Washington Wizards: Different team, similar results

Jordan Crawford, the only healthy player on the roster capable of creating his own shot off the dribble, comes off the bench. The most talented offensive player in the starting unit is Bradley Beal, a rookie who turned 19 less than five months ago.

“The NBA doesn’t care about injuries,” Wittman said. “It all comes down to wins and losses. That’s got to be our thought process during this, and this team can do it, if we do the things we’re capable of doing and do it in the right way. Our guys have to realize if we play to our potential good things will happen to this team.”

The Wizards waived Jannero Pargo on Thursday and brought back Shaun Livingston, who was released by Houston two weeks ago after the Rockets pulled off a deal for James Harden. Livingston appeared in 26 games for Washington in 2009-10 — the season before the team drafted Wall — and his arrival, while not expected to be an answer, at leads adds a veteran presence.

Okafor and Trevor Ariza, a duo making more than $43 million over the next two seasons, were brought in to provide stability and a veteran leadership to a youthful roster, but Wittman has failed to play them beyond the the third quarter of four games.

Second-year forward Jan Vesely, the sixth pick of the 2011 draft, has gone scoreless in his past two games and has shot so poorly from the foul line (1 of 9) that Crawford tried to dupe officials and shoot free throws for him during a 16-point loss in Charlotte.

Beal is experiencing the ups and downs of the NBA, sandwiching three impressive games between two bad ones. In his past two games, he has shot just 4 of 25 and scored a total of 16 points.

“I beat myself up, because I know I could’ve did better than what I did. Really, it’s upon myself to do it,” Beal said after the Wizards’ 107-101 loss to Dallas. “Easier said than done. I have to find a way to get going.”

So do his teammates. The roster might not be stacked with talent, but the players have created difficult situations for themselves. They rely heavily on three-pointers without having many serious threats from long distance. They go through several scoring droughts but refuse to attack the rim for layups for free throw opportunities. Wittman has complained about his team not getting respect from officials but the Wizards are last in the league in field goal attempts within eight feet.

Crawford said the defeats have not deflated his spirits or confidence.“I’m never down on myself. I don’t think nobody on the team is. I think everybody’s enjoying the opportunity that they’re getting, even though losing, it’s a hard time.”

The Wizards haven’t suffered as many embarrassing, blowout defeats as last season, but when asked if he was upset or encouraged that the team has been competitive, Ariza said, “Every loss [stinks]. They all feel the same. We’ve got to find a way to win.”