2014-15 NBA preview: Washington Wizards

While maybe not as offensive as the Washington football name, something as boring and bland as the current nickname is offensive and lame, so double offensive. So, we’ll just call them hmmm the Bullets. The Bullets are a sleeper pick for making it to the Finals this season. John Wall is looking like a genuine All-Star, and Bradley Beal has a real shot at the All-Star team this season, even though he’s only 21 and starting the season injured. Washington has enough threats that they should be able to withstand the difficulties of losing their top shooting guard for the beginning of the year. They also still have Nene and Marcin Gortat, both who could help carry the team past somebody like the Cavs.

The newly acquired Paul Pierce still seemed to have some juice left in the tank last season. The Nets used him at power forward some, and it was pretty effective, although, the Bullets have a much more pressing need at small forward. The Bullets will really miss Trevor Ariza. He was a deadeye shooter from the corners, and he was their best defender. This season, that small forward position has been handed over to the 36 year old Pierce, an unproven (and likely not very good) Otto Porter Jr., and Martell Webster, who may soak up more minutes than he probably should, but he’s not by any means a disaster.

Washington may have a surprisingly solid bench. Professor Andre Miller PhD. is getting up in age (38), but he still seems to have that crafty game of his, and then they’ll also have two very underrated players in Kris ex-Kardashian Humphries and DeJuan Blair. With that very good starting lineup and underrated bench, the Bullets should be a top four seed in the East.

Best case: 54-28

Washington sees that they may just have their small forward of the future in Otto Porter, and the blow from losing Ariza is lessened. The Bullets are able to save Pierce’s body for a majority of the season by limiting him to 15-20 minutes.

After the great regular season, Washington makes it to the ECF. They’re are able to match up pretty well with the Cavaliers, especially with a rested Pierce and a long-armed Porter. The two Brutes in the center cause the Cavs a lot of interior issues, especially with the injury to Varejao that happens in the first round. With Wall and Beal leading the charge, the Bullets are just too much for this newly formed Cleveland team.

Washington can’t handle the Spurs, but making it to the Finals is one hell of a year for a team that’s had its fair share of struggles.

Worst case: 38-44

Bradley Beal has another ankle injury. Even non-Bullet fans dread seeing it, because Beal has shown flashes of being a top shooting guard in the league (although, a depleted position). Nene, who’s known for having an injury or two misses a couple months. Pierce is no longer able to guard small forwards, and that leaves Martell Webster and a completely over-matched Otto Porter. Wall, Gortat and that bench is able to carry Washington to at least competing for a playoff spot, but they fall short.

Prediction: 45-37