The Washington Wizards were one of the league's most pleasant early surprises. They started the season 10-3, racing to the top of a crowded Eastern Conference. Washington took a nosedive from there, though, going 13-20 since mid-November.
A .500 record at the season's midway point is plenty respectable for a team that some assumed would end up in the lottery. But the Wizards' hot start heightened expectations, and Bradley Beal's foray into free agency this summer looms. Washington must be better over the next three months to secure a playoff berth, increasing the odds its franchise player stays home.
If the Wizards fail in either capacity, don't be surprised if these ongoing issues are the biggest reasons why.
Reasons for Wizards struggles
Beal having a down season and some players falling off
To be completely honest, this is what could have been expected out of this roster, to begin with. Beal is Washington's only star, and his personal struggles have come as a major surprise. The All-Star guard had an especially great year last season, but has followed it up with a significant statistical decline across the board.
Last season, Beal averaged 31.3 points per game, shooting 48.5% from the field, 34.9% from three-point range and 88.9% from the free-throw line. This season, he is down to just 23.7 points per game, and all of his shooting splits have taken a dive. He's now shooting 45.5% from the field, 30.3% from behind the arc and 83.2% from the free-throw line.
The Wizards got off to a great start despite Beal's decline, though. As big a problem was that some players were obviously overachieving.
The biggest overachiever, in terms of numbers, was Montrezl Harrell. The former Sixth Man of the Year was hitting 63.6% of his shots for 18 points per game in the first 13 games, numbers close to his peak with the LA Clippers. He's since fallen to 12.7 points and just 6.5 rebounds per game, stats a far cry from his long-established norm.
Spencer Dinwiddie applies there, too. He put up five games of 20 more points over the first three weeks of the season, including a 34-point outburst against the Indiana Pacers. Dinwiddie has reached 20 points in just four games since then, leaving the Wizards without a reliable second scorer behind Beal.
Absences and lack of progression of young players
Many had their doubts about the Wizards' young core coming into 2021-22, skepticism that's been proven well-founded. Not much was expected from Washington's young players this season, but their contributions have been disappointing even acknowledging that context. The more time passes, the more pressure will build on Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija.
Avdija, to be fair, has taken a step forward this year. He is shooting a better percentage on higher volume, becoming a more threatening scorer while establishing himself as a promising wing defender. However, that subtle improvement seems like it's simply not enough. Avdija was the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, and watching him battle it out in the league raises questions about whether the Wizards made the right choice.
Hachimura's problem is less about productivity than availability. Unfortunately for the Wizards, the pride of Japan missed the first 39 games of the season due to a personal issue. He debuted against the Orlando Magic last week, scoring just six points in 14 minutes of action. While Hachimura's per-game averages and shooting splits show signs of life, Washington still needs more from the 2019 lottery pick, especially with Beal and Dinwiddie laboring.
Follow Us
Subscribe