Wizards’ December Monthly Recap - Ending 2022
December was both a catastrophic and euphoric month for the Washington Wizards and Wizards fans. It’s almost unfathomable that the Wizards didn’t win a game in December until the month was nearly over, with some of the individual highlight performances.
Take this highlight dunk from Deni Avdija when the Wizards visited the Los Angeles Clippers for a rematch:
Avdija scored 11 points that game, and he put up 10 rebounds to get his third double-double of the season. But let’s look at what happened the week before when the Wizards hosted the Clippers, the game otherwise known as John Wall’s homecoming.
On December 10, former Wizard John Wall played at Capital One Arena for the first time since the Wizards traded him. The Wizards lost 114-107, despite a solid effort from the young core, including a career performance from Jordan Goodwin and double-doubles for Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis. The Wizards were so shorthanded that only eight people were available to play, including Bradley Beal, who was sidelined at the time due to a right hamstring injury.
The Wizards had lost five consecutive games before losing to the Clippers, largely due to poor execution and the inability to close games with confidence and momentum. The loss on the 10th was no different.
The Clippers were also coordinated and dominant where it counted, including Wall, who yelled, “This is still my city” after making a stepback three. The Wizards simply had no answer for the Clippers’ performance in the second half, aside from an unsuccessful double team on Kawhi Leonard that led to an unsuccessful attempted three-point shot from Porzingis.
The real question that needs to be answered is why Coach Wes Unseld continues to draw up double-teaming plays when they rarely work for his roster.
Jordan Goodwin also made an incredible assist to Corey Kispert in the Wizards-Clippers rematch on the 17th, which I want to highlight simply because it was cool. There were so many good assists this month that I can’t include them all.
Beal returned from injury on December 18 when the Wizards visited the Los Angeles Lakers, a game that was arguably a homecoming for Kuzma. It was also the 10th consecutive loss for the Wizards, though somehow, there were positive takeaways from this game.
For starters, the Wizards only lost by two points (final score 119-117), and Beal scored 29 points like his injury hadn’t cost him any momentum at all. It was also another night of double-doubles for Kuzma and Porzingis, with the latter recording his 7,000th career point. Though the Wizards only lost by two, the way in which they lost was an eyesore.
Transition defense was an issue the entire game, as well as bad substitutions, which had all of the team’s primary defenders sitting at one point and giving the Lakers an opportunity to go on a substantial run.
However, even through 10 consecutive losses, I think the Wizards’ roster was playing with competence, albeit with little consistency. Their first win of the month, which came on December 20 against the Phoenix Suns (113-110), demonstrated the same strengths and issues. The Wizards were just able to outplay Phoenix, and not just because of the chemistry issues that seem to be plaguing the Suns.
Regardless of whatever is going on in Phoenix, the Wizards’ victory was a team effort. Veteran Taj Gibson put on a solid defensive performance, Daniel Gafford proved why he’s an asset in the starting lineup, and Kuzma reached 6,000 career points scored.
This game was also a masterclass from Avdija on both ends of the floor, with the forward getting another statement dunk, his fourth double-double of the season, and shooting perfect free throws in the fourth quarter while Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton were arguing (and Beal watched the argument). Avdija also gave Phoenix’s head coach, Monty Williams, more reasons to focus on his defensive acumen with a strong fourth-quarter block against Ayton.
Unfortunately, the Wizards continued to play inconsistently, foul too much, and Beal took too long to find his rhythm offensively. When the Wizards hosted the Suns for a rematch, the 127-102 Wizards victory was possible thanks to a near triple-double for Monte Morris, a career night for Rui Hachimura, rare NBA minutes for rookie Johnny Davis, a Delon Wright defensive masterclass even on a minutes restriction, and a buzzer-beater from Avdija.
A highlight dunk from Daniel Gafford (21) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ | Christian Petersen/Getty Images
My plan was always to include the Wizards-76ers game on 12/27, as it was the Wizards’ first game home after a six-game road trip. Either by luck or circumstance, this was also the first game of the season where the entire roster was at full health and available to play. And not only was everyone available, everyone on the court had their moments to shine.
Highlights include but are not limited to strong performances from the bench, reasonably balanced scoring, and a promising offensive performance in the first quarter from Beal. This game also had defensive masterclasses from Avdija and Wright, the latter having three steals.
Avdija successfully defended James Harden in the second quarter and locked Joel Embiid in the fourth for a play that led the Wizards to a win. It’s worth noting that the last time the Wizards defeated the 76ers, Avdija’s blocking Harden guaranteed the Wizards’ victory.
This game was accompanied by the usual lowlights: foul trouble, especially for Gibson and Gafford, horrendous turnovers, and more health concerns for Beal, who injured his left hamstring in the latter half of the game.
Calling the Wizards’ frequent turnovers horrendous is by no means an overstatement, as there were at least five turnovers in the first 12 minutes of regulation (most of which were from Kuzma). However, it’s also unclear why Unseld waited for six turnovers to occur before calling a timeout and making an adjustment. I’d like to know what he was waiting for or if he thought Kuzma would magically stop turning the ball over.
Turnovers are one thing that the Wizards need to work on going into the new year, as well as making free throws and making smarter moves offensively. Shot selection is more of an issue for the Wizards’ offense than it should be, and the ratio of shots made to shots attempted feels like an unaddressed problem.
Kuzma made a good point about making other teams guard the Wizards instead of the other way around after a game. The question is whether or not the Wizards have a strong enough offensive identity to put opponents in that position.
I’m not sure yet. I am, however, sure that the Wizards also need to work on fouling less, although I have seen some improvements, and once again, I ask that Unseld is more proactive in making adjustments and calling timeouts.
Former teammates Kyle Kuzma (33) and LeBron James (6) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA | Adam Pantozzi/Getty Images
