5 numbers that define Washington Wizards’ 2019-20 season (so far)
By Ethan Smith
41.7: Wizards’ rebounds per game, worst in the NBA
Thoma Bryant has shown some promise as a young center, and Moritz Wagner is an entertaining charge-taker on the defensive end. Davis Bertans seems to play with a perpetual chip on his shoulder as he’s always ready to mix it up, but he isn’t banging down low on the boards.
While the Wizards have an All-Star backcourt, their frontcourt is far less formidable. Nowhere was that more obvious than in the rebounding department.
The Washington Wizards (along with the Detroit Pistons) averaged fewer rebounds per game than any other team in the NBA. Per contest, they got their hands on 41.7 rebounds. And this wasn’t merely because everyone was making their shots and there were fewer rebounds to go around.
While the Wizards are tied for pulling in the fewest number of boards, they are also near the top for giving up the most rebounds in the NBA, too. On average, the Wizards let their opponent get 46.3 rebounds per game. Only five other NBA teams surrendered more boards per game.
Like defense, rebounding should be a free agent and draft priority this offseason. The Wizards didn’t have a single player average seven or more rebounds last season. There’s a lot of room to improve.