USA TODAY International Edition
D. C. power play: Wizards are hottest team in East
After bumpy start, Brooks has team rolling along
WASHINGTON Two months ago, the Washington Wizards were at the bottom of the NBA’s barrel, mired in mediocrity and well on their way toward a second consecutive postseason absence. Or so it seemed. The Wizards entered Wednesday in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They have a 22- 9 record since Dec. 1 — a mark that leads the conference — and are in the midst of a 15- game home winning streak, which is the second longest in franchise history. Cue the national spotlight.
The Wizards grabbed headlines when they arrived wearing all black before a game against the Boston Celtics — the “funeral game,” as it became known — and backed it up with a 15- point victory. Two days later, John Wall joined the NBA on TNT crew after earning his fourth consecutive All- Star Game selection and predicted an Eastern Conference finals trip for the Wizards. And it was believable.
How did this team rise from a 6- 12 start with questions about Wall’s and Bradley Beal’s leadership to the Eastern Conference’s upper tier so quickly? It starts with comfort. As simple as it might be, Washington needed time to get in the swing of things. First- year coach Scott Brooks was on the sideline for the first time since 2015. Wall was easing into the action after offseason double knee surgery. Injuries had limited Beal to 55 games last season.
All things considered, that poor start — especially with games vs. the Atlanta Hawks ( twice), Memphis Grizzlies, To- ronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Boston, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs ( twice) — wasn’t all that out of the ordinary.
“This is our first full season together, at least the starting five. We just had to figure each other out, get on the same page,” forward Markieff Morris said after a recent win. “We’re just taking it one game at a time, doing our homework off the court, getting ready for these games.”
Wall expressed similar sentiments, noting the team finally was having fun and in a rhythm.
“Nobody cares who’s scoring the ball; nobody cares who’s get- ting all the national attention,” he said. “We all, as a group, appreciate playing with each other. We know we need each other to make, individually, us better. I wouldn’t be who I am without my teammates. ... When all 15 guys are on one page, it makes it fun to play.”
Two of those 15 guys — Otto Porter and Morris — have taken their games to new levels.
Porter, a fourth- year forward, has upped his averages across the board — points ( 14.3 this season from 11.6 in 2015- 16), rebounds ( 6.5 from 5.2), minutes ( 33.6 from 30.3) and field goal percentage ( 53.5% from 47.3%). His threepoint percentage ( 46.2% from 36.7%) leads the NBA.
“Definitely teams are scouting Otto different,” Brooks said. “They’re staying at home ( on defense). He’s the best, or one of the best, three- point shooters in the league. So they’re not gonna give him a lot of open looks.”
Morris, who was dealt to Washington at last season’s trade deadline, averaged 17.3 points in January ( up from 12.7 in December) and 8.6 rebounds ( up from 5.9) and shot 41.4% from beyond the arc ( up from 22.7%).
“I think every team has a deci- sion to make,” Brooks said. “We have guys that can shoot now. ( Morris) is doing a good job of stepping out and making threes. The court is spread. Brad and John obviously are good playmakers, and ( Marcin Gortat) does a good job of rolling. Teams are gonna have to make a decision on who to stop and who to give looks to.”
Now the offense is translating to defense.
The Wizards had the NBA’s 16th- ranked defense in November ( 104.5 points allowed per 100 possessions) and 17th- ranked defense in December ( 107 points allowed per). The continuity wasn’t there as players were clearly adjusting to Brooks’ system.
In January? The Wizards ranked fifth in the NBA on the defensive end, allowing 103.5 points per 100 possessions, and first in opponent field goal percentage ( 43.4%).
“We weren’t on the same page, weren’t helping each other, weren’t listening to the coverages we had,” Wall said of the earlyseason struggles. “Ever since, we’ve just locked in and focused in on that end of the floor — because we know we’re gonna get open shots, we know we’re gonna be able to get to the paint, we know we’re gonna be able to get out in transition. It’s just about, ‘ Can you stop people multiple times?’ I think we’ve figured out ways to do that.”
“We know we need each other to make, individually, us better. ... When all 15 guys are on one page, it makes it fun to play.” Wizards guard John Wall