With the Washington Wizards staggering to an 0-4 record — two coming to the mediocre Orlando Magic, one to the moribund Chicago Bulls — it’s tempting to echo head coach Scott Brooks’ bromides about it being a long season. Giving into that temptation would be a mistake.
At 0-4, the Wizards should be in a full-on panic. The history of teams that start this poorly should have everyone associated with the Wizards scared that they’re on the verge of a catastrophic failure. They should be studying film, optimizing lineups, shortening rotations, putting in extra work — maybe even holding a players-only meeting.