Remember when the Washington Wizards had a 10-3 record at the start of this season. Yeah that appears to be eons ago. Since the Wizards are 13-23. They’ve now lost five straight following Saturday’s blowout to the Memphis Grizzlies.
That was coming off of Washington blowing a 35-point lead to lose to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
After a 115-95 loss to the Grizzlies, Wizards point guard Spencer Dinwiddie was asked about leadership on the team and him trying to be a leader through the storm of losing. Dinwiddie’s response was interesting, telling and possibly opened the lid for outsiders to see what might be behind the Wizards’ struggles.
“It’s an interesting situation. I spoke up a little bit early on [this season]. It wasn’t necessarily welcomed. And so, like I said, I try to do whatever’s asked of me. At the end of the day, everybody has a role to play,” Dinwidddie replied per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
Dinwiddie started out the season aggressively. He scored 20 or more points in three of the Wizards first five games. But then he seemingly fell back. His play diminished along with his aggressiveness.
His regression drew speculation surrounding his torn ACL he suffered a year ago. However, Saturday’s comments may hint to Dinwiddie doing some self evaluating following push back from his leadership suggestions?
“It’s about being accountable in your role and doing that to the best of your ability. That’s really all I’ve got,” Dinwiddie continued.
No one knows, but the Wizards have struggled with chemistry throughout the first year under Wes Unseld Jr. The team reshuffled the roster this past offseason and brought in several new faces, including Dinwiddie.
The team seemingly gelled together at first. But, with the returns of Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant into the rotation, everything seems off. Even for three-time All-Star Bradley Beal.
Washington’s rotation grew to 12 in recent weeks. That’s brought out frustration throughout the locker room as minutes have been chopped around fitting 12 players on the court.
The results have been the Wizards falling from near the top of the Eastern Conference standings to 11th with a 23-26 record. Trade rumors have emerged. Earlier in the season a report surfaced that some Wizards players weren’t happy with the offense centered around Beal.
Then there was a halftime fight between teammates Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that ignited dissension speculation. Something has to give right?
Dinwiddie came to the Wizards this summer signing a three-year, $54 million deal. Even his name has surfaced in trade talks. The chemistry in Washington is not there and its showing on the court. Something has to change or else the season could get away from the Wizards.
