The Wizards are in the midst of an 8 game losing streak. The organization started the season with a 12 game losing streak and has somehow compiled two losing streaks equaling 20 losses in just their first 24 games. What's more concerning is that the 7-win Charlotte Bobcats currently hold/ are floundering in the longest losing streak at 16 games. Injuries, poor drafting and marquee free agents reluctance to sign with perennial under-achievers contribute every season to disparity in the NBA.
But what teams, like the Wizards and Bobcats, really illustrate is that there are not 150 (30 teams x 5 starters) NBA-quality basketball players. (Or more likely there probably are around 150 and maybe slightly more but many players that would thrive on the Wizards or Bobcats prefer a bench role on more talented and promising teams.) On their current rosters, the Wizards have 4 former NBDL players and the Bobcats have 3 that contribute significant minutes. While other teams rely on DL alumni there seems to be an indirect correlation between NBDL-alumni minutes played and winning percentage.
No matter what the number of teams there will always be cellar-dwellers however the Bobcats and Wizards present evidence that there is some combination of an inadequate supply of healthy, NBA-quality basketball players and/ or demand of such players to join such struggling organizations.
But what teams, like the Wizards and Bobcats, really illustrate is that there are not 150 (30 teams x 5 starters) NBA-quality basketball players. (Or more likely there probably are around 150 and maybe slightly more but many players that would thrive on the Wizards or Bobcats prefer a bench role on more talented and promising teams.) On their current rosters, the Wizards have 4 former NBDL players and the Bobcats have 3 that contribute significant minutes. While other teams rely on DL alumni there seems to be an indirect correlation between NBDL-alumni minutes played and winning percentage.
No matter what the number of teams there will always be cellar-dwellers however the Bobcats and Wizards present evidence that there is some combination of an inadequate supply of healthy, NBA-quality basketball players and/ or demand of such players to join such struggling organizations.
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