Washington Wizards: 3 goals for the end of Rui Hachimura’s rookie year
Win a game without Bradley Beal
The biggest and most confidence-inspiring goal for Hachimura down the stretch, is to play in a game without Bradley Beal and pull the Wizards to victory.
If Washington’s playoffs push come up short, then their star guard is no doubt to miss a few more games due to rest or general soreness down the stretch.
Hachimura, as a 22-year-old rookie, is no doubt going to be maximized for the rest of the year. And he’ll inevitably find himself in a situation where he’s playing without Beal.
Taking on the role of number one gun for the Wizards, while simultaneously adding another game to the win column, well that’s certain to do things for his confidence. Not to mention the ever-elusive narrative that Beal could ask for a trade if things don’t go as planned next season.
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The Washington Wizards will want to continue selling their core to the star guard, and Hachimura’s strides as a rookie will play a big role in that narrative. Especially if he can win.
So far, in each of the seven games Beal has missed this year, Hachimura was also inactive. The Wizards are 4-3 in those games, but just 9-14 with their rookie absent and on the sidelines.
A big win for a Beal-less Washington team with Hachimura at the helm, well that’d be positive for both parties involved. The Wizards will get to see more of the alpha player they looked for in their 2019 draft selection, and the rookie forward flexes his ability to lead.