The pros and cons to Washington’s 5-6 start
The start to the 2022-23 season for the Wizards has gone as expected. A hot start, followed by a steep fall off, then a slight rise back to mediocrity. At 5-6, Washington sits in a decent spot. With their next six games at Capitol One Arena, the Wizards season could look much different in a week or so. That all depends on whether head coach Wes Unseld Jr. corrects some of the mistakes that have haunted his squad. Mainly: turnovers, lack of perimeter defense, and questionable rotations.
In the words to come I will discuss some players that have impressed me thus far, as well as areas that need immediate improvement.
Like: Brad’s efficiency
So far, Beal is shooting a career-high 52.1% from the field (Statmuse). He’s getting in the paint with ease. It opens up his pull-up jumper and keeps defenders honest. When your best scorer is making more than half of his shots, it’s generally a great sign. The three-point shot is the one caveat to his hot start, but it’s improved in recent games. He went 3/8 in two games against Philly and knocked down two more against Brooklyn. Hopefully, he continues his efficient scoring upon his return.
Dislike: WUJ’s rotations
Consistency is key in this league, and the Wizards rotation has none of it. They’re already on their third starting lineup, with minutes fluctuating each game. Perhaps the most confusing part of this is the role of Anthony Gill. Gill is a glue guy who dives on the floor, exudes maximum effort, and rebounds well for his position. These are all qualities that bench players or 12th – 15th men have. Not starters. Teams like the Sixers left him open in the corner because they knew he wouldn’t shoot, thus creating a 4 v 5 for us on offense. He simply didn’t mesh, yet Wes started him. Then, after starting the last three games, he received a DNP. I’m sorry, but nothing adds up. Wes goes from calling him the best fit for this lineup, to relegating him back to the bench. Just an odd coaching philosophy.
On this recent road trip to Memphis and Charlotte, the Wiz found themselves trailing in the third quarter. The starters were getting beat, so WUJ looked to his bench for a spark. Who was the guy who provided that boost? Jordan Goodwin. Along with Rui, Gafford, and Barton, Goodwin lead a 19-0 run in Memphis to take the lead. Instead of going with the hot hand, WUJ put his guy, Monte, back in. An immediate 6-0 Memphis run ensued. The next night, Goodwin helped us break away to start the fourth quarter. We opened a seven-point lead and looked poised to run away with it. Yet again, WUJ opted for the smaller Morris, and yet again, the opposing point guard began scoring. It’s as if Wes overcomplicates things. Just because one guy is the starter doesn’t mean he’ll excel in every matchup. Sometimes it’s best to go with what’s working instead of who’s getting paid more.
Like: Rui’s aggression
Entering a contract year, you knew Rui would come out swinging. Most of the training camp dialogue highlighted Hachimura as the top performer. It’s clear now that the buzz was real. Rui leads the Wizards in bench scoring at 11 ppg and is tied for the NBA lead in most double-digit scoring games off the bench with nine (@ChaseHughesNBCS on Twitter). He’s finally playing to his 6’9, 230 lb frame. I love how he takes it straight into his defenders’ chest and draws contact, something he was reluctant to do early in his career. The best part is that he’s finishing at the rim. His drives keep defenders on their heels and allow him to pull up for his patented mid-range jumper. Things seem to be coming together for the fourth-year player, just in time to secure a big pay-day.
Dislike: Monte Morris and Will Barton
When we acquired Morris and Barton in exchange for KCP, I was ecstatic. I thought they would bring their skills over from Denver and improve our offense. Boy, was I wrong…well at least so far. Things can always change, but they’ve not had the greatest start. Morris is a liability on defense. Teams hunt him down on switches and make him a primary defender. Whatever defensive abilities he has are neutralized by his lack of size, which severely hurts the team. Offensively, he strays away from the paint. Our half-court offense is too stagnant because he’s unable to penetrate and cause the defense to rotate.
Barton has shown an ability to get buckets, but man does he dribble too much. Just last night, he had back-to-back turnovers as a result of running into sideline traps. His close-outs have been lazy, and his perimeter defense has been a joke. He’s a –53 on the season, good for second worst on the team (Statmuse). He gives me Dinwiddie vibes. When he has the ball, you can expect a turnover, reckless drive, or step-back three. And yes, sometimes his shot falls. But more likely than not, the results aren’t favorable.
At 5-6 through eleven games, the Wizards sit in a familiar spot: The middle of the pack. Coming off a difficult stretch of games against the league’s top teams, they return home for a six-game home-stand against:
Dallas
Utah
Memphis
OKC
Miami
Charlotte
The front end will be tough, but if you can take 2/3, you’re sitting pretty heading into that back end. A big couple games coming up for Washington. Let’s get back on track at home!
Hope you enjoyed the blog! As always, leave a comment or shoot me a DM on Twitter if you have any questions, or just want to talk Wizards basketball. Go Wiz!
All stats and information found on these sites:
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=will+barton+%2B-