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| John Wall takes his place among NBA all-stars with his Wizards languishing | John Wall takes his place among NBA all-stars with his Wizards languishing |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| TORONTO — A bleary-eyed John Wall ambled into a mezzanine-level room at the Hazleton Hotel in this Canadian metropolis’s Yorkville district Saturday afternoon wearing an outfit modeling his off-court affiliation changes in recent months: a Klutch Sports Group snapback cap, a Nike sweatsuit and Nike sneakers. A few hundred playing cards and a dozen basketballs were laid out on a table waiting for his autograph. He had just napped. | TORONTO — A bleary-eyed John Wall ambled into a mezzanine-level room at the Hazleton Hotel in this Canadian metropolis’s Yorkville district Saturday afternoon wearing an outfit modeling his off-court affiliation changes in recent months: a Klutch Sports Group snapback cap, a Nike sweatsuit and Nike sneakers. A few hundred playing cards and a dozen basketballs were laid out on a table waiting for his autograph. He had just napped. |
| “What’s up, John?” Wall was asked. | “What’s up, John?” Wall was asked. |
| “Sleep,” he said. | “Sleep,” he said. |
| Wall was the lone Washington Wizards representative in town to play in Sunday’s All-Star Game — a 196-173 West victory in which Wall had 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting while adding three rebounds and three assists. | Wall was the lone Washington Wizards representative in town to play in Sunday’s All-Star Game — a 196-173 West victory in which Wall had 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting while adding three rebounds and three assists. |
| “Yeah, I was trying to score. I told y’all I was going to try to score the ball. My first five minutes I was just being cool, and then I went for it,” Wall said. | “Yeah, I was trying to score. I told y’all I was going to try to score the ball. My first five minutes I was just being cool, and then I went for it,” Wall said. |
| It was his third straight appearance in the exhibition. Each experience has been unique. New Orleans two years ago was a blur of first-time events. Last year, he was voted in as a starter and welcomed with an exhaustive 72-hour stretch of appearances across gridlocked New York boroughs. | It was his third straight appearance in the exhibition. Each experience has been unique. New Orleans two years ago was a blur of first-time events. Last year, he was voted in as a starter and welcomed with an exhaustive 72-hour stretch of appearances across gridlocked New York boroughs. |
| He knew what to expect with this trip to Canada, and his schedule was barren. There was no Adidas signature sneaker to promote or fashion shows to attend. The inactivity allowed for frequent treatments with a member of the Wizards’ training staff, more time with family and friends and some shut-eye. But there was one distinction souring the festivities: his Wizards’ substandard performance this season. | He knew what to expect with this trip to Canada, and his schedule was barren. There was no Adidas signature sneaker to promote or fashion shows to attend. The inactivity allowed for frequent treatments with a member of the Wizards’ training staff, more time with family and friends and some shut-eye. But there was one distinction souring the festivities: his Wizards’ substandard performance this season. |
| “You get asked questions about why y’all’s season is not going so well,” Wall said . “It kind of takes away from some of the fun because the expectations we had as a team and I had as being a leader of getting us somewhere. We’re not accomplishing that right now.” | “You get asked questions about why y’all’s season is not going so well,” Wall said . “It kind of takes away from some of the fun because the expectations we had as a team and I had as being a leader of getting us somewhere. We’re not accomplishing that right now.” |
| A six-year veteran, Wall has established himself as one of the league’s premier point guards. He’s averaging a career-high 20 points, shooting a career-best 35 percent from three-point range and is third in the NBA in assists per game, at 9.9. | A six-year veteran, Wall has established himself as one of the league’s premier point guards. He’s averaging a career-high 20 points, shooting a career-best 35 percent from three-point range and is third in the NBA in assists per game, at 9.9. |
| “It’s crazy how much he’s developed throughout the years,” Boston Celtics all-star point guard Isaiah Thomas said. “Every year, he’s gotten better. They said he couldn’t shoot. They said he was out of control. And now he’s shooting at a high level. He’s under control. He’s still probably the fastest guy in the NBA, and he’s just an unbelievable talent.” | “It’s crazy how much he’s developed throughout the years,” Boston Celtics all-star point guard Isaiah Thomas said. “Every year, he’s gotten better. They said he couldn’t shoot. They said he was out of control. And now he’s shooting at a high level. He’s under control. He’s still probably the fastest guy in the NBA, and he’s just an unbelievable talent.” |
| [Brewer: Finally, Kobe Bryant can be one of the guys] | [Brewer: Finally, Kobe Bryant can be one of the guys] |
| Wall has played in all 51 games despite various nagging injuries, including a bruised right knee he suffered in Thursday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and tendinitis in his left knee that has regularly flared up since his season at Kentucky. He doesn’t want to take a game off but said he might need to soon. | Wall has played in all 51 games despite various nagging injuries, including a bruised right knee he suffered in Thursday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and tendinitis in his left knee that has regularly flared up since his season at Kentucky. He doesn’t want to take a game off but said he might need to soon. |
| “It’s funny when I see people miss games because of tendinitis,” Wall said. “I laugh.” | “It’s funny when I see people miss games because of tendinitis,” Wall said. “I laugh.” |
| But Wall’s individual prowess has not propelled Washington to the prosperity anticipated following consecutive trips to the second round of the playoffs. The Wizards are 23-28 with 31 regular season games remaining. They’re three games behind the Charlotte Hornets (27-26) for the final playoff spot in the East. The clock is ticking, but Wall insists there is enough time left. | But Wall’s individual prowess has not propelled Washington to the prosperity anticipated following consecutive trips to the second round of the playoffs. The Wizards are 23-28 with 31 regular season games remaining. They’re three games behind the Charlotte Hornets (27-26) for the final playoff spot in the East. The clock is ticking, but Wall insists there is enough time left. |
| “For one, we had the second-hardest schedule this season in the first half,” Wall said. “We showed glimpses of what we can be. Beating good teams and competing against the best teams. We just got to be able to do that the last 31 games. And I hope everybody understands where we’re at. I know people didn’t come to our team to have a losing season and take a step backwards. We got to be able to put everything to the side and compete for these last 31 games. They’re going to go by fast.” | “For one, we had the second-hardest schedule this season in the first half,” Wall said. “We showed glimpses of what we can be. Beating good teams and competing against the best teams. We just got to be able to do that the last 31 games. And I hope everybody understands where we’re at. I know people didn’t come to our team to have a losing season and take a step backwards. We got to be able to put everything to the side and compete for these last 31 games. They’re going to go by fast.” |
| Injuries ravaged the Wizards’ roster for much of the season, but they are nearly at full strength. Their most pressing concerns, Wall and others have maintained, remain defense and rebounding. Washington ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency each of the previous three seasons but has tumbled to 21st this season. It ranks last in rebounding. | Injuries ravaged the Wizards’ roster for much of the season, but they are nearly at full strength. Their most pressing concerns, Wall and others have maintained, remain defense and rebounding. Washington ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency each of the previous three seasons but has tumbled to 21st this season. It ranks last in rebounding. |
| “I think it’s a lack of focus,” Wall said. “Not being prepared. I also think at times when we’re not making shots, our defensive effort drops, and that’s the most important time in the basketball game when you have to have defensive effort.” | “I think it’s a lack of focus,” Wall said. “Not being prepared. I also think at times when we’re not making shots, our defensive effort drops, and that’s the most important time in the basketball game when you have to have defensive effort.” |
| Wall highlighted off-ball defense and leadership as two areas in which he needs to improve over the final stretch, which resumes with games on three consecutive nights beginning Thursday against the Utah Jazz in Washington. Numbers and the eye test suggest he is a worse defender this season — he ranks 13th among point guards in defensive real plus-minus after finishing fifth last season — which has often put the Wizards’ defense in a bind. | Wall highlighted off-ball defense and leadership as two areas in which he needs to improve over the final stretch, which resumes with games on three consecutive nights beginning Thursday against the Utah Jazz in Washington. Numbers and the eye test suggest he is a worse defender this season — he ranks 13th among point guards in defensive real plus-minus after finishing fifth last season — which has often put the Wizards’ defense in a bind. |
| “I think just with me leading the charge, everyone should follow,” Wall said. “Sometimes if I’m missing shots, I have to show a strong head and not show too much emotion and keep competing, and hopefully everyone follows that.” | “I think just with me leading the charge, everyone should follow,” Wall said. “Sometimes if I’m missing shots, I have to show a strong head and not show too much emotion and keep competing, and hopefully everyone follows that.” |
| Washington was not expected to compete for a championship this season. The goal was to remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, perhaps advance to the conference finals after two straight second-round exits and catapult to title contender by signing a top-tier free agent — Kevin Durant, preferably — this summer to partner with Wall and Bradley Beal. | Washington was not expected to compete for a championship this season. The goal was to remain near the top of the Eastern Conference, perhaps advance to the conference finals after two straight second-round exits and catapult to title contender by signing a top-tier free agent — Kevin Durant, preferably — this summer to partner with Wall and Bradley Beal. |
| [Warriors’ ascent, Wizards’ woes hurt chances of luring Durant to D.C.] | [Warriors’ ascent, Wizards’ woes hurt chances of luring Durant to D.C.] |
| For salary-cap purposes, Washington opted for cheaper players with shorter commitments over adding impactful long-term pieces in recent years. As a result, the Wizards are in a holding pattern, with 11 players on expiring contracts. They decided they needed a star alongside Wall to compete for a championship instead of vying for a championship now. | For salary-cap purposes, Washington opted for cheaper players with shorter commitments over adding impactful long-term pieces in recent years. As a result, the Wizards are in a holding pattern, with 11 players on expiring contracts. They decided they needed a star alongside Wall to compete for a championship instead of vying for a championship now. |
| “I always think like that. I always say that in the back of my mind,” Wall said. “There’s nothing wrong with trying to improve the team. You got to do your best to get as close as you can to win a championship. But I also think you can’t throw what we did with me being a leader, Brad being another guy that’s been helping us and our coaching staff — you can’t throw what we’ve done the last two years down the drain. A lot of people are looking from the outside in probably saying this is a rebuilding year for us, which it shouldn’t be.” | “I always think like that. I always say that in the back of my mind,” Wall said. “There’s nothing wrong with trying to improve the team. You got to do your best to get as close as you can to win a championship. But I also think you can’t throw what we did with me being a leader, Brad being another guy that’s been helping us and our coaching staff — you can’t throw what we’ve done the last two years down the drain. A lot of people are looking from the outside in probably saying this is a rebuilding year for us, which it shouldn’t be.” |
| Wall said he doesn’t know whether they will make a trade before Thursday’s deadline but believes the team needs an athletic, physical big man. Ultimately, unless Washington pivots this week, not acquiring a star this summer could set the franchise back for at least another year and possibly leave Wall attending future All-Star Games as he this weekend: as the lone Wizards representative, team failure spoiling his individual accolades, his prime wasted on subpar clubs. | Wall said he doesn’t know whether they will make a trade before Thursday’s deadline but believes the team needs an athletic, physical big man. Ultimately, unless Washington pivots this week, not acquiring a star this summer could set the franchise back for at least another year and possibly leave Wall attending future All-Star Games as he this weekend: as the lone Wizards representative, team failure spoiling his individual accolades, his prime wasted on subpar clubs. |
| “I hope not,” said Wall, who added that he didn’t try recruiting other players this weekend. “I believe in everything they’re doing. They’ve been doing a good job of drafting people and adding free agents to the team and building around me, so hopefully it doesn’t go to waste.” | “I hope not,” said Wall, who added that he didn’t try recruiting other players this weekend. “I believe in everything they’re doing. They’ve been doing a good job of drafting people and adding free agents to the team and building around me, so hopefully it doesn’t go to waste.” |
| ●All-star notes: Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook had 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the West and was named the game’s MVP for the second straight year. Indiana Pacers forward Paul George had 41 points for the East, finishing one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record set in 1962. | ●All-star notes: Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook had 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the West and was named the game’s MVP for the second straight year. Indiana Pacers forward Paul George had 41 points for the East, finishing one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record set in 1962. |
| More NBA All-Star Game coverage: | More NBA All-Star Game coverage: |
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