Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE
The Washington Wizards face a challenging start to the 2012-12 NBA season as point guard John Wall is out for first eight weeks.
Their franchise player and their main centerpiece, will they be able to get the wins needed in order to dig a hole to deep to get out. Wall’s injury will force players like veterans Trevor Ariza, Nene and rookie Bradley Beal to carry more of a offensive load on their shoulders.
Wall averaged 16.3 ppg last season, and now not having him for that period of time will have a major effect on the offense. With Wall being the offensive play maker how will the Wizards handle their offense?
Backup point guards A.J. Price and Shelvin Mack will be counted on to take control of the Wizards offense and become leaders. Not only leaders on offense and defense, but off-the-court leaders too, Mack and Price are considered role models.
Not just the back up point guards will need to contribute, but the bench itself will need to take a big role in helping offensively and defensively. The young talent needs to take control of the team with the guidance of the few veterans they have and give it their all.
The Wizards are a young team with much talent, but if they can manage to stay healthy without Wall out, they can keep themselves into the playoff race and in the hunt for a possible eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
In order to win, Washington must learn to play well without Wall, in order to play better with him.
