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Washington Wizards 2015-16 NBA season preview

By Tom West

Oct 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) in the second half of a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) in the second half of a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) argues a call against the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 106-99, and lead the series 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) argues a call against the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 106-99, and lead the series 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Breakdown

On defense, Wall is once again the integral part of the Wizards’ perimeter play. What a surprise.

He may be renowned for his acrobatic layups and assists, but his length as a 6’4″ point guard, immense athleticism and chase-down blocks make him an instant difference maker defensively. With 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, his impact is clear just by looking at the basic stats. But when considering Wall’s overall impact, from his speed to get back in transition to the way he can defend taller guards as well, he certainly has a lot to offer. As a result, he lowered the offensive rating of the Wizards’ opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor last season.

When looking at interior defense, though, Marcin Gortat is the man that holds everything together. In just under 30 minutes per game last season, he averaged 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He’s called The Polish Hammer for a reason, and he uses his 6’11”, 240 lbs frame with great physicality at both ends of the floor. That physical force and rim protection meant he lowered the offensive rating of opponents by 6.8 points per 100 possessions last season, which is a significant margin for a player who doesn’t get much credit.

And that’s just the start. He forced players to shoot 7.5 percent worse than normal within six feet of the basket. It’s a highly impressive difference for shots so close to the basket, especially as All-Defensive first team member DeAndre Jordan only recorded a mark of 2.7 in the same category. Even when straying further away from the basket, Gortat made opponents shoot 6.7 percent lower within 10 feet.

The Wizards’ defense obviously doesn’t come down to two players, but Wall and Gortat are the main reasons why they ranked 5th in defensive efficiency last season. Only finishing behind teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies, Spurs, Bucks and Golden State Warriors says a lot about the toughness of the Wizards.

That’s some elite defensive company, and they should be able to replicate that same performance in 2015-16.

Next: Regular Season Schedule

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