The good times are always short-lived.
After winning three of their first four games after the All-Star break and a flurry of moves at the NBA trade deadline, the Wizards (21-38) have lost four of their last five and are now confronting the true picture of what they have become, a group of mostly young, scrappy players that will only go so far with just energy and determination.
“That’s what I said right after the trades,” said guard Mike Miller. “It’s one thing to do it right away for the first couple games. It’s another thing to maintain it.”
And it won’t get any easier, with Sunday’s visit to the Celtics (39-21) kicking off a stretch of seven games in 10 days.
“Yeah, I’m concerned with fatigue because we have to play hard,” said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders. “We have to play at a high level, and so your energy is important. Guys off the bench have to bring that same level and our bench haven’t come in, except for Earl, and made shots the last couple games.”
But while Earl Boykins had 12 points in Washington’s blowout loss to Milwaukee on Friday night, he didn’t register a single assist. The backup point guard had averaged 3.8 per game since the All-Star break.
“I just feel at times some guys want to try to do it themselves, try to get the team over that hump,” said Andray Blatche, who also had just 13 points against the Bucks, his lowest offensive output in 10 games. “That’s what’s messing us up.”
Even starting point guard Randy Foye appears to be under pressure from Shaun Livingston, who is only with the Wizards on a 10-day contract.
“He can create,” said Saunders of Livingston. “He can do some things. He’s got size. He has poise with the ball and got us into offenses a little bit quicker. Randy didn’t get us into the offense. We were discombobulated.”
Blatche said, “We’re going to be OK. … It’s not like somebody’s out there not giving it their all. We’re just making mistakes. That’s what’s going to happen when you play hard.”
