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2012-13 Washington Wizards This year’s squad includes more experienced and mature players. But youngsters like point guard John Wall and rookie Bradley Beal are keys to the team’s success. Michael Lee evaluates the strengths and weaknesses.
Coach Randy Wittman
Strengths: No-nonsense coach with direct and demanding style. Mixes humor with a heavy hand. Holds players accountable. Stresses sturdy and opportunistic defense and an up-tempo offense. Weaknesses: Never recorded a winning season in previous coaching stops. Intensity has been known to grate on young players. A good communicator but lacks reputation as a strategist or expertise with Xs or Os.
Tony Dejak
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Associated Press
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2 | Bradley Beal | Guard
Strengths: A versatile and deceptively athletic player, Beal has yet to master anything but does a number of things well. Excellent at creating separation to get open looks. Has a solid, football-player build that allows him to absorb contact. Has a even-keeled demeanor. Never appears rattled. Can put ball on floor and get to rim or create for others. Weaknesses: Stats at Florida don’t support reputation as a great shooter. Has a tendency to disappear and blend rather than take over offensively, even if in a good rhythm. Somewhat undersized at shooting guard. Will need to develop more strength to compete defensively.
Katherine Frey
/
The Washington Post
35 | Trevor Booker | Forward
Strengths: Relentless, fast, energy player compensates for lack of height with hustle. Can change momentum with a blocked shot or tip dunk. Extremely athletic and solidly built. Excels in individual low-post defense. Weaknesses: Lacks size to consistently play power forward and poor outside shot affects his ability to play small forward. Has yet to finish a season healthy after suffering foot injuries in first two years.
Jonathan Newton
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The Washington Post
20 | Cartier Martin | Forward
Strengths: Catch-and-shoot specialist. Good long-range, spot-up shooter. Solid team defender and rebounder. Has decent size and can get to the foul line. Active defender who can get steals. Weaknesses: Can’t create shots or take ball to the basket. Marginal ballhandler. Despite three-point acumen, has shot poorly from free throw line past two seasons. Not very quick or strong.
Mark Gail
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The Washington Post
30 | Earl Barron | Center
Strengths: A strong, solid post defender. Decent rebounder, especially on offensive glass. Fights for extra possessions. Can hit midrange shot. Weaknesses: Poor shooter. Not much of a scorer. Despite height, rarely blocks shots. Average athlete. Limited speed and lateral quickness. Foul prone.
Ann Heisenfelt
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Associated Oress
31 | Chris Singleton | Forward
Strengths: Defensive specialist who can effectively guard four positions. Rebounds well. Has excellent speed and lateral quickness. Tenacious competitor. Doesn’t back down. Weaknesses: Poor ball-handler. Cannot create scoring opportunities for himself or others. Shoots poorly off the dribble. Needs to develop consistent perimeter shot.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
2 | John Wall | Guard
Strengths: An explosive athlete with blazing speed and tremendous leaping ability. Excels in the open floor and pushes tempo. Has fearless attitude and a desire to be great. Weaknesses: Will miss first month with stress injury in left patella. A poor shooter. Aggressive style borders on reckless, leaves him susceptible to turnovers and getting hurt. Has a tendency to force action. Must contain emotions and not pout when adversity comes.
Katherine Frey
/
The Washington Post
13 | Kevin Seraphin | Center
Strengths: Effective low-post scorer. Physically imposing big man provides strength and sets solid screens. Moves great for his size. Possesses soft hands. Can make jump hooks with either hand. Has improved jumper. Weaknesses: Recovering from strained right calf. Poor defensive rebounder. Doesn’t pass well out of double teams. Rarely attacks the basket to draw fouls. Can block shots but doesn’t alter shots or penetration.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
50 | Emeka Okafor | Center
Strengths: The highest-paid athlete in Washington after arriving in trade with New Orleans, Okafor gives the Wizards another highly regarded professional to change the locker room culture. Respected as a quality interior defender. An underrated rebounder with good instincts for the ball. Has a high basketball IQ and experience as a leader in two previous stops. Weaknesses: Missed significant time last season with a left knee injury. Offensively limited. Has poor jump shot and bad footwork in the low block. Scoring comes from putbacks and open looks under basket. Undersized at his position.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
24 | Jan Vesely | Forward
Strengths: High-energy player known for providing exciting dunks. Excellent leaper and finisher. Loves to score in transition. Runs the floor well. A tweener with height of center and athleticism of small forward. Weaknesses: Needs to add strength and improve jumper. Weak ballhandler with limited perimeter skills. Foul prone from aggressive defensive style. Struggles defensively against bulkier big men. Poor instincts.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
42 | Nene | Forward-Center
Strengths: Had immediate impact upon arrival from Denver, providing Wizards with a borderline all-star talent. Highly skilled and intelligent. Possesses excellent footwork in the low post. Passes well out of double teams. Has improved midrange jumper. Excellent one-on-one defender inside. Physical player can establish position and push opponents out of desired spots. Weaknesses: Currently nursing plantar fasciitis in his left foot, an injury that sidelined him for part of last season and was aggravated during London Olympics. Developed reputation in Denver for malingering and taking his time coming back from injuries. Has decent size but not a good shot blocker.
Katherine Frey
/
The Washington Post
1 | Trevor Ariza | Forward
Strengths: Athletic and long-armed perimeter defender. Reads passing lanes, creates turnovers, blocks shots and rarely commits fouls. Rebounds and passes well. Has championship experience. Weaknesses: Can make shots when feet are set but is an overall poor perimeter shooter. Has a tendency to force shots. Plays best as complement to superior talent but struggles with more responsibility.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
15 | Jordan Crawford | Guard
Strengths: Extremely confident. Hasn’t met a shot he’s afraid to take. Very quick. Has good court vision and can be an effective playmaker because of ball-handling ability. Doesn’t back down from challenges. Weaknesses: Belief in his talents often leads to terrible shots. Reliance on long jumpers results in poor percentage from the field and three-point range. Can be a defensive liability. Lacks size and strength.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
7 | Jannero Pargo | Guard
Strengths: An aggressive offensive player with a scoring mentality. Streaky shooter who can go on scoring binges and one-man rallies. A decent threat to hit open three-pointers. Good dribbler and free throw shooter. Weaknesses: Has tunnel vision on offense. Sometimes struggles getting team into proper offensive sets. Can shoot a team in and out of games. Has average speed. Not a good passer.
Tracy A. Woodward
/
The Washington Post
12 | A.J. Price | Guard
Strengths: Solid ball handler and natural floor leader. Effective generating offense in a running game. Has very good quickness. Tough-minded player who has overcome hardships. Adequate three-point shooter. Weaknesses: Limited offensively and athletically. Average shooter. Not a serious threat to score. Struggles with consistency and turnovers. Settles for threes and long jumpers off dribble. Rarely attacks rim.
Ann Heisenfelt
/
Associated Press
9 | Martell Webster | Guard-Forward
Strengths: Excellent perimeter shooter. Has deep range but can score inside the three-point line, as well. Regained athleticism after dealing with injuries. A willing defender and intelligent player. Weaknesses: Slowed by injuries in three of past four seasons. Has size and strength but can’t score in low post. Lacks ball-handling and passing skills to drive and create for others. Average lateral quickness.
Katherine Frey
/
The Washington Post
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