FanPost

Nine categories for evaluating a team -- where are Wizards best?

The Athletic had an article discussing a nine category evaluation of teams when they play game: three offensive (perimeter, interior and control), three defensive (perimeter, interior, and pressure), and three auxiliary (special teams, coaching and intangibles).

  • Perimeter offense: Generating free throws, midrange effectiveness, and 3-point shooting.
  • Interior offense: Getting to the paint frequently, finishing inside consistently, and crashing offensive glass.
  • Control: Not just how well a team moves the basketball but also how well a team protects it.
  • Pressure: How well a defense can force turnovers, both steals and dead-ball changes of possession.
  • Interior defense: Paint scoring prevention, rim protection, defensive rebounding.
  • Perimeter defense: Defending without fouling, being able to contest midrange shots, and preventing 3s.
  • "Basketball special teams": Fast-break scoring differential and free-throw percentage.

They assessed Wizards' perimeter offense as best unit but it only got a C grade. They assessed Wizards' pressure as worst unit with a D grade ("Wizards have been one of the least aggressive defenses ... under WUJ"; I would have given it to interior defense over pressure since I like what Wright, Avdija, Coulibaly and others can add to forcing turnovers. Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons actually got a D and F grade on interior defense so they view them as worse than Wizards in that category.

What do you think are the best and worst units of Washington?

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.