With the return of Bilal Coulibaly, the Washington Wizards have been starting what should be considered a “tall ball” lineup. While the lineup features some of the stronger players on the team, it also has its downsides and doesn’t translate well to the court. So, the question is simple: should Washington keep the same starting group?
Washington Wizards Must Change Lineup Focus
Washington, to no one’s surprise, hasn’t seen much success to start the season. Currently 1-5, the Wizards are on a four-game losing streak in the middle of a four-game hiatus from D.C. With that being said, the “tall ball” lineup is sitting at 0-2, and the results have been mixed to say the least.
What Is The “Tall Ball” Lineup?
The starting five since Coulibaly’s return and Bub Carrington’s demotion has an average height of 6’7″. CJ McCollum is starting at point guard, with Coulibaly at the two, Kyshawn George and Khris Middleton are the two forwards, and Alex Sarr is down low at center.
The Surface Layer Problem
While this lineup is good on paper, it hasn’t developed the way head coach Brian Keefe would like. Both games, against the Thunder and Magic, were blowouts, losing by a combined 50 points. In the game against the Magic on Saturday, Washington scored less than 100 for the first time this season, with George being the only player with more than 15 points.
So what’s the deal? While the lineup isn’t incredibly strong anyway, the Wizards have been horrible on both sides of the ball. They currently have both a bottom-ten offense and defense, even with some players stepping up like George and Sarr. Additionally, some players on the bench have been better than the starters.
Fans have been quick to call out the play of McCollum. He hasn’t started the season particularly strong, and may be in for one of the worst in his career. McCollum is shooting a career low from the field and averaging his lowest point total since his second season in the league.
He’s not the only one to blame, either; the coaching staff has seemed almost non-existent in noticing momentum shifts and late-game problems. From the gut-wrenching loss against the 76ers to mishandling the lineup in favor of veteran talent, the team is all over the place. So, while the starting lineup is strong, it’s had downsides that don’t line up with the franchise’s overarching goals. So, let’s create a lineup with those said goals in mind: developing young talent and contending in a few years.
The “New” Washington 5
With all the information and goals outlined above, building a strong lineup with consistency and cohesiveness may be somewhat challenging. However, let’s take a crack at it.
Three of the five “tall ball” players will stay. George has easily been one of the two best players on the team this season, with Sarr right next to him; they both get to continue their starting roles. For the third, Coulibaly has had a strong first two games in his make-or-break season, so keeping him in is wise.
So let’s play coach! First, Coulibaly could stay at the two, locking down the second guard slot. If that is to be the case, Washington should prioritize bringing Carrington back into the one spot. While Carrington has struggled, this would be a prime opportunity for him to continue growing amid a tough start to the season.
Then, who would go into the second forward slot? In this purely hypothetical scenario, George should move to the four slot. He would be provided plenty of mismatch opportunities on offense, while being able to hold his own on defense. With the lineup currently having Sarr, George, Carrington, and Coulibaly in, the team would need another scorer out there, that being Cam Whitmore.
Whitmore has struggled on offense; however, with this lineup, George is the only other true scorer on the court. Whitmore and George would provide the offense around the perimeter with Sarr inside, manning the paint. The defensive side of the ball would be elite, with Sarr, Coulibaly, and George being powerhouses on that end, with Whitmore and Carrington also growing on that side of the floor.
Then coming off the bench would be (in no particular order): Tre Johnson, McCollum, Middleton, Corey Kispert, Marvin Bagley III, and Justin Champagnie.
The Last Word
The current starting five just isn’t working. It doesn’t line up with any of the franchise’s goals. Not only do veterans play far too many minutes, but the lineup just isn’t compatible. With the “new” starting five and bench rotation, it prioritizes both the young core and aging vets. This would allow the front office to refocus and reorganize, finally putting the main goal in focus: prioritizing development.
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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