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Wizards: 5 Midseason Takeaways

By Colby Giacubeno

Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman coaches guard Bradley Beal (3) on the sideline in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman coaches guard Bradley Beal (3) on the sideline in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates after a score against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) celebrates after a score against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Wall’s Elite Production

As fans in any sport, deciding whether a player is elite or not has always been a common debate. For John Wall, the argument of being in the same category as other point guards such as Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul, his name is often quickly dismissed.

One reason for this could be that Washington doesn’t get the chance to play on national TV very often. For the 2015-16 season, the Wizards have a total of three appearances on ESPN and just one on TNT.  The other three point guards mentioned previously seem to have a nationally televised game every week.

Throughout the first month of the season, Wall didn’t get out to the start that he envisioned, but he was still putting up respectable numbers. He let it be known that his lack of production was evident to himself as well when being asked about Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving leading him in All-Star votes despite only playing three games:

"“It’s a joke,” he said. “I played like horses*** the first month and a half but I still was averaging like 16 and eight. That’s not bad numbers.”"

In December, Wall got back to his normal dominance that Wizards fans are so used to seeing as he was awarded with Eastern Conference Player of the Month averaging 22.6 points, 11.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals, becoming the first player to average 22-11-4-2 over a month since Chris Paul in 2009.

Wall is currently fourth in assists (9.7) and fifth in steals (2.12). His 19.6 points per game average is a career-high and ranks eighth among point guards. If there is one constant with Washington this season, it is that the team’s success goes as Wall goes.

Next: 2. Invisible Defense

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