Hoops Habit
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Where the Wizards top players can improve to help their playoff chances

By Collin Loring

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Bradley Beal #3 and Troy Brown Jr. #6 of the Washington Wizards celebrate after a play against the Utah Jazz during the game at Capital One Arena on January 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Bradley Beal #3 and Troy Brown Jr. #6 of the Washington Wizards celebrate after a play against the Utah Jazz during the game at Capital One Arena on January 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Bradley Beal – Defense

The Washington Wizards star guard has been phenomenal as of late, including a game-winner over the Dallas Mavericks. But where’s he lacking, where the team is lacking as a whole, starts and ends with their best player: defense.

Unfortunately, when Beal signed the highly anticipated two-year extension back in October, he signed on to be the leader of this group–at least while John Wall sits on the sidelines. And part of being the team’s leader, on and off the floor, is claiming responsibility. Well, it might be time.

The Wizards are a dreadful defensive team. And their star player has seemed rather uninterested in playing on that end of the floor. Now, sure, Beal is having to contribute 120 percent on the offensive end–we know this.

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But couldn’t coach Scott Brooks adjust the plan going forward, feature more of his teammates on offense, and preserve his star for when it counts? At times the offense can grow stagnant with Beal on the floor–players just kind of give him the ball and hope he works some magic.

Now, he’s definitely capable of that. But eventually, teams start to pick up on things like that.

It might benefit the Washington offense even more than the defense if Beal can pick up some slack on that end of the ball. He’s posting a career-worst 118 defensive rating this year.

Per Cleaning the Glass, the Wizards are allowing just 112.2 points per 100 possessions with Beal off the floor. As opposed to 120 when he’s on the floor. Woof.

The Wizards, if nothing else, feature a plethora of guys who can score the ball. So now, they don’t need their best player to be their best scorer (though he will inevitably). They need him to be their best defender to set an example for a team that has seemingly never played defense before.

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