Washington Wizards: 3 lineup changes that may help end the losing streak

Swap Rui Hachimura for Davis Bertans

This move would be met with heavy criticism, yes. But what it be best for both parties?

As long as the Wizards are still in the race for playoffs, and it looks like they may be for at least a few more weeks, they need to adjust their lineup based on what they think will win.

It’s not that Rui Hachimura isn’t playing well, quite the contrary. He’s averaging 13.8 points and 6 rebounds per game in his 33 appearances this season.

But he’s fallen into these holes early in games, where he goes off for 8-to-12 points in the first quarter, and then disappears until the second half. It’s become a reoccurring theme for the Wizards nightly, and it may just be that Hachimura is struggling to find his shot next to starters.

Swapping him out for Davis Bertans, a veteran and proven shot-maker, may not only give the Wizards their best chance at victory but also inspire some confidence in their talented rookie. But the second that playoffs become a clear non-reality, Hachimura should be returned to his place.

And while Beal has seen success in this recent stretch from a scoring perspective, playing him more next to Bertans will make for harder situations on the opposing defenses.

For now, the Washington Wizards recipe isn’t yielding positive results, and they need to change some form or combination of the ingredients.

Now on a three-game losing streak, in a year where the Eastern Conference is essentially handing out tickets to the playoffs, they need to find a fix.