Reality check for the Wizards

This is an extremely delicate period for the Washington Wizards, owners of the worst record in the NBA.

Despite winning 4 from their past 6, including victories over Oklahoma City and Denver, the reality is sharp improvement was expected of Washington (maybe enough to shoot them into the playoffs?) yet they’ve remained among the league’s most putrid.

What makes this period most delicate is the return of former number 1 pick John Wall.

In just 5 games Wall has again proved himself the Wizard’s best scorer and easily its best player. Wall missed the first 33 games of the season, Washington lost 28 of them. They’ve won 3 of the 5 games he’s been back.

That John Wall means a hell of a lot to this franchise would perhaps be one of the biggest understatements in the league.

The moves the Wizards have made over the past 12 months- the same ones which generated so much positivity (Nene, Okafor, Ariza and drafting in Beal) were orchestrated to best compliment Wall’s game.

In Okafor and Nene (whom Washington inherited a $65 million bill to possess), the Wizards would have genuine size and experience inside. Ariza’s defence and Beal’s supposed elite shooting would in theory constitute ideal perimeter help.

The problem is nothing of what was expected has materialised. In fact Washington has probably regressed and continues to do the same things which in turn generates the high draft picks they keep butchering.

What I find most alarming is that they continue to commit the same mistakes they were lambasted for last season. They’re still taking the most long 2’s in the league (the least advised shot in the sport) and still making that shot with abhorrent efficiency. They’re also the only team in the competition to average less than 20 shots at the rim per game.

Poor inside and as bad outside, it should be no surprise that Washington’s lowly 97.1 points per 100 possessions qualifies as their worst offensive production in 40 years.

However hope remains so long as Wall resides in the capital. Ironically though it’s Wall who also holds the biggest torch in the NBA and one which he’ll be shining brightly on the same people who have invested so much in him.

Assuming the Wizards don’t do anything more to their roster before the trade deadline expires, they’ll have the next few months to sort out exactly what the entire club is all about. From coach Randy Wittman whose caretaker role somehow morphed into the head job, to the increasingly criticised General Manager Ernie Grunfeld who surely won’t have employment in Washington if they’re once again drafting high in April.

The Wizards have the talent to finish 3^rd in the South-East, perhaps as high as second. Their seasonal picking of ping pong balls has grown stale.