Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma-led Wizards are EMBARRASSMENT, not worthy of being NBA franchise, rants Stephen A Smith

Stephen A Smith did not hold back during his criticism of Wizards.

Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma-led Wizards are EMBARRASSMENT, not worthy of being NBA franchise, rants Stephen A Smith

Stephen Smith, Poole and Kuzma (via NBA & ESPN)

The Washington Wizards, currently holding the 14th position in the Eastern Conference standings with a 3-15 record, have faced a challenging season. Although they broke a nine-game losing streak with a victory over the Detroit Pistons, a setback occurred with a 139-120 defeat against the Orlando Magic.

Amid a rebuilding phase this season, the Wizards faced a setback as they lost three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. While the team anticipated the challenging nature of this season, the unexpected abysmal extent of their struggles became apparent. Now, Stephen A Smith has expressed straightforward opinions on their poor performance this season. Despite acquiring Jordan Poole, traded by the Golden State Warriors, positive fortunes have not yet materialized.

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Stephen A Smith did not hold back in his criticism of the Washington Wizards, he said:

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The Washington Wizards are an embarrassment. Bradley Beal couldn’t wait to get out of there, Porzingis couldn’t be happier. The fans there deserve so much better than the product that they are being given. It’s just not even a worthy NBA franchise to be quite honest with you. They’re just not a good team, and I know that they’re rebuilding and they’re retooling, you got new leadership in there.

The Washington Wizards face a challenging matchup as they travel to the Amway Center in Orlando to take on the in-form Orlando Magic. The Magic currently hold the 2nd position in the Eastern Conference standings, signifying a significant gap between them and the struggling Wizards. It’s a test for the Wizards against a team performing well this season.

Wizards leaky defense – A cause for alarm

The Washington Wizards are on a concerning trajectory, potentially heading towards becoming the worst defense in NBA history with their current defensive ratio of 120.1. With only three wins this season, their defensive struggles are evident. In the recent loss to the Orlando Magic, they gave up a 60.7% success rate on 51 of 84 field goal attempts and a 63% success rate on 17 of 27 three-point attempts, underscoring the defensive challenges they face.

Wizards' Kyle Kuzma and Spence Dinwiddie
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) and guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26). (Image via Washington Post)

Kyle Kuzma is worried about his team’s defense, especially after letting the Orlando Magic score 30+ points every quarter. This reveals the team’s frustration and awareness of their struggle to stop opponents from scoring regularly. Fixing these defensive problems will probably be a top priority for the Wizards going forward. Kuzma stated:

We can't guard a stop sign. That's kind of really what it boils down to. We let anybody get whatever they want on us. So, until we change that, then that's probably going to be the result.

The San Antonio Spurs have the NBA’s worst defensive record at 120.0, highlighting a challenging season for the Washington Wizards and their fans. Unless a significant shift occurs, they face formidable competition in the league, compounded by defensive struggles.

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