John Wall says Wizards 'didn't get up for' non-playoff teams last season
If the Washington Wizards treated every opponent the same last season, perhaps they could've placed better than fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Star point guard John Wall told Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post that the team struggled to get motivated for the bottom-feeders of the league.
"I think any team that wasn't a playoff team, we didn't get up for, to be honest," Wall said. "We lost a lot of games like that, that we didn't win. We lost to the (15-win Milwaukee) Bucks before last year, when they weren't (good). So we lost a lot of games against teams that couldn't win last year and that’s something we’re trying to change this season."
Still, Wall's Wizards snapped a string of five consecutive losing seasons by going 44-38, good enough for second place in the Southeast Division behind the NBA finalist Miami Heat.
In truth, Washington did beat up on non-playoff clubs, going 28-13 against lottery teams.
The Wizards are off to a 6-2 start this season by taking care of their weaker opponents.
Washington has lost to the Heat and Toronto Raptors - two teams likely bound for the playoffs - while winning twice against the Indiana Pacers, and once each versus the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons. That fivesome has gotten off to a 14-29 start.
The Wizards get the Magic again Saturday before closing out the month with a tougher schedule.