Randy Wittman took a breath and thought better of it. His natural discontented disposition was overtaken by realization of the score. The Washington Wizards led by 25 points and one foul late during a blowout of the not-ready-for-any-time Philadelphia 76ers wasn’t worth the shouting. So, the Wizards’ coach clapped.
The Wizards started the second half of the regular season by avoiding what Wittman touts as his largest concern from the first half: varying regard for opponents and the results that creates. After an opening lull when the Wizards trailed by one point, the dismantling of the 76ers was emphatic. Washington won, 111-76, producing its largest margin of victory of the season. There was no holiday letdown against the hapless, which is counter to a handful of games during the first half of season.
“After 41 games, which is a pretty good sample, one thing has been consistent: If we come into games not focused and [do not] play with energy and effort, we have a tough time winning,” Wittman said pregame Monday. “That’s the main thing with this team. We’ve got to have focus … each and every night, we’ve got to have focus, energy and effort. And, when we do that, good things usually happen. That’s where we’ve got to get this on a consistent basis.”
Washington took its first step into the second half of the season with the second-best record, 29-13, in the Eastern Conference. That slot appears to have increasing value. The Atlanta Hawks have won 13 consecutive games and continue their run toward the conference’s top seed. They have beaten the Wizards twice already, including an epic 120-89 drubbing just nine days ago. Washington would be fortunate to avoid Atlanta until the Eastern Conference Finals, should both make it there.
The first half of the season showed a Wizards team that has improved at home. After toying with Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, Washington is a crisp 18-5 on its homecourt a year after going a mediocre 22-19. It’s undefeated through 16 games in Verizon Center when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. The Wizards have fixed issues on their home floor.
Still, other problems loom. Washington’s propensity to let teams — even bad ones — back into games has been ongoing. Its slim average margin of victory, 2.6 points, continues to make the number folks look at the Wizards as a hollow squad with fancy bunting. Statistical site fivethirtyeight.com introduced its NBA power rankings Monday. After crunching numbers, it concluded the Wizards are the 14th-best team in the league and fifth-best in the conference. Part of the reason for that is margin of victory. A larger influence is the lack of big wins. The Wizards have handled the Chicago Bulls and beat the San Antonio Spurs on their home floor. Otherwise, marquee victories are few.
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“We have to do a better job of closing out games, getting up for the big games and the teams that are under .500, and find a way to close those teams out,” John Wall said.
That happened Monday against Philadelphia, which fell to 8-33. The 76ers roster is filled with lightweight youngsters and designed for the future. The now is ugly and predictable, for most.
“I live in a naive world,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. “I really think that we’re going to go in and win.”
Brown admitted his youngsters were outrun, outmuscled and out of their element against Washington.
“There were times I looked out on the floor and saw a bunch of men,” Brown said. “You saw a physical, big, playoff team.”
Which is clear for the Wizards after playing 42 games. They use Marcin Gortat and Nene to mash others. Wall is having his best season. The bench still fluctuates — and Wittman is still trying to determine if it’s Otto Porter or Martell Webster that will give them a boost. The playoffs appear a given in the willowy Eastern Conference.
So, Wittman’s concern remains consistency. Last Friday’s home loss against the Brooklyn Nets came up several times Monday. It’s the prime example of what the Wizards want to avoid: a lackadaisical start against a mediocre team which produces a regrettable loss.
“We’re not a type of team that can glide through games and turn it on the last five minutes and expect to win,” Wittman said. “Doesn’t matter who we’re playing. That’s been proven. It’s happened enough in the 41 games that you know that when we’re the other way, we’re pretty damn good. That’s what I want them to get to understand.”
He saw it against the 76ers. He’s waiting to see it for the entire second half of the season.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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