Wizards Vs. Magic Recap: Washington Falls Behind Early, Never Comes Close To Catching Up
by Mike Prada on Jan 4, 2012 9:18 PM EST
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It really didn't take much time for the Washington Wizards to demonstrate that they had no chance against the Orlando Magic. Orlando jumped ahead, 13-2, as the Wizards missed open layups, clanked jumpers and showed no interest in playing defense. It was officially over soon thereafter, with the remaining 42 minutes being an extended garbage time. The final score was 103-85, but it was much worse than that.
The Magic are a tough matchup, but once again, this was a Wizards team that didn't compete right from the opening tip. Rebuilding or not, that can never be accepted by anyone in the organization.
Some more notes:
- Hate to pick on Nick Young, because everyone is at fault, but I think his poor start helped set the tone for this one. On the first defensive possession, he yielded really deep post position to Jason Richardson for an easy layup. On the first offensive possession, he missed his big man popping to the baseline on the curl cut and forced a shot. On the next offensive possession, he forced a three-pointer instead of giving the ball to JaVale McGee in the post. Flip Saunders quickly took him out for Roger Mason, and while it may have been a quick hook, Young has to know better how important it is to stay disciplined early in the game.
- The Magic are an excellent defensive team, but there's really no excuse for the wheels moving as slowly as they were in the Wizards' heads on offense. It's like they are thinking instead of acting.
- It's one thing to give McGee a quick hook, but Kevin Seraphin proved he clearly wasn't ready to handle Dwight Howard at this point. Howard just abused him, as Seraphin showed he has little idea how to defend pick and roll. Four dunks for Howard in the first quarter, and in this case, you can't blame the weakside defenders. On one play, Jameer Nelson circled the baseline, and even though John Wall stayed with him, Seraphin rushed to help, leaving Howard wide open under the basket with nobody near him. That's the kind of remedial mistake that you really can't tolerate in any young player.
-
John Wall's jumper still doesn't look good. He's thinking instead of shooting. I think those two missed layups early in the game carried over.
- It really can't get any worse than that first quarter. Wish I had something more substantive, but I don't. That was really bad.
- The Wizards' problems on defense are twofold. For one thing, they were really bad at containing dribble penetration. That forced a lot of help, and the Magic move the ball too well from there. But at the same time, there was also way too much relaxing once the first rotation was made. The whole point of helping your teammates on the weakside is that you never quit. Can't relax. This also applies to rebounding, where the Magic, who aren't traditionally a good offensive rebounding team, abused Washington on the glass.
- A telling sequence: McGee made a strong move on Howard in the post for a layup, and the Wizards didn't give him a chance to keep making Howard work on subsequent possessions. A few possessions later, Blatche ran the floor nicely for a layup. On the next possession, he made a strong move on Davis for another layup. On the ensuing possession? You guessed it, a play call for Blatche to isolate against Davis, which ended badly. Credit to Blatche for the first move, but it's telling that the Wizards decided to try to milk Blatche after one successful post move and didn't afford McGee the same opportunity.
- To be fair to Flip Saunders, this is the kind of stuff he deals with. On one possession, Jordan Crawford made a nice play to drive to the middle to draw defenders, then kick to a wide-open Wall for a jumper. Nice play, nice sequence. But on the next possession, the Wizards got an offensive rebound and kicked it back to Crawford. Wall was wide open on the left wing, but instead of doing exactly what worked on the previous possession, he chucked a contested three-pointer that clanked off the back rim. That's infuriating for a coach.
- The Wizards had a chance to get some positive momentum early in the third quarter with a score and a stop on the first two possessions. They disrupted Orlando's play and forced a wild shot by Richardson. Unfortunately, neither Blatche or McGee boxed out, and Ryan Anderson got a tip-in. The degree to which this team relaxes, loses concentration, doesn't pay attention to detail, however you want to phrase it, is staggering.
- The early part third quarter was a little better, especially for Wall and Young, but I'm not really sure how meaningful it was given the score. Still, I was kind of mystified that Crawford replaced Young as early as the 4:05 mark of the quarter. Was that throwing the white flag?
- Crawford did keep taking bad shots, but to his credit, he seemed to have a little more energy early in the fourth quarter, allowing the Wizards to cut the lead to under 20 points. We're digging really deep for positives now.
- Howard obviously killed the Wizards, but it was due to team-wide breakdowns. While McGee obviously didn't win the matchup, I think it would be unfair to say he was the reason Howard went off. Many are at fault. That has to be the general approach the team takes too. These kinds of losses can't happen and they fall on everyone.
Really, that last sentence of the last bullet point sums it up. There's not much more that needs to be said at this point.
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wtf
Was that shit
"Through your existence, become wealthy, knowledge is king"- Nasir Jones
"When you play for the Wizards, [Gilbert Arenas] is like Michael Jackson. He's playin with a lot of Tito Jacksons." - Charles Barkley
by XAGMNINETY on Jan 4, 2012 9:23 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
this Wizards team is like a broken record
the team plays so fractured its really ridiculously embarrassing for them. They don’t play together thus the lack of assists, they don’t cover for each other on defense, coach plays the wrong line ups and won’t hold anyone but Mcgee accountable.
Flip must go the team needs some new energy a new voice. he looks exactly like Lynam did in the 90’s before he got fired he lost the team and they got blown out nightly.
Flip wants to get fired, guaranteed.
His money stays the same and he loses the daily headaches, maybe even stops that jaw tick he has
Based on rotations and lack of any plan
This has to be considered.
Unfortunately
by DCPerspective on Jan 4, 2012 9:27 PM EST up reply actions
Flip hasn't lost this team. This team flat out can not play basketball.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:40 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
Don't you mean...
Flip has lost this team AND the team cannot play basketball. That right there is a deadly combo.
i am hard on flip
but when does basic basketball skills kick in with this team….
by dmv4life on Jan 5, 2012 7:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There is disfunction throughout this organization- from top to bottom
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 8:28 AM EST up reply actions
We need a remake of the "EDDIE" movie...
Is Whoopi available to coach this team? Based on her recent TV gas passing, she would at least be able to clear the bench in a hurry.
Kids, we have a royal mess on our hands. Flip is gone by next week. As the old saying goes, you can’t fire the team.
the way this is going
I can’t blame the understanding of basic basketball on Flip, these are NBA players on the court, how/when does basic basketball kick in?
by dmv4life on Jan 5, 2012 7:51 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Probably Javale's best game ever vs Dwight? Guess we can call that progress
whether it’s Flip’s fault or not, clearly they dont listen to him. That means he’s utterly ineffective right now….so what the point?
OT: LP Choice
I picked up LP choice and other than the Wizards, who should I be watching this year? Indy seems intriguing.
I never have fun watching Memphis or POR
Not sure why.
I love watching Kobe, Dwight, Rose, Durant & Westbrook, Dirk, Nash, and Golden State too…
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 4, 2012 9:28 PM EST up reply actions
So parity is when the leading scorer on one team, has fewer rebounds than the leading rebounder of the opposing team… right?
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
This team is incredibly hard to watch
and the “we’re a young team” only goes so far.
We are failing at the basics.
Teams I support: Redskins, Wizards, Nationals. MMA & Boxing fanatic.
Twitter: @StillUnknown85
and we don't even show effort
which has nothing to do with youth…the celtics games were slightly encouraging, but this game was a step back
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
that's what Ted has to acknowledge instead of just blowing smoke
“This is what I expected” would be a complete bullshit thing to say right now….this crap is unacceptable, unless it’s what he wants for the draft pick and its pre-determined. Is that possible?
I just want rationale...
Why is McGee targeted as a quick pull and Jordan Crawford can run around doing whatever? Why are we starting an ineffective power forward? This needs to be answered in some way other than “people respond to different ways of teaching”. This, right now, is BS.
Crawford is in year 2
McGee is in year 4.
I’m not disagreeing that Crawford takes terrible shots and McGee has a shorter leash than other players, but “veterans” have to be held a bit more accountable that rookies.
by GJennings on Jan 4, 2012 11:37 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I always thought it was the other way around...
Rooks get their chain yanked until they learn how to play within the team, but vets get a little more leash?
we should be showing more effort
to make up for our lack of experience and skill, instead its the opposite. Flip can’t motivate these guys
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
he's just not gonna say anything
if he can’t be positive he just shuts up
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
As long as the 106.The Fan, ESPN980, CSN/Washington the Washington post or the Washington times all let Ted Pollin say and do what ever he wants just because he has a semi successful hockey team things will not change…………!
Thanks to him we are carrying on the tradition of being the laughing stock of the league……
It’s going to be painful………………….
Oy motherfucking vey...
Thanks to Ted we have an owner that is local, has a proven record of success with his ownership of the Capitals, and has had exactly one season to sort through the post Arenas bullshit.
by TerroristFistJab on Jan 5, 2012 1:32 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I am so upset with these sorry games!
I stopped watching the game just before half time. Something needs to be done now – right now to turn this team around.
Long-Time Wizard Fan
Am I the only one that notices Blatche's awful defense
It seems like I’m the only Wizards fan that notices it. No one ever talks about Blatches lazy effort, lack of hustle, and being terrible on rotation. He barely even tries to jump for boards. The play where he let Big Baby just drive by him without even putting a hand out was just despicable. Dude is a cancer, and brings down the team’s whole performance.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
dude. everyone notices it.
his defense is the worst. Javale gets pwned because of it
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
That's something that's looked over too often when it comes to him
He gives up on plays so often. There’s something to trying to keep balls alive and getting in the way on defense, even if it means you pick up the foul.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 4, 2012 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
Zero turnovers for Wall on a terrible night for the team.
That’s a good thing.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 4, 2012 9:32 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
true
wizards fans are masters of filtering out the positives
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
Yes thanks. We need to see some good things.
like McGee with 5 blocks?
with our luck we would go 0-66 and get the 4th pick
by tmoneyttime1 on Jan 4, 2012 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Somewhere
David Kahn is nodding sagely
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 5, 2012 8:17 AM EST up reply actions
And the 5th pick will turn out to be the next Dwayne Wade
Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you've grown to know on the court.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 5, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions
I'm not unhappy
Look at OKC.. What did they get in the draft? Durant, Green, Westbrooke, and Harden? I think Harden was picked second!
We were terribly unlucky in the lottery last year both with where we picked and with the lockout causing kids not to come out.
We still need a high lottery pick or even two on this team. That means two more years of this. I suggest not getting all wound up because we have a loooong way to go.
there should still be some sort of progress
otherwise its not a ‘rebuild’. Its a ‘stuck in shit’ mode
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:35 PM EST up reply actions
but how did we get worse from last year
a young team? every player should be slightly better…so even though we got “screwed” we still should be improving
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:37 PM EST up reply actions
we were. but I'm not seeing improvements. Are you?
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
McGee is improved
Young is worse, Wall is worse, Blatche is the same
I think Young and Wall aren’t playing very well. The team looks like they have tuned out Flip. And the overall team chemistry seems poort.
so what you're saying is, overall the team is worse.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
yeah, but I'm relatively okay with it
mainly because I don’t think we got anything out of #6. I hope I’m wrong. This team needs talent. Until we get it nothing is really going to change. Wall will get better. McGee will get better. But Blatche isn’t going to turn into the second coming of Danny Manning or Bob McAdoo.
Can we wait until #6 gets on the floor
before we start proclaiming him a bust please?
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
I think you are missing the frustration.
We dont know if he is a bust, but we know his skills do not fit what this team needs most desperately: interior defense and rebounding…and we also know he cant make a shot which could help
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
Lack of suitable mentors...players not practicing in the offseason to
develop on-the-court chemistry…young leadership on the court…those are some possible reasons.
young leadership on the court was the same last year
and the other two reasons are mostly flips fault. So you agree as well.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
We passed on 7 of the top 10 rookies on the rookie ladder
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
we haven't even seen vesely
and that is not a reason to get worse. Again its a young team where every player should be improving.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions
You have to show up to be counted
There are a lot of “young” teams in the NBA. We are the most disfunctional on the court that I have seen…which includes both CHA and CLE
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions
I'm mad not because the losses, but the effort in the losses
The D and rebounding is just atrocious.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
by DMVLeGenD on Jan 4, 2012 9:36 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Sorry gotta disagree.
I will take Singleton’s D over harden’s O anyday remember defense wins championships thing is our frontcourt you give us a slightly above average frontcourt like Chicago and put singleton in the starting lineup we would win some games.
Shumpert for the Knicks having a good game
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
Flip talkin usual nonsense
just said javale couldnt get anything going inside vs dwight….we dont go inside enough to establish anything
You'd think having six players averaging over 10 points would mean
we have scoring options, but no one’s averaging over 14ppg, which leads me to believe that we don’t have a true #1 scoring option (let alone a #2 or #3) to focus the offense on. We need someone other than Wall for the defense to focus on; when the PG is the #1 option, bad things tend to happen (notable exemptions: Magic, Jason Kidd).
Flip just calling out individual players in the interview
never taking responsibility…ever!
Excellent Recap Mike
This team plays street ball- little defense and they do whatever comes to mind on offense. Neither what works or doesnt work matters.
This is not about youth. Ernie keeps stocking guys that have limited basketball skills and even less basketball knowledge.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:39 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
good, i hope he does
maybe then he’ll stop jacking up horseshit
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:40 PM EST up reply actions
I know you're not a Crawford fan
But, the guy seems to give good effort every night. He led the team in rebounds.
There are some players who care about winning. Crawford and Singleton obviously do.
by GJennings on Jan 4, 2012 11:41 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There's a difference between caring about winning
And knowing how to play “winning basketball.” Crawford obviously cares, but has no idea how to play within the team. Dude’s not good enough to carry an NBA team on his shoulders, not now and maybe (probably) not ever. But he’s used to going into beast-mode when the team is in trouble and just can’t help himself now. His intentions are good, but his actions are a mess.
The best part of the game is this Recap
1. We need to start better. Play like the team does not know about the opponents. It’s difficult / impossible to catch up once fall behind 15 points.
2. We are slow on defense – at least we seem to know what to do (except for some occasional falling asleep)
3. Why can’t we shoot – not even layups. Is it because there are so many bad shots (contested shots?)
4. Can we rebound? Do we know how to box out and let one player go up for the rebound?
by isum on Jan 4, 2012 9:41 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Can't amnesty a guy in the midle of the season
by Mike Prada on Jan 4, 2012 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
mike sidebar. do you know if the amnestied guy counts toward the floor?
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
Yes - the amnesty counts against the floor
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
ok thanks
but basketball prospectus and buck and phil say he doesnt. Strange.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
That is weird
but it was confirmed before the season started…
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 5, 2012 8:22 AM EST up reply actions
He will not be amnestied. He will be bought out.
It costs $20mm to amnesty him. $10mm to buy him out.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
Save the amnesty for Blatche and draft Drummond
by ThePGPhenomenon on Jan 4, 2012 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
amnesty
theres a minimum salary also, they have to pay someone
What bothers me the most
is that our European non-shooting tweener #6 pick has yet to even see the floor. Meanwhile there are some guys picked after him who are contributing.
Rubio looks GREAT
Kevin Love looks much more athletic than last year – and he’s playing defense….!!!
Darko Milicic should no longer be the butt of jokes – he’s a competent big man…
Beasley takes terrible shots – but they have Derrick Williams and Anthony Randolph if they want to get rid of him….
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
by Rook6980 on Jan 4, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
wow...
Rubio just got his 10th assist on an alley oop to Derrick Williams … ELECTRIC !!
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
by Rook6980 on Jan 4, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
lol i love how you have a catch phrase
“ELECTRIC!”…swag.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
That's what I think of when I watch him play....
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
WOW
From what I’ve seen from him so far this year…. easily RoY
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
by Rook6980 on Jan 4, 2012 9:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
definitely makes sense
hes an electrifying player
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
Irving has been good....
the difference is in the Sports Center highlight plays….
When it’s close, Rubio will win simply because of all his spectacular plays…vs Irving’s “steady” play…
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
Might not be fair...
but that’s the way of the new NBA where a guy can dunk three basketballs simultaneously and be beat in the dunk contest by a “gimic”
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
I really like Rubio.. think he just has a knack for making plays.
But I still think Kyrie wins ROY… less talent in Cleveland so will end up geting those minutes and put up bigger numbers than Rubio.
Rubio is so active and energetic
But not in that out of control way that is dangerous.
It’s really fun.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 4, 2012 11:28 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, ROY is decided by a vote of
sportswriters. That’s better than a vote of fans but still guarantees that the “hot” story/highlight player will win.
If we had coaches voting we might get a real reading of players’ abilities.
He looks like an MVP against MEM tonight.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 4, 2012 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder if the European teams with their make them practice and give them limited minutes develop these kids better than our let them play style
Because Rubio definitely improved over there. And so did B Jennings.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
The extra year didn't do much for Pecherov though . . .
so it probably depends on the team.
And the player.
And the system.
And how the player is used in the system, etc.
Tell Nick to play better
by jmpalomo on Jan 5, 2012 6:47 AM EST via Android app up reply actions 2 recs
he also said they need a gameplan
flip is done…whether he is fired or not
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions
Really? How about guard their perimeter shooters Nick
that is all he had to concern himself with. Find the closest guy to the perimeter scoot up on him and put your hands up
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
how many points did Jason Richardson score?
by DavidDunn on Jan 5, 2012 7:41 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
Firing Flip and/or Ernie will not turn this squad into a playoff team
I have witnessed maybe one team in the last decade (Denver, I think) where changing the coach after the season had started turned things around for the better. History says the odds are against us bucking that trend. Besides, we did this already (Remember E. Jordan, anyone?) and the last thing a talent like Wall needs is an overhaul after 6 games.
The losses may become the best thing to happen to this group. Let these guys get emotional; they’ve been happy-go-lucky for too long. They need to start getting a little angry and begin to develop a “we’re gonna kill the need team we face” mentality.
They also need to realize one thing: there is not one person on this roster who can drag the team into anything resembling a winning streak, let alone the playoffs. They need to work together on EVERYTHING, offense and defense.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 9:52 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
PLAYOFFS!!
hate to be Jim Mora, but we need a win
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:54 PM EST up reply actions
They're not mentally ready for a win right now
But there’s little excuse to not improve from game-to-game.
Flip can't get them ready
so he needs to go
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 9:56 PM EST up reply actions
all that matters if if the PG buys into the system/game plan
and Flip’s lucky that the PG is also the star player. In the long run, the opinion of everyone else means little. Once Wall starts openly challenging Flip’s decisions, then it’s time to consider a big change.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
All that does is re-affirm the status quo
In absence of leadership, the players will listen to anyone who feels like talking.
yeah but hes not that type of guy!
I don’t need him to call out flip. It’s obvious to everybody already.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
Wall's not the type of guy to "openly challenge" it.
I don’t think that means the gameplan is good, it just means Wall is a loyal guy.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
Every star player gets to a point where they grab the reigns
Even nice guys like Grant Hill did it back when he was The Man in Detroit. I’ve seen Duncan pull aside teammates when they started to drift.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
John Wall is counting the minutes like everyone else on this roster that starts
except AB
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
That's the sad thing
The top priority is getting Wall to re-sign; temporary fixes for smoke-and-mirror playoff appearances is not the answer.
players who don't feel that they are getting their touches
always complain about the system. The question is: when you get your touches, are you producing (points and/or assists)?
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 9:57 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
that has nothing to do with it
nick is getting his touches, he is just being real. They need a gameplan to follow.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:01 PM EST up reply actions
You know we're talking about "Mr. 700-page playbook," right?
Is there a chance, however slight, that NY just doesn’t get it? That he needs things more simplified than they already are? That he thinks he’s Kobe?
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
No one gets it
thats the problem…Cmon Man!
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
and "700 page playbook" and "more simplified than they alerady are"
just dont make sense in the same sentence.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
He came in with the 700 pages
He simplified it when he got to know the personnel.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
well he needs to figure it out
because pick and rolls with John and Javale are the best option and I don’t see any of that. Nick young is not a stupid guy, if he doesn’t see a gameplan then theres a reason for that. And its not due to him not getting touches because he gets his touches.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
I don't see how hard it is to get a game plan for Orlando:
“Focus on Howard, limit 3s.” And I don’t even coach. Nick has played variations of this team enough to know what the basics are. I don’t believe, at all, that Flip spent every time-out updating his iTunes. Or that none of these assistant coaches provided no advice. And they don’t have the talent to score as many points as they did “with no gameplan.” It’s more likely that NY didn’t like the gameplan that was presented, and went on his own for a couple of plays.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
its not just nick
multiple players said that. So there’s no need to focus on him. He is just reiterating a point many players have been making. And focus on howard, limit 3s is not a gameplan. Thats an outcome, you need to come up with a gameplan to get to that outcome. Maybe thats why you’re confused.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:20 PM EST up reply actions
So Nick has all the answers, and all the coaches are stupid?
Is that what you’re saying? That the coach who able to make the playoffs with one All-Star in the competitive Western Conference changed coasts and suddenly lost the ability to run a team?
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
dude. Its not just nick. I dont know how many times to tell you.
And he got knocked out in the first round every time except once…in 10 years. And then he failed with the pistons. And KG is not just an all star, hes a HOFer. Is that really impressive to you?
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:25 PM EST up reply actions
this is not getting us anywhere
u have your views. just keep them. its all good. You obviously feel flip. And thats cool.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
I didn't see the press conference.
Nick said there was no game plan evidently. Who else said it?
Booker should be starting
I say that not because Lewis is washed up but because Booker has earned starter’s minutes. There’s been a debate here for some time on whether Booker can play SF. Isn’t it time we found out on the court? Or if Lewis’s ego is too fragile to take getting benched, start him but limit his minutes to no more than 10-15. There’s no sensible reason for playing him 30 minutes as Flip has done so far this season. Booker, and Singleton too, should be getting Lewis’s minutes.
wow, Nick dropped a couple bombs on flipper there
twice he basically said there is no gameplan and that the team isnt going to win til they get some structure….those are direct shots at Flip. This is no TEAM, that’s for damn sure
If they do not beat Toronto on the 10th
They may not win a game till Feb.
"Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful." John Wooden
This is a sinking ship with Flip, and it's so painfully obvious to all observers
How many more games until the inevitable firing occurs? 4? 9? 20?
Though I’d expect to see a vote of confidence from Ted tonight/tomorrow
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 4, 2012 10:02 PM EST reply actions
he'll probably last the season
as depressing as it is
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:03 PM EST up reply actions
Not the way things are going now, with multiple veterans lambasting coach in public
And the team capitulating on the court, rarely even competitive. I can’t even recall a smile from any player on the team — there doesn’t seem to be anywhere for this team to go but sink further at the moment
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 4, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
i hope you're right
but ted doesn’t seem like hes gonna do shit
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
He's a salesman; an uncompetitive 2-12 team is an impossible sell
At least with a new coach (or temp coach), he can sell “we’re doing everything we can to put a winner on the floor.”
As it was said with Boudreau, “if you’re not winning and you can’t change the players, change the coach”
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 4, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
No, there is a limit to this....
Flip won’t last January much less the season.
No...wait until the end of the season and clean house
Firing Flip midseason gives EG a new lease on life. Let them sink together for three months and fire them both
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Still don't think EG is the problem; he's done about as well as he can in the last 2.5 years
Highly unfortunate that so many top prospects went back to college, and we were stuck with yet another developmental prospect in the lottery. Singleton and Mack were two great picks IMO. Turiaf seemed to be a great vet addition, gotten for nothing
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 4, 2012 10:07 PM EST up reply actions
I completely disagree, but that is a different post. And I have to run shortly. Another time.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
Flip and Ernie must both go
If Ernie stays the new coach will have to play Blatche for sure….and that sets the tone for mediocrity.
Personally, I'd expect Blatche to get traded before/at the deadline
It’s pretty obvious that a) McGee is by far our best frontcourt player b) McGee has by far the most potential of our frontcourt players and c) our front court is pretty abysmal at the moment.
With another top-5 pick coming up, C and PG are the two positions that are obviously off-limits. With 2010 #6 and #18 picks invested at SF, I’d imagine we’ll targeting a 4 or a shooter for Wall, though of course any worthwhile wing will be considered.
All of this said — after the draft + free agency, Blatche’s trade value will be far less than it already is.
I think Blatche will continue to get minutes + garbage time minutes to boost his stats for a team that needs a scoring big off the bench for a playoff run. Making him one of the two “faces of the franchise” has only boosted his profile (for better or for worse)
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 4, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions
I think Blatche will be just as hard to trade as Gil was
Who is going to want Dray?
"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely
by PhenomenalSwag on Jan 5, 2012 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
a team that needs some low post scoring off the bench.
Dray has the ability to score off the bench, and get some blocks. He can stretch the floor. He’s a nutcase, but he is not at the Gilbert level. If Ernie can ship Gil off, Blatche is also tradeable.
Except that Gil was capable of...
Taking games over, possessed some variety in his offensive game, and wasn’t known around the league as a lazy player.
by TerroristFistJab on Jan 5, 2012 1:54 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Blatche is capable of taking over
He played some great first quarters, where he’d get 12 points and 5 boards. Then his bad conditioning would take over.
But if he’s only supposed to play 15 minutes a game on a contender. Why not?
I like the Bullets
He wasn't known as a lazy player
but by the time he was traded he was certainly known as a crazy player.
And by that time, he couldn’t take games over.
Pretty sure the only reason we could trade Gil was because him and Otis were besties
NOBODY else was going to touch Gil with a 10-foot pole. Nobody. Want proof? He’s available for the vet minimum right now and STILL unemployed.
so you want to fire him at the end of the season?
but still think he has a good gameplan? CMON MAN!
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
Let me clarify:
IF we are to fire him, do it after the season ends. Not during.
Personally, I say make him earn his money and keep him until the contract ends. I am tired of use playing people five-season contracts for three seasons of work.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
alright whatever we just disagree
I don’t care about him “earning his money” i just want the team to make progress. But i can understand your point. Let’s just leave it at that
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:21 PM EST up reply actions
Flip’s salary is a rounding error on Ted’s investment with this franchise. And it is paid through operating revenues. There are less impactful ways to save the same money that do not have as important an impact as the head coach.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
My point being his salary is not a deciding factor whether he remains coach or not.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
Um, it very well may be.
Multimillionaires don’t get where they are by ignoring petty details and rounding errors of that magnitude
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 5, 2012 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
If those players don’t develop, and they are slow at best, he will cost the franchise a lot more than the salary you saved by not replacing him with someone who can develop them.
Nothing operates in a vacuum.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
Yup
Sucking is going to cost him tons in revenue.
And probably Wall(who could blame him)
So, we need to stop sucking soon. Or risk sucking for twice as long as forever.
So if the only thing stopping Ted from making a move to try and change course is a few million dollars, then I give up on this franchise ever improving
not necessarily
eg hired flip with a completely different mindset and a diff. owner. It’s fair to say that he should get a clean slate when ted took over, since he couldn’t get involved in wizards decisions since jordan.
by thewiz06 on Jan 4, 2012 10:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And I think we should have gotten more for our assets in the firesale
AJ is still playing good for CLE. He was worth more than a couple million buyout of a player who never played for us
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:03 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Like what? It's not like this team could handle any more prospects
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 4, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Why do you say that? Our bench is the best part of our team.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
That's a problem
Means the starters aren’t getting it done.
by Pryme on Jan 4, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You think =)
The bench plays better basketball than the starters who obviously have more potential.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
Got the Cleveland pick . . .
which turned into Trevor Booker when we packaged it with our #2. Not such a bad haul, all things considered. Especially considering that it freed up some cap space in the same off-season, which helped to the team acquire Hinrich and Seraphin in exchange for giving Chicago some cap relief.
We received booker, seraphin, crawford and singleton for three players that start and are major contributors for their team- jamison, haywood, and butler
You really think that is a good job, seriously?
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 12:41 AM EST up reply actions
Should have kept Tuff Juice and Jamison
And traded Arenas and Blatche
How I would do things differently is an essay not a comment.
They are their record- that’s why we keep score.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 9:08 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice dodge
That’s the beauty of the internet, there’s plenty of space for an essay.
It is not a dodge. I am not privy to the discussions, and he knew that. It was a loaded question.
But I can compare his performance with people in similar situations, and three teams recently were able to land an extra lottery pick after clearing their starters. We received two non-lottery first round picks. In the NBA, that is a big difference, and you know it. Those picks could be bought for a couple million dollars. A lottery pick, if sold for cash, is worth more. He underperformed.
If you want a more general gameplan, I would have completed the breakdown and moved EG, AB, JVM, NY, and maybe Flip, emphasized the front court position more than SF, selected more rounded prospects who lived basketball, and assembled a team with a similar payroll that was not devoid of shooters, defenders, and rebounders.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
Name a 'similar situation'
Because I’m having a hard time thinking of one.
In short, start with John Wall and a clean slate. Aggressively go after young, well rounded players who could develop into all stars, and absent that upside stick with less talented but more rounded players.
This team is loaded with a collection of one trick ponies that dont love basketball and dont play the game fully. They are a team only in name.
With lesser talent, the team would still lose. We would still be building with future lottery picks. But we would be fundamentally better, WATCHABLE, and not the laughing stock of the league
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:39 AM EST up reply actions
CHA, CLE, OKC come immediately to mind
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
I don't remember CHA, CLE or OKC having a known fire sale after their main guy for the previous few years was perceived to have gone batshit crazy
Now, if you’re saying you wouldn’t have participated in said fire sale, that’s a different thing and maybe I just missed that somewhere.
by imperialme on Jan 5, 2012 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
CHA and CLE both cleared their rosters this past year. They both entered this season with two lottery pick players.
CLE- Irving and T2
CHA- Biyombo and Kemba
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Their situations are still different
Look, I’m not saying that Ernie has been great or anything but what happened was entirely unique in my memory of sports, in general. And that goes back pretty far. They’re not apples to apples and you can’t compare them as such.
by imperialme on Jan 5, 2012 10:52 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The reasons they cleared their rosters and chose to rebuild are unique.
Clearing their rosters of veteran players and choosing to start all over with younger players happens all the time in sports.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
And I just gave you four examples of it happening in the NBA recently, and I didn’t spend any time thinking who I might have missed.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
This is going nowhere
You can’t judge them with the same eye but you insist on it, so I give.
ok- keep arguing that the only winless team in the NBA did a good job rebuilding
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
Sure
And you can keep pretending that it’s a one year process.
It’s not a one year process. I said the rebuild is underperforming. Supporting my view is the fact we are the only winless team in the league. And we are not the only young team that is undergoing this process in the last year.
I was asked why I felt that way? What I would do differently? I answered.
Throw parties all you want. It is my opinion.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
ernie didnt work any miracles trading Gil
Otis Smith and Gil had their special relationship and the Magic already had a disaster contract with Rashard. They decided to take what amounted a $20mill chance that Gil was still Gil. He wasnt, sucks for them.
But it’s not like Ernie pulled off some amazing deal, Gil probably talked to Otis as much as Ernie did to get that done.
I am not micro analyzing any specific move. The body of work leaves us with what we have. If you think he did the best job out there, great! More to you.
I believe a better job could have been done. And I would have cleaned house and started over with a 100% clean slate starting with John Wall.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
the most damning thing about Ernie and Flip to me
is when I ask myself, would we be set back if they were both fired tomorrow? I cant find any reason to think we would.
There are so many problems on this team, you can not point your finger at any one or two people…which is exactly why I would have started with a clean slate.
Ted will do what he wants.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Privy to what discussions? In the FO?
I’m legitimately asking where the better moves to be made were. The acid test is whether or not he got lottery picks? He missed out on the NOH deal Presti cashed in on, but there were other variables besides lottery pick he was interested in. And if we’re cherry picking, would we really be much more satisfied with Cole Aldrich over Kevin Seraphin? Emphasizing PF means who exactly in that draft class? Is EG a Patrick Patterson/Larry Sanders away from receiving a pass in that scenario?
Antawn Jamison was a pure salary dump because there wasn’t much demand for a scoring PF with no defense. We couldn’t afford to keep Jamison as well for all the PT he’d take up as well. Who’s going to give up a lottery pick for a no defense PF? Phoenix? They did far better in acquiring Marcin Gortat.
Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and DeShawn Stevenson? Who, who, who is going to give us lottery picks? Don’t forget the stigma of Gungate. Do you think I’m overestimating the blowback of one of the bigger league scandals since Artest assaulted a fan?
Why, pray tell, would you move AB before he had a chance to get out from under AJ’s shadow? NY would have brought back a handful of peanuts, and if he’d performed we’d be screaming for EG’s head. How is JV part of the problem that needed to be broken down? Which more rounded prospects did you have in mind?
assembled a team with a similar payroll that was not devoid of shooters, defenders, and reboundersSounds dangerously close to a playoff hell team
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 5, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I was asked what I would have done differently, and I would have started with a clean slate and brought in players that love the game, play defense, and were more fundamentally sound.
This winless team is unwatchable and it is not just because they are young. They are fundamentally flawed.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There's a pretty major difference in cap space between those two lists
booker, seraphin, crawford, singleton and $20-25 million in cap space sounds a lot better for a rebuilding team.
Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you've grown to know on the court.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 5, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions
OKC, CLE, and CHA blew up their teams, saved money and all received an extra lottery pick.
We received two non-lottery first round picks.
An extra lottery pick is better
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
I'm not saying it was the best of all possible moves
merely pointing out that you were ignoring the most important part of it.
Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you've grown to know on the court.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 5, 2012 10:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I didn’t ignore it, I assumed it. I know he tried to lower the payroll, and that cap space will help us in the future.
The question has always been what are you going to spend your money on?
And Ernie continues to undervalue players that play defense and rebound. I think we can agree there. I would have placed more emphasis on those areas than he did in picking players.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
Booker, Serafin, Singleton, Turiaf
I’m not sure what those guys are if not defense and rebounding.
Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you've grown to know on the court.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 5, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
They are not considered core pieces either
And do not get enough minutes to make a difference, obviously.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Gilbert getting 62 million
makes me happy, even if its ridiculous. Im glad he’s getting that.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:07 PM EST reply actions
GN ALL
Looking forward to seeing JV play Fri
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:11 PM EST reply actions
Sigh
Fickle fans that are proclaiming a guy a bust only after watching 20 minutes of the guy. That’s a good way to evaluate. :rolls eyes:
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
by DMVLeGenD on Jan 4, 2012 10:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well get good at rolling them
cause you will do a lot more with Jan playin
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
it wasn't a blow up
he said it really calmly, but I’ll look for it
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 4, 2012 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
How does this 0-6 compare to the previous few seasons?
It seems worse to me.
This franchise has never started a season 0-6 until now
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions
we had kirk, Gil and .....Yi at the beginning of last season
we are less experience than ever. Losing Tariaf doesn’t help.
by isum on Jan 4, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yi signed with the Mavs
But he’s with their D-League team now for “conditioning”
by jakenbake on Jan 4, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He's injured.
On the D-league team rehabilitating.
EG HAS TO GO
I just do not understand how we continue to put up with him. He make really bad moves and then makes pretty decent ones to make up for it. He is like the girlfriend that cheats on you and then says sorry lets have make up sex. And why do we take EG back all the time? cause we are the biggest bitch in the NBA. oooohhh Bullets is violent lets change it Wizards so our nickname becomes the wiz… Just saying that makes me have to piss. ANd that is what this origination has done to us (minus gliberts good years), is just pissed on us and themselves.
EG drafts blatche and pecherov, and john peter ramos. Keeps Etan thomas, signs Dray to that dumb contract. Gives Gil the huge contract even though his knee was done. I am sure there is more. But this one grinds my nuts more than any other one. He hires flip saunders, when the clear obvious choice is Avery Johnson. When you ask anyone who knows NBA who to hire, flip or avery? it is Avery everytime.
Instead we go with the spineless coach, who the pistons didnt respect, so why the hell would a young team respect him. You know why we do this? Because we are spineless.
Flip sucks at coaching, you can suck at all the little things of coaching but if you can get two things down, you can atleast be average. Number 1 is defining roles, and showing the players how to play within themselves and the fact they need the other players. Number 2, is rotating your players, and matching them up together that lets them all succeed.
I am sure half of this doesnt make sense, but i had to get it out.
How was drafting Blatche a bad move?
That’s great value for a 2nd round pick.
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
by DMVLeGenD on Jan 4, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Knowing with what we have to put up now?
I would have rather taken a college senior
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If there's reason why the NBA early entry age limit needs to go up
just look at the Wizards. There also needs to be a character assessment before some of these dudes go pro……
Exactly
If I am gm, I am taking only college senior or juniors in th second round or if I got a late 1st rounder
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
Name one senior that has had a better career than Blatche in the same draft
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
well i said juniors and seniors didnt i?
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 11:02 PM EST up reply actions
We could have taken
the polish hammer instead of blatche..
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
I mean guys that were taken after Blatche was picked
Formerly know as iNFamous SWaGG
by DMVLeGenD on Jan 4, 2012 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There are some rotation players picked after Blatche who are
50 – Ryan Gomes (most successful player in the draft after Blatche and was a rotation player pretty much every year)
56 – Amir Johnson (he has been a rotation player every year, but only toward the bottom of an 8 man rotation, until last yr with the Raps when he got to start most games)
57 – Marcin Gortat (didn’t play in the NBA until 2007, was basically like Johnson until he got traded to Phoenix where he now starts most games)
I’d say generally speaking Blatche was a steal at 49, but that doesn’t mean that we should accept him to have a worse attitude than other players who were 1st round or lotto picks.
and every yr there's a college sr or more who makes it long term as a contributor right away or soon after
06 – Brandon Roy (wish you were still here), JJ Redick, Randy Foye
07 – Jared Dudley, Aaron Brooks
08 – Jason Thompson, Courtney Lee
09 – Tyler Hansbrough, Darren Collison
10 – Landry Fields, Luke Harangody looks promising this year.
That would mean missing out on . . .
Rashard Lewis, Gilbert Arenas, Monta Ellis, Trevor Ariza among others. Of course, some good three year college players like Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd have also fallen into the second round. Overall though, I don’t think a hard rule like that makes much sense.
i do think players should be able to get into the draft when their stock is highest
but if it were up to me, I’d give the option for these players once they get drafted to stay in college/keep amateur status if they are amateurs. Also this can give some NBA teams a bit more leverage to tell a player that it’s best for them to stay in college if they believe that he is a project and will not be of much use in the pros right then and there. The NHL allows that and has strict rules on making sure amateur draftees pay transportation costs during summer scrimmages, etc.
Fortunately, the NBA is examining the feasibility of doing this, but it won’t happen immediately.
I would kill for Dujaun Blair
and instead we dot pick him and trade the pick
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 10:55 PM EST up reply actions
He would be fine
I wouldnt be worried about him. But knowing flip he wouldnt play him
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 10:57 PM EST up reply actions
i'll have to give david stern's lockout schpiel of "i don't get into hypotheticals"
but I agree assuming blatche continued to play well at the end of the 2009-10 season……
so you're saying booker, singleton, and jan are probably hopeless
because dray, nick, and javale are on the team?
Note about John Wall
Lot of Wizards fans down on Evan Turner, so happy the Sixers got stuck with him and got to draft the great John Wall instead. You guys would be better off with Evan Turner. And this season, it is going to be painfully obvious why.
might be too early
but id rather have wall…younger, higher ceiling, and furthermore I think he is better already.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 5, 2012 2:48 AM EST up reply actions
Turn those frowns upside down, boys
Wiz are in the lead for the #1 pick.
Our January agony will turn into Secaucus ecstasy.
by disgrunted on Jan 4, 2012 10:53 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
No lower than fourth...I remind myself every game
by les boulez bomber on Jan 4, 2012 10:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Got a feeling about Austin Rivers..he's goin to be an All Star
Might be a perfect running mate with Wall
if you are mad bout crawford chuckin
wait till you get him
by MurlandTerps on Jan 4, 2012 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
not sold about him going pro immediately
but coach k has been okay with dealing with the kyrie irvings too, so long as they graduate in six years…..
Wizards biggest need is still in the front court . . .
Fortunately the Wizards will have plenty of players to chose from at the top of the 2012 draft.
on the other hand, we also need guards who can shoot
2 biggest needs
ok so
Flip is the worst coach in Wizards history right? #whydoeshestillhaveajob
by baltimorebullets80 on Jan 4, 2012 11:04 PM EST reply actions
he was really great with the press though.
by thewiz06 on Jan 4, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
man we've been strugglin for a little while now
gotta keep the faith
by WizKid27 on Jan 4, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
mcgee isn't to blame for the loss
but seeing him look so limited against howard makes me reluctant to make a significant investment.
when an orlando or san antonio gets it going against us, it makes our team defense look downright incompetent.
by DarrellWalkerFan on Jan 4, 2012 11:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I dont expect him to be as jacked as Howard
But he could certainly gain some weight or he’s going to be out muscled by all the bigger guys down low
He has Kevin Durant’s physique
I think JaVale did hit the weight room during summer
(as compare with Dray)
Javale hardly got outmusceled tonight against the one guy that is going to outmusle everybody
I can’t say he won his positional battle when he was in, but he held his own, especially as far as getting pushed around goes. He boxed Howard out as well and often as you can. Javale did not look out of his league one bit tonight, like he has in the past. As a matter of fact, he looked like a young guy that needs nothing more than experience before he’ll be running with the best C’s in the league, and that is a revelation.
Furthermore, I don’t know what you are looking at when you say he has Durant physique. Javale has gotten pretty damn big actually, especially compared to Durant.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 5, 2012 1:26 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You can not expect JVM to stop DH by himself. He can’t and didn’t. And he had no help either.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
Didn't say he did or should
Wasn’t the point
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 5, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Durant also gained 20 pounds over the course of his career.
He hasn’t tried to bulk up big time in any one season, but he did acknowledge that he has built muscle over the long haul
i would guess Javale is 255ish
when you consider that’s with maybe 8% bodyfat, that’s jacked
Horace Grant
is another great example. It can be done. It’s just not easy, depending on his metabolism.
It also doesn’t always work out. We like to think “strong” JaVale would be awesome, but he could be bulky and injury prone.
I remember hwo David Boston, a WR in the NFL, destroyed his career by getting too muscular.
Still, most likely, McGee didn’t do enough.
Here's a question for the crowd:
What team CAN we beat?
NBA team, not college. I can see us going 0-66.
In reality we can beat any team because our best game
will beat every NBA team’s listless game if the ball also doesn’t bounce their way.
But as I said, we need our best game plus the ball bouncing our way to have a shot to win..
I don’t know if we will really go 0-66, but I could see it.
Teams will take a game off against us
And CHA and NYJ will still have to work to beat us
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Sad thing is
the NYJ would probably beat us at basketball…
by AFM on Jan 5, 2012 1:27 AM EST up reply actions
we might beet them at football though
javale at tight end would be naaasty
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 5, 2012 2:50 AM EST up reply actions
Except on the audible
he would push JW out of the way and call the wildcat for himself :)…at least old Javale would…
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 5, 2012 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
Hey at least we are
only 3 games back of the 8th seed for the playoffs.
by gilsix on Jan 4, 2012 11:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
We all knew going in this would be bad...
Plus our young team did not get rookie camp because of an NBA lockout
Plus our young team did not get to work together in the pre-season
Plus our young team does not have a chance to build on mistakes in practice in between games
It doesn’t justify anything but we are 1/11 into the season. It will likely get worse before it gets better. With that being said I wanted 3 things to come out of this season…
John Wall to improve – He needs his jumper to fall I think not having a structure because of the lockout really hampered this from working in a real NBA scenario. It hasn’t come yet but I don’t have any doubts it will eventually. Also I’m looking for his game management to improve and this can only come with experience there is no easy way to expedite this development. Rubio looks good because he has managed professional teams at the point, but doesn’t have the physical skills of Wall. I think he will get there guys he just needs time, but realistically with no real solid vets around him it is likely not occur until into his 3rd year.
A legit big to rise – That man seems to be McGee and again it is early but in McGee’s case if he needs to start utilizing more then athleticism to make spectacular plays and become a solid center. Once that step takes place he can start to be better managing a defense.
A bench to formulate – A mixture of rebounding, defense and a 2nd team scorer need to become apparent. I think Booker and Singleton are starting to show they can deliver the first two and we are looking for the scorer.
We need a solid wing which unfortunately isn’t Lewis because if had been successful could have provided a solid veteran presence during the transition stage. His pop to his jump shot just looks gone at this point. Also need a viable SG and Nick this year has shown us that he is streaky.
Next year the Wiz bring in a solid SG who can be dependable for Wall and a bruising PF (a la Boozer, Cousins) and the team is right on course because you have a solid core similar to what NY and LA (Clippers) are trying to do. The Clippers in my opinion will ultimately prove to be more successful because they have now have Paul.
Of course it is easy to lose the long term goal and it is much easier to just react looking for the right answer but in the end I think that is what make Leonsis a good owner. While we sometimes want to react quickly to change things just for the sake of change he understands the long term vision and will actually stick to it.
Sure 0-6 is terrible, but with our roster we really shouldn't be any better than 1-5, tops.
Orlando, Boston, Boston, Atlanta, Milwaukee are all playoff caliber teams. We are not supposed to win those games. The Nets game we should have won and built a 20 point lead, only to blow it all away. We have come no where close to competing for a full 48 minutes. I know I’m looking at it optimistically, but our record shouldn’t be a huge surprise. Looks like it’s going to be a long season because there aren’t too many rosters worse than ours. Just gotta hope our young guys compete every game and don’t fall into bad habits.
"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely
but the way we've been losing is horrific
the highpoint of the season is the supposed progress the 2nd game vs Boston showed, you know, the game that was close until it mattered at which point Boston stomped us.
right now, this is one of the worst teams ever in the nba. Doesnt mean they’ll stay as such, but they are awful, and lame, and just as shit as any team that’s been fielded. That is a dangerous, dangerous place to be and Ted is a fool if he thinks it’s all well and good because we’ll pick 1-3. Fielding a team this bad all season results in a situation that will not be resolved by drafting one guy unless it’s Lebron or Dwight Howard.
His precious OkC Thunder canned PJ under similar circumstances and got their permanent Coach in, bold move that absolutely set the tone for what they’d become. If Ted thinks he can leave Flip in place all year with these results then just have EG pick another coach to fix it….I’m afraid he’s making a big mistake. You cant let a team rot like this
Agreed that the coach and culture need to change.
I wouldn’t mind a mid-season firing at all. We also desperately need another 1-3 pick in the draft. OKC drafted Durant (2nd), Westbrook (4th?), Green (5th?), Harden (6th?). I’m guessing on some of those draft positions but point is they got four top 5 talents to work with. We have 1 (Wall), maybe 2 (Vesely) if the stars align. We desperately need more top tier talent if we are going to have a proper rebuild. JaVale’s progress is a good sign, but we absolutely cannot wage our bets on McGee, Young, Blatche, Crawford, Singleton, Booker, Seraphin. We need to get a stud out of next year’s draft, sign a top tier free agent, and flip some of these young assets into better players/better draft picks.
"Blake Griffin is the American Jan Vesely" - Jan Vesely
by PhenomenalSwag on Jan 5, 2012 1:34 AM EST up reply actions
Of course Boston stomped us when it matterd
That is the essential difference between a veteran and young team in this league.
And I said this yesterday about Wall but… Of course we’re terrible right now. But wait until we start playing the Charlotte’s and Toronto’s of the league. We’re going to look a lot more like a real team.
I do get where you’re coming from. I flipped through League Pass after the game tonight, and saw a couple of bad teams look a lot better than us. Made me realize how out of control and disorganized our offense is. They are never settled long enough to run a solid offensive set. And there are a bunch of guys that don’t really don’t know their roles.
But I think given all the circumstances, the extremely short training camp and preseason, and the fact that Flip has the troops completely unprepared, and the very high level of competition so far, of course this thing is a mess.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 5, 2012 1:40 AM EST up reply actions
I get a sense there is something brewing with Mcgee and Flip
Flip saying Mcgee had a cold that bothered him at shoot around which makes me think Mcgee and him got into it or something and Flip got retribution by pulling him using the excuse Mcgee used at shoot around.
Mcgee afterward saying he’s sick of losing thats whats wrong. lol
Maybe, but I noticed JVM was winded early in the second half- too early
There is something between Flip and him, but I think he could legitimately not be feeling 100%
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 12:53 AM EST up reply actions
he also has asthma
im not sure how severe/debilitating it is…haven’t heard much about it.
by Wizards Khalifa on Jan 5, 2012 2:51 AM EST up reply actions
This team is still carrying the weight of the Gil contract
Its just know we get to watch Lewis score 6 points a game as he takes home 23 million dollars this year alone. I understand that he is 32 and we will not be challenging for the playoffs anytime soon but does he have to play that bad. Here are some numbers of other 30 plus veterans on big contracts ( 10 mil plus):
A Jamison – 16 pts 5 reb 2 ast ( 15 mil, 1 year )
C Maggate – 12 pts 7 reb 1 ast ( 10 mil, 2 years )
D West 12 pts 8 reb ( 10 mil, 2 years )
Z Randolph 20 pts 12 reb ( 16 mil, 4 years )
We could have any one of these guys and in some cases two of them for the money we are paying Lewis. He is giving us absolutely nothing and yet almost half our payroll is wrapped up in him. Also since Lewis can’t bring himself to crack double digits in points a disproportionate amount of scoring responsibility is shifted over to our younger players.
He is the only player on the team who is seriously under performing his contract and that is an understatement. Even Blatche who is getting 6.5 mil this year is at worst slightly below average per his contract numbers.
I know Lewis as an expiring contract will be a great asset next year but he is absolutely killing us this year as the main veteran on this team.
Can they get worse?
Yes. Will they get worse? Without significant personnel changes, yes.
And the worst part of last night’s game? Seeing Grunfeld, Tapscott and the other development coach in the stands getting paid by the Wizard’s organization.
I might add that Seraphin’s performance last night was the worst I have seen in the NBA in 40+ years of watching.
There are so many things wrong with this team, that ownership needs to clear the decks starting with EG and Flip and then getting one premium player this year and one premium player in the draft. It would be obvious to the new GM that the Wiz need a banger at the 4 and a shooter at the 3.
Could Memphis use Blatche?
Z-Bo is down for two months. Dante Cunningham and Marese Speights are what they are. A motivated Blatche would help them. Could we swop Blatche for Mayo straight up?
call me crazy, I still think Blatche can improve
Just give Booker his minutes and let him fight for his role.
by ReturnofBillyJOe on Jan 5, 2012 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yes please!
Should have picked up Henry too. He is better than his Memphis rookie yr suggests.
Blatche for Mayo and Henry is a good deal for us, but a we’d have to through in Seraphin too I think,for more depth.
We’d lack a good 4 but with Booker, Vesely, Singleton, Lewis and Evans we’d still have enough depth.
Crawford and Young woud become redundant and can be moved as well for a 1st rnd pick and a spare bigman. Maybe a team like Portland could use them for a first and Chris Johnson
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 5, 2012 9:12 AM EST up reply actions
Rebounding Machine!
Jordan Crawford had 7 rebounds in just 20 minutes of playing time.
He has good plays but when you add it all up, he is a liability.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 5, 2012 8:36 AM EST up reply actions
Couldn't the wiz have drafted a shooter
Would it be so hard for Ernie to draft somebody with a lower ceiling but a higher floor? Because this team has no ceiling and no floor, it’s got a cardboard box by the side of the highway.
by ReturnofBillyJOe on Jan 5, 2012 8:17 AM EST reply actions
Because this team has no ceiling and no floor, it’s got a cardboard box by the side of the highway.
Nice
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 5, 2012 9:35 AM EST up reply actions
fireable offense imo
or intentional tanking? I mean, it really DOES suck for Flip if Ted’s grand plan is to win 5 games this year. Ernie is not dumb. There is no way they thought Flip’s offense had a chance in hell with no shooters
Great writeup
i was having problems posting this morning, hopefully the situation is resolve on my end or whatever, but first the positive are that this article sums it all up. second, i have been hard on flip, but after last night and reading this article, the players IQ needs revving up…eat some carrots or something. poor fundamentals on the court belong to players first.
by dmv4life on Jan 5, 2012 9:17 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
just want to say I agree and the players have a lot to do with it, young or old, not all on flip
by dmv4life on Jan 5, 2012 9:22 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Well, at least we'll get to draft whoever we want, guys!
right?
If we don’t get super screwed and stuck with the 5th pick or something….also, think it’s pretty obvious that Dray is hurting the rebuild. The guys behind him (singleton, and Jan when he comes back) are young and demand way more playing time. We know what Dray is, and honestly, I think a change of scenery could light a fire under him and finally get him into the shape he needs to be in to be a very, very good player in this league.
Either that or he;ll fall off the face of the planet. Either way, we wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore, because it just isn’t working here.
I also feel like something is going on between Flip and JaVale. Seriously, Flip isn’t making much sense with some of his pulls last night. I actually feel like at this point, Flip Saunders is hurting JaVale’s progress as a player. Like Mike mentioned, why not give JaVale some more plays in the post against Dwight, after he actually muscled his way to the basket and made a nice move on him? Why not reward him with another opportunity?
It seems like we only do that with Dray, which is mind boggling to me.
My biggest fear is that Ernie has a very close relationship with Dray, and flip has some feeling that he’s almost turned Dray’s game around…just one more game……just one more game….
“Meanwhile, that JaVale kid, he’s a huge problem. He’s awful, we need to trade the guy.”…not an actual quote, of course, but I just hope this isn’t what runs through flip’s mind, and I sure as hell hope that Ernie is smart enough to re-sign JaVale after this season if he keeps playing well consistently.
Oh, and then there’s john hating how poorly run this organization is and wanting to leave.
God I’m worried.
I think Ernie is bent on keeping Mcgee
and that Mcgee is bent on leaving if Flip is here, and probably Dray. Yes, that’s reading way into things….but you can bet everything Nick said last night is something he and Mcgee talk about all the time. And you can also be sure Javale is done busting his ass every summer only to have fat dray sell him out in the paint every single night.
Another thing is I dont believe Flip is actually trying anymore, he’d like to be fired and probably despises the situation- namely Ted rooting for losses (you know he is). But the problem with betting everything on the 3rd pick in the draft is 1)Ernie picks the player and 2)a full season like this means Javale will do everything he can to leave and Wall will believe what everyone has told him, that this is the worst org in the league and he has to get out.
If we go into next season with a new coach, a top pick, and WITHOUT javale….we’ve really taken a step back unless that draftee is Dwight Howard. Wall will be in his 3rd year hearing nothing but “patience” from ownership since another “young” player needs time to adjust. And poor Jan is only in his 2nd year, cant expect much from him yet, and J Craw really worked on his J and blah blah blah
Bottomline is the team has to show marked improvement this season or the rebuild is failing.
Not that John said that.
But you have to think the kid is getting REALLY mad right about now.
Yep, worried is what I am too...
I keep waiting for a puff of white smoke to come from the Verizon Center chimney.
boo hoo john wall is getting mad
i’ll say it… he’s not very good (yet?). his shooting is downright AWFUL. he goes to the basket totally out of control, praying for a foul to be called and he hasn’t earned the respect of the referees yet. nor is he leading this “team”
i put that in quotes because it’s not really a team is it?
Give me John, Javale, Singleton, Book, some dleaguers, and a new coach
we’ll be onto something.
On to the first winless season in NBA history
I like those guys, but Singleton and Booker are not NBA starters and may never be. Of the two, Singleton seems more likely to be a decent starter, but it’s not guaranteed. And there’s really not a lot of depth to be found in the d-league.
Maybe Dray and Nick have to go, but without them we’ll average about 62 points a game.
Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you've grown to know on the court.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 5, 2012 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The team you name would lose 120 to 70 to any decent team not playing it's subs for the last 3 quarters.
Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you've grown to know on the court.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 5, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i think you are completely wrong about that.
this team would be better if Singleton and Booker started in place of Lewis/Dray….not sure how you can talk about lost offense when the starters began 0-12 last night. Dray is a complete bum, no two ways about it.
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