We lose, but I'm not killing myself

by Mike Prada on Oct 29, 2008 10:36 PM EDT in Recaps Comment 35 comments

So I've decided to have two recap threads for each game this season. One to get stuff off our chest, and one for real analysis. Also, scroll down for the first of Truth's 41 home game blogs.

I haven't decided if I'm thoroughly depressed or subdued about this loss. By and large, our young guys played and played very well (except for one in particular, of course). Etan Thomas looked really good in 18 minutes. Eddie Jordan didn't overuse Juan Dixon and Darius Songaila like I expected. JaVale McGee had a vicious block. Nick Young played quite well. Dee Brown showed that he deserved the backup PG spot over Juan Dixon.

And yet, we still lost, because our starters, except Etan, were awful. Caron was doing a great job of driving, but he was awful shooting the ball and basically disappeared for a lot of the game. In his first game starting without Brendan Haywood, Antawn Jamison had all of three rebounds against eight three-point attempts. DeShawn Stevenson shot way too much and at all the wrong times (not to mention his atrocious defense on Vince Carter and Jarvis Hayes). Antonio Daniels didn't do anything and looked very old. And, of course, Andray Blatche was out of control and out of rhythm (though I'm pleasantly surprised Eddie trusted him down the stretch...it won't pay off tonight, but it may be good for Dray's development).

You can't beat anyone when your veterans play that badly. I don't get why it happened either, but I can hope that they'll be ready next time. They're our vets for a reason.

The only other alternative is that they just aren't good anymore. Sorry, I'll take the larger sample over the one-game one.

So yeah, tonight's loss sucked. I cannot believe Caron didn't shoot the ball down the stretch, nor can I believe that Antawn grabbed all of three rebounds. I just figure they won't ever be that bad again. Save for Blatche, all the barometer guys played enough minutes and played well. In and of itself, that's encouraging, and I'm choosing to take the positive signs out of this one. You all, of course, are encouraged to do otherwise.

0 recs | Comment 35 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I guess I'm more...

Subdued….but if this is what we should come to expect, then thoroughly depressed.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 29, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm with Prada

Not only did the kids get to play, and mostly do well (I personally don’t think Blatche was a total disaster), but the Wizards also could’ve won if not for missed foul shots. I don’t think (I hope?) they’ll shoot 66% from the line too often.

by Jon L on Oct 29, 2008 11:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Until the return

I think we’ll see more games like this – If the Wizards hit their shots, they’ll win, and if they don’t (like tonight), they won’t.

Caron 3-11
AJ 6-18
D-Steve 5-13

The Wiz are not going to win if two of those three guys aren’t hitting shots… but when all three are off, they’ll even lose to teams like the Nets.

I liked how Nick Young played. Showed more than just his Offense tonight…. He had 3 assists (count em !, three ! ) and played pretty good defense.

I’m also not completely down on Blatche’s game. He shot the ball well…. Rebounded, and played with energy… I did think he made some mistakes on Defense; and turned the ball over too much.

Dee Brown came in and changed the pace of the game – and had 3 pretty assists in just over 8 minutes.

by Rook6980 on Oct 30, 2008 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately, It Won't Get Any Easier to Make Shots

The Wizards aren’t going to get more opportunities to score than they did against the Nets. Their next game is at Detroit. Do you think the Pistons will even let them shoot? If the Wizards can’t score against the Nets, they won’t be able to score against anybody.

Blatche shot the ball well? How do you figure? He had a true shooting percentage of 46.8. That sucks goat balls. If “playing with energy” means looking out-of-control on offense, then I guess he did. He turned over the ball 5 times to lead the team. His usage rate was 33.2! For crying out loud, if you’re sucking that bad, pass the damn ball!

Ironically, DeShawn, whom everyone here is bitching about, had a TS% of 52.1, which isn’t that bad and was the 4th highest on the team. DeShawn was also was the only one who could make a 3-pointer (4 for 8) other than Jamison (who took 8 tries to just make one). Stevenson also only had a usage rate of 19.2, which was the 5th lowest on the team and 2nd lowest (behind only AD) among the starters. So the perception that he shot the ball too much is just that, a perception. Considering how badly Caron and Antawn were shooting, it was to the Wizards benefit that DeShawn shot as much as he did.

All in all, we should be worried. But maybe the Wizards are just cursed to always start the season poorly. We’ll see, I guess.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Oct 30, 2008 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm Mr. Numbers

But the problem with DeShawn was when he shot and his defense.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stevenson was inconsistent on D.

I wish I would’ve paid closer attention to him…..a couple times he fared well, but those were far and few between.

The big problem is that Carter did whatever he wanted in creating for others and scoring. When the Nets went on that run, he was posting on the left wing every time and Eddie Jordan/Randy Ayers had no answer for that.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 30, 2008 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Can't Speak to DeShawn's Defense

Since I wasn’t playing close attention to it. I’ll take yours and Truth’s word for it. But I take exception to his shot selection. The facts remain: only 14 Wizards possessions ended with either a DeShawn Stevenson shot or turnover. Stevenson finished with 14 points. That’s a pretty darn good ratio.

Who would you have rather seen shooting? Neither Antawn nor Caron could hit the broad side of a barn last night. Etan was good, but only when he caught an offensive rebound close to the rim, which requires another player to take a shot first, so Stevenson obliged. Almost all of the shots I saw Stevenson take were wide open jumpers. Would you have rather seen one of Dray’s sloppy drives? Perhaps one of Jamison’s bricks from his trick shots that weren’t working? Other than Nick Young, Stevenson was the only player shooting effectively on a high volume of shots. He was not the problem on offense, IMO.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Oct 30, 2008 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...except

In the final few minutes he jacked up a couple that he shouldn’t have. Not bad shots, but not Antawn or Butler or a drive to the basket.

by MR on Oct 30, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Were those two shots down the stretch open shots?

Were those two head-check shots in the third quarter open shots? Didn’t look like it to me.

I’d take a cold Caron over Stevenson any day down the stretch and twice on Sundays. You do bring up a good point, though, that he wasn’t as bad as he looked. I take back at least some of the initial comments I made.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d take a cold Caron over Stevenson any day down the stretch

We’re agreeing actually. Not sure about Sundays though.

by MR on Oct 30, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was responding to cuppett

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Do Remember

That one of DeShawn’s shots was with a hand in his face, which is why I said almost all instead of all. Where I disagree with you is his decision to take them. If he had gotten hot, like he has done in the past, he could have single-handedly won the game for the Wizards, like he did against the Hornets last year in New Orleans. The only way to know if you’re hot is to take those “head-check” shots. Had he made a couple more of them, he would have been the hero in a close game. Instead he’s the goat because he didn’t defer to an ice-cold Jamison or Caron?

Had his usage rate exceeded either AJ’s or Caron’s, I would agree that he tried to do too much. As it was, I think he played to his role. But I’m glad that you at least acknowledge that he wasn’t as bad as perceived.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Oct 30, 2008 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

To the last point

That’s why I’m doing two game recaps these days. One for the knee-jerk reaction and one for after I think about the game more.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is everyone aware that the preseason is over?

That goes for the team and for all of you “subdued” folks.

Flat. No energy. No spark.

We’ve got to do better than this. Can’t let Carter and a bunch of castoffs and rookies beat us at home. Sorry, this one hurt.

All of you who beat up on Jarvis all the time should remember this one.

by MR on Oct 30, 2008 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RE: Jarvis

Like Spider Man says, “Everybody gets one.”

Also, I didn’t watch the game as I’m stuck in Austin on business, but I read the ESPN overview and I looked at the box score and I’m not TOO depressed – the young kids did OK and that’s honestly what I’m concerned with this season. However, we lost to the Nets and that SUCKS.

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

by mamemimo on Oct 30, 2008 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why didn't Etan play more

He was on pace for a 20/20 night, although he managed to miss about three layups, as usual. All else equal, I think Etan is a bigger contributor at this point than Blatche, and should get the minutes. But maybe it was an injury/stamina issue.

by billyjoe on Oct 30, 2008 5:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing that....

Eddie thought someone needed to spark the offense….and Blatche was kinda scoring.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 30, 2008 6:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was the wrong move

For this game, but I also don’t think it was the factor that cost us the game. We could have won this one with Blatche playing if Caron and Antawn stepped up.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea....

With having to play both Caron and Antawn at the same time…..it’s just not possible to play Etan and Blatche together.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 30, 2008 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think billyjoe was suggesting Etan instead of Blatche

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea, I know...

But if they are both playing well in a game….and it’s crunch time, so the scoring potential of Jamison and Butler are needed….what’s there to do?

No much aside from putting AJ at the three and Butler at the two……and I’m not sure the Wizards will see too many match-ups where they would be comfortable in doing that defensively.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 30, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No swagger

none whatsoever.

by five by five on Oct 30, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's Hard to Swagger

When you are getting outplayed by a lottery team.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Oct 30, 2008 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

blatche made an outlet pass!!!!!

he looked upcourt and passed the ball! it resulted in a turnover, but still, that’s the first time i’ve ever seen that and i think that’s an encouraging sign.

as for the bad news, AD was a complete nonfactor last night, and the team – except for caron – relied predominantly on jump shots.

i think caron tried taking it to the hole too much. for the first time i wanted him to use his midrange game more.

we started 0-5 last year, but i don’t see us turning it around this year in the same way. not with AD sucking like that and no inside game.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Oct 30, 2008 9:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've Seen It Before

And if I remember correctly, the last time he tried it also resulted in a turnover. There’s no use getting excited until Blatche does something that doesn’t result in a missed shot or a turnover. Otherwise, it’s just more Kwame Brown-style hype.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Oct 30, 2008 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm mostly indifferent-

which is odd for me given that I’m usually Miss Doom and Gloom after wizards losses. I think there were a lot of positives but there are some things that concern me – particularly the lack of energy and focus. That 4th quarter was so lackluster, bad shot selection etc. It felt like I was watching the game in slow motion.

by ooba on Oct 30, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I felt the same way.

No energy. No focus.

Despite the positive take-aways from the game, the overall is negative. This is not a team that can sleepwalk to wins…as we saw.

by MR on Oct 30, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they focused fine

They just didn’t hit shots or run the offense well. I can’t decide if that’s better or worse than simply not focusing (hence the “am I subdued or thoroughly depressed” comment).

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 30, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure if I’m making a huge distinction between not running the O well and not focusing. Our D was nothing to write home about either.

The only time I saw the energy that we need was after Stevenson got hit in the face (feel it now?) and Carter poked the ball away from AJ. That got us riled up for about 2 minutes.

Otherwise I feel like we played it like it was a preseason game.

by MR on Oct 30, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nick Young

I was surprised that he didn’t eat more of AD’s minutes. AD is clearly on the decline and an offensive liability at this point. Nick had his game polished and ready to contribute points, which we definately need. Give him AD and some of Stevensons shots.

by Dr. Giggles on Oct 30, 2008 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

clearly on the decline and an offensive liability

Disagree.

by MR on Oct 30, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

per my comment above

AD is my favorite wiz player, but what i saw last night, and at the end of last season other than game 5 in the playoffs, has me concerned.

with haywood and gil out, if AD isn’t as effective as he was last year, we are in for a long first month or two of the season.

and like others have said, jamison the strictly jump shooting 50 million dollar power forward locked up for 4 more years also has me concerned.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Oct 30, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correcting myself

from the other thread: McGuire was 0-1 on field goals, not 1-2.

Also, with Songaila, he had two fouls in six miinutes, which might’ve been why he played, well, six minutes. If there’s one thing I saw from the Nets, it’s that they have a lot of quick players. That caused problems for AD (Devin Harris could get past him pretty much at will), and I wonder if that’s why Songaila saw so little action.

Teams with a lot of quick players (which is different from “fast” teams or teams playing at a high pace) will probably continue to be a problem for the Wizards, but within their division I only see maybe Atlanta and maybe Miami as fitting that profile.

by Jon L on Oct 30, 2008 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sorry I don't have my thoughts together

but also, re: McGuire, when he came in it was al all-reserve lineup, and when he came out he was replaced by Jamison, who then shot 3-5 (including 1-1 from three) with an assist. All the starters were in for most of the third quarter, and by the time EJ started subbing again it was into the fourth where he was probably looking for more offense. It’s a defensible decision, and I don’t hate it, though when one of the problems seemed to be lack of energy, I wonder if McGuire might not’ve helped a little.

by Jon L on Oct 30, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the plus side...

I only watched about half the game but from what I saw, JaVale McGee looks like a better prospect then Brook Lopez. He is so much smoother running the court then the lumbering Lopez and has insanely long go-go gadget arms. He seemingly came out of nowhere to get his hands on a bunch of rebounds, shots and loose balls. Granted, he didn’t gain control in many of these situations, but the ridiculous potential is clearly present. Of course, he will take a few years to develop and put on much needed weight, but considering the consensus on McGee after the draft (ie:bust), It’s uplifting to think we might have got the best center prospect in the draft.

by DT711 on Oct 30, 2008 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs