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PG John Wall is having a career-best year. Bradley Beal has improved his shooting percentage, but is still knocking off the post-injury cobwebs. Marcin Gortat is having another solid year similar to last year. Paul Pierce‘s numbers aren’t jumping off the charts, but he’s meshing well with his new team. The Washington Wizards‘ bench is playing at a good level and is at the top half in bench scoring in the league. The one missing piece to this puzzle is the performance you’d expect from Nene Hilario.
Compared to last year, Nene has dropped in points and boards in the first quarter of the season. As of late, he has been in and out of the lineup due to plantar fasciitis. If the Wizards are going to be a serious and elite team for the remainder of the year and postseason, Nene will need to need to turn it up a notch.
Backup Kris Humphries should not be averaging more rebounds per game than Nene. If that’s the case, then Randy Wittman may need to seriously consider bringing Nene off of the bench permanently. Humphries has made the most of Nene’s absence by posting a few 10-plus-rebound games (including snagging 20 boards last week against the Los Angeles Lakers). Since Nene’s been coming off the bench, the Wizards have won three of their last four. If I’m Wittman, Nene is coming off the bench until proven otherwise. He is still a sturdy defender, but his production level hasn’t matched his expectation. Maybe being a role player with the second team will spark his motor.
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