Washington Wizards Fall To 0-11: Can Things Get Any Worse?
By Chris Walder
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE
In Washington, when it rains, it pours.
It appears that one massive rain cloud seems to be hovering over the Verizon Center every time the Washington Wizards play basketball.
After last night’s painful 108-106 double overtime loss to the 7-5 Charlotte Bobcats, the Wizards now find themselves with a record of 0-11, which is (clearly) the worst record in the NBA.
They remain the leagues only winless team. All 29 other teams have won at least three games up to this point.
From missed free throws, expiring shot clocks, game-winners that were annulled and so much more, Washington is coming up with new and exciting ways to lose on a nightly basis.
As it is with any team, it all starts with the Head Coach. In this case, Randy Wittman should be getting a majority of the heat for his teams play.
Earlier in the week, when asked questions from the media in a post-game press conference about his teams loss that night, Wittman proceeded to spit out one of the more sad, yet hilarious lines I’ve ever heard a coach spew.
"“I believe these guys can win. I don’t have doubts. I come in here every day, thinking: ‘This is the night. I feel good. I might be dumb.”"
That must be encouraging to fans.
Coach Wittman has faith in his players that they can win games, but to play it safe, he could also be dumb and talking nonsense as well.
"”I don’t know who to start, who to play, who not to play. I’m looking down the whole roster, and if I had a cellphone, I’d be calling the waiver wire, trying to find another body. I mean, I’m just searching right now, searching for people to give me consistency.”"
Is the waiver wire really a number you can just call up?
Maybe he is as dumb as he says he is.
I guess leading this group of players would make anyone a little loopy in the head.
The Wizards are last in the league in scoring (89.8), last in field-goal percentage (39.8%), 28th in shooting from behind the arc (29.9%) and 25th in turnovers (15.9).
Only one player on the roster is averaging more than 12 points a game (Nene Hilario), and he’s only played two games all season.
Bradley Beal, the number three overall pick in this summers draft, is only shooting 32.8% from the field.
Six of the teams losses have come at the hands of just three teams (Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Bobcats, Boston Celtics).
Washington’s two biggest offseason acquisitions (Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor) are each averaging less than 8.5 points a game.
John Wall has yet to practice and has no timetable for his return.
So yeah, things are looking pretty bad in the nations capital.
Wizards fans should be accustomed to a losing culture by now. The team hasn’t won more than 26 games since the 2007-08 season, which was the franchises last playoff appearance.
With games against the Spurs, Trail Blazers, Knicks, Heat and Hawks on the horizon, this 11 game losing streak could very well hit 16 by early December.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUMz1x4ABdQ
Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports