Washington Wizards, Saw this movie before

The Washington Wizards start off games with high energy, but are unable to go the distance. It’s a movie that Wizards’ fans have all seen before.

Whenever the Washington Wizards play against an opponent that has high energy in the first quarter, one can almost determine which team will win that matchup. Not counting teams like the Celtics, Cavs, Golden States or teams of that ilk. Rather the middling, sub-500 teams.

It’s almost like a movie, a couple of minutes in and you know how it’s going to end.

For whatever reason this season, when the Wizards, whether they match their middling opponent’s uptempo pace in the first quarter, they cannot maintain that pace for a full 48. Although their opponent knows that the Wizards are the better team, they also know that Washington can’t go the distance.

Therefore, the opponent doesn’t have to outplay Washington, but instead maintain high energy, because they know that down the stretch, that the Wizards will tire, and start making mental mistakes.

During the offseason, a few of the Wizards’ players mentioned that they worked on their conditioning. Yet, the team collectively still runs out of gas.

Why can’t the Wizards go the distance? In Rocky IV, Balbo is not a better boxer or stronger than Drago, but he knows if he can go the distance and tire him out, then he has a chance to win.

In the Wizards case, it’s just the opposite. When other teams see Washington fall apart at the seams in the fourth quarter, they yell to each other “finish them”.

Not saying the Wizards are Drago, and the middling teams are Balboa. However, these Balboa teams are familiar with Washington’s modus operandi.

The Wizards’ starters will come out shooting lights out, run the floor, and match opponent’s shot for shot. Then in the third round, Washington slows down. At that point, the middling teams start chipping away, slowly but surely. Dunking and weaving all the way to the basket.

So how could the Wizards maintain energy to play a full game? I’m not a nutritionist nor do I play one on TV. If Washington is unable to change their game, maybe they should change their diet. I have no insight as to what they eat. However, professional athletes have access to the best chefs and trainers.

There was a recent New York Times article that described what the Warriors ate on the road. They maintained their healthy eating, and when watching them play, not only do they not appear to run out of energy, but they appear to get a second wind.

Against top caliber teams, the Wizards put in their all-in-all. But against inferior teams, they start off strong but are unable to finish. Matches with underdog-Balboa teams, one can clearly see when the Wizards won’t be able to go the distance.

When the Wizards are tired in the fourth, or punch-drunk, they appear to be shooting at a basket that isn’t even there—jacking up threes that are nowhere close to the bucket. Their mental lapses cause errant passes. They also start making silly fouls, and are unable to connect at the free throw line. Then these Balboa teams go in for the kill.

If the Wizards are unable to maintain their stamina for a full 48 minutes against these middling teams—just a single game—what’s going to happen in the first round of the playoffs? These middling teams have the Wizards’ number, and they’re waiting in the wings to punch that ticket.