The Washington Wizards in the NBA Playoffs?! Yes, the Playoffs. According to a very optimistic John Wall, anyway. Reports the WaPo:
“His first challenge is getting the Wizards back in the postseason after a four-year drought. He also wants to finally make the expected leap that failed to materialize last season. ‘I feel I got better, but I didn’t play as well as I could. I couldn’t get the type of numbers that I thought I could average because I wasn’t doing the type of work that I needed to,’ said Wall, who has career averages of 16.3 points, 8.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
‘As a team concept, we didn’t make no playoffs. I knew the first year was going to be tough, but I felt the second year, we had a chance even though it was a shorter season, throughout the lockout. We didn’t play to our full potential and I hope the third and fourth year get better … I know it’s a tough process,’ he said. ‘LeBron [James] didn’t make it his first two and Kevin [Durant] didn’t make it his first couple of years.’ […] And he believes that the Wizards are on the verge of vying for one of the top eight spots in the Eastern Conference after trading Rashard Lewis to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, and then drafting Bradley Beal with the third overall pick. ‘We finished the season very strong and then you make those trades in the offseason and drafting the right people, we’re going the right way,’ Wall said. ‘We have a great chance now to make the playoffs, but it’s up to us.’â€
