NBA Playoffs 2018: Power ranking all 16 playoff teams

16. Washington Wizards

On paper, the Washington Wizards should be nowhere near the bottom of these power rankings. With a battle-tested starting five featuring two All-Stars in John Wall and Bradley Beal, a max-salary do-it-all role player in Otto Porter Jr. and a veteran frontcourt of Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat, Washington has the potential to advance to knock off the top-seeded Toronto Raptors in the opening round of the playoffs.

Then again, it’s tough to ignore the Wizards’ recent results.

Since the All-Star break, Washington is 10-15, the worst record of any playoff team in either conference. John Wall missed much of that time as he recovered from the knee surgery he underwent in late January, but since his return, the Wizards have dropped contests to the Chicago Bulls (113-94) and Atlanta Hawks (103-97), both of whom combined for 11 other wins since the All-Star break.

Following his squad’s embarrassing loss against Atlanta, Wizards head coach Scott Brooks ripped into his team, telling reporters, “Selfish basketball is no fun to coach, it’s no fun to play with, and it’s no fun to watch. And we’re a selfish basketball team right now.”

The Wizards bounced back Tuesday with a 113-101 victory over the second-seeded Boston Celtics that may give them confidence heading into their first-round matchup against Toronto. But given their unsteady play over the past month-and-a-half — both with and without Wall in the lineup — it’s difficult to place much faith in the Wiz, talent be damned.

Next: 15. Milwaukee Bucks