Much like the start of the season, the Washington Wizards are 0-4 through their first four games of the second half following another inevitable loss to the Milwaukee Bucks 132-122. Despite the return of Bradley Beal who poured in 37 points on an efficient 13-for-19 shooting from the field, the Wizards had no answer on defense for Milwaukee, allowing 133 points. With Beal back, Deni Avdija returned to the bench but contributed 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting and six rebounds in 31 minutes.

Deni Avdija reverse dunk 😳 pic.twitter.com/GHKDYeSqO8

— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) March 16, 2021

“He started the year really good at using his body, he’s a strong kid,” Scott Brooks assessed Avdija’s defensive progression thus far in the NBA before the rematch against Milwaukee. “He was using his chest, he wasn’t handsy, he wasn’t [smacking] down on shooters. Then he had a tendency to put his hands and get those ticky-tack fouls, he did it twice last game against Middleton. He wasn’t doing that early and then he was doing that where there was a bunch of games we just couldn’t keep him on the court and now I think we’ve seen another growth of his defensive abilities that he’s not fouling as much.”

Washington’s most reoccurring problem this season, without going so general to simply say defense, has been getting down at the start of games, expending extensive energy to widdle down the deficit, and then running out of gas in the fourth quarter. Down by as many as nine in the first quarter, 18 in the second quarter, and 26 midway through the third quarter is a near-impossible task to overcome against the championship-contending Bucks. The Wizards had admirable 23-8 and 16-2 runs in the second half to pull to within five, but could not sustain stops over the game’s final minutes to get any closer. In another post-game availability following a loss, Beal yearned for consistency and more defensive resistance.

The Wizards played small ball without a traditional center for nearly half the game and Davis Bertans only played 24 minutes, possibly on a minutes restriction returning from calf tightness and/or benched due to subpar defense. This led to Avdija playing his most minutes when coming off the bench and eclipsing 30 minutes in back-to-back games for the first time in his young NBA career. Twice, the rookie took advantage of leaking out behind the defense after contesting shots at the top of the key, but he was also part of seemingly poor communication at times on switches allowing easy baskets for the Bucks. During a generally impatient time across the world, the Wizards organization knows that each game is a baby step in the right direction towards the player they hope Avdija becomes.

“He’s guarding tough players at that position every night,” Brooks continued on Avdija pre-game. “I think he’s handling it well, he’s having a very steady, predictable rookie year considering we haven’t had any practices. He’s learning on the fly, learning on film, learning with our coaches, and our players Russell and Brad have been great with him. They’re demanding, they keep him focused and sometimes it’s been great, sometimes it’s not good. That’s a lot of rookies in this league, but I like his effort, lately has been really good defensively.”

Are Deni Avdija dunks worth 20 points after the exchange rate? pic.twitter.com/vNUItoshvJ

— Hoop District (@Hoop_District) March 16, 2021

The Wizards will finish their five-game homestand with games on back-to-back nights against the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz starting Wednesday. At 14-24 with just 34 games left, it is not egregious to call the Kings matchup without Marvin Bagley a must-win for Washington.