Don’t be silly: Of course Wizards aren’t better without Wall
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Keep it simple, yes.
But don’t be stupid.
You want a reason for the Wizards’ five-game winning streak without point guard John Wall. You want an explanation for Washington averaging 32 assists per game during the streak, eight more than its season average.
You want an answer for the squad’s dramatic rise in productivity; only one game during the run didn’t feature at least five Wizards with double-figures scoring.
I understand. But a crazy notion has bubbled underneath the surface and it must be stomped down before it grows stronger.
No, no – to the umpteenth degree – no. Wall’s absence is not a good thing.
“That’s just nonsense,” shooting guard Bradley Beal told The Washington Post Tuesday after Philadelphia’s 115-102 victory ended the season-high win streak. “I’ll say it a thousand times if I have to. I’ll go on every media outlet if I have to get that point across. We’re not a better team without John.”
But clearly they’re a more desperate team, realizing their maddening inconsistency has cost them a chunk of the season. They’re also a more determined team, recognizing that every other player must raise his game with only half the “House of Guards” backcourt available.
And the Wizards without Wall are a more dedicated team, making extra passes and giving extra effort to ensure that everyone is involved and – to quote their new motto from the 2002 movie “Paid in Full” – “everybody eats.”
This isn’t to suggest that teammates starved with Wall in the lineup.
His average of 9.3 assists would be second in the NBA if he had played enough games. The Wizards ranked 11th with Wall, a pass-first point guard who would rather assist than score.
Naturally, his feelings are hurt at suggestions that his presence is a hindrance. The win streak drew national attention and raised inevitable questions about the team with and sans Wall. He conducted a round of TV interviews Tuesday in conjunction with Kumho Tires’ “Hip Hop Handles” campaign and offered his theory on the Wizards’ uptick.
“We moved the ball well early in the season, we just couldn’t make shots and we couldn’t defend at all,” Wall said on ESPN’s “The Jump.” I think now guys are stepping up. The first unit and the second unit are playing very well.
“But it was kind of shocking to hear a couple people saying the ball is moving a lot better when I pride myself off being happier when my teammates are scoring than I am.”
He hasn’t had his best year, despite being selected for his fifth consecutive All-Star Game. We don’t know how much to attribute to his knees, but they likely weren’t insignificant considering he just had a third surgery.
Fortunately for the Wizards, the five-game streak coincided with a stretch that featured bad teams (Atlanta and Orlando); a team also missing an injured All-Star (Indiana); a team that was slumping (Oklahoma City); and a team Washington typically handles (Toronto).
Boston should present a formidable challenge Thursday at Capital One Arena. But remaining opponents are mostly undaunting the rest of this month, with games against Philadelphia (26-25), the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers and three teams with losing records (Chicago, New York and Charlotte).
The Wizards will have plenty of time to continue adjusting without Wall. He’s expected to be out until mid-March at the earliest and no one knows how long he’ll need to regain form.
Once again, with emphasis, Washington isn’t a better team without him.
But armed with lessons learned during this stretch, the Wizards should be better than before when he returns.
Interim starting point guard Tomas Satoransky has valued the opportunity as well as the basketball, ranking fifth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.06). His backup, Tim Frazier, leads the league in assist percentage (45.3). Neither player possesses Wall’s breakneck speed or dynamic athleticism, but that’s true for 99 percent of all NBA guards.
As Wall watches, Sato and Frazier pick their spots to push the ball. Teammates are forced to be more active and engaged. They know their involvement is likely to increase and they’re required to carry more of the load.
Beal is doing as much heavy lifting as any All-Star, but he can’t do it all, especially without his co-star. With teammates’ improved confidence in their ability to play when Wall isn’t on the court, he needs to buy-in when he comes back.
Sounds like an easy sell.
“I think this is showing me a little bit more that other guys can create off pick and rolls, other guys can make plays,” he said on ESPN. “I think that’s going to make my job a lot easier.”
If nothing else, it should make his job a lot simpler.
— Brooklyn-born and Howard-educated, Deron Snyder writes his award-winning column for The Washington Times on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Follow him on Twitter @DeronSnyder.
