Takeaways: Wizards Win Big vs. Hornets in NBA Cup Group Stage

The NBA season just started, but somehow the NBA Cup is already here -- and the Washington Wizards are off to a hot start. 

In the team's NBA Cup opener at home against the Charlotte Hornets, the Wizards cruised to a 95-79 victory. It was a game in which neither team could really find a groove offensively, but Washington did enough to come out on top. 

Let's take a look at the three biggest takeaways from the game. 

1) AJ Dybantsa is a problem 

It's only been two games, but man does AJ Dybantsa look good on an NBA court. 

The first overall pick has acquitted himself well to start his career, looking like the type of load-bearing scorer who can lead the franchise into its next era. Dybantsa racked up 17 points on 5-11 shooting Friday, showing off the polished repertoire that made him so successful in college at BYU.

Some prospects blow you away with their raw athleticism and dynamism. Dybantsa has plenty of that, but it's his advanced polish at such a young age that shows the most promise. The rookie looks like he can get to his spots whenever he wants, and he has done so with the ease of a much older player.

While he showcased that in his NBA debut after recording a team-high 19 points on Wednesday, his home debut featured a deep scoring bag where Dybantsa showed comfortable getting to his spots in the paint, creating off the dribble and even knocking down a three — a weak spot in preseason. Friday also showcased Dybantsa’s defensive potential, forcing a shot clock violation on a night where the Hornets had no problem chucking up shots. 

2) The defense looked... good? 

It's hard to tell how much of the Wizards holding Charlotte to under 80 points was about Washington and how much was about the Hornets just having a bad day. But a year after fielding a historically bad defense, fans in Capital One will take it.

Washington entered the night ranked 21st in defensive rating across the league. After the win, the Wizards climbed all the way to 12th.

On paper, this is a team that should be better defensively than it was last year. Nights like tonight provide the nation's capital hope that may be true. 

3) The team is still looking for reliable playmaking outside Trae Young

Trae Young finished the night with nine assists, doing exactly what the Wizards hoped he would do when they brought him in. He has functioned excellently as a connective piece on offense, helping a collection of talented young players gel into something resembling a functional, cohesive offense. 

But Washington is still looking for a secondary creator, someone to take the load off of Young or pick up the slack when he is on the bench. The next highest assist total for a Wizard Friday night was just three, coming from Kyshawn George. 

The Wizards are probably not a contender yet — and don't have to be. To get there, they'll need some more help facilitating the rock.