Bullets Forever - Wizards vs. Pacers: Washington falls to 0-9 with 96-89 loss"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2012-11-21T08:00:47-05:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/34301492012-11-21T08:00:47-05:002012-11-21T08:00:47-05:00Breaking down a broken play vs. Indiana
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<figcaption>Rob Carr</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards needed a quick basket, but who would get the call as the late-game scorer: Bradley Beal, Jordan Crawford, or Kevin Seraphin?</p> <p>With under a minute remaining and the Indiana <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> leading by five points, the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> needed a quick basket to keep the game within one possession. Let's take a look at what <span>Randy Wittman</span> called and how the Wizards executed the play.</p>
<p>The first option on the play is a look for <span>Bradley Beal</span> coming along the baseline and using staggered screens from <span>Jordan Crawford</span> and <span>Chris Singleton</span>. From there, Beal could have taken a quick jumper or looked for the drive. However, <span>David West</span> switches onto Beal and denies the pass. (<span>Sam Young</span> also executes an awesome cut block on Singleton; <a href="http://i.imgur.com/cKcFv.png" target="_blank">Paul Johnson</a> would be proud).</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1771633/picture1_medium.jpg" alt="Picture1_medium"></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>After the Beal option was shut down, <span>Shaun Livingston</span> looked to the other side of the court, where Jordan Crawford came off of a <span>Kevin Seraphin</span> screen.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1771649/picture2_medium.jpg" alt="Picture2_medium"></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>Here's where it's hard to decipher what the play call was. If the play is to maximize Crawford's chances of getting a (quick) shot, then Crawford made the wrong choice coming off of the screen. Based on how the defense was covering him he had a few options. He could have faded to the corner if <span>Paul George</span> tried to shoot the gap and go under the screen. He could have popped straight out to the three point line if George ran straight into the screen. Finally, since Paul George was following him around the screen, he could (should) have curled into the lane, away from the defender.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1771657/picture3_medium.jpg" alt="Picture3_medium"></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>Crawford chooses to pop out to the three point line, which gives George an easy path to catch up. Considering the urgency with which Kevin Seraphin posts up, you could convince me that the play is actually being run for Seraphin. Crawford was simply popping out to make an entry pass, not looking for a shot.</p>
<p><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1771673/picture4_medium.jpg" alt="Picture4_medium"></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>But we know how this possession ends. Crawford doesn't make the entry pass to Seraphin, and he instead settles for a contested 20-footer.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MCGXVKbV6lg"></iframe> <br id="1353430771223"></p>
<p>The Wizards get the worst of all worlds. Their first option is denied, they don't get a three-pointer, and the two-pointer they shot was a high-difficulty shot. If the play was for Crawford to get a shot, then he had the opportunity to curl the screen. And if the play was to get Seraphin the ball, then the long two-pointer is an especially questionable decision.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/21/3671146/the-wizards-quick-hitter-misfires-against-the-pacers-defensejkahn152012-11-20T13:22:41-05:002012-11-20T13:22:41-05:00Wittman's rotation gambles aren't paying off
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<figcaption>John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Unpredictable rotations and embracing the hot hand have led to confusion and desperation in Washington.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- With another loss on the books and a tougher schedule coming up, the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> have a lot of soul searching to do as an organization. It's not surprising that this team has suffered while its two best players (<span>John Wall</span> and Nene) have been on the sideline. However, their absence doesn't explain away the worst start in franchise history (0-9) and the lack of cohesive play from the majority of the roster for an entire 48-minute game. On any given night, there's no predicting what Randy Wittman is going to get from his team and who he's going to get it from.</p>
<p>Much of the criticism today has been about how Wittman has had it or is <a href="http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/20/coach-randy-wittman-rips-into-winless-wizards/">angry </a>and fed up with this team. His subdued tone in the post-game press conference last night tells a different story, though. This isn't a coach who is mad at himself or his team or their lack of wins. He's confused, and he was <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3669438/pacers-vs-wizards-score-randy-wittman">reaching out for help</a>.</p>
<p>He can't understand why he can't get consistent play from his ideal rotation of 8 or 9 guys.</p>
<p>"I'd love to have an 8-9 man rotation. That's my dream. And I'm playing 12-13 every night. You can't do that in an NBA game," he said. "If you want to develop a group and then a group that comes in, I'm having a hard time doing that with the play right now."</p>
<p>He can't fathom how a team could play so hard, make easy baskets, and get tough stops midway through the 3rd quarter but not do that for any other time in the game.</p>
<p>"We've got to figure out how to play a game, a whole game," he said ... "Did we give up? No. We had that second group that finished the game that just played their tails off. Did a lot of good things."</p>
<p>He doesn't get why shooters don't shoot and non-shooters do.</p>
<p>"I don't know who to start. Who to play. Who not to play. It's the confusion of different guys every game, whether it's starters or bench, bench or starters. We have no consistency in our group of play," he said.</p>
<p>After the game last night, <a href="../../nba/players/111511/jordan-crawford" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Crawford</a>, <a href="../../nba/players/157953/bradley-beal" class="sbn-auto-link">Bradley Beal</a>, <a href="../../nba/players/111961/kevin-seraphin" class="sbn-auto-link">Kevin Seraphin</a>, <a href="../../nba/players/71948/a-j-price" class="sbn-auto-link">A.J. Price</a>, and <a href="../../nba/players/21747/shaun-livingston" class="sbn-auto-link">Shaun Livingston</a> all agreed with their coach. They all said that no one had been playing consistently and that it's difficult to know what you're going to do on the floor when you don't know your role on a given night.</p>
<p>I have long been a personal critic of <a href="../../nba/players/99597/randy-wittman" class="sbn-auto-link">Randy Wittman's</a> predictable rotation patterns, but in the last few games this season, he has been straying from his usual patterns and just trying to see what works. I think it's admirable that he's coaching outside of his comfort zone, but for the players to not know how much they'll be used on a given night is detrimental to their development and production.</p>
<p>And most importantly, it's detrimental to the development and production of (presumed) franchise cornerstone Bradley Beal. There is a lot of inconsistent play from everyone on the roster. You can't rely on the same guys giving you the same effort every night. But really, can't the same be said for <i>every </i>team? Sure, teams have one or two go-to guys, those guys are told they are the go-to guys. Why can't that be the same here? The players' poor play causes Wittman's erratic rotations, and Wittman's erratic rotations exacerbate poor play. It's a vicious cycle, and it's not sustainable long term.</p>
<p>So far, the way Wittman has tried to deal with the losses has been to embrace the the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot-hand_fallacy">fallacy of the hot hand.</a> Whether or not you ascribe to this theory, the logic behind it seems appealing: give the ball to the guy who's getting it done. With a team like Washington, where a different guy can get hot on any given night, it seems like an attractive approach. Hell, it worked well for <span>Nick Young</span> on the Wizards, why not try it out now?</p>
<p>Using the hot hand is a dangerous plan for a few reasons:</p>
<p>1) It's been <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/34234/ice-your-hot-hand">debunked </a>many times as impractical and ineffective.</p>
<p>2) It doesn't work when you base your lineup on the hot hand from the previous game (<a href="../../nba/players/24690/cartier-martin" class="sbn-auto-link">Cartier Martin</a>/<a href="../../nba/players/21827/martell-webster" class="sbn-auto-link">Martell Webster</a> lineup swap, anyone?)</p>
<p>3) It's a form of gambling.</p>
<p>There's another gambling term that's sort of the opposite of the hot hand. It's called "chasing." A gambler engages in chasing when they've already lost a lot of money, so they raise their bets every hand to try to make up for what they've lost. If you're familiar with gambling, then you know that this is one of its most dangerous signs. Chasing implies panic, desperation, false hope, and confusion.</p>
<p>Chasing at the end of the bench and playing the hot handed guys from the night before has thus far been a recipe for disaster. If the Wizards can't pull out a win this week, Wittman might have to give up his seat at the table.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/20/3671312/washington-wizards-rotations-randy-wittman-gamblingAmin Vafa2012-11-20T10:47:59-05:002012-11-20T10:47:59-05:00Links: John Wall is not impressed
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<figcaption>Via @cjzero</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards lost again, and John Wall doesn't seem thrilled.</p> <p><i>Today's links:</i></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Oh man, that <span>John Wall</span> screenshot from the broadcast. [Via @<a href="https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/270751082479767552">cjzero</a>)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Recaps from the home team's side. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3668590/wizards-vs-pacers-score-final-2012">Us</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/ap/sports/wizards-fall-to---with---loss-to/article_4f5382aa-2cce-5ce5-bf6d-f87c0d1bccbf.html">AP</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/game-recap-wizards-89-pacers-96">WashingtonWizards.com</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards-vs-pacers-washington-sets-franchise-record-with-ninth-straight-loss/2012/11/19/c51918aa-32bb-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html">Washington Post </a>| <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wizards-lose-ninth-straight-open-season">CSN Washington</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/19/wizards-lose-pacers-fall-0-9-worst-start-franchise/">Washington Times</a> | <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/wizards-set-franchise-mark-for-worst-start-with-ninth-straight-loss/article/2513943">Washington Examiner</a> | <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/wizards">Washington Wizards Examiner </a>| <a href="http://wizofawes.com/2012/11/20/another-loss-more-confusion/">Wiz of Awes</a>| <a href="http://wizardsextreme.com/2012-articles/november/we-game-recap-wizards-vs-pacers.html">Wizards Extreme</a> | <a href="http://districtsportspage.com/with-96-89-loss-to-pacers-winless-wizards-set-franchise-record-with-0-9-start-to-season/12847">District Sports Page</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.welovedc.com/2012/11/20/pacers-hand-the-wizards-ninth-straight-loss/">We Love DC</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Recaps from the road team's side. [<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Farticle%2F20121119%2FSPORTS04%2F211190349%2FDavid-West-s-30-points-guide-Pacers-past-winless-Wizards%3Fodyssey%3Dmod%257Cnewswell%257Ctext%257CIndyStar.com%257Cs&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bulletsforever.com%2F2012%2F11%2F20%2F3670970%2Fjohn-wall-washington-wizards" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Indy Star</a> | <a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/2012/11/19/3669170/just-enough-pacers-ride-again-thanks-to-west-and-hibbert">Indy Cornrows</a> | <a href="http://www.eightpointsnineseconds.com/2012/11/post-game-grades-pacers-dont-lose-to-wizards/">Eight Points Nine Seconds</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Postgame interviews from Washington<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>.com. [<a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/jordan-crawford-staying-positive-0">Jordan Crawford</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/shaun-livingston-postgame-111912">Shaun Livingston</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/kevin-seraphin-trying-better-starts">Kevin Seraphin</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/bradley-beal-continuing-fight">Bradley Beal</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The owner reacts. [<a href="http://www.tedstake.com/2012/11/20/different-game-and-same-story/">Ted's Take</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Randy Wittman</span> kind of went off the deep end after the game. [<a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/wizards/wittman-no-excuse-pacers-loss">CSN Washington</a> | <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/wizards/wittman-no-excuse-pacers-loss">Video</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3669438/pacers-vs-wizards-score-randy-wittman">Us</a> | <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/20/3669988/washington-wizards-indiana-pacers-randy-wittman-postgame-press-conference">SB Nation D.C.</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The Wizards' starters didn't step up. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/11/19/wizards-get-little-production-from-starters/">Washington Post</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">There were fans with paper bags on their heads last night. Amin tried to get an interview with one, but he declined. Nevertheless, here we are. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2012/11/20/morning-pixels-more-wizards-paper-bag-heads/">DC Sports Bog</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The Wizards are winless, and possibly hopeless. [<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/washington-wizards-remain-winless-possibly-hopeless-fans-start-185644503--nba.html">Ball Don't Lie</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I wrote about Roy Hibbert's breakout game for the mothership. [<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/11/20/3669256/roy-hibbert-indiana-pacers-washington-wizards">SB Nation</a>]</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Kyrie Irving</span> will miss a month with a broken finger. We feel your pain, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cavaliers</a> fans. [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/11/19/3669200/kyrie-irving-injury-finger-cavs">StoryStream</a>]</span></li>
</ul>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/20/3670970/john-wall-washington-wizardsMike Prada2012-11-19T23:03:28-05:002012-11-19T23:03:28-05:00Randy Wittman reaches his breaking point
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>The scene in the postgame press conference was the most dour we've ever seen. To say Randy Wittman was sad would be and understatement. Read some of his soul-searching below.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- Within each game and from game-to-game, it's an emotional roller-coaster. Lows so low you think you'll never return from the depths. Highs so high you think there's nothing that could ever bring you down.</p>
<p>Then David West nails a handful of baseline jumpers to nail the coffin shut on another potential comeback.</p>
<p>These quotes don't do justice to just how despondent the post-game atmosphere was after the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>' sank to a franchise record 0-9 with a 96-89 loss to the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a>. <span>Randy Wittman</span> walked into the press conference with an eerie calmness as if he were a long lost Albert Camus character. He wasn't quite sad; he wasn't quite confused. He knew what had happened, as if he had been watching the whole game in slow-motion himself and replaying it. Is Randy Wittman the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myth_of_Sisyphus">Sisyphus of the NBA</a>? Or does that moniker get extended to the whole team? For tonight, it seemed Wittman was holding in the emotions of many, trying not to release them. He wanted to let everyone know that he was ready to put this game away and move onto the next one.</p>
<p>Here are some of the things he said.</p>
<p><b>On slow starts:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We've got to figure out how to play a game, a whole game. You know, you guys just ought to put this in reverse and replay what I say. I don't know who to start. Who to play. Who not to play. It's the confusion of different guys every game, whether it's starters or bench, bench or starters. We have no consistency in our group of play. I mean, to get off to a start like we did tonight. There's no excuse for it. What was it, 26-7? We were almost taking down shots to take worse shots. Well I know someone in here is going to ask me, "Well why do they do that?" I don't know. I don't know. It's the same thing. Did we give up? No. We had that second group that finished the game that just played their tails off. Did a lot of good things. Alright, but that's why you lose.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>On confusion in roles, plays, and lineups:</b></p>
<blockquote>Confusion comes when I'm a shooter and I've got an open shot, you shoot the ball. If I'm a non-shooter, I pass the ball. I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out. I don't know who's going to start, who's going to play. It's just so inconsistent in play. Top to bottom. I told you, I'd love to have an 8-9 man rotation. That's my dream. And I'm playing 12-13 every night. You can't do that in an NBA game. If you want to develop a group and then a group that comes in, I'm having a hard time doing that with the play right now.</blockquote>
<blockquote>"This is the 2nd game this group started together. We'll look at it, sleep on it. I'll come up with something."</blockquote>
<p><b>On aggressiveness and hesitation:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We just become hesitant. A little bit of that is 0-9. If you're hesitant in your thinking and action, you're not confidant, and you're not making right decisions. You gotta just keep working at that. We'll eventually eventually find a group that'll bring us that. I don't know what else to tell you guys. It's just kind of a broken record.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>On faith:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>These guys can win. It's not that I don't believe in them. I come in here every day thinking "This is the night. I feel good." I might be dumb, but I do believe in them. I really do. I told them that tonight before the game. I mean, to keep fighting like we fight, some point it's gotta to come together. For a whole game. We'll have those 8-9 that are on the same page for 48 minutes. They're on there. And now I gotta make a decision of who to play down the stretch from those 8 or 9. I'm looking down the whole roster, and if I had a cell phone, I'd be calling the waiver wire, trying to find another body. I'm just searching. Searching for people to give me consistency. As a group, we need that. That's what we need. Both as a starting group and as a group that comes off the bench. I'll toss another group out there, and we'll see if we can't find a group that starts off well. And maybe those guys will settle in. I'm going to keep trying.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>On premonition:</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I have no idea [if Livingston is part of the group that will start next]. If I had that answer right now, I'd be a genius.</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3669438/pacers-vs-wizards-score-randy-wittmanAmin Vafa2012-11-19T21:35:50-05:002012-11-19T21:35:50-05:00Different game, same story. Wizards fall again
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Washington Wizards fell to 0-9 with a 96-89 loss to the Indiana Pacers.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> are 0-9 after losing, 96-89, to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a>. They made it interesting at the end, and ... hell, I've written this story too many other times this year to repeat it. Let's just get right to the notes.</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The Wizards' first play ended up with an ad-lib post-up for <span>Jan Vesely</span> after the initial play break down. That's not bad. Nice turnaround hook by Vesely as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;"><span>Trevor Ariza</span> does some frustrating things off the ball defensively. On one play, he bodied <span>Paul George</span> the wrong way on a simple rub off the post player, giving him an easy layup from Roy Hibbert. On another, he foolishly doubled on a baseline drive by Hibbert, leaving Paul George wide open for the easy three in the corner.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Early on, the Wizards were overpassing like crazy. Ariza made a nice move to get to the rim, but instead of challenging Hibbert, he tried to dump it off to <span>Emeka Okafor</span>. Turnover. On another play, <span>Jordan Crawford</span> went off a nice screen by Vesely and got to the basket, but instead of trying to finish over Hibbert, he, too, dumped it off to Okafor. Okafor wasn't in a good scoring position and Hibbert swatted the shot away.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">In the Wizards' semi-defense, Hibbert was a monster back there, altering tons of shots. That said, they have to be craftier trying to draw fouls. There are smarter ways to attack the basket.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">For someone billed as an elite rebounder, it's amazing how poorly Emeka Okafor boxes out. Hibbert easily worked him underneath the hoop for an offensive rebound and putback.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I'm really not sure what's going on inside <span>Kevin Seraphin's</span> head right now, but I don't like it. He's making really bad mental mistakes that make me wonder if his supposed increased confidence is really there. On one play, he threw a simple swing pass at <span>Bradley Beal's</span> feet. On another, he made a strong move to the middle to set up his patented righty jump hook ... and instead threw a wild crosscourt pass to Beal in the opposite corner. Beal was caught off guard and flung up a wild fadeaway three-pointer with the shot clock running down. Just play, Kevin.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">It is kind of nice to be able to go to the "<span>Shaun Livingston</span> turnaround jumper off the post-up" well when things really aren't working. I think that one turnaround helped wake the Wizards up a little bit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I'm really starting to develop a distaste for all these pindowns and curls. They don't do much to provide separation for the guards to drive, and they put players like Bradley Beal and <span>Martell Webster</span> too far away from the hoop. This isn't a roster with a Rip Hamilton to run opponents ragged. I'm not sure what else <span>Randy Wittman</span> can run, but I wouldn't really like it if he's trying to jam this roster into that specific style.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">OK, let's stop it with the Shaun Livingston post ISOs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Seraphin at least looked better with his post touches in the late-first/early-second quarter.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Beal attacked, at least. He's got to finish better, though. He had the shots, just didn't make them. Feel like we've said that a lot, though.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Even though <span>Trevor Booker</span> made a pass to an open <span>A.J. Price</span> for three, he probably should have gone up strong off an offensive rebound. At least that way he might draw two free throws.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">A play that epitomized a lot of problems at once: the Wizards get a steal, but instead of quickly pitching it ahead, Price doesn't give Booker a passing angle, and Booker holds the ball with one hand as all the Pacers get back. If the Wizards are going to be this bad in the halfcourt, they have to get easy buckets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">And wouldn't you know it, the same scenario played out again after Booker got a steal behind the Pacers' three-point line.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Crawford does seem to have a better understanding of how to use his big man screening for him. He executed a nice pick and roll with Seraphin, faking right, then crossing over left just as Seraphin slid in to dislodge Crawford from his primary defender. It led to two free throw attempts for Seraphin.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">That was a pretty big play by <span>Chris Singleton</span> to steal the crosscourt pass and get a three-point play. Wittman should find room for him in the rotation, somehow.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Speaking of: Wittman played 12 guys in the first half. At some point, he's just going to have to pick eight guys to play, leave the ninth spot to whoever is playing best and bench the rest. Some of us will howl that certain guys deserve time, but Wittman has to tune it out and just decide. I know none of the players have really proven definitively that they belong, but we're now nine games in. A decision has to be made.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Given the lack of talent on this team, you can't miss this many free throws.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">To their credit, the Wizards played really good defense in the second quarter. Sure, it's Indiana, but at least their aggressive rotations kept them in the game. That's big.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I am definitely impressed by the way Crawford is no longer settling for long threes. I think he only did it once in the first half. Otherwise, he made strong, straight-line drives to the basket to draw fouls, catching the Pacers off-balanced with his head fakes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Seraphin seemed a lot more confident in the second quarter scoring with his righty hook. That's good. The bad: he committed a really dumb foul shoving Hibbert to the ground. He has to cut those out.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The three-guard lineup of Price, Crawford and Beal actually worked well because it opened up the floor for Seraphin to do his thing. I think Wittman can and should use it more often in certain situations when the Wizards are struggling to generate offense.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Boy, what a dumb foul by <span>Earl Barron</span> at the end of the first half.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Smart decision to get Trevor Ariza a quick post touch. Better to have Ariza closer to the basket than further away. Good things happened the first two times the Wizards went to that look.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Man, David West is too strong for Jan Vesely.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Four fouls for Kevin Seraphin is problematic. It's the kind of thing he just has to be smarter about. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">When Ariza isn't in the mid-post area, he really isn't sure where he's supposed to go offensively. He ruined one open spot-up shot-fake-and-drive for Price by running right into his lane and bringing his defender to Price. He ruined another by failing to get all the way into the left corner where he should have been.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Okafor really needs to start driving his man back on box outs. He doesn't make any effort to turn into his defender and prevent him from getting the board. It bit him again when he turned and stood flat-footed on a free-throw rebound, allowing it to bounce right into <span>David West's</span> arms.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I blame Beal for throwing it behind Vesely on that fast break. I also blame Vesely for not running hard enough to provide more of a passing lane for Beal to get the ball to him.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">It was nice to see Beal come alive late in the third quarter. He didn't settle for jumpers and he played much more aggressively on both ends. Great to see.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The team really fed off Beal's aggression. When they saw him drive and draw contact; when they saw him block a jump-shooter, it started to get them going. Beal has to understand that he can have that kind of effect when he's really dialed in on both ends of the floor.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">I especially loved to see the way Beal fronted Paul George in the post on the Pacers' final possession. The Pacers tried feeding <span>Tyler Hansbrough</span> in the high post, and they were looking to set George up in the low post. However, Beal fronted George despite there being very little space, and Vesely nicely covered his backside to ruin the play.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">David West is really tough, man. Whenever the Pacers needed a hoop early in the fourth quarter, West got it. They weren't easy shots either.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">You can't double West from one pass away. The Wizards did so with Livingston and got burned with great ball rotation for a <span>Gerald Green</span> three.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Seriously, can we keep Aggressive Bradley Beal?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Missed opportunities ... missed opportunities ... missed opportunities.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Really bad illegal screen by Seraphin for his fifth foul. It's a bit of a soft foul, but he definitely moved into the defender to bump him off his path.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Great early look by Shaun Livingston to find Seraphin and eventually set up the sequence that led to Seraphin's putback dunk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Gotta make your free throws, Chris Singleton. But I do like the concentration shown to nail those mid-range jumpers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">David West, man. David West. He's a killer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Beal really didn't get enough touches late in the game. On the one missed post touch by Seraphin, it looked like they wanted to swing the ball to Beal and run offense that way. Instead, Livingston set up the post touch. That might have been a mistake.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">A game of execution, personified: on one end, the Wizards ran a great play to get Seraphin a deep post touch down three, but Seraphin fumbled Beal's beautiful bounce pass entry. On the other end, <span>George Hill</span> circled around for a while, found West, who then found Hibbert for the easy hook shot.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">David West, man.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Really poor execution on the final play. Beal never got open, Crawford caught the ball and held it, and all that they could get was a wild long two that had no chance.</span></li>
</ul>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 11.19.2012 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a> </span></td>
<td>28</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>25</td>
<td class="highlight">96</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> </span></td>
<td>13</td>
<td>28</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>22</td>
<td class="highlight">89</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/">Indy Cornrows</a>
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https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3668590/wizards-vs-pacers-score-final-2012Mike Prada2012-11-19T18:13:50-05:002012-11-19T18:13:50-05:00Discuss Wizards vs. Pacers here
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lJ8R8M-4k8zoa2YCW3uRuuqF994=/0x287:789x813/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3583359/uspw_6736454.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Discuss tonight's game between the Wizards and Pacers in this space.</p> <table cellspacing="5" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr><th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">2012/2013 NBA Preseason</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/6/224/full/3083.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> <th align="center" width="20">@</th> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/wizards_alt_logo_hand.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>November 19, 2012</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>Verizon Center</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>7 p.m.</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>CSN, 106.7 The Fan</strong></td></tr> <tr><th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>George Hill</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240"><span>A.J. Price</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Lance Stephenson</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Jordan Crawford</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Paul George</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Trevor Ariza</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>David West</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Jan Vesely</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Roy Hibbert</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><p><span>Emeka Okafor</span></p></td> </tr> <tr><th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>2012/13 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">90 (28th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">90.9 (25th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">96 (29th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">94.1 (30th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">98.2 (1st)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">102.5 (12th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">Also see: <a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/">Indy Cornrows</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3666108/washington-wizards-indiana-pacers-nba-november-19-avoid-losing-start">StoryStream</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
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<p>WASHINGTON -- About the most noteworthy thing that came from <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> pregame was that <span>Randy Wittman</span> doesn't want Maryland and Rutgers in the ACC. Otherwise, the Wizards coach said he would stress pushing the ball in transition to get easy buckets.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a> enter with problems of their own, having shot a frigid 29 percent in the first half of their loss to the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a> yesterday. Coach <span>Frank Vogel</span> seemed remarkably upbeat considering his team's struggles, noting how his team has actually shot the ball very well in three of their previous four halves (all throughout Friday's win over the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> and the second half of yesterday's game). He continued to stay positive with center Roy Hibbert, who is off to a horrendous shooting start after signing a max contract over the summer. Vogel stressed that Hibbert's had the right shots, but they just haven't fell. Meanwhile, Vogel said Hibbert is still playing good defense and doing other things to help his team.</p>
<p>Something's got to give in this battle between the league's two worst offenses. This will be one of the Wizards' best chances to get that elusive first win. Let's hope they take advantage.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3668176/pacers-vs-wizards-game-time-tv-schedule-and-open-threadMike Prada2012-11-19T10:31:07-05:002012-11-19T10:31:07-05:00Previewing Wizards vs. Pacers
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards fell just short in Indiana the first time these two played this year. Now, they look to return the favor as they meet in Washington.</p> <p><b>Where, When and What Channel:</b> The game will start at 7 PM EST at the Verizon Center. The game will be available on Comcast SportsNet.</p>
<p><b>Why you should care:</b> With a loss tonight, the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> would set a record for the worst start in franchise history, besting the 0-8 mark they set last season. However, like last year, the Wizards have a chance to avoid 0-9 at home against a soft opponent. Not much has changed since we <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/10/3618998/washington-wizards-indiana-pacers-nba-preview">previewed Indiana a little over a week ago</a>: With <span>Danny Granger</span> on the shelf and <span>Roy Hibbert</span> in a nasty slump, the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a> are a team that will have issues scoring points.</p>
<p><b>What they do well:</b> Indiana comes into tonight's meeting with the top rated defense in the NBA, only allowing 98.2 points per 100 possessions. The Pacers just don't have many defensive liabilities at this point, and the ones that are would be middle of the pack on other rosters. <span>Frank Vogel</span> has done an outstanding job of keeping the Pacers focused on the defensive end, because right now, it's the only way they can stay within reach of the playoffs.</p>
<p><b>What they do poorly:</b> Like we said earlier, the Pacers have struggled mightily without Granger. The only reason the Pacers don't have the worst offense in the NBA is because the Wizards have a firm grasp on that spot.</p>
<p><b>How the Wizards match up with them: </b>The Wizards and Pacers are very similar teams at the moment. They're both going to have issues scoring, but they can both keep games somewhat competitive by slowing down the pace and limiting the other team's offensive opportunities. The Wizards only lost by four when these two played in Indiana on November 10th. Hopefully the boost they get from playing at home along with the added motivation of avoiding the worst start in franchise history will be enough to get the Wizards over the hump tonight. It may not be the prettiest game you'll ever see, but the Wizards might have enough to slog out a win tonight.</p>
<p><b>What else should I know about the Pacers:</b> <span>Gerald Green</span> is a noted dunking enthusiast.</p>
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https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/19/3665756/washington-wizards-indiana-pacers-nba-previewJake Whitacre