The Washington Wizards have established themselves as one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference over the last few seasons.
With much of their core group of players coming back this year, head coach Scott Brooks wants to use the preseason as a chance to experiment with the rotation, according to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post.
John Wall not playing in tonight's preseason opener. Bradley Beal will receive approx. 10 minutes, per Scott Brooks.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) October 2, 2017
Brooks is looking at these preseason games as a "experiment"
Also, Tim Frazier (groin strain) is also out tonight.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) October 2, 2017
Lot of minutes will be doled out to Chris McCullough, Sheldon Mac and Tomas Satoransky will start at the point.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) October 2, 2017
This should allow for Brooks to gauge which lineup combinations could be an effective option this upcoming season. There could be the use of small-ball groups in order to best utilize the offense while seeing which players could become dependable scorers or playmakers when either one or both John Wall and Bradley Beal are out of the game.
Wizards have struggled to get over the hump over the last few seasons getting no further than the Eastern Conference semifinals in the playoffs in three out of the last four years. This includes losing in seven games to the Boston Celtics last season after the team earned their first-ever Southeast division title.
With both the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers making significant additions to their rosters this past summer, Washington has an even greater uphill to climb this upcoming season that will require more than Wall and Beal to step up and produce on a nightly basis.