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The Washington Wizards should have been elated after putting together a great second half to overcome a 24-point deficit, beating the Los Angles Clippers 125-118 Tuesday. However, with a whirlwind of reports of clashes in practice between players and head coach Scott Brooks along with trade rumors that suggest everyone is available, the focus wasn’t on the win but all the distractions and overall mood of the team.
Following the win Markieff Morris, who scored 12 points off the bench, was fed up with the dark cloud and the leaks from within the Wizards’ locker room.
“Not really. It’s f–ked up what’s going on,” Morris told reporters after the game, per Candace Buckner of the Washington Post. “The comments that’s coming from the locker room is f–ked up. That don’t happen in sports.”
When asked if Morris has addressed his frustration with the leaks, he said he does not know who is leaking the information so it’s hard to address it. But added in a cleaner message, “it’s messed up.”
As the Wizards started the season 5-11 before Tuesday’s win, various reports surfaced of a practice last week becoming heated in which cornerstone players, John Wall and Bradley Beal got into separate verbal altercations with teammates Jeff Green and Austin Rivers, respectively. Beal also vented his frustration at general manager Ernie Grunfeld while Wall cursed at head coach Scott Brooks.
Before Tuesday’s game Wall, Beal, and Brooks addressed the confrontational practice downplaying the severity of the practice. However, it was severe enough Wall was fined for cursing at Brooks.
Early on against the Clippers it appeared all of the distractions surrounding the team affected them as they fell behind by as many as 24 points and allowed 73 points in the first half. However, the team mounted a comeback to win the game.
The win was much-needed, but it does not solve all issues haunting the Wizards. There appears to be some disconnect within the locker room. The fact that they fell behind so big in itself does not eliminate the flaws within the team. And the continued trade rumors that include Wall and Beal won’t settle either. It seems however the leaks of ordeals that are normally kept in house are not sitting well with Morris.
