- 7,324
- 28,707
- Joined
- Dec 8, 1999
[h1]Washington Wizards 2017-2018[/h1]
[h2]Regular Season Record 43-39[/h2]
October 4-2
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]10/18/17[/TD][TD]Philadelphia[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 115-120[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]10/20/17[/TD][TD]Detroit[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 111-115[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]10/23/17[/TD][TD]@ Denver[/TD][TD]9:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-104[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]10/25/17[/TD][TD]@ L.A. Lakers[/TD][TD]10:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 99-102[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]10/27/17[/TD][TD]@ Golden State[/TD][TD]10:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 117-120[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]10/29/17[/TD][TD]@ Sacramento[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 110-83[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
November 7-8
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]11/1/17[/TD][TD]Phoenix[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 122-116[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/3/17[/TD][TD]Cleveland[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 130-122[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/5/17[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 107-96[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/7/17[/TD][TD]Dallas[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 113-99[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/9/17[/TD][TD]L.A. Lakers[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 95-111[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/11/17[/TD][TD]Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 94-113[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/13/17[/TD][TD]Sacramento[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 92-110[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/15/17[/TD][TD]@ Miami[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 102-93[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/17/17[/TD][TD]Miami[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 91-88[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/19/17[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]3:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 91-100[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/20/17[/TD][TD]@ Milwaukee[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 99-88[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/22/17[/TD][TD]@ Charlotte[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 124-129[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/25/17[/TD][TD]Portland[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 108-105[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/28/17[/TD][TD]@ Minnesota[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 92-89[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/29/17[/TD][TD]@ Philadelphia[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 113-118[/TD1][/TR][/TABLE]
December 10-6
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]12/1/17[/TD][TD]Detroit[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-91[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/4/17[/TD][TD]@ Utah[/TD][TD]9:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 69-116[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/5/17[/TD][TD]@ Portland[/TD][TD]10:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 106-92[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/7/17[/TD][TD]@ Phoenix[/TD][TD]9:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-99[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/9/17[/TD][TD]L.A. Clippers[/TD][TD]3:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 112-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/12/17[/TD][TD]@ Brooklyn[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 98-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/13/17[/TD][TD]Memphis[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 93-87[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/15/17[/TD][TD]@ L.A. Clippers[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 100-91[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/17/17[/TD][TD]Cleveland[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 99-106[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/19/17[/TD][TD]New Orleans[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 116-106[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/22/17[/TD][TD]@ Brooklyn[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 84-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/23/17[/TD][TD]Orlando[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 130-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/25/17[/TD][TD]@ Boston[/TD][TD]5:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 111-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/27/17[/TD][TD]@ Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[TD1]L 99-113[/TD1][/TD][/TR1][TR][TD]12/29/17[/TD][TD] Houston[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 121-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/31/17[/TD][TD]Chicago[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[TD1]W 114-110[/TD1][/TD][/TR1][/TABLE]
January 7-6
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]1/3/18[/TD][TD]New York[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 121-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/5/18[/TD][TD]@ Memphis[/TD][TD]9:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 102-100[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/6/18[/TD][TD]Milwaukee[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 103-110[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/10/18[/TD][TD]Utah[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 104-107[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/12/18[/TD][TD]Orlando[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 125-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/13/18[/TD][TD]Brooklyn[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 119-113[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/15/18[/TD][TD]Milwaukee[/TD][TD]2:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 95-104[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/17/18[/TD][TD]@ Charlotte[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 109-133[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/19/18[/TD][TD]@ Detroit[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 122-112[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/22/18[/TD][TD]@ Dallas[/TD][TD]8:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 75-98[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/25/18[/TD][TD]@ Oklahoma City[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 112-121[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/27/18[/TD][TD]@ Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 129-104[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/30/18[/TD][TD]Oklahoma City[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 102-96[/TD1][/TR][/TABLE]
February 8-4
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]2/1/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 122-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/3/18[/TD][TD]@ Orlando[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 115-98[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/5/18[/TD][TD]@ Indiana[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 111-102[/TD1][/TR][TD1][TR1][TD]2/6/18[/TD][TD]@ Philadelphia[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 102-115[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/8/18[/TD][TD]Boston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 104-110[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/10/18[/TD][TD]@ Chicago[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 101-90[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/14/18[/TD][TD]@ New York[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 118-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/22/18[/TD][TD]@ Cleveland[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 110-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/23/18[/TD][TD]Charlotte[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 105-122[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/25/18[/TD][TD]Philadelphia[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-94[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/27/18[/TD][TD]@ Milwaukee[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 107-104[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/28/18[/TD][TD]Golden State[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 101-109[/TD1][/TR1][/td1][/TABLE][TD1]
March 6-8
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]3/2/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 95-102[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/4/18[/TD][TD]Indiana[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 95-98[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/6/18[/TD][TD]Miami[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 117-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/9/18[/TD][TD]@ New Orleans[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 116-97[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/10/18[/TD][TD]@ Miami[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 102-129[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/13/18[/TD][TD]Minnesota[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 111-116[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/14/18[/TD][TD]@ Boston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 125-124[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/17/18[/TD][TD]Indiana[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-102[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/21/18[/TD][TD]@ San Antonio[/TD][TD]9:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 90-98[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/23/18[/TD][TD]Denver[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 100-108[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/25/18[/TD][TD]New York[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 97-101[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/27/18[/TD][TD]San Antonio[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 116-106[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/29/18[/TD][TD]@ Detroit[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 92-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/31/18[/TD][TD]Charlotte[/TD][TD]3:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 107-93[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
April 1-5
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]4/1/18[/TD][TD]@ Chicago[/TD][TD]3:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 94-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/3/18[/TD][TD]@ Houston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 104-120[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/5/18[/TD][TD]@ Cleveland[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 115-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/6/18[/TD][TD]Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 97-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/10/18[/TD][TD]Boston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 113-101[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/11/18[/TD][TD]@ Orlando[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 92-101[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
Playoffs
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]4/14/18[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]5:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 106-114[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/17/18[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 119-130[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/20/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 103-122[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/22/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 98-106[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/25/18[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 98-102[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/27/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 102-92[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
[h2]Laissez Faire[/h2]
In a time of extreme polarization, characterized by the burgeoning gulf between rich and poor, the Washington Wizards cling to their working class identity. Their team, which fell just one game shy of reaching last year's Eastern Conference Finals, was built by traditional means, through the draft. After qualifying for the playoffs in 2008-2009, Wizards fans endured five years of abject misery, as the team compiled a record of 117-277 (For comparison, in the five seasons since the 76ers last made the playoffs, they went 109-301.) In return, the Wizards converted four top-five overall draft selections into John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, and future hard trivia answer Jan Vesely*. To some, they are thus the last bastion of purity in the "super team" era.
The Boston team Washington faced in last year's playoffs will return just four players, adding Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, #3 overall pick Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, and Aaron Baynes. The reigning Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers lost Irving, but added Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Isiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Jeff Green.
The Wizards, by comparison, added Jodie Meeks, Mike Scott, Tim Frazier, and Carrick Felix. Last year's annual Grunfeld-preservation trade acquisition, Bojan Bogdanavic, signed with Indiana. In other words, they stood pat.
For many, the capital consolidation of the NBA signifies a competitive failure. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and, when players like Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade or Derrick Rose can make more money off the court ring chasing than they could by signing larger contracts for less successful teams, cynics fear that the league's lesser organizations will serve as little more than farm teams and schedule fodder, Washington Generals-style opponents for the NBA's aristocracy. Hometown loyalists worry they'll never see a championship parade trundle through the streets of their once proud cities. Why bother, Utah, when your franchise player leaves for Boston? What's the point, Portland, when you play in a Western Conference so imbalanced that it's prompted the dissolution of the Eastern Conference All Star Team? What's the fun in being an "also ran?"
The system is broken.
Is it, though?
The Wizards tried and failed to recruit their own "super team" in free agency, and will undoubtedly try again. Years of terrible trades left their cupboard empty when Oklahoma City, last year's poster child for the plight of small markets, acquired All Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony for Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Enes Kanter, and Doug McDermott. Minnesota, another small market, landed Jimmy Butler in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kriss Dunn, and the #7 overall pick.
The Wizards' "organic" losing seasons already rival those of the Sixers shameless tanking strategy in terms of standings and winning percentage. Is it a sign of integrity that the team refrained from "red shirting" their top picks to lose even more, or could a team with a history of marginal attendance and nervous ownership truly afford to field an intentionally terrible product?
As a whole, the NBA's thirty teams raked in $5.9 billion in revenue last season. This summer, the Houston Rockets sold for a record $2.2 billion. Yet somehow, despite revenue sharing, nine teams still claimed to take losses last year. The Wizards, of course, were one of them.
The competition between the lines is surrounded by a competition outside of them. For the sake of fairness, the NBA helps losing teams compete in future seasons through its draft system and salary cap. Through revenue sharing and monopolistic regional exclusivity, the league also helps bad organizations compete in spite of themselves.
If a player can't hack it on the court, they're left to ply their trade overseas. If an organization can't compete, they're propped up by the league itself. As hometown fans, we're stuck with them, as we are regional cable companies.
Can it really be considered a competitive failure for bad organizations to consistently fail - or is the league's true failing that all thirty franchises are insulated from their own failures?
Would making the business of basketball "idiot proof" truly result in better competitive balance?
What is a greater anathema to competition: for the best teams to receive the best talent via free agency, often at reduced cost, and thus perpetuate dynastic success, or for the worst organizations to be indemnified from their ineptitude, like AIG, Equifax, or Bank of America? Competition is a sham in a society where the likes of Eric Trump inherit, rather than earn, wealth and power.
The NBA has attempted to create a bubble of fairness in an unfair world, a gyroscopically stabilized level playing field. While the league can limit the salaries of its brightest stars, it cannot govern their earnings outside of basketball. Similarly, while the league can ensure that no other viable professional franchise can compete with the Wizards regional monopoly, fans in 193 countries have no geographic rooting interest. Why should fans in Cleveland cheer for the Washington Generals when they face the Harlem Globetrotters? Why should fans in Shanghai cheer for the Washington Wizards when they play the Golden State Warriors?
The concentration of capital has become a perverse form of fiscal entropy. The league has found no meaningful way to counteract the cumulative competitive advantages conferred by wealth, and attempts to ensure the success of organizations despite the incompetence of their respective owners run contrary to the principles of competition.
The Wizards are, in essence, being priced out of a city helped gentrify. When Leonsis first invested in the team, he did so as a tech darling of the time. Now one of the league's poorest billionaires, Ted's "Monumental Sports" empire and its streaming media efforts seem as quaint by contemporary standards as his predecessor, Abe Pollin's, "family business" model for the team was in the 80's and 90's.
But there is still hope for the least of us. A decade ago, the Warriors were roughly the Left Coast counterpart of the Wizards. Small market teams are increasingly able to amass a global following through sustained excellence. Lesser owners have been undoubtedly tempted by Donald Sterling's golden parachute, and Ted Leonsis, now crying poverty, could easily alleviate his alleged financial woes by flipping a franchise valued at $550 upon its purchase in 2010 for upwards of $1 billion today. To that end, Laurene Jobs purchased 20% of the team this summer. At this rate, all of the league's teams will soon be owned by one of four mega-corporations in a decade or so anyway. Is that a future worth rooting for?
In today's NBA, the rich get richer - and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
*The Wizards 2009 draft pick, #5 overall, was, of course, traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Randy Foye and was not used to select, say, Steph Curry.[/td1]
[h2]Regular Season Record 43-39[/h2]
October 4-2
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]10/18/17[/TD][TD]Philadelphia[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 115-120[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]10/20/17[/TD][TD]Detroit[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 111-115[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]10/23/17[/TD][TD]@ Denver[/TD][TD]9:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-104[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]10/25/17[/TD][TD]@ L.A. Lakers[/TD][TD]10:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 99-102[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]10/27/17[/TD][TD]@ Golden State[/TD][TD]10:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 117-120[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]10/29/17[/TD][TD]@ Sacramento[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 110-83[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
November 7-8
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]11/1/17[/TD][TD]Phoenix[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 122-116[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/3/17[/TD][TD]Cleveland[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 130-122[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/5/17[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 107-96[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/7/17[/TD][TD]Dallas[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 113-99[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/9/17[/TD][TD]L.A. Lakers[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 95-111[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/11/17[/TD][TD]Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 94-113[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/13/17[/TD][TD]Sacramento[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 92-110[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/15/17[/TD][TD]@ Miami[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 102-93[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/17/17[/TD][TD]Miami[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 91-88[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/19/17[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]3:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 91-100[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/20/17[/TD][TD]@ Milwaukee[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 99-88[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/22/17[/TD][TD]@ Charlotte[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 124-129[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/25/17[/TD][TD]Portland[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 108-105[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]11/28/17[/TD][TD]@ Minnesota[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 92-89[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]11/29/17[/TD][TD]@ Philadelphia[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 113-118[/TD1][/TR][/TABLE]
December 10-6
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]12/1/17[/TD][TD]Detroit[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-91[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/4/17[/TD][TD]@ Utah[/TD][TD]9:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 69-116[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/5/17[/TD][TD]@ Portland[/TD][TD]10:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 106-92[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/7/17[/TD][TD]@ Phoenix[/TD][TD]9:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-99[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/9/17[/TD][TD]L.A. Clippers[/TD][TD]3:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 112-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/12/17[/TD][TD]@ Brooklyn[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 98-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/13/17[/TD][TD]Memphis[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 93-87[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/15/17[/TD][TD]@ L.A. Clippers[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 100-91[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/17/17[/TD][TD]Cleveland[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 99-106[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/19/17[/TD][TD]New Orleans[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 116-106[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/22/17[/TD][TD]@ Brooklyn[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 84-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/23/17[/TD][TD]Orlando[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 130-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]12/25/17[/TD][TD]@ Boston[/TD][TD]5:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 111-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/27/17[/TD][TD]@ Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[TD1]L 99-113[/TD1][/TD][/TR1][TR][TD]12/29/17[/TD][TD] Houston[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 121-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]12/31/17[/TD][TD]Chicago[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[TD1]W 114-110[/TD1][/TD][/TR1][/TABLE]
January 7-6
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]1/3/18[/TD][TD]New York[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 121-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/5/18[/TD][TD]@ Memphis[/TD][TD]9:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 102-100[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/6/18[/TD][TD]Milwaukee[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 103-110[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/10/18[/TD][TD]Utah[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 104-107[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/12/18[/TD][TD]Orlando[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 125-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/13/18[/TD][TD]Brooklyn[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 119-113[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/15/18[/TD][TD]Milwaukee[/TD][TD]2:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 95-104[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/17/18[/TD][TD]@ Charlotte[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 109-133[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/19/18[/TD][TD]@ Detroit[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 122-112[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/22/18[/TD][TD]@ Dallas[/TD][TD]8:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 75-98[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/25/18[/TD][TD]@ Oklahoma City[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 112-121[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]1/27/18[/TD][TD]@ Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 129-104[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]1/30/18[/TD][TD]Oklahoma City[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 102-96[/TD1][/TR][/TABLE]
February 8-4
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]2/1/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 122-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/3/18[/TD][TD]@ Orlando[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 115-98[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/5/18[/TD][TD]@ Indiana[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 111-102[/TD1][/TR][TD1][TR1][TD]2/6/18[/TD][TD]@ Philadelphia[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 102-115[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/8/18[/TD][TD]Boston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 104-110[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/10/18[/TD][TD]@ Chicago[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 101-90[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/14/18[/TD][TD]@ New York[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]W 118-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/22/18[/TD][TD]@ Cleveland[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 110-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/23/18[/TD][TD]Charlotte[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 105-122[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/25/18[/TD][TD]Philadelphia[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-94[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]2/27/18[/TD][TD]@ Milwaukee[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 107-104[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]2/28/18[/TD][TD]Golden State[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 101-109[/TD1][/TR1][/td1][/TABLE][TD1]
March 6-8
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]3/2/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 95-102[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/4/18[/TD][TD]Indiana[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 95-98[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/6/18[/TD][TD]Miami[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 117-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/9/18[/TD][TD]@ New Orleans[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 116-97[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/10/18[/TD][TD]@ Miami[/TD][TD]7:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 102-129[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/13/18[/TD][TD]Minnesota[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 111-116[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/14/18[/TD][TD]@ Boston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 125-124[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/17/18[/TD][TD]Indiana[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 109-102[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/21/18[/TD][TD]@ San Antonio[/TD][TD]9:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 90-98[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/23/18[/TD][TD]Denver[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 100-108[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/25/18[/TD][TD]New York[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 97-101[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/27/18[/TD][TD]San Antonio[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 116-106[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]3/29/18[/TD][TD]@ Detroit[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 92-103[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]3/31/18[/TD][TD]Charlotte[/TD][TD]3:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 107-93[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
April 1-5
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]4/1/18[/TD][TD]@ Chicago[/TD][TD]3:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 94-113[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/3/18[/TD][TD]@ Houston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 104-120[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/5/18[/TD][TD]@ Cleveland[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 115-119[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/6/18[/TD][TD]Atlanta[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 97-103[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/10/18[/TD][TD]Boston[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 113-101[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/11/18[/TD][TD]@ Orlando[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 92-101[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
Playoffs
[TABLE][TR][TH]Date[/TH][TH]Opponent[/TH][TH]Time[/TH][TH]Result[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]4/14/18[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]5:30 PM[/TD][TD1]L 106-114[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/17/18[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 119-130[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/20/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]8:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 103-122[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/22/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]6:00 PM[/TD][TD1]W 98-106[/TD1][/TR1][TR][TD]4/25/18[/TD][TD]@ Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 98-102[/TD1][/TR][TR1][TD]4/27/18[/TD][TD]Toronto[/TD][TD]7:00 PM[/TD][TD1]L 102-92[/TD1][/TR1][/TABLE]
[h2]Laissez Faire[/h2]
In a time of extreme polarization, characterized by the burgeoning gulf between rich and poor, the Washington Wizards cling to their working class identity. Their team, which fell just one game shy of reaching last year's Eastern Conference Finals, was built by traditional means, through the draft. After qualifying for the playoffs in 2008-2009, Wizards fans endured five years of abject misery, as the team compiled a record of 117-277 (For comparison, in the five seasons since the 76ers last made the playoffs, they went 109-301.) In return, the Wizards converted four top-five overall draft selections into John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, and future hard trivia answer Jan Vesely*. To some, they are thus the last bastion of purity in the "super team" era.
The Boston team Washington faced in last year's playoffs will return just four players, adding Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, #3 overall pick Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, and Aaron Baynes. The reigning Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers lost Irving, but added Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Isiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Jeff Green.
The Wizards, by comparison, added Jodie Meeks, Mike Scott, Tim Frazier, and Carrick Felix. Last year's annual Grunfeld-preservation trade acquisition, Bojan Bogdanavic, signed with Indiana. In other words, they stood pat.
For many, the capital consolidation of the NBA signifies a competitive failure. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and, when players like Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade or Derrick Rose can make more money off the court ring chasing than they could by signing larger contracts for less successful teams, cynics fear that the league's lesser organizations will serve as little more than farm teams and schedule fodder, Washington Generals-style opponents for the NBA's aristocracy. Hometown loyalists worry they'll never see a championship parade trundle through the streets of their once proud cities. Why bother, Utah, when your franchise player leaves for Boston? What's the point, Portland, when you play in a Western Conference so imbalanced that it's prompted the dissolution of the Eastern Conference All Star Team? What's the fun in being an "also ran?"
The system is broken.
Is it, though?
The Wizards tried and failed to recruit their own "super team" in free agency, and will undoubtedly try again. Years of terrible trades left their cupboard empty when Oklahoma City, last year's poster child for the plight of small markets, acquired All Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony for Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Enes Kanter, and Doug McDermott. Minnesota, another small market, landed Jimmy Butler in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kriss Dunn, and the #7 overall pick.
The Wizards' "organic" losing seasons already rival those of the Sixers shameless tanking strategy in terms of standings and winning percentage. Is it a sign of integrity that the team refrained from "red shirting" their top picks to lose even more, or could a team with a history of marginal attendance and nervous ownership truly afford to field an intentionally terrible product?
As a whole, the NBA's thirty teams raked in $5.9 billion in revenue last season. This summer, the Houston Rockets sold for a record $2.2 billion. Yet somehow, despite revenue sharing, nine teams still claimed to take losses last year. The Wizards, of course, were one of them.
The competition between the lines is surrounded by a competition outside of them. For the sake of fairness, the NBA helps losing teams compete in future seasons through its draft system and salary cap. Through revenue sharing and monopolistic regional exclusivity, the league also helps bad organizations compete in spite of themselves.
If a player can't hack it on the court, they're left to ply their trade overseas. If an organization can't compete, they're propped up by the league itself. As hometown fans, we're stuck with them, as we are regional cable companies.
Can it really be considered a competitive failure for bad organizations to consistently fail - or is the league's true failing that all thirty franchises are insulated from their own failures?
Would making the business of basketball "idiot proof" truly result in better competitive balance?
What is a greater anathema to competition: for the best teams to receive the best talent via free agency, often at reduced cost, and thus perpetuate dynastic success, or for the worst organizations to be indemnified from their ineptitude, like AIG, Equifax, or Bank of America? Competition is a sham in a society where the likes of Eric Trump inherit, rather than earn, wealth and power.
The NBA has attempted to create a bubble of fairness in an unfair world, a gyroscopically stabilized level playing field. While the league can limit the salaries of its brightest stars, it cannot govern their earnings outside of basketball. Similarly, while the league can ensure that no other viable professional franchise can compete with the Wizards regional monopoly, fans in 193 countries have no geographic rooting interest. Why should fans in Cleveland cheer for the Washington Generals when they face the Harlem Globetrotters? Why should fans in Shanghai cheer for the Washington Wizards when they play the Golden State Warriors?
The concentration of capital has become a perverse form of fiscal entropy. The league has found no meaningful way to counteract the cumulative competitive advantages conferred by wealth, and attempts to ensure the success of organizations despite the incompetence of their respective owners run contrary to the principles of competition.
The Wizards are, in essence, being priced out of a city helped gentrify. When Leonsis first invested in the team, he did so as a tech darling of the time. Now one of the league's poorest billionaires, Ted's "Monumental Sports" empire and its streaming media efforts seem as quaint by contemporary standards as his predecessor, Abe Pollin's, "family business" model for the team was in the 80's and 90's.
But there is still hope for the least of us. A decade ago, the Warriors were roughly the Left Coast counterpart of the Wizards. Small market teams are increasingly able to amass a global following through sustained excellence. Lesser owners have been undoubtedly tempted by Donald Sterling's golden parachute, and Ted Leonsis, now crying poverty, could easily alleviate his alleged financial woes by flipping a franchise valued at $550 upon its purchase in 2010 for upwards of $1 billion today. To that end, Laurene Jobs purchased 20% of the team this summer. At this rate, all of the league's teams will soon be owned by one of four mega-corporations in a decade or so anyway. Is that a future worth rooting for?
In today's NBA, the rich get richer - and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
*The Wizards 2009 draft pick, #5 overall, was, of course, traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Randy Foye and was not used to select, say, Steph Curry.[/td1]
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