By halftime, the home fans let their voices be heard. They booed. And the boos were full-throated and they were justified.
The boos cascaded down as the Wizards trailed by 29 points after allowing the visiting Thunder to score 79 in the opening 24 minutes. By the fourth quarter, the boos were fewer, but only because the once packed arena was nearly vacant. With a 134-111 loss to Oklahoma City, Washington fell to 1-7 on the season.
While the above sounds bad, it was really much worse. The often effective offense is completelty undone by a terrible defense. The story is told in the plus/minus numbers: John Wall and Bradley Beal finished minus-16, Austin Rivers minus-14, and Kelly Oubre Jr. minus-30. An embarrassing defeat to a Thunder team playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Wizards, for their part, are not panicking yet.
"I'm not hitting the panic button. I'm not hitting it, and I don't think we are either as a team," Beal said after the game.
"I've been with the group for over two years. We're gonna stick together," coach Scott Brooks said.
Despite the poor start Brooks' job may be safe for now.
Asked this morning, and despite a horrible 1-7 start in which they’re giving up an almost inconceivable 123.9 ppg and sport a 115.9 Defensive Rating, the Wizards are not contemplating any coaching changes.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) November 3, 2018One bright spot was Dwight Howard, who in his Wizards debut scored 20 points on 7-of-8 from the floor in 23 minutes.
But the real story of the game unfolded on social media.
Bradley Beal just grabbed the clipboard from Scott Brooks during the timeout & went to the bench to discuss a play with his teammates. Dwight Howard leaned in to add his thoughts.
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) November 3, 2018Welp...
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) November 3, 2018Though the music is turned up to 100 here in Capital One Arena, you can still hear the boos and the "You Suck!" hisses as the #Wizards walk off the court, down 79-50 at halftime.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) November 3, 2018Wizards trail 79-50 at halftime after game was tied 30-30 -- and after that road swing.The Wizards have 15 turnovers. Last season they had 55 games with 15 or fewer turnovers.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 3, 2018The Wizards are just an embarrassment on defense. Overall, too, but especially on defense.
— Jerry Brewer (@JerryBrewer) November 3, 2018Morris just had to yell at Oubre mid-play to come play the defense against Westbrook properly.
— Todd Dybas (@Todd_Dybas) November 3, 2018The Wizards are an utter disaster. This hurts to watch. Turn it off! Please! https://t.co/citSmg5ZyZ
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 3, 2018Bill Simmons led the chorus of those in the media clamoring for the Wizards to "blow up" the roster and start over: trade Wall, Beal, Porter, and anybody of value.
Rick Pitino is available. Please hire him tomorrow. This can't get worse. #DCFamily
— --Broc-- (@BrocPlymin) November 3, 2018What part of the Wizards championship gameplan was a 1-7 start? #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/ZTGxhvIums
— Hoop District (@HoopDistrictDC) November 3, 2018Nothing sums up the Wizards' night quite like the picture they tweeted of Wall to announce the final score.
Final from D.C. #WizThunder | #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/VcxTPJjhQn
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 3, 2018This is the dictionary definition of forlorn. The look of somebody who has lost his puppy. Or their will to keep on carrying on. (Whatever you do, don't Google Wall's contract extension.)
Eight games down, 74 to go.
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