The Washington Wizards are free-falling down the Eastern Conference standings.
Through the first 13 games of the season, the Washington Wizards were one of the biggest surprises in the Eastern Conference as they stood 10-3 and first in the standings. However, since then, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the upstart Wizards.
Since that 10-3 start, the Wizards have lost seven of their last 11 games and have fallen to fifth in the standings. In fact, if they continue on this losing pace, they’re soon going to find themselves out of the top 8 entirely in the East.
Over the last couple of weeks (their last 11 games), the Wizards have fallen off on both ends of the floor. They’re a bottom 6 offense and defense and have the fifth-worst net rating in the league over that stretch.
What perhaps is most concerning is that Bradley Beal has not played at an all-star level for the team at all this season. He’s still averaging 22 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game, but he’s on pace to finish with his worst shooting numbers since his third season in the league – before he made his jump to stardom.
And that has been one of the biggest factors in the Wizards fade over the last couple of weeks. As the team’s supporting cast has cooled off from a hot start – especially Spencer Dinwiddie who is shooting just 39 percent from the field on the season – the Wizards have, perhaps somewhat expectedly, suffered without Beal there to save them.
If Beal is not going to be a superhero and if the Wizards’ supporting cast is going to take a step back, then there isn’t going to be much hope in the team making a move back up the standings in the East. Or even to maintain their current playoff standing.
All that said, it’s still too early to label the Wizards one way or another. Are they the team that started the season 10-3 or are they the team that is 4-7 in their last 11 games?
It’s difficult to tell but one thing’s for sure – if Beal doesn’t get on track and return to his all-NBA form, this team has almost no shot to be anything but a potential fringe playoff team in the Eastern Conference.