Wizards Have Avoided Complete Failure This Season
The Washington Wizards have the league's worst record at 3-19 so far this season, and things have not been good whatsoever.
However, Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale did not give the Wizards a failing grade in his report card series for the first quarter of the year. Instead, Favale gave the Wizards a D+ thanks to some potential flashed by some of the younger players on the roster.
"It would be one thing if the Wizards were dead last in offense and defense while exclusively featuring the kids. They're not. Among everyone on the team who logged at least 200 minutes, the clubhouse leaders in true usage (which factors in playmaking) are Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valančiūnas, according to BBall Index," Favale writes.
"Flashes from Bub Carrington (feel/playmaking), Kyshawn George (plug-and-playness) and Alex Sarr (defensive disruption) permeate the on-court product. And Bilal Coulibaly is going to be more well-rounded than even Washington expected."
The D+ tied the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans received a 'D' and the Indiana Pacers got a 'D-'.
The Wizards aren't focused on wins and losses this season, and that is reflected in the grade. If there was more weight attached to the record, the Wizards easily would have failed this exercise. But there is more than meets the eye for the Wizards' season.
The Wizards will need to pile on a few more wins to remind the rest of the league that they are making progress, but they are far more focused on internal growth than anything else.
The Wizards will now return to the court after four full days of rest as they take on the league-best Cleveland Cavaliers on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Friday inside RocketMortgage Fieldhouse.