Briefing: Still looking for a win in March
by Jake Whitacre on Mar 14, 2010 5:32 AM EST
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PrintWizards Fizzle After Fast Start - Dave Johnson, CSN Washington
It was a dream beginning for the Wizards who responded to the challenge of playing their third game in as many nights by outscoring the Magic in the first quarter 33-20. The Wizards closed the quarter on an impressive 16-2 run over 4:22 and made seven of their final nine shots. Off the bench Fabricio Oberto played a role in the Wizards late first quarter surge. Oberto not only challenged the Magic’s Dwight Howard but helped the offense with decisive passes and effective screens. In addition Andray Blatche scored 15 of his team high 32-points in the opening quarter.
Notes From the Floor – Wizards vs Magic - Joe Glorioso, Wizards Extreme
Most of us who have watched this team all year long knew two things were going to happen after that first quarter. First would be that the Magic would get right back in the game, second that the Wizards were going to come back down to earth. Both happened and rather quickly. The Magic quickly went from being down by 15 to up by 6 and before you knew it they were up by 23. The game shifted and pretty much ended in the 2nd quarter.
Orlando Magic tops Washington Wizards - Gene Wang, Washington Post
"Unfortunately the games are 48 minutes and not 12," Wizards Coach Flip Saunders said, referring to Washington taking a 13-point lead at the end of the first quarter. "We played well early. I thought their bench came in the second quarter and changed the whole complexion of the game." The Magic got 48 points from its reserves, including a combined 34 from Brandon Bass and J.J. Redick, as the team continued its trajectory in the opposite direction of Washington. Orlando (47-20) has won eight in a row, extending its longest such streak this season, and after a shaky beginning against the Wizards looked every bit the team that is aiming to chase down Cleveland as the top seed in the East.
Magic win 8th straight 109-95; Wizards skid hits 7 - Joseph White, Associated Press
Shaun Livingston had 18 points and eight assists off the bench for the Wizards, who aren’t getting any kind of break in the schedule. They’ll spend Sunday traveling, then play back-to-back games at Utah and Denver on Monday and Tuesday to start a four-game road trip. Saunders called it "ridiculous" that his team will have only one day off at the end of that trip, then just only one home game before hitting the road again. "I guess it’s like that commercial," Saunders said. "‘Give it to Mikey. He’ll eat it, he’ll do anything."’
Flip Saunders on Shaun Livingston - Gene Wang, Washington Post
Among the few positives from the Wizards' 109-95 loss to Orlando on Saturday was the performance of guard Shaun Livingston, who had 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting and eight assists. It was the second time Livingston has scored that many points for the Wizards, and he played season-high 30 minutes 54 seconds. Livingston was the preferred point guard ahead of starter Randy Foye because of his height advantage over the Magic's Jameer Nelson, who is listed at 6 feet. Livingston is 6-foot-7, and he was able to post up Nelson several times for easy baskets.
Orlando Magic 109, Washington Wizards 95 - Ben Q. Rock, Orlando Pinstriped Post
Of the Magic's 8 straight wins, this one is likely their least impressive, given that they let one of the league's least talented teams score 33 points against them in the first quarter in its third game in as many nights. Rashard Lewis picked up two quick fouls trying to check Blatche, which pressed Brandon Bass into duty much earlier than expected. He didn't fare any better against Blatche than Lewis did--Blatche scored 15 points in the first quarter--but he held his own on the offensive glass. The second unit's outstanding second-quarter play overshadowed any of the bad from the first quarter, and the starters re-grouped for a strong early third-period run which basically decided the game.
Three Thoughts after Magic's 109-95 Win over the Wizards - Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
Blatche had a big scoring night (he shot 14 of 23) but Howard and Bass did a good job keeping both Blatche and McGee of the glass. The two combined for seven total rebounds. And three of Blatche's four rebounds came on the offensive end. It would prove difficult for Washington to score the upset when they were struggling to secure rebounds.
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as exciting as it is to read about how the top guards in this year’s draft can help us, it is very clear from this game that the wizzards are not going anywhere without a big bodied center that can slow down dwight howard. of course, it did not help that we had a small forward guarding him most of the game!
by les boulez bomber on Mar 14, 2010 9:59 AM EDT reply actions
I think it's a mistake to plan your team around another
We have to get to the playoffs before we really need to worry about Howard, and then there’s no guarantee we’d meet each other.
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Mar 14, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
i disagree completely. if you are not putting in place the players you want that can win a championship- save your cap space and earn lottery picks until you get enough of a core together, then sign the big put you over the top max contract free agent just before the meat of your team needs to be resigned.
by les boulez bomber on Mar 14, 2010 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with all that
My point is just that there are different ways to build a championship team. Having a big that can match up with Howard isn’t a prerequisite.
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Mar 14, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
there certainly are many ways to do it. easiest is to get lucky in the lottery- lol hopefully, we will get lucky and get a top three pick this year. what i hope they do not do is add a sig player or two and fill out the cap space to build a #5-#8 seed playoff team with no chance to win it all, too good to be in the lottery pick and not enough cap flexibility to add that final piece- like we did the past few years. i think teds philosophy is more inline with what i wrote, though, based on interviews i read.
by les boulez bomber on Mar 14, 2010 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll take the past few years over the previous few decades...
To quote myself: I would be okay with a middling playoff contender over a full rebuild which might or might not end in a middling playoff contender 4-5 years from now.
Everybody wants to bring home the trophy, but the reality is that, in the NBA, you have to take the long view. Its all but impossible to step up from decades of bottom feeding into championship contention. So the first step is to build a perennial winner. You have to change the perception of the franchise. Good examples would be Dallas and San Antonio. Most franchises that have won recently, did so because of key trades and FA acquisitions, in addition to good/great draft picks and a little lottery luck.
The reality is that you can get a Kobe in the mid first round. You can get a Gil in the second round. But you can’t make them stay for the long haul unless you are at the very least not a bottom feeder when you get them.
High praise for Livingston from Flip
“I think the biggest thing is he’s got a very high basketball IQ,”
I didn’t see the game, but I like his stat line.
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Mar 14, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions
saw the game
he looked impressive, he was quick, trusted his leg and his midrange jumper looked smooth. i think he’s getting his confidence back. we’ll see in the next few games but if he continues like this he should get a spot on the roster next year. some forget that he was a lottery pick out of high school, who was going to go to duke so he was a big prospect and still young. i think he can still be a big time player if given a chance
agreed
Livingston’s shown himself to be a capable assist man as well as a smooth shooter. He’s still just 24, and he doesn’t look limited on the court. I’d like to see him back next year to allow him to develop further. If he keeps playing like this, he is deserving of at least a backup role in Flip’s rotation next year.
"Guess you guys aren't ready for that yet... but trust me, you're gonna love it." ~Marty McFly
Sorry if this is already known
but the link function isn’t working for comments.
by Palace of Good Play's Golden Toilet on Mar 14, 2010 11:12 AM EDT reply actions
maybe start livingston and foye
for the remainder of the year? don’t know how many minutes livingston is able to log with the knee, but that would solve a few problems. foye could focus on scoring a bit more, miller would add punch from the bench. not that this team is going anywhere, but still, i think that makes some sense purely from a b’ball standpoint.
"how ironic - you came here with a mouse in a bottle, now YOU are the mouse in the bottle" - B.M. Smith
by little stevie colter on Mar 14, 2010 2:58 PM EDT reply actions
I'd definitely
start Livingston. I’m OK starting Foye with him in the backcourt, since Livingston;s length can make up for Foye’s lack of length. I also agree with LBB – we need help at center. If Livingston continues to (re)develop the way he has these last few games, we may very well have found our starting point guard. But I still think there’s a glaring hole at the two. I don’t think any one of the guys we have now are starting quality 2 guards. Foye is too small, Miller is too slow/tentative, and Young is too, well, EVERYTHING. But mostly he’s too inconsistent.
However, I’d say our biggest weakness is center (no pun intended). Unless McGee can put on at least 50 pounds this offseason, he shouldn’t be starting for us. I know I’m not breaking new ground here, but he just gets pushed around way too easy. Even Jameer Nelson shoved him around. But his frailness affects his offense as well. He’s not strong enough to create space, so he has to go around EVERYBODY. Which means his shot is usually taken from far away from the rim. Not just that, be he has no footwork whatsover, no real offensive moves. I know it sounds like I’m being too hard on him, and maybe I am. I’m not saying give up on the guy, I’m just saying that we need someone who can help us in more ways than off the ball blocked shots and follow up dunks. At least as a starter.
McGee's issue is not solely size
Its also technique (or lack thereof). Both will take time, but I expect massive improvement from solely learning technique to come much sooner than the muscle mass or strength. Camby, for example. I remember him getting pushed around like that when he was a young player. And he really never bulked up. He got stronger, but I think the key was that he learned positioning technique.
McGee also shies away from contact, something you see often enough in skinny young bigs. There was one play in particular where I was thinking if he goes directly to the front of the rim its a foul. But instead, he faded to the left of the rim and missed the shot.
There are other techniques he needs to learn, like how to stay in front of his man in 1-on-1 post defense. But its a good thing that 1) he can be pretty effective (in certain matchups) solely on skill, and 2) he’s reportedly got the work ethic and desire to learn that it takes to learn the techniques. I’m not worried at all.
I'm not particularly worried, either. But I would like to see some better footwork by the end of the year.
by imperialme on Mar 15, 2010 12:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm more interested in how he looks next preseason
after he’s had a full offseason to study film of himself.
He doesnt neccessarily need weight
But he needs to get stronger….look at Marcus Camby…Hes an effective post defender and is game on offense. I think Camby is best-best-best-best-BEST case scenario for Mcgee.
you dont think foyes scoring is needed more coming from the second unit? who plays better with boykins- foye or miller?
i agree with giving livingston major minutes. we need to see if that need will hold up before signing him to a multi-year guaranteed contract. well, that sounds a little bad as i read it- lol i dont want to play him to the point he damages his knee again- just not baby it too much so we can make a educated decision. he is definitely a starter in this league when healthy.
by les boulez bomber on Mar 14, 2010 3:34 PM EDT reply actions
personally, my answer to this
who plays better with boykins- foye or miller?
would be someone on another team. I, for one, am hoping that Boykins is not brought back next year.
Miller is useless...
Start Foye at the 2….he’s a natural scorer that’s not afraid to shoot. Miller is passive and rather thread a pass through traffic that results in a turnover…or pass over an open 3, or get burned by screens of defense.
Start Livingston and Foye. What’s the worst that can happen?
The way Livingston moves cracks me up…he looks like gumby out there. But he’s a natural playmaker…unlike Foye and Gil who are shoot first combo guards.
Then pray we get the top 3 pick
so we can turner, wall, or favors.
Funny you say that
The way Livingston moves cracks me up
I’d say the same thing about Thornton. He seems to overdo everything. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking it, cuz it obviously works for him. I just keep thinking he’s going to lose control, then he finger rolls it in. There’s no doubt he gives maximum effort on everything. I just wonder if he actually NEEDS to.
But, like I said, it works for him. And, to tell you the truth, if I were on the floor with him, I’d probably just assume stay the hell away from him.
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