The Wizards are off to a 1-5 start this season, but head coach Scott Brooks doesn’t appear to be on the hot seat at this point, writes Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. According to Haynes, Brooks continues to have the “full support” of the organization.
The Wizards managed to eke out an overtime win in Portland last Monday, but have lost the rest of their games this season, including home contests against the Heat and the Kawhi Leonard-less Raptors, as well as road games against the Kings and Clippers.
As Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes, the club’s defense has been historically bad so far, having surrendered 750 points through six games (125.0 PPG). No team has given up that many points through six regular season games since the 1990/91 Nuggets. The Wizards are hoping that Dwight Howard – who is expected to make his debut with the team this week, per Haynes – can help stabilize the defense a little, but one player can only do so much.
Austin Rivers, who referred to the team’s defense as “horrendous” after Sunday’s loss, said that Brooks is putting the Wizards in position to succeed and that the club’s early-season struggles on “not on” the head coach (video link via Ben Golliver of SI.com). John Wall and Bradley Beal spoke over the weekend about some players on the team possibly having their “own agendas.”
While the Wizards’ position on their head coach could change if their struggles continue, it appears Brooks will get every opportunity to right the ship. He still has three years left on his five-year, $35MM contract, Haynes notes.