Power Rankings: Improved defense the trick for Wizards

Updated Jan. 22

Washington's season sweep of Dallas was its first over the Mavericks in 11 years, feeding the ever-developing confidence monster that has been growing as the team continues to keep it together without Gilbert Arenas.

Caron Butler has his game face on as he leads the Wizards. (AP)

The Wizards aren't better off without one of the NBA's top guards, but they have found a way to survive.

How have they been able to manage? It goes way beyond Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison having career years, though that's certainly helped. The difference has simply been defense, a facet of the game that has been overlooked in the past. Last season, the team was 28th in points allowed and 27th in opponent field-goal percentage. The Wizards weren't only giving up a lot of baskets, they were giving up a lot of easy ones.

This season, they're in the top 10 in both categories.

Sure, Butler becoming one of the best forwards in the Eastern Conference has helped. So has the fact Jamison ranks second in the conference behind Dwight Howard in double-doubles and is hustling on the boards to the tune of 10.6 a night, nearly three higher than his career average.

But it's the contributions of Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood on the defensive end that has supplied the difference. It has more to do with Butler recording at least one steal a game in the last 22 contests than it does with him scoring 20.

Washington has a new identity. Arenas will have to buy in when he returns and he's smart and hungry enough to know that.

Bottom line, come April, Eddie Jordan will finally have the roster he envisioned during training camp. Arenas will be back from his knee surgery. Etan Thomas, already back on the bench, gives the team another post defender. They Wizards will have a few weeks to gel before the postseason and should be in the mix for the Southeast Division title.

Will it all come together? That remains to be seen, but at least the Wizards are halfway there. They now know what it takes to win. Plugging in their best player and another rugged big man shouldn't hurt matters, so long as those currently on the mend are observant.

The week's Power Rankings:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Lakers · Trends	5
	Kobe Bryant tops 40 for 100th time; just 171 more to catch Chamberlain. ... Gasol (24 and 13 in season debut vs. Bulls) is best Lakers big man since Little Dipper -- Shaq.
	2	Magic · Trends	4
	Three nice wins dwarfed by one huge loss -- Jameer Nelson to knee surgery. ... New look, same result: Vince Carter outplays Rasheed Wallace in playoff rematch.
	3	Cavaliers · Trends	1
	Club leads by 17, then loses by 17 at Washington. ... Maybe this is why LeBron didn't pick 13 as his new number: Teammate Delonte West beat him to it.
	4	Hawks · Trends	2
	No. 1 in home record (7-0), No. 17 in home attendance. ... Shot of week is closest one: Josh Smith spikes home game winner vs. Rockets.
	5	Suns · Trends	6
	Shaq couldn't do this: New center Channing Frye has at least one 3 in all 14 games, 38 in all. ... 13 vs. 13: Nash leads Wilt in all-time assists 7,667-4,643.
	6	Nuggets · Trends	3
	Looking to move back up: Next five against Nets, Timberwolves twice, Knicks, Warriors. ... Nothing is automatic: Loss to Clippers was first since 2007.
	7	Celtics · Trends	7
	Non-elite team, non-elite star: Kevin Garnett is 72nd in league in scoring, 27th in rebounding. ... Celtics, Knicks go to overtime for 32nd time in history.
	8	Mavericks · Trends	10
	Erick Dampier out of the lineup, team goes on winning streak. Coincidence? ... Replacement center Drew Gooden goes 11-14-11-16 on boards in his first four starts.
	9	Trail Blazers · Trends	9
	Embarrassed club rebounds from loss at Golden State with 28-, 24-point romps. ... Warriors (108) only foe to reach 100 this month.
	10	Rockets · Trends	11
	Impressive aspect of 8-6 record: Rugged schedule that's included Lakers, Blazers twice apiece. ... Tracy McGrady returns to practice, says he's ready to go. Now what?
	11	Jazz · Trends	18
	Out of nowhere: Wesley Matthews starting, Jazz winning. ... Triumph at San Antonio is first in 10-plus years.
	12	Bucks · Trends	15
	No Andrew Bogut, no defense: Grizzlies, Spurs average 105 after just three of Milwaukee's first 10 foes top 100. ... Michael Redd returns vs. Spurs, goes 1 for 6 from line.
	13	Heat · Trends	8
	Team losing (four of six), but Michael Beasley's numbers picking up (19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds last three). ... Last two wins: 1-pointers over Nets, Hornets.
	14	Spurs · Trends	14
	Matt Bonner (23 points) an unlikely star in win over Bucks. ... It's a long season: Team won't rush Manu Ginobili (groin) back.
	15	Thunder · Trends	17
	Sixth Man Award nominee: James Harden drops in 24, 25 points in consecutive games off bench. ... Another comeback looms: More knee surgery for Shaun Livingston.
	16	Raptors · Trends	12
	Two Western trips, same results: Win first game, lose rest. ... Jarrett Jack picking up steam: 17 points vs. Heat, 11 assists vs. Magic.
	17	Bulls · Trends	13
	"Circus Trip" turning into circus: Club drubbed by Lakers, Nuggets, Blazers. ... Best No. 13 center in game today: Gotta be Joakim Noah.
	18	Hornets · Trends	23
	New coach winning with new look: Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison excel during three-game streak. ... Finally a break in schedule: Two apiece vs. Kings, Timberwolves in 11-day stretch.
	19	Bobcats · Trends	20
	First win of Stephen Jackson era: He's nailed with technical in victory over Pacers. ... Jackson factor? Gerald Wallace held to 11 points in three of new teammate's four games.
	20	Pacers · Trends	16
	Losing streak has silver lining: Mike Dunleavy is cleared to return to practice. ... Tar Heels coach Roy Williams watches Tyler Hansbrough lose in North Carolina homecoming.
	21	Wizards · Trends	24
	Club's three wins followed by 11-, 12-, 19-point losses. ... One problem: Gilbert Arenas is averaging 20 shots in past six games, making 34 percent.
	22	Pistons · Trends	19
	Tough trip, rough outcomes: Losses to Lakers, Blazers, Jazz, Suns. ... How the mighty have fallen: Someone named Jonas Jerebko is starting at forward.
	23	76ers · Trends	22
	How to blow possible upset: 10-point fourth melts late lead vs. Cavs. ... Improvement noted: Elton Brand averaging 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds in last three after 9.8, 5.3 in first 10 games.
	24	Kings · Trends	21
	Club survives scare: Tyreke Evans' middle finger is sprained, not broken. ... Streaky team has three-, four-game losing skids sandwiching four-game winning run.
	25	Clippers · Trends	25
	Go figure: Baron Davis shoots 4-for-21 combined in wins over Nuggets, Timberwolves. ... Another Clippers low: Broadcasters ejected for comments about Grizzlies' Hamed Haddadi.
	26	Warriors · Trends	26
	Making new friends: Injured Raja Bell leads spirited effort at Boston, then leaves for wrist surgery. ... Just thinking of Mark Cuban makes Don Nelson sick; he sits out Southwest trip.
	27	Grizzlies · Trends	27
	Lightweight champ: Team beats Timberwolves, Clippers, 76ers, Kings in 10-day stretch. ... Nobody hotter than Rudy Gay: 41 for 72 (.569), 25.5 average in last four games.
	28	Knicks · Trends	28
	Winning can be comical: Nate Robinson shoots at wrong basket in victory over Nets. ... Sad state of Allen Iverson: Even Knicks say he's not worthy.
	29	Timberwolves · Trends	29
	Team has failed to score more than 87 points in the last six games (all losses). ... No holiday treat: Second and final showdown with Nets looms Dec. 23.
	30	Nets · Trends	30
	Better days ahead: Devin Harris returns in loss to Knicks. ... Looking for first win? Club visits Sacramento during weeklong Western trip.