Keys to the Palace: Winning!
by Jon Kelman on Apr 3, 2011 11:00 PM EDT
in Keys To The Palace
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Keys to the Palace
| Player | Week 23 PER | Week 22 PER | Difference | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Crawford | 12.9 | 12.5 | 0.4 | With Jimmy out, he completely stepped up. 39 points on 50% shooting against one of the league's best defenses is 1 thing, but it's another to do it as the only offensive option/creator on the court; Miami only had to focus on stopping him and did not succeed. Then, he follows that with a role change to more pure PG against the Cavs and commands the offense while putting up a triple-double. And what about 'the play' against Cleveland where he blocks Baron Davis' shot, pulls a beautiful spin move in the open court, and then passes backwards between the legs to Dray for a dunk. And this is me gushing......Jordan did need 25 shots for his 25 points against the Jazz (mainly due to only going 1-for-10 from deep, and 20 shots for 23 points against Charlotte, and didn't suddenly stop taking ill-advised shots, but that's about all the negatives. Awesome week, nuff said. |
| Othyus Jeffers | 9.5 | 3.3 | 6.2 | I thought he was excellent in 3 games this week, and was justifiably rewarded with a start against the Cavs. His defensive energy pressuring all over the court should be a model for others. If you caught his postgame interview after the Cavs game, he said, "I'm not doing nothing that I'm not supposed to be doing. I'm supposed to be working this hard. I'm trying to make it here. I'm supposed to be doing this. The little things that other people don't want to do, I should doing this. So I don't look as if I'm different from anyone else on the team, I should be doing it." Which is basically him saying, 'Crown me king of the fan favorites.' The Bobcats was not good though, he had serious problems staying with Matt Carroll on the defensive end. Even so, methinks he is thisclose to locking down a roster spot for next season. |
| Andray Blatche | 15.4 | 15.4 | 0 | Nitpick all you want, but he was superb against the Cavs. JC had a great game, but we won because of the dominance in the paint, and Blatche spearheaded that effort. Sure, it took 32 shots to get 36 points, but those 36 were almost 1/3 of our output. Most importantly, the record amount of offensive rebounds belied an energy that we seem to never get from him.The Miami game was okay, but I can give him a pass as his first game back from almost a month out of action and he had another great effort against the Bobcats with 25 and 17. More of this please. |
Guest Passes
| Player | Difference | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JaVale McGee | 17.5 | 17.2 | 0.3 | Another great game against a Cavs team with no size, a very good one against the Bobcats, and then 2 meh ones. Whereas the Cavs played to his strengths, I thought the Heat were a bad matchup. It was probably their strategy, but Miami went small by putting Bosh at center, which pulled JaVale away from the basket and effectively negated him as an inside presence and shot blocker - those back-to-back blocks on Wade and Bosh aside. Offensively, his best asset is quickness against big guys, but that is not an advantage against a PF. Going forward, he and/or the team need to find ways to impact the game when teams go small. The other big thing I want to note is his defending Jimmy against Big Z. it looked like he was close to doing something stupid, but the commitment to the team and nasty streak have been 2 items that have been sorely lacking this season from the team as a whole. |
| Maurice Evans | 11.5 | 9.5 | 2 | The numbers were that of someone who should be locked out, but he showed terrific value beyond the boxscore. Phil Chenier noted before the Cavs game that Mo will grab Jimmy and JC after huddles to give pointers and ensure they understand the play. I also loved that he jumped in to calm Jimmy once the fracas with the Heat escalated. He could easily have decided he didn't want to be here, a la Mike Bibby, or gotten lazy on a bad team a la Baron Davis, but he has become a leader and great example. He really seems to make the most of what he has. |
| John Wall | 15.2 | 15.2 | 0 | Jimmy basically only played 2 games this week, but he was the primary reason we won that game against the Jazz. Broken down though, he really had an outstanding 1st half, and an okay to not good 2nd half. There have been stretches after his teammates can't buy a bucket where he seems to decide that the team's best offensive option is him going to the basket to score. That 1st half seemed very much like those stretches, except he made that decision about 2 possessions into the game and made the layups look easy before putting in something like a 1-for-9 2nd half. That performance coupled with a so-so one against the Bobcats (5 assists and 6 turnovers) may have been worthy of a Key, but the punch definitely relegated him to Guest Pass. I like the fire, but he has to control his emotions better and realize his importance to the team. It is hard not to think that having Wall in that game pushes the Wizards to a win (that, and some reasonable officiating). |
Locked Out
| Player | Difference | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yi Jianlian | 9.6 | 10.1 | -0.5 | The minutes were consistent, but his production slipped this week. Overall, I have liked seeing him play like a more traditional big man, but I just don't see the upside with him. Even if it is an odd fit in certain lineups, I would like to see Seraphin take some of his playing time. |
| Cartier Martin | 11.8 | 12.4 | -0.6 | Another meh week for him. He is shooting 39% from deep this year, but not providing enough anywhere else to make me think he will make this team next year. This team definitely needs offense, but clearly Mo Evans provides more while shooting only 6% worse from long range. |
| Kevin Seraphin | 9 | 8.6 | 0.4 | The minutes have been hard to come by recently, and I am disappointed that he couldn't get in on the paint party against the Cavs (mostly because his teammates were playing so well). He averaged a foul every 5 minutes this week, which is also still a problem. I would really like to see him get more consistent minutes these next 6 games. |
NOTE: Josh Howard, Rashard Lewis, Nick Young, Trevor Booker, Hamady Ndiaye, and Mustafa Shakur were left off this week's Keys to the Palace because they did not receive enough playing time for a fair evaluation.
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Comments
I have a feeling that Mo Evans is influencing the team in ways untold
He just makes good decisions, hustle plays, tap backs.. & he says the right things. His numbers don’t astonish, but his play is that of a true vet . I’m happy that he’s on board.
eh on Blatche
If Mcgee beat up on teams with no size then I present you Andray Blatche. lol his Moses malone imitaion is doing wonderful things for his rebound stats just miss 3 layups within a foot of the basket and get the board and stick it back.
Blatche is still playing no defense and he shot 32 times to get 36 points but he did seem to have more sustained energy and effort that any other point during the season. so he deserves some props.
Mcgee and Crawford I thought shoulda got keys to the palace. Both have been very steady for a long stretch now.
Crawford was the key to the Cavs win a game after playing his natural role of getting buckets he transitioned his game to pg and did a heck of a job. Wiz don’t win if he’s not setting Mcgee and Blatch up for dominating the game.
Mcgee has been just locking down the middle defensively. He is intimidating teams from driving the lane. and offensively he is emerging on the low block.
Wow
He just averaged 25 and 15 for the week and you’re “eh”. Tough crowd.
I think Mcgee should get a key as well. He seems to have taken his game to another level.
If these two guys can keep it up, we’ve got our starters up front. That’s still a fairly big if in each case, but worth exploring. This is just solidifying my opinion that the top 5 pick should be spent on a SF.
"Be patient or be a Heat fan" - MR
My point exactly
“If these two guys can keep it up, we’ve got our starters up front. That’s still a fairly big if in each case, but worth exploring. This is just solidifying my opinion that the top 5 pick should be spent on a SF.”
I’ve wanted the Wiz to draft Kanter for all that these guys are doing now, so if they can keep it up and the Wiz can nab Harrison Barnes, $$$.
Kanter, Barnes, Perry Jones
Was my order of preference about a week ago, but now McGee and Blatche have been playing with my emotions and made my order flip flop. Perry Jones kinda makes the most sense now as SF/insurance on Blatche.
I’m really high on the mental/stability aspect of Kanter and Barnes, but if this is the real McGee and Blatche going forward, then we have stability at 4 starters and can afford to swing for the fences on Perry. Work him at the 3 and 4 next season (with some tutelage from Rashard). If Blatche is slacking next season, then have Perry focus more on PF and draft a SF next year since 3 is supposed to be deep in that class. If McGee regresses, the FA class next year is heavy at center.
Lets just draft talent over need and figure the rest out later
Only in a Wall / Irving situation ‘need over talent’ would be debateble imho. But even then i would draft Irving and work the phones to see what we can get for him out there
"I'll be lounging on the couch, just chillin in my snuggie, klick to MTV so they can teach my how to douggie" (Buno Mars, The lazy song)
by Dutch Hoopfan on Apr 4, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Selectively tough crowd
Eh on Blatche, high on Crawford?
Blatche went off on Hickson and Diaw. Both are decent players.
Crawford went off on Bibby and Diddy. Bibby is short and slow. Diddy is fat, disinterested, and depressed.
eh on Blatche
did you read the Bobcats headcoach Paul Silas comments after the game he benched Diaw in the 4th because of his poor defense and since when does Hickson ever play defense yet Crawford has played well for over a month against every opponent so eh on Blatche who has played quasi inspired after playing very lazy and unfocused all season long.
I feel like it would be a mistake to rule out drafting a PF (Kanter/Williams) based on Blatche playing a couple of good games against bad teams with weak frontcourts. Its reassuring that Blatche has played well but its too small and distorted a sample size to be the basis for a decision on who to draft. Now, as far as Ernie, I think he is more likely to take your perspective than mine because although its a sunk cost he’s got a lot invested in AB and so he should be more than willing to interpret events in a manner that justifies AB as a starting PF.
by Emmet O'Neal on Apr 4, 2011 10:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 5 recs
He doesn't really have a lot invested in Blatche.
A roster spot and a $7m per year contract is not a lot.
A lot of time perhaps, but that’s counterbalanced by a throwaway (#47 was it?) draft pick, and cheap salary during the course of that time.
And the only way you can call it a sunk cost is if you discount the fact that (almost without exception) bigs continue to get better well into their late 20’s and peak at 29-30.
If we draft a PF, we have to trade Dray no matter what.
Bring Kanter or Williams in here and watch how fast “7 day Dray” makes his return and kicks their butts in practice every single day. Then what do you do? Resign selves to accepting we used our top3 pick to acquire motivation for Andray Blatche? EG had to decide of Dray stays or goes.
Your thinking is short term.
More talent is better.
At this point, the decision to keep or trade Blatche has no bearing on the decision to draft or pass on Kanter, and vise versa. If Kanter pushes Blatche to play better all the time, then that’s good. If kanter usurps Blatche as the starter, then that is good.
The benefit of trading blatche at any point in the near future will be determined by his performance and by what we will get in return.
Look at it this way. If Kanter does happen to push blatche to the bench next year (or the following year), then we apparently have and awesome starting 4 and a backup 4/5 that has the ability to pretty much dominate his matchups against the second stringers he’ll be facing night in and night out. It’d be yet another good problem to have (not unlike having both young and crawford on the roster)…
Booker and Seraphin
I hope those two are enough to push Blatche. I’d rather draft someone to motivate JaVale. Valanciunas or Kanter, if he has enough length.
More talent is better doesnt mean anything.
Whomever we take that high is supposed to be highly talented. The most talented player available when we pick may be a PG. Should we take him then? It’s a wasted pick to take Kanter if there is any possibility Dray stays on the team going forward as the starter.
There are more reasons for stockpiling taltent
other than for keeping them all on the roster…
The more young talent the Wizards have on their roster, the greater the chance of them making a blockbuster trade for a Super Star player…. (See recent trades for Carmello Anthony and more especially Kevin Garnett as an example).
Or trading away a surplus player for a player (or players) of need…
He's "delightfully cranky"
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
At this stage of a rebuild, and that high in the lottery, you take the BPA (best player available), regardless of position.
If the best player available plays the same position as your franchise cornerstone, you draft him anyway. Or perhaps you look to trade up or trade down if it provides a net benefit. Or perhaps you target a specific player and try to work trades to get in position to take him… But taking any player besides the BPA is a mistake.
To make a draft decision based on any single player on the roster is a HUGE MISTAKE. (do you think LA would pass on Kanter because of Gasol?) Of course, your overall roster will impact your overall draft strategy. But the day EG says “we passed on Kanter because we got Blatche” or “we are trading Blatche because we got Kanter” is the day he proves himself to be incompetent.
You dont know who the BPA is.
No one can say with any certainty that Kanter is better than Barnes, or Derrick Williams is not as good as Kanter etc etc etc. There is no Shaq waiting to be drafted this year. So if Kanter, Barnes, and Williams are all on the draft board, EG could pick any one of them and claim BPA. Picking for a need at that point is still BPA strategy
Of course no one knows who the true BPA is.
They’re all grouped, ranked, scouted, measured, etc. but no one truly knows how they will perform when the lights go on. But that’s not the point. The point is: in year one of a rebuild, choosing your top 5 draft pick based on who is already on the roster is a clear sign of incompetence.
I don’t care who he picks if he feels like there’s a virtual tie. But if those words above come out of his mouth then he’s incompetent.
And besides I never made a claim to know who the BPA is.
That doesn’t change the point. It doesn’t even address the point.
I don't understand.
Why would we draft a point guard if he’s somehow deemed a hair better than someone who plays a position we need?
I agree if there is a Shaq, Lebron, Duncan out there and you have someone in that position then you draft them anyway. But there doesn’t seem to be clear differences between the pool of players, they are all a gamble. So why not gamble on a position you need?
by MR on Apr 5, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Simple. If he's rated higher, you take him.
It doesn’t mean you keep him. You might trade him before draft night ends (or before the next team picks, for that matter). You might trade him later in the summer. You might trade him at the trade deadline. You might keep him on your roster.
I do note you stated “a hair better”, and to my understanding, what you’re trying to describe is a scenario where there are two (or more) essentially equal BPAs remaining at your draft slot. If that situation arises, then obviously you have the luxury of making a final decision based on other factors. But if that situation arises, you are, in essence, still taking the BPA. Nobody can quantify a ‘hair’ of difference, and at the end of the day, its all a glorified educated guess anyway…
My comment, well opinion, is short and sweet
Give JaVale a damn key!!!!!!!!!!!!
by qthaballa on Apr 4, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Seriously
If you made a list of what you wanted him to suddenly do on the court, the guy has done nearly everything that would be on that list in the past few weeks.
If he replicated this past week’s play every week of the year he’d be an all-star.
by MR on Apr 4, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Not only McGee
this whole team. 2 1st rounds picks on the way and if this were not the dumbest team in the league this team would be in the play offs right now.. Both Blatche and McGee can grab 15 boards a game and yet they both act like head cases. All the talent and none of the brains. I am sick of it.
by hambonejackson on Apr 4, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Well to be fair
the Wizards have really been 3 different teams this year. The early Arenas-Heinrich-Wall show, the middle season veteran mix, the late season energy youngsters.
I don’t see any one of those teams as a playoff team, even with the poor quality at the bottom of the East’s bracket. OTOH if Blatche and McGee played as well all year as they did recently maybe we would have.
by MR on Apr 4, 2011 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Recently?
McGee has been sitting on this team for 2 years. He could have come out at the beginning of this season and started to play the way he is now. What is his excuse? He had all last summer to prepare to start at the 5 and he came back awful. The only difference now is he is starting to care. I suppose if its not about him the whole team has to be put on hold. Every one has to wait for McGee to care, or so it seems. Blatche. The teams starting 4 has to exhibit his confused period. Now the team is on hold so Blatche can go through his nervous break down. He does not do it privately, he does in an exhibitionist manner. Then Blatche and McGee have to go through their fight and again the team is on hold. Every one is waiting for those 2 to grow up. McGee can not go through 1 game without doing something he is told not to do. What is he? 3 years old? He is an adult and he refuses to act like it. How hard is it to grow up?
by hambonejackson on Apr 4, 2011 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The key to the palace is a one week honor. So yes "recently".
Otherwise I agree with you. I’m tired of non-professionalism.
Unfortunately you can’t MAKE someone grow up. I guess we just have to wait. On the plus side, it seems like Flip has the team re-focused since going back into “training camp”.
by MR on Apr 4, 2011 1:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Better late than never
C’est la vie. But its Crawford and Wall and YOUNG AT THE #!!!!!!!!I looked very good to me if the class clowns 4 and 5 can respect the code of American Basketball: “win at all costs” eh Leonsis? No more chitter chatter or pretending to be the mad hatter because of you I am anything to everything its anything its spling spling, its the only thing that matters." Splitter splatter." That is the new nickname of Seraphin and Booker. They have to argue over who is who. I have a very good feeling about this team next season. If they read my posts and go ahead and steal my uncopyrighted ideas which they have been doing all season. Draft Kanter, with him you cannot go wrong. If there is nothing wrong with his knees you draft him and you put him in the rotation wiith Blatche and Booker and McGee and Seraphin. But what a crazy idea drafting the best player at his age forward/center type player. Who would do that? Or, more, who rarely does that? I hope this is the age of radical change with the Wiz. I want Leonsis to know that I am downloading his French Extreme Horror Films and I am now emulating the main characters so I am ready for some horror next season if this team does not get better.
by hambonejackson on Apr 4, 2011 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions
A win for development.
I really can’t read your posts anymore. It’s been three weeks of the same thing. I just want to celebrate a road winning streak. Or something great like a player making strides in his game without constant bashing.
Sheesh.
by Craig_ on Apr 4, 2011 3:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thank you for reading my post for 3 weeks
You are one of my more loyal fans. I can send you one of my electronically signed posts along with a full blown up photograph of me standing naked on Waikiki beach.
by hambonejackson on Apr 4, 2011 3:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Why not just take Josh Harrelson late in the 2nd round?
Apparently he is now every bit as good as Kanter during practice right?
Boom....Boom....Boom....
….goes the drum.
Brains meaning fundamentals?
You got that right.
It’s not just talent and fundamentals that win games. It’s also chemistry. That’s a big factor why Denver is winning right now.
As I mentioned below to Dutch Hoopfan, he had a couple mediocore games
1 great, 1 good, and 2 okay….I coulda gone either way with the Key or Guest Pass, but it’s not the slam dunk key everyone seems to be saying.
I knew that was the one that would get a reaction too.
I wouldn’t say he’s been all star, but more of this and we’ve got something special
by Jon Kelman on Apr 4, 2011 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It's official now: you have McGee in your doghouse
If his play from this week doesn’t earn him a key, i don’t know what will. Gliding scale argument included.
"I'll be lounging on the couch, just chillin in my snuggie, klick to MTV so they can teach my how to douggie" (Buno Mars, The lazy song)
He had 2 pretty mediocore games this week, let's not forget those
The Heat and Jazz games were nothing to brag about. I was thisclose to giving him a Key in spite of those.
I respectfully dissagree
Last 4 games:
Bobcats 15pts, 7rbs (5def), 3blk
Caveliers 25pts, 8rbs(7def), 3blk
Miami Heat 12pts, 5(3def), 4blk
Utah Jazz 11 pts, 17rbs(12def) 3blk
I agree Miami was his worst game but he still had 4 blocks and was a factor on D changing shots and making them think twice about taking it inside.
The Jazz game wasn’t bad at all. He was a factor on D here too with 12 defensive boards and again 3 blocks. Only 11 points on 12 shots yes, but he played mostly within the offense which for him, on his gliding scale, is huge.
Blatche has been great this week, but comparing the two, i get the feeling Blatche got his key way easier than Javale ever will in your book.
"I'll be lounging on the couch, just chillin in my snuggie, klick to MTV so they can teach my how to douggie" (Buno Mars, The lazy song)
by Dutch Hoopfan on Apr 4, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
If we're going on the sliding scale,
(which I take, in essence, to mean we’re grading players against themselves) then McGee gets a key easy. He’s clearly been outperforming the October-February version of himself.
3 TOs in 152mins of PT this week, and that's with 50 FGAs while shooting over 50%
Despite all the hand-wringing over his occasional dribbling exhibitions and awkward shot attempts, the fact is he doesnt turn the ball over and he hits at a high clip.
Blatche ought to go for a triple double
Why? When the ball goes into Dray, everybody stands around. That doesn’t matter against Cleveland and Charlotte, but the better defensive teams double team him. When that happens, his shooting percentage does down and turnovers go up.
If the Wiz try to get Blatche 10 assists, that will mean he will start looking to pass when double-teamed and the other players will get the message to keep moving.
If can get 10 assists, then 10 points and 10 boards are doable.
who is this 'jimmy' that keeps getting mentioned?
Is john wall’s middlename James?
by rzawrecktah on Apr 4, 2011 8:05 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
No, its Hildred actually haha (acording to wiki)
Johnathan Hildred Wall
"I'll be lounging on the couch, just chillin in my snuggie, klick to MTV so they can teach my how to douggie" (Buno Mars, The lazy song)
by Dutch Hoopfan on Apr 4, 2011 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Apparently it's what he went by to his friends in high school
From the District of Columbia, home of the hyperbolic paraboloid transitional floating zone defense.
McGee deserves to be locked out
solely for the play yesterday when he grabbed a defensive rebound and dribbled upcourt, dribbling past John Wall on the way, who had his hands out looking to be given the ball. Flip should have benched McGee for the rest of the game for that idiocy. Occasionally — occasionally — McGee dribbling the ball upcourt isn’t the worst thing in the world. But that play was wrong and inexcusable on all levels.
The stick didn't work with McGee
Flip tried that approach. It didn’t influence his behavior. If anything, it made it worse.
Flip needs to use the carrot to influence his behavior. For example, when they started getting McGee involved in the offense a few games ago, his transgressions against rules of the basketball purists went down.
We need a volunteer to count and report them every game.
Next season is contract year
The carrot and stick will be him watching his value go up and down after every game.
by hambonejackson on Apr 4, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm sick and tired of the JaVale hate on this blog
Give the man some damn credit. He’s deserved it all season and he sure as hell deserves it now.
The JaVale critics compain because they care...
I think and hope so in any case….
Oh and in case anyone out there still thinks the NBA game is inferior to the spirit, passion, blah blah of college hoops, they should be chained to their recliners and made to watch a continuous loop of last night’s NCAA National Championship (Men’s) game for all of eternity.
Was it bad?
I thought i read something yesterday that there was going to be very poor attendence..
I’m gonna download it later this wk and watch it this weekend i think.
"I'll be lounging on the couch, just chillin in my snuggie, klick to MTV so they can teach my how to douggie" (Buno Mars, The lazy song)
by Dutch Hoopfan on Apr 5, 2011 6:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Worst NCAA championship game ever.
Connecticut played the second worst game I’ve ever seen in the championship.
by MR on Apr 5, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Read via Twitter
that the wiz plan to unveil new logo / colors / uniform on Saturday.
True?
shine like bald head, smoke trees call me log head
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