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Washington Wizards: Is This A 50-Win Team?

By Joe Atmonavage

Feb 5, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs point guard Cory Joseph (5) during the second half at Verizon Center. The Spurs defeated the Wizards 125 - 118 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) dribbles past San Antonio Spurs point guard Cory Joseph (5) during the second half at Verizon Center. The Spurs defeated the Wizards 125 - 118 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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With basketball right around the corner, Westgate Las Vegas Superbook released its over/under totals for every NBA team Wednesday. They put the over/under of wins for the Washington Wizards at 49.5. Which means the smart people who released that number believe the Wizards will be right around a 50-win team next year.

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Which raises the question, are the Wizards good enough to win 50 games?

My first inclination when I saw the over/under was to jump at the over. The Wizards won 44 games last season and many signs point to them being improved this season.

The backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal is a year older and now has playoff experience under their belt. Beal is going into his third year, a year we often see players really take that “leap.”

Paul Pierce was added and is sure to bring a lot to the Wizards both on and off the court.

The bench should be better than last season with a competent backup point guard for the entire year in Andre Miller, Otto Porter and Glen Rice Jr. looked in ways ready  to be contributors during summer league (take it for what you want), and they added veteran bigs Kris Humphries and Dejuan Blair to provide quality front court minutes.

May 11, 2014; Washington, DC, USA;Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket between Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) and center Roy Hibbert (55) during the second quarter of game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2014; Washington, DC, USA;Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket between Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) and center Roy Hibbert (55) during the second quarter of game four of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

That sounds like six more wins, right?

Not so fast.

While I love the Pierce pickup, we have to remember he is going to turn 38 during the season and 38-year-olds playing basketball is an injury waiting to happen. If it wasn’t, there would be more than a handful of guys nearing 40 still in the league. If Pierce goes down and misses any significant point next year, the Wizards would suffer.

Pierce is the only established and healthy small forward on the roster. With Martell Webster recovering from offseason back surgery, Pierce’s backups are Rice Jr. and Porter. Neither one of those guys are starters on a 50-win team at this point, even with Wall and Beal being so good. They could be, but right now you can’t say that. The Wizards are one Pierce injury away from losing a few games they may have one with Pierce in the lineup.

Also, Randy Wittman is still the coach. Are we sure he is a good coach? I’m not. He has done a good job developing Wall and Beal and has helped the Wizards become a top-10 defense, but what the Wizards do on offense is questionable and he is not really any good of an in-game coach. I mean the Wizards did blow 12 (!!) double-digit leads last season.

Of course some of that is on the players, but when you watch a team blow 12 games they could have won and find yourself questioning a lot of what the coach is doing then that may be a problem.

May 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman reacts on the bench against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Pacers won 93-80, and won the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman reacts on the bench against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Pacers won 93-80, and won the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Lastly, the Eastern Conference is better this year. Cleveland, Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Detroit all got better in some way or another. Miami and Indiana regressed and the bottom of the conference is still weak, but last year the conference was relatively weak after the top two teams. The middle of the conference is much improved and will not be a cakewalk like last season.

With all that said, the Wizards do have a legit shot at winning 50 games. They are going to be one of the best teams in the East, but before you lay your bet down on the over, remember injuries happen, Randy Wittman happens, and a better conference means it may be tough for the Wizards to win 50-plus games for the first time  since the 1978-79 season.

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