9th: Washington Wizards (⇄)
It might have been best for the Washington Wizards to stay home for this one. Sitting way back of the final playoff spot by a margin of 5.5 games with only eight left to play, Washington is playing for pride in Orlando.
But, these remaining games provide more of an opportunity for this young Wizards team to showcase players who do not always get the spotlight.
Breakout-star Bradley Beal will be sitting out for the restart due to a rotator cuff injury. The shooting guard caught fire after the all-star break this season, which he was notably snubbed from. In the 11 games since the break, Beal has been averaging a league-best 36.5 points per game, over six points higher than the next player on the list (LeBron James with 30.0 PPG).
Davis Bertans, who is having a career year of his own entering new contract eligibility this offseason, has also decided to sit out the restart. Bertans was shooting 42.4 percent from deep, scoring 15.4 points per game with his unique style of play at the power forward spot.
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1204588846253514752
Still nursing that devastating ACL rupture, former all-star John Wall will remain at home as his team travels to the bubble. Gary Payton II is also not with the team in Orlando.
Ultimately, there’s not much that can be done to save the Wizard’s season this year. It will be fun to see what their young talent can do, especially when they become the focal point of an offense in these remaining seeding games.