The Washington Wizards are more than just a fast start
The Washington Wizards are proving to be more than just a fast start.
Through the first six games of the season, there is a lot to be encouraged about as it pertains to the Washington Wizards. At 5-1, the Wizards are not getting nearly the attention that they probably deserve to be getting.
They’ve beaten the Boston Celtics twice and have notched a victory over the Atlanta Hawks in their first three games. The Celtics and Hawks are two teams that many expect to finish in the top 6 of the Eastern Conference.
If the Wizards are proving that they can beat playoff teams consistently, there’s a good chance that this team has sustaining power as they look to make a return to the postseason.
What is most interesting about this Wizards team is that they made some quiet offseason additions that nearly everyone seems to be forgetting. Not only did they essentially swap Russell Westbrook for Spencer Dinwiddie at the point guard position, but they also added Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell – who have become important contributors for the team early in the year.
The three new contributors for the Wizards are averaging a combined 55 points, 26 rebounds, and nearly 10 assists per game. The trio has given the support that Bradley Beal has missed over the last few seasons and has been a major upgrade over Westbrook.
Simply put, Westbrook wasn’t an ideal fit next to Beal. And that’s OK. But the new-look Wizards have raised the ceiling for this team and, perhaps most importantly, have the team looking like a true playoff contender.
The question is whether or not they can continue to win consistently. Are they going to continue to play at a 5-1 pace? That’s unlikely. But if they continue to improve as a team and if Beal can get back to a midseason form, there’s no question that the Wizards will develop into a team that no one will want to face when the playoffs roll around.
Should the Wizards be viewed as a championship contender in the Eastern Conference at this point? No. But there are some encouraging signs that suggest this team has improved compared to last season.
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Washington is more than just a fast start. They’re explosive and have all the pieces to be a team that either plays spoiler in the postseason or a team that makes an unlikely run once they get to the playoffs.