The Wizards have struggled to rekindle the splendor that marked their first few outings of the season, dropping games in droves to fall down the Eastern Conference standings
Washington's latest defeat gave a window into some of the reasons why. The Wizards' defense toiled in 122-111 loss to Detroit on Monday, surrendering 28 free throws and allowing five different Pistons players to tally at least 12 points.
Tuesday's loss marked the fourth in as many games for the Wizards. A season that started with optimism could sink into disarray should the side's defensive struggles continue.
With that, here's a look at how Washington's best defender, Anthony Davis, is grappling with the Wizards' lack of defensive might thus far.
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Anthony Davis gives brutally honest assessment of Wizards defensive issues
Davis was critical of Washington's defensive effort in its loss to the Pistons, linking it to toils that have followed the Wizards during their losing stretch.
When asked what was wrong with Washington's defense, Davis was declarative.
“Everything,” he said. “We’re not rebounding. We’re giving up open 3s. We’re fouling. We’re not guarding the ball. So, it’s everything. Transition. It’s everything right now.”
He'd be correct in his assessment that the Wizards' defense has lost its way. After posting the eighth-best defensive rating in the league through its first seven games, Washington's defensive metrics have fallen towards the middle of the pack. The Wizards are currently conceding 113.9 points per 100 possession, the 16th-best mark in the sport.
Washington has surrendered at least 114 points in each of its last four defeats. Middle-of-the-road attacks (Hawks, Thunder, Pistons) have blitzed the team as of late, making 48.4 percent of their shots from the field and averaging more than 13 rebounds game during the four-game losing run.
The Wizards' offense has also tumbled, to be sure, posting the third-worst offensive rating in the league so far. But if Washington's calling card was its defense — a possibility given Davis' contributions on that end of the floor — it is falling well short of expectations so far.
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