thelesterlee
Today it is being reported that Washington Wizards GM, Tommy Sheppard, is getting both a contract extension as well as a promotion to team president as this team sits at 10-3 as the best team in the Eastern Conference somehow.
Last season, this team barely landed at the 8th seed. They traded away future Hall of Famer, Russell Westbrook and they are astronomically better at basketball. Wait, is that the answer? Is having a ball-dominant point guard who has no idea how to get the basketball inside of the basketball hoop detrimental to your basketball team??
The Wizards replaced Westbrook with Montrezl Harrell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Aaron Holiday, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavios Caldwell-Pope. They replaced Westbrook’s gravity and pointless triple-doubles with reliable depth.
Dinwiddie in particular is averaging 17 points, 6 assists and 5.5 rebounds a night. In the clutch (games within 5 points in the final 5 minutes), Dinwiddie has scored or assisted on 41 out of the Wizards 67 points in the clutch this season.
For comparison, Russell Westbrook leads the NBA in turnovers in the clutch which is, well, not clutch. Almost every clip I’ve seen of Westbrook charging full speed into the paint only to have the ball swatted into the concession stands is typically taking place at the end of the 4th quarter.
Replacing Westbrook for Dinwiddie was a genius move.
Montrezl Harrell is averaging 18 points a game and Kyle Kuzma is averaging 14.5. They are an actual team and not just the Bradley Beal show.
Shit, the Washington Wizards drafted Rui Hachimura in 2019 with the 9th overall pick and he’s not even with the team right now. He was supposed to be their starting power forward. He’s at home. The Wizards are in first place.
Round of applause to Wes Unseld Jr who is the 2021-2022 NBA Coach of the Year no matter what. That trophy already has his name engraved on it.
Congrats to the Wizards for holding the first place spot occupied until the Knicks are ready to snatch it away from them.
