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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 number of technical fouls the Wizards have committed this season, which is...
46
Last season the Wizards committed 62 technical fouls, which was tied for sixth-most in the league. This season, they’re making a strong push to lead the league. They’re currently second, one behind the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s truly been a team effort this season. John Wall and Markieff Morris each got seven techs before they went on the injured list. Bradley Beal has chipped in with seven techs of his own, more than he had all of last season. Ian Mahinmi has stepped it up as well, getting three in just 280 minutes of playing time this season. Of course, we also have to give some of Washington’s dearly departed a tip of the cap here. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jason Smith each got technicals before they were dealt away in December.
And then there’s Scott Brooks. Remember what he said about the team’s technical foul issues after the preseason opener?
It’s not good. It’s not a good look. You have five players out there competing, both teams, and you have three referees competing themselves. We have to make sure that we can control our emotions.
It’s about playing a style of play . . . and keeping our composure. It doesn’t do any good to give up points. Games are so close. An overtime game we’re giving up free throws and we’re losing players in the game.
Brooks has been called for four technical fouls this season. That includes one in the second game of the season when he got ejected in the fourth quarter of a close game the Wizards wound up losing by four and one in Friday’s loss to the Heat, another game that came down to the final minute.
Clearly, the Wizards’ issues with technical fouls are tied to the overwhelming frustration everyone has to be feeling about how the season has gone up to this point. As bad as the techs are, it would probably be worse if the Wizards weren’t upset about the current state of affairs. Unfortunately, given the way things are going, it’s hard to see how the team’s issues with technical fouls get better anytime soon.