Can Kyle Kuzma lead the Washington Wizards to the play-in?

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 01: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards prepares to shoot a free throw with scratches on his face after being hit in opposition to the Detroit Pistons throughout the second half at Capital One Enviornment on March 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: Person expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, Person is consenting to the phrases and situations of the Getty Photographs License Settlement. (Picture by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photographs)

The Washington Wizards began off the season blistering sizzling. Lots of people predicted them to be a clear-cut playoff workforce behind the play of Bradley Beal and a brand new supporting forged.

However then, the mid-season scaries hit. The Wizards plummeted within the standings and Beal went down with an damage that can now hold him out for the rest of the season.

And whereas their probabilities of making the playoffs are more and more slim, they nonetheless have a shot at sneaking into the play-in event behind the play of 1 man specifically – Kyle Kuzma.

Can Kyle Kuzma lead the Washington Wizards to the play-in?

For the reason that All-Star break, though the Wizards are solely 1-2, Kuzma has been on an absolute tear. He’s enjoying a number of the finest basketball of his younger profession.

In three games, Kuzma is averaging 30.3 factors, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists whereas capturing 51.6 % from the sector and 57.1 % from behind the three-point line.

Nobody else on the Wizards is averaging greater than 17.3 factors (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope). For sure, they’re making the Lakers look fairly silly for making the Russell Westbrook commerce.

Washington at present sits at eleventh within the Jap Convention, however they’re just one sport again of each the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets, who occupy the ninth and tenth seeds within the East.

Lacking Beal is for certain to harm their possibilities, however with rather less than 20 video games left to play within the common season, they’re in a quiet place to overhaul the Hawks or Hornets.

Charlotte, specifically, has been enjoying terribly. They’ve misplaced 11 of their final 13 video games. Even Atlanta is struggling to remain afloat, as they’ve gone 4-6 of their final 10.

And whereas the Wizards haven’t been doing nice, both, with how nicely Kuzma has been enjoying, who’s to say he can’t cause them to the play-in (and probably past).