Washington Wizards: 3 goals for the final stretch of the season

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Washington Wizards. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Wizards have been on a tear for the second half of the season. They struggled for the first half with COVID-19 running rampant through the team at the start of the year. They did not play a game from January 12 through to January 23.

During the first half of the season, Russell Westbrook, the most polarizing player in the league, was not playing to his normal standard. The Wizards had a poor record and Westbrook was receiving a lot of heat, especially on social media. It turns out that he was playing with a torn quad which is an injury that would sideline most players.

Now that he is healthy, he is leading the league in assists all the while averaging a triple-double again this season. Bradley Beal was the top scorer in the league for most of the year. He now sits in second place behind Stephen Curry with an average of 31.1 points per game.

The Washington Wizards found their identity this season

The Wizards are a team who like to drive the ball, relying on the quickness of Westbrook and Ish Smith to create seams in the opposition’s defense. When the defense collapses they then kick the ball out to the open shooter, usually Beal or Davis Bertans.

In the later part of the season, this has worked a treat. They are a better team when they spread the offensive load rather than just rely on Beal. In the seven games where he has scored 40 points or more, the Wizards have a 1-6 record. The good thing is as they have developed this identity, the rest of the team has been able to put in to help the wins.

With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at the three goals for the Washington Wizards.

Next: Qualify as high as possible

Washington Wizards</a> have been on a tear for the second half of the season. They struggled for the first half with COVID-19 running rampant through the team at the start of the year. They did not play a game from January 12 through to January 23.</p> <p>During the first half of the season, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/08/washington-wizards-3-goals-season/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Russell Westbrook</a>, the most polarizing player in the league, was not playing to his normal standard. The Wizards had a poor record and Westbrook was receiving a lot of heat, especially on social media. It turns out that he was playing with a torn quad which is an injury that would sideline most players.</p> <p>Now that he is healthy, he is leading the league in assists all the while averaging a triple-double again this season. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/08/washington-wizards-3-goals-season/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bealbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Bradley Beal</a> was the top scorer in the league for most of the year. He now sits in second place behind Stephen Curry with an average of 31.1 points per game.</p> <h2>The Washington Wizards found their identity this season</h2> <p>The Wizards are a team who like to drive the ball, relying on the quickness of Westbrook and Ish Smith to create seams in the opposition’s defense. When the defense collapses they then kick the ball out to the open shooter, usually Beal or Davis Bertans.</p> <p>In the later part of the season, this has worked a treat. They are a better team when they spread the offensive load rather than just rely on Beal. In the seven games where he has scored 40 points or more, the Wizards have a 1-6 record. The good thing is as they have developed this identity, the rest of the team has been able to put in to help the wins.</p> <p>With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at the three goals for the Washington Wizards.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/08/washington-wizards-3-goals-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Qualify as high as possible </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_428156" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/08/washington-wizards-3-goals-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/16026637.jpeg"> "Washington