LOS ANGELES — The weather has cooled off in Los Angeles and the All-Star break is slowly winding down. The Washington Wizards are preparing for the remaining 25 games of the regular season, 18 of which are against teams currently seeded in the playoffs. However, the task ahead of them is challenging to say the least. Their first test will come on Thursday against the defending Eastern Conference Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the conference being very competitive and little room for error, Bradley Beal says the team is ready for the task ahead.
“It’s crazy. I mean it’s wide open,” Beal said after the All-Star game on Sunday. “You know we’re all right there neck and neck. Everybody is going to continue to get better.”
Beal said this part of the season is “where it really begins” as he acknowledges all the teams will flip on that magical switch and play to the highest level. If not, then it is a real possibility a team like the Wizards may not make it to the postseason.
Yes, right now Wizards are the fourth seed in the East and they are 7-3 in their last 10 games. Nonetheless, so are the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks which are the fifth and sixth seeds, respectfully.
It's worth mentioning that the Detroit Pistons, who are not in playoff contention at the moment as the 9th seed, are only a game and half behind the 8th seed, Miami Heat and five games behind Washington. But, Beal says the Wizards will prevail.
"It's definitely going to come down to the playoffs. When it comes all down to it you know. And it's crazy because anybody can take it. But, I'm confident in myself and my teammates that...we're going to be right there at the top," Beal said.
In the first week after break, the Wizards will face: Cleveland, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Golden State, and Toronto. They will do so without John Wall. His exact return date is unknown. However, the time frame given earlier this month suggests he will be back in mid-to-late March.
The Wizards understand they cannot play down to their competition and lose games to sub-.500 teams. This stretch will require them to fulfill their potential. If they do anything less than that, well they may find themselves going on a vacation again, but sooner than anticipated in April.