What are John Wall's Hall of Fame chances?

 

                                              (Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) 

Last month, former Washington Wizards star point guard John Wall announced his retirement after having not played in the NBA since the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. During his 13 year NBA career, Wall averaged 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. At his peak during the 2016-17 season, Wall finished 7th in the MVP voting averaging 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Wall was also the number one overall pick by the Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft after a stellar freshman season at Kentucky in which he averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Wall and the Wildcats fell to West Virginia in the Elite Eight of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. 

There's no denying the talent that Wall had when he came into the NBA. With Rickey Green type speed, Wall had all the pieces to be a legit franchise player and when he was healthy, he was just that. He could score at an elite level, he was electric in transition, could guard the top point guards in the game, and was a fabulous facilitator. He truly had all the tools and for five straights seasons starting in 2013-14, Wall made the All-Star team. 

However, his career was marred with injuries as he had to miss two of those 13 seasons in entirety. The 2019-20 season was missed due to injury while the 2021-22 season was missed due to the Houston Rockets wanting to prioritize the development of younger players while also unable to find a team willing to take on Wall's massive contract. 

On top of having a career marred with injury and setbacks, Wall only reached the second round of the playoffs twice in his career, never reaching the conference finals. For all his talent, he was never able to lead the Wizards or any team to serious playoff success. 

Something that will start to get debated in the coming months and years is what Wall's Hall of Fame chances are: 

On the positive side, I think his peak level was certainly Hall of Fame worthy. He was definitely not a bust. He backed up the number one pick hype that he received and on top of that, he had a strong single season at Kentucky. It should also be factored into the equation that the Wizards historically are a pretty bad team and he stayed loyal to the franchise, not jumping ship for greener pastures. He took it upon himself to be the franchise player and that's commendable. 

On the negative side, you'd like to see more than five All-Star selections for his career and the lack of playoff success is unfortunate. Also, you are judged on your production and injuries are a part of the game. It is what it is.

When you at it all up, I think it's hard to make a case for why John Wall should make the Hall of Fame. While he was one of the most talented players to come into the NBA, he simply didn't sustain Hall of Fame level play for a long enough period of time. If Wall does get in, it'll likely be after several years of being on the ballot but at some point, Hall of Fame cases lose steam and while I'm sure there are some that will try to lobby a case for him, I don't see him getting enough support to clear the threshold needed to get in. 

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Mock Draft Monday: Washington Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura is balling out

                                               (AP Photo/Nick Wass) 

When talking about top rookies in the NBA, Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura deserves to be the topic of a lot of conversation. Through eight games, he's averaging 13.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 49.0% shooting from the field, 25.0% shooting from 3-point range, and 87.5% shooting from the foul line.

Picked 9th in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga, Hachimura hoped to put his native country of Japan on the map and help make basketball more popular in the country. Judging by how he's playing, he appears to be on track to do just that.

Given the uncertainty of the Wizards' future due to John Wall's health (torn left Achilles), it's huge for them to have such a talented rookie in Hachimura. They know they have someone they can build around for the future and that has to give them a ton of comfort.

Hachimura is by no means a finished product, but there's a lot to like about his game. For starters, he's learning how to score. A lot of rookies, even ones who go on to be hall of famers, have a tough time scoring during their first few years in the league. Hachimura is already putting up double figures and adjusting well to the NBA speed. As an extension of his scoring, he's knocking down his free throws and appears to have a lot of confidence in his shot. Many big men never figure out how to make free throws and Hachimura is already shooting his foul shots like he's a guard!

In addition to scoring well, Hachimura is rebounding the ball well and showing that he can bang in the post with NBA level bigs. He's not afraid to go inside and hold his own. When it comes to physicality, this appears to be a strength of his as well.

Overall, the Wizards have to like what they see in Rui Hachimura thus far. He's scoring, rebounding, and appears eager to be the face of their franchise along with the face of an entire country. If he continues on the path he's on, they have a star to build around for the coming decade.

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Mock Draft Monday: Five teams that need to get it right in the 2019 NBA Draft

While no team wants to mess up in the NBA draft, some teams have more of a cushion than others. For some teams, the draft is a chance to change the fortunes of their future or at least begin the process of doing so. Below is a list of five teams that really need to make sure they get it right come Thursday, June 20th. I should note that I'm not addressing the Pelicans, Grizzlies, or Knicks since it's pretty clear what they're going to do. The Pelicans are expected to take Zion Williamson, the Grizzlies are expected to take Ja Morant, and the Knicks are expected to take R.J. Barrett. If any of those three teams mess it up, their GM should be sent down the Amazon river tied to a wooden raft.

The Lakers have several different options that they can choose from. They can go with Virginia small forward  DeAndre Hunter, Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland, or even Maryland center Bruno Fernando if they want to go big. They could also trade the pick. Given all the turmoil in their front office, they need to make sure that on draft day, they make the right call. They can't let their dysfunction bleed into the draft, which might be easier said than done. 

The Bulls were hoping to win the Zion Williamson sweepstakes and instead they're picking 7th. Fortunately for them, there's a lot of talent that they can choose from if they keep the pick. Nassir Little who I'm really high on could be available. Other talented guys like Cameron Reddish should also be available. After not getting the chance to draft Williamson, the Bulls need to at least make sure they find the right fit for their team with the 7th pick. Don't compound bad luck by making an unwise pick. There's still a chance the Bulls walk away as one of the winners from this draft provided they do their homework.

The Phoenix Suns currently possess the 6th overall pick in the draft and already have a talented young core with Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker. What this team needs more than anything is a veteran leader, ideally a point guard, that can run the offense and help mentor the younger guys. With this being the case, it makes sense for them to explore trade packages and see if they can perhaps get such a point guard by giving up the pick. Having the 6th pick isn't bad, so unless they really get a good deal, they should keep the pick and maybe see if they can land a point guard the old fashioned way. NBADraft.net actually has North Carolina point guard Coby White going to the Suns 6th overall, so perhaps that is the direction they should go.

Note: My friend Brandon Condron runs a really good Phoenix Suns channel on YouTube. He addressed this topic a little while back. Click here to check it out.

The Wizards are picking 9th overall and with the John Wall/Bradley Beal era not yielding enough fruit, they need to revamp their look ASAP. There's plenty of talented players for them to choose from with this pick or like the Suns they could trade the pick and get some veteran help in return. Regardless of what they do, they have to make the right decision. What adds to the drama in all of this is they still don't have a general manager. The Wizards are a bit dysfunctional at the moment, but doing well in the draft could do wonders to steady the boat.

The Hawks recently made a trade sending Taurean Prince and a 2021 second round pick to the Nets for Allen Crabbe and the No. 17 overall pick in this year's draft and a protected first round pick in 2020. As a result of this trade, the Hawks now have three picks in the first round of this year's draft (#8, #10, and #17). On top of that, they have three second round picks, giving them six picks in total. With so much flexibility and picks to play with, the Hawks have a lot of freedom. But with that freedom comes responsibility. They need to make sure they use all these picks to the best of their advantage. If they do, they could walk out as one of the big winners from the draft.

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Saturday Slam: The Washington Wizards are probably stuck with John Wall, at least for a while

                                         (Credit: Joe Robbins-Getty Images) 

On Saturday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst both reported that Wizards point guard John Wall is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel. Estimated recovery time is 6-8 months. At 14-23, the Wizards are already having a rough enough season as it is. With Wall now done for the season, their playoff hopes are dashed and their future suddenly becomes very murky.

Wizards star John Wall is planning to undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel, league sources tell @WindhorstESPN and me. Doctors have recommended that he undergo the surgery soon.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 29, 2018

What really adds to the complexity of all this is the fact that the Wizards inked Wall to a 4-year, $170M extension in the summer of 2017. Given that he played in just 41 games last season due to left knee troubles and is now set to play in only 32 games this year due to a left heel issue, it's fair to wonder whether or not the Wizards can count on Wall to be their franchise piece for the future.

The question that needs to be asked is where do the Wizards go from here? When healthy, Wall is one of the best point guards in the NBA, averaging 19.0 points, 9.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for his career. You definitely don't want to give up on a guy with that type of talent who is 28 years old. On the flip side, you don't want your future to be hampered by a guy who isn't playing up to the level expected of him.

Just to give you all a quick sense of what Wall's contract situation is, he is scheduled to make $37.8M this season, $40.824M in the 2020-21 season, $43.848M in the 2021-22 season, and $46.872M in the 2022-23 season, which is a year he has a player option, meaning he can opt out of his contract if he wants to. He doesn't actually hit unrestricted free agency until the summer of 2023, which is when the Wizards can let him walk away.

Given his contract, the Wizards are going to have a hard time trading Wall anytime soon. No team is going to want to take that on with him being so injury prone. There's not much the Wizards could get back for him at this stage, which means that it's probably in their best interest to ride this out and see what type of production he gives them over the next couple of seasons. If some team is willing to sell the farm to get him, the Wizards should pounce all over it, but I'm highly skeptical of any team taking such a gamble.

The bottom line is that the Wizards are probably stuck with John Wall. At least for a while anyways. The best they can hope for is that he gets healthy after this season and lives up to his contract, helping them become a true contender in the Eastern Conference. In the meantime, the Wizards should secretly be hoping to tank the rest of the season and get has high of a draft pick as possible. If they could get a really talented rookie to come in next year, maybe things will start to trend upwards for them again.

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NBALord.com Southeast Division Preview

The last division preview on NBALord.com looks at the Southeast Division, home to the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards. Enjoy!

The Atlanta Hawks are in rebuilding mode, but they have a pretty exciting piece to build around for the future in rookie point guard Trae Young, who is averaging 18.4 points and 7.8 assists per game on 42.4% shooting from the field and 80.7% shooting from the foul line. Kent Bazemore (14.1 points) and Taurean Prince (14.6 points) are the other two Hawks players scoring in double figures on this team, taking some of the pressure off of Young.

Giving how young and inexperienced this Hawks team is, they're not going to win a lot of games, but they will be exciting to watch thanks to the presence of Trae Young. They have a piece they can build around for the future, but they don't have enough around him at the moment. This is a team that should be looking to make some moves at the trade deadline so as to acquire more assets for the future.

Kemba Walker is the face of this Charlotte Hornets team, averaging 28.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. He's established himself as one of the best players in the NBA and the Hornets as a result are playing .500 level basketball. Around Walker, the Hornets have some solid players in Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Malik Monk, and Tony Parker, who I'll admit is still weird watching in a non-Spurs uniform.

As presently constituted, this Hornets team has the pieces to make the playoffs and possibly win a game or two once they get there. If they want to go beyond that and actually compete to win a series, they're going to need to get a legitimate number two option to go along with Kemba Walker. The pieces they have around him are nice, but not enough to make them a serious threat. They need someone else who can average around 16-17 points per game.

How the Hornets go about doing that remains to be seen, but they might be wise to unload some players in exchange for some draft picks that could blossom into the type of number two option that they need. There's also the possibility of maybe making a trade for a younger player with more upside. The bottom line with this Hornets team is they're nice and heading in the right direction. It's a just a matter of taking that next step and figuring out how to put the right pieces around Kemba Walker.

The Miami Heat have themselves a couple of really nice players in Josh Richardson (20.8 points) and Hassan Whiteside (14.0 points and 15.5 rebounds), who both look like keepers for the future. In addition to those guys, they also have Goran Dragic (16.1 points), Rodney McGruder (13.6 points), and Dwyane Wade (14.3 points), who help give this team some balance.

Given that this is Dwyane Wade's final season in the NBA, the Heat would like to make the playoffs and be competitive in his final year. However, it's probably good for their long-term future that he's moving on after this year so as to focus on the next chapter of their franchise.

The way I read this Heat team is that if everyone stays healthy, they have the pieces to sneak into the playoffs and maybe win a game or two, but that's it. They have the potential to be really good down the road, but they're still young and in need of more seasoning. The main thing to look for this year is how D-Wade's final season goes and whether or not he has any playoff magic left in him. If he could make them competitive in a first round series, that would be a lot of fun.

The Orlando Magic are another team with a lot of nice young talent in Aaron Gordon (16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds), Evan Fournier (16.5 points), and Nikola Vucevic (17.8 points and 10.7 rebounds). It's just a matter of these guys growing together and staying patient.

I truly believe that if this core can stay together for the long-term, they have the chance to be a force in the Eastern Conference. They're not so much in need of another piece as the are in need of going through the maturation process that all teams have to go through.

One name to keep an eye on this year is second year wing Jonathan Isaac out of Florida State. He hasn't been playing as well as the Magic would have hoped and it's unclear whether or not he'll become the elite scorer that they've been hoping he'd be. If he could have a breakout sophomore year and really turn the corner, that would be huge for this team.

At the moment, I see the Magic as a team that will be in the mix for the eight seed in the playoffs, but nothing beyond that. They're too young to make serious noise in the playoffs, but if they can get there, that'll be progress for them.

Led by John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards on paper should be the best team in this whole division. Both of those guys are scoring over 20 points per game while Otto Porter, Jr. and Kelly Oubre, Jr. are both evolving into solid players in their own right. On top of that, they added Dwight Howard into the fold, who while getting old is still a pretty productive big man. For whatever reason, this Wizards team is failing to live up to the hype, starting the season 3-9.

For them, they need to not panic and see if they can calmly right the ship. The season is still young and with a division filled with young teams, they should have plenty of opportunities to catch up. If the Wizards do not make the playoffs this year, that will be a major disappointment considering the level of talent that they have. When you have guys as good as John Wall and Bradley Beal on your team, you should be an automatic playoff team. Especially in the Eastern Conference.

How things go for the Wizards over the next six weeks will be really interesting to follow. My money is on them figuring things out and getting back in the playoff race. I really like Wall and Beal and I also really like the pieces they have around them. If they cannot get it together this season, there will be a lot of questions for their front office to answer in the offseason.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Kyrie Irving requests a trade; John Wall extends with the Wizards

                                          (Akron Beacon Journal) 

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, Brian Kaiserman joins me to discuss Kyrie Irving's trade request and also John Wall's 4 year, $170M extension with the Wizards. Click here to listen to the podcast.



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NBALord.com Podcast: Kawhi Leonard is hurt, Celtics-Wizards Game 7, and the NBA Draft Lottery

On this week's edition of the NBALord.com Podcast, I address Kawhi Leonard's injury, Celtics-Wizards Game 7, and the NBA Draft Lottery. Click here to listen if you are getting this via e-mail.




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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards

The #1 seeded Boston Celtics and #4 seeded Washington Wizards are facing off in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics won Game 1 of this series by a final score of 123-111. Game 2 will be held tonight at 8:00 PM EST on TNT. The Celtics come into this series having taken out the Bulls in six games while the Wizards come in having taken out the Hawks in six games.

After understandably struggling right after the death of Isaiah Thomas' sister, the Celtics have now won five straight games and appear to be fully locked in. Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Al Horford are playing really good basketball right now and are back to playing the type of basketball that got them the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, playing unselfishly and getting everyone involved.

The Wizards likewise come into this series playing good basketball. John Wall is showing why he is arguably the top point guard in the NBA, scoring 42 points and dishing out 8 assists in the Wizards' series clinching win over the Hawks in Atlanta. Bradley Beal is also playing at a high level, putting up points and proving himself to be a fantastic backcourt mate for John Wall, dropping 31 points in Game 6 against the Hawks.

Last week, I said the key to the Celtics' success is Al Horford stepping up his game and he is so far doing just that. In Game 1 against the Wizards, Horford scored 21 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. When Horford plays at an elite level, the Celtics become a really difficult team to stop. Isaiah Thomas is one of the best scoring guards in the NBA, Jae Crowder has emerged as one of the top small forwards, and Avery Bradley is one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. When you combine their stellar play with a big man like Al Horford who is putting up 20 points and 10 rebounds, they can hang with anyone in the league.

In order for the Celtics to win this series, they not only need Al Horford to step up. They also need Avery Bradley to do all he can to slow down John Wall and Bradley Beal in the backcourt. When Wall and Beal are on a roll, the Wizards are very difficult to stop as well. Bradley is one of the few defenders in the NBA that can give those guys trouble and he needs to do all he can to get in their grill, fight through screens, and not allow them to get easy looks. If he is able to do that, the Celtics will be in really good shape.

As for the Wizards, they need to do more than just get stellar production from John Wall and Bradley Beal. They need to do a good job on the glass and not allow Al Horford, Jae Crowder, and Kelly Olynyk to have an easy time inside. Marcin Gortat, Markieff Morris, and Otto Porter, Jr. need to do all they can to keep things competitive on the glass. Morris injured his knee in Game 1 and his status for Game 2 is a game-time decision. If he is unable to go for an extended period of time, that could be trouble for the Wizards.

My prediction for this series is Celtics in six games. I think the Wizards will get a couple of games, but the Celtics are simply the better team. Plus, the Celtics want to be as rested as possible for the Cavaliers. This will be a fun series, but in the end, it will be the Celtics advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks

In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the #4 seeded Washington Wizards (49-33) will take on the #5 seeded Atlanta Hawks (43-39). The Wizards won the regular season series 3-1. Game 1 tips off on Sunday at 1:00 PM EST on TNT.

The Washington Wizards no doubt wish that they had a higher seed than what they got. The Eastern Conference has an upper tier consisting of the Celtics, Cavaliers, Raptors, and Wizards with the Wizards bringing up the rear as the #4 seed. The Wizards finished the regular season 4 games back of the top seeded Celtics and 2 games back of both the Cavaliers and Raptors. Had they not gone 5-5 in their last 10 games, they may be looking at having the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs instead of the #4 seed.

As disappointed as the Wizards should feel for not getting a better seed, they should also feel encouraged by the fact that they are hanging with the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The emergence of Otto Porter, Jr. and the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic has given John Wall and Bradley Beal a lot more help than they've had in years past. As a result, the Wizards are closing the gap with the top teams in the conference.

The biggest key for the Wizards in this series is to rely on all the weapons and balance that they have. John Wall (23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game) is perhaps the best point guard in the NBA right now and right by his side in the backcourt is Bradley Beal, who is also averaging 23.1 points per game. The Wizards' backcourt is scary good and then when you combine that with the other guys I just mentioned, you have a team that has the capability of doing a lot of damage in the playoffs. The Wizards can beat you on the perimeter, they can beat you down low, they do a good job on the boards, etc. Their balance is really impressive.

As for the Hawks, to a large extent it's a miracle they've done as well as they have. When they traded Kyle Korver before the trade deadline, there was also chatter that they might trade Paul Millsap or even Dwight Howard. The Hawks appeared to be a franchise that was tanking and entering in rebuilding mode. Instead, they finished as the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference and have positioned themselves to win a first round playoff series.

If the Hawks want to pull off the upset, they need to have a big series from Paul Millsap and rely on the balance that they also have. Millsap is averaging 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while Dennis Schröder is averaging 17.9 points and 6.3 assists per game. In addition to those two guys, the Hawks also have Tim Hardaway, Jr., Kent Bazemore, and Dwight Howard scoring in double figures. The Hawks have a lot of guys that they can go to as well and they'll need every one of them to step up.

Probably the guy who the Hawks could use the biggest boost from is Dwight Howard, who is averaging 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. Howard is a guy who has a lot of playoff experience and has even played in the NBA Finals. He knows what it takes to go deep in the playoffs and came to Atlanta with the hopes of helping them make a playoff run of their own. If he is able to have a big series and produce above his season averages, the Hawks will really give themselves a great shot at winning this series. Especially if Paul Millsap and Dennis Schröder play up to the levels that they have been playing at.

This is a series that could go either way, but I have the Wizards coming out on top in six games. John Wall is the best player in the series and should be able to slow down Dennis Schröder in the backcourt. Wall is not only a maestro on offense, he is also a fantastic defender, averaging 2.1 steals per game. I see Wall making life hard on Schröder and really owning that matchup.

Bradley Beal might even be the second best player in the series ahead of Paul Millsap, which is just another reason to pick the Wizards. The bottom line is the Wizards are the better team and as a result they should come out on top. The Hawks definitely have the pieces to win this series, especially if Dwight Howard comes up big, but I really don't see the Hawks having an answer for John Wall. Dennis Schröder is a very nice point guard, but he will not win his matchup with Wall. Wall's ability to dominate that matchup will have a huge impact on this series and make things very tough for the Hawks.

My official prediction is Wizards in six games. The Hawks will stretch them a bit, but will not be able to pull off the upset. Unlike the Hawks, the Wizards have a real shot at coming out of the Eastern Conference and making it to the NBA Finals. The Wizards are at a different level and it will show in this series.





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Wednesday Windmill: The Washington Wizards are evolving into championship contenders

The Washington Wizards currently sit at the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference at 47-31, tied with the 3rd seeded Toronto Raptors. At just 3.5 games back of both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, the Wizards are in the middle of an intense battle for positioning atop the Eastern Conference standings, establishing themselves as a true championship contender.

During the past couple of seasons, the Wizards have flirted with championship contending status, reaching the conference semifinals in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. With John Wall and Bradley Beal as their one-two punch in the backcourt, the Wizards have rightfully entered the conversation as a true contender in the Eastern Conference.

What's been lacking during the past couple of seasons is merely experience and development. While the Wizards had been playing really good basketball, they have needed more seasoning in order to bloom into a true championship contender. This season, the Wizards have continued to make strides towards their goal of being a championship contender and it has largely been due to the supporting cast that they have put around Wall and Beal.

During the Wizards' rise to prominence, Marcin Gortat has been a rock solid post presence, averaging 10.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season. While not being the flashiest player in the world, Gortat produces consistently and brings his hard hat every night. Without having a strong post presence that demands respect, the offense would not open up for John Wall and Bradley Beal like it has.

During this same stretch of time, Otto Porter, Jr. has slowly but steadily gotten better. After looking like a bust during his rookie season, Porter is now averaging 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on 51.8% shooting from the field, 43.8% shooting from three-point range, and 82.5% shooting from the foul line in his fourth NBA season. The emergence of Porter has been huge since the Wizards really had high hopes for him to become a cornerstone player of their franchise. Porter gives the Wizards a versatile wing that can attack the basket and do damage on the perimeter. He compliments Wall and Beal really well and allows them to be much more effective.Without his progress, the Wizards would not have the upward trajectory that they have.

As far as this season is concerned, the Wizards made a really good trade to bring in Bojan Bogdanovic from the Brooklyn Nets. Bogdanovic has given the Wizards another quality wing to work with, averaging 13.5 points per game during his 22 games with the Wizards on 47.3% shooting from the field, 39.6% shooting from three-point range, and 92.9% shooting from the foul line.

 By putting two quality wings around John Wall and Bradley Beal in addition to the steady of presence of Marcin Gortat, the Wizards truly appear to have a recipe for long-term success. I still think the  Cavaliers or Celtics come out of the Eastern Conference, but the Wizards are right there knocking on the door. They have the talent, the versatility, and the depth to do a lot of damage in the playoffs and give both of those teams a run for their money.


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Wednesday Windmill: The Washington Wizards are catching fire

The Washington Wizards have started to catch fire, winning 9 of their last 11 games, putting them at 25-20 overall, which is good for 5th in the Eastern Conference. The key to the Wizards success is the fact that everybody is healthy and Otto Porter, Jr. is starting to come into his own.

Otto Porter, Jr., in his fourth NBA season out of Georgetown, has really stepped up his game this season, averaging 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Porter took a little while to find his groove, being proclaimed a bust after his first NBA season due to his lowly 2.1 points per game average. Being the 3rd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft placed a lot of expectations on Otto Porter, Jr. and after not living up to those expectations early on, he's starting to live up to them now.

 John Wall (23.1 points and 10.1 assists) and Bradley Beal (21.9 points) form a very dynamic backcourt while Marcin Gortat (11.3 points and 11.4 rebounds) has no trouble holding his own down low. With Otto Porter, Jr. now playing like a future all-star, the Washington Wizards have one of the better starting lineups in the NBA. They can beat you in multiple ways, whether it be inside or out on the wing. Instead of having two guys that can beat you out on the wing, they now have three guys, which makes them a lot tougher to defend.

So long as the Washington Wizards remain healthy, they have the pieces to do some serious damage in the playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers are heads and shoulders above the rest of the Eastern Conference, but the Raptors, Celtics, Hawks, and Wizards are all within striking distance of each other, which means that the Wizards are still very much in play for the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

It will certainly be interesting to see how this Wizards team progresses through the all-star break and where they finish in the standings. If given the right circumstances, this could be a team that wins a series and makes a serious push to the Eastern Conference Finals. They're that talented.

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Saturday Slam: Looking back on the career of DeShawn Stevenson

                                         (Credit: jazzbasketball.wordpress.com) 

Earlier this week, DeShawn Stevenson officially retired from pro basketball after having not played in the NBA since the 2012-13 season with the Atlanta Hawks. I thought that with him officially hanging up his sneakers, it would be good to reflect on his career.

When I think of DeShawn Stevenson, I still think of his early days with the Utah Jazz, who drafted him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. When the Jazz drafted him, they were hoping he would become their franchise player for the future due to his athleticism and upside.

To give you a sense of how much upside he had, NBADraft.net compared DeShawn Stevenson to Michael Jordan: "Special player. Extremely gifted athlete. Great ball handler. Very advanced shooter and scorer for his age. A showstopper. Can play the 1 or 2. Won the McDonald's High School dunk contest. Super character. As NBA ready as any HS player in his class." 

While he never lived up to the hype that NBADraft.net created, DeShawn Stevenson still had a very good NBA career. Defense became his calling card and he was more than ok with that. He didn't care that he wasn't the star of the team. He took great pride in defending at a high level and making things as tough as possible on the opposing team's star player.

DeShawn Stevenson's defense was so good that it gave LeBron James fits back when the Cleveland Cavaliers would battle the Washington Wizards in the mid-late 2000s and once again when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. DeShawn Stevenson's defense was a major reason for why the Mavericks won that series over the Heat. His ability to defend LeBron James at a high level and get in his head gave the Mavericks a significant advantage in that series that other teams didn't have when facing the Heat.

                                         (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here  for source). 

During the 2011 NBA Finals, DeShawn Stevenson was a bit of a crazy guy and in a good way. He had a Dennis Rodman like edge to him to accompany his stellar defense, which really made him a series changer. The fact that DeShawn Stevenson could defend LeBron James so well is reason enough to say he had a great NBA career and then when you consider that he lasted for 13 seasons and picked up an NBA championship ring along the way, his career suddenly appears to be a very good one.

If there is anything that DeShawn Stevenson exemplifies it is toughness. You have to be tough to play in the NBA for 13 seasons, especially if defense is your calling card. His career averages of 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game don't do a very good job at telling the story of his career. DeShawn Stevenson at his best was a game changer on the defensive end of the floor and he took great pride in being just that. He was selfless and put his team first. He's a player who more NBA players should exemplify from the standpoint that he was totally content with doing his job in the background.

In a league where too many players are concerned with how many points they score or how many all-star teams they make, DeShawn Stevenson was worried about how many points he allowed his man to score and whether or not he was getting inside the heads of his opponents. Guys like DeShawn Stevenson are hard to come by because what they do isn't glamorous and it takes a lot of hard work.

DeShawn Stevenson showed up every night and played elite defense night in and night out. That says a lot about the kind of player he was and the amount of character he had on the basketball court. More basketball players should try to emulate that same kind of character on the floor. If they did, they too would have productive and long careers in the NBA.

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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards

#1. Atlanta Hawks (60-22) vs. #5 Washington Wizards (46-36): 

     The Atlanta Hawks come into this series having taken out the Brooklyn Nets in six games, a series many thought wouldn't go past five games. As for the Washington Wizards, they swept the Toronto Raptors despite not having home court advantage. The rest vs. rust factor will certainly be tested in this series: The Wizards came into this series not having played since April 26 and the Hawks played on Friday.

     The Hawks won the regular season series 3-1 and the lone Wizards win was at the very end of the season when the Hawks had everything locked up. Given the fact that neither of these teams have a lot of playoff experience, one definitely has to give the Hawks the edge because they have the best record in the East and home court advantage in addition to winning the regular season series.

     That being said, the Nets stretched the Hawks and the Wizards are certainly a better team than the Nets. In addition, while the Hawks have the better record and more regular season success, the Wizards have the best player in the series in John Wall and the most playoff seasoned player in Paul Pierce. There's plenty of reasons to pick the Wizards based on those two guys alone in addition to the way they dismantled the Raptors.

     If the Hawks are going to win this series, they will have to get good production from Jeff Teague on both ends of the floor. As their starting point guard, he has the responsibility to make sure Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford get into a good rhythm offensively as well as making sure John Wall, who also plays point guard, doesn't eat them alive. The point guard battle is going to be a key thing to watch over the course of this series and will certainly have a huge impact in determining its outcome.

     The other huge factor in this series is the rebounding battle. The Wizards have some good rebounders in Marcin Gortat, Drew Gooden, and Nene to combat the Hawks on the glass, who rebound very well thanks to Paul Millsap, Al Horford, and DeMarre Carroll. Whichever team wins the battle on the glass will have a definite edge in this series.

     What will ultimately decide this series is which team is able to execute their game plan better. This sounds ridiculously obvious since to a certain extent this is true of every series. But in this series, execution will be huge. If John Wall and his backcourt mate Bradley Beal are able to play big and be the best players in this series, the Wizards likely win the series. If the Hawks are able to get everybody into a rhythm and get some quality production from some of their role players like DeMarre Carroll, they will win the series. If both things happen, then we will see a very tight series that goes seven games.

     When it comes to making a prediction, I'm going to pick the Hawks to win the series in seven games. The Wizards are going to really test the Hawks and give them everything they got, but I have to respect the fact that over the course of the season, the Hawks were by far the better team. I think that if the Hawks are able to play to their highest level, they will win this series. The Hawks aren't afraid to go on the road and get a win, and while they did lose Game 1 today, they had a super quick turnaround from Game 6 in Brooklyn to today. I expect the Hawks to turn it up when they absolutely need to and find a way to get it done.

 ---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

 

Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards

#4 Toronto Raptors (49-33) vs. #5 Washington Wizards (46-36): 

     During the regular season, the Toronto Raptors swept the Washington Wizards 3-0. However, two of those games were decided by 4 points or less, so it isn't like the Raptors dominated the Wizards. The fact that two of their three games were close indicates that this could be a tight and competitive series in addition to the fact that most 4/5 playoff series' are close. 

     Still, the Raptors won all three of their meetings and the fact that the scores were close should not take away from that. The Raptors should have a tremendous amount of confidence going into this series   because they swept the Wizards as well as getting home court advantage for the series. At the end of the day, this is the Raptors' series to lose. 

     What is huge for the Raptors is that Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are healthy. Kyle Lowry has missed 12 games due to injury and DeMar DeRozan has missed 22 games. Having their two best players injured for a good chunk of the season took its toll on the Raptors and derailed them from getting a higher seed than what they got. With both guys healthy, the Raptors should have no problem scoring the basketball and getting into a rhythm early on. 

     In addition to Lowry and DeRozan, the Raptors also have Lou Williams in the backcourt to accompany Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas holding down the fort in the paint.  Lou Williams has been especially key to the Raptors' success because he has brought a very nice scoring punch off the bench, scoring 15.5 points and 1.9 threes per game. When he gets going, the Raptors are a very difficult team to stop. The Raptors absolutely have to make him a priority and get him touches when he is in the game. 

     As for the Wizards, they are a little more banged up, but thankfully Nene should be good to go in Game 1 after being sidelined with an ankle injury. Only reserve shooting guard Garrett Temple (hamstring) should miss the game. Like the Raptors, the Wizards had injuries derail their season, with their star shooting guard Bradley Beal missing 19 games in the regular season. It's huge for the Wizards to have him healthy as well as their star point guard John Wall. Without those two guys able to go, the Wizards would have no shot at winning this series. 

     The biggest difference between the DeMar DeRozan/Kyle Lowry combo and the Bradley Beal/John Wall combo is that the Raptors' combo has one guy (DeMar DeRozan) who consistently puts the ball in the basket. DeRozan has averaged 20.1 points per game whereas Beal has only averaged 15.3 points per game. Some of that is due to injury on Beal's end, but all the same, DeRozan has been more consistent and that definitely gives the Raptors an edge. 

     If the Wizards want to win this series, they will really need to make sure John Wall and Bradley Beal are able to find ways to score the basketball since they don't have the luxury of having a guy like Lou Williams coming off the bench. The pressure will really be on those guys to deliver the goods. While there is also pressure on DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, they can breathe a bit since Lou Williams has been a reliable third scoring option off the bench all season. 

     In addition, the Wizards will also want to take advantage of their size down low. The Wizards have two great post players in Nene and Marcin Gortat who both are better than the Raptors' center Jonas Valanciunas. In addition, the Wizards also have Kris Humphries coming off the bench who is another banger down low. The Wizards will have to control the glass to compensate for being more offensively challenged. If they really dominate on the glass, the Wizards could end up taking this series. What has to worry the Wizards is that the Raptors still took the season series 3-0 despite losing the battle on the glass in each game. The Raptors appear to have what it takes to compensate for any deficiencies they have inside, which means that the Wizards likely have to do more than just rebound well. 

       As for my prediction, I hinted that I would be picking the Raptors and that is exactly what I will do. I think the Raptors win this series in 6 games because they simply have more ammunition when it comes to scoring the basketball and finding guys to step up in crunch time. This isn't to say that John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Paul Pierce (who I haven't yet mentioned) aren't clutch. They are and they can certainly hit big shots. It's just that I like the guys who the Raptors have better. Plus, it appears as though the Raptors shouldn't be bothered by losing the rebounding battle. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter  @nba_lord  for NBA news 

     

       

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: November 21

Here are my NBA Power Rankings as of Friday, November 21. Enjoy!!

1. Memphis Grizzlies (10-2): Despite getting hit with a stomach virus, the Grizzlies still played the Raptors tough on the road. Hopefully these guys can get healthy soon, but in the meantime, expect them to still fight, grind, and play hard.

2. Golden State Warriors (8-2): The Warriors so far have been taking advantage of this easy portion of their schedule, defeating the Nets, Hornets, and Lakers. Up next are the Jazz at home and the Thunder on the road.

3. Toronto Raptors (9-2): I'm still worried about their absence of a legitimate third option, but if Terrance Ross keeps playing like he did against the Grizzlies, the Raptors may have their guy.

4.  Dallas Mavericks (9-3): Monta Ellis is looking like a really good fit on this team, dropping 34 points on the Wizards in Wednesday's win. So long as Dirk can keep it up, this team is going to remain a legit title threat.

5. Washington Wizards (7-3): With Bradley Beal back, they should start to do some serious damage.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (8-3): They are on a very nice five game winning streak, and have good odds to keep winning for a while. They face a banged up Bulls team tonight, and then they go on a road trip @Boston, @Philadelphia, and @Charlotte before coming home to face the Grizzlies on the 28th.

7. Los Angeles Clippers (7-4): Chris Paul is still getting it done with 18.0 points and 9.9 assists per game. This team is staying relatively quiet, but all the same they are playing good basketball.

8. Houston Rockets (9-3): They've lost two straight, getting waxed by the Grizzlies and upset by the Lakers. Their next game is Saturday against the Mavericks at home. They have to win that game.

9. Chicago Bulls (8-4): Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose are both injured. At some point you just have to wonder how many injuries can this team withstand?

10. San Antonio Spurs (7-4): No shock, the Spurs are hanging around and looking prime to make another late-season surge.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (7-5): The early success of the Milwaukee Bucks is definitely the feel good story of the league so far. Can they keep it up? I don't see why not.

12. New Orleans Pelicans (6-4): I didn't have them as a playoff team before the season started, but so far they are proving me wrong. In addition to the dominant force that is Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson has been key to this team's success: 16.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 41.1% shooting from three-point range.

13. Sacramento Kings (7-5): I really like the Rudy Gay contract extension for 3 years and $40M. It gives them some stability for the foreseeable future but they aren't totally "committed" in case things don't work out. So far, things are working out just fine.

14. Phoenix Suns (7-5): The three point guard system is causing friction on the team. Goran Dragic recently told AZCentral.com why he thinks they are struggling: "Because there's only one ball and we're all point guards." Odds are good one of their point guards is gone before the trade deadline. Possibly Goran Dragic since there are reports that he will test the waters of free agency next summer.

15. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-5): It's still early in the season and they have plenty of time to get it together, but with that being said, they don't want to slip too far in the standings and have to win a couple of series' in the playoffs without home court advantage.

16. Miami Heat (6-6): Dwyane Wade is in and out of the lineup and Chris Bosh is cooling off. Bosh did have 28 points against the Clippers, but before that, he registered 15 points, 10 points, 20 points, and 9 points. In essence, as Bosh cools, so do the Heat.

17. Atlanta Hawks (5-5): I still think this team needs more time to gel with Paul Millsap and Al Horford both healthy together. DeMarre Carroll is returning tonight, so that helps as well.

18. Utah Jazz (5-7): I doubt they make the playoffs, but so far they are fighting hard and making things tough for all of their opponents. I like how Quin Snyder is making these guys play hard.

19. Indiana Pacers (5-7): This team is totally dependent on the play of Roy Hibbert. If he plays well, they play well. If he is cold, they're cold. So long as he continues to ebb and flow, they will follow suite.

20. Orlando Magic (5-8): They are starting to wake up and make me look good after I sang their praises at the start of the season.

21. Boston Celtics (4-6): Danny Ainge keeps denying any interest in trading Rajon Rondo and yet the rumors keep on coming. This is fun.

22. Brooklyn Nets (4-7): They have lost five games in a row. They better get it done tonight in OKC.

23. Denver Nuggets (4-7): They have won two straight games over the Cavaliers and Thunder. I doubt they get it done for a third straight time against the Pelicans, but if they do, they could be building something.

24. Charlotte Hornets (4-8): So far, this team has been a major disappointment. Good thing Gary Neal is back.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-7): With Kevin Martin out indefinitely with a wrist injury, these guys are really gonna struggle.

26. Los Angeles Lakers (3-9): Nick Young has injected some life into this team. Not enough to make them a playoff team, but enough to make them a team you cannot ignore on any given night.

27. Detroit Pistons (3-9): These guys really do stink and Stan Van Gundy needs to not worry about what opponents say about his team.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-10): I'm starting to think this team is actually going to miss the playoffs, which would really make the Western Conference wide open.

29. New York Knicks (3-10): I cannot think of one positive thing to say about this team.

30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-11): I am not shaving until they get a win, but perhaps they get it done against the Suns tonight or the Knicks on Saturday.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord  

2014-15 Southeast Division Preview

I continue my preview of the 2014-15 NBA season by taking a look at the Southeast Division, home to the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets. I will address each team in order of where I think they will finish with a projected win total in parentheses.

                                                          Washington Wizards (50) 
 
     The Wizards' backcourt of Bradley Beal  (17.1 ppg) and John Wall (19.3 ppg) is one of the best backcourts in the NBA, averaging a combined 36.4 points per game last season. They can only be expected to improve this season and with the addition of Paul Pierce, they could be on the cusp of a trip to the NBA Finals.
    The most important thing for this Wizards team is going to be how well they can stay healthy. Their roster itself is really solid. In addition to a great backcourt, they have a great frontcourt rotation with Marcin Gortat, Nene, and Kris Humphries. With Paul Pierce playing the small forward position, they look very dangerous and capable of winning the Eastern Conference provided they stay healthy. If any of those guys is out for an extended period of time, then there will be trouble.
     This won't be an easy task as Nene, Bradley Beal, and John Wall all have dealt with injuries in the past. It will be really important for their head coach Randy Wittman to manage the minutes of all his players carefully. Especially Wall and Beal since they are the real driving force behind this team.
    What also will be important to keep an eye on is their bench. Glen Rice, Jr., Andre Miller, Otto Porter, Jr., Martell Webster, and Garrett Temple will have to step up and provide quality relief for Pierce, Wall, and Beal.
     I'm confident that Andre Miller will play well and that Martell Webster will continue his solid off the bench production. It's the other guys that are hard to call. Especially Rice and Porter. Neither player  was a factor at all last season, and yet both have the potential to be quality off the bench scorers. If both of them can have significantly improved seasons, that will do wonders for the Wizards since their bench honestly is suspect.
     Overall, this Wizards team looks very solid. The starting five is great and they have nice balance between a good backcourt and a good frontcourt. They can beat you inside and out. Ultimately, injuries or the lack thereof will make the difference for this team's season. If they stay healthy, they'll make a strong push to win the East. If they get injured, they'll make the playoffs, but fail to make much of a push.

                                                           
                                                               Miami Heat (47) 

This team may have lost LeBron James, but they still are going to be dangerous. Luol Deng was a very underrated addition to this team since everybody was only thinking about how he isn't LeBron James instead of thinking about how he averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1 steal per game last season. While it is true that he is no LeBron James, he is still a very quality small forward who should fit nicely with what the Heat have been doing during their four straight trips to the NBA Finals.
     In addition to Deng, the Heat also still have Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, who is the heart and soul of the franchise. Both of those guys are still capable at producing at a high level. Ironically, like last season, this team's success hinges on the health of Dwyane Wade's knees. If Wade stays healthy, the Heat will still be very dangerous since outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers, they arguably have the scariest trio in the Eastern Conference.
     What will also be crucial to this team's success is how well Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts fit with the team and how productive they are. Especially Granger since he has had injury issues these past couple of seasons. If Granger is able to be anything close to his old self, the Heat could really be cooking with gas in terms of offensive firepower.
     The biggest concern for this team outside of Wade's knees is their lack of size in the middle. Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem aren't bad in the paint, but they still have a weak front line that was largely masked by the amazing play of LeBron James. They are going to have to find ways to win despite getting beat on the glass. I think Deng will fit the style they've been playing, but since he isn't as multi-dimensional as LeBron James, I expect their lack of size to be an even bigger concern this season.
      The Heat are one of the few teams that might give the Cavaliers serious trouble in the playoffs. Health will be huge, but if they can weather that storm, they could find themselves in a position to knock out the Cavaliers and surprise everybody.

                                                    Charlotte Hornets (44)

     The renaissance of Buzz City is a great thing for the city of Charlotte. They finally have a team that they can really embrace and get behind. "Charlotte Bobcats" always felt strange and so it's nice to see the nickname "Hornets" back where it belongs.
     As for the team itself, they look promising. They added Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams in free agency and also P.J. Hairston and Noah Vonleh in the draft. Those guys should all prove to be very good additions to go along Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker, and Gerald Henderson. In addition, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller should be improved with another year under their belts.
     Of all those additions, Lance Stephenson is undoubtedly the most important. He emerged into an all-star caliber player last season and he could prove to be a terrific fit with Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson who largely had to carry the load last season. It was clear that the Hornets didn't have the firepower to win a series with just Jefferson and Walker as their best players. It's no disrespect to them. They just needed help and Stephenson's ability to attack the basket from the perimeter as well as his defensive and rebounding abilities could be just what the doctor ordered.
     Noah Vonleh should provide quality production inside and P.J. Hairston should be a nice scoring threat off the bench. But with those two guys being rookies, the Hornets can't bank on them being consistently good every night. Lance Stephenson on the other hand played a big role on the Pacers last season and he should be expected to be a major contributor right away.
   Ultimately, I see the Hornets making the playoffs, but not threatening to win the East. The East is wide open, but there is still a pecking order that goes Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, and then Miami. Charlotte isn't good enough to break into that tier, but they still will be exciting and certainly dangerous.

                                                       
                                                            Atlanta Hawks (41)

     The Hawks are coming off a season in which they almost knocked off the top seeded Indiana Pacers  in the playoffs as an 8 seed, taking them to seven games. This team accomplished a lot last season considering that they were without Al Horford for the bulk of the season including the playoffs. We are still yet to see how this team can do with both Paul Millsap and Al Horford healthy, which gives reason for optimism if you are a Hawks fan.
     Before going down last season, Horford was averaging 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, the best numbers of his career. As for Paul Millsap, he too had a career year, averaging 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. If the Hawks get that kind of production from both players throughout the whole season, they will be very scary. Especially since they also have a solid point guard in Jeff Teague, who averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game last season.
     As for the rest of the team, they have some solid pieces. Kyle Korver is able to knock down threes with regularity and stretch the floor, DeMarre Carroll hustles and does all the dirty work, and Pero Antic is a big man who stretches the floor by hitting threes. Plus, they added Kent Bazemore in free agency, a swingman who averaged a career high 13.1 points per game during his stint with the Lakers last season. Those players all know their roles and fit nicely with the Teague, Horford, and Millsap trio.
    This team's success comes down to how healthy Teague, Horford, and Millsap stay. If those three can all play 70+ games each while staying healthy for the playoffs, they'll be scary. However, they won't be good enough to win a series in my opinion if everything in the Eastern Conference holds to form. But if they are healthy like I mentioned and a couple teams fall due to injury, the Hawks could be prime for a first round upset. I just won't predict it at this point in time.

                                                   Orlando Magic (34) 
   
     The Orlando Magic drafted Aaron Gordon out of Arizona with the #4 overall pick in the draft. I am really high on him due to his athleticism, energy, and defensive abilities. I think he'll have a really good rookie season even if he has a hard time scoring because of all the other things he brings to the table.
     In addition to drafting Gordon, the Magic also added Channing Frye and Ben Gordon in free agency. Both guys can score the ball, especially from downtown, and that is something that this team lacked last season. This team already had a slasher from the backcourt with Victor Oladipo and a quality paint presence with Nikola Vucevic inside. The three-ball they lacked and by now having it, they should be much improved.
    One of the more interesting things to look for in this young Magic team is how point guard Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo play together in the backcourt. Payton came into the draft as one of the best point guard prospects. If he can hold his own at point, the Magic may have themselves a really good backcourt for the future.
    This team can compete for a playoff spot, but right now, I see them missing the playoffs. However, not by much. 34 wins is probably 4-5 wins shy of a playoff spot, which means that if they get some luck they could snag the 8 seed in the East. Most previews of this team's season aren't going to be as optimistic as mine is. I actually like the additions they made in free agency and the draft. It's just going to be tough for it to all come together in one season.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Wednesday Windmill: Could Paul Pierce make the difference in DC?

                                             (credit: espn.go.com)
   
     The Washington Wizards are one of the more interesting teams in the NBA. Bradley Beal and John Wall, who combined for 36.4 points per game last season, have emerged into one of the best backcourts in the NBA to go alongside a solid front court rotation of Nene, Marcin Gortat, and Kris Humphries. However, as good as those five players are, the Wizards likely wouldn't be considered a serious contender if they didn't also have Paul Pierce, who is coming off a one year stint with the Brooklyn Nets.
   
     Now you might be saying that Paul Pierce is old and that what makes the Wizards really dangerous is the combination of players I mentioned before him. That's not at all inaccurate. Those five players I mentioned are going to have to carry the bulk of the load, especially Wall and Beal.
   
     However, I think Paul Pierce's presence is what the Wizards need to get over the hump and into the NBA Finals this season. Beal and Wall can get the Wizards close, but they need somebody else who is capable of doing damage late in games and also providing them with confidence. Especially in the playoffs.
   
     What better man to fill that need than Paul Pierce? He has championship and leadership experience, and ice in his veins. Pierce lives for the big moments, and when the Wizards are in such moments, Pierce will know what it takes to get the job done.
 
      In addition to being a weapon late in games, Pierce himself can still produce for four quarters. Last season in Brooklyn, Pierce played 28 minutes per game for 75 games and averaged 13.5 points per game. That's very solid production to add to your lineup. Especially when you already have other guys to do the heavy lifting.
   
     The bottom line is that Paul Pierce is a great addition to this Wizards team both because of the intangibles he brings and the actual on court production that he can provide night in and night out. If the Wizards figure out how to utilize him properly and put his abilities to full use, they could find themselves in the NBA Finals this season.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord