{"id":26159,"date":"2020-12-23T11:01:34","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T11:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=26159"},"modified":"2024-11-03T09:31:19","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T09:31:19","slug":"anything-less-than-the-playoffs-will-be-a-failure-avdija-beal-westbrook-look-to-lead-wizards-into-the-20-21-nba-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/anything-less-than-the-playoffs-will-be-a-failure-avdija-beal-westbrook-look-to-lead-wizards-into-the-20-21-nba-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Anything less than the playoffs will be a failure – Avdija, Beal & Westbrook look to lead Wizards into the 20\/21 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The next NBA season is already upon us after a brief offseason that featured a franchise-altering trade for the Washington Wizards. After two seasons without a healthy or available John Wall that kept them out of the playoffs, the organization has high expectations once again for the season ahead. A postseason appearance is an expectation and anything short of that initial goal would make the 2020-21 season a failure with serious ramifications.<\/p>\n

First, meet the opening night 17-man roster including two-way players Cassius Winston and Garrison Mathews. Do not get too bogged down on positions as either Raul Neto or Troy Brown Jr. could be Bradley Beal’s primary backup at shooting guard. In today’s era of positionless basketball, everyone could play a position up or down. Scott Brooks has not named Deni Avdija as the starting small forward, but that is how I will view him as he is clearly the starting small forward of the future for the Wizards, whenever that might start.<\/p>\n

PG: Russell Westbrook, Ish Smith, Raul Neto, Cassius Winston
\nSG: Bradley Beal, Jerome Robinson, Garrison Mathews
\nSF: Deni Avdija, Troy Brown Jr., Isaac Bronga
\nPF: Rui Hachimura, Davis Bertans, Anthony Gill
\nC: Thomas Bryant, Robin Lopez, Moe Wagner, Anzejs Pasecniks<\/p>\n

\"\"

Bradley Beal – Photo Credit: Washington Wizards<\/p><\/div>\n

In short, Washington will go as far as Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal take them this season. Either player could score 30 points on any given night, but it will be about the level of efficiency that they can play at with one another that will determine much of their success. Both All-Star guards have been amicable and excited to begin this new era condensed into a hyper-accelerated training camp and preseason. Paul George spoke highly of how Westbrook’s intensity helped turn him into an MVP candidate and the same could happen for Beal who has taken a step towards elite heights in each of his NBA seasons. The upside of this pairing is the best backcourt in the Eastern Conference and I would not risk betting against it.<\/p>\n

As much as the NBA is a star-driven league, especially in the playoffs, the Wizards’ current talent is not on par with the Bucks, Celtics, Heat, or Nets let alone the heavyweights out West. The only way to close that gap will be with jumps from multiple key rotation players. Washington needs Troy Brown Jr., Rui Hachimura, and Thomas Bryant to be better and more consistent. Should Brown come off the bench, he needs to be a secondary creator for that unit that can get stagnant at times, while challenging the other team’s best scorer. Once Hachimura returns from a severe case of pink eye that will cost him at least the first 10 games of the season, the Wizards expect a more aggressive and refined scorer in last year’s first-round pick. Bryant is already an offensively skilled big man that will only get better being spoonfed by Westbrook and Beal, but it will be his defense where the team hopes to see the biggest leap.<\/p>\n

The next group of interest will be veterans who have a more known value, the likes of Ish Smith, Raul Neto, Davis Bertans, and Robin Lopez. Smith will run the second unit with great pace as still one of the fastest point guards in the NBA entering his 11th season. Neto is a scrappy and defensive-minded guard that has caught some of his new teammates by surprise, which will probably be rewarded in some form of playing time alongside Westbrook and\/or Smith in a multi-point guard lineup. Bertans is quite simply one of the NBA’s best three-point shooters and will be a weapon for Westbrook and Beal to utilize at all times. Lopez may not have been the flashy center signing, but he can only help the team improve their rebounding and paint defense, which was abysmal last season, with his play and teaching.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Deni Avdija – Photo Credit Washington Wizards<\/p><\/div>\n

Falling under the wildcard category includes Jerome Robinson, Deni Avdija, and Isaac Bonga. That is not to put these three players in the same tier as one another, but simply a relatively high level of uncertainty. Robinson was the No. 13 overall pick just a couple of years ago but has not yet lived up to his self-proclaimed shooter and defender tag. Avdija is eventually going to be a star talent, I have little concern about that given his incredible work ethic and attitude, but it will without a doubt be an adjustment going from Israel to the United States and from EuroLeague to the NBA in just one month so be patient. Bonga is already a known defensive stud, but how far has his offensive game come in recent months? If he can be a more consistent three-point shooter, then it will keep defenses honest and unable to routinely double elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Likely out of the main rotation when everyone is healthy will be Cassius Winston, Garrison Mathews, Anthony Gill, Moe Wagner, and Anzejs Pasecniks, but they will have to stay prepared in case of injury or illness to their teammates. Winston as a college veteran and Mathews as a second-year player could both easily contribute if asked upon, but the numbers game will keep them on the bench as they continue to refine their crafts. Gill reinvented his game overseas after leaving the University of Virginia and now may step into a surprise starting role while Hachimura is sidelined for the next three weeks, but Tommy Sheppard especially believes in Gill’s three-point shooting and defense. Wagner and Pasecniks will be developmental big men for another season barring injury.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Russell Westbrook – Photo Credit: Washington Wizards<\/p><\/div>\n

Unlike most national pundits and projections that have the Wizards missing the playoffs, I predict Washington goes 40-32 good for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference keeping them clear of the play-in tournament. Russell Westbrook’s entire game is predicated on things that only reinforces and strengthens Tommy Sheppard’s culture change. The hard work, no slacking off, defense wins championship mentality will flip games the Wizards have previously lost to sub-.500 teams. It is way too early to try and predict what will happen in the playoffs, but I certainly would not want to face the 2020-21 Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The next NBA season is already upon us after a brief offseason that featured a franchise-altering trade for the Washington Wizards. After two seasons without a healthy or available John Wall that kept them out of the playoffs, the organization has high expectations once again for the season ahead. 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