Washington Wizards: Gaining Momentum At The Right Time

Basketball is a game of runs. A team can be trailing by 15 points at halftime; but all it takes is a nice 16-4 run to start the second half, and it is as if that large deficit never existed in the first place.

Throughout a 48-minute game, numerous runs occur by both teams. The key to these runs is the time when they occur. For example, we could argue that a 12-0 run in the first quarter will most likely be less important than a 12-0 in the fourth.

Similar to an individual game, an 82-game season in the NBA is formed by a series of runs. In this case, runs are called winning and losing streaks. The timing of these winning and losing streaks are very significant when we are thinking about teams entering the postseason.

The recent winning streak by the Washington Wizards could not have come at a better time, as they have gained some much needed momentum heading into the playoffs.

Mar 27, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) is congratulated by Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) after scoring a three pointer against the Charlotte Hornets during overtime at Verizon Center. The Wizards won in double overtime 110 – 107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

The beginning of the 2014-2015 season could have gone much better for the Wizards. Phenomenal play by the team in the months of October, November and December had them sitting pretty in the standings with a 22-5 record. Many people viewed Washington as a team that could represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

However, when the New Year approached, that title-contending Wizards team that everyone was beginning to take notice of had disappeared. January was a sub-par month for Washington as they were only able to gather one more win then loss.

In February, John Wall and the boys hit rock bottom going an abysmal 3-9. By the end of March, the Wizards were no longer considered a legitimate threat in the East and many felt they would be seeing a first-round exit in the postseason.

Feb 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario (42) and forward Kris Humphries (43) react on the bench in the closing minutes of their loss to the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. Hawks won 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Then, April happened! Since the changing of the months, the Wizards have been enjoying a four-game winning streak, and discussions about them making a run in the playoffs have resurfaced. In those four games, the Wizards have only scored less than 100 points once, and have not let their opponents reach the 100-point mark at all.

The Wizards’ recent success can be credited to the contributions the team has been receiving from players other than John Wall. Wall has done the best he could all season to keep Washington afloat while the rest of his teammates struggled; but everybody knew that he could not bring this team to the Eastern Conference all by himself.

Marcin Gortat has finally showed up, and is now playing the way the Wizards thought he would when they signed him to a rather large contract. Randy Wittman has finally been giving Otto Porter Jr. the chance he deserves, and it is paying off. In addition, players like Drew Gooden and Ramon Sessions have been pleasant surprises, providing more to their team than anyone could have predicted.

Apr 3, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) drives to the basket as New York Knicks forward Jason Smith (14) defends during the second quarter at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Now it is important to point out that three of the Wizards’ four wins in April have come against the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Although these teams are not difficult to defeat, they were just what the doctor ordered.

Nobody can argue that the Wizards do not have the talent to be successful in the Eastern Conference. When the team is clicking on all cylinders, they can give almost any team in the NBA a run for their money. The problem was that the Wizards were not playing up to their potential and it was starting to take a mental toll on the players.

The past four victories have provided the Washington Wizards with a much-needed ego boost. There are four games remaining on the Wizards’ schedule, and they could possibly win them all. If they are able to do so, the team could potentially move up to the fourth or even the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

As I mentioned earlier, basketball is a game of runs. The Washington Wizards currently find themselves on a run that could pay dividends when they enter the postseason. With the momentum they have gained, and the talent on their roster, you would be foolish to rule the Wizards out when discussing teams that have the ability to make it out of the Eastern Conference alive.

Next: Otto Porter Getting His Chance

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