Wizards Have Important Late-Game Decisions to Make

And since this team has grown so likely to fumble any advantage they're provided, the Wizards' coaching staff, once allowed to tank in peace while rounding up assets, has started drawing some questions as to which generation to favor in the clutch. Either the young guys get the ball in their hands or veterans like CJ McCollum get to try taking the team home, but their attempts to work together have not worked.

Weighing the Options

McCollum is certainly more seasoned in the clutch than young ball-handlers like Kyshawn George or Bub Carrington can say for themselves, but his 42 points to drag the Wizards to the brink in the first place were overshadowed by another shoddy overtime performance, where he shot 1/5 and failed to record an assist despite the hefty on-ball reps.

He's the most proven hand they've got in these close situations, but this isn't the first time he's gone cold with ample chances to pull ahead. He was similarly at the forefront of Washington's collapse when the Wizards hosted the Philadelphia 76ers two weeks ago, shooting 0/3 in overtime and getting swatted at the rim twice.

George and Alex Sarr could use the end-of-game reps better than anyone, and the franchise would greatly appreciate their growing comfort in crunch time. But that, too, is a tough jump for the coaching staff to make, even with McCollum's wild inconsistencies.

George missed the crucial free throw that would have pushed the lead to four entering the final seconds, while Sarr went 0/2 from 3-point range in overtime without doing much to challenge the rim. Carrington fell asleep as Jenkins' defender to end regulation, and got abused on defense all night despite the positive shooting and passing performance.

The players of the future have the most to gain from these experiences, which may not come very often to a team that now leads the NBA in losses. But at the same time, they have to win some of these games eventually so as to not install losing habits, and the vets may have something still left to teach the prospects with their end-of-game conduct. It's a tough decision for head coach Brian Keefe to balance, as he now faces 10 times as many losses as wins entering November's halfway point.