The Wizards said the right things, which is always a good way to start. When you’ve struggled for a couple seasons and you’re rebuilding, it’s quite obvious problems exist in the culture.
So they say they’re trying to change that culture. They say they want to stress defense. And they show the past two drafts as evidence.
“I think the culture of the team will be dictated by the young players,” owner Ted Leonsis said.
That’s good because guys like John Wall, Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton, by all accounts, take the right approach to the game. Problem is, others don’t — and never have. Will they now do so because the Wizards have drafted character guys?
Don’t forget, Andray Blatche played with terrific leaders in Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. It didn’t rub off on him. Why would he change now? Because some young guys are now here? Otherwise: same front office, same coaching staff. Same behavior?
Maybe JaVale McGee and Nick Young, both of whom arrived during the start of a chaotic period, will benefit from peers who will be treated as bigger parts of the future. But what if the coach doesn’t see McGee play winning basketball yet still starts him for, oh, 75 games. You know, like Flip Saunders did last season.
“I think they’re ready to because they’re not young guys anymore,” Saunders said. “The players we’re bringing in are very serious players and the more players you bring in like that, then the other players become abnormal.”
The Redskins felt the same way about Albert Haynesworth. Point is, by a certain age guys are who they are.
The Wizards have to say these things because Blatche, McGee and Young are part of the roster. But do any of them ever figure as key players on a playoff team? If they don’t take the right approach in practice and games, they must suffer consequences.
Words are just a start. But when certain guys make the same mistakes or show they haven’t grown, what will happen? That’s when we’ll know the Wizards are serious. That’s when the culture will truly change.
