Bullets Forever - Wizards Vs. Bobcats: Washington falls in double OT"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2012-11-26T11:35:14-05:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/34505072012-11-26T11:35:14-05:002012-11-26T11:35:14-05:00A tale of 2 rookies
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>One month into the 2012-13 season, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been one of the best rookies in the NBA, while Bradley Beal has struggled to hold onto his role as the Wizards' starting shooting guard. The key as to why is how they approach the game.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- Saturday wasn't one of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's best games. He fouled out in 24 minutes and didn't play down the stretch in the Washington Wizards' double-overtime loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Still, Kidd-Gilchrist was able to pump in 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals in his limited minutes, a statline that the majority of NBA veterans would be thrilled to post. This game was par for the course for the second pick in the 2012 draft,.</p>
<p>The player drafted immediately after Kidd-Gilchrist hasn't gotten off to quite as good a start. Bradley Beal played almost twice as many minutes as Kidd-Gilchrist, and yet he only managed to score 13 points on 3-12 shooting. It was a performance Wizards fans have become all too familiar with, as Beal appeared hesitant and struggled to make shots from the outside, forcing coach Randy Wittman to run much of the team's offense through less gifted players like Jordan Crawford and A.J. Price.</p>
<p>Beal's NBA career has gotten off to a rough start, especially when compared to Kidd-Gilchrist's. When the two players faced each other during Saturday's game, they offered a stark contrast in playing style and mentality that could provide a great deal of insight into why Kidd-Gilchrist's adjustment to the NBA has been so much easier than Beal's.</p>
<p>Kidd-Gilchrist's motor and intensity are his most notable attributes, and may have been even more responsible for his lofty draft position than his elite athleticism and fundamentally sound defense.</p>
<p>"He has got an aplomb to him, a confidence, and an exuberance to him, kind of like Magic (Johnson)," Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap said.</p>
<p>Kidd-Gilchrist repeatedly demonstrated these qualities during Saturday's win over the Wizards. He guarded all three perimeter positions at one point or another, repeatedly doing an excellent job of not giving up on plays or letting his intensity lapse. Even on offense, where he's far from a finished product, he managed to demonstrate a greater attention to detail than the typical rookie.</p>
<p>One sequence in particular stands out as demonstrative of the kind of motor Kidd-Gilchrist possesses. With 8:46 left in the third quarter, he caught the ball at the top of the key, drove past his defender, and passed to an open <span>Byron Mullens</span> in the corner. Rather than simply stopping or slowing down, which a lot of NBA players probably would have done, Kidd-Gilchrist ran toward the open shooter, using his body as a human shield to prevent Mullens' defender from closing out onto him and contesting the shot. Mullens hit the corner three as a result, giving the Bobcats a nine point lead after it had been a one point game only three minutes earlier.</p>
<p><span>Beal's</span> motor and will to win have never been called into question, to be fair. But his approach to the game is more measured and laid back than Kidd-Gilchrist's. Possibly due to his role as more of a scorer than an all-around human wrecking ball like Kidd-Gilchrist, Beal's self-confidence can become tied to whether or not his shot is falling. Unfortunately for him and the Wizards, he's only shooting 33 percent from the field through his first 11 NBA games, and his aggressiveness has taken a hit as a result.</p>
<p>Beal managed to do a very good job of stuffing the stat sheet during the Wizards' loss to Charlotte, finishing the night with 10 rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of playing time. But despite his reputation as a scorer, he largely deferred to his less-talented teammates, especially in both overtime periods. If you discount what happened after Charlotte pulled ahead by four points with less than 10 seconds left in the second overtime period and the game was out of reach, Beal only attempted two shots in the two overtime periods. It's one thing to take what the defense gives you, but a future go-to scorer like Beal needs to be aggressive when the game is on the line, even if he's a rookie going through a shooting slump.</p>
<p>"I felt that I had the game won," Beal said. ... "In certain situations I was upset with myself because there was a play I could have made but I didn't execute on. So I was pretty down on myself."</p>
<p>On the one hand, self-awareness is a great quality in a professional athlete, especially one who will be expected to play an enormous role on a rebuilding team like the Wizards. On the other, that Beal himself will admit that he needed to be more aggressive is a sure sign that his confidence isn't where it needs to be right now. While Kidd-Gilchrist seems to use his mistakes as motivation to go out and play even more aggressively, Beal dwells on and possibly over-analyzes his mistakes, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy in which bad play begets more bad play.</p>
<p>The funny thing about Beal's problems is that they're entirely a result of a lack of confidence. If you look solely at the parts of his game that aren't tied to his jump shot, he's been very solid this year. Coming out of college, he was projected to be a good rebounder, solid passer and decent defender who could block a surprising number of shots for a 6'3 guard. Through 11 games, he's averaging 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes and has been less torchable than a typical rookie perimeter defender. He's even finishing well at the basket, having made <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hoopdata.com/player.aspx?name=Bradley%20Beal">a very solid 58 percent of his shots at the rim</a>.</p>
<p>The only part of Beal's game that hasn't lived up to expectations has been his outside shot, something that is more reliant on self-confidence than any other aspect of a player's game. Beal's only making 23 percent of his long twos and 33 percent of this three pointers this year, which is entirely why his overall field goal percentage is so low. If a few of those shots had gone an inch to the left or the right, Beal's confidence would be far greater and the Wizards could very well have had a Rookie of the Year candidate on their hands.</p>
<p>It's really only a matter of time until Bradley Beal gets back on track. More likely than not, he's going to need to get hot from the outside and drop 20 or 30 points on some unsuspecting team, after which his confidence should be restored and Wizards fans will finally get to see the player they hoped they were getting when President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld drafted him third overall. Until then, he's going to continue to struggle, and one can only hope that some of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's never say die attitude has rubbed off on him.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/26/3687686/a-tale-of-two-rookies-michael-kidd-gilchrist-and-bradley-bealThomas Pruitt2012-11-25T10:42:47-05:002012-11-25T10:42:47-05:00Links: Wizards find new way to lose
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Yep, that photo pretty much sums it up.</p> <p><i>Alright, seriously, this is getting silly links:</i></p>
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<ul>
<li>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Bobcats</a> really tried to give this one away, but the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> are just too gosh darn nice to take a win when it's handed to them. They've won zero games and lost 11, and found a new way to lose yesterday, 108-106 in double OT. Recaps from the home team's perspective: [<a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/24/3687344/wizards-vs-bobcats-recap-wizards-lose-108-106-in-double-overtime">Us</a> | Washington Post (<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wizards-vs-bobcats-washington-loses-in-double-ot-to-fall-to-0-11/2012/11/24/e74ba8e2-36a4-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html">gamer</a>, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/11/25/randy-wittman-takes-full-responsibility-for-wizards-latest-loss/">blog</a>) | <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/24/wizards-lose-double-ot-fall-0-11/">Washington Times</a> | Washington Examiner (<a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/wizards-break-hearts-again-stay-winless/article/2514275#.ULIr4Ie5w8o">gamer</a>, <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/three-thoughts-bobcats-108-wizards-106-2ot/article/2514276">sidebar</a>) | CSN Washington (<a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wizards-losing-streak-extended-11">recap</a>, <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wizards-fall-apart-down-stretch-again">sidebar</a>) | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/game-recap-wizards-106-bobcats-108">WashingtonWizards.com</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtonwizardsblog.com/">Wizards Blog</a>]</li>
<li>In beating the Wizards, the Bobcats became the fastest team in NBA history to reach their win total from the previous season. Recaps from their perspective: [<a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/2012/11/24/3687256/bobcats-top-wizards-107-106-2ot-match-last-years-win-total">Rufus on Fire</a> | <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/11/24/3687148/wizards-vs-bobcats-2012-results">SB Nation</a> | Charlotte Observer (<a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/24/3685607/charlotte-bobcats-finally-shake.html">gamer</a>, <a href="http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2012/11/post-game-thoughts-on-bobcats-beating-wizards-in-2-ots.html">sidebar</a>) | <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400277904">AP</a> | <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8672826">ESPN</a> | <a href="http://robertogato.com/2012/11/24/charlotte-bobcats-edge-wizards-in-double-overtime-game-12-recap/">Roberto Gato</a>]</li>
<li>The Wizards keep coming up with ways to lose, which in itself might be more impressive than actually winning a game. 0-82 FTW?? [<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnba%2F2012%2F11%2F24%2Fwizards-lose-0-11-bobcats-double-overtime%2F1724873%2F%3Futm_source%3Dfeedburner%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DFeed%253A%2BUsatodaycomNba-TopStories%2B%2528Sports%2B-%2BNBA%2B-%2BTop%2BStories%2529&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bulletsforever.com%2F2012%2F11%2F25%2F3688332%2Flinks-wizards-find-another-way-to-lose-against-the-bobcats" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">USA Today</a>]</li>
<li>More game stuff. [<a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/11/24/0021200184-cha-was-recap.nba/index.html">Highlights</a> | <a href="http://www.hoopdata.com/boxscore.aspx?id=321124027">Hoopdata box score</a>]</li>
<li>Postgame interviews. [<a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/11/24/CoachPresser112412vsCHABroadband-2303357/index.html">Wittman</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/nene-giving-all-he-has">Nene</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/martell-webster-another-tough-loss">Webster</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/bradley-beal-tough-start-season">Beal</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/jordan-crawford-continuing-fight">Crawford</a>]</li>
<li>Mike wasn't very happy to see the Wizards playing <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/25/3687668/washington-wizards-charlotte-bobcats-loss">not to lose rather than win with the game on the line</a>.</li>
<li>At least this team seems to care that it's losing. That wasn't always so obvious in recent seasons. [<a href="http://www.truthaboutit.net/2012/11/martell-webster-tells-it-like-it-is-for-0-11-wizards.html">Truth About It</a>]</li>
<li>
<span>Randy Wittman</span> said before the game that he wanted to limit Nene to 20 minutes a game, but that plan went out the window once it became clear the only way the Wizards even had a hope of winning was with him on the floor. [<a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wizards-nene-guts-out-another-loss">CSN Washington</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/11/23/nene-continues-to-be-cautious-in-recovery/">Washington Post</a>]</li>
<li>Friday marked the end of the original eight-week timetable <span>John Wall's</span> recovery was given back when the stress injury to his left knee was first announced, but Wall has yet to practice and Wittman has no idea when he will play. Wonderful. [<a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/nene-expected-to-make-home-debut-still-no-timetable-for-walls-return/article/2514257#.ULIsA4e5w8o">Washington Examiner</a> | <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/still-no-timetable-walls-return">CSN Washington</a> | <a href="http://www.truthaboutit.net/2012/11/are-the-wizards-ever-going-to-get-healthy-the-crystal-ball-remains-cloudy.html">Truth About It</a>]</li>
<li>There was a lot of movement and big trades over the offseason, but it's a little early to tell which one will pay off the most. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/11/23/and-the-winner-is-to-be-determined-much-later/">Washington Post</a>]</li>
<li>Ted's links the above article as evidence that change doesn't always immediately lead to positive gains. Fair enough. But all the teams that made changes (and those that didn't) have at least three wins. The Wizards have none. [<a href="http://www.tedstake.com/2012/11/24/change-versus-too-much-change/">Ted's Take</a>]</li>
<li>Being 0-12, the Wizards are bad at a lot of things. Most things. Pretty much everything. Except perimeter defense. That they've done just fine. [<a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/11/23/3682234/washington-wizards-perimeter-defense-a-lone-bright-spot">SB Nation DC</a>]</li>
<li>What's this, a nuanced critique of Ernie Grunfeld? Nice to see someone point out that Grunfeld has actually drafted decent players during his tenure in Washington (or at least players that everyone considered decent on draft day). The problem has been how those players have been developed, or not developed, as it were. [<a href="http://wizofawes.com/2012/11/23/ernie-grunfeld-drafting-and-player-development-in-washington/">Wiz of Awes</a>]</li>
<li>As if it weren't already obvious, the Bobcats are much improved from last season, and serve as another indictment on the inability of the Wizards' brass to make even marginal improvements season-to-season. [<a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/24/3686105/hardly-the-old-bobcats-very-good.html">Charlotte Observer</a>]</li>
<li>Awesome story on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Nets</a> and the return of professional sports to Brooklyn. [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/brooklyns-barclays-center-and-nets-return-professional-sports-to-historic-borough/2012/11/23/c79ce12a-2e8c-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html">Washington Post</a>]</li>
<li>Someone should tell <span>Royce White</span> that it's best to take the high road when waging a PR war against a professional sports franchise, especially when not doing so results in an off base Twitter rant against a universally-respected NBA writer. [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/11/24/3685058/royce-white-adrian-wojnarowski-houston-rockets-anxiety-disorder">SB Nation</a>]</li>
<li>Roundups of yesterday's NBA games. [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/11/25/3688044/2012-nba-scores-lakers-mavericks-bobcats">SB Nation</a>]</li>
</ul>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/25/3688332/links-wizards-find-another-way-to-lose-against-the-bobcatsJeff Newman2012-11-25T08:02:11-05:002012-11-25T08:02:11-05:00Wizards play not to lose, lose
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Three plays where the Washington Wizards had a chance to seize momentum and instead sat back and did nothing.</p> <p>There were many reasons why the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> lost their 11th straight game to begin the 2012-13 season on Saturday night, but I want to focus on three possessions in the overtime periods because they demonstrate an especially problematic attitude that's infested this team right now. These are three plays where the Wizards have momentum or are given a set of extremely favorable conditions, and instead of taking charge, they sat back and hoped the clock would just tick down or the ball would end up in the basket on its own.</p>
<p>Here are the three plays.</p>
<p><b>1:42, OT1: </b>Up 2, the Wizards force <span>Ben Gordon</span> to miss a floater outside the lane. <span>Jordan Crawford</span> grabs the rebound and has one man ahead of him, but doesn't bother advancing the ball quickly. Instead, he walks it up the left side of the floor and tells everyone to space out. Note the time on the shot clock when he does this.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788593/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.03.42_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788593/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.03.42_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a> <br id="1353823541050"></p>
<p>Now, note the time when he actually makes a move to do anything.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788577/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.03.58_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788577/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.03.58_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a></p>
<p>Six wasted seconds, right there. I understand the desire to kill some clock, but this was far too early to do so. Run a real set and get a look that isn't rushed with the shot clock winding down. <span>Chris Singleton</span> eventually missed a bank shot, and Ben Gordon responded with a three on the other end to give the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobcats</a> the lead.</p>
<p><b>2:24, 2OT: </b>Here, the Wizards are up three and just got a rebound off a missed three by <span>Byron Mullens</span>. <span>Bradley Beal</span> advances the ball up the court and gives to Crawford at the top of the key. Note the time on the shot clock throughout these sequences.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788641/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.21.52_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788641/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.21.52_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a></p>
<p>Six seconds later...</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788633/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.22.03_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788633/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.22.03_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a></p>
<p>Yup, nothing's happened. Five seconds later...</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788657/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.22.17_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788657/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.22.17_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a></p>
<p>Only now does Chris Singleton come to set a screen. Eleven seconds have been wasted with Crawford doing nothing. The Wizards have a chance to make this a multiple-possession game, and they instead squeeze the shot clock hoping that it'll magically run out on them and they'll get a win. Singleton eventually gets a relatively open shot, but he misses it under pressure of the shot clock running out.</p>
<p><b>39 seconds, 2OT: </b>This was obviously the clusterf*** of a possession where the Wizards got a shot-clock violation when they should have been able to get a quick score to preserve the 2 for 1. A lot went wrong on this play, but I want to focus on just one element of the play. Check out this screenshot.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788865/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.32.47_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788865/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.32.47_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a></p>
<p>That's Beal with the ball with Mullens guarding him on a switch. That's a major mismatch, especially given Beal's crafty ability to get to the hoop when he wants to do so. A smart, confident player who wanted to get a win for his team would have waived Nene out of the post and cleared the entire side to make an aggressive move. Instead ...</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788977/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.34.30_AM.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1788977/Screen_Shot_2012-11-25_at_1.34.30_AM_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Screen_shot_2012-11-25_at_1"></a></p>
<p>Beal dumped it into the post to Nene, with a traditional center guarding him, and cleared out to be as far away from the play as possible. That's not playing to win. That's playing not to lose.</p>
<p>Whatever caused these three possessions to happen needs to be fixed. Wins aren't just going to come up to this team and smack them in the face. They need to be taken. Every possession. Every play. It sounds cliche, but it's the reality of the situation.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/25/3687668/washington-wizards-charlotte-bobcats-lossMike Prada2012-11-24T22:31:29-05:002012-11-24T22:31:29-05:000-11: Wizards fall to Bobcats in double OT
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Double overtime means only prolonging the inevitable as the Wizards fall to 0-11 after a heartbreaking loss to the Bobcats.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- After a slow start, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> battled back and brought the game to double overtime, where they dropped another one, losing 108-106 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a>. The team trotted out a brand-new three guard starting lineup that was obliterated to start the first and second halves of the game. The Nene-lead second unit looked much better, especially when <span>Chris Singleton</span> was on the floor, and managed to get the team out of the hole that the starters dug. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to overcome the greatness that is <span>Byron Mullens</span>, and the Wizards wound up dropping their 11th game in a row.</p>
<p>The most important takeaway from this game is that Nene is back and as good as ever. While much of the roster has been very inconsistent, Nene has been incredibly good any time he's taken the floor as a Wizard, and it's good to know that at least someone can be counted on to produce every night.</p>
<p>The rest of the team? Not so much. And ... that's getting old.</p>
<p>Here are your game notes, in sequential order.</p>
<ul>
<li>The Wizards started off with a three guard lineup featuring Livingston, Beal, Crawford, Vesely, and Seraphin. The team definitely has a lot more space when they've got four guys with respectable jumpers on the floor at the same time.</li>
<li>Seraphin seems to think shoot first, second, and third these days, regardless of who's guarding him. His confidence is nice, but he's got to learn to take what the defense gives him and not force the issue so much.</li>
<li>MKG on Crawford early on.</li>
<li>Vesely starts out aggressive, going up strong and getting MKG in early foul trouble ... then he airballs a free throw and looks visibly shaken up afterward.</li>
<li>Shaun Livingston's length really seems to bother opposing point guards, both when they're shooting and when they're passing.</li>
<li>Lots of boos early on, even though the Wizards aren't playing that terribly. These guys might not be winning, but it's more a result of a lack of talent due to injuries as opposed to not trying or showboating or something.</li>
<li>The Wizards had a couple of early turnovers due to mental lapses. Hm, who thinks there might be some correlation between a lapse in concentration and being booed by 10,000 people who in theory should be supporting you?</li>
<li>Lots of dumb shots early on, too. The Wizards are just looking sloppy, with Seraphin in particular trying to get too cute with layups and flip shots when he should be trying to dunk and draw contact.</li>
<li>Despite Washington's smallball lineup, the Bobcats are still using a lot of traps and fullcourt presses. At least in the first quarter, the Wizards are handling it well.</li>
<li> <span>Ramon Sessions</span> is a really craft player. He's not a shooter and not particularly athletic, but he has a great handle, is great at changing pace, and is good at drawing contact, even away from the rim. Half the people the people reading this could play better defense, though.</li>
<li>Nene is just so much better than anyone else on either team right now.</li>
<li>After starting out small, the Wizards went huge to close out the first quarter, playing Nene, Okafor, Ariza, Webster and Price together. Predictably, the defense looks a lot better, and almost every shot Charlotte took was outside of the paint. That Okafor and Nene might be able to play next to each other after all.</li>
<li>Ariza looks a lot better playing against second units, probably since there's less of a penalty and more of a reward for playing the passing lanes against bench guys.</li>
<li>Straight up gorgeous sequence toward the end of the first in which Nene and Okafor trapped a guard, Nene got the steal, ran the break, and hit Okafor with a gorgeous behind the back pass for the dunk. That could very well be the play of the game, maybe even the season.</li>
<li>Webster does a great job of running the floor in transition, even though he looks incredibly uncoordinated any time he tries to dribble and run at the same time.</li>
<li>MKG is just so good at staying active and cutting to the rim. Sessions and Walker are both going to get a ton of assists simply due to his motor. He's got a great touch, too, which makes up for his relatively poor handle and jump shot.</li>
<li>The offense with Okafor, Seraphin, Ariza, Webster, and Livingston on the court together looks awful. Way too many post ups and no one seemed to notice that Webster kept getting wide open under the basket.</li>
<li>If BJ Mullens ever bothered to defend or rebound he'd actually be a really useful player. He's got a great touch and is really coordinated for a guy who's probably a legit seven feet tall.</li>
<li>They went in tonight, but Crawford is way too into taking pull up fifteen footers in transition.</li>
<li>Beal does a really good job of drawing contact in the lane. He drew MKG's third foul late in the second quarter just by ramming into his body, then throwing up a shot. Crawford or Seraphin would have pulled up or tried to go around him.</li>
<li> <span>Ben Gordon</span> gets a lot of boos for a guy who hasn't been relevant in four years.</li>
<li>It's 51 - 50 at halftime, and the game has been pretty even in most categories. Washington's getting a lot of offensive rebounds and getting more assists than Charlotte, but they're also turning the ball over a lot more than you'd like. The Wizards seem to have the momentum, too.</li>
<li>Singleton came in early in the third quarter to replace Vesely. Jan's really struggling.</li>
<li>Nene checked in an almost immediately hit a cutting Webster with a perfect pass, leading to two free throws. That kind of passing is invaluable to a team like this that doesn't have anyone who can score off the dribble.</li>
<li>A few minutes later, he made another excellent pass to a cutting Singleton, leading to a dunk and a made free throw. Then he gets an offensive rebound and hits a lefty layup to put the Wizards ahead. If the Wizards win tonight, it's going to be almost entirely a result of having him on the floor.</li>
<li>72 - 72 at the end of the third quarter. Basically everything good that happened in the third quarter was a direct result of Nene's play on both ends of the floor.</li>
<li> <span>Kemba Walker</span> can really play. He struggled as a rookie, but guys who are quick, can handle the ball, and can shoot usually turn out ok. His hot start to the season doesn't look fluke-ish at all.</li>
<li>If Nene is tonight's MVP, Chris Singleton is the runner up. He's been really active and is doing a good job of finishing around the basket.</li>
<li>After a quiet start, Beal drills a three to put bring the Wizards within two, making it 85 - 83 with about 5 minutes left in the game.</li>
<li>Crawford with the 20 foot jumper off the dribble to bring the Wizards within four with about 2:30 left in the game.</li>
<li>Nene drove against Haywood and drew a foul with 1:50 left. He did a great job of using his off-hand to shield the ball from Haywood's outstretched arm.</li>
<li>Webster fumbled a pass from Nene but still managed to snake to the basket, bringing the Wizards within 1.</li>
<li>Randy's go-to lineup with the game on the line - Beal, Webster, Nene, Crawford, Singleton. The initial play didn't work, but the Wizards got bailed out when Webster got an offensive rebound and drew MKG's sixth foul.</li>
<li>Nene with a pair of dunks in overtime. Did I mention that he's far better than anyone on either team?</li>
<li>Aaaaaand the team has fallen apart again, with no one else being able to score in overtime, despite the Bobcats playing four poor defenders at the same time.</li>
<li>Very questionable call toward the end of overtime. Mullens tipped an inbounds pass out of bounds, but Charlotte got the ball back after it was ruled that a Wizards (I think Singleton) touched it.</li>
<li>Aaaaaaaand out of nowhere, things turned around. Singleton was fouled on a three with 0.4 left in overtime, making two of three free throws to send it to double overtime.</li>
<li>Ben Gordon fouls out to start the overtime period, then blesses the Wizards with an extra point due to the technical foul.</li>
<li>Airballed three by Sessions, thanks in part to pretty good defense by Beal.</li>
<li>Charlotte missed a few shots in the second overtime period that they'd have probably made with fresher legs.</li>
<li>Nene with his best Gilbert (RIP) impression as he nails a fadeaway jumper over Haywood to put the Wizards up 102 - 101 in double OT with about 2 minutes left.</li>
<li>The second overtime period has been a complete mess, with both sides struggling to make open shots and properly execute their normal sets.</li>
<li>Walker blew by Beal with 40 seconds left and no one helped. Fortunately, he missed the layup and Beal got the rebound.</li>
<li>Beal's inability to create shots off the dribble is really obvious right now. Even as a rookie, someone picked third whose job is to basically be a pure scorer should at least be attempting to take over at this point in the game.</li>
<li>After Sessions split a pair of free throws, Kemba Walker pulled down the offensive board and got fouled. He made both shots, putting Charlotte up 107 - 103 with 12.1 seconds left, basically ending the game.</li>
<li>After a couple of Wizards misses, Beal nails a three to make it 107 - 106 with 1.6 seconds left. Unfortunately, it's just not enough. Game over.</li>
</ul>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/24/3687344/wizards-vs-bobcats-recap-wizards-lose-108-106-in-double-overtimeThomas Pruitt2012-11-24T16:53:13-05:002012-11-24T16:53:13-05:00Discuss Bobcats vs. Wizards here
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>Here's the place to discuss the Wizards vs. Bobcats game.</p> <table cellspacing="5" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr><th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">2012/2013 NBA Preseason</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://thesportsdump.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bobcats.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" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>November 24, 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" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Kemba Walker</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240">Shaun Livingston</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Jeff Taylor</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240">Jordan Crawford</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240">Bradley Beal</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Byron Mullens</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240">Jan Vesely</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Brendan Haywood</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><p>Kevin Seraphin</p></td> </tr> <tr><th align="center" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3"><strong>2012/13 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">93.9 (3rd)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">91.1 (23rd)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">101.5 (22nd)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">94.8 (30th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">104.5 (17th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">102.3 (10th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">Also see: <a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/">Rufus on Fire</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/24/3686466/wizards-vs-bobcats-2012">StoryStream</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
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<p>I'm not going to be around to watch tonight's game live, since I'm out of town. Thomas is at Verizon Center, and hopefully, he's the good luck charm for the eventual first win of the season.</p>
<p>It's still not really clear which players will start and whether Nene will be playing. <strike>The starters got off to another slow start in Atlanta, and recent history indicates that means there will be a lineup change. Thomas will fill everyone in on that once <span>Randy Wittman</span> chooses to announce it</strike>. <strike>As for Nene, I doubt he sits, but <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/11/22/nenes-return-is-no-miracle-but-wizards-come-close-to-first-win/">he did say </a>that the "injury is still there" following the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> game. We'll see how it feels tonight.</strike></p>
<p>The same five players who started against the Hawks will start again tonight. Also, Nene will play, but with a minutes limit like on Wednesday.</p>
<p>For more on the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobcats</a>, read <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/24/3685386/washington-wizards-charlotte-bobcats-preview-nba-2012">Thomas' game preview</a>.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/24/3686444/bobcats-vs-wizards-game-time-tv-schedule-and-open-threadMike Prada2012-11-24T12:49:47-05:002012-11-24T12:49:47-05:00Previewing Wizards Vs Bobcats
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Washington Wizards squared off against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Verizon Center. Can the Wizards recover from their emotional defeat at the hands of the Hawks and finally get their first win of the 2013 season?</p> <p>Coming off of a heartbreaking loss to the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a>, Washington returns home to face Southeast Division rival (if you could call it that) Charlotte. <span>Trevor Booker</span> is unlikely to play due to knee soreness, but Nene is back, so the team that plays tonight should be at least a little bit better than the one that was on the wrong side of a 92 - 76 shellacking the other week.</p>
<p><b>Where, When, and What Channel?</b> The game will take place on November 24 at 7 PM at the Verizon Center and can be seen on Comcast SportsNet.</p>
<p><b>Why You Should Care? </b>Despite being completely destroyed the last time they squared off against the Bobcats, the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> still have a decent shot at picking up their first W of the season. Charlotte's outperformed expectations this year, but at the end of the day, they're still a team that only has two guys (<span>Kemba Walker</span> and <span>Ramon Sessions</span>) who can create off the dribble. The last time they played the Wizards, they were being guarded by human traffic cone <span>A.J. Price</span> and <span>Jannero Pargo</span>, and the results were as expected. Now that <span>Shaun Livingston</span> is in the mix, the Wizards defense is a lot better at defending point guards. Also, with Nene in and Trevor Booker out, the Wizards' frontline will be a lot better than the one that Haywood, Biyombo, Mullens and company saw a few weeks ago.</p>
<p><b>What Do They Do Well?</b> Run the pick and roll. As per MySynergySports, Charlotte's pick and roll ball handlers are fifth in the NBA in points per possession, while their pick and roll dive men are eleventh. This is largely a result of the occasional brilliance of Sessions, a player who is good at one thing (running pick and rolls) and who had been misused last year with the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a>. How well the Wizards handle Sessions and Walker could very well determine whether or not they win or lose.</p>
<p><b>Who Do They Do Poorly?</b> Communicate on defense. Charlotte's big man rotation is built around <span>Brendan Haywood</span> (indifferent and old), <span>Bismack Biyombo</span> (inexperienced), and <span>Byron Mullens</span> (indifferent and inexperienced), and as could be expected, they tend to do a very poor job of hedging on pick and rolls, cutting off dribble penetration, and recovering after any kind of defensive breakdown. Basically, Charlotte's defense is a lot like Washington's during the McGee years when the team would always seem to leave guys open for corner threes and layups.</p>
<p><b>Is <span>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist</span> Still Tearing Up the NBA?</b> In the words of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma1lX5c9DP8">pretty much, yes</a>.</p>
<p><i>As an added bonus, we had the opportunity to speak with <a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/" target="_blank">Rufus On Fire's</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CardboardGerald" target="_blank">Ben Swanson</a> about tonight's game. It's always great to talk to other SB Nation bloggers, and I can't recommend the site enough.</i></p>
<p><b>Other than Sessions and Walker, it seems like no one on the Bobcats can create a shot ... and yet the offense is a very respectable 20th in the league. How are the Bobcats pulling this off?</b></p>
<p><i>Well, I don't know if I'd call it respectable just yet, but how much they've improved certainly is. The team is getting a ton of second chance points off some of the league's best offensive rebounding. They're also dumping the ball in the post with some success. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is also a surprisingly strong option in creating his own shot because he can get to the rim and knows how to create space with his body to make shots. And a bunch of their offense comes in transition, which is often unassisted.</i></p>
<div><b>There was a lot of debate among Wizards fan as to who would be a better draft pick, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal. Which camp were most of the Bobcats fans in, and what kind of player do you see MKG developing into?</b></div>
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<p><i>Bobcats fans were mainly split between Kidd-Gilchrist, <span>Thomas Robinson</span>, and Beal. Frankly, there wasn't a clear favorite at two. Kidd-Gilchrist's concerns on offense had him floating anywhere from two to four. The Gerald Wallace similarities have been well documented, but there are some differences. Wallace is more lithe and vertical, and MKG uses his body more. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer told me Kidd-Gilchrist reminds him of Charles Barkley in the way he doesn't have to use his versatility while rebounding but uses his positioning instead. So what do I expect him to develop into? With any luck, he'll be a guy who can drop about 17-20 points a game, getting to the free throw line a fair amount and still be dynamic on defense. I think that's fair.</i></p>
<div><b>Wizards fans have had something of a love/hate relationship with Brendan (formerly Brenda) Haywood. Has he adjusted well to Charlotte, and are you largely satisfied with him?</b></div>
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<p><i>He has adjusted well, I'd say. Haywood starts and has played really well, considering his age and healthy. He adds some post offense (as sad as that is) with that hook shot of his. He also rebounds and defends pretty well. I'm certainly satisfied with his contributions. Haywood also comes with the benefit of being a veteran to help this team full of young kids.</i></p>
<p><b>Charlotte's always flown under the radar, and there's really not been a lot of national coverage of the team. Is there anything in particular going on with the Bobcats that casual fans ought to know about?</b></p>
<p><i>Yes. They should know that the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Charlotte Bobcats</a> are fun to watch. Kemba Walker is tin foil in a microwave. They bust their butts in defensive rotations. They even have a comedic foil in Byron Mullens!</i></p>
<div><b>Is there any hope for <span>Tyrus Thomas</span>?</b></div>
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<p><i>No. OK, so there's more to it but it's not looking good. Thomas is out for at least a couple months. He was much better than last year but that says next to nothing considering how terrible he was. But facing rehab once again and constantly giving inconsistent levels of effort have left fans with little reason for hope.</i></p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/11/24/3685386/washington-wizards-charlotte-bobcats-preview-nba-2012Thomas Pruitt