Fansided

Who can crash the playoff field in the NBA’s 22-team restart?

By Bryan Toporek

CJ McCollum, #3, Damian Lillard, #0, Carmelo Anthony, #00, Portland Trail Blazers, (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CJ McCollum, #3, Damian Lillard, #0, Carmelo Anthony, #00, Portland Trail Blazers, (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards in action against the New York Knicks at Capital One Arena on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

4. Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards get a bump here solely by virtue of being in the Eastern Conference rather than the West.

Whereas the Kings, Suns, Spurs, Pelicans and Trail Blazers will all be vying for the opportunity to challenge the Grizzlies for the West’s No. 8 seed, the Wizards are the sole non-playoff team in the East heading to Orlando. They’ll enter the resumed regular season trailing the Orlando Magic by 5.5 games and Brooklyn Nets by six games, but they only need to get within four games of either squad to force a play-in tournament.

They’ll likely need a heroic effort from two-time All-Star Bradley Beal to do so.

With John Wall sidelined by an Achilles injury all season, Beal is in the midst of a career year, averaging 30.5 points on 45.5 percent shooting, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 triples in 36.0 minutes per game. However, Wall is unlikely to join him in Orlando, as “the Wizards right now see no reason to play him,” according to Fred Katz of The Athletic.

Without Wall, Beal may not have the help he needs to topple playoff hopefuls. The Wizards’ defense has been historically porous this season — the 115.8 points per 100 possessions they allow are the second-highest mark ever, trailing only last year’s Cleveland Cavaliers — and they’ve gone 6-18 against teams .500 or above.

If Beal hits the ground running in Orlando and one of the Magic or Nets slip, the Wizards may be able to force a play-in tournament for the No. 8 seed. However, they’ll have to win each of those two games to snag the playoff spot, while the higher-ranked team only needs to win one.

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