NBA teams that excel on the defensive end of the floor play the same way against every opponent, no matter if it’s a lottery-bound or contending team.
Successful defensive teams recognize that repetition builds habit. After countless practices, film sessions and in-game play, defense becomes second nature.
Scott Brooks, a defensive-minded coach, was partially signed by the Washington Wizards to reinstall focus on that side of the floor. Washington had slipped defensively under Randy Wittman last season and Brooks was tasked with regaining the team’s identity.
At the beginning of the season, when the team was 2-8 and sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, it seemed like switching the voice in the locker room wasn’t enough for Washington.