After Thursday’s 118-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Washington Wizards dropped to a .500 record at 15-15. They’re 5-12 in their last 17 games since starting the season 10-3 and climbing to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Just how did the Wizards fall this far? Statistically they’re becoming one of the worst teams in the league, especially on offense. Their inability to score highlights their slump.
The Wizards are now 25th in the league in scoring, averaging 105.5 points out of 30 teams. Their offensive efficiency is 22nd. Their 32.3% shooting from three is 28th, making a league-low 9.8 threes per game.
What makes their numbers look worse is the Wizards style of play. They’re also 28th in pace. Last season, Washington was first in the league. Last year they had a speedy backcourt of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal under then-head coach Scott Brooks.
This season, they’re led by head coach Wes Unseld Jr. and Spencer Dinwiddie has replaced Westbrook at point guard. The slower pace can easily be attributed to the switch at point guard, and a less-aggressive Dinwiddie.
Outside of Bradley Beal, where is the offense coming from? Dinwiddie? Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope? Montrezl Harrell? Kyle Kuzma? None of them are averaging at least 13 points.
Even Beal is not exempt to the struggles, as he is averaging 22.8 points per game. It’s his lowest total since 2017-2018. And he is shooting a career-low 27.9% from three. He’s never finished a season shooting lower than 34.9% from three.
Unseld Jr. was quoted as saying “It’s frustrating when you’re able to create the offense you’re looking for, and you don’t get the payoff. So there was a lot of frustration with that, and I thought it affected our efforts and energy, our focus on the other end,” per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post following Monday’s loss at Denver.
The Wizards are also struggling on defense. Washington is currently allowing the second-most points in the paint. They’re yielding 49.2 points in the paint. Only Sacramento gives up more.
Contribute their inability to read cuts down low and make adjustments to stop it. A night after giving up 68 points in the paint to Sacramento, the Wizards yielded 58 to the Suns.
JaVale McGee and Deandre Ayton owned the paint. The Wizards made no adjustments to stop them. Ayton and McGee combined for 24 points in the paint.
Phoenix fed both bigs in the paint and they scored off a combined 12-of-19 shooting. Even when Washington rotated the defense to key in on them the pair kicked the ball to the outside. Ayton finished with four assists. McGee had two.
Ayton and McGee owned the boards too, as the Suns outrebounded the Wizards 47-32.
Wizards center Daniel Gafford didn’t show up this game, with 0 points, 5 rebounds, and a block. While their rebounding numbers are close to last season, the Wizards have had a drop-off in comparison of the rest of the league being 21st in rebounding.
Another byproduct of not having Westbrook. Washington will hope to improve on the boards, scoring and three-point shooting when Rui Hachimura (personal reasons) and Thomas Bryant (torn ACL) return.
Fortunately the Wizards have enough time to turn their season around. But maybe a roster turnaround is due? The entire roster is now eligible to be traded, including players added this offseason.
The trade deadline is less than two months away on Feb. 10. Can there be improvements available? The Wizards head to Utah for Saturday’s game, currently seventh in the Eastern Conference.
