Brandon Scott here, the host of the daily Locked On Wizards podcast, with your daily Locked On Wizards newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wizards and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Being OK with losing: The psychology of the Wizards Rebuild
The Washington Wizards are currently at a record of 2-11 and are the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Most people would be alarmed at the record and state of the Wizards but with this being the 2nd year of the Will Dawkins regime in DC, he’d be the first person to tell you that this is all a part of the plan. Suffer now to celebrate later. Most fans wanted to hit the reset button after years of being happy with just being the 8th seed and flopping out in the 1st round of the playoffs. This new front office wants something else, a sustainable championship contender. Yet, skeptics remain but why?
One reason people remain skeptical is the fact that the team hasn’t won an NBA Championship since 1978. 1978, wow indeed. Not only was I not born yet, but it was also the first year that the Larry King Show aired and the last time that Volkswagon produced the Bug. It’s been a while and in the age of dynasties (Bulls and Warriors to name a few), you can understand why fans are hungry for a title but that can’t be the biggest reason why, right?
This fanbase has had the honor of watching Gilbert Arenas and John Wall excite hoops fans in the DMV but would often fail to get past the 2nd round. There are many reasons why Arenas and Wall couldn’t bring a title to DC. Not bringing in a co-star, missing in the draft, and giving away 1st round picks are a few good ones. If Ernie Grunfeld or Tommy Sheppard couldn’t make it work, how can Will Dawkins?
Easy, by building from the inside out. Not only has GM Will Dawkins and President of basketball operations Michael Winger revamped the scouting department, but they have also hired a developmental Head Coach in Brian Keefe who has had a hand in the development of such players as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. They have also built up the training facilities to a point never before seen in DC. They also have better food if that means anything to you but the point is, they’ve made changes that will pay dividends in the future. They also have 2nd year Wing Bilal Coulibaly, who looks like he’s breaking out this season, his second in the league. They drafted three high-impact rookies this year in Sarr, Carrington, and George. Add fringe All-Star Jordan Poole, Corey Kispert, and Saddiq Bey, and the fact that they’ll be in the position to draft Cooper Flagg or Ace Bailey in 2025. Yes, the Wizards are headed in the right direction. It’s not only about where we’ve been, it’s about where we’re headed.
A refrain I’ve increasingly heard from casuals, like the talking heads on the NBA’s biggest broadcast partners, is that the league is too homogenous these days, that every team just goes out there and chucks up threes. Every game is the same.
Leaving aside the shortsightedness of famous, influential media analysts dumping on their own product, it’s a common enough complaint that I felt an urge to investigate. My eyeballs tell me the league’s never been more diverse and fun, thanks largely to the absurd wealth of stars today with skill sets as bespoke as their draft night suits. Jokic’s Nuggets look nothing like Tatum’s Celtics look nothing like Brunson’s Knicks, and to suggest otherwise is willful ignorance.
As I wrote about for Basketball Poetry yesterday, the current top five offenses are Boston, Cleveland, New York, the Lakers, and Dallas. Those five teams rank first, 14th, 17th, 24th, and 21st, respectively, in share of shots that are triples. You certainly don’t need to launch a million threes relative to your peers to score the basketball successfully.
Of course, that’s a rather superficial analysis. Regardless of rank, what if the absolute numbers are all getting closer together? That would represent a growing sameness.
I looked at shot data from this season, a decade ago, and 20 years ago to see how much the share of three-pointers had changed.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Analysis Is it a talent issue, or is a compete issue? Whatever it is, head coach Brian Keefe is taking the blame for the team’s recent skid. (Washington Post, subscription required)
Analysis How the Cavaliers’ offseason plan has turned them into the top team in the league so far this year. (ESPN)
Milestone Russell Westbrook becomes the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles. (CBS Sports)
Must Read The NBA’s three-point revolution has gotten extreme, begging the question: How many is too many?(The Washington Post)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
The Randomness Of Fantasy Basketball On A Wednesday In The NBA
Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (0) defends during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Top Five Fantasy Takeaways from Wednesday’s Games
1. Paul George’s Knee Injury Concerns
Paul George’s knee hyperextension during the 76ers vs. Grizzlies game is a significant concern for fantasy managers. While initial reports suggest no structural damage, his availability in the coming games is uncertain. This situation could open up opportunities for other players on the 76ers to step up, making it crucial to monitor updates closely.
2. Unpredictable Pelicans vs. Cavaliers Game
The Pelicans vs. Cavaliers matchup was a bizarre affair, with unexpected lineups and performances. Elfrid Payton started for the Pelicans, and Jaylon Tyson shone for the Cavs, but these anomalies are unlikely to have long-term fantasy implications. Managers should view this game as an outlier and avoid making hasty roster changes based on these performances.
3. Pacers’ Struggles and Tyrese Haliburton’s Slump
The Pacers are facing challenges, particularly with Tyrese Haliburton’s shooting woes. His road performance has been notably poor, possibly due to lingering back issues. Despite this, Haliburton’s track record suggests a turnaround is likely, making him a prime buy-low candidate for managers willing to take a risk on his recovery.
Click the button below to see how Norman Powell’s injury could open up opportunities for the Clippers, and a top 50 player returns to action.
