Bullets Forever - Wizards vs. Warriors: Washington falls to 2-15 with 101-97 loss"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2012-12-09T13:58:01-05:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/35077632012-12-09T13:58:01-05:002012-12-09T13:58:01-05:00The impact of no confidence
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Did poor free throw shooting really cost the Washington Wizards a victory over the Golden State Warriors?</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- Basketball is a game of inches. One inch to the left or the right can mean the difference between a game-changing make and a groan-inducing miss. The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> were reminded of this yet again as <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3745376/washington-wizards-golden-state-warriors-recap-december-8-2012">they lost another close game</a>, falling to the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Golden State Warriors</a>, 101-97.</p>
<p>Coach <span>Randy Wittman</span>, in his post-game remarks, blamed the team's poor free throw shooting, stating "We get to the line and we give nine away there." The team made only 14 of their 23 free throws (61 percent) in their loss.</p>
<p>A 63 percent shooter from the charity stripe for his career, combo forward <span>Chris Singleton</span> went to the line for two free throws with the Wizards down 84-83 and 4:14 left in the game. Singleton split the pair, failing to give the Wizards the lead. Asked about his and the team's struggles from the line, he said that it was largely a mental issue, adding, "We just got to concentrate more and make them."</p>
<p>This lapse in concentration more likely than not doesn't exist in a vacuum, and could be a partial result of the team's numerous defeats in close games this year. Psychologists have long since known that increased pressure tends to result in a decline in performance. Arizona State University's Brian P. Lewis and Darwyn E. Linder wrote in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-20297451/thinking-choking-attentional-processes.html">a 1997 paper on choking</a> that, "... pressure distracts attention from the task, and self focus, wherein attention shifts inward interfering with performance." Essentially, an athlete in a high pressure situation such as a late game trip to the free-throw line is more likely to fail because they're making so great an effort not to.</p>
<p>No one on the Wizards has more pressure on him to not fail right now than <span>Bradley Beal</span>. The third pick in the draft's short NBA career has already been something of a minor nightmare, as his outside shot has failed him and his team has gotten off to an embarrassingly bad 2-15 start. Beal finished the night with a nice-looking statline of 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, but shot only 6-17 from the floor and 4-6 from the line.</p>
<p>Two of those free throws came with four seconds left and the Wizards down by three. Beal stepped to the line in one of the most nerve-wracking situations a player can be in: for his team to win, he needed to make the first free throw, miss the second, get the rebound, and either make a layup or get fouled. He made the first, missed the second, got the rebound ... and had his desperation shot blocked by <span>Festus Ezeli</span>, sealing the Wizards' fate.</p>
<p>After the game, a disappointed Beal spoke about his attempt to get his own rebound and putback on the second free throw.</p>
<p>"Everybody was like, 'Miss it! Miss it!' and I was like, 'O.K.' ... I missed the second one and it was kind of a lane violation on me, and I was kind of hesitant to go in, but the fall fell in my hands and I just missed the lay up."</p>
<p>The hesitancy Beal spoke of could very well have cost Washington the game. Had he been on the winning end of a few more close games, it's possible, maybe even likely, that he wouldn't have hesitated, that he'd have made a kamikaze dive for the ball and made the putback without even thinking. Beal's layup was just barely blocked, with Ezeli only getting a finger on it. If the ball had been an inch higher in the air when the shot was contested, it could very well have gone in unimpeded.</p>
<p>There's a case to be made that the Wizards' repeated setbacks are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy in which defeat begets defeat. However, it's important to keep perspective and avoid attributing the team's loss to poor free throw shooting as Wittman did. One of the most interesting things about the basketball, at least from a statistical perspective, is the large sample size each game provides. Each contest provides roughly one hundred possessions in which just the slightest alteration in the ball's trajectory can mean the difference between a made basket and a miss. Sometimes a team will get a little lucky and those 50/50 balls will go their way. Other times they won't. It happens. Just as the Wizards could have gotten a little bit luckier at the line, the Warriors could have gotten a little bit luckier from behind the arc, where <span>Stephen Curry</span> and <span>Klay Thompson</span> both missed a couple of three pointers that they'd normally make.</p>
<p>Washington didn't lose because they missed shots. They lost because they were afraid they'd miss shots. Until the team wins a few close games and gains some confidence, they're likely to continue to lose.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/9/3746950/washington-wizards-free-throws-close-game-nbaThomas Pruitt2012-12-09T11:16:29-05:002012-12-09T11:16:29-05:00Links: Wizards stick to script
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Another day, another moral victory.</p> <p><i>Act '2012', scene 'Wizards,' take 17 links:</i></p>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> notched another moral victory last night, nearly rallying past a more-talented <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Warriors</a> team before coming up short per usual, 101-97. The Wizards got a great game from <span>Jordan Crawford</span>, who led the team in points, rebounds and assists, and <span>Bradley Beal</span> had another solid game, but the Wiz fell to 2-15, the same record which got Flip Saunders fired last season. [<a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3745376/washington-wizards-golden-state-warriors-recap-december-8-2012">Us</a> | <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/gameflash/2012/12/08/32611/#recap">AP</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wizards-vs-warriors-golden-state-holds-off-late-rally-to-drop-washington-to-2-15/2012/12/08/a5a657bc-41a7-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_story.html">Washington Post</a> | <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/8/wizards-fall-warriors-101-97/">Washington Times</a> | Washington Examiner (<a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/warriors-remind-wizards-what-is-and-what-will-never-be/article/2515438#.UMSu5uTAdAY">recap</a>, <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/warriors-101-wizards-97-three-thoughts/article/2515440#.UMSvsuTAdAY">sidebar</a>) | <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wizards-find-new-way-lose-warriors">CSN Washington</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/game-recap-wizards-97-warriors-101">WashingtonWizards.com</a> | <a href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/12/8/3745596/warriors-vs-wizards-score-recap">SB Nation Bay Area</a> | <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278003">ESPN box score</a> | <a href="http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20121208&game=GSWWAS">Popcorn Machine</a>]</li>
<li>A big reason Crawford had such a good game was because he played a lot of minutes at point guard after <span>A.J. Price</span> broke his hand early in the game. Price is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. [<a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3745488/aj-price-out-4-6-weeks-with-fractured-hand-wizards-injury">Us</a> | <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2012/12/8/3745514/aj-price-injury-update-washington-wizards">SB Nation DC</a> | <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/price-out-4-6-weeks-broken-hand">CSN Washington</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/aj-price-injured-right-hand">Price interview</a>]</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/12/08/0021200283-gsw-was-recap.nba/index.html">Game highlights</a>.</li>
<li>Postgame interviews. [<a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/2012/12/08/PressConferenceFullResmp4-2319697">Wittman</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/bradley-beal-final-play-vs-golden-state">Beal</a> | <a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/jordan-crawford-tough-loss-golden-state">Crawford</a>]</li>
<li>You'd be forgiven for not noticing, but <span>Jan Vesely</span> hasn't seen the court much recently, and by 'much,' I mean 'at all.' [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/12/08/jan-vesely-falling-out-of-wizards-rotation/">Wizards Insider</a>]</li>
<li>Remember how hilarious John Feinstein's column pushing Gary Williams to replace <span>Randy Wittman</span> as the Wizards coach was because there was no way Williams would ever accept the gig? Well, apparently he would. DON'T DO IT GARY!! [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2012/12/07/gary-williams-told-john-feinstein-hed-take-the-wizards-job/">DC Sports Bog</a>]</li>
<li>Thank you, JaVale. Thank. You. [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/12/7/3742120/javale-mcgee-being-javale-mcgee">SB Nation</a>]</li>
<li>Virginia has no plans to fund a new sports arena in Virginia Beach this year. [<a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/no-va-beach-arena-funding-mcdonnells-budget">Virginian-Pilot</a>]</li>
<li>Roundup of Saturday's NBA scores. [<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/12/9/3746274/2012-nba-scores-knicks-bulls-hawks-grizzlies">SB Nation</a>]</li>
<li>Is <span>Derrick Rose</span> nearing his return to the practice court? [<a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/16792256-419/source-bulls-star-derrick-rose-just-weeks-from-practicing.html">Chicago Sun-Times</a>]</li>
<li> <span>Kobe Bryant</span> became the fifth member of the 30,000-point club Wednesday. Who's next? [<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2012/12/07/now-that-kobe-bryant-has-reached-milestone-whos-next/">Wizards Insider</a>]</li>
</ul>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/9/3746710/links-wizards-stick-to-the-script-in-101-97-loss-to-the-warriorsJeff Newman2012-12-08T22:39:07-05:002012-12-08T22:39:07-05:00Price out 4-6 weeks with broken hand
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards have lost AJ Price for 4-6 weeks with a fractured hand.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- Looks like that trip to the locker room <span>A.J. Price</span> took in the second half was serious.</p>
<p>Price has been diagnosed with a fracture in his right hand, and he will be out 4-6 weeks, he said after the game. He had been starting in place of <span>John Wall</span>, who is out nursing his own injury. This injury will definitely be a huge blow to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>, who were just now finding some consistency in their rotation.</p>
<p>Randy<span> Wittman</span> was informed of Price's fracture after the game. Always the optimist, Wittman was quick to point out that it could have been a lot worse: "It's not displaced or anything, so that's a good thing. He'll have to go see a hand specialist, probably on Monday. He's going to miss some time."</p>
<p>That time, as we now know, is 4-6 weeks.</p>
<p>There is no word yet on what the Wizards will do to replace Price's minutes and contribution to the team. <span>Jordan Crawford</span> could see a lot more time at the point, or <span>Shaun Livingston's</span> minutes could be increased as well. It's possible that the Wizards sign someone to take his spot, but with a full roster, it's probably unlikely. If they do sign someone, my assumption would be that they'd make a call to <span>Shelvin Mack</span> or <span>Jannero Pargo</span>, since they're the ones most likely to fit quickly into the system. And who knows? Maybe Wall will make a miraculous comeback. All we know now is that every point guard the Wizards had in training camp is no longer on the team or injured.</p>
<p>After the game, Price said they told him he'd be out 4-6 weeks. Taking a page out of Wittman's optimism book, Price added that he's a "quick healer."</p>
<p>We'll update you in the coming days as we get more information.</p>
<p>In the meantime, we wish A.J. Price a speedy recovery.</p>
<p>Injuries suck.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3745488/aj-price-out-4-6-weeks-with-fractured-hand-wizards-injuryAmin Vafa2012-12-08T21:37:27-05:002012-12-08T21:37:27-05:00Wizards drop another close one
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Washington Wizards fell to 2-15 on the year as they lost to the Golden State Warriors, 101-97</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> dropped another one, falling 101 - 97 to the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Golden State Warriors</a>. The Wizards moved the ball well and hustled, keeping things close and seeing five players score in double figures. <span>Jordan Crawford</span> looked great tonight, getting to the basket at will, setting up teammates, and hitting three after three off the dribble and finishing the game with 22 points. Despite some late game heroics, though, the Wizards just weren't able to pull this one out, dropping to 2-15 on the year.</p>
<p>Here, have some game notes.</p>
<ul>
<li>Lots of crisp passing from the Wizards early on. The small lineup with Webster and Singleton at the forward spots may or may not work out, but it definitely provides the team with better spacing and passing.</li>
<li>Singleton is still adjusting to playing power forward. He fouls a lot trying to contest shots at the rim, although once he learns to jump straight up when contesting shots, he could become a decent weak side shotblocker due to his length and hops.</li>
<li> <span>A.J. Price</span> comes down with a hand injury early in the first. Eventually, it's announced that he'll miss the rest of the game.</li>
<li>The Wizards are down 28-21 after one quarter.</li>
<li> <span>Cartier Martin</span> seems to be getting the majority of Ariza's minutes tonight. The results on defense aren't pretty -- he just can't stay in front of anyone or fight through screens. Klay Thompson is getting anywhere on the floor that he wants to.</li>
<li>Seraphin is continuing his habit of shooting every time he touches the ball. Fortunately, Carl Landry doesn't have the length to bother his hook shots and Seraphin takes him to school early in the second quarter.</li>
<li>The Warriors are up 39-31 at the six-minute mark in the second quarter. Still no Jan Vesely sightings, and Crawford and Singleton are the Wizards' MVPs so far. In a bit of a replay from last night, the Wizards are again having trouble staying in front of quick perimeter players, a weakness made far worse by being forced to put Martin on Thompson and Livingston on Curry.</li>
<li>It is unreal how good Curry's jumper is. Pretty much every time he can see the rim he has a good shot at making the bucket. I've talked to a couple of people about it tonight and everyone is blown away by how good the guy is.</li>
<li>Martin's getting to the basket a lot off of cuts and to the corners for open threes. I'm not sure how much this is a result of him being good or his defender being bad. Either way, I'll take it, as he has 14 points and a couple of rebounds at the end of the half.</li>
<li>Bradley Beal with a nice block on Jenkins to end the first half. Wizards 47, Warrriors 50, and the Wiz Kids have the big mo' thanks to great performances from Martin, Crawford and Singleton.</li>
<li>Crawford is starting in place of Price to begin the second half.</li>
<li>Part of the reason Beal is struggling as a playmaker is that he's so short that long defenders bother his passes, especially when he goes to the basket.</li>
<li>A pair of Beal free throws give the Wizards their first lead, 56-55. He's being a bit more aggressive, not so much in that he's attacking the basket as he's just shooting every time he's open.</li>
<li>Seraphin shoots every ... single ... time he touches the ball, for better or for worse. The game has been back and forth throughout the third largely because more of those shots are falling than normal. Warriors up 67-64 with 2:33 left in the third.</li>
<li>And just like that, a Crawford three off Beal's penetration ties the game. It's almost like good things happen when he attacks the basket.</li>
<li>This one is coming down to a battle between the Wizards' ability to get post position and a clean shot off in the paint every time down the floor and Golden State's obscenely good perimeter shooting.</li>
<li>Livingston checks in with 1:17 left in the third and the Warriors up 71-68. It'll be interesting to see how his legs hold up through the rest of the game.</li>
<li>The Wizards are down 71-70 as the fourth quarter starts. It's anyone's game, and, similar to the Miami game, this one could come down to whether or not a couple of snipers hit open threes.</li>
<li>Seraphin bricks two shots early in the fourth. Remember that thing I mentioned earlier about how he shoots every time he touches the ball? Yep, still applies.</li>
<li>Beal hits a nice shot in the lane to make it 78-74 with 8:10 left in the game. It's weird how he can be so cold from the outside this year and yet everything he throws up in the lane seems to find the basket.</li>
<li>Crawford turns into an assassin and hits a three off the dribble to give the Wizards their first lead in a while, 79-78.</li>
<li> <span>David Lee</span> has been scoring almost at will, as Singleton lacks the strength to body him up and Nene doesn't have the length to bother his layups. He hits another one, putting the Warriors up 93-85 with 2:19 left in the game.</li>
<li>A pair of Crawford threes make it 95 - 92 with the Wizards down with about 30 seconds left. Anyone's game, and the fans are starting to come alive.</li>
<li>Unfortunately, Golden State fouls Beal when they're up three with 4.2 left in the game. He makes the first, misses the second, almost gets the rebound, but doesn't. Then, Crawford fouls Landry, who proceeds to make both free throws with two seconds left in the game. Oh well, better luck next time.</li>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 12.8.2012 </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.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> </span></td>
<td>28</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>30</td>
<td class="highlight">101</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> </span></td>
<td>21</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>27</td>
<td class="highlight">97</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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For more, visit <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Of Mind</a>.</div>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3745376/washington-wizards-golden-state-warriors-recap-december-8-2012Thomas Pruitt2012-12-08T18:00:34-05:002012-12-08T18:00:34-05:00Discuss Warriors vs. Wizards here
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<p>Discuss tonight's Wizards vs. Warriors game here.</p> <table cellspacing="5" border="1" align="center" cellpadding="5"><tbody> <tr><th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver">2012/2013 NBA Regular Season</th></tr> <tr> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/warriors/photos/LogoPrimary_300x329.jpg" 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>December 8, 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>Projected Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Stephen Curry</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>Klay Thompson</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Bradley Beal</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Harrison Barnes</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Martell Webster</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>David Lee</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Chris Singleton</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Festus Ezeli</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">92.9 (6th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">90.6 (25th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">105.2 (12th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">97.8 (30th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">104.8 (15th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">105.8 (18th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">Also see: <a href="http://goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State of Mind</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3743722/wizards-vs-warriors-game-2012">StoryStream</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
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<p>I will not be watching this game live. Thomas and Amin are at Verizon Center and will have all updates.</p>
<p>GO WIZARDS!</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3743734/warriors-vs-wizards-game-time-tv-schedule-and-open-threadMike Prada2012-12-08T11:18:34-05:002012-12-08T11:18:34-05:00The team you wish the Wizards had drafted
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<p>If the Wizards want to have a shot against the Warriors, they'll need to outplay players who selected after them in recent drafts.</p> <p>Through most of the last decade, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> have been a step ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>. When the Wizards were enjoying their best days of the Arenas era, the Warriors were riding just a bit higher with Baron Davis. When thing went downhill, the Warriors were still able to maintain more respectability than the Wizards.</p>
<p>As a result, the Warriors have drafted behind the Wizards more years than not. Yet, when you take a look at who the Warriors are starting, it's hard not to covet who the Warriors have taken, after the Wizards made their own picks.</p>
<h4>Starting Lineup</h4>
<p><b>PG:</b> The Warriors drafted <span>Stephen Curry</span> with thet eighth overall pick after the Wizards traded the 5th pick for <span>Mike Miller</span> and <span>Randy Foye</span>.</p>
<p><b>SG:</b> The Warriors took <span>Klay Thompson</span> six spots after the Wizards took <span>Jan Vesely</span> in the 2011 draft.</p>
<p><b>SF:</b> The Warriors took <span>Harrison Barnes</span> five spots ahead of <span>Bradley Beal</span> in this year's draft.</p>
<p><b>PF:</b> Granted, the Warriors didn't select <span>David Lee</span>, but the Wizards would have had a chance to take him before the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">Knicks</a> snagged him with the 30th overall pick if the Wizards hadn't traded their first round pick that year to acquire <span>Brendan Haywood</span>.</p>
<p><b>C:</b> I won't try and convince you that the Wizards should have taken <span>Festus Ezeli</span> ahead of Bradley Beal in this year's draft, but hindsight mighy say it would have been worth trading up a few spots to get him rather than take <span>Tomas Satoransky</span> two spots later.</p>
<h4>Bench</h4>
<p><b><span>Carl Landry</span>:</b> The Wizards could have picked him in 2007 if it hadn't been for...<span>Nick Young</span>.</p>
<p><b><span>Charles Jenkins</span>:</b> With Shelvin Mack tearing it up with the Maine Red Claws, think it's safe to say Jenkins would have been a better pick second round pick in the 2011 Draft.</p>
<p>Now that that's out of the way, let's get on with our preview.</p>
<p><b>Where, When, and What Channel:</b> The game will start at 7:00 p.m. at the Verizon Center. You can watch it on Comcast SportsNet.</p>
<p><b>Why You Should Care: </b>Because the Warriors and Wizards have been on similar franchise paths for the last two decades on opposite coasts. After some successful runs in the mid-2000's, both teams have been forced into full rebuild mode with new owners and new coaches. Tonight, the Wizards can evaluate the status of the rebuild against another team that has gone through similar circumstances.</p>
<p><b>What They Do Well: </b>Even with <span>Andrew Bogut</span> on the shelf, the Warriors are still one of the best rebounding teams in the league. The Warriors don't have anyone in the top 25 in rebounding rate, but Lee, Ezeli, Landry, <span>Andris Biedrins</span> and <span>Draymond Green</span> as a team get the job done at an exceptional rate.</p>
<p><b>What They Do Poorly: </b>Only two teams in the NBA (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Pacers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a>) have a worse turnover differential than the Warriors. As solid of a player as Stephen Curry is, he isn't exceptional at handling the ball. Lee and Landry also have aren't great at protecting the ball. While I'd hesitate before calling any of those players turnover prone, there isn't a primary scorer on the team that's really great at protecting it either, other than Klay Thompson.</p>
<p>On the other side of the ball, they don't force many turnovers either. They're average defensively because they do a good job of being in the right position, but they won't create lots of fastbreak opportunities off of turnovers.</p>
<p><b>How the Wizards Match Up With Them: </b>The Warriors will be playing their third game in four nights as part of their seven game Eastern swing. That should slow the Warriors down, which plays into the Wizards' favor. The Warriors' struggles with winning the turnover battle should play into the Wizards hands as well. But other than that, the Warriors should hold the advantage most everywhere else. While I'm not expecting a blowout, the Warriors should still have enough to get by against the Wizards.</p>
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https://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/12/8/3735906/washington-wizards-golden-state-warriors-nba-preview-december-8Jake Whitacre