Wizards Wasted Entire Season

Let’s not mince words: The Wizards flushed this season down the bowl. They disappeared in too many games with bad teams. They didn’t get leadership from their key players, and they squandered their talent. They hit bottom last week when they quit at home in the first half against Detroit, a dead team with no incentive, in a game they needed for the playoffs.

I have no idea what Juwan Howard was talking about immediately after the Detroit game when he talked with pride about the Wizards cutting a 31-point halftime deficit to 10 in the final quarter: “We came out as professionals in the second half. We should hold up our heads up and be proud. We could have easily given up. We know and understand it was a very important game for us. It was a must-win situation.”

You lost by 19.

What do you mean you came out as professionals in the second half? Who did you come out as early in the second quarter when you were behind 34-14? Then 60-29 at the half?

If it was a “must-win situation” and you lost by 19, what should you be proud of?

The problem with the Wizards all season is that their most highly priced and highly prized players, Howard and Chris Webber, seem to be living in a kind of dream world where they think they can spin their way out of everything.

A week ago, after Howard’s and Webber’s late night socializing ended with a complaint of sexual assault, General Manager Wes Unseld said, “Quite frankly, I’m angry and disappointed that I’m standing here, because of the lack of judgment that some of our players have used this season.”

When Webber was asked about Unseld’s statement, he sighed and said: “I’m disappointed. He wasn’t there.”

No, Unseld wasn’t at a party at 4:30 a.m.

What were you doing there?

Why were Howard and Webber partying until 4:30 a.m., with the playoffs on the line? They were due at practice at 11 a.m. The next night they were scheduled to play the world champion Chicago Bulls. Is that how they prepare, by partying until dawn? Is that how little they think of their responsibilities?

I’m not talking about the complaint of sexual assault--I have no idea if Webber and Howard will be formally charged; I accept their unequivocal statements of innocence. This is about their judgment, and their lack of professionalism.

Whether they want to be or not, Webber and Howard are the leaders of this team--when you’re the most highly paid players on the team, leadership is part of the deal. What kind of example do you set for your teammates by being out until 4:30 a.m., when you’re grasping for the playoffs?

I had to laugh reading Chris Whitney’s quote, “They are grown men. They can do what they want to do.” Oh, please. This isn’t about rights, it’s about responsibility. Their responsibility to their teammates, to their coach, to the owner who has put up $180 million in salaries to them, to their fans--Webber’s and Howard’s responsibility is to be mature enough to put their work first. If you don’t respect the others, at least respect the game. In college you’ll get by on raw talent, but in the NBA everyone has raw talent. The players that win are the players who are committed to the game.

I have grown weary of Webber painting himself as a victim. He thinks management takes him for granted, and he thinks the fans have singled him out for blame. Webber felt the same way in Golden State and engineered his uncoupling from Don Nelson. Nellie is certifiably loopy. But in retrospect you can argue that all Nellie wanted from Webber was to take responsibility for his prodigious talent. Since Webber has been in Washington, he has advised management to get rid of certain players and bring in certain players like Latrell Sprewell. If management would only do this, the team would be better. Chris, how about you making the team better? How about you going down low and stop fooling around with perimeter jump shots? How about you trying to understand Unseld, rather than him having to understand you? You could own this city, Chris.

All the young players want to be respected like Michael Jordan. They think their salaries make them deserving of such respect. They point out that Jordan isn’t all about basketball; he likes to gamble, and he runs off to play golf every chance he gets.

Yes, but Jordan always honors the game. Jordan gives everything he has every time he walks on the floor. He holds nothing back--he plays as hard against Toronto as he does against the Knicks. And Jordan wins.

You wanna be treated like Mike, be like Mike.

You can start by giving your best in every game. Not just parts of it. Thousands of people pay $75 a ticket to see you. Don’t they deserve to see you fresh and rested and unyielding? Here’s what Atlanta’s Mookie Blaylock said Sunday after the Hawks outscored the Wizards, 29-10, in the fourth quarter to win by 10: “You’ve got to play hard every night, and you’ve got to finish ballgames. And they didn’t.” The Wizards scored 10 points in the last quarter of a game they needed to stay alive for the playoffs. Blaylock knows the Wizards haven’t finished games all season. He sees through the Wizards all the way down to the bone.

Webber and Howard have been together four seasons now, and all they have to show for it is one playoff series, three games and out against the Bulls.

Take some responsibility for this.

Stand up and say, “I’m sorry I was out until 4:30 a.m. I won’t do that again. I will work on my game. I will play each game to its fullest. I won’t undercut my coach by my immature behavior. I won’t keep agitating to be the general manager. I will participate in music videos for season ticket holders. I will participate in autograph sessions. I won’t criticize fans for booing. I will show them how much I want to win. I could have done better. I should have done better. I will do better.”

If not here, then somewhere else.