Defense might win championships, but for the Washington Wizards, a lack of defense has won them an unenviable spot at the bottom of the NBA standings.
A rare 107-99 win on Monday night over the Brooklyn Nets saw the Wizards (10-47) hold an opponent under 100 points for the first time this season. They were the last of the NBA’s 30 teams to hit that benchmark this year.
It was the latest ignominious low point for a young Washington squad that has struggled to find a defensive identity in coach Brian Keefe’s first full season at the helm.
“We’re still learning chemistry with the new guys,” Keefe said after Monday’s win. “But that didn’t stop us from staying competitive and staying with the game. We really won the game tonight with our defense.”
The efficiency numbers for Washington’s defense paint a stark picture, one that casts in sharp relief a historically terrible defense.
No NBA team has allowed more points per game than the Wizards this season and their 118.1 defensive rating ranks among the 20 worst outputs since 1974, according to Statmuse.
Despite showing some promising traits, Washington’s rookies have struggled to make an impact on defense.
Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, was expected to be a factor as a shot blocker and rim defender. He ranks 11th in the league with 1.6 blocks per game, but the more holistic defensive metrics haven’t been as kind.
Opposing players convert more than 50% of their shots within three feet of the basket when matched up with Sarr, according to NBA analytics. By that metric, Sarr is among the five worst defensive seven-footers in the league.
The poor performance can’t be solely attributed to Sarr’s inexperience, either. Fellow rookie Donovan Clingan of the Portland Trail Blazers has held opponents to 43% shooting in the same range.
Guard Bub Carrington, Washington’s second of three 2024 first-rounders, hasn’t fared any better. His 119.8 defensive rating ranks fifth-worst among players who have appeared in at least 25 games this season.
With nowhere to go but up, there’s reason for optimism for Washington. The franchise added former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart at the trade deadline; he was widely expected to provide a needed veteran presence in the District.
The early returns from Smart’s two games in a Wizards uniform were promising. He’s nabbed three steals and connected on 66.7% of his shot attempts while acting as a spark plug on defense.
“There is some people that kind of probably slept — I haven’t played in a couple years consistently, and they probably forgot about me — which is cool. I’m used to it,” Smart said, referring to his many injury woes since the Boston Celtics traded him in 2023. “I still do what I do.”
The Wizards return to action at home on Wednesday night against the Trail Blazers.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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