The Wizards have lost six of their last seven games, including their last three but they could have Russell Westbrook (minus-1.4 Offensive Box Plus/Minus) back in the lineup when they host the Hawks on Friday. Westbrook (rest) didn’t play on Wednesday’s 124-106 road loss against the Pelicans but he is not listed on Friday’s injury report.
Russell Westbrook has 163 points on 163 shots this season and the Wizards are 1-8 in his nine games this season. Think about this for a minute, he has won one game with the Wizards this season while John Wall has won one game *against* the Wizards this season. Westbrook is shooting 37.4 percent from the field, 30.0 percent from beyond the arc and 61.7 percent at the free-throw line.
Russell Westbrook has played 9 games this season.
He’s averaging 18/10/10 on 37/30/62% shooting.
The Wizards are 1-8 with him. pic.twitter.com/1iG2ZxRSyS
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 27, 2021
These are Bradley Beal‘s numbers in his last six games: 41.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists. The Wizards went 1-5. After his 47 points on Wednesday in New Orleans, Beal now has 10 straight losses when scoring at least 40 points. No player in NBA history has had such a streak.
Beal has scored 27 points or more in all 13 games he’s played this season. Only Michael Jordan started a season with a longer such streak (16 games in 1988-89 and 13 in 1987-88) since the NBA-ABA merger (1976-77). After Wednesday’s game a reporter asked him: “Are you frustrated?” and Beal replied: “Is the sky blue?”
Bradley Beal The Professional: "I want to win. This is why I stayed. I figured this is the place I can get it done." pic.twitter.com/9NS9WYi2se
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 28, 2021
Wizards Roster and Starting Lineup vs. Hawks
*Notates expected starter
C: Robin Lopez*, Alex Len
PF: Jordan Bell*, Anthony Gill
SF: Isaac Bonga*, Garrison Mathews
SG: Bradley Beal*, Jerome Robinson
PG: Russell Westbrook*, Raul Neto, Cassius Winston
Deni Avdija, Davis Bertans, Troy Brown Jr. Rui Hachimura, Ish Smith and Moritz Wagner will all miss this game because of the league’s health and safety protocols and Thomas Bryant is out for the rest of the season because of a torn ACL in his left knee. The Hawks are 9-9 this season after suffering a tough 132-128 home loss against the Nets on Wednesday but they still lead the Southeast by 1.5 games over the Magic and they’ve won four of their last six games.
Atlanta has an explosive offense that averages 113.1 points per game and they’re one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA. Trae Young (plus-5.5 Offensive Box Plus/Minus) has quietly put together another solid season and this is a talented, young team with some experienced pieces that can help them make a playoff run. They’ve been flying under the radar because everyone only talks about the Nets and 76ers but they will be a tough out in the playoffs. I personally can’t wait to see Beal and Young put on a show in what should be a very entertaining game.
