Wizards drop measuring stick game against Hawks

Call it a learning experience. An education. School.

The Wizards entered last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks having played the NBA’s easiest schedule so far. Their opponents had an average scoring differential of -9.83 per game. The Hawks — a middle-of-the-pack team missing their best player — were a step up.

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The Wizards weren’t bad in this measuring stick kind of game, but they did get outplayed by a bit. Not every possession, but they got beat to the punch regularly throughout the contest — outshot, out-rebounded, out-competed.

Which is okay for an eighth game of the season after a three-year tank. The Wizards are trying to win this season, and against teams of similar talent level, they’ll need to up their level of compete. Games like this one could help them do that — if they seize the opportunity to learn what true NBA competition requires.

The chief area in need of some attention is ending possessions when they get the other team to miss a shot. They entered the game ranked 26th in defensive rebounding percentage and gave up 19 offensive rebounds to a tiny team with two guys 6-9 or taller, one of whom (Asa Newell) hyperextended a toe and missed the second half.

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The Wizards get a second crack at the Hawks Friday night in their second NBA Cup game. If Washington wants to contend for something other than the bottom of the play-in this season, they’ll need to figure out a way to clean up the defensive boards — at least to some degree. It’d be great if they could force some opponent turnovers too (they’re 27th in defensive turnover rate). But first things first — defense in the NBA is mostly about making the other team miss and then getting the rebound. That’s where the focus should be.

From the Notebook

Bilal Coulibaly doesn’t look to be an offensive threat, which ultimately undermines his defensive value because he’s a self-check. Chase Hughes and the Monumental broadcast team tried to turn it into a positive (the segment about how trying to win slots young players into their proper roles and now Coulibaly doesn’t have to force anything), but…it’s basically…

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Publish date : 2026-11-05 12:00:00

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