With the Chicago Bulls winning 115-107 over Washington on Tuesday night, the Wizards disappointing start to the 2020-21 season reached a new low. Previously, Head Coach Scott Brooks‘ squad posted three losses against two playoff caliber teams in Philadelphia and Orlando. Washington held a fourth quarter lead in each of these games. Not that moral victories are celebrated, but these were close games. At the very least it felt like a foundation to improve over a long season.
Against Chicago, this was hardly the case. The game was ugly. Both teams committed bad turnovers, forced bad shots, and displayed poor body language. The Bulls played slightly less ugly and they pulled out a win.
So what’s going on in the Nation’s Capital? Already it appears that Brooks has kindled a flame beneath his chair. Bradley Beal seems disgruntled, and both Russell Westbrook and Davis Bertans look out of sorts. Is a four game skid a big deal in the grand scheme of things? Over 72 games, not really. However, the worst time to drop four straight contests is either at the beginning of the season or in a playoff series.
This is small sample size theater, but let’s explore the, albeit early, Wizards disappointing trends.
Bryant and Westbrook Do Not Shoot Free-Throws
Entering Tuesday, Thomas Bryant took one free-throw during the first three games of the season. He missed that lone attempt. Against Chicago, Bryant went 2-5 from the charity stripe. Thus far, the Wizards starting center has shot a ghastly 33-percent on six attempts.
It’s apparent that Westbrook is easing into the season. At age 32, and with four knee surgeries under his belt, that’s okay. It’s to be expected. All that aside, the nine-time all-star is on pace to shoot a career-low number of free-throws. He appears to be shooting more midrange jumpers, and driving less to the basket. The triple-doubles are nice, but Westbrook is evidently not cutting into the teeth of the defense as much as he should. That’s a big concern, and another Wizards disappointing development.
If a team’s lead ball-creator and center shoot a ton of free throws, the offense will hum. Right now, it is too inefficient an occurrence.
Beal is Shooting Too Many Midrange Jumpers
Only about a quarter of Beal’s field goal attempts come from behind the arch. And his 6.3 attempts per game would match his lowest average since 2016. Consequentially, he has shot only 24-percent on his three point attempts. This figure would also represent a career low.
Is Beal shooting less three-pointers because the ball is going in less frequently or is he shooting a poor percentage because he’s shooting more off-the-bounce field goal attempts than ever before? Nonetheless, he could stand to cut down on his diet of long-two pointers.
Look at James Harden! Well, perhaps he’s not the best role model, but look at his shot chart; three-pointers, lay-ups and free throws. That’s his formula to average 35 points a game. Beal could stand to take a page from his book, and take more efficient attempts.
Stop Playing Three Point Guards!
Will be interesting to see how Brooks works the lineups as we get into the second quarter (no three point guards please?) #WizMagic | #DCAboveAll
— WizardsXTRA (@WizardsXTRA) December 27, 2020
Through four games, Brooks has shown an affinity for playing a three-point-guard lineup. Through 12 minutes as a tandem, the Ish Smith-Raul Neto-Westbrook trio is undoubtably putrid.
Because Neto and Smith are undersized, it presents too many defensive mismatch opportunities for the other team. And on offense, the results are worse. Smith and Westbrook can’t shoot three pointers. This not only kills spacing and flow, but the lineup is oftentimes utilized with Robin Lopez on the court. That’s too many non-viable, non-spacing dinosaurs to play at the same time.
Brooks needs to fossilize this combination and eliminate it fast.
Stop Fouling!
I’m manifesting a low foul half for the wizards rn ?? pic.twitter.com/wiD1ygVnxP
— Becca Winkert (@BeccaMVP) December 30, 2020
The Wizards are committing more fouls per game than any team in the NBA. This is the mark of death from poor conditioning and defensive discipline.
Teams who foul too regularly will not only allow the opposing unit opportunities to cash-in from the free throw line, but they also offer the opponent time to reset their offense. It’s a snowball effect. Either the defense allows easier chances to score, or they spend more time on defense and exert more energy on that side of the court than they should.
Oftentimes, players who are out-of-shape are more prone to foul. Why? Because they’re getting beat off the dribble and resorting to swipes and reaches at the ball. Perhaps the fouls will decrease as Bertans, Westbrook, and others play themselves into shape. Maybe they’ve been officiated tight by referees. That being said, the defense is so bad that I’m not reserving them the benefit of the doubt. This Wizards disappointing trend is likely to continue.
A League-Best Fast Break Defense? Relax. These Numbers are Empty Calories
Beal had a wide-open 3-pointer to make it a 7-point game but missed, then the Wizards give up an easy layup in transition the other way. Probably ballgame.
— Jason Patt (@Bulls_Jay) December 30, 2020
By some divine miracle, the Wizards are allowing a league-best 0.58 points per play in transition.
Huh? How did this happen? I’m not going to lie, I expected this figure to be much higher.
I’m compelled to believe that the only explanation for that number, is that Washington opponents are not capitalizing on their fast break opportunities through four games. As such, this number will likely regress to the mean. Sorry to be a buzzkill! Perhaps it’s a small sample size. Maybe I’m wrong.
What’s Missing Without Rui?
Per Coach Brooks, Rui Hachimura WILL play tomorrow against Chicago.#WizBulls | @rui_8mura pic.twitter.com/vuzCc8BqOQ
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 30, 2020
In the midst of Wizards disappointments, some good news finally sprung from the ashes. Second-year forward Rui Hachimura will return to the lineup against Chicago tonight.
Hachimura started in each of his appearances last season and posted averages of 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. He brings a dynamic face-up isolation element to the offense, which exploits switch-happy defenses. Although a below-average three-point shooter last season, Hachimura exhibited an improved stroke during the preseason.
At the very least, his return to lineup might forecast the end of a three-point-guard combination.
Fewer Wizards disappointing losses are to come, I think. Well, I hope. Let’s cross our fingers and pray.
