Rome wasn't built in a day, folks

by Mike Prada on Nov 28, 2008 12:48 AM EST in Recaps

Dwight Howard's too big. Andray Blatche committed too many fouls. JaVale McGee's too weak. Etan Thomas is too small. Orlando's shooters are too good.

Maybe I'm just full from dinner tonight, but I'm not worried about the blowout loss to Orlando. Ed Tapscott isn't going to magically turn us into a super team overnight. We can't stop Orlando without Brendan Haywood, because we then have to double on Dwight Howard, which leaves their shooters open. The end result is that Orlando kills us offensively.

Oh well. Hopefully we beat Atlanta.

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Nothing We Could Do

Nothing we could do… Well, that’s not entirely true… We could have made more shots, and at least kept them honest.

But, defensively, you’re right… I knew we’d lose this game. The Dwight-perimeter shooters combo is just the perfect Wizard poison.

Anyone else miss Haywood more than they thought they would?

by se7en on Nov 28, 2008 4:47 AM EST reply actions

shooting

Yup, the shooting was atrocious. The starting backcourt was a combined 3 for 13. Then when you add Daniels and Thomas to the mix you get a team that is quite offensively challenged. I’m not sure what’s going on with Deshawn this year. But it hasn’t been pretty thus far. I thought Blatche did ok. A couple of his fouls were questionable but he is going to get called every time if its even close. He’s got to have a plan B though if his jumper isn’t falling.

by hotplate on Nov 28, 2008 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

The shooting was atrocious and could have been much better.

Then when you add Daniels and Thomas to the mix you get a team that is quite offensively challenged.

These are two players that Ernie should find ways to part with. They don’t give the Wizards anything at this point, especially considering their salaries. I think it was telling that AD came off the bench even though he was healthy. ET has clearly turned the page at point guard. And anytime you see Etan enter the game you know that the Wizards must be in bad foul trouble, because he simply is not competent as a center.

I’m not sure what’s going on with Deshawn this year. But it hasn’t been pretty thus far.

I think that DeShawn is a role player who is now expected to do more than he is capable of. His game consists of defense and being the 4th scoring option on the floor capable of hitting wide open three pointers. The problem is, the Wizards can only put two scoring options on the floor at any one time, which means DeShawn has to try and do more on offense and doesn’t have the luxury of wide open looks anymore. On the rare occasion he does get wide open looks, he’s so out of rhythm that he can’t convert.

I think with a healthy Gilbert and/or a healthy Brendan Haywood, he can get back to his performance from last season.

I thought Blatche did ok. A couple of his fouls were questionable but he is going to get called every time if its even close. He’s got to have a plan B though if his jumper isn’t falling.

I think Blatche’s biggest problem is that he can’t guard someone like Dwight Howard one-on-one at this point. This caused him to stay in foul trouble throughout the game. JaVale McGee had the same problem. Remember, he is still only 22 years old. His body is probably still developing. If he can beef out more, he could be a viable center. At this point, he’s best when used as a backup PF.

"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 Nov 28, 2008 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

The only other alternative would have been...

To try to go match-up big across the front line from the start…

Orlando is 6’10, 6’11, 6’10 (Turkoglu, Howard, Lewis)… That would suggest trying Jamison, McGee, Blatche up front to begin with… by using McGee and Blatche serially they simply became cannon fodder for Howard. Using them together is the only way to get potential synergy from them. Lewis is a not that great a defender, after all.

This approach would also put Butler against Michael Pietrus instead of Rashard Lewis, and force Anthony Johgnson (12 assists no TOs, give me a break!) to contend with the much bigger and tougher DeShawn Stevenson.

We probably would not have won anyway, but it might have been more interesting and would certainly have kept McGee and Blatche in the game a bit longer.

Let’s see how it goes against Atlanta.

by khrabb on Nov 28, 2008 5:45 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

I Like This Idea

ET might have done better had he considered it.

"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 Nov 28, 2008 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

I like the idea.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on Nov 28, 2008 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sure that was in the game plan

The big front line worked well last game (as did everything) but it was never an option because both string beans were in foul trouble 5 minutes into the game.

by MR on Nov 28, 2008 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

Complete Agreement

I expected better shooting and a bit better execution on defense in this game, but I figured it would be difficult accounting for Dwight Howard. At first, it appeared like ET wanted to leave Dwight’s defender, whether it be JaVale or Blatche, alone with him to see if they could do at least a passable job. If successful, then the perimeter defenders could still be covered. But Howard was just too strong and dominating, causing both JaVale and Blatche to get into early foul trouble. Once I saw Etan enter the game, I knew we were going to lose.

Howard was so dominating that ET was forced to double (which is what EJ would have done from the very beginning). The result was a defense that looked very much like the ones in the first 11 games this season.

"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 Nov 28, 2008 12:38 PM EST reply actions

Is it just me

or did anyone else think that Songaila played Howard extremely well when he was in. It was mostly the second quarter. Howard barely did anything in the 2nd quarter.

by lj15 on Nov 28, 2008 1:02 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

Songaila did well on Howard in the second quarter. Unfortunately, he got a couple of fouls also. He easily did the best of McGee, Thomas, or Blatche. He also drew Howard out on defense by hitting a couple of jumpers.

by hotplate on Nov 28, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

Songila played great

on O and D. Thomas played decent D on Howard as well. I wish he had tried a few moves on offense in an attempt to get Howard some fouls. Clearly McGee and Blatche could play neither O nor D when Howard was in the game.

by MR on Nov 28, 2008 3:04 PM EST up reply actions