wizard guard Jordan Poole believes Washington's recent struggles are necessary for the team to eventually make the leap to the next level. Following the Wizards' 121-96 home loss to the Clippers on Wednesday, their 13th in a row, Poole addressed reporters after the game, according to Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network (Twitter video link).
“It’s just a matter of figuring things out.” Poole said. “Good things take time… You have to live through it. Every organization has to go through tough times to figure out what the good times look like, if that makes sense. You have to figure it out, you build a foundation, you lay parts. It shouldn’t be easy.”
Washington is currently 2-15 on the year and is in prime position to secure a top lottery pick for next year's loaded draft.
In 15 games this season, the Michigan alum averaged 20.3 points on a slash line of .449/.432/.883. He also dishes out 4.7 assists and grabs 2.1 rebounds apiece.
There's more from the Southeast Division:
- Just one more month and the change to the 2024/25 season wizard They are already feeling the effects of their reconstruction, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “For me, we don’t really have a choice.” rookie guard Kyshawn George said Wednesday. “It’s too easy to just give up and rely on the people around you. I think we have a great group of people who hold each other accountable. We are all working towards the same goal – the players, the coaching staff and the entire organization. So it's too easy to just say, 'Okay, this is it, and we're not going to get better.'”
- heat All-Star Wings Jimmy Butler sat out the fourth quarter of Miami's eventual 98-94 win over the Hornets on Wednesday because of a sore back, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Reserve center Kevin Love also deals with back problems. He sat out the Heat's 106-103 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday before the second half and missed the game against Charlotte. “He doesn't feel well enough to play today or finish the game yesterday” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday of Love. “But he’s experienced it before and we’ll see how he feels when we get back.” Butler is expected to play in Miami's next game on Friday, while Love is only questionable, Chiang writes another story.
- Hornets All-Star Point Guard LaMelo Ball will miss Charlotte's NBA Cup clash with the Knicks on Friday because of a sore left calf, per Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer. Boone noted that Ball has had a pretty good start to the year, appearing in all 18 contests for the 6-12 Hornets so far. The 6-foot-2 pro has always been a prolific scorer and has outdone himself this year, averaging 31.1 points on .430/.356/.848 shooting percentages. He also generates 6.9 dimes and 5.4 boards.