This season, the Washington Wizards stopped having fun on the court, and have forgotten what they’re playing for – the Eastern Conference Finals.
Last season for the Washington Wizards seems so far away now. It was both frustrating and enjoyable at the same time. Even with their 2-8 start, the Wizards appeared to be having fun out there. This season, for whatever reason, the joy is no longer there.
Not only were the players on the floor having fun last year, but those sitting on the bench as well. There was so much energy and excitement – from John Wall with his turbo ball, to Bradley Beal with his flops, to Markieff Morris sitting on the scoring table, because he didn’t want to come out of the game. No matter what was happening on the court, both the Wizards’ and its fans were having fun.
This season there’s a bit of complacency. They’re sitting on their laurels from last season, after being one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Washington has forgotten the sweat and grind that got them there in the first place.
Otto Porter, Jr. became a knockdown 3-point shooter. Beal was attacking the paint, and instead of the fans worried about him getting injured, they were now worrying about his defenders. Wall was doing in between the legs passes, staring down opponents, making jokes with those courtside. Marcin Gortat was finishing at the rim, after Wall gave a no-look pass or served up a beautiful dish.
Those were wonderful times in the Land of Oz.
Now the Wizards are coming onto the floor to start the game as if it’s a regular Monday, and they don’t feel like showing up to work. No one is smiling on the court anymore. Just faces of frustration.
With regards to defense, they’re guarding their man as if they have lead in their shoes. Washington is no longer playing like a team, but as complete strangers. Those who meet after work for a pickup game, and don’t know each other. Don’t know when the other needs help to guard their man. Don’t know when they should pass the ball to the open man. They stopped talking to each other on the floor.
Porter said it best in his interview with Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Wizards on the Wizards Tipoff podcast. According to the small forward:
"“communication is the biggest part of defense. If you want to be a great team you gotta have communication, you gotta talk. We just got done playing the Warriors. Their whole time their playing defense, Draymond or KD, they’re talking. Talking to each other. Making sure if somebody messes up, you’re not going to be perfect, but you gotta cover for each other. You gotta fly around so. If we want to be a good defensive team that’s what we have to do.”"
Go back to being a team, and talking to each other on the court. With regards to the lack of energy, whatever Washington needs to do to rejuvenate themselves -just do it.
Once Washington stops being lackadaisical on defense, and plays with energy from start to finish, then they will find themselves back on course. They got off track for a little while, and forgot that their goal is to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
Once they find their way back to the yellow brick road of success – happy days are here again.