Wizards lose to Pacers: Final wrap (quickly) and more bemoaning our lack of role players
by Mike Prada on Dec 14, 2009 3:48 PM EST
in Recaps
Email
PrintSitting up in the nosebleeds, where you can see the whole court, kind of gives you a new perspective on the team. I figured the team's problem was that nobody did the little things and nobody had any attention to detail, but watching this game, that truth was just staggering.
So many missed defensive rotations. So many dumb turnovers killing any positive momentum we created. So many poor shots. So many times where guys just don't run hard through their cuts. So many weak screens, or times when people slip the screen unnecessarily because they want to get the pass and shoot.
Then, there was the end of the game. Kyle beautifully broke down the staggering lack of detail on the final play of the game, one that cost them the win, but it was the possessions before as well. When the Wizards should have been clamping down on defense to put the game away, they were allowing Earl Watson and Tyler Hansbrough to complete lob passes for dunks. Simply unacceptable.
I'm firmly convinced this is a roster construction problem. Right now, everyone wants to be the guy who saves this team. There are only two guys on the team who truly don't care what kind of role they play in the team's success -- Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller, who is injured because the Wizards decided to run him out when he was clearly injured instead of making sure he was okay. Everyone else wants credit. They won't say it, but they play like it. On an NBA team, only so many people can be the shot-makers. You need guys who have no egos to blend in with the ones who do.
An addition-for-subtraction trade needs to happen pronto. It could be anyone. The ones who remain just need that wakeup call, that message that nobody is safe from getting dealt.
Four Factors (Bold=very good | Italics=very bad)
| Team | Pace | Off Eff | eFG% | FT/FG | OREB% | TOr |
| Indiana | 96 |
118.8 |
47.8 | 31.1 | 34 |
14.6 |
| Washington |
117.7 |
59.8 |
18.3 | 34.2 |
17.7 |
Snap Reaction: It's nice that we shot well, but how the heck do you let Indiana get to the free-throw line that much? Who do they have that can draw fouls? Ridiculous.
Lineup Details, via Popcorn Machine
- Highest individual plus/minus: Nick Young (+14 in 14:00)
- Lowest individual plus/minus: Randy Foye (-12 in 7:12)
- Best five-man unit: Gilbert Arenas/Nick Young/Caron Butler/Antawn Jamison/Andray Blatche (+9 in the third quarter)
- Worst five-man unit: Gilbert Arenas/DeShawn Stevenson/Caron Butler/Antawn Jamison/Brendan Haywood (-6 in the second quarter)
Snap Reaction: It's becoming clear that Nick Young is winning the Young/Randy Foye death match we all anticipated coming into the season (okay, just me). So why does Young only play 14 minutes? That's right, DeShawn Stevenson took the rest of the shooting guard minutes. How Young doesn't have a regular rotation spot is beyond me. Also, why doesn't Dominic McGuire get all of Stevenson's minutes?
15 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I agree with everything
Young should start at least while Miller is out. When Miller gets back, Young still deserves a place in the rotation.
The attention to detail is pathetic. We should have had Haywood, McGee, Blatche, DMac and Young in the game for that last defensive play. Young should have been on Ford, Blatche on the inbounder, and it doesn’t matter who guarded anyone else. They all have the size, length and/or hops to prevent a tip in.
A trade is necessary. Ideally, it should be one of the Big Three. Presumably, that means Butler because he has the most trade value and is arguably the worst fit in Flip’s system. Trade Butler for a cheaper, younger SF or a high pick. There’s no reason for Leonsis to pay a gargantuan luxtax bill for this squad.
If things don’t turn around quick, then it is also time to trade Jamison. Cleveland is the logical trade partner with Z’s expiring contract.
Arenas is playing much better on offense, but his defense remains laughably bad. I just don’t know how you get through to him. What’s it going to take to get him to defend consistently?
reg arenas- bench him, thats how
foye will need min to build trade value if that is their intention. but i thought a post earlier suggested that might not be in the cards this season
by les boulez bomber on Dec 15, 2009 2:22 AM EST up reply actions
Wizards' role players
Haywood: playing well this year
Stevenson: not the same since the back injury, especially shooting the ball
Oberto: foul-happy, and poor fit alongside Jamison defensively
McGuire: can’t shoot, few assists this year
Miller: injured
Crittenton: injured
With Miller and Crittenton out with injuries, the only role players that have been getting much playing time are Haywood and Stevenson. Is Stevenson really our second best healthy role player? Yes, Oberto and McGuire have been slumping lately, but Stevenson has been at least as bad. Flip needs to find more minutes for Oberto and/or McGuire to see if they can get into a rhythm.
Young/Randy Foye death match
I won’t say “I told you so” yet – because there’s a lot of season left…. but Foye is certainly looking like one of those “got a lot of minutes on a bad team and put up big numbers” guys to me…..
And I agree with nate33 – Young right now is the best option at SG until Miller comes back. Miller should get the starting role when he returns, but Young deserves ALL the remaining SG minutes behind Miller; as Randy Foye has not earned any time based on his play so far.
I’m not ready to blow up this team – trade Butler, trade Jamison and start over… For one thing, I’m not as young as the rest of you guys – I’m not sure I can wait around for 6 or 7 more years…..
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
I wish I had posted this during the offseason
but I always felt Foye was brought in to light a fire under NY. As in one way or another EG was going to finally figure out his SG conundrum this season. I am glad the answer is young sans that goofy haircut.
Don't really feel that Foye and NY are in direct competition with each other
2 different players with 2 different skill sets. I think Foye was brought in to add depth at PG and SG and basically be a poor mans Arenas if Gil got injured again. I think Foye/Boykins was the death match that Foye lost. Foye was playing alot better when he had the ball in his hands before he got injured. When he came back Boykins had a lock on the back up ballhandler spot and now Foye floats around the perimeter while Boykins pounds the rock into the floor. Foye should be playing with Arenas or Miller not Boykins.
As for NY he should be starting. His game was slipping so they put in Stevenson to motivate him to respond. I can understand Flips thinking “If YOUR not gonna play hard every night, I’ll put THAT guy in cuz he will put forth the effort”. I just think NY has progressed to far for that treatment. He has finally shown he can be a valuable guy on a decent team so give him the start and 25+ every night and let him prove or not prove he is a consistent guy every night. Even if he puts 2 bad games in a row together like he did before Indiana just let him have his minutes. Also if your gonna bring a guy in for hustle/punishment you might as well bring Dom in IMO.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 14, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
Kind of like 1991
When GM John Nash brought in LaBradford Smith to light a fire under Ledell Eackles! That one worked out well for both players.
lol…well, its been 30…where’s ur patience
ted should be a pretty good owner
by les boulez bomber on Dec 15, 2009 2:23 AM EST up reply actions
Big Three plus two role players
We went to the second round of the playoffs with Brendan and Jared Jeffries as the two role players. Why not see if McGuire can fill the Jeffries role?
Not an apples and Oranges comparison
That team would barely have qualified for the playoffs in this years Eastern Conference.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 14, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
They'd be better than 7-15
They’d be playing better, more in-sync basketball. And nobody would be getting their heads twisted into knots. How much more of this can Gilbert and Caron take before they become complete headcases?
Here's a twist
It seems to me that the veterans are setting a bad example for the younger players on the team. For one thing, the vets have a losing attitude. Secondly, they are soft and refuse to set hard picks and play defense. Third, they are unprepared (see closing seconds of Indiana game).
Regarding Foye versus Young, neither has played that much or been given an extended vote of confidence by the coach. Nevertheless, once one recognizes that the Big 3 are now near average NBA players, we need someone much better than Young or Foye to run the point. We need to building for the future with Blatche and McGee and a premiere point guard.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bullets Forever
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Larry Bird would like to team with Kobe for the win, LeBron for the fun
- Will Ferrell will run the player intros at Wednesday’s Bulls/Hornets game
- Seattle is still working hard to get an NBA team, but at what cost to Sacramento?
- On Paul Pierce’s incredible, sometimes unlikely, run as a Boston Celtic
- Mark Jackson doesn’t want to hear your excuses/is totally making excuses
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
