Don't look now, but the Washington Wizards are looking more and more like legitimate contenders everyday. Russell Westbrook's departure has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Bradley Beal and his new teammates have clawed their way back into relevancy, sporting a 13 – 7 that is tied with the Miami Heat as the second-best in the East.
A major reason for their success is an area that they've struggled in recent years. NBA Twitter regular Rob Perez noted that after their close win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Wizards are now 10 – 1 in games that go into the clutch.
The Washington Wizards are now 10-1 in clutch games (when the score differential = or < 5 with 5 minutes or less remaining) this year.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 28, 2021
Against another solid clutch team in the Mavs, the Wizards put on a show. Beal was his usual solid self, scoring 26 points to lead the team. New acquisition Kyle Kuzma stepped up in the clutch for the Wizards, scoring 10 of his 22 points in the fourth to help put away the home team.
This trend of the Wizards winning in the clutch is a stark contrast from their old ways. Prior to this season, the franchise was an abysmal 291-384 in clutch games since the 2004 – 2005 season. Despite having multiple All-Star caliber players in recent years, the Wizards just failed to deliver when it mattered most.
This year, though, it's different. With two championship-caliber players in Kuzma and ace stopper Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Wizards are able to lock down on defense in the clutch. All that's left is for Bradley Beal to deliver the killing blow on offense, and he's a master at that. It also helps that they have a solid bench to rely on if one of their starters is struggling.
Will the Wizards be able to win it all this season? Probably not, but this is a good foundation for this roster to build upon. Besides, you never know when Lady Luck shines your way.
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