NBA: Separating Championship Contenders From Pretenders

Washington Wizards 9-5
ORating 104.5 (20th), DRating 103.7 (9th), Point Differential +0.8 (13th), SOS 22nd, Title odds +3100

The Wizards currently sit second in the Eastern Conference with a 9-5 record, earned entirely against fellow Eastern foes save for a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in their lone game against the Western Conference. The Wizards defend well enough to contend, ranking 9th in points allowed per 100 possessions, the issue for Washington has been scoring the basketball (20th). Bradley Beal’s return from injury should help on that end of the floor after missing the first nine games due to injury, but note the Wizards have only gone 2-3 since his return.

The Wizards have played an easy, almost exclusively Eastern Conference schedule and not been overly impressive in doing so. The Wizards have struggled against the better teams (3-5 vs teams above .500), whilst feasting on the dregs, a perfect 6-0 against sub .500 teams.They have lost three of the four games played against other teams on this list, their signature victory a 91-78 triumph over a discombobulated Cavaliers team who returned the favor five nights later by routing the Wiz by 26.

Statistically the Wizards formula looks similar to last year, top ten defence matched up with a below average offense, that formula wasn’t good enough to reach the Eastern Conference finals last year and it’s unlikely to be good enough to make it this year either. The Wizards are relevant and headed in the right direction, but not true title contenders yet.

Status – Pretender

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