Washington Wizards: Scott Brooks Has The Starters Meshing
The Washington Wizards began the new year with a record of 16-16. But head coach Scott Brooks held things together, and the team went 12-4 in the month of January.
At 30-20, the Washington Wizards are peaking at the right time as the All-Star break approaches. Scott Brooks became the first head coach to win Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for the Wizards since Eddie Jordan won the award in December 2006.
Since starting the season 2-8, Wizards’ head coach Scott Brooks has the team playing its best basketball. The Wizards have won seven games in a row, including 17 straight at home, and Brooks’ coaching style has a lot do with that.
Don’t look now, but the Wizards have also won three straight games on the road now too.
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Brooks has the team buying into his philosophy and they’ve quietly climbed up the Eastern Conference rankings. The Wizards are currently 4.5 games behind the Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed, and two behind Boston for the second spot in the East. Currently, they are third in the standings.
On Monday, February 6, the Wizards face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wizards have lost the last two games to the Cavaliers as well.
Brooks has the Wizards playing well because of their starters and the newly acquired patience of John Wall. The Wizards’ starters have taken their games to the next level, embracing their roles next to point guard John Wall. Wall is averaging a career-high 23 points and 10.4 assists per game, and he’s slowly beginning to trust his teammates.
Credit The Starters
The Washington Wizards have one of the best starting lineups in 2016-17. All five starters are averaging double figures with Wall and center Marcin Gortat both averaging a double-double.
The Wizards’ starting unit ranks second in points per game (83.4), second in rebounds per game (32.0), third in assists per game (18.6), and tied for first in steals per game (6.5).
Gortat is averaging 11.8 points and 11.5 rebounds to anchor the Wizards’ frontcourt. He is also averaging 3.2 offensive rebounds per contest, his best career-average so far.
Fourth-year forward Otto Porter is averaging 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season. He is shooting 45.9 percent from the three-point line. He leads the NBA in three-point field goal percentage even though he wasn’t invited to the Three-Point Shootout.
Teammate Bradley Beal was invited to the Three-Point Shootout, but turned down the invitation after not making the All-Star Game. Beal is averaging 21.8 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in 46 appearances.
Then there’s power forward Markieff Morris. He’s averaging 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 34.1 percent from three. It’s his second-highest percentage since he shot 34.7 percent in his rookie season in with the Phoenix Suns.
Morris has seven double-doubles this season, five of them coming in the month of January. He’s really elevated his play and it’s given the Wizards a much-needed boost on the interior.
Scott Brooks: Point Guard Whisperer
The Wizards are playing well due to their consistent starting lineup but also because of the play of point guard John Wall. Wall has done whatever the team has needed him to do in order to get the team a victory.
Brooks’ experience with Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook may have a lot to do with that. Brooks has been able to sit down with Wall and get him to run less of a pick-and-roll heavy offense. And it’s largely worked out for both parties. While stressing the importance of ball movement, Wall has been able to score and distribute at an alarming rate.
Wall is averaging 22.9 points, 11.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals during Washington’s seven-game winning streak. He’s also taking fewer three-point shots as well, learning to trust shooters Bradley Beal and Otto Porter on the wings.
As a result, Wall currently sits at third this season in total assists (499) behind James Harden (613) and Russell Westbrook (526). He leads the league in steals with 106 as well. Wall broke his career high in assists in a game (18) this season, setting a new-high of 19 in their 107-94 against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 29.
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When the Wizards welcome the Cavaliers to town on February 6, look for more of Wall’s magic. As they’re gunning for the No. 1 seed in the East, Wall knows his play sets the tone for the whole team.