- 7,309
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- Dec 8, 1999
This team had a tough stretch last season, too, after the All Star break, so it's possible that we're just getting the struggle out of the way early. Unfortunately, I think the difference here is that we actually had a favorable early season schedule, just as last year, and it's not going to get any easier.
If you look at the standings, Cleveland, Indiana, Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto, and Miami are pretty safe bets to make the playoffs. Charlotte's playing well right now, despite the MKG injury. Boston has been KILLING us head to head and is currently in eighth.
We're four wins back on Boston, five back on Charlotte with a LOT of basketball left to play. We're also behind Detroit and Orlando right now, with the Knicks and Bucks right there.
It's too early to write the Wizards off, but it'll be an uphill struggle. I don't think there's a move out there they can make that wouldn't bring back salary, so we'll just have to see who will win the stubbornness battle between the square peg of the roster and the round hole that is imitation small ball.
Not all of the teams ahead of us will continue to win at the same rate, but you can't count on nine separate misfortunes befalling our Eastern Conference rivals. If the Wizards are to make the playoffs, it'll have to be because they're playing well and not because every other team fell apart. There's still talent on the roster. They'll have a puncher's chance at it.
I think most of us knew going in that we'd take a step back this season as that was the price fans paid for indulging in another year of KD fantasies, but I don't think anyone expected to miss the playoffs. If that's what it takes to finally get a real coach in here, so be it.
On the plus side, maybe Beal won't command a max salary now... Nobody wanted to max out Curry when he was struggling with ankle injuries. (That said, who else wanted to max out Gilbert Arenas fresh off knee surgery?)
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