he was just 1-6 from beyond the arc. Currently, he sits at 13.3 percent from three on the year.
A 38.1 percent shooter last year, George is likely just going through a rough stretch. It’ll be important for him to improve as a catch-and-shoot player, though, especially when working in transition alongside Young.
If George can find his shooting form again and produce offensively as he did against Chicago, it should be an exciting breakout season for the developing star. As the Washington Wizards continue to fight for significant improvement this season, they’ll lean on a key piece of their young core.
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