Washington Wizards All-Star John Wall scored 52 points on Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic, yet the team still lost in embarrassing fashion at home.
The Washington Wizards played in front of an empty stadium at home on Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic.
John Wall carried his team, scoring a career-high 52 points, including five 3-point shots, and 8 assists.
Despite putting up nearly half of his team’s points, Wall couldn’t will the Washington Wizards to victory. His team, at the end of the day, simply wasn’t good enough.
In fact, the Wizards’ performance against the Magic at home was embarrassing.
Scott Brooks hasn’t had much to work with this season, but he’s constantly swapped out the starters for an all-bench unit.
All of the games this season have come down to the wire because the second unit hasn’t been able to hold onto leads, let alone expand them.
Recently, the team decided to send Sheldon McClellan to the NBA Developmental League, even though he produced relatively well when given the chance.
Brooks has decided to give the nod to the veteran players over the rookies. Thus far, the veterans have done nothing to warrant playing time over the rookies.
Playing Marcus Thornton (and having him lead the second unit without any starters on the floor) clearly hasn’t worked.
Washington has the worst bench in the NBA statistically.
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Playing a lineup that consists of five players coming off the bench hasn’t worked.
For some reason, Brooks has refused to change.
The team’s effort, particularly on the defensive side of the floor, has been equally as embarrassing as the players on the court.
Washington – the starters included – refuse to contest shots from the perimeter, allowing teams like the Magic to score 124 points (they averaged 93 per game before Tuesday).
Orlando’s bench scored a total of 73 points.
Jodie Meeks looked like the second coming of Ray Allen and Aaron Gordon did a Slam Dunk Contest worthy dunk in transition.
The Magic aren’t a winning team, yet they looked like the Harlem Globetrotters in D.C.
Brooks’ team, with the exception of Wall, didn’t show up to play on Tuesday – and they’ve yet to show up this season.
Wall has played with heart this entire season and has never complained. While his teammates are busy pouting up the court, Wall continues to hustle on both ends and is often the only one capable of playing NBA-like basketball.
The team, in many respects, hasn’t deserved Wall this season. He’s left it on the floor, gives back to the community, has become a perennial All-Star and (at least to our knowledge) has never went out of his way to complain about the lack of talent on the roster.
What have the Wizards given him in return? A roster that looks no different than it did during his rookie season, at least in terms of wins.
If this is Wall’s final stand in D.C., then so be it. The Washington Wizards will only have themselves to blame.
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