Capital One Arena Showdown: Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Pelicans

As the Washington Wizards prepare to host the New Orleans Pelicans at Capital One Arena, fans are looking for signs of hope after a challenging start to the season. The Wizards' recent performance has been less than stellar, with a record that speaks volumes about their struggles on both ends of the court.

In their last outing on December 12 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Wizards fell hard, losing 146-101. Despite putting up a respectable 101 points and securing 55 rebounds, their defense allowed an overwhelming 146 points against them. A defensive rating of over 131 indicates significant issues that need addressing if they hope to contend with teams like the Pelicans.

The game before that wasn't much better for WAS as they lost to Brooklyn Nets with a score of 124-97 on December 9. The team's field goal percentage sat at just under 42 percent and an even more concerning three-point percentage at only around 18 percent. With such shooting woes, it's clear that offensive efficiency is another area where improvement is desperately needed.

However, there was a glimmer of hope in their performance before these two losses. On December 7, also at Capital One Arena, WAS showed what they are capable of in a high-scoring affair against Philadelphia again but this time scoring an impressive total of points themselves – although still ending up on the losing side by just five points (131-126). Their offensive rating was over 120 and field goal percentage over an impressive mark; this shows that when things click for WAS offensively, they can compete with high-scoring teams.

Looking ahead to their matchup with NOP, it’s essential for WAS fans to keep faith in their team’s ability to bounce back. NOP comes into this game as formidable opponents but not invincible ones. If WAS can harness some of its demonstrated offensive firepower and tighten up defensively – particularly by reducing opponent possessions and improving defensive efficiency – there might be cause for optimism among fans.

As we approach tip-off time on December 14th at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., all eyes will be on whether or not WAS can turn things around after recent setbacks. Fans eager to support their team can catch all the action live through broadcast networks MNMT channel or BSNO depending upon locale preferences starting from midnight Eastern Time onwards.