Wizards Get Desperate as They Seek Help From the Fans

ESPN Insider is running a contest for the Washington Wizards. Fans can submit an inbounds play for the team to use during an actual game. Contestants submit their play to ESPN by Wednesday December 23 and a panel of experts will then choose the best and give it to the Wizards.

No doubt many fans have felt frustration over the Wizards' lack luster performance this season. I can certainly understand the feeling of watching a team and knowing you can do better, that is partly the motivation for this blog, but this is simply appalling. Head coach Flip Saunders is being paid $18 million to design these plays. He has an entire coaching staff to design these plays. If he can't figure out a way for the team to get the ball inbounds, then he can't coach the team. Period. What does this say about the state of the Wizards? Can you imagine this happening with the Lakers or the Celtics? Absolutely not. This contest reeks of desperation.

There isn't much the Wizards stand to gain from this contest, other than actually managing to get the ball inbounds without turning it over, but it clearly shows that this team has no idea what they're doing.

The Wizards aren't going to find hidden coaching talent somewhere among their fan base through an in bound play. I don't see what they gain from this contest other than scrutiny from real teams. Best case scenario is that they receive a well drawn up play that works a few times. That's it. The Lakers manage to keep filling the stands without stupid contests. This doesn't give much hope to an already skeptical fan base. It seems as if Saunders is already throwing in the towel after only 25 games. If a fan can help the team get the ball in bounds, that is a sign of Saunders inability to coach more than anything else. A contest such as this is a sign shows to the rest of the NBA how bad the Wizards really are.