Wizards guard speaks up after Jordan Poole’s season-worst game

Wizards guard Jordan Poole, who’s off to an inconsistent begin along with his new group, had his worst recreation of the season on Friday, scoring simply eight factors on 2-of-11 capturing and committing 5 turnovers in a 21-point loss to New York. His scoring common for the season is at 15.5 PPG on .392/.278/.813 capturing, effectively beneath the marks he posted throughout his final two seasons in Golden State.

After the loss, Tyus Jones mentioned that he and the remainder of the Wizards try to ensure that Poole stays constructive, and expressed confidence that issues will flip round earlier than lengthy for his backcourt accomplice.

“I believe he’s most likely placing just a little an excessive amount of stress on himself,” Jones mentioned (X video link through Hoop District). “Nevertheless it comes from a spot of caring and eager to be nice and eager to succeed, eager to play effectively for not solely himself however for his teammates, for the town, for the group. It’ll work itself out. He’ll be good.”

Veteran ahead Kyle Kuzma
took to social media to voice his settlement with Jones’ evaluation, responding to his teammate’s quotes with the “100” emoji.

Right here’s extra out of D.C.:

• Chatting with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Jones mentioned he’s attempting to make the Wizards’ entrance workplace “look good” for buying him and giving him a chance to be a place to begin guard for the primary time in his profession. He additionally mentioned he’s attempting to not deal with his 2024 free company as he performs out a contract yr. “I like the place I’m at. I like what we’ve got right here in D.C.,” Jones mentioned. “I like the longer term and what this could possibly be. I wish to be part of that. I’m wanting ahead to doing so.”
• Scotto additionally spoke to Danilo Gallinari in regards to the veteran ahead’s want to symbolize Italy within the 2024 Olympics and the way for much longer he’d prefer to proceed his NBA profession. “So long as my legs are beneath me, I wish to play,” the 35-year-old mentioned. “While you love basketball a lot, in your head, you wish to play till you’re 70, however in fact your legs usually are not going to be there. So long as my legs are there, my thoughts is all the time going to be able to go and be aggressive. I simply want my legs, and I’ll be good.”
• Rookie ahead Bilal Coulibaly has impressed the Wizards along with his defensive effort this season and handed one other huge take a look at this week when he held his personal towards Luka Doncic in Wednesday’s loss to Dallas, writes Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network.
• In a separate story, Hughes takes a have a look at what Landry Shamet – acquired from Phoenix in the summertime’s Bradley Beal blockbuster – has delivered to the Wizards, noting that his fast launch has added a brand new factor to the membership’s second unit.