To John Wall, his struggles on Wednesday night against Detroit were easy to explain. “Just not making shots,” Wall said. “That’s all I can say.” But the problems are much more complicated to anyone who saw his body language during and after a 96-95 loss to the Pistons. He threw his hands up after Trevor Booker dropped one of his first-half passes, angrily got back on defense after a teammate missed a shot, and sulked as he watched much of the fourth quarter on the bench. Afterward, Wall couldn’t hide his frustration and disappointment as he discussed after another poor performance. Wall had seven turnovers for the third time in his past seven games and missed 6 of 9 shots in the loss but didn’t acknowledge how that performance contributed to the loss. He the Wizards didn’t play like a team, as they did in previous games and blamed his miscues on his teammates being unable to catch his passes. “I don’t know,” Wall said, when asked about the reason for his seven turnovers. “I think you’re seeing the same thing I’m seeing, so I can’t really call it.” Coaches and players tried to help Wall break out of his funk during the game, but the wall he put up was impenetrable. “When he’s in a zone, he’s hard to get to sometimes,” rookie Bradley Beal said. “But that’s just the type of player he is. I’m kind of like that. I get frustrated and upset. You probably won’t hear from me about it, but it’s a learning process for him. It’s a learning process for me and everyone else. Sometimes, the older guys don’t have good games and we tell them to stick with it. They’ll either listen or not. It’s up to the player. You can tell him, but you can’t make him.” When Wall returned from a stress injury in his left knee in mid-January, the Wizards initially won because of his emotion, playmaking and high energy. He had a game-saving block against Denver, led a failed comeback in San Antonio and had a virtuoso performance against the New York Knicks, with Magic Johnson looking on.
Wizards’ John Wall remains in a funk
Published: Feb 28 2013 12:52:13 PM EST
Updated On: Feb 28 2013 12:52:14 PM EST
-
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting and The Sports Xchange. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- Rays place David Price on DL
- Report: Astros to name Nolan Ryan's son president
- Greinke makes victorious return to Dodgers
- Harper's face plant overshadows Nats' win
- Sale fires one-hitter against Angels
- Blue Jays' Johnson may return in June
- Kimbrel logs 100th save as Braves dump Giants
- Jays put Happ on DL after leaving hospital
- David Ortiz denies PED use
- Phil Jackson was in Seattle group's plan
- Maloofs reach deal to sell Kings
- Spurs hold off Warriors, advance to West finals
- Knicks defeat Pacers to stay alive
- Ex-NBA players union head Hunter sues association
- Memphis beats OKC, clinches series
- Heat beat Bulls, return to Eastern finals
- NBA keeps Kings in Sacramento, blocks Seattle move
- Pacers push Knicks to brink of elimination
- Marchard's OT goal lifts Bruins in Game 1
- Sharks' Torres suspended for second-round series
- Sharks' Torres faces hearing, possible suspension
- Blackhawks take opener with third-period surge
- Stars fire Gulutzan, Jerrard
- Crosby, Harding, McQuaid finalists for Masterton
- Rangers clobber Caps in Game 7 shutout
- Historic rally lifts Bruins in Game 7
- Boogaard's family files wrongful death suit




Comments