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As curtain lifts on NBA stretch drive, Wizards have their work cut out As curtain lifts on NBA stretch drive, Wizards have their work cut out
(about 4 hours later)
When Washington Wizards Coach Randy Wittman addressed his players before their first post-all-star break practice Wednesday, not many words were required to communicate what is at stake over their final 31 games, beginning Thursday night with their rescheduled matchup against the Utah Jazz at Verizon Center. When Washington Wizards Coach Randy Wittman addressed his players before their first post-all-star break practice Wednesday, few words were required to communicate what is at stake over their final 31 games, beginning Thursday night with their rescheduled matchup against the Utah Jazz at Verizon Center.
The entire room understood. A club with heightened expectations, of competing for the Eastern Conference crown, is in a situation it never would’ve imagined through 51 games. They are rubbing shoulders with lottery-bound clubs in the standings, sitting in 10th place, three games removed from the final playoff spot, and have just eight weeks to reverse course to secure a third consecutive playoff berth. The entire room understood. A club with heightened expectations, of competing for the Eastern Conference crown, is in a situation it never would have imagined through 51 games. The Wizards are rubbing shoulders with lottery-bound clubs in the standings, sitting in 10th place, three games removed from the final playoff spot, and they have just eight weeks to reverse course to secure a third consecutive playoff berth.
“I know they understand,” Wittman said. “They all know. Even before I had to say anything. You know where you’re at and what we’re trying to do. And all those guys being here the last two years and getting a taste of that, want to get back.” “I know they understand,” Wittman said. “They all know. Even before I had to say anything. You know where you’re at and what we’re trying to do. And all those guys being here the last two years and getting a taste of that want to get back.”
[For Wizards, trade deadline is fraught with complications][For Wizards, trade deadline is fraught with complications]
Before the six-day all-star break, the Wizards (23-28), despite a very similar roster, didn’t look like the team that advanced to the second round of the postseason each of the past two years. Offense isn’t the problem. Their shift to almost exclusively using a three-point shooter at power forward to manufacture more space and an up-tempo style has produced more than enough points on most nights. The issue is their defense. Before the six-day all-star break, the Wizards (23-28), despite a similar roster, didn’t look like the team that advanced to the second round of the postseason each of the past two years. Offense isn’t the problem. Their shift to almost exclusively using a three-point shooter at power forward to manufacture more space and an up-tempo style has produced more than enough points on most nights. The issue is their defense.
The Wizards are 21st in the NBA in defensive efficiency at 105.1 points per 100 possessions and last in rebounding at 39.8 boards per game. It is reversal from where they stood last season when they ranked fifth in defensive efficiency (100.0) and eighth in rebounding (44.1). To vault teams down the stretch, both areas must improve. The Wizards are 21st in the NBA in defensive efficiency at 105.1 points per 100 possessions and last in rebounding at 39.8 boards per game. It is a reversal from last season, when they ranked fifth in defensive efficiency (100.0) and eighth in rebounding (44.1). To vault teams down the stretch, both areas must improve.
“Rebounding number one and defending,” Wittman said. “Those are the two factors. I think too many times we worry about the other end too much. If we’re going to make a push, we’ve got to be better defensively these last 31 games and that includes rebounding the ball. Those two things. That’s going to determine whether we get in or not.” “Rebounding number one and defending,” Wittman said. “Those are the two factors. I think too many times we worry about the other end too much. If we’re going to make a push, we’ve got to be better defensively these last 31 games, and that includes rebounding the ball. Those two things. That’s going to determine whether we get in or not.”
[Steinberg: John Wall is in his prime — and the Wizards are wasting it][Steinberg: John Wall is in his prime — and the Wizards are wasting it]
Swingman Alan Anderson could help. Anderson, who hasn’t played a game this season after undergoing ankle surgery in October, practiced for the first time Wednesday and hopes to make his debut as early as Thursday. The Wizards signed the 33-year-old Anderson to a one-year, $4 million contract in July to add a defensive presence on the wing and they need any upgrade. Swingman Alan Anderson could help. Anderson, who hasn’t played a game this season after undergoing ankle surgery in October, practiced for the first time Wednesday and hopes to make his debut as early as Thursday. The Wizards signed the 33-year-old Anderson to a one-year, $4 million contract in July to add a defensive presence on the wing, and they need any upgrade.
“I’m a veteran player that plays both ends of the ball,” said Anderson, who participated in the entire session Wednesday except for a few drills at the end. “Talkative, positive. We need any positivity we can get.”“I’m a veteran player that plays both ends of the ball,” said Anderson, who participated in the entire session Wednesday except for a few drills at the end. “Talkative, positive. We need any positivity we can get.”
Forward Jared Dudley theorized that Washington’s troubles derive from leaky on-ball defending, particularly on the perimeter. When opposing guards attack the paint, they force the Wizards’ big men to rotate, which often creates a detrimental domino effect:Forward Jared Dudley theorized that Washington’s troubles derive from leaky on-ball defending, particularly on the perimeter. When opposing guards attack the paint, they force the Wizards’ big men to rotate, which often creates a detrimental domino effect:
[Latest rumors as NBA trade deadline approaches Thursday][Latest rumors as NBA trade deadline approaches Thursday]
Either open shots are generated beyond the three-point line (Washington allows opponents to shoot a league-high 38.7 percent from beyond the arc) or easy rebounding opportunities are available against a usually undersized Washington frontline that starts the 6-foot-7 Dudley at power forward. Either open shots are generated beyond the three-point line (Washington allows opponents to shoot a league-high 38.7 percent from beyond the arc) or easy rebounding opportunities are available against a usually undersized Washington front line that starts the 6-foot-7 Dudley at power forward.
“If we can improve not even 50 percent, 30 percent defensively, we’ll be fine,” Dudley said. “For us, it’s a really good wing player, really good guards that have hurt us. Every team has that.” “If we can improve — not even 50 percent — 30 percent defensively, we’ll be fine,” Dudley said. “For us, it’s a really good wing player, really good guards that have hurt us. Every team has that.”
While the Wizards are not overly concerned with offensive rebounding — they’d rather retreat on defense to avoid easy transition points — defensive rebounding is crucial for their success. Not only does grabbing a rebound end an opponent’s offensive possession, defensive rebounds often launch transition opportunities where Washington thrives. To compensate for their small front court, perimeter players need to crash the boards. While the Wizards are not overly concerned with offensive rebounding — they would rather retreat on defense to avoid easy transition points — defensive rebounding is crucial for their success. Not only does grabbing a rebound end an opponent’s offensive possession, defensive rebounds often launch transition opportunities on which Washington thrives. To compensate for their small front court, perimeter players need to crash the boards.
“Everybody has to come back and rebound and understand we’re a small lineup,” Wizards point guard John Wall said. “At times we don’t do a good job boxing out our man first and then going to get the ball. We try to out-jump people or try to just wait until the ball is going to drop into our hands. It’s not going to work that way. Only if you’re 7 feet [tall] and dumb athletic is it going to happen that way.” “Everybody has to come back and rebound and understand we’re a small lineup,” Wizards point guard John Wall said. “At times we don’t do a good job boxing out our man first and then going to get the ball. We try to outjump people or try to just wait until the ball is going to drop into our hands. It’s not going to work that way. Only if you’re 7 feet and dumb athletic is it going to happen that way.”
The Wizards could become more athletic in the front court with an acquisition by Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, which is what Wall said they could use for their stretch run — and another stretch-four. If the Wizards remain inactive, they believe they have the pieces to contend in an Eastern Conference that has four games separating sixth and 10th place, and a few contenders — namely the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks — dealing with significant injuries and trade deadline uncertainty.The Wizards could become more athletic in the front court with an acquisition by Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, which is what Wall said they could use for their stretch run — and another stretch-four. If the Wizards remain inactive, they believe they have the pieces to contend in an Eastern Conference that has four games separating sixth and 10th place, and a few contenders — namely the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks — dealing with significant injuries and trade deadline uncertainty.
It starts with a brutal stretch of three games in three nights Thursday.It starts with a brutal stretch of three games in three nights Thursday.
“The opportunity’s there for us,” Wittman said. “What are we going to do? We got to dedicate ourselves for eight weeks and 31 games and see where we can take it.” “The opportunity’s there for us,” Wittman said. “What are we going to do? We got to dedicate ourselves for eight weeks and 31 games and see where we can take it.”