Wizards Dire Defense Needs to Improve

The Washington Wizards defense is coming off a season-worst performance.

Nov 13, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) lays in a basket over Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (8) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards defense has allowed 107 or more points in every game so far this season, including in the team's last game against the San Antonio Spurs, where they surrendered 139.

Last year's No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama dropped 50 on the Wizards, showing that there is a desperate need to get things turned around.

Wizards coach Brian Keefe explained what he thinks the key is to improving the defense.

“The key is the stops,” Keefe said. “That's what you got to have consistency throughout the game. That's something we got to keep getting better at. But when we get stops, we're hard to guard, because we can play and we can pass and we can shoot, so good, that's how we got that run to start with our defense.”

In their loss against the Spurs, the Wizards couldn't catch a break. The Spurs shot 52.2 percent from the field, including north of 40 percent from beyond the 3-point line. During the fourth quarter, the Spurs scored 41 points and it seemed like the Wizards couldn't get a stop to save their lives.

Every possession brings on a new opportunity, and the Wizards can't allow poor effort or an open shot from the previous go up the court to affect them in the next.

Rebuilding teams often struggle to find any rhythm on defense, and the Wizards are clearly no different. Eventually, the defense will have to get better over time in order for the Wizards to start winning games, and if they can add more emphasis to that end of the floor, they may be able to snap their losing streak.

The Wizards are back in action tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from State Farm Arena.

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