With the Washington Wizards intent on making their first trip to the postseason since 2008 (insert obligatory "BAHAHAHA" here), we felt it was appropriate to finally revive one of our most popular recurring features. That's right: Keys to the Palace is back. Yyaaaayyyy.
We're going to try and make this a weekly thing. Keys will typically run Monday mornings, except following Sunday night games, in which case Monday will be reserved for postgame features/analysis/venting/screaming, saving Keys for Tuesday. So why is this season's debut of Keys appearing Wednesday morning? Shut up is why.
For those who need the backstory, the name of this feature is derived from this legendary Ed Tapscott quote on Nick Young and his lack of playing time:
"Someone asked me the other day if I have a dog house. I said, 'No I don't have a dog house, I have a Palace of Good Play.' I'm looking for someone who's playing well so I can put them in that palace."
Aren't we all, Ed?
A refresher on how this works:
Each week we'll be handing out Gold Keys to those Wizards whose good play has earned them a rightful spot in the Palace of Good Play. Simple enough, right?
On the flip side, those whose play does not earn them a spot in the Palace will instead be locked out of said Palace via our Red Lock of Shame. Following me?
Just to make things more confusing, Wizards who we deem worthy of admittance to the Palace but don't trust enough with one of our golden keys will instead receive the Blue Guest Pass of Indifference.
Here's a quick test to make it easier: Have a friend read down the Wizards' roster. If your reaction to a player's name is, "Wooo," that player should get a . If you instead think "Booo," then they'd get a . If the first thing that comes to mind is "meh," then that player probably deserves a .
Get it? Don't care. Let's get started, first by spoiling your suspense and acknowledging up front that no one gets a Gold Key until the Wizards win a damn game. However, some players have acquitted themselves well enough to at least earn a Guest Pass out of the rain. Which of our lovable Wizards will be locked out in the mud? (Hint: most of them).
We'll list players in descending order, based on their standing on the team.
***
The Big Kahuna. Wall's stats aren't horrible, but anytime the starting point guard, team leader and max-contract player of a team with playoff aspirations starts 0-3, he simply hasn't gotten the job done.
Along with Wall, Beal represents the future of the franchise. But right now he's struggling, shooting 32 percent and resembling more the scared rookie from a year ago than the rising star who got everyone so excited at the end of last season.
Many of you are very angry with Nene. Some of us are a little more empathetic. Regardless, the fact is Nene has not helped this team avoid an 0-3 start. Hopefully he's back on the court soon.
He's been doubled off constantly, so you can take his good shooting numbers with a grain of salt, but all that rebounding is nice. Next step is to stop gambling on defense, which ... ha ha ha that's never going to happen. - Mike Prada
He's been really confused trying to pick up the Wizards' defensive schemes, but he's also at least been a decent enough pick and roll man to get a guest pass. Clearly, he doesn't have Emeka Okafor's rim-protection skills, though. - MP
Did you know that the Wall/Beal/Webster combo -- which, may I remind you, outscored opponents by 18.7 points per 100 possessions last season -- has played less than half as many minutes together as the Wall/Beal/Ariza combo? Here's a suggestion: change that. Also kind of nuts: Webster has finished just 11 percent of the Wizards' possessions when he's on the court this season, per Basketball Reference. The bench just isn't able to set him up for threes. - MP
The fact that Booker didn't immediately faint when this happened is admirable. But his listing this high is more an indictment against the Wizards' Forward Flotsam than an endorsement of Booker's contributions.
Our final guest pass this week goes to Maynor, who in limited minutes is shooting 56 percent and has yet to commit a turnover. Sure, his numbers are far from staggering, but he's done precisely his job, which is to take care of the ball while Wall rests.
We expect big things from Harrington this season, but he's off to a rough start, shooting only 21 percent from the field and 14 percent from three. His struggles are understandable given he missed all but 10 games last season with a serious staph infection, but that doesn't gain him admittance to the Palace.
Seraphin has shot well, making more than 64 percent of his attempts thus far this season, but that's about it. He hasn't rebounded or recorded a single assist, and his defensive awareness is suspect as always.
Hey, we like Garrett. Really. But he's only taken one shot (a missed three) and hasn't made any other sort of impact, so he gets lumped in with all the others.
After a somewhat-promising offseason, the former No. 6 pick is in his third year and has yet to see the court. At least he's staying positive. Sigh.
Yea yea, it seems a little unfair to lock out a second-round rookie three games into the season. Just consider this part of his rookie hazing. At least we aren't leaving him any voicemails.
We're going to reserve judgment on Otto Porter and Chris Singleton, as both have been injured since before even preseason began. When/if they make it onto the court, we'll decide if they deserve sanctuary.
More from Bullets Forever:
- 'Bernie and Ernie' director Jason Hehir discusses new 30 For 30 film that features Ernie Grunfeld
- Nene injury update: Wizards' big man practices Tuesday, could play Wednesday
- What is the Wizards' biggest problem right now?
- Randy Wittman fined $20k for cursing in postgame press conference
- Magical Pixels, Wizards vs. Heat: Washington bullied by defending champs