D-Fence

[tontoz]

Like a lot of people I have noticed a big improvement in defense lately. Just out of curiosity i went back and looked at the numbers since the trade, comparing what teams scored to what they average.

Miami scored 95, they average 101. (-6)
Charlotte scored 75, they average 92. (-17)
Chicago scored 87, they average 100. (-13)
San Antonio scored 94, they average 106. (-12)
Houston scored 100, they average 105 (-5)
Indiana scored 90, they average 97. (-7)

Over the last 6 games the Wizards are holding their opponents to 10 ppg below their average. Unfortunately they haven't fully capitalized in the win column due to playing some tough teams and not being able to finish in the 4th quarter (some dubious coaching in there as well).

Still it is good to see that kind of trend. They are showing a lot of energy on the defensive end.

[DaRealHibachi]

I wonder if Arenas was really *that* bad on D... We do look miles better without him, nothing much to be said...

But whether it's his fault or not, credit goes to our players for great effort & rotations on defense... We're going through an amazing stretch of defense being played, even when we lose (4 outta last 6) or can't shoot for sh*t... (tonight)

Go Wiz!!!

[Hoopalotta]

Last I checked - and that was before Indy, obviously - we were up to 23rd in defense as far as points per 100 possessions. Before the trade I think we were 25th or 26th, so we're moving up steadily there.

Actually, to get up to 19th in defensive efficiency, we'd have to trim just 0.8 points off the opponents tally per 100 possessions. Definitely doable.

[TGW]

Lose Arenas, bring in Howard and Lewis. It's a big difference. Instead of Arenas guarding shooting guards at 6'3, you have a long-armed 6'7 Nick Young. And you bring in Howard, who's an excellent defender, and Hinrich guarding opposing point guards -- that there is a pretty solid defensive rotation.

It's our interior defense that needs work, although Javale is getting a little bit better.

[nate33]

Like a lot of people I have noticed a big improvement in defense lately. Just out of curiosity i went back and looked at the numbers since the trade, comparing what teams scored to what they average.

Miami scored 95, they average 101. (-6)
Charlotte scored 75, they average 92. (-17)
Chicago scored 87, they average 100. (-13)
San Antonio scored 94, they average 106. (-12)
Houston scored 100, they average 105 (-5)
Indiana scored 90, they average 97. (-7)

Over the last 6 games the Wizards are holding their opponents to 10 ppg below their average. Unfortunately they haven't fully capitalized in the win column due to playing some tough teams and not being able to finish in the 4th quarter (some dubious coaching in there as well).

Still it is good to see that kind of trend. They are showing a lot of energy on the defensive end.

Great point, tontoz

I absolutely love this new look team. They are so close to turning the corner. The team plays defense every night and that's going to mean a lot more consistency than we're used to. Even in the "glory days" of Eddie Jordan, we were wildly inconsistent because we were so dependent upon our scorers to outscore the opposition in a shootout.

We were tied up at 44 while shooting 29% from the field. When has THAT ever happened?

[sfam]

Its not just Arenas. The intensity from everyone is FAR different than previously. I'm going to give both Kirk and Howard credit for this. Both of them just flat out give it their all on D. That rubs off. So yeah, having a star like Arenas who gives the wrong counter-example on the floor hurt, but getting rid of him was necessary, but not sufficient.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

I think a lot of the props has to go to Josh Howard. His defense seems to be infectious. Also, Rashard has surprised me on the defensive end. He's still a poor defender, but he gets into the lane and draws charges. I think he's the first guy on the Wizards in the last 3 years who tries to draw charges on a regular basis.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Like a lot of people I have noticed a big improvement in defense lately. Just out of curiosity i went back and looked at the numbers since the trade, comparing what teams scored to what they average.

Miami scored 95, they average 101. (-6)
Charlotte scored 75, they average 92. (-17)
Chicago scored 87, they average 100. (-13)
San Antonio scored 94, they average 106. (-12)
Houston scored 100, they average 105 (-5)
Indiana scored 90, they average 97. (-7)
Over the last 6 games the Wizards are holding their opponents to 10 ppg below their average. Unfortunately they haven't fully capitalized in the win column due to playing some tough teams and not being able to finish in the 4th quarter (some dubious coaching in there as well).

Still it is good to see that kind of trend. They are showing a lot of energy on the defensive end.

tontoz, this is a great. I have been blinded by the losses to what is a fine trend.

The two fourth quarter adjustments in the win over Indy were putting in an offensive spark player, Martin, plus a guy who defends and can run the court in transition, Booker. Washington went from grinding out a close, low-scoring game to winning the fourth 32-23.

If they keep defending it is only a matter of time before they win as many as they lose.

[Hoopalotta]

After Indy, we're now the 21st rated defense at 106.1 PP100P, which is up six slots in six games.

[Soup's Uncle]

Last night, I noticed that they run some long lineups. Long and quick. You got Wall, Young, Lewis Blatch & McGee in, or Wall, Young, Howard, Blatche & Mcgee or Wall, Young, Howard, LEwis & Blatche.

That's a lot of speed, length and athleticism. Lots of deflections, blocked shots, and just overall quickness. Nick Young looked great on D last night. Wall (to me) always looks good. He does do a lot of gambling, and pays for it from time to time, but even watching him go after in bounds passes is impressive. He never seems to let up. He seems to really like being a pest on D. If we can have somewhat of a defensive mindset like we did last night, we could win a lot more games then we are.

I realize it's the Pacers, but they did a good job keeping Granger in check, and Hibbert out as well.

[dlts20]

I dont think its Arenas as much it has been a combination of us not playing small, awkard lineups anymore, and us holding the ball longer on Offense. The Wall-Gil or Gil-Kirk- or Wall-Kirk and espically the Wall-Gil-Kirk things wasnt going to work defensively. Its too small and causes way too many mismatches. With NY at the 2 its just going to be a much better defensive lineup. You then add in Howard and bring in another big like Lewis who makes us alot bigger then our D will get alot better

[nate33]

I dont think its Arenas as much it has been a combination of us not playing small, awkard lineups anymore,

But that's just it. Indirectly, it IS Arenas; or rather, it's the fact that in order to play Arenas together with either Wall or Hinrich, we must necessarily gut our defense. (And frankly, our defense wasn't so good even with Arenas at point and all those long athletes alongside him.)

The defense is better now because we're starting Young at SG, because we have Howard to set the tone with his intensity, and because Blatche is playing like he gives a damn now. We may also have a case where McGee is actually watching film on the opposition to give him an edge.

[Soup's Uncle]

According to WI, McGee watched film on Hibbert.

[Zonkerbl]

I think this is mostly a result of switching out Arenas for Howard, basically. Although Arenas' defense, to my eye, didn't seem as bad this year as it had been in the past. But starting your best one on one defender (pre-Howard) at the SG in N1, and getting a premier defensive stopper in Howard at the three, is a very good thing. That makes the big's defensive assignments much less complicated, which helps Javale. Frankly I don't have a problem with Blatche's defense. He's an enormous step up from Jamison.

So satisfying to have a team that sucks on offense instead of defense. Because when that kind of team finally improves its offense enough to make the playoffs, it will win more than its record indicates it should.

Now if we can just stay healthy...

[dobrojim]

so we're moving up at the rate of a slot per game defensively and
are now still below average but poised to move into the middle third
of the pack. Me likes.

[Halcyon]

I like this trend, it shows that our team has more talent defensively and a better mindset about it as well. I don't think anybody on the team is an excellent defender, but be solid everywhere with a couple of extreme-talents like McGee and Wall and I think we'll continue to be average/above average.

Once the offensive pieces settle in and are comfortable with each other, I think we'll start to win more games.

[dobrojim]

^ I like the positivity but I'm not sure I would characterize
Wall and McGee the way you did. They both have physical
talents that could enable them to be excellent, or at least
good, defenders. At this point, I'm not sure either is
getting anywhere near the ultimate in results from
their gifts. But as we all know, they are both young
and could improve.

[Halcyon]

Right. At this point I would say those two guys are our X-factors on defense, both gamblers in different ways but can both lead to easy baskets in transition, but on the other hand they can both give up easy shots due to taking chances too frequently. If they can become more sound defensively and pick learn how to pick their spots, they can both be game changers on defense.

Every good defensive team is solid all around, plays good team defense and has one or two elite guys. Most positive trend right now is Nick Young is looking more and more like a consistent wing defender, who isn't a self-check on offense. Having a veteran group like Howard and Hinrich who actually give energy into playing defense should be a good example for guys like Young and Wall.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I like this trend, it shows that our team has more talent defensively and a better mindset about it as well. I don't think anybody on the team is an excellent defender, but be solid everywhere with a couple of extreme-talents like McGee and Wall and I think we'll continue to be average/above average.

Once the offensive pieces settle in and are comfortable with each other, I think we'll start to win more games.

I think Howard is a very good defender and so is Nick. I think Wall's best defense is the pressure he puts on opposing defenses with his drives to the basket and trips to the line. If Wall stays healthy And Nick remains the PG the Wizards backcourt is set to improve the rest of the season. With Howard and Kirk as a backup the perimeter defense will go from terrible to far above average.

I expect Blatche is going to find his shot. I think Howard will play like he's in a contract year, and will start scoring effectively. McGee will continue to improve.

I think the Wizards can play at or above .500 the rest of this season.