"You gotta admit, it's getting better"

by Mike Prada on Nov 15, 2007 4:12 AM EST in Recaps

Box Score.
Game Flow.
Post recap.
Times recap.
Indy Cornrows.

Highest plus/minus: Caron Butler (+15)
Lowest plus/minus: Roger Mason (+1)

I'm going to have more tomorrow, but that's how you take care of business. Just an excellent all-around performance, particularly defensively, where allowing just 90 points in an up-tempo game is incredibly impressive.

One of these days, when I have a chance to really follow the game closely, I want to look at a play-by-play of the so called "big lineup." It's taken three and a half years, but Eddie finally figured out that it doesn't make sense for a bad defensive team to keep playing small. Sure, Jamison/Songaila is a defensive liability at the 3, but in Blatche and Haywood, at least you have enforcers in there to which you can funnel penetration. Moving Butler to the 2 also makes sense; his strength is overpowering players, and when he's playing undersized at the 3, he's not doing that. Plus, anything that turns Stevenson into a good role player, but not an important player, is a good thing.

Offensively, Gilbert was good, Caron was great, and everyone else was eh, but it's a winning formula, and that's important.

Again, more tomorrow. But I really do think we're going to turn it around. That move to the big lineup may have saved this season before it even began.

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Well Yall know I'm estatic about the twin towers..

its about dam time. this paves the way for so many things...

now if only we had someone that could drain the 3 consistently.

07-08 Reg Season Stndgs(predicted 8/6/07) 1 Chi 52-30 2 Was 51-31 3 Cle 50-32 4 Bos/Det 48-34 6 Tor/Mia 47-35 8 NJ 44-40 9 NY/Orl 42-42

by kdp922 on Nov 15, 2007 7:35 AM EST reply actions

interestingly

Either Haywood or Blatche were on the court for every minute of the game. Not even 30 seconds of the small lineup. Here's hoping that they can stay out of foul trouble in most games so that this pattern can continue. Songaila seemed more effective with this set up also.

by hotplate on Nov 15, 2007 9:38 AM EST reply actions

I noticed this too.

Even in the fourth, when Haywood seemed to get a little winded, EJ brought in Blatche.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Nov 15, 2007 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Songaila on D and Wizards "Big" Line-up

I hear what you're saying about Daruis on D...but he's not as bad as you think.

Yes, he is slow on his feet guarding a quicker forward off the dribble.

But he does so many other things well, you know, the fundamentals such as blocking out, rebounding, getting to loose balls and playing smart.

And yes, I do like the big line-up also, but let's not get carried away and fall head over heels in love with it.

It all depends on who the Wiz are facing. Remember, the Pacers were playing big last night too -- two of their starters were 6'9" (Granger & Dunleavy) and two were 6'11" (O'Neal & Foster).

I'm not saying that the Wiz must always adjust to their opponent, it just worked to their advantage last night.

truthaboutit

by Kyle Weidie on Nov 15, 2007 9:42 AM EST reply actions

Darius can't rebound

Most power forwards should average at least 10 rebounds/40. Songaila averages 7.

He has his strengths, but rebounding isn't one of them. It looks like he tries hard, but that's only because he's so limited. Better players don't have to try as hard and look as intense as he does.

Songaila's an excellent offensive player, who can drain open jumpers, set good screens, and pass the ball. He just is a black hole defensively in every way.

And personally, I disagree with you about the big lineup. Why must we always adjust to our opponents? Can't we make them adjust to us?

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Nov 15, 2007 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

Nice W

I have been screaming for the big lineup for years. Not all the time but at least try it as wrinkle or another piece for the opponents to counter.

I was impressed with the way Gil controlled the game last night with his passing and timely shooting. He was a distributor but not totally passive like he seemed in some of the Zards earlier losses.

I saw some effort out of Gil closing out on shooters and rotating on D. Of course he still struggles on fighting through screens and on the ball defending.

Overall, Great job, Nice W, and Tuff Juice played like a All Star last night for the first time in a LONG time.

What? They don't have TV in the D-League? Don't watch me, watch TV.

by Mac G on Nov 15, 2007 11:32 AM EST reply actions

My shame

I am ashamed to admit that I could not maintain my abstinence for even one game. I am pathetic.

That said, in the parts I did see, I liked much of what I saw:

Gil looked a lot better handling the ball. His 11-3 assist-turnover ratio was very nice, and would have been 12-2 had Blatche been looking for a pass when Gil zipped one past him in the 4Q. Gil also took the ball to the basket, which is something he needs to do no matter whether his shot is falling.
Caron looks better now than the first half of last season, when he was an all-star. I'm not sure what the deal was with his turnover binge in the first three games, but he's settled down and is back to being a beast. His play in the passing lanes was terrific. I know folks here criticize him for gambling too much, and I didn't see enough of the game to know if he burned us by doing so, but I saw two instances in which he very deftly set up the offense, then sneaked in to pick off passes, leading to easy scores in transition. Nice.
I like the twin towers, but having at least one of the Haywood-Blatche duo on the court is the key, IMO. Playing Songaila or someone else at center limits our defensive ability and gives us no shotblocking at all. Blatche is still pretty raw, but he seems to be helping more then hurting when he's out there.

"Now, obviously individual production does not unilaterally equal better team production, but there's a high level of causation."

by Vanilla Gorilla on Nov 15, 2007 12:11 PM EST reply actions

caron was a beast last night

this is what i signed up for this season. i hope to see more of it.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Nov 15, 2007 12:31 PM EST reply actions

Who Hasn't

..been screaming for a big lineup?

svpstyle.com

by ScottVanPeltStyle on Nov 15, 2007 1:37 PM EST reply actions

I haven't

I prefer more of a low, constant chant.

BiglineupBiglineupBiglineupBiglineupBiglineupBiglineupBiglineup

by sierradave on Nov 15, 2007 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

Good Point Pradamaster

I like the angle you point out...making other teams adjust to the Wizards.

We can afford to deal with D-Song or Jamison deficiencies on D if A-Blatche and Haywood are protecting the rim.

www.truthaboutit.net

truthaboutit

by Kyle Weidie on Nov 15, 2007 2:09 PM EST reply actions

Uh, guys...

..Not to really burst the bubble on the whole big line-up, but that was us adjusting to the Pacers - they start Dunleavy, a small forward at the 2, which kinda forced us to put a larger lineup out there.

Ok, yeah it worked great, and we should do it more. But EJ still adjusts to the other team more than they adjust to us.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Nov 15, 2007 2:58 PM EST reply actions