Washington Wizards 2015-16 Player Grades: Week 9

After nearly two months of unpredictable, roller-coaster basketball in 2015, the Washington Wizards have finally found a groove without some of their most talented players.

What are the Wizards without Bradley Beal, Nene and Otto Porter? The rotation is a lot shorter, certainly, but the results have been a lot better (the first four-game win streak of the year!) and the basketball a lot prettier.

Giving added minutes to Garrett Temple, Kelly Oubre and Ramon Sessions has yielded an offense with excellent ball movement, while John Wall and Marcin Gortat have stepped up to unseen heights.

It’ll be a blessing to have depth return in the coming weeks, but the Wizards should be careful to upset the balance they’ve created. They’ve found something in Kelly Oubre, especially, and they need to make sure that he keeps getting significant run.

Let’s grade.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall: 16.0 PPG (36.0 FG%), 3.7 RPG, 15.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Another week, another batch of superhuman performances from the Washington Wizards’ franchise player. With his team shorthanded, Wall has stepped up, and he’s playing about as well as ever before – three more double-doubles in three wins, including a career-high 19 assists against the Sacramento Kings.

He’s the best point guard in the land, despite what the ridiculous All-Star voting totals will tell you.

But here’s my question: how can Bradley Beal and Nene live with themselves when they watch Wall? Beal is pledging that he won’t return until his leg is “1,000 percent” pain-free. Nene has been out for weeks, and could be out for weeks more, because… because he’s Nene.

John Wall has something wrong with every single part of his body.

John Wall is playing through a sprained MCL, a sprained ankle, bone spurs, tendinitis, bruised ribs, two broken hands, a concussion, strep throat and a particularly nasty bout with the bubonic plague.

He’s still out there giving his absolute all, every second he’s on the court. He’s a warrior. Some of his teammates need to learn from his example.

Grade: A

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Temple: 17.3 PPG (44.2 FG%), 4.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG

I already wrote at length this week about why I think Garrett Temple should remain in the starting lineup once the Wizards regain full health.

Yes, it was motivated by the fact that Temple’s on a scoring streak that’s unprecedented in his career, but there are myriad other reasons that I won’t go over here. You should read it!

But boy, Garrett’s hot, isn’t he? It’s not even really shooting – he shot 37.5% from three this week, exactly on par with how he shot last season. Temple’s got insane confidence right now offensively, and he’s attacking the basket better than ever before.

By the way, where the hell did Garrett Temple get that Euro step from? Ride the hot hand, Randy.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Kelly Oubre: 10.0 PPG (58.8 FG%), 6.3 RPG, 1.0 APG

Well, how about this kid? Kelly Oubre may be here to stay after the last few games – I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Washington Wizards’ recent four-game win streak has coincided with the rookie moving into the starting lineup for the first time.

Oubre is confident beyond his years on the hardwood, and his shooting has so far been light years ahead of what we expected. After all, he’s hit 80% of his threes in his four starts.

I know I’ve already pushed and pushed for Garrett Temple to get the starting nod, but to be honest, I really don’t mind if Wittman leaves Oubre in for the duration. He’s been a jolt of energy that the Wizards have sorely needed.

Let’s just thank our lucky stars that Wittman’s actually playing the kid, and that he’s not on the Otto Porter Minutes Plan of never getting to play consistently until his third year.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Dudley: 9.0 PPG (57.9 FG%), 4.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG

Jared Dudley is the absolute truth. When was the last time you saw Jared Dudley miss an open shot? Trick question: Jared Dudley has never missed an open shot. It’s actually getting rather ridiculous.

Since Dudley played his way back into shape and hit his groove with a 13-point outing against Milwaukee back on November 17, the veteran has been absolutely lights-out, hitting 53.8% of his threes – and he seems to only be getting better and better.

The Washington Wizards employ the most accurate 3-point shooter in the National Basketball Association. He’s not Stephen Curry, but he doesn’t need to be. Jared Dudley just needs someone to get him the ball, he’ll do the rest.

Grade: A

Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Marcin Gortat: 21.3 PPG (59.6 FG%), 11.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 BPG

Last week, I called for the Polish Hammer. This week, the Washington Wizards got the Polish Hammer. With Marcin Gortat serving as one of only two functioning big men on the Wizards’ roster due to injury and incompetence, the Wizards needed Gortat to step up.

He did so, turning in his two biggest scoring efforts of the season, torching a disinterested DeMarcus Cousins for 27 points on Monday and dropping 25 points on Brook Lopez and Brooklyn on Saturday.

But Gortat’s most impressive performance may have come in between, against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night. His statistics were comparably pedestrian to what he did elsewhere this week (12 points, 12 rebounds), but Gortat’s toughness inside against Marc Gasol was one of the tipping points in a 9-point Wizards win.

That’s what the Wizards need more than anything else from Gortat. He’s going to get the touches, and he’s going to score the points, and he’ll collect rebounds simply by being the only guy with any size out there for DC. Gortat needs to be the backbone of this team, and he came through this week.

Grade: A