In Troubled Times, Optimism About Washington Wizards
The future of the world, the United States, professional sports leagues like the NBA, and other significant sporting competitions remains uncertain and unknown. In a time of tension and caution caused by the global covid-19 pandemic, social distancing can spark creativity, promote thought and reflection, and encourage us to pick up an old hobby.
In the spirit of returning to my writing contributions, maintaining positivity in these unprecedented times, and looking at an unfinished Washington Wizards season, I would like to focus on indicators for optimism regarding the Wizards.
#1: Bradley Beal Has Arrived, All-Star Recognition Or Not
The most prominent development for the Washington Wizards this season is the emergence of shooting guard Bradley Beal as a vocal leader and versatile offensive threat. In his eighth NBA year, “Real Deal Beal” is playing at an elevated level, establishing a number of franchise and career-best records.
Beal scored over 50 points on back-to-back nights, distinguishing himself as the first player to achieve this feat since Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant during the 2007 NBA season. Beal is only the sixth NBA player to accomplish this.
The Wizards’ cornerstone also set a new franchise record by scoring 25 points or more in 18 straight games.
The former University of Florida player passed Jeff Malone on Washington’s all-time scoring list, earning the No. 2 spot next to franchise leader Elvin Hayes. Don’t call it a breakout season for Beal, but rather a dominant one where he’s reached his prime.
Beal is averaging 30.5 points per game, more than any of his previous seven seasons and nearly 10 points per game greater than his career average.
Number 3 for the Wizards is making an average of 84.2% of his free throws per game and getting to the line 8 times on average, both career bests.
Beal is struggling to convert his three-pointers more than in the past, averaging a 35.3% three-point field goal percentage on 8.4 tries per game. His three-point accuracy this year is the second-lowest during his career. Beal thrives most in the paint.
He is attempting a career-high average of 14.4 two-pointers per game, netting 51.5% of these shots on average. Beal is making an average of 45.5% of his overall field-goal attempts.
He has been an essential contributor to the Wizards. Consider that he has the second-highest points-per-game average in the league, 30.5, the NBA’s greatest average of total field-goal attempts, 22.9, and the fifth-most minutes of any player, 36. These numbers reinforce Beal’s words in this NBC Sports Washington GIF from the 2016-2017 season.
More importantly, Beal is demonstrating his commitment to the Wizards franchise by being a vocal leader and setting a high standard of play for himself and the team.
After Beal scored 53 points in a road matchup against the Chicago Bulls, he expressed that he feels there is still room for improvement. Wizards Head Coach Scott Brooks told the media after the game that the team is “playing soft.”
Instead of responding adversely to Brooks’ comment or criticizing his teammates after a 126-117 loss for the Wizards, Beal agreed with Brooks and said that he was in this category, notwithstanding a 53-point performance that night.
“I have to agree with [Brooks]. I put myself in that group, too. I can be better on the defensive end and the all-around game. We all can be better.”
His comment indicates that there will always be room for improvement with the Wizards, individually and as a team.
The next night back at Capital One Arena, Beal scored a career-high 55 points for the Wizards against the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks. Largely because of him, Washington sparked a fourth-quarter comeback to force an overtime period.
Beal made 22 points in the fourth quarter and 7 of the Wizards’ 11 points in overtime. Beal has showed that he can play at a high level and encourage his teammates to exercise his same fearlessness and tenacity.
Following the game, Beal was gracious and grateful when he learned that he is the first player since Bryant with back-to-back 50-point games.
“Oh man, that’s crazy. Didn’t know that. That’s who Kobe was. That was his drive and that ceremony today just brought the feeling, the tears all back again. I wanted the win, but that’s a cool attribute. Those are two greats. Two Hall of Famers [Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain] for sure. And I’m happy to be in good company.”
“I was just locked in and I just was having fun. Probably the most fun game I’ve ever played in.”
Beal made his future goals as a player clear to the media and fans with the following comments.
“It’s not about how many points I’ve scored, it’s not about how many All-Star Games I make, it’s not about how many All-NBA teams I make because at the end of the day, when I’m gone from here, you guys aren’t going to remember that, nor are you going to care.
“And I feel like that’s how we feel with Kobe. So, you know, I feel like the impact that you leave on others and your teammates and everybody around you is what’s most important. So I think that’s what I take to heart the most and carry that for the rest of my life.”
Beal is leading by example this season, following the role that Bryant once took on for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been an impactful and essential member of the Wizards during point guard John Wall’s extended absence.
Expect Beal to continue his crucial role in the Wizards’ success. Ideally like Bryant, he will leave the game as a celebrated player.
#2: Young Players Are Gradually Improving
Before this season started, Monumental Sports and Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis promoted Tommy Sheppard, a long-standing presence in the Wizards’ front office, to full-time General Manager. In the summer of 2019, Sheppard orchestrated a number of acquisitions and trades as Interim GM.
Sheppard helped bring several young, high-upside players to D.C. With 18 regular-season games remaining, the Wizards’ new additions who are showing the most growth are Davis Bertans (pictured in the GIF above) and Rui Hachimura.
Bertans, a 6’10” power forward with 3 seasons of NBA experience, is a reliable three-point marksman for the Wizards this year. Bertans has played in 54 of the Wizards’ 64 games, converting at least 50% of his three-pointers in 21 contests. On March 1, 2020, Bertans made 8 of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc against the Golden State Warriors.
Watch Bertans’ highlights below from the Wizards’ 124-110 victory over Golden State.
The Valmiera, Latvia native’s nickname is the “Latvian Laser,” a moniker alluding to his prowess from three-point range. Bertans has struggled with making three-pointers in a few games this season, but he is a difference-maker.
Bertans is a valuable offensive contributor and a versatile big. Though he has room to improve as a defender, allowing a 45.9% average opponent field-goal percentage this season, he is averaging the league’s seventh-most-accurate shooting percentage from three. Bertans has converted 42.4% of his three-pointers on average.
Bertans is also averaging the NBA’s fifth-highest number of threes made per game (3.7), and the ninth-highest amount of three-point attempts (8.7). He ranks alongside 10th-placed teammate Beal, who averages 8.4 attempts from three-point range.
The Latvian Laser is also attaining a number of career-highs, with 15.4 points, 4.5 total rebounds, 1.7 assists, 4.9 made field goals, and 29.3 minutes played per game.
Bertans is a prudent pickup by Sheppard. As he continues to develop his play and improve as a defender, the Wizards will ideally secure his contract to make the team’s future brighter.
Among the Wizards’ young players, NBA rookie Rui Hachimura is the second-most remarkable addition. Sheppard and the Wizards’ management selected him as the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Wizards’ acquisition of a big who has speed and presence in the paint helps bolster a team that’s already strong in the backcourt.
In his first NBA season, Hachimura is impressing both on and off the court. He is averaging 13.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 82.9% free-throw shooting accuracy, and 51.7% accuracy from two-point range.
Hachimura celebrated his 22nd birthday recently and is just beginning his NBA experience.
The Wizards are providing him with ample playing time. Hachimura has started 41 of the Wizards’ 64 games this season, playing an average of 29.7 minutes.
In addition to refining his abilities, Hachimura is representing Japan to NBA fans, as he is the league’s first Japanese player. He visited the country’s ambassador to the U.S. in September 2019.
He scored as many as 30 points on the court and has contributed 15 points or greater in 20 of the 41 games he’s played.
In the Wizards’ 119-113 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on December 5, 2019, Hachimura poured in a team-high 27 points on 11-for-18 field-goal shooting. Watch his highlights from this game below.
Hachimura is averaging the sixth-highest number of points, third-greatest amount of rebounds, and seventh-most minutes of playing time among all NBA rookies this season.
Though he is struggling with three-point shooting, averaging 27.4% accuracy on an average of 1.8 attempts per game, the Sendai, Japan native will hopefully improve this ability with time.
Considering Bertans and Hachimura’s contributions to the Wizards this year, fans have reason to be excited. The team’s young core, which also includes German center Moritz Wagner, small forward Admiral Schofield, and shooting guard Garrison Mathews, is certainly a bright spot.
#3: High-Scoring, Vigorous Offensive System Continues to Roll
As a team during the 2018-2019 season, the Wizards were 10th in the NBA in average points scored with 114. Additionally, the team gave up an average of 116.9 opponent points, ranking second-worst in the league.
This year the Wizards are among the highest-scoring teams in the league. They are scoring an average of 115.6 points per game, standing at sixth, above the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Toronto Raptors, all whom have secured playoff appearances.
The Wizards rank 10th in the NBA in average steals, with 8.1, 12th in assists, with 25.3, and fifth in three-point shooting accuracy, with 37.2%. The team converts an average of 41.9 field goals, standing at eighth.
A season ago, the Wizards averaged 8.3 steals, 26.3 assists, and 42.1 made shots per game, all numbers greater than this year. But the team also made 34.1% of their three-point attempts on average.
The Wizards’ defensive endeavors continue to be the issue holding them back. The team is allowing an average of 119.7 points through 64 games, tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the NBA’s worst defense.
Though there will always be room for improvement, the Wizards would benefit from bolstering their defense during the remainder of this season, whenever it continues, and throughout the offseason or playoffs, whichever arrives first.
Hopefully the Wizards will have more exciting victories and moments going forward. One thing is for certain: Beal has much to smile about this year.
Do you have comments, new perspectives, or feedback regarding this post? Thank you for reading!
Best,
Leo
DC Writing 