Wizards Looking To Finish Strong
Despite sporting the fourth worst record in the NBA at 20-56, the Washington Wizards have begun to show some life over the past week of the season.
"Over this last week we’ve really played at a high level," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. "We’ve had an opportunity to win games and we’ve had our best stretch right now."
The Wizards, with a young core of John Wall, Jordan Crawford, JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche, have won two straight games, three of four overall and two straight on the road for the first time all season. If the Wizards can get another win Wednesday in Indiana, the team will have put together it’s first three-game winning streak since April of the 2007-2008 season.
"We’re just doing better when it gets tough," Wall said of his team’s recent surge. "In hard-nosed situations we’re doing a better job of executing, of taking our time and not rushing shots."
The leader of the bunch, the number one overall pick of last year’s draft, Wall has been impressive to say the least throughout his inaugural season. Wall is first among rookies in assists per game (8.5), second in points per game (16.1), first in steals (1.63), tied for first in minutes (37.9) and is second in double-doubles (25). If it wasn’t for a monster year from Blake Griffin, Wall would easily be the Rookie of the Year this season.
While he knows his play this season is a good start, Wall plans on putting in the work this offseason to become a better player. Wall briefly outlined his offseason goals in talking to HOOPSWORLD after the Wizards last game — a 97-91 win in Charlotte against the Bobcats.
"Just working on my jump shot, improve [my] decision-making and there is a whole lot of stuff I’m going to look at this summer when I’m watching film," Wall said, "there’s a whole lot to improve on."
Getting a chance to start of late beside Wall in the backcourt, fellow rookie Jordan Crawford has shown promise since seeing an increased role post All-Star break and a trade from Atlanta.
Crawford notched the first triple-double of his career in place of Wall (suspension) against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday (April 1) with 21 points, 11 dimes and 10 rebounds. Sunday night, the rookie dropped 23 points in Charlotte, including a team-high seven points in the fourth quarter to withstand the Bobcats late-game run.
"Jordan (Crawford) got us going in the fourth quarter," Saunders said after the game.
Over the last five contests, Crawford is averaging nearly 24 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per outing and has been pivotal during the Wizards run.
Working the inside-outside game from the post are big men Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee.
Blatche, the elder statesman of the group at the ripe old age of 24, has been the main driving force behind the Wizards last two victories. Against the Cavaliers last Friday, Blatche had game-highs in both points (36) and rebounds (19) to lead Washington to a 115-107 win.
Two nights later, against the Bobcats, the Wizards’ starting power forward had himself another monster night. With 25 points and 17 rebounds to lead his team in both categories, Blatche took no prisoners in the paint in finishing off his best two-game stretch of the season.
"He’s just been a beast on the boards," Wall said of Blatche’s recent rebounding rampage.
{AUTHOR_BOX}Alongside Blatche down low, McGee has put together a string of dominant performances in the paint as well. Over the last five contests, McGee is averaging 18.2 points to go along with a hefty 11.0 boards and 3.6 blocks per contest.
While there is still a lot of room to grow, these four young players are a big reason why this team remains optimistic about it’s future.
"Our confidence is very high right now," Blatche said. "All the hard work we’ve been going through is paying off. (Jordan) Crawford’s playing great. John (Wall) is playing great. JaVale (McGee) is protecting the rim. I’m just trying to chip in and help us get the wins that we should’ve been getting earlier."
With the way this team has played recently, it’s hard to believe Washington is a league-worst 3-35 on the road and has just 20 wins this season. Both Blatche and Wall reiterated this team felt like it didn’t put forth enough effort earlier this season in some of their losses, but feel like they’re on the right track and the Wizards can carry some of this momentum into next season if they continue to finish strong.
"We let a lot of games [get away from us] this year, but we can only learn and get ready for next year," Wall said. "Hopefully we can get a couple more veterans around that can be more serious with us in the locker room, can guide us through certain things and have that playoff experience."
With just about $41 million invested to players for the 2011-2012, this team should have some cash to throw at a veteran free agent or two to mentor the Wizards’ youth. But, for right now, Coach Saunders is just concentrating on closing this season out on a high note.
"I told our guys before, I thought we were playing harder, we were playing better, and I thought over the last 10 games we were going to get some wins," Saunders said.
The future is now for the Wizards but luckily for Washington, with this group of players, that future could be bright.
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