Washington Wizards: 5 Best Moments In 2012-13

When a team finishes 29-53, places 12th in the Eastern Conference, and misses the playoffs for a fifth straight season, it may seem strange to talk about things that went right–but this is what I will set out to do here in the case of the Washington Wizards.

The purpose of looking back on this season gone wrong is to find a silver lining to show that success might be just around the corner. There were certainly some bright spots for the Wizards this year and promising signs heading into next season.

With that said, here are my top five best moments in 2012-13 for the Wizards.

5. Star player returns from injury, Jan. 12.

John Wall will be in line for a contract extension this summer. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

The first 33 games of the season were an opportunity for John Wall to show off his suit collection as he was sidelined with a left knee injury. During his absence from the lineup, the Wizards stumbled to a 5-28 record and plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

When Wall returned to playing action, the team received a much needed boost of energy and, of course, an infusion of talent. Proving his worth to the Wizards’ fortunes–if it wasn’t already known–Wall appeared in the remaining 49 games and led the team to a 24-25 finish.

Hover around .500 for an entire season in the Eastern Conference and chances are that team earns a trip to the playoffs.

4. Wizards establish season-high four-game winning streak, Feb. 4-11.

Washington really got on a roll after the return of Wall, going 22-18 over a 40-game stretch.

Possibly taken by surprise during the four-game winning streak were the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks–all quality opponents and teams that advanced to the playoffs.

What those teams may not have realized was the potency of the Wizards backcourt, which at the time included Wall, Bradley Beal, and Jordan Crawford.

3. Wall pours in a career-high 47 points in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, March 25.

The third-year guard was all over the stat sheet in this 107-94 thumping of the Grizzlies. In addition to pouring in 47 points on an array of jump shots and drives to the hoop, Wall dished out eight assists, hauled in seven rebounds, and chipped in on defense with one steal and a block. He went 13-for-22 from the field and also set career highs in free throws made (19) and attempted (24).

Wall had been playing with a lot of confidence since his return and this game added another layer to his success this season. Earlier in the month, Wall was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from March 11-17.

2. Beal knocks down the game-winning bucket against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jan. 7.

This was the last game the Wizards played in 2012-13 without the services of Wall and it was a good one. Beal, a rookie drafted third overall by Washington in 2012, showed the poise of a veteran player, calmly draining the deciding basket in a 101-99 victory over the Thunder in front of a delighted home crowd.

Due to Beal’s emergence as the team’s most reliable shooting guard, the Wizards were able to trade disgruntled guard Crawford to the Boston Celtics for a pair of expiring contracts in Leandro Barbosa and Jason Collins.

The 6’3″ Beal, who played one season at the University of Florida, averaged 13.9 points per game (third best among rookies) and was recognized for his efforts as he placed third in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year behind Anthony Davis and the winner, Damian Lillard.

1. Season finally comes to an end, April 17.

Sometimes it just feels good to hit the reset button.

The Wizards showed reasons for optimism after the return of Wall, but they ended the season on a bit of a sour note by losing their last six games and failing to reach 30 wins. Sometimes it might make sense for a team to let up in hopes of securing a higher pick; but as it stands now, the Wizards are projected to have the eighth pick out of a draft class lacking star power.

The Wizards got it right in selecting Beal third overall in June 2012. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

Given the success the Wizards had in January, February and March, this is a team that could sneak into the playoffs in 2013-14, but they need to continue to build a winning attitude and gain the mental toughness to avoid late-season collapses because the talent is definitely there.