The Washington Wizards struggles continued on Thursday night in yet another blowout loss adding to the list of ongoing issues the team has showcased throughout the season.
Obviously, the Wizards injuries have began to add up over the last few weeks, with several key players out of the lineup including Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and reigning top 10 pick Tre Johnson.
Washington's far from full strength, but if we're being completely honest, the team's underwhelming play to start the season suggest that even if they were healthy, it wouldn't make much of a difference.
It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for the Wizards poor play to start the year.
Between inconsistent play from veterans, growing pains from young talent and just flat out poor execution has become the often-talked about reasons
However, in the team's loss to the Boston Celtics, analyst and former NBA player Brian Scalibrine may have summed up the exact reason why the Wizards struggles are self-inflicted.
Wizards identity crisis has become an issue
Washington's 146-101 loss to the Celtics on Thursday was without a doubt one of the most embarrassing performances the Wizards have put together this season.
Head coach Brian Keefe and his team likely want to put this game in the rear view mirror and forget about it, and understandably so.
Nonetheless, in the loss, opposing analyst Brian Scalibrine gave his insight about the Wizards struggles throughout their rebuild and it may open eyes to the real issues ongoing in the DMV.
"It's like they draft guys to guard but then don't guard," Scalibrine said during the Celtics route on Thursday.
It's a short and simple quote, but one that's really hard to overlook when evaluating the current structure of the roster.
Between the likes of Coulibaly, Sarr, Kyshawn George and even Jamir Watkins, who earned his first start of the season against Boston, these prospects have all shared one versatile skillset that Washington envied: defense.
The Wizards have taken several prospects who's calling card has come on the defensive end and throughout this season, arguably the biggest reason for the team's early season woes have been deried from their lackluster defensive efforts.
Not only has the Wizards perimeter defense been atrocious, but their paint protection has been just as underwhelming.
If Washington wants to have an identity, they need their players to but in.
Until that happens, the Wizards are going to be stuck in a constant cycle of mediocrity.