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Three Stats That Stick Out Through Wizards' First Seven Games
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- Three Stats That Stick Out Through Wizards' First Seven Games
(Mike Watters-Imagn Images)
The Washington Wizards moved back to .500 overall and will look to secure the third straight win when they return to action in the first of two games against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, but we take a look at three stats that stick out through seven games.
30.2...team three point shooting, which ranks 28th in the league yet ahead of both the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. Maybe the biggest surprise is Bub Carrington shooting 48% from three through the first seven games, comfortably leading the team in the category where he's been aggressive with his shot to start, and rightfully so. Yet the rest of the roster has struggled, including Trae Young, who enters Wednesday shooting just 27.1% from three on nearly seven attempts per game. The biggest disappointment, though, is Bilal Coulibaly, who enters Wednesday shooting 76% from inside the arc, yet just 18.8% from three. The fourth year wing has struggled to turn the offseason commitment to smoothening his shooting motion into production, leaving a key question for Coulibaly to still answer.
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-5.5...the Wizards team' rebounding differential, which ranks 27th in the NBA. This has been maybe the biggest surprise of all given the double big lineups at head coach Brian Keefe's disposal between Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton. The Wizards have won all three games that they have won the rebounding differential, though the minus-20 performance is what sparked the second half collapse in the road loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It also highlights the biggest issue for Washington in light of Justin Champagnie's extended absence, in addition to maybe the biggest question for the coaching staff to sort through ahead of a more competitive stretch ahead.
1...the number of players averaging double figures assist. That player is Wizards' point guard Trae Young, averaging a double-double to start his first full season with the organization. Though the shooting hasn't always followed through the first seven games, Young's impact around the rim has been a mainstay even as the Wizards' look for the identity in the halfcourt. Young and Tyrese Haliburton are also newly even with their assist rate to lead the NBA, while he ranks second to Pacers' rookie Braden Smith with a 46.2% assist percentage. His new contract extension was expected to signal as much about Young himself as it did about his impact on a roster filled with offensive options for the coaching staff, and while there remain early season kinks to work through, finding an effective facilitator hasn't been one of them.
