After a fast start to the season, the Washington Wizards find themselves in complete freefall. After losing seven of their past 10 games, the Wizards are 7th in the East with a 16-15 record overall.
Amid this rough stretch for D.C., multiple players are concerned about the current condition of the Beal-led offense. Here’s the most recent update on the team, as reported by Josh Robbins.
The Athletic has learned a central issue is that at least several players have concerns about the direction and structure of the team’s offense, particularly whether they as individuals, and by extension the team as a whole, are being put in the best positions to succeed. As confidence in the offense has diminished, players have exerted less effort and exercised less attention to detail on the defensive end, the area the coaching staff has emphasized since the start of training camp.
In the same piece, Montrezl Harrell expressed his frustrations, practically begging for Bradley Beal and the team leaders to get the other guys more involved on offense.
“At the end of the day, it’s like the old saying, ‘You’ve got to throw a squirrel a nut,’” center Montrezl Harrell said. “We’re not saying throw it to us and let us clear out and iso and go and do our thing. No. But at the same time, let us feel it, not just off rebounding and then giving it to a guard. No, let us get a touch early to get a shot. Let’s give us something to let us feel like we’re involved in the game as well.”
Beal, a 3x All-Star, became the face of the Wizards a few years ago and he has been considered among the elites ever since for his shooting and scoring abilities.
Unfortunately, Beal seems to have fallen short in his responsibility to get his teammates involved. And if the Wizards are serious about turning things around, the team is going to have to get on the same page in that regard.
