Why am I writing about the Wizards? The resolution this season was to watch every Warriors and every Wizards game with Jordan Poole. So I’ve been watching even when I haven’t been telling you about it.
The Wizards currently sit at 5 wins and 22 losses. It has been a long time since I’ve watched a team who was losing this often (I hadn’t started watching every game yet during the Warriors 19-20 season). It requires an entirely different mindset to not care about the final score. There are significant signs of progress, many of them haven’t shown up in the win-loss record. They are individually getting stronger and more importantly, they are getting more connected as a team. The Wizards’ coaches have apparently been clear that they are not paying particular attention to the win/loss record. Instead, they have weekly goals for each player, many of which do not show up in box scores and some which are amorphous - Kyle Kuzma has a goal based on being a leader in the locker room.
The Wizards play a different style than the Warriors and that has also been an adjustment. Ball movement is minimal and while they are moving away from this, it’s been a lot of one pass and drive to the basket action.
And I’m learning a lot. Because their style is a little more traditional, I can understand the game better. I can name 10 players on the Wizards and am impressed by many of them - especially Tyus Jones who never turns the ball over. I liked him on the Grizzlies but now that he has more playing time, his strengths are shining. Their rookie, Bilal Coulibaly, gets better with every minute he plays. And their two big stars, Kyle Kuzma and Poole, are starting to get some chemistry. To be clear, for the first 15 games of the season, they had close to none. The recent stats agree Kuzma and Poole are the worst duo in the NBA. That was as of Nov 30th and it’s changing. But by any statistical measure, the Wizards have a lot of work ahead of them.
When I watch the Wizards, I listen to the opposing team’s commentary (because the Wizards’ commentators are truly not great) And it is wild to hear some of the things the announcers say.
“The Wizards are off to another slooooooow start”
“The Wizards have decided not to guard the paint.”
“A slow start to them is nothing”
“Do they know they are playing a game and not at naptime”
[After Jordan missed a long 3] “Jordan thinks he’s still a Splash Brother. You’re an only child now.”
And finally, Kyle Kuzma himself, saying, “We can’t guard a stop sign.”
The Wizards are absolutely improving. How do I know? They are losing by less. They are in games for longer. Their coach seems to have consistent rotations and figuring out how to partner players who can score (Kuzma, Poole, Coulibaly, Avdija and sometimes Kispert). There are little to no obvious signs of defense - Wizards games are always high scoring, often 20-30 point leads. Sometimes the Wizards have those leads but nearly always they lose them. The Wizards play with the most pace in the NBA, i.e, they are trying to play fast and score, hoping that their offense can outscore their lack of defense.
This year, there are a series of teams that are losing a lot - the Pistons, with their nearly historic losing streak, the Spurs and the Wizards. I wonder if their losing has been impacted by the change in the rules around stars playing. Players aren’t allowed to sit out the way they regularly used to on the second night of a back-to-back. Stars essentially must play and that means that weaker teams are facing stronger rosters. It makes it harder to steal a win here and there when Butler or Tatum or Giannis or Dame or Kawhi are playing significant minutes nearly every game.
But I’m watching the Wizards because of Jordan so let’s turn to JP. I’m glad I waited to write about him. JP had a rough start. I mean…it was rough. In the last few weeks, Poole is turning the corner, playing better and being valuable to the team. You wouldn’t know that from the highlights on twitter and youtube or what pops up if you google Jordan Poole. He had a career tying eight 3s the other night. The talk on social media was about him slipping on the floor in a previous game. If he makes any mistakes, that’s all anyone sees unless you are watching every game on League Pass like me.
Here’s a reminder of what he can do.
It is mind boggling to me that there is so much press about a single NBA player on one of the worst teams in the NBA. It made sense to have all the press when he was on the Warriors, but it has followed him to DC and seems to only want to humiliate him. It’s ugly. Especially for a player who has almost no social media presence and isn’t trying to be any other place than on the court. What is happening to Poole reminds me of what happened to Russell Westbrook on the Lakers. Every glance, every look, every play was shown to project an image that Russ was washed, that he was overpaid, overplayed, and over. That was ugly too. If you talk to the players on the Clippers, on the Wizards and even some of the Lakers, they talk about what an excellent teammate Westbrook was and how he did nothing but help their team. The same is true of Poole’s teammates - both on the Dubs and on the Wizards –heck, even on the Michigan Wolverines. But the larger fan base wants to see his failure. And some sports pundits are talking nonsense. Before the season started Kevin Garnett talked on his podcast about how Jordan Poole was going to average 30 points/game with several 60 point games. A month later, he said that Jordan Poole shouldn’t be allowed in the NBA because he is a disgrace. What will he be saying two weeks from now? The attention on JP is unnecessary when he doesn’t ask for it. He rarely gives interviews and although he talks a lot more with the Wizards, he clearly would rather be putting up shots on the court.
Yes, Poole has done many jaw-dropping things this year, and not in a good way. But rooting for someone’s demise is only ok with the Yankees. Or Tom Brady. Or Ohio State—ok, ok, I’m guilty of this too but it’s not my best quality.
As I’m writing this paragraph, I’m watching the Wizards and Trail Blazers. The Wizards are up 80-64 with 7:00 in the 3rd. Huge improvement. JP has sunk 3s, stolen the ball for an easy layup, and just now ran a fast break with Kyle Kuzma. The Wizards are beating the teams they should be beating and the goal is that over time that will include more teams. [Note: I wrote that optimistically in the 3rd quarter. The Wizards lost that lead in the 4th and clung on to a one-point win.]
Which brings us to Dec 21st, this day that has been circled on my imaginary calendar since the start of the season. Jordan Poole returns to Chase Center. This time some of the controversy has diminished because Draymond is suspended and not allowed to be there during games. JP can have his return without the shadow of a million questions and everyone examining his facial expressions after each play. He can hug his friends and take in what should be a standing ovation for him. That is a gift.
To be clear - I believe in Jordan Poole. While the world is seeing memes of his mistakes, I am seeing progress. At the start of this season, when Poole was asked about the trade, he replied “I’m big on being where my feet are”. I support that attitude which is easier said than done. While we are replaying both the past and the imagined future, he’s where his feet are. First in the gym, last to leave. Putting up shots. He’s 24 and has already made his wildest dreams come true. Here’s to the next round of his dreams becoming reality. See you at Chase tomorrow JP.
The Timeout Books: (books I read during the timeouts and halftimes) None this time. My family was in town, and now I’m in my annual holiday tradition of checking out a large number of books from the library (30 and counting), so I am in the middle of many books but done with none.
A Game At A Time Playlist (the songs that pop in my head while writing this)
Freedom Beyonce
Freedom George Michael