The Washington Wizards are going to the playoffs, and John Wall is one of the reasons why.
Or is he?
Ever since it was revealed that Wall needed knee surgery to clean up an issue in his knee, the Wizards have been lighting up the basketball floor. The Wizards have led the NBA in assist rate with Wall — the team's point guard who averages 9.3 assists per game — out of the lineup, per Micheal Pina of Vice Sports.
That number is certifiably insane. It's unfathomable to think that a team is better without a player who basically averages 10 assists a game. But that's what the assists numbers suggest so far.
However, that is to be expected. If a team doesn't find a way to move the ball when its best ball-mover is out, all it will create is isolation basketball. That won't get it done in the NBA, especially when the Wizards are fourth in the Eastern Conference and have three legitimately better teams above them.
While we're here in the stats realm, check this one out. The Wizards have an incredibly dominant offensive rating without Wall in the lineup the includes Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat. When backup guard Tomas Satoransky is in the lineup with those four, they're basically the Eastern Conference version of the Warriors, per Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report.
So it appears the Wizards should just trade Wall. They don't need him. He's holding this team back. Satoransky is the key for a title in Washington.
Just kidding! But seriously, the assists and overall offense of the Wizards without Wall is astounding.
Let's not kid ourselves, though. The Wizards need Wall in the playoffs, and they hope he's back soon.
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