NBA: The struggling Rockets and 5 other eye-opening early observations
By Colin Cann
Washington Wizards
Consistency has been an issue for the Washington Wizards over the past few seasons but never have they looked this bad to start the year. The Wiz are sitting at 1-5 right now, with their only win coming in a 1-pt overtime victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.
They are firmly in the bottom half of the league in both offensive and defensive rating, which has led to a 4th worst -9.6 net rating. Bradley Beal has gotten off to a solid start but perennial all-star John Wall has started the season a little shakey efficiency wise, shooting only 41 percent including an awful 12 percent from downtown on over four attempts a game, after connecting on a career-high 37 percent last year.
To say Ian Mahinmi isn’t living up to his contract would be the understatement of the year, Mahinmi has been awful filling in the for injured Dwight Howard, fortunately for the Wizards, he should be returning to the team shortly after their current road trip. Unfortunately for the Wizards, it’s up for debate whether or not Howard is still a net positive at this point in his career with the current landscape of the NBA. So his return may not be the boost this team badly needs.