Five games into the season and John Wall and Bradley Beal are already calling out teammates.
After a disappointing loss at Sacramento, Beal didn’t mince words.
“Sometimes we have our own agendas on the floor, whether it’s complaining about shots, complaining about playing time, complaining about whatever it may be,” Beal said. “We’re worried about the wrong (expletive) and that’s not where our focus needs to be and it’s just going to continue to hurt us.”
The Wizards are 1-2 on their west coast swing with games at Los Angeles (Clippers) and Memphis left.
Washington is off to a 1-4 start without Dwight Howard in the middle. Understandably, the slow start is causing frustration but the bickering is all too familiar. Last season, it was the passive-aggressive Marcin Gortat taking shots at Wall every chance he got. The Wizards sent Gortat to the Clippers in the offseason.
Now the problem seems to be decisions made on the floor. Otto Porter never gets enough shots to help the team or justify his contract. But, if Wall is right about his assessment, the reason comes abundantly clear.
After Beal talked, John Wall called reporters over. I asked how players could be in their own agendas, as Beal mentioned, after Game 5…. GAME 5!!!
Wall’s response: pic.twitter.com/d8ORSiK1pb
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) October 27, 2018
There are three areas that standout in the Wizards for three games.
Offense
Washington wanted to push the ball and shoot more threes this season. Porter should thrive in this offense but that hasn’t been the case. Austin Rivers is taking almost as many threes as Porter while playing five less minutes a game. That begs to ask the question, is Rivers one of the “own agenda” players. Even though assists isn’t always the best stat to determine unselfishness, it is telling that Washington is 24th in the league in Assist Percentage. That could be why the Wizards are 25th in the league in three point percentage. Open threes frequently come out of ball movement and/or transition. Pace isn’t an issue for the Wizards. They rank 3rd in Pace. The ball getting “stuck” seems to be more of the problem.
Rebounding
Washington’s poor rebounding also doesn’t help. The Wizards are 27th in overall rebounding, 20th in defensive rebounding. That’s troubling on two levels. If the team isn’t getting on the defensive boards, it’s hard for the Wizards to get run outs and easy baskets. The other is, with the desire to shoot more threes, there should be more long rebounds. That should increase the Wizards ability to get offensive rebounds. They’re a dismal 29th in offensive rebounding. Blame the Howard injury if you want but the wings and guards should have an increased chance to get rebounds on that end.
Locker Room
No one seems to know how much longer Howard will be out. He could help on the court but given his reputation, it’s highly doubtful he’ll help in the locker room. Leadership will have to call from Wall and/or Beal. If there are personal agendas in the locker room, they have to solve them without crying to the media.
The Wizards recent history is littered with locker room discord, highlighted by the Gilbert Arenas gun incident. It’s too early in the season for this much bickering. The Eastern Conference is strong at the top. The Celtics are favored but Milwaukee, Indiana and Philadelphia will be there also. The Wizards want their name up there too but it needs to start with harmony something a John Wall-led team has yet to show.
