It was a symbolic win. Nothing more

by Mike Prada on Dec 14, 2007 3:27 PM EST in Recaps

Box Score.
Game Flow.
Post recap.
Times recap.
Dwyer: Why...are the Wizards 12-10 without Gilbert?.
Wizards Insider.
Les Bullez.
TAI live-blog.
DC Pro Sports Report.
Charley Rosen.

Highest plus/minus: Brendan Haywood (+29)
Lowest plus/minus: Andray Blatche (-16)

No doubt about it, this was a very encouraging win, but we do have to remember that Miami is not Miami anymore. Just watching Shaq last night really drives the point home. Credit Brendan Haywood for playing good defense, but Shaq was getting no elevation on his shots, and he has lost all post moves besides the Charles Barkley circa 1994 dribble backdown.

Still, there are a lot of reasons to be happy. Chief among them is Haywood's play, especially on the glass. We've always known that Haywood could play pretty solid defense when given the chance, but I haven't seen him consistently be this active on the glass in a very long time. Haywood's play was a major reason we crushed the Heat 48-29 on the glass. Not only was he grabbing a lot of boards, but he was occupying space and allowing guys like Antawn Jamison to grab boards without really boxing anyone out.

I'd venture to say Haywood's play is the major reason why our defense has improved. Dwyer mentioned that one reason the Wizards have improved defensively has been that they're closing out more on shooters, but I somewhat disagree. Yes, we've been better with that, but we're still allowing teams to have a robust 50.4 eFG%. In this game, Chris Quinn had about 500 open looks from three where we should have closed out more effectively. The main difference defensively, in my eyes, is that we're not allowing second shots (11th in defensive rebounding percentage), and Haywood's play inside is the major reason why.

Otherwise, lots of other guys impressed me. DeShawn Stevenson, obviously, was fantastic, though I don't expect him to shoot like that very often this year. Caron Butler still desperately needs to get more assertive offensively (he has the LeBron James hold-the-ball-for-way-too-long disease), but I really like how he decided to take over the game offensively during that one stretch in the third quarter. Antawn Jamison hit the glass, didn't force bad shots, and generally acted like a great second-banana. Roger Mason was also spectacular off the bench, especially defensively on Dwayne Wade.

But nobody was more important than Haywood, and it's great to know that such performances have happened regularly thus far this season.

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Comments

Haywood has been great this year.

And he was great last night. As far as Caron needing to get more assertive, I agree, but I think he's starting to learn to be more agressive. It showed in his 10 points during the 16-2 stretch in the third quarter.

Back to Haywood, he was a monster last night, and the main reason we did not get burned on the pick and roll as much as we did. He did a good job being the help defender, and has proven to be a good anchor in the middle.

As far as my feelings about Mason's D, see my diary. He had my friends and I yelling at the TV.

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

by mamemimo on Dec 14, 2007 3:46 PM EST reply actions

Haywood

Absolutely. Just look at that plus/minus number. I'm not that great an observer, but this is the second time in three games that I've noticed the opponents runs coincide with Haywood getting a rest.

Shaq no longer seems HUGE to me. He just seems heavy. It didn't seem like he could even get off the floor anymore.

by hotplate on Dec 14, 2007 3:59 PM EST reply actions

As I told a friend

The Heat never would have let the Wizards thump them like that at home if Shaq was still alive.

I only saw the fourth quarter, but one of my observations was how great Haywood looked -- strong and assertive. He didn't get every rebound, but he was working pretty hard and drawing a massive amount of attention from the Heat players on every missed shot. The way the Heat were all whining for minutes for a traveling call or something after Haywood hammered a big dunk home on a fast break really says a lot about how lost they are as a team.

The other thing that popped out at me was Stevenson's defense on Wade in the fourth. There was a point when the Heat made its run that Wade tried to take the game over, but DeShawn wouldn't let him, and then Wade sort of backed off. That kind of impact is HUGE, no matter how many point DeShawn scores.

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

by Vanilla Gorilla on Dec 14, 2007 4:02 PM EST reply actions

Roger Mason Jr.

Roger Mason Jr. was only 3-9 (1-4 3P) coming off the bench, BUT almost all of his shots were great looks, and they were straight and soft. They were almost all a bit short, but straight on. I had no problem with that. He seems to be a good shooter, and he must be shooting the lights out in practice for him to be such an option for EJ these days.

Perhaps we can see a 3P contest b/w Roger Mason & "I can't feel my face."

Why didn't Nick Young play? I like him!

by se7en on Dec 14, 2007 4:28 PM EST reply actions

I should take note...

His 1-4 3P makes him 12-22 3P in the last 6 games (and 10-10 FT). I'll take that!

This guy should be our Bruce Bowen. Let Caron/Antawn go to work, move the ball around, and eventually he'll get the "kick it out to the open man" look for a great 3P shot. I HATE Bruce Bowen, but he sure knows his role.

by se7en on Dec 14, 2007 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

eddie trusts mason more right now

it was a meaningful game last night, no time for rookies. young is probably pissed he didn't get in on the national tv game. he'll get his eventually. gotta pay your dues.

i hope ej is developing a trust for haywood. i think haywood still has room to improve.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Dec 14, 2007 4:42 PM EST reply actions