Rui Hachimura has to be that “third key guy” in the first-round

We know what to expect from Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal in any game the Wizards play, but the rest of the roster is extremely unpredictable and inconsistent. If the Wizards are going to have any chance of beating the Philadelphia 76ers in their upcoming series, which would be a monumental upset, Rui Hachimura is going to have to continue to elevate his game. 

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Washington has missed that “third key guy” all season long, which is why Hachimura has to step up into this role. Against the Pacers in the 8-seed game, Hachimura played 25 minutes and was extremely efficient, shooting 6-8 from the floor, scoring 18 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. 

This may not seem like a lot, but if he can do this over the course of the series against the 76ers, then Washignton will be in really good shape because Westbrook and Beal are going to do their thing. Long-term, Rui Hachimura likely will not be that “third key guy” for the Wizards, as they will likely look to add another All-Star to this roster at some point, but for now, he needs to push himself to be this kind of player. 

Throughout the regular season, Rui Hachimura had some really solid performances and had numerous games where he recorded over 20+ points, which is why he is the key for the Wizards’ success moving forward. 

Somebody on this roster is going to have to step up and given his size/athleticism at the power-forward position, he could be the guy Washington looks to besides Westbrook and Beal in this upcoming series against the 76ers.