Washington Wizards: 2018-19 NBA season preview
Predictions
This Washington Wizards’ roster has a lot of promise for the 2018-19 season, but now they’ll need to show it with their play. The team took a huge step back last season, finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference. Playing with that extra chip on their shoulder, especially in John Wall’s case, could pay dividends in the final outcome.
Wall has an opportunity to redeem himself with an MVP-type of season and Beal will be along for the ride, of course. Beal did well in managing his workload with Wall out last season, but the rest of the rotation didn’t.
Look for Porter and Oubre to step it up a few notches. Both have an opportunity to emerge as break out stars for the Wizards if all goes well. Satoransky is another player to keep an eye on. He didn’t get much of a look in postseason play, but he had a strong offseason competing in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with the Czech Republic national team. Satoransky and Rivers have an opportunity to carry the bench mob far in 2018-19.
On paper, the Wizards look like a well-balanced group, now they just need to execute. They certainly have the formula to finish the year as a top-five team in the East. They should make their third straight postseason appearance under Scott Brooks as long as they remain healthy, finishing with a 45-37 record to claim the 5-seed in the East.
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The Wizards should make the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2018-19 (call me an optimist). They may not have enough to get by the likes of Kyrie Irving and the Celtics or Ben Simmons and the Sixers, but they should challenge whoever is in front of them for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals before it’s all said and done.