Week 4 NBA Power Ranking – Big shifts on the ladder while OKC Thunder clings to middle rung

Washington Wizards

Offense: (112.4 ) – 1st
Defense: (114.4) –  29th
Net: (minus -2.0) – 20th

Record: 3-8
Games Week 4: (1-2) Win vs.Wolves, lost to Celtics, Magic
Games Week 5: (3 games): Wednesday, Nov. 20 vs. Spurs  | Friday, Nov. 22 vs Hornets  | Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Kings

The Wizards are the offensive juggernaut they appear to be and finish week four sitting atop the offensive ranking ladder. Here’s the thing though, it’s not as simple as saying “if we just lockdown on defense a bit more we’ll be in the mix”.

The reason for this is simple — every club could give 100 percent effort on offense which frequently would leave them spent at trying to give the same effort defensively. That’s why the Wizards rank 29th defensively – partially because they don’t try and partially because they don’t have any energy left to play both sides of the floor.

Through the early stages of the season that has equated to the Wizards winning games where they can lure their opponents into an offensive slugfest but when teams come at them defensively those wins aren’t as easy to come by.

Moving forward, it will be interesting if head coach Scott Brooks can convince his team a better balance of effort could find them in the playoff mix. But based on the repeated statements by the players of alluding to doing precisely that only for them to ignore it the very next time they hit the hardwood it sure doesn’t seem likely.