When their playoff run ended last season, the Wizards looked to be a team on the rise.
Six weeks into this season, they're still trying to get off the ground.
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The Wizards fell 107-105 to the lowly Pelicans on the road Friday, dropping to 9-12 on the season. They've lost eight of their last 11 games and have failed to put a winning streak together during that span.
So what has been the problem? John Wall got off to a poor start early in the season, but he's been coming around as of late. He has averaged 27.7 points and 9.8 assists per game in December and is back to playing at an All-Star level. He played Friday night without running mate Bradley Beal, who missed the game due to a right leg injury.
It's still early, but in an improving Eastern Conference, it will take more than just Wall and a middling record to get to the playoffs and beyond. In fact, if the playoffs started today, they'd be on the outside looking in.
For a team that has made the playoffs the past couple of seasons and was a few missed shots away from the Eastern Conference finals, that should be a wakeup call.
Tweet of the Night
Couldn't work any worse than whatever they're already saying to Steph Curry, right?
"You ain't Drake! ... Look at Vanessa Williams' son!" - Marlon Wayans on @CSNSTL on how he would trash talk Curry
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) December 12, 2015Stud of the Night
Curry may have led his team in points, but Draymond Green was the key to the Warriors' victory in Boston. Green scored 24 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out eight assists and came up with five steals and five blocks as the Warriors stayed perfect with a 124-119 double-overtime win.
Dud of the Night
The Bucks will need more from Jabari Parker than 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting if they are going to make another run at the playoffs.
Looking ahead
Spurs (19-5) at Hawks (14-10) 8 p.m. ET: The Hawks have been a bit uneven lately, going 4-6 in their last 10 games after a good start. A win over the Spurs always helps build confidence.