Excerpt:
Heightened accountability has played a significant role, too. In interviews with The Athletic in recent days, several Wizards players said they believe a players-only meeting Nov. 16, in the immediate aftermath of an embarrassing 129-106 loss at home to the Brooklyn Nets, helped spark the turnaround, tightening bonds within the team and reaffirming players’ responsibilities to one another.
“It was needed,” Carrington told The Athletic. “It was necessary. But at the end of it, we all looked each other in the eyes as men and said, ‘What we’re showing the world ain’t us, and it’s literally up to the guys in this room to change it.’ And I feel like we’ve moved accordingly, for sure, after that conversation.
“I think we’ve completely shifted our goals and our mindset as far as our approach when it comes to the game,” Carrington added. “We’re focusing on just straight winning plays. We’re preaching to everyone, ‘Block out your other agendas, block out all the things that don’t really matter. Let’s just focus on winning the ballgame. Let’s focus on being the best Wizards we can be.’ And it’s been working well for us.”
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Bagley was one of the vocal players during the Nov. 16 meeting.
“We just had to make a decision on how we were going to present ourselves as a team, how we’re going to compete every night,” Bagley told The Athletic.
“We weren’t meeting that standard at the time. I think that meeting was well-needed. I spoke up and said my piece, and guys in the locker room spoke up as well, and we had a good talk. I think we came out closer as a unit, and it makes us understand each other more and want to go out and compete for each other. You can see it.”
13 comments
Fine and dandy, just lock in to staying bottom 4.
they said “we arent going to tank anymore”
Listen, we’re all very proud of you. But this is not the year to be good. We’re tanking. Knock it off.
Officially nervous about tanking. I know losing sucks but what’s the goal here? A 25 win season and a shitty pick?
Would be the most “So Wizards” thing ever to fuck around and win enough games to send NYK our pick in a truly generational draft. This draft is so good even the lottery gods will have a hard time screwing us. We just need a ticket to the dance.
I hope Dawkins does whatever is necessary to prevent this from happening. This is the only thing that truly matters this season. As it gets later in the season other teams will get more shameless with the tank (see Utah last year). I hope Dawkins is ready for it. This is not the year to have an “ethical” tank.
I love that article notes that champagnie, watkins, and riley’s hustle elevated everyone’s effort.
I believe no matter what the wizards will end up with the same selection rather they bottom out or put forth the most competent team they can. So I support bringing in a real NBA pg and allstar like Trae Young and he’s not so good to the point that he will push you into the play in.
You guys gotta relax about losing the pick. After the deadline, once CJ and maybe Bagley are gone, they’re going to struggle even when maintaining this energy. And if somehow it’s still an issue, there will be some unethical DNPs and Ted will eat the fines. Enjoy this stretch.
Edit: And you’re nuts if you seriously think Dawkins is excited enough by what he’s seeing to risk losing the pick. He’s been clear that we’re still very early in the rebuild. No when in hell is he missing out on his draft.
Ernie Grunfeld can go fuck himself.
There is more than half a season left some of the panicking here is insane, they’re still in the bottom 4 despite going 7-6 in their last 13. They will not be repeating that pace the whole season.
On one hand I want a top draft pick in this class. On the other hand, we always get screwed over in the lottery so let’s have some fun
They sent out a tanking memo to teams a few weeks ago ago, so they gotta be some what competitive to not make it obvious
Good for showing us a glimpse of the future and getting a taste of winning…
However, I think they are going to flip the script. They could perhaps keep winning and lose their first round pick to the Knicks.
Dawkins will try and prevent that with trading CJ for Young…. We may also try and get Atlanta’s first to keep from not having a pick either way.
We may need to give up a young player to do this though….
If we get Young we may see him for a few games, but they will shut him down.