Washington Wizards Rui Hachimura. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Game one was hard-fought but still a loss. Now, it’s a new day, and game two brings new opportunities. Facing a team like the Philadelphia 76ers was going to be a challenge for the Washington Wizards from the start. The 76ers have Ben Simmons (a Defensive Player of the Year Finalist) AND Joel Embiid (an MVP Finalist) healthy. That’s all you need to say.
And, speaking frankly, it’s not like Washington has a star-studded lineup. They’re a rag-tag collection of young, scrappy players, some undrafted, others journeymen, and one, in particular, has a running feud with every opposing team’s mascot.