i95Ballerz.com/Sportgroove Wizards Blog: Effort Aint There

Ron Bailey, Publisher

February 4, 2008 – Wizard’s coach Ed Tapscott is one of the best quotes in the NBA, as he routinely mixes the subject of his team’s play with historical and relevant topics, all delivered via a hyper-vocabulary and advanced communicative style. Simply put, the guy is an orator that backs his verbosity with intelligence. He’s the type of cat with which you want to talk to about any and everything.

After last night’s disappointing 113-97 loss to the dreadful Memphis Grizzlies, a team that before the game managed a 12 game losing streak, Tapscott was neither philosophical, necessarily witty, or positive, which is his wont. It was clear his buttons had been pushed. To the hilt.

“That was the worst effort I’ve seen us give, probably since I’ve been here” said a clearly ticked off Tapscott, who slid in the coaching position after the late November ouster of former head Wizard, Eddie Jordan.

It’s unclear whether he meant as coach or Director of Player Development, a job he assumed at the start of last season. Based on a fateful four-plus minute stretch in the third quarter, ‘Tap’ could have meant both: After JaVal McGee’s (11 points, 7 boards) slam, the Grizzlies went on a 19-2, period closing run, producing amongst other things, five steals, two dunks and a three ball. Trailing 94-81 going into the fourth quarter, the game was essentially over. Caput. Done.

Tapscott went on to deride what he calls ‘hero ball’, or one guy getting out of the team context - whether that means making a bad pass, turning the rock over, or taking a horrible shot. “We had talked about playing solidly. We didn’t have to make hero plays” said the frustrated coach.

Resultantly, the team can expect a tough practice today, as Tapscott indicated he and his staff “will spend most of today and tomorrow trying to figure out why there was no hustle, no life” in addition to clearly defining expectations.

Falling back into a more contemplative bent, if only for a moment, towards the end of his presser Tapscott again touched upon effort. “As long as you don’t have to coach effort, you have a shot” he recalled a veteran NBA coach/front office exec saying to him, before later declaring “Effort is what you bring to the table as a professional”.

Ahhhh….sounds like some folks are being called out. Will we see better desire, more fight and at bare minimum a never say die attitude Wednesday night against the Nets? Wizardtonians better hope so, as the team whose gym sits on 7th street between F and H is last in the Eastern Conference at 10-38, and second worst in the league, besting only the lowly Clippers, who they beat Saturday.

Have things sunk that low to where that victory must even be mentioned? Apparently. Wednesday night is gut check time, the moment when your pride as a player, as a man, is tested. Like a boxer, bloody, wobbly, and slightly dinged up – the team has to answer the bell, dig down, and fight. Hopefully, win or lose, the Wizards will meet the challenge.