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  6. article_body => "<p>It might be time to declare a state of emergency for the Wizards.<\/p>\n<p>Just look at their top scorers by points per game average this season. Bradley Beal leads the way and he's fine. But after that?<\/p>\n<p>Davis Bertans, their second-leading scorer, suffered an apparent thigh bruise in the team's 125-108 loss to the Sixers on Saturday night. Rookie Rui Hachimura, their third-leading scorer, remains out with a groin injury.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas Bryant, their fourth-leading scorer, can't play because of a stress reaction in his foot. Isaiah Thomas, their fifth-leading scorer, is now awaiting discipline from the league after entering the crowd to confront fans in Philly. Maybe he avoids suspension, but the league doesn't mess around with that type of stuff.<\/p>\n<p>Their sixth-leading scorer, Moe Wagner, has a sprained left ankle and is also out. And so is their eighth-leading scorer, Jordan McRae, who is working his way back from a finger injury.<\/p>\n<p>Another way to look at it is by position. They are missing guys at all of them; point guard (John Wall), shooting guard (McRae), small forward (Miles), power forward (Hachimura, maybe Bertans) and center (Bryant and Wagner).<\/p>\n<p>The Wizards have surprised a lot of people with their offense this season, but they are running out of bodies. And they don't have a defense to fall back on.<\/p>\n<p>The recipe for Wizards wins this season doesn't include defense at all. They have to score a ton of points and win in a shootout. Now, with so many players missing, their offense has suffered.<\/p>\n<p>They scored only 13 points in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Bulls on Wednesday. They topped out at 109 points in a game that featured overtime.<\/p>\n<p>And on Saturday, they shot just 22.6 percent (7-for-31) from three. They missed their first nine attempts from long range. Bradley Beal had 36 points, but the rest of the starting lineup had 38.<\/p>\n<p>The Wizards' injury situation has already required them to add&nbsp;point guard Gary Payton II by way of the hardship exception. And they have a host of guys who should probably be in the G-League playing important minutes, between Admiral Schofield, Anzejs Pasecniks, Garrison Mathews and Isaac Bonga.<\/p>\n<p>The Wizards have basically turned into Brad and the Go-Go, which sounds like it would be a better band than it is a basketball team.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately for the Wizards, their schedule is about to let up a bit. They play the 7-23 Knicks in two of their next three games and in between face the Pistons, who they have already beaten twice this year.<\/p>\n<p>But with what the Wizards are currently working with, it's a wonder how they can beat any team. All teams have injuries, but this is ridiculous.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb65a2b6cedb?site_id=Dig_RSN_Wash&amp;creative_id=nbcswash1200&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcswash1200\">Click here&nbsp;<\/a>to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE WIZARDS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Changes coming?<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/nba-rumors-nba-reportedly-proposes-massive-changes-regular-season-schedule-playoff-bracket\">NBA's proposal is big<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Iverson Tribute:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/isaiah-thomas-arrives-philadelphia-wearing-allen-iverson-jersey\">IT wears his jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Looking ahead:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/wizards\/2020-nba-mock-draft-30-post-feast-week-edition\">NBA Mock Draft 3.0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
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Wizards

Wizards

It might be time to declare a state of emergency for the Wizards.

Just look at their top scorers by points per game average this season. Bradley Beal leads the way and he's fine. But after that?

Davis Bertans, their second-leading scorer, suffered an apparent thigh bruise in the team's 125-108 loss to the Sixers on Saturday night. Rookie Rui Hachimura, their third-leading scorer, remains out with a groin injury.

Thomas Bryant, their fourth-leading scorer, can't play because of a stress reaction in his foot. Isaiah Thomas, their fifth-leading scorer, is now awaiting discipline from the league after entering the crowd to confront fans in Philly. Maybe he avoids suspension, but the league doesn't mess around with that type of stuff.

Their sixth-leading scorer, Moe Wagner, has a sprained left ankle and is also out. And so is their eighth-leading scorer, Jordan McRae, who is working his way back from a finger injury.

Another way to look at it is by position. They are missing guys at all of them; point guard (John Wall), shooting guard (McRae), small forward (Miles), power forward (Hachimura, maybe Bertans) and center (Bryant and Wagner).

The Wizards have surprised a lot of people with their offense this season, but they are running out of bodies. And they don't have a defense to fall back on.

The recipe for Wizards wins this season doesn't include defense at all. They have to score a ton of points and win in a shootout. Now, with so many players missing, their offense has suffered.

 

They scored only 13 points in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Bulls on Wednesday. They topped out at 109 points in a game that featured overtime.

And on Saturday, they shot just 22.6 percent (7-for-31) from three. They missed their first nine attempts from long range. Bradley Beal had 36 points, but the rest of the starting lineup had 38.

The Wizards' injury situation has already required them to add point guard Gary Payton II by way of the hardship exception. And they have a host of guys who should probably be in the G-League playing important minutes, between Admiral Schofield, Anzejs Pasecniks, Garrison Mathews and Isaac Bonga.

The Wizards have basically turned into Brad and the Go-Go, which sounds like it would be a better band than it is a basketball team.

Fortunately for the Wizards, their schedule is about to let up a bit. They play the 7-23 Knicks in two of their next three games and in between face the Pistons, who they have already beaten twice this year.

But with what the Wizards are currently working with, it's a wonder how they can beat any team. All teams have injuries, but this is ridiculous.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.

MORE WIZARDS NEWS:

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