Washington Wizards Season Preview

Washington Wizards

2014 Record: 46-36

2015 O/U: 45.5

Who are their stars?

To avoid argument it is safe to say that John wall is in the top tier of point guards. He is up there with Westbrook in athleticism, Paul in game management, and can score with the Lillards of the world. As a guy who wasn’t a fan of the “Douigie” Wall, I have to say he is one of my favorite NBA players. Wall averaged a double-double last year and I don’t think the assists were an anomaly. He now has young talent, and big size to dish to and he is a creator who can continue to be in the top tier this year. Beside Wall is a guy who has breakout potential with 22-year-old Brad Beal. Beal has averaged 16 points per game since his rookie season and is a pure scorer, his problem is that in three years he has missed 54 games. For a kid that is 19-21 I don’t see it as a huge problem, but at the same time for me to say he will get 82 games is a stretch. The true bottom line is that Wall can make the playoffs in the East with what he has, and if Beal is healthy heading into the summer, this team could be the most dangerous to knock off the Cavaliers in the East. If not, they will be just another contender in the way.

Who are the glue guys?

Wall can win without a player as dynamic as Beal because of the glue guys around him featuring the big men. Marcin Gortat and Nene are not the big time names, but they are big time punishers and can bring the old school back. In the playoffs, however, it proved valuable to put a guy like Paul Pierce as a power forward next to one of the big men and this year that would be Jarad Dudley. When it comes to making big playoff shots, Dudley is not Pierce. When it comes to doing what Paul Pierce did in the regular season last year, and hopefully with more minutes as a power forward? Dudley can do that. He will more than likely get little time as the small forward, and that is with the hopes that 22-year-old Otto Porter will be subbing in and out with 19-year-old Kelly Oubre. I think the goal is to eventually slide Porter into the Dudley role, but with neither ready for a full load of minutes, the rotation may bring out competition and the best for both of them. Neither are great on offense, but with a guy like Wall they will be involved, and both have length and both can defend which when facing Lebron James, Dudley, Oubre, and Porter are the types of players you need to have.

Who are the rotational players?

The Wizards also have themselves a decent core of players in their rotations. To start they not only have size that may be rotating between Nene and Gortat at times, they can also sub in Kris Humphries and Drew Gooden for minutes. It gives them the flexibility to match up with any teams lineup, with depth. Gary Neal, Alan Anderson, Ramon Session, and Garrett Temple can all rotate in the guard positions, and the best news is that all have minutes in the playoffs. This isn’t the same old young team on the rise. You can argue they go three deep at every position, and if healthy, they will be competitive.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far do they go?

As I mentioned, this team has as good a chance as any to be the #1 eastern threat to the Cavs. If you told me they were in the Eastern Conference Finals I would not be shocked. That said, I really think Beal is a key to that. Wall can take them very far, but a healthy scoring star next to him is what can put them over the edge. They do have the size to matchup if with any team, and the versatility to run with everyone.

Over 45.5 wins, 5th in the Eastern Conference, 12th in the NBA