In order to string together several victories, the Wizards began to defend

Ambient “Thunder” in an interview with the Wizards after the game. A good part of the team came to gatherAlec Sarr etc Justin Champagnewho were both glowing last night in a big win against the Nets.

The good vibes around the Washington-based team are related to the current momentum: four wins in five games, including, of course, only one win against a team with a positive record, the Raptors.

Considering their ranking, 14th in the Eastern Conference (9v-24d), they still win. Among the teams at the bottom of the table, they are in the best form of all. The Wizards even distance themselves from the Pacers (6v-29d), stuck in last place with a current 11-game losing streak.

An explanation of the current dynamics? ” I feel like it’s mostly the effort and how seriously everyone takes our defense. I feel like everyone is playing with a sense of urgency on that side, and that’s really nice to see », retorts Alex Sarr pointing to a key aspect: defense investment.

Now the best blocker in the league

The league’s 29th-ranked defense on the season (120.9 points per 100 possessions), Washington climbs to … 3rd in this five-game streak at 108.8 points per 100 possessions. So day and night. From this game against the Nets, held to less than 100 points, Brian Keefe said he appreciated the pressure on the ball carrier, as well as the contested shots: only 40% success for Brooklyn.

« We are learning that consistency on defense is what will carry our team. Our opponents will run, but can we tighten up the defense and stop almost on command (…) when we need them? Our group is learning and growing to know how to do this. We still have a long way to go », delivered by a local trainer.

At the center of this collective process is a man: Alex Saar. Still the author of five blocks last night, now the leading blocker in the league has collected 24 blocks in the last six matches. His coach says again: he is good” anchor » defensive his training.

Build good habits

« This is the most important thing for him, for our team, for our organization. That’s why he’s there. It is there to protect the racket. And there he thrives. He was a great blocker last year. Now he learns when to do it, at different times of the match. He can read situations better. He has a better understanding of our systems, our coverage », analyzes the technician.

The latter, despite the current dynamics, has no intention of getting carried away. His players are improving defensively, and improving in general. This is a major thing for the franchise and him, who focuses heavily on internal development.

« This is truly a coordinated effort with our entire organization. It’s something we take very seriously. There is still a lot of work to do. We’re not skipping any steps here. We are still building habits (…): How to prepare for the game? How to train? That’s what we teach them and we learn it ourselves. Here are our players right now », he finishes.