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The Washington Wizards are in the process of integrating new players, which inevitably leads to growing pains. That was evident on Wednesday night when the team struggled offensively in a 120-105 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young's former team.
Washington's three-point shooting was particularly problematic. The Wizards made only 6 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc (23.1%), while the Hawks connected on 19 of 49 (38.8%). That significant disparity proved too much to overcome, dropping Washington's record to 4-4 on the season.
Following the game, Young addressed the obvious issue plaguing the Wizards early in the season. "Not enough points, obviously," Young said, per Bijan Todd of Monumental Sports Network. "Our offense has been lacking, really, to be honest all season. Once our offense gets going, I definitely see us being a better team."
Through eight games, Washington ranks in the bottom-10 in offensive rating, a disappointing start given the talent on the roster. Young, as the floor general, bears responsibility for the subpar offensive performance. The Wizards have struggled to generate clean three-point looks, allowing opposing defenses to defend them more straightforwardly. Young's individual production has also been quieter than in past years, and he needs to increase his scoring to spark the offense.
Key Analysis
Ultimately, the Wizards will need time to figure things out. Rookie AJ Dybantsa is still adjusting to the NBA, and head coach Brian Keefe continues to experiment with lineup combinations. However, if the team hopes to compete for a playoff spot, there should be a sense of urgency to address these offensive issues.
Originally reported by yahoo.