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NBA Preview: Wizards By Marty Gitlin Message to the Washington Wizards: There's an element in the game of basketball called "defense." It's quite important. You would be well-served to learn how to play it. All that opponents were missing last season was the red carpet down the lane. Despite the offensive brilliance of Gilbert Arenas and talented supporting cast including Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, the Wizards lost in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. The trio averaged a combined 70 points a game, but they went home prematurely. Why? Because they simply couldn't stop the Cavaliers. LeBron James simply waltzed the baseline to beat them at the buzzer in one of the defeats. Don't bet your house that Washington will advance further this year. The team simply didn't address its defensive shortcomings in the off season. Key Additions: G DeShawn Stevenson, F Darius Songaila Outlook: You can wager that the relative weakness outside the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division will allow the Wizards to snag second place and slide into the Eastern Conference playoffs again. But you can also bet that a lack of defense will keep them from advancing past the first round. Then again, defense is partly desire. They showed a propensity for intensity on the offensive end in the playoffs last year, but a distinct lack of the same defensively. If the Wizards raise that energy level on defense, perhaps they can compete for an Eastern Conference title. But it takes more than intensity, particularly in the middle. Washington was a sieve last season, greatly because it featured no defensive presence around the basket. Brendan Haywood boasts admirable offensive skills, but few were afraid to attack the hoop when he was manning the center position. That is not likely to change. |
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