Beer declared, “Everyone eats.” And for those looking for a sliver of friction between the two stars, Beal’s line provided a feast of arguments – even though his intentions were innocent and he was telling the truth.
Fast forward to the present. Beal is currently the headliner leading Washington in minutes, shooting attempts and points per game. But this weekend, the Wizards (8-6) won his fourth in a row, surpassing the Westerns, the top six-ranked team in his conference, with his third. The team’s longest winning streak since Washington snapped his five-game winning streak last November comes as Beal was sidelined by health and safety protocols or working to regain conditioning to return to play. occurred in the state
Nobody in the Wizards’ locker room had a catchy line about winning without beer, but Latvian-born Kristaps Porzingis provided some charming moments. Searching for the right words in English, this team harnessed the same energy as the 2018 roster. I can live without stars. And learning to be more than Beale’s dependent should go a long way toward developing Washington into a playoff contender.
“It’s a long season and everyone [will be] Wes Unseld Jr. coach said Sunday night after the Wizards game. Slowly marching towards a 102-92 win Ja Morant and top players Desmond Bain and Jaren Jackson Jr. over a Memphis Grizzlies team lacking vitality.
“Even when that happens, we can still play and compete at a high level, and I think that’s part of it. [But] No one wants to be without their best players. … is a talent-driven league. You have to be talented,” he continued Unseld. “The depth speaks for itself. We have the ability to weather the storm, but I like the fact that we understand it and can stay afloat.”
To be perfectly clear: no. No one wants the Wizards to survive with Corey Kispert as the starting shooting guard. But we see what Unseld has known about his team since the summer. The fact that Kispert, who is in his second year, can act as an emergency starter off the bench and supplement players such as two-way contract Jordan Goodwin, is a big deal. can appear out of nowhere Revitalizing the defense and sharpening the outside shot speaks to the Wizards’ depth.
Unseld explains why rookie guard Johnny Davis is the Wizards 10th choice Draft does not allow you to touch the floor in an NBA game. Davis has his dual role of developing with G League affiliates within the team and collecting DNP for the Wizards. He appeared in five games, but remained an afterthought during those four games, possibly because he could have made space for Davis when Beal’s absence punctured the guard/wing position.
“Because there’s a traffic jam in two or three. [positions] — from two to four, with really versatile players — you don’t have a lot of time.
This depth may be under-the-radar, but it has played a brand of team basketball supporting remaining stars Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma. He had 26 assists (a number he reached only four times this season) and made a season-high 40 3-point shot attempts, completing 47.5% of them. Kispert made both attempts, Goodwin led the bench with his 3-for-4 long-range shots, and Deni’s Avdija and Porzingis combined gave him 10 threes. Yes, we all ate.
“I just think [it’s] The way we play for each other. Creating extra paths. we cut for each other. We’re doing some little things that may not be visible, but that really help us win,” Porzingis said. “And now, with Brad back, it takes even more pressure off other people so he can be a real player. focus“
Looking up at the gathered reporters, Porzingis asked for some clarification.
“‘F’ or ‘V’? Not “fu!” vocal cords! ‘ he said with a smile.
If there’s one game that’s been talked about in the Wizards’ locker room lately, it’s Porzingis’s. Aside from Thursday’s win against the Dallas Mavericks, which Porzingis missed with a left groin strain, he looked healthier and fitter than before. Then he gambled and jumped the passing lane, swiping the ball and dropping it the entire 7-foot-3 frame onto the court for a layup.
“I haven’t moved like this in a while,” Porzingis said. “I feel good now. Nothing limits me.”
Porzingis also arced effortlessly, completing six triples. Unicorns flashed on the scoreboard as he beat the buzzer in the first quarter with a long three, an old nickname that made him one of the most interesting players in the game when Polzins broke into New York his Knicks. emphasized. Injuries and recovery have limited Porzingis since his 2018-19 season, but he is rediscovering his mystical powers. Porzingis averaged 28 points in wins over Utah’s Jazz and Grizzlies, and this month he’s averaged over 21 points in six games.
beer now – or focus — are scheduled to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
“That would open everything up for everyone else. So yeah, I think it gives us more — how [do] Do I say “gunpowder”? or like more, ammunition! Go ahead,” said Porzingis.
Over the past four games, Washington has found its way, thanks in part to its depth.When a star player falls, everyone can Eat when a teammate finds himself and his shot in an offense that is not in favor of a single scorer. Now the Wizards must find ways to keep each other feeding their stars.
