Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Wizards are averaging more than 100 hundred points per game, one of only four teams to achieve such lofty status. Compared to last year's 91.8 average, when 17 teams averaged more points than Washington, that's a terrific improvement on the offensive end. But defensively, the Wizards have lapsed. Last year, they gave up 97.4 points per game on average. This season they are giving up 102.4. To be sure they have narrowed the difference from a deficit of 5.6 points on average to just 1.9, but there is still some work to be done on the defensive end.
Currently, Washington's defense, as measured by the opponent's field goal percentage, is the fourth-worst in the league. Washington allows opponents to hit 46.7 percent of their shots. The Wizards, meanwhile, are hitting only 42.1 percent, with only six teams doing worse.
It is almost a miracle that Washington has a winning record with such horrendous field goal percentage numbers, both their own and their opponents. In fact, it is a direct consequence of the amount of free throws they get. They are averaging 24.2 made free throws a game, third best in the league, behind only the Jazz and the Lakers. The Wizards are good at penetrating in the half court offense to a position that gets them to the line, and that is what is keeping them in games.
What to do? How to improve both the defense and the offense? Here's a hypothesis: more steals. Head coach Eddie Jordan helped run the Nets and he saw first hand that an improved defense will also lead to an even better offense, as fast breaks start with solid defense. Getting more hands into passing lanes will help disrupt both the opponent's opportunities and at the same time great very high percentage shots for the Wizards in the open court.
Good theory, false in practice. The Wizards are already the NBA's top team in steals per game, averaging 10.22, the only team in double digits. So it's not that they need more steals.
Perhaps the problem is rebounding? Though the Wizards collect a respectable 40.55 rebounds per game, their opponents tend to grab 45.33. That 4.77 board differential is the third worst in the NBA.
Maybe the answer is fewer steals? Steals are good only when they work. If the defender goes for a steal and misses, it's suddenly a five-on-four game for a few seconds, and that can result in slightly higher shot percentages.
A mystery with no clear and decisive answer but with many clues. No, it's not the Da Vinci code: it's the Washington Wizards.
NEXT GAME
The Wizards (5-4) return to the court TONIGHT when they host the Toronto Raptors (4-6). See if Washington can keep pace with Orlando and Miami in the tough Southeast Division. The tip-off is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. Eastern start. The game will be broadcast on NBA TV and News Channel 8. Tickets are still available for this game at the MCI Center.
TEAM NOTES
Tune into WTOP every weekday at 7:17 a.m. and 5:17 p.m. as the Wizards discuss topics on and off the court. On Monday, the team's resident movie expert Gilbert Arenas caught up with NBC4's Arch Campbell to talk about the critically acclaimed Ray.
INJURY UPDATE
Kwame Brown(foot surgery),Etan Thomas(abdominal injury), andLaron Profit(left knee tendinitis) are on the injured list. Brown and Thomas are not expected back until December.
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: When Washington Wizards seventh-year forward Antawn Jamison was a rookie at Golden State struggling with his confidence and his limited role on the team, friend and former North Carolina teammate Vince Carter was his sounding board. Nearly every day, Carter would be on the other end of the phone helping Jamison through his difficult times with advice and encouraging words. Six years later, Jamison and Carter have reversed roles."We've been talking every day and I've been listening," Jamison said. "My main thing is that he has to enjoy what he's doing. Because now, he's not enjoying it at all. You can just see it."
Chuck Conconi ofThe Washingtonianinterviews Susan O’Malley, "one of the area’s most powerful women.": When she became president of Washington Sports & Entertainment and the Washington Bullets/Wizards in 1991, she also became the first female president of an NBA franchise and is now head of Abe Pollin’s MCI Center and sports-and-entertainment company.
Bill Wagner ofThe Capitalwrites: An impressive list of friends came out to support Patsos, who spent 13 years as an assistant to Gary Williams at Maryland. Among those in attendance were Boston Celtics legend Red Auerbach, former Maryland star and current Washington Wizards guard Juan Dixon and former Terps assistant Billy Hahn.
Greg Couch ofThe Chicago Sun-Times writes:"The NBA is promoting closeness and intimacy with the players,'' said Robin Ficker, the notorious Washington basketball heckler."The Wizards even had a promotion to see who could win a date with Brendan Haywood. And people have courtside seats that are the equivalent of having people sit inside a boxing ring during a fight, with alcohol. "I never swore. I never threw anything. Players would throw things at me. The Warriors threw Gatorade, cups and towels on me after they lost, and I looked up and said, 'I was the only thing you hit all night.' I didn't start throwing haymakers. Meeting the force of a beer shower from a fan with a punch is excessive.''