Washington Wizards
Contender:
The Wizards quite possibly have the best young backcourt in the NBA, they added some veteran toughness and clutch shotmaking with Paul Pierce and they bolstered the frontcourt with paint bruisers and rebounders. Washington benefits from playing in the East and if you were one of those who thought the Wiz could be a dark horse to make the ECFs, you’re definitely drinking the Kool-Aid for 2014-15.
Bradley Beal’s absence for 6-8 weeks hurts, but it’s no Kevin Durant-type of injury that will seriously hold the Wizards back. Washington has a shooting guard shortage right now, but as long as Marcin Gortat and Nene stay healthy, the Wizards can survive until Beal comes back fully healthy. And after what we saw from Beal in the playoffs last year, we can only expect good things once he does.
Pretender:
Like the Raptors, however, the Wizards are just another good (possibly great) Eastern Conference team that doesn’t have any real title aspirations this season. The Cavs and Bulls are still the class of the conference and even if Washington did find a way to make a conference finals appearance, they’re not getting to the Finals without some serious injury help.
John Wall and Bradley Beal are still just a little bit too young to be relied so heavily upon come playoff time. Pierce also won’t be able to defend the wing like Trevor Ariza did last year, so even if he is able to clean up from three-point range, Washington has its work cut out for them to put together another postseason run in an improved conference.
Verdict: Pretender