A thread to talk about actual basketball, specifically last night's Wizards-Cavs game
by Mike Prada on Jan 8, 2010 12:05 AM EST
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PrintBecause we all need a distraction.
I confess: I was too emotionally wrapped up in news about Gilbert Arenas' suspension to give last night's game my total due diligence. I was watching, but not with the same close viewing as usual. So feel free to take these observations with a grain of salt.
- Caron Butler - what happened, man? For those who harbor some outside thoughts that Butler can get his game going with Arenas sidelined, last night was not the best night to prove your case. Butler took nine shots - all mid-range jumpers - took two technical free throws, committed two turnovers and basically did nothing. This comes on the heels of Jon Nichols of basketballstatistics.com's excellent analysis for the New York Times indicating Butler has performed statistically better with Arenas on the court this season than with him off it. You wonder what this does to Butler's trade value.
- I will disagree, however, with Nichols' larger point - that the Wizards will survive Arenas' loss. The on/off data here I think is misleading, because we've basically seen a month and a half of terrible play from Gilbert when he clearly was hurting the team, followed by a few weeks where, with his legs under him, he's basically been indispensable. I know the former sample is larger, but I trust the latter one when you consider he was getting his legs and timing back from injury.
- Watching Randy Foye and Earl Boykins try to run the half-court offense was painful last night. Flip Saunders' offense is predicated on the point guard creating open looks for everyone with his presence, his probing and his aggression. Neither of those guys can do it consistently enough. Flip might have to reconfigure things and put Butler in more of a playmaking role like he was in 2007/08 with Arenas sidelined.
- I realize this team's man defense is bad, but I'm seriously tired of the zone. Cleveland shot 11/22 from three last night, all because they moved the ball eons faster than the zone moved. It may work in theory, but it does not work with this slow-reacting team. As bad as it was in some games, the defense was actually making strides from the Eddie Jordan years. I worry Flip threw away all of that because he just felt it wasn't enough. I don't know. If the offense was performing better, the defense wouldn't get this kind of attention.
- This game really reminded me of bwoods' point from yesterday. It wasn't Arenas stealing people's shots, it was the bench guys like Foye, Boykins, Nick Young and Andray Blatche who were. Tonight, the Wizards had just 16 assists on 37 made buckets. Everyone's playing like they're out for themselves.
Okay, enough. Numbers, please.
Four Factors (Bold=very good | Italics=very bad)
| Team | Pace | Off Eff | eFG% | FT/FG | OREB% | TOr |
| Washington | 94 | 104.3 | 48.8 | 19 | 16.7 | 11.7 |
| Cleveland |
128.7 | 64.7 | 32 | 30 | 18.1 |
Snap Reaction: But at least we kicked their butt in the turnover battle
Lineup Details, via Popcorn Machine
- Highest individual plus/minus: JaVale McGee and Dominic McGuire (-1 in 9:42 and 6:12, respectively)
- Lowest individual plus/minus: Caron Butler (-22 in 38:18)
- Best five-man unit: Earl Boykins/Nick Young/Caron Butler/Antawn Jamison/Brendan Haywood (+11 to begin the third quarter)
- Worst five-man unit: Randy Foye/Nick Young/Caron Butler/Antawn Jamison/Brendan Haywood (-8 right after that)
Snap Reaction: This kind of puts a dent in the "Randy Foye can play point guard" argument.
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I'm Confused
Did we play Minnesota last night?
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Crap, fixed
Copied and pasted the code from that game.
Even my recapping fact-checking was off.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
last night doesnt count...
… the guys played in a fog because of Gilbert’s suspension. I would pretty much discount their play. Plus it was the second game of a back to back.
The first true indication of where this team is will be tomorrow night at home against the Magic.
AJ will bring it as usual. Bwood traditionally does an okay job on Dwight. Nick has got to put up more shots. flip has to keep Deshawn in the game more. BUT— Butler has to play with energy— both offensively and defensively- in order for us to have a chance to win.
Speaking of Butler, are there any new trade rumors about him?
by CVC on Jan 8, 2010 12:18 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Someday
In the far, far future, when this team is once again considered good, we will have to stop using “it was the second game of a back to back” as an excuse for losing. Why must the Wizards always lose the second game of a back to back? Good teams find ways to actually win those games.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Absolutely agree
If Mike was in a blog fog, thinking about Arenas; then how do you think the players felt?
After the stuff that’s happened, to expect them to go out and perform at a high level against an elite team is unrealistic.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Butler....? indeed
He dropped a big turd last night. He has to step up now and get his value back up.
What's Even More Depressing
Is that I want to start hoping that we’ll increase our chances of getting John Wall, but that just reminds me of all the optimism we had last season about getting Blake Griffin. We’ll suck royally this season, but still find a way to pick 6th in the draft.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
And then, once we get that 6th pick we'll turn it into Randy Foye!!!
Seriously, how good does Rubio sound now with Gil’s situation? Especially since he probably would have stayed in Europe and distanced himself from this “era”. Can we please trade for him Ernie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk
by hibachi on Jan 8, 2010 1:17 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
ouch. the truth hurts.
so disappointed in foye.
by DarrellWalkerFan on Jan 8, 2010 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
It's kinda sad that the Cleveland "rivalry" is over
with some combination of Gil/Antawn/Caron likely gone and Lebron leaving for sure (wink wink)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk
Has Cleveland every posted an offensive efficiency that high
during the Mike Brown era? I doubt it? And if they top that the rest of this season I will stand on my head and deal cards.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Jan 8, 2010 1:20 AM EST reply actions
Last year
I believe they were fourth.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
Wow, that is stunning
But have they ever been at 128.7 in a game though? Maybe they have I just can’t imagine a Cavalier team being that efficient.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Jan 8, 2010 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
There might be five single games tops where a team was at 128.7 this year
That’s ridiculously efficient.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
JaVale McGee and Dominic McGuire 1st are the only players we should not trade everyone else is cancer we need to fight it and survive this man
I might add Mike Miller to the short list...
If all the Wizards fans in the world jumped up in the air at the same time when the lottery balls are shaken this May, do you think we could make the John Wall ball drop our way ?
Oh I watched Barelona play Lyon in Euroleage Play last night
Ricky Rubio has a nice team around him… JC Navarro, Fran Vasquez, Pete Mickeal and old Terrence Morris from the Terps… Even when Ricky made a bad play, forcing a hook pass under the hoop from the three-point line, the Lyon center could handle it and the ball fell into Vazquez’ hands for an easy 2. Ricky absoutely demolished Terrell McIntyre.
by khrabb on Jan 8, 2010 8:00 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I hear you... how much salt can these wounds take?
Related subject (I am too tech inept to post separately) but the Blazers fansite reports that Andre Miller and Nate MacMillan had a nasty argument that stopped team practice yesterday.
As I understand it, Miller has a three year contract at $7.5 mil per but the third year is not guaranteed. Portland needs help at center or small forward. What do you all think of Haywood straight up for Miller? That would give us a decent Flip-type PG and open up PT at the 5 spot for JVM and AB to prove themselves, with Oberto there to knock heads if the kids are getting abused. If they prefer Butler or would go for Haywood and Butler, things could really get interesting… say Miller, Martell Webster and a second rounder in return.
The deals are coming. Just in time for the Presidents Day Sales….
I'd rather not take on much more money for Haywood personally
Rather dump Haywood for Steve Blake’s expiring deal and one of their young guys/a first-round pick.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
Agreed
Any of our expiring contracts should net another expiring and a young player or pick.
If the Wizards are going to rebuild, they need “assets” – and not veteran assets, but young players. Plenty of Playoff bound teams out there that would want to rent a 7-foot Defensive minded Center or a 3-point sharp shooter… but there’s no reason for the Wizards to take back salary past 2010 …… Unless they get something really good in return.
For instance, I wouldn’t mind taking back Jared Jeffries ($6.4 Million this year, $6.9 Million next year) for Mike James ($6.4 Million expiring) if New York threw in a 1st round pick. (or a young player like Jordan Hill, Gallinari, or Wilson Chandler – but I don’t think they would want to part with any of those players)
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
the scary thing is
i watched the knicks game last night – jeffries looked pretty good
NIce work if you could get it....
I would take Blake’s expiring and, oh, Rudy Fernandez, in an eyelash. But you make a good point (!) and Blake could plug the PG gap for the rest of this season regardless. Portland has to be desperate for a 5 (bless Juwan he has been holding the fort remarkably well, I thnk) and these are things that may be do-able.
Good luck prying young talent from Pritchard
I suspect he’s more likely to decide, based on Miller, that his Keep ’Em All to Develop doctrine was right to begin with.
(‘Dre Miller is the sort of player Washington might have “boiled down” some of its redundant backcourt parts for before the prospect of a true rebuild was so clear, isn’t he? No spring chicken, Miller.)
"It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission."
OT: Tickets for tonight
Just decided to make it a man night and was wondering if anyone had a few extra tickets to sell to group of military guys (not that it makes a difference).
If not, would anyone know the best place to look for reasonably priced tickets for tonights game (between 4-6 tickets).
Thank you in advance for the help/advice,
Jonathan
"Flip might have to reconfigure things"
pretty please! i won’t make it through the season if i have to watch boykins or foye run an offense entirely dependent on point guard play. it’d be like miami giving the reins to mario chalmers, or the lakers to derek fisher.
by DarrellWalkerFan on Jan 8, 2010 2:20 PM EST reply actions
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