Season Predictions
Regular Season: The Wizards are currently on some sort of an island at the #5 spot -- the Cavaliers at #4 are much better and farther ahead in terms of wins; the Bucks at #6 took a step back after trading PG/SG Brandon Knight recently and are considerably behind Washington on the standings anyways. As long as the Wizards maintain a steady pace, as there is really no reason it should sway either way besides star SG Bradley Beal’s impending return, their record will likely not matter as they will be the fifth seed anyways. Seems fitting for a middle playoff seed to have such a middle-esque situation.That said, superstar PG John Wall and veterans SF/PF Paul Pierce and C Marcin Gortat are not ones to take their feet off the gas pedal, and Washington should finish out the season considerably strong.
Projected Record: 47-35
Playoffs Round One
Chicago Bulls (#4) vs. Washington Wizards (#5)
The Wizards draw a tough matchup in round one, as even without a healthy superstar PG Derrick Rose, Chicago looks to be the prohibitive favorite. It’s hard to imagine PF Nene Hilario and C Marcin Gortat even coming anywhere close to winning the battle in the paint against stars PF Pau Gasol, C Joakim Noah, PF/C Taj Gibson, and more. With scoring down low not an option and the Bulls dominating the glass, Washington will be forced to resort to the three-point shot more and more often. This is something that they do not particularly excel at, as Wall is averaging less than one three per game, which should make it hard on him to score as going into the paint will not be a good option against this Bulls team. Beal is connecting on 2 threes per contest, but with premier wing defender SG/SF Jimmy Butler shutting him down, the Wizards will have an awfully tough time finding ways to put the ball in the basket. Though slightly challenged offensively without Rose, this should not be as glaring an issue for Chicago in what has all the makings of a defensive battle.
Series Prediction: Chicago wins 4-2
Regular Season: The Wizards are currently on some sort of an island at the #5 spot -- the Cavaliers at #4 are much better and farther ahead in terms of wins; the Bucks at #6 took a step back after trading PG/SG Brandon Knight recently and are considerably behind Washington on the standings anyways. As long as the Wizards maintain a steady pace, as there is really no reason it should sway either way besides star SG Bradley Beal’s impending return, their record will likely not matter as they will be the fifth seed anyways. Seems fitting for a middle playoff seed to have such a middle-esque situation.That said, superstar PG John Wall and veterans SF/PF Paul Pierce and C Marcin Gortat are not ones to take their feet off the gas pedal, and Washington should finish out the season considerably strong.
Projected Record: 47-35
Playoffs Round One
Chicago Bulls (#4) vs. Washington Wizards (#5)
The Wizards draw a tough matchup in round one, as even without a healthy superstar PG Derrick Rose, Chicago looks to be the prohibitive favorite. It’s hard to imagine PF Nene Hilario and C Marcin Gortat even coming anywhere close to winning the battle in the paint against stars PF Pau Gasol, C Joakim Noah, PF/C Taj Gibson, and more. With scoring down low not an option and the Bulls dominating the glass, Washington will be forced to resort to the three-point shot more and more often. This is something that they do not particularly excel at, as Wall is averaging less than one three per game, which should make it hard on him to score as going into the paint will not be a good option against this Bulls team. Beal is connecting on 2 threes per contest, but with premier wing defender SG/SF Jimmy Butler shutting him down, the Wizards will have an awfully tough time finding ways to put the ball in the basket. Though slightly challenged offensively without Rose, this should not be as glaring an issue for Chicago in what has all the makings of a defensive battle.
Series Prediction: Chicago wins 4-2