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Wizards: 5 Midseason Takeaways

By Colby Giacubeno

Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman coaches guard Bradley Beal (3) on the sideline in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman coaches guard Bradley Beal (3) on the sideline in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Washington Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 118-104. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) tries to get through the defense of Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) and forward Drew Gooden (90) during the second half in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) tries to get through the defense of Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) and forward Drew Gooden (90) during the second half in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Wizards 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Invisible Defense

Watching this season’s Wizards team compared to last season could be described as polar opposites. The Wizards were a top-10 defensive team last season, allowing 97.8 points per game.

They would use their defense to create opportunities for their offense, which is how the majority of above-average teams in the NBA approach their games. But this season, they are giving up 104.1 points per game, good enough for 24th in the NBA.

The only player that they lost this offseason who played significant minutes was Paul Pierce, and he isn’t the defensive stopper that he once was back in his Boston Celtics days, so what happened?

A change of philosophy has taken its toll on this team. As Randy Wittman revealed the small-ball lineup putting Pierce at the power forward position for last year’s playoffs, it showed how dangerous the Wizards could actually be if they were able to master the pace-and-space game plan.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out in their favor and the time that was spent implementing this during training camp cut massively into the time that should’ve been spent working on things such as defensive rotations.

The backcourt defense has been a glaring weakness thus far and skilled NBA guards are exposing the Wizards every opportunity they get. Dion Waiters poured 25 on the Wizards earlier in the season, Isaiah Thomas has been the Wizard-killer, leading his team to a 4-0 season sweep, and Wesley Matthews tallied a career-high 36 in the nation’s capital.

Those are just to name a few big performances from backcourt players around the league that have feasted on Washington’s lack of defensive presence.

If Washington has any intentions of making a playoff push in an improved Eastern Conference, it will start on the defensive end of the floor.

Next: 3. Injury Bug Bites Again

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