SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 21. Washington Wizards

+Washington Wizards  Overall Win/Loss Record : 29-53,  third place Southeast Division	Last Season’s Rank 22	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 21
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 93.2 (28th) Points Allowed: 95.8 (8th) Team FG%: .435 (27th) Opponent’s FG%: .440 (5th) Team FT%: .733 (23rd) Team Three Point FG%: .363 (10th) Rebounds per game: 43.2 (9th) Opponents rebounds per game: 44.2 (28th) Turnovers per game: 14.6 (24th) Opponents turnovers per game: 13.9 (18th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): John Wall (18.5) Rebounds per game:  Emeka Okafor (8.8) Minutes per game: John Wall (32.7) Assists per game:  John Wall (7.6) Field Goal Percentage: Trevor Booker (.491) Free Throw Percentage:  Martell Webster (.850)   Three Point FG Percentage: Martell Webster (.422)   Steals per game: John Wall (1.3) Blocked Shots per game: Emeka Okafor (1.0)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact: C. Emeka Okafor PF. Nene SF. Otto Porter SG. Martell Webster PG. John Wall	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact: G. Bradley Beal G/F. Trevor Ariza F/C. Kevin Seraphin F. Al Harrington G. Eric Maynor
Analysis: It was so disheartening to watch the Wizards play in the 2013 season because although it has won just 29 games, the team could have possibly made the playoffs had it not been for the absence of their star player, John Wall.  Without him, the Wizards started the season 4-24, and despite such a terrible start, Washington was still ranked as one of the top defensive and rebounding teams in the league in terms of points and field goals allowed.  Their problem was on the other side of the floor where they simply could not execute their offensive sets as they struggled greatly to generate points on the score board.  Once Wall arrived fully recovered from his injury, it was already too late for his team as it was so far down the standing; however, that did not stop as he gave one of the most heroic performances of the season bringing the Wizards from dead last in the league to third place in their division and far from last place in the league.  Had he been able to play at opening tip off, the Wizards probably would have not only made the playoffs as they finished the season 24-25 upon his arrival. Now with him fully healthy and ready for opening tip off, they is a renewed sense of hope in the Nations Capital that all the bleeding has final come to an end and that the Washington Wizards look to start their steady climb back to respectability.  This upcoming season, the Wizards will not only be armed with just John Wall, but a treasure trove of young talent along with a solid base of veteran leadership and a defensive intensity that will rival any team in the league.  Washington already has one of the most respected starting veteran front court duos in the game in Emeka Okafor and Nene who not only will thrive offensively with Wall leading the charge but also provide quite an intimidating presence from round the rim. Add in sharpshooting extraordinaire and lock down perimeter defense of Martell Webster along with swing man Trevor Ariza and newly acquired Al Harrington, the Wizards have Wall surrounded by a reliable core of veteran players who bring both strong defensive effort along with consistent offensive production as well. Balancing out the roster is a group of talented youngsters who look to make their mark in the NBA in second year shooting guard Bradley Beal,  a newly drafted hometown hero in Otto Porter, an extremely raw athletic freak of nature in +Jan Vesely, and a up and coming big man and possibly the Wizards' post scorer of the future in Kevin Seraphin.   Altogether the Wizards have a team that can rival any in the NBA and can potentially prove to be a major spoiler come late in season when teams make their playoff push; however, despite the newly positive outlook, it simply may not be enough for the Wizards to come out on top of the post season.  The talent and the competition Eastern Conference has been upgraded to a point where a middle of the range team such as the Wizards would not have any chance of reaching the post season.  Along with Washington, four other teams have joined into the fray as those who look to turnaround their fortunes this season and make a push for the post season themselves.  One of them is actually a division rival, who similar to Washington have been wallowing at the bottom of the NBA standing, but with a couple key off season moves look to give the Wizards along with their fellow eastern Conference opponents a run for their money.  The +Charlotte Bobcats look to finally end their day of being the perennial whipping boy of the league to a competitive up and coming team thanks to the new off season addition of Al Jefferson--a 20 point scoring and 10 rebounding player who once played for the +Utah Jazz--and they were not the only one who made some massive renovations in their roster.  Along with Charlotte, both the +Detroit Pistons and +Cleveland Cavaliers--two teams that have also suffered the pain of the numerous slings and arrows hurled at them the past few years--have been the biggest players in the off season as they also looked to take a major step forward this upcoming season.  Detroit probably made one of the biggest splashes of the by acquiring the uber-athletic slam dunking and shot swatting former star of the +Atlanta Hawks in Josh Smith along with nabbing one of the off season's prized free agent point guards in Brandon Jennings in a sign and trade deal with the +Milwaukee Bucks.  Cleveland started their off season with a bang as they received the first overall pick in the NBA Draft for the second time in three years and used it to select +UNLV's Anthony Bennett; however that was the only jaw dropping moves which involved the Cavs.  Cleveland also made a major splash in the free agency by acquiring veteran point guard Jarrett Jack, who had a phenomenal year in helping the +Golden State Warriors' playoff run last season, and rolled to dice and signed a high risk and even higher risk free agent in +Andrew Bynum--a player whose history of injuries shied away numerous NBA teams from signing him, but whose talent and skills can give a team an All Star caliber player that is almost impossible to find. Both teams have far outmatched the Wizards while the Bobcats seem to be almost at par, but none of these teams hold a candle to the +Toronto Raptors who will blow them all out of the water as they have what might be one of the most underrated and unknown talents in the league. Nonetheless, with those four teams vying for the last three playoff berths and the already established forces in the East such as the +Miami HEAT, +New York Knicks, +Brooklyn Nets, +Chicago Bulls, and +Indiana Pacers, Washington will remain on the outside looking in for at least this season; however, they will certainly will leave an impression come season's end.  If they play with the same defensive intensity, the Wizards will certainly have their opponents sweating and gasping for air and with John Wall at the helm, Washington will certainly give other NBA team a run for their money.  It's only sad that the East has gotten so much more competitive and far stronger so that a scrappy team like the Wizards will not be able  to make the playoffs because the competition is so tight.  What's worse about this situation is that it will last longer than this season alone and Washington may not get a chance as time passes by thus resulting in John Wall wanting to leave for greener pastures.  Hopefully that will not happen as Washington is certainly headed in the right direction and as long as they play hard enough to remain competitive, their fans will be more than grateful whether they make the playoffs or not.