Without Russell Westbrook, there wasn't much faith in the Washington Wizards this season. Just like in years past, expectations were low for this team from the very beginning.
But after an 11-5 start to the season, people find themselves re-thinking how the Wizards stack up against the rest of the league.
And after their most recent win over Miami, Bradley Beal couldn't help but express his excitement about the talent he has around him:
“It wasn’t easy. We just stayed in the game. We know it’s a game of runs. We know how tough of a team Miami is and they sent us a message last game.
It’s awesome to be able to have teammates I can trust and be able to get the ball to,” the Wizards star continued. “For them to make plays, make shots and win us this game. It was definitely big free throws by Kuzma down the stretch, big shots by Spence and KCP, for sure.”
Speaking to the cameras post-game, Beal told the world that his team is getting their swagger back.
“We’re getting our D.C. swagger back. The fans know. They feel the energy and we feed off the energy. … This team is special.”
Considering Beal was playing with Westbrook just a season ago, it's interesting he's heaping so much praise on his current teammates.
Nevertheless, amid their best start in years, the Wizards are flying high right now, with every belief that they're just as good as anyone else in the East and they could capable of maintaining this level of play for a while.
Washington's 7-3 record isn’t a fluke. The Wizards might not keep up their torrent 7-3 pace throughout the season, but they’ve shown they’re ready to step up and join the upper echelon of teams in the crowded Eastern Conference.
Look for Bradley Beal and Spencer Dinwiddie to extend their solid two-way play in the backcourt, as role players Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Raul Neto, and Daniel Gafford chip in across the board, collectively excelling against the odds.
Needless to say, it's still too early to say for sure where the Wizards' ceiling lies and if they are built for a long playoff run.
But, compared to last season, the team is definitely in a great position.
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