Weekly Wiz

Written by: Eric Meyer

Published: November 18, 2025

This Week’s Results (overall record):

November 19, 2025: Wizards 109, Timberwolves 120 (1-13)

November 21, 2025: Wizards 110, Raptors 140 (1-14)

November 22, 2025: Wizards 120, Bulls 121 (1-15)

So close, and yet... 14 straight losses.

It was a predictably tough start to the Wizards' three game road trip, with Alex Sarr missing the first two games due to a toe injury. The Wizar

This Team is Currently Doing Nothing Right

Washington currently boasts a 1-12 record, which is tied for the worst record in the league. They're 28th in offensive rating at 108.3 and they're somehow worse defensively, ranking dead last in the league with a 124.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. For those who are less mathematically inclined, this shakes out to a -16 net rating, two full points behind the Indiana Pacers who are mired in a year from Hell. The Wizards also lead the league in turnovers and are 3rd in fouls committed per game, so there's nothing here to hang your hat on from a team perspective.

Fast Pace Isn't the Answer. It's Laziness.

Brian Keefe insists on having the Wizards run a fast-paced offense, ignoring the fact that this team lacks high-level ball handlers and shooting for that type of attack. The idea of catching a defense napping is enticing, but it feels like the Wizards typically come away with dumbass shots like this.

Washington's young core needs to learn how to play a half-court offense, and playing fast is frankly just an excuse to avoid running sets. It's uncreative and unhelpful, and it's generating nothing but bad shots and turnovers. Asking a head coach to call plays is a low bar, and it's one that Keefe needs to clear if he wants to coach the Zards beyond this season.

Defense Shouldn't Be This Bad

The Wizards have enough talent on the defensive end to be better than dead last in the league. Alex Sarr has emerged as a capable and versatile defender, but he's been under siege, facing by far the most rim attacks in the NBA. This is despite the Wizards having at least a couple of capable perimeter defenders in Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson have shown flashes when defending on the ball. However, the team still has too many matadors. The Wizards also struggle with overhelping and have poor communication when in rotation, often conceding open threes even when the point of attack is adequately defended. This is part of the learning experience with a young team and one that I'm hopeful to see improve, but it's messy right now.

In addition to some poor fundamentals from their perimeter players, the Wizards have also had their lack of frontcourt depth exposed, especially when teams opt to go small during Sarr's rest periods. Marvin Bagley doesn't have the ability to defend on the perimeter and lacks an offensive game to punish smaller defenders, so even hapless teams like the Nets took advantage of him while playing five out. This will continue to be an issue unless Washington makes a move for a more capable big man, but that seems doubtful with the team in full tank mode.

Up Next

The Wizards hit the road for three games, stopping in Minneapolis, Toronto, and Chicago. They held a players-only meeting after the Nets game to try and change the vibes up, and those never work.

But it could work for us!

Ugh.

See ya next Tuesday.