Are Wizards the Eastern Conference's second best team?
The race for second in the Eastern Conference is one of the 2015-16 season's juiciest story lines. Everyone expects the Cleveland Cavaliers to end up on top, but who will come closest to beating them?
The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat are both strong options. The Chicago Bulls will roll their roster back from last season and should be healthy. They're good.
And then we have the Washington Wizards, who could play a totally different style of basketball this season and usher themselves into the modern era in a wonderful way. Here's Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin with a look at why he thinks Washington is second to only Cleveland:
Paul Pierce is gone, but John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter should all be better next season. The Wizards have a potent three-point attack for the first time in years, and are able to play more versatile lineups that allow Wall and Beal to operate with more space.
They were already stout on defense last season, and the offense appears to be better. The Wizards are definitely a team on the rise.
(h/t: Pro Basketball Talk)
I’ll take Washington. I’m not completely comfortable that pick, but I’m higher on the Wizards than most — this is the season they take a step forward and reach the conference Finals. For that to happen, I’m betting on Bradley Beal staying healthy all season and playing like the guy from the playoffs who looked like he deserved a max contract. I’m expecting Beal and John Wall to take a step forward together as clearly the best backcourt in the East. I’m betting on Otto Porter playing like the guy from the playoffs (actually better than that, it’s been overstated how well he played). I’m betting on Porter, Jared Dudley, and Alan Anderson being able to fill Paul Pierce’s shoes. I’m betting on (and expecting) coach Randy Wittman to play a lot more small ball with Porter/Dudley at the four, spacing the floor and allowing Wall to penetrate and break down defenses. I’m betting on Nene being healthy for the playoffs (I’m not crazy enough to expect an injury-free season from him).
