Daily Digits is a new daily feature we’re doing at Bullets Forever this year where we take a look at stats about the Wizards. We’ll dive into the numbers, add some context, and discuss how they affect the product on the court.

Today’s stat is the effective field goal percentage the Wizards allow on shots where the player shoots within two seconds of getting the ball, which is...

59.1%

Bradley Beal was blunt when he was asked about the Wizards’ defensive issues after Washington’s loss to the Nets on Friday.

That’s a nice sentiment, and it would be great if the fix were that easy, but I don’t think it’s that simple. Washington hasn’t really struggled in one-on-one situations this season. Only eight teams defend better against players when they have the ball for six or more seconds. Only nine teams do better in the 2-6 second range.

The place where the Wizards really get crushed is the 0-2 second range, in catch-and-shoot situations and other situations where players can get up quick, unobstructed shots. Only five teams give up more of those shots per game than the Wizards and only one team (the Hawks) allow teams to shoot better in those situations.

When a team is giving up a lot of open shots, that’s typically a sign a team isn’t communicating well or the scheme is busted. Either way, emphasizing an individualistic solution to a collective issue is not going to solve the issue.