Washington Wizards Player Grades: Week 19

The Life of Wiz is an eternal rollercoaster, with wild highs and lows swinging like a pendulum throughout seasons, weeks, even individual games. This week was no exception.

In a big Eastern Conference matchup on Saturday night against Milwaukee, the Washington Wizards sat back and politely allowed Khris Middleton to gouge them to death. Then, they curb-stomped a surging Hornets team in Charlotte, before a blowout home win against a Grizzlies team sitting four of their six best players – their first two double-digit wins in a solid month.

But it was a winning week!

The Wizards played multiple basketball games and were victorious in more games than they were not. That is what matters here. The Toure’ Murry Era: Hey, It’s Better Than Losing to the Sixers!

Let’s grade.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

John Wall: 15.7 PPG (50.0 FG%), 7.0 RPG, 7.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Much has been made of John Wall’s physical state over the last few weeks. We’re in the dog days of the season, and it’s only natural that a player like John Wall, who brings unrivalled amounts of energy every second he’s on the court, would get worn down.

Sadly, the Wizards are the Wizards, and they can’t afford a John Wall playing at less than his best.

Wall looked tired and sad in that disappointing loss in Milwaukee, but he quickly rebounded with a pair of terrific outings against the Hornets and Grizzlies – admittedly, he was being checked by Mo Williams and Beno Udrih, but terrific all the same. And in the latter game, he absolutely banished Courtney Lee. Pack up and go home, Courtney. Basketball ain’t working out for you.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal: 11.5 PPG (40.7 FG%), 4.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.0 SPG

The Washington Wizards have won four of the five games Bradley Beal has played since returning from his stress injury on February 28, but while the Big Panda’s back on the court, his jumper’s still on the disabled list.

Beal has hit just three of his 18 3-point tries in those five games, and he was a big ol’ zero from long range in in his two appearances this week against Charlotte and Memphis. Beal’s 3-point stroke is so impossibly gorgeous that it’s really only a matter of time until he breaks out, and when he does it’s onwards and upwards for DC.

Grade: C

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Pierce: 13.3 PPG (48.3 FG%), 4.3 RPG, 1.7 APG

But while Bradley Beal has struggled to find a groove from beyond the arc, Paul Pierce has softened the blow with some terrific performances.

Pierce has been firing away from deep with no conscience: he’s averaging six 3-point attempts per game over the last six games, and he’s hitting 47% of his tries in that span.

When Paul Pierce is feeling it, the Washington Wizards win big. When the Wizards win big, Paul Pierce gets to rest his bones. When Paul Pierce gets to rest his bones, he goes Mothra on bammas in the playoffs. Fear him.

Grade: B+

Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Nene: 9.0 PPG (58.3 FG%), 2.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.5 SPG

And sincere congratulations to our very own beloved Maybyner Rodney “Nene” Hilario for the birth of his twins. This is just about the only case in which we’d ever be happy about Nene’s absence from the Washington Wizards lineup – and he and his wife even picked the perfect game for it, as a Grizzlies team resting Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol didn’t require Angry Brazilian Jams to be defeated on Thursday night.

Get some sleep while you can, Nene is already a brutishly powerful big man… and now, he has Dad Strength on top of that. None will ever be able to stand before him.

Grade: No grade, just get some dang sleep while you still can.

Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Marcin Gortat: 17.3 PPG (70.6 FG%), 8.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.3 BPG

With John Wall struggling to stay fresh in the dog days of the season and Bradley Beal still trying to get his sea legs since his return from injury, Marcin Gortat has stepped up as the Washington Wizards’ best player over these past few weeks.

The Wizards have finally renewed their commitment to the Wall/Gortat pick and roll, one of the surest ways they have to get two points on the board – he’s also been inhaling rebounds and playing customarily strong interior defense. He’s even scored in the post from time to time!

Just call him Hakeem Gortatuwon.

Grade: A