Wizards Playing Better After Trade Despite Lack Of Wins

In the final game of the Nick Young/JaVale McGee era, the Washington Wizards lost to the Dallas Mavericks by a score of 107-98.  It was the teams third loss in a row and in the days following we learned that the Wizards were getting rid of Nick Young and JaVale McGee.

With Young & McGee on the roster this season for 41 games the Wizards only won 9 games which is a 22% winning percentage.  In the six games without them, the Wizards won 2, a 33% win percentage. While the winning hasn't skyrocketed, the "almost" winning has.

Since the trade, the Wizards have led 5 out of 6 games at the half.  Aside from the Hawks game where the team gave up in the 4th quarter, the Wizards have had a chance to win every single game. Especially the last two which were lost after huge leads.  Still the Wiz missed 2 game-tying attempts at the buzzer.

If John Wall could step up as a leader, if Jordan Crawford could pass the ball in the closing minutes, and if the Wizards could improve their confidence, they could end up closing games out in the second half.

So while Nick Young may have his 4th head coach of the season, and while JaVale McGee is tipping in game winners in Denver, the Washington Wizards are doing just fine without them.