Washington will need it tonight against Nets
The Wizards are getting defensive about their 2-12 record. Interim head coach Ed Tapscott wants them to hold that thought when they play tonight at New Jersey (9-7).
“We had a theme — us,” said Tapscott after practice. “When an individual player scores, he doesn’t score on one of our players, he scores on us. We’re all accountable.”
Team defense has been a sticking point. After ranking No. 12 in the NBA in points allowed (99.2) last season, the Wizards rank No. 26 this season (103.2). They also are No. 27 in opponent’s field goal percentage (.475), up from .461 last season.
Backcourt defense will be imperative tonight. Sunday in Phoenix, Nets guards Devin Harris (47 points) and Vince Carter (28 points) lit up the Suns in a 117-109 win. Wizards’ defensive stopper DeShawn Stevenson will have his hands full.
“They are contesting our team defense,” said Tapscott. “It’s very hard to stop any one player one-on-one. You have to take that as a defensive team challenge.”
The Wizards are surrendering more assists per game (25.4) than any team in the league and are on pace to give up more 3-pointers than any team in NBA history. The culprit is a loose, switching defense that defends the paint, but allows teams to move the ball and shoot on the perimeter.
“A lot of times a guy is asked to go away from his man to help out,” said Tapscott. “Someone else has to pick up his man as well. That’s why the theme of the day was us.”
