Washington Wizards: 3 must-have traits for the next head coach
By Ethan Smith
Must-have Trait #3: Defensive Acumen
Strategically, there is no denying what has been the Washington Wizards’ biggest weakness over the past few seasons. They have been bad on the defensive end. Like really bad. Although they improved slightly this past season, their rankings in the major defensive categories over the past three seasons speak for themselves.
Defensive Rating
- 2020-21:19th (113.0)
- 2019-20: 30th (115.5)
- 2018-19: 28th (113.9)
Opponent Points per Game
- 2020-21: 30th (118.5)
- 2019-20: 29th (119.1)
- 2018-19: 29th (116.9)
While scoring should rarely be a problem with Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook leading the offense, the Wizards will not win if they cannot stop anyone. And they have shown a sustained inability to do just that.
The Wizards will need to make some personnel changes to truly fix their defensive issues. We saw the instant improvement when they got a dynamic shot-blocker in Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline. We would likely see similar overnight success if the Wizards were to add a legit wing defender, something they have been missing for some time. But personnel aside, the Wizards need to completely rethink their defensive approach. A new coach that puts a premium on defense is a must.