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5 stats that show the Wizards’ hot start is no fluke

By Chase Hughes

5 stats that show Wizards' hot start is no fluke originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Though the Wizards took a tough loss in Atlanta on Monday night, they remain tied for third in the Eastern Conference at 5-2. That still marks their best start since the 2014-15 season and they can count wins against the Atlanta Hawks, who were in the Eastern Conference Finals just months ago, as well as the Toronto Raptors (5-3) and the Boston Celtics (twice).

Under new head coach Wes Unseld Jr., the Wizards have mostly looked like an improved team that plays with sound defensive structure and has the depth to withstand injuries. They beat the Hawks last week while missing three players who, if they were available, would have been in the starting lineup.

All in all, it has been an impressive start for the Wizards. And while some may wonder how legitimate their start has been, the early returns have been encouraging when it comes to the numbers. They are showing up well in just about all the most important categories and it should give fans belief that what they have shown so far will continue.

Here’s a look at the positives…

9th in net rating (+2.5)

It’s early enough in the season where the Wizards’ offensive and defensive ratings are fluctuating quite a bit game-to-game. After Monday’s loss, they are 10th in offensive rating (108.8) and 13th in defensive rating (106.3), both above average but their defense has shown signs of being better than that. Overall, though, they show up well in net rating at +2.5, ninth-best in the NBA.

The Wizards have slowed their pace down from first in the NBA last year to 24th and in doing so have achieved more efficient possessions. They are also tops in the league in free throw attempts (23.9/g) while the league as a whole is shooting fewer free throws than ever before in the NBA’s 75-year history, at 19.9 per team per game. The Wizards are also shooting the fifth-best free throw percentage (82.0). All of this suggests they are doing a good job of controlling the pace and also adapting to the league’s new standards for enforcing foul rules.

2nd in three-point defense

One of the most important areas the Wizards are shining in is three-point defense. They are second-best in all three of the major categories; three-pointers allowed (9.0/g), attempts allowed (30.4/g) and percentage allowed (29.4%). That is a huge jump from last year when they ranked about league average and a massive improvement from the year before when they were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA.

Clearly, the wing defense the Wizards added in the offseason has helped. Guys like Spencer Dinwiddie, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Holiday and Kyle Kuzma have infused the team with size, length, quickness and willing defenders. Meanwhile, holdovers like Bradley Beal and Deni Avdija have shown improvement.

2nd-lowest turnover percentage (12.7)

Also near the top of the list of positive signs is the Wizards’ ability to protect the ball. This is also likely a result of slowing the game down and also, of course, not having the league leader in giveaways (Russell Westbrook) anymore. The Wizards are second in turnover percentage and sixth in turnovers per game (13.3/g).

The Wizards don’t beat themselves and that is always a difficult trait for opposing teams because it gives them little to work with. It cuts down on fastbreak opportunities. Dinwiddie being seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.8) is a big reason for why.

10th in rebound percentage (50.7)

While the Wizards were likely to improve at protecting the ball with Westbrook’s departure, it was a legitimate question how they would replace his rebounding. Unseld Jr. said rebounding was a big point of emphasis in training camp and the preseason. He has to be pleased with how things have gone because the Wizards are 10th in rebound percentage, seventh in defensive rebound percentage (79.5) and eighth in total rebounding (48.3/g). 

The Wizards do not have a single player on their roster who averaged more than 6.2 rebounds per game last season, but this year has been completely different. Kuzma has been the biggest contributor, averaging a career-high 11.0 boards per game which ranks 11th in the league. But Montrezl Harrell (9.9 rpg) has also been great and so have Beal (5.5 rpg) and Dinwiddie (5.3 rpg). Amazingly, in addition to Kuzma, all three are averaging career-highs.

4th-highest RPI (.569)

Beal remarked after Monday’s loss that he viewed the Wizards’ first 10 opponents this season as playoff teams. While the standings don’t reflect that yet, there’s no question they have had no gimmes. The worst team they beat is probably the Indiana Pacers and they still have loads of talent and now Rick Carlisle as their head coach.

The schedule has indeed been difficult. The Wizards rank 4th in ESPN’s RPI metric, which accounts for opponent win percentage, and they are 12th in strength of schedule. Now, anyone who has watched this team over the years will know that the bad teams are sometimes just as big a test as the good ones. They have had a tendency to play up and down to their opponents. So, perhaps we will learn a little more about them later this month when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans.

Areas for improvement

The Wizards have not been perfect by any means and there are some problems they will want to clean up. One would be three-point shooting offense. They are 20th in threes made (11.1/g), 19th in attempts (34.0/g) and 18th in percentage (32.8). They need guys like Beal (22.9%) and Davis Bertans (33.3%) to shoot better and it will also help to get Thomas Bryant back in December.

As a result of their three-point shooting, the Wizards are 20th in effective field goal percentage (50.5). They are sixth in points per game (112.4), but could improve their efficiency.

But overall, the Wizards are performing well in just about all the areas you would want for a basketball team. Unseld Jr. is putting it all together sooner than anyone thought and suggests their current trajectory will continue.

Awe, appreciation around LeBron James’ milestone in Washington

By Andrew Gillis
Awe, appreciation around LeBron’s milestone in Washington originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonLeBron James made his historic moment befitting of his exceptional career. James came into Saturday’s game against the Wizards with a nagging left knee injury, fresh off a 45-minute performance the night prior. With a trip to Cleveland, near his hometown of Akron, on Monday, it lined up perfectly for him to rest his knee and sit out. Instead, the 37-year-old put on one of his signature performances. He scored 15-straight second quarter points for the Lakers, which launched him into second place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and ahead of Karl Malone. He finished the night with 38 points, and despite the Wizards’ 127-119 win, it was a moment both Lakers and Wizards fans could appreciate. “Just a signature performance in a game where he passes one of the greats and becomes the second all-time leading scorer in the history of the game,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “It’s really impressive, I’m super happy for him and it’s awesome.”James caught fire in the second frame and, for whatever the Wizards threw at him defensively, it wasn’t enough to slow him down. He heated up from 3-point land and hit a few ridiculous shots before his lay-up pushed him into second place. “Just to be a part of this league for as many as I’ve been a part of it and be linked with some of the greatest to play this game, guys that I’ve either watched or studied or read about, or aspired to be like, I’m honestly just lost for words for it,” James said.The moment called for a standing ovation, and the jumbotron at Capital One Arena showcased the milestone before a packed house. The game stopped for a brief moment, which allowed everyone in the arena to applaud James for his accomplishment. "He had another milestone, which is incredible,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “We have to appreciate him while he's here and still playing and putting up those kind of numbers and playing at this level, which is absolutely out of this world. Hat off to him and what he's been able to do in his career.”Despite James’ outstanding night, though, the Lakers’ offense was inept when James wasn’t on the floor. He and Russell Westbrook combined for 60 points, as well as 26 of the team’s 48 made field goals. That still didn’t diminish the historic night for James, at least not for his teammates.“To be able to play the game at a high level for so many years, and to be able to embrace everything that’s came his way along his journey, it’s an amazing feature just to witness overall and to see him constantly keep climbing up the ladder,” Westbrook said. “That’s pretty crazy to see that he’s able to have that many points over so many years. It’s a great accomplishment.”It was a unique night at Capital One Arena, and while the Wizards left with a win, many in attendance will remember seeing James move into second place for years down the line.“I remember when I was younger I used to look at the list and be like, ‘Dang, nobody catching Karl Malone, nobody catching Kareem,’” Carmelo Anthony said. “Take your hat off to LeBron for what he’s able to do and what he’s been doing.”
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