The Washington Wizards fell to 2-6 on the season after dropping a game in San Antonio 92-79 on Wednesday night. Nene was especially frustrated after the loss, not just because his Wizards were blown out in the fourth quarter, but because of the difference he saw between the teams’ approaches.
The veteran big man doesn’t think the Spurs have more talent than the Wizards, but he believes they play the game the right way — with a team mentality, rather than as a bunch of individuals who want stats.
“They kicked our butts in the most classy way — playing the right way,” Nene vented after the loss, via the Washington Post. “It’s crazy, that’s what makes me mad. Our young guys think they’re so smart. But if I was young, I would watch video of that game for one week to see if I could learn something, because the way they play is how you’re supposed to play.
“They not talented as us,” he continued. “They have great players, a great team, but the way they execute things, the way they cut, the way they exploit weaknesses, swing the ball. They don’t think about stats. We still think about stats. Our young guys must take their heads out their butts and play the right way, because I’m getting tired of this.”
The Wizards haven’t won in San Antonio since 1999, so a win wasn’t exactly expected. But when you see a team beat you that badly and in that manner, it opens your eyes.
As for Nene’s assertion that the Wizards have more talent than the Spurs, I disagree with that. But all teams could stand to benefit from approaching the game similar to the way the Spurs do.
