Washington Wizards: Time to break up the band?

The Washington Wizards are steadily climbing out of the hole that they dug for themselves. But the question still remains, should there be a major shakeup in their starting lineup?

Last season, as the Washington Wizards dropped games they should have won, while at the same time battling toe-to-toe with the likes of Golden State. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong with this team.

The 2016-17 campaign was full of fun. One could pinpoint why they fell short in reaching their conference finals. John Wall did not have a reliable backup and played too many minutes, such that he was tired when it mattered most.

It was easy to point to the lack of depth and an unreliable bench. But what about 2017-18? There was no joy last season. It was as if there were two teams. A team within a team. Hopefully, they have corrected whatever internal problems created that dynamic.

If they cleaned up the locker room, why can’t they clean up on the court?

After falling to the Nets on Friday, Brooklyn’s Jared Dudley provided a key to what ails Washington. Speaking to Ben Standig of NBC Sports Washington, Dudley noted:

"“I’m seeing a team that has been together too long. They haven’t made progress, so it’s time to change things over there.”"

When there are media reports that they should be broken up, I didn’t take note. But Dudley struck a chord and is the voice of reason here.

If someone hired a team to solve a problem, and gave them a year’s time to do it. However, at the deadline, the team responds that they need another year. Maybe out of loyalty, you could afford to give them another year. But year after year, the team gives you the same response. At some point, you either change the team or members of the team.

Dudley added:

"“I think they’ve had enough time, but they really haven’t (broken) through,” Dudley said. “I can see by the All-Star break or summer time one of these pieces moving. It’s going to be good for them. If it’s John, or Otto or Brad, one of them three, I think their next move is going to be good for both teams.”"

There is always a choice. The Wizards don’t have to break up, they can still keep the band together.

The Wizards could change players. Or the players could take the initiative and change themselves. In other words, there is nothing stopping any player from becoming what this team needs to reach the next level.

It’s simple really. You can either rise together as a team, or fall apart as individuals. Because time waits for no one.

Now that I’m deeply ensconced in the woods in Massachusetts, here’s some advice from one of my local bands:

“I know nobody knows
Where it comes and where it goes
I know it’s everybody sin
You got to lose to know how to win” (Dream On, Aerosmith).