Bullets Forever - Wizards vs Raptors: John Wall is ice-cold as Wizards fall to Raptors"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2013-02-20T12:39:17-05:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/37707492013-02-20T12:39:17-05:002013-02-20T12:39:17-05:00Recap roundup: Wall reeks, Beal vents, Steez pouts
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<p>In today's recap roundup, John Wall has perhaps his worst game as a professional, Bradley Beal isn't pleased with his teammates and Jordan Crawford pouts at the end of the bench in a 96-88 loss to the Raptors.</p> <p>Here's your recap roundup for the Tuesday's 96-88 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a>. Be sure to check out our StoryStream as well as postgame interviews with <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/randy-wittman-postgame-2-19-13/index.jsp" target="_blank">Randy Wittman</a>, <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/john-wall-postgame-02-19-13/index.jsp" target="_blank">John Wall</a>, <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/bradley-beal-postgame-2-19-13/index.jsp">Bradley Beal</a> and <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/martell-webster-postgame-2-19-13/index.jsp" target="_blank">Martell Webster</a>, courtesy of Monumental Network.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wizards-basketball-wall-wizards-off-the-mark-in-loss-to-raptors/2013/02/19/c2e594b8-7b05-11e2-9a75-dab0201670da_story.html" target="_blank">Washington Post</a></p>
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<p>A malfunction of the scoring system Tuesday night at Verizon Center forced the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> to go back to the old-school days of high school basketball, with 24-second shot clocks placed on the baseline and a game clock propped up high in front of the scorer's table.</p>
<p>The breakdown in technology wasn't all that went haywire for the Wizards during a 96-88 loss to Toronto in the Wizards' first game after a five-day all-star break. <span>John Wall</span> was off-target with his shot and his passes, the offense sputtered and the defense had little answer for the Raptors' perimeter combination of <span>Rudy Gay</span> and <span>DeMar DeRozan</span>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/wizards-lethargic-in-96-88-loss-to-raptors/article/2522028" target="_blank">Washington Examiner gamer</a>:</p>
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<p>The rust bothered the Wizards more than the lack of modern technology. Wall (nine points, six assists, seven turnovers) never found his rhythm and despite three steals and two blocks couldn't make up for his litany of mistakes.</p>
<p>"It's really mental with John," Beal said. "John wants to play well every game. Like he always tells me, I'm not going to play well every game. The advice he gave me, sometimes he can take his own advice."</p>
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<p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/derozan-gay-lead-raptors-past-024039323--nba.html" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>:</p>
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<p>Rookie <span>Bradley Beal</span>, back in the starting lineup for the first time since taking time off to heal a sprained right wrist, scored 25 points for the Wizards, who had won eight of nine at home. Third-year point guard John Wall shot 1 for 12 from the field and committed seven turnovers in one of his most forgettable games as a pro.</p>
<p><br>''I'll burn it, burn it and look forward to the next one,'' Wall said. ''It's the first game back after the break.''</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.truthaboutit.net/2013/02/dc-council-game-52-wizards-88-vs-raptors-96-bum-rush-the-show.html" target="_blank">Truth About It</a>:</p>
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<p>Deep in the heart of Wizard-dom, a cry arose, and the people made their futile plea: "JOR-DAN CRAW-FORD." Fans were agitated, effort was minimal, and there sat Crawford, leaned way back, gettin' his Eskimo on. Fans get restless when effort and execution are lacking, so let's drive the point home with a lip-read of Bradley Beal. With less than a minute left, and the Wizards almost completely out of it, Beal was spotted saying: "Why the **** are we giving up?"</p>
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<p><a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/raptors-96-wizards-88-three-observations/article/2522031" target="_blank">Washington Examiner sidebar</a>:</p>
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<p>"I think as a team and as an individual, you have to be mentally tough to be able to say, ‘Okay, what else can I do to impact the game,'" Beal said. "I think that's what I learned early in the year. I did the same thing. When I have bad games now, I still get frustrated, but I just play. If I'm not making shots, I'll just play good defense. There's always things in a game that you can do."</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Beal is emerging not just as Wall's running mate in the backcourt but his equal and potentially even more. He was angry and frustrated at the end of the game and wasn't afraid to say so afterward. That speaks as loud as his scoring.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/basketball-washington-wizards/talk/wall-struggles-wizards-loss-raptors" target="_blank">CSN Washington</a>:</p>
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<p>As bad as the Wizards played they were within five points with five minutes remaining. Bradley Beal was the lone bright spot scoring a game high 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Late in the fourth quarter Beal was visibly upset with his teammates for not picking up their full court defense and at 19-years old he's holding them accountable.</p>
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<p><a href="http://wizofawes.com/2013/02/19/raptors-hand-wizards-second-consecutive-loss/" target="_blank">Wiz of Awes</a>:</p>
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<p>I'll start on the positive side, which was basically Bradley Beal. After returning to the starting lineup, Beal scored 25 points and grabbed 4 rebounds, and looked very good overall. He shot the ball well of the dribble and didn't hesitate to penetrate the basket when given the opportunity. Above all, Beal looked like a leader. There were reports of Beal going after his teammates for "giving up" during timeouts, which consequently helped boost Washington's level of aggressiveness on the defensive end of the floor. When times got tough, Beal showed up to relieve some of Washington's stress.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.wizardsextreme.com/2013-articles/a-night-of-oddities-clouds-a-wizards-loss.html" target="_blank">Wizards Extreme</a>:</p>
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<p><span>Jordan Crawford</span> did have an off night in a completely different sense. Given another "DNP-Coach's Decision", Crawford spent the entire night on the bench with a 45-degree body lean wrapped in towels from head to toe. He looked like a young Bulldog whose owner had abandoned him in the D.C. pound after finding a shinier, more reliable German Shepherd. Crawford didn't give any time to the media last night, strolling out before the locker room opened, and Wittman didn't have any comment on the situation other than that every guy has to wait their turn in the rotation.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.nba.com/wizards/game-recap-wizards-88-raptors-96" target="_blank">WashingtonWizards.com</a>:</p>
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<p>The game was a unique one as the scoreboard and clocks were not working, so a makeshift scoreboard was set up by the scorer's table. The PA announcer let the teams know when the shot clock was winding down. The Raptors would have the upper hand early as they opened up an eight point lead after the first quarter, holding the Wizards to just 19. That eight point first quarter deficit would prove to be the difference as the game was played to a draw the rest of the way, with the Raptors ending with the eight point margin of victory. The Wizards would cut the lead to as few as four in the fourth quarter but would never get closer.</p>
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<p><a href="http://districtsportspage.com/washington-wizards-game-wrap-52-early-turnovers-and-poor-shooting-dooms-wizards-against-raptors/15086">District Sports Page</a>:</p>
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<p>"Listen, it's going to be hard for us, the way our team's made up to win games that way," Head Coach <span>Randy Wittman</span> said after the game. "We tried to keep making a push, but offensively, you're right, we just never got into a flow, rhythm all night long. And we paid for it."</p>
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<p><a href="http://blogsohardsports.com/wizards-2/wizards-look-ugly-after-return-from-the-all-star-break/" target="_blank">Blog So Hard Sports</a>:</p>
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<p>Beal and Martell combined for 41 of the 88 Wizard points. The third pick in this year's draft tallied 25 points after going 3 of 6 from 3-point land and Martell poured in 16 points while shooting 3 of 5 from downtown. Outside of those two the Wiz shot 16 of 50 from the field, which translates to 32%, which also translates to a loss. And to top it off we got to witness what is surely to be the last time Steez wears a Wizards jersey. After pouting on the end of the bench the entire game with a towel over his head, Jordan Crawford threw his jersey in the crowd on his walk off the court. If that's not a signal for the end, I don't know what is.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2013/2/19/4007304/raptors-vs-wizards-final-score-toronto-wins-ugly-96-88" target="_blank">Raptors HQ</a>:</p>
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<p>Frankly, against most other NBA teams tonight, I doubt this would have been a Raptors' win. The team was good in stretches, but awful in others, including to end the game, where they made some bizarre and lackadaisical decisions with the ball, allowing the Wizards to hang around.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2013/02/19/raptors-top-wizards-for-fifth-win-in-a-row" target="_blank">Toronto Sun</a>:</p>
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<p>Coming off the all-star break the Raptors know the offence wouldn't be quite as crisp as it had been going into it and came out prepared to put the emphasis on stopping Washington first.</p>
<p>The game plan played out to perfection with the Wizards shooting just 39% from the field and point guard John Wall, the guy whose return has sparked the Wizards offence, held to just nine points on 1-of-12 shooting.</p>
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<p><a href="http://raptorsrapture.com/2013/02/19/recap-toronto-raptors-beat-washington-wizards-100-85-21913/" target="_blank">Raptors Rapture</a>:</p>
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<p>I said in the preview that John Wall would be the focal point of the Wizard offense, and it's not surprising the Raptors came out on top given Wall's play. The third-year guard out of Kentucky shot just 1-of-12 from the floor and committed 7 turnovers. The Wizards as a team shot just 38.5 percent.</p>
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<p><a></a></p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/20/4009102/wizards-vs-raptors-recap-roundup-john-wall-struggles-bradley-bealJeff Newman2013-02-20T11:00:09-05:002013-02-20T11:00:09-05:00Breaking down Wall's nightmare game
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<p>Wall forced himself into bad decisions time and time again. We break down some of those bad decisions in this edition of Wizards clipboard.</p> <p>In Tuesday’s loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors</a>, <span>John Wall</span> had one of the worst games of his career. To go along with eight percent shooting, Wall had an unsightly seven turnovers. Let’s take a look at his decisions in the pick-and-roll and how he reacted to Toronto’s defense.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the first quarter, Wall made an uncharacteristic mistake. There’s actually nothing out of the ordinary about the Raptors’ defense; the defender in the weakside corner comes to help on the roll-man (<span>Emeka Okafor</span>). Wall has probably seen this a hundred times this season and he’s done an excellent job finding that open corner shooter. This time, however, he second-guesses himself in mid-air and throws it to the wrong spot-up shooter.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The jump pass to the corner is the proper pass to make here, and <span>Andrea Bargnani</span> isn’t even in position to disrupt Wall’s vision. It’s hard to pinpoint what Wall was thinking because he’s made this exact play numerous times this season.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In the second quarter, Wall commits another turnover that should leave fans confused. "Icing" the pick-and-roll is a common defensive strategy when dealing with ball screens. The on-ball defender will force the ball-handler away from the screen and toward the baseline, where a help defender is waiting. Some examples are shown <a target="_blank" href="http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/05/18/how-boston-iced-philly-in-game-2/">here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On this play, the Raptors <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t</i> ice the pick-and-roll. Instead, Wall essentially ices himself. He hurries down the floor and uses an impromptu ball screen to get himself stuck on the baseline. From here, the only pass he can make is to Okafor, who is standing a foot away from him. Wall doesn’t have a line of sight to his spot-up shooters on the perimeter. There’s too much traffic in too small a space and Toronto intercepts the pass.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When Wall's critics talk about his decision-making, they can look to this turnover. Wall was overeager to make a play and hurried himself into a no-win situation.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Wall’s final turnover occurred at a crucial moment in the game. With under a minute remaining, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> needed a bucket and were gunning for a three. The design of the play calls for <span>Martell Webster</span> to use a backscreen to get open for a corner three. However, part of Webster getting open hinges on Wall’s ability to draw the attention of help defenders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The key moment in the play is when Wall decides against using a ball screen and instead tries to beat Kyle Lowry to the baseline. If Wall can win that matchup, Andrea Bargnani will step up to help, and Webster will be wide open. If he doesn’t beat Lowry, Wall will have iced himself yet again. Unfortunately, Wall can’t turn the corner, and tries to make an impossible pass over the seven-foot Bargnani.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">During Wall’s nightmare game, he often was his own worst enemy. Too many of his turnovers came as a result of his own poor choices, as opposed to the Raptors’ forcing him into them. Ultimately, this was Wall’s worst game of the season, and many of these plays were out of character for this season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you think this is a sign of regression? Or did Wall just need to shake off his All-Star break rust?</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/20/4007790/john-wall-toronto-raptors-breakdownjkahn152013-02-20T08:00:15-05:002013-02-20T08:00:15-05:00Wall's lesson? Don't hang your head
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>John Wall had a bad game against the Raptors, but of greater concern is his propensity to get frustrated when things aren't going his way. Hopefully, that's the lesson he learns from Monday's performance.</p> <p>WASHINGTON -- <span>John Wall</span> didn't hesitate when asked what he would do with the game tape of his 1-12, seven-turnover performance in a 96-88 loss to the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a> on Monday.</p>
<p>"I'll burn it and look forward to the next one."</p>
<p>Indeed, it was the type of performance one probably wants to forget. One could fault Wall for his point of view, because surely there are some tendencies that he can see on video that he can use for the next game.</p>
<p>But in another way, it might be good for Wall to move on and not dwell on his failures. Why? In many ways, that's his problem.</p>
<p>"It's really mental with John. John wants to play well every game. He always tells me, 'You're not going to play well every game,'" <span>Bradley Beal</span> said after the game. "Sometimes, the advice he gives me, I wish he'd take his own advice."</p>
<p>Beal was speaking as a friend, one that understands the problem Wall had Monday. Earlier in the season, the 19-year old rookie from Florida wasn't scoring, and he was letting it affect his confidence. It was only when Beal learned to play instinctually that he began to show the promise that made the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> want to take him at No. 3 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.</p>
<p>Now, Beal is in the awkward position of being the teammate that needs to pick Wall up.</p>
<p>"You hate playing bad. If you're not playing well, the first thing you're going to do is think, 'Oh man, I'm not playing good.' It affects your mind. It affects your play on both ends of the floor. I think as a team and as an individual, you have to be mentally tough to say, 'OK, what else can I do to impact the game,'" Beal said.</p>
<p>"I think that's what I learned early [in the season], and we have to do the same thing. When I have bad games, I get frustrated, but I don't play like it. If I'm not playing shots, I'm going to play good defense. There's always things you can do when, sometimes, things don't go your way. A few guys didn't do that tonight."</p>
<p>Wall's problem is the opposite of Beal's -- Wall tends to get frustrated and try to do too much, whereas Beal used to get timid and not assert himself enough -- but the fix is similar. <span>Randy Wittman</span> noticed Wall and several teammates exhibit the same emotion.</p>
<p>"Our guys sometimes, not just John, bleed into, 'Oh, woe is me,'" Wittman said. "They just need to stay with it. I told our guys, 'you look up, and you're down five, you're down four, you're down six.' We were playing like crap leading up to it, but you've got to stay with it. It can turn like that. But I don't think we always give ourselves a chance to let it turn when it goes bad as individuals. You've got to stay in it. You never know when it can turn."</p>
<p>When Wall gets frustrated, he overpenetrates. During the fourth quarter, he embarked on mad dashes to the rim, only to flail once he got there without any idea how to handle Toronto's big men. On one defensive possession, he tried to pin Kyle Lowry on the baseline, but overplayed and ushered Lowry right to the rim. He was trying too hard, hoping to fix three quarters of bad play on every single play. In the end, he just made life more difficult.</p>
<p>This is always the difficult balance with Wall. <span>Martell Webster</span> did make a fair point: you don't want to stifle Wall's competitive instincts too much.</p>
<p>"How do you get 'too into' the game?" Webster asked rhetorically. "If you're not beating up anybody, then I don't call it getting 'too into' the game. I don't see anything wrong with that."</p>
<p>But competitiveness needs to be channeled correctly, particularly when adversity strikes. More than game tape or defensive coverages, that's the lesson Wall should take from Monday's disastrous performance.</p>
<p>"John's going to be fine," Beal said. "He had a tough night. I've had tough nights. Everybody's had tough nights. He's got to stick with it and make sure he's mentally tough. Do other things to impact the game. I think he played pretty good defense and did things well. He has to realize that he's still making an impact, if he's scoring or not.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/20/4007496/wizards-vs-raptors-john-wall-bradley-bealMike Prada2013-02-19T22:32:45-05:002013-02-19T22:32:45-05:00Crawford tosses jersey into stands after DNP-CD
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<p>WASHINGTON -- If you were hoping that <span>Jordan Crawford</span> was taking his benching well, the events at the end of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a>' 96-88 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> may convince you otherwise. The Wizards' guard spent most of the game lounging on the bench, and then he tossed his jersey into the crowd after the final buzzer. This picture, <a href="https://twitter.com/Truth_About_It/status/304058205917548544/photo/1">via Truth About It</a>, is of the fan that caught Crawford's jersey.</p>
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<p>Crawford wasn't around to talk after the game, and Wittman claimed ignorance when asked about the incident. </p>
<p>"Listen, I'm watching the game," he said to a reporter. "You're obviously not watching the game, you were watching him. I can't comment on that."</p>
<p>Crawford's name has obviously been mentioned in <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/19/4005472/nba-trade-rumors-2013-jordan-crawford">many trade rumors</a> over the past week as his playing time has vanished. Besides that above quote, Wittman has stayed consistent in his message that Crawford needs to work out of his struggles like <span>Chris Singleton</span> and others have. </p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/19/4007440/jordan-crawford-jersey-toss-washington-wizardsMike Prada2013-02-19T21:30:07-05:002013-02-19T21:30:07-05:00Wall a disaster as Wizards fall, 96-88
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>John Wall had arguably the worst game of his NBA career, going 1-12 with seven turnovers as the Wizards fell, 96-88, to the Raptors. </p> <p>WASHINGTON -- The final score was 96-88. The game was much worse.</p>
<p>Thanks in large part to a lethargic performance from <span>John Wall</span>, the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> began their second half in ugly fashion, falling to a <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> team that really didn't do much offensively. Wall ended up hitting only one of his 12 field goals, committing seven turnovers and scoring just nine points in one of the worst games of his career, if not the very worst.</p>
<p>Rather than continue rising up the point guard chain, Wall played like he'd learned nothing in his first two-plus seasons in the NBA. The Raptors did a great job packing the paint and taking away the skip pass to the corner three-point shooter, but Wall has to adjust better than he did. His jumper continues to shows no development from his rookie season, and his high dribble made it impossible to manipulate space for his benefit. Toronto's defensive gameplan was excellent, but Wall simply has to be better.</p>
<p>The Wizards fell behind in the first half thanks to two lethargic stretches: the end of the first quarter and the end of the second quarter. In both cases, poor offensive spacing really hurt. Toronto's help defenders all cheated off their men to pack the paint, and the Wizards compounded the problem by running too many screeners into the middle and not spacing enough players on the perimeter. The Raptors played off Wall and cut out his driving lanes, which explains part of why he struggled so much in the first half.</p>
<p>The beginning of the second half didn't go any better for Wall, though. On his first play, the Raptors had two guys play between him and the passing lane to Nene, and when he tentatively rose up for a jumper, they blocked his shot. On other plays, they closed down the two areas he wanted to go: in the paint and to the weakside corner. On one fast break, Wall got to the rim, but <span>Amir Johnson</span> jumped straight up and cut off his layup attempt, forcing Wall into a bad pass that nearly got stolen. Toronto scouted him very well, but Wall was hanging his head a lot and not showing much fight.</p>
<p>Still, the Raptors never really pulled away. Poor offense, thanks mostly to clanked Gay jumpers, kept Washington within striking distance throughout the third quarter, even as they couldn't create offense. Washington continued to dig in defensively as they always do and forced the Raptors to take a lot of long twos. But their offense remained stuck in neutral, and they ended up trailing, 73-65, after three quarters.</p>
<p>The Wizards' second unit ate into the lead early in the fourth quarter, spurred once again by nice defense. Nene and <span>Trevor Booker</span> made some strong drives to the hoop from the free-throw line, attacking Toronto's interior defenders and making difficult shots. A Nene free throw cut the Raptors' lead to four with just over eight minutes to go, providing hope for a comeback.</p>
<p>Wall eventually returned with 8:01 to go, but things did not get any better. On the first defensive possession, he let <span>John Lucas</span> get middle when the coverage called for him to force Lucas baseline, surrendering a layup. Then, he nearly threw it away on the break, clanked a jumper, then had his shot blocked by Johnson on a subsequent possession. Toronto ultimately pushed the lead to nine points.</p>
<p>Washington kept it close, but they couldn't finish the comeback or even finish plays at all. Wall, Beal and Ariza all got right to the rim against the Raptors' defense, but couldn't complete any of the layups they had. Wall seemed to get frustrated, driving as hard as he could without balancing himself to finish against Toronto's trees. The nightmare game ultimately got put out of reach for good when Wall's bullet pass to a cutting Nene deflected off his fingers for a turnover that led to a Gay three to put Toronto up 11.</p>
<p>No question about it: Wall's play in this game was incredibly concerning. The Raptors exposed all of his weaknesses and he was powerless to adjust. One would hope that this is a wakeup call for him to improve his shooting, ball-handling and decision-making.</p>
<p><b>Other notes:</b></p>
<ul>
<li> <span>Rudy Gay</span>, such a strange player. He takes some really bad shots, but he can get hot for a stretch and carry you offensively, like he did in the second quarter. It's also kind of odd how all the rest of the Raptors seem to improve their games playing with him. It's not like the Wizards sent a lot of extra attention his way, so I'm honestly a bit confused.</li>
<li>Nene often struggles against length, and he really struggled early against Jonas Valanciunas. Jonas is going to be a really good player in this league for a long time.</li>
<li>I liked what I saw from <span>Trevor Ariza</span> in the second quarter. He seemed to attack closeouts quickly off the bounce, and his cutting helped open up offensive opportunities. </li>
<li>One of my least favorite possessions: the Wizards come out of a timeout, the Raptors go zone and everyone on the Wizards looks like mice trying to navigate a maze. If you watch the Raptors a lot, you should know that <span>Dwane Casey</span> likes to do that to keep the defense off-balanced. The Wizards looked completely unprepared and forced a bad shot by Bradley Beal. That can't happen.</li>
<li>It was pretty amazing to hear chants for Wittman to put Jordan Crawford in. More and more, it seems like the Wizards just don't want anything to do with him.</li>
</ul>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/19/4006880/raptors-vs-wizards-score-final-john-wallMike Prada2013-02-19T18:36:04-05:002013-02-19T18:36:04-05:00Your Wizards-Raptors game thread
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<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Discuss the 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://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/wizards_alt_logo_hand.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> <th align="center" width="20">@</th> <td width="240"><center><img src="http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/6/227/full/yfypcwqog6qx8658sn5w65huh.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>February 19, 2013</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>John Wall</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240">Kyle Lowry</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Bradley Beal</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>DeMar DeRozan</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Martell Webster</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"><span>Rudy Gay</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/6/3959250/trevor-ariza-one-of-six-starters-for-the-washington-wizards" style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline; text-align: start;">Trevor Ariza</a></td> <th align="center" width="20">SF</th> <td width="240"></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Nene Hilario</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240"><span>Amir Johnson</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span>Emeka Okafor</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">C</th> <td width="240"><span>Jonas Valanciunas</span></td> </tr> <tr><th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>2012/13 Advanced Stats</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;">92.1 (12th)</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">89.9 (25th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;">97.8 (30th)</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">106.6 (11th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;">102 (5th)</span></td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">108.1 (26th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">Also see: <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com">Raptors HQ </a>| <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/19/4006708/wizards-vs-raptors-washington-looks-to-get-second-half-started-right">StoryStream</a> | <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/wizards-fast-break-2-19-13/index.jsp">Fast Break</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
<p><span>Randy Wittman's</span> pregame address was lengthy, but full of platitudes. On trades, he said that he understands the team trying to get better and tells his players to try not to see rumors as a distraction. He also said that while he is kept in the loop on moves, he added that "you guys hear a lot of what I hear. A lot of it turns out to be a lot of talk and not a lot of substance." He was also asked about <span>Jordan Crawford</span> and reiterated that he's looking to see Crawford fight his way back into the rotation.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the only news is that Bradley Beal has regained his starting spot over Garrett Temple. When asked if there would be changes in the bench rotation, Wittman coyly smiled and said, "You'll see."</p>
<p>GO WIZARDS!</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/19/4006716/raptors-vs-wizards-game-time-tv-schedule-and-open-threadMike Prada2013-02-19T12:54:50-05:002013-02-19T12:54:50-05:00Learn more about the Raptors
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<figcaption>Scott Halleran</figcaption>
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<p>The 2013 NBA season marches on as the Washington Wizards host the Toronto Raptors. We had a chance to speak with Raptors HQ's Scott Campsall in order to get his thoughts on the Raptors and tonight's game.</p> <p>Between All Star weekend festivities and trade deadline madness, it's easy to forget that normal old regular season basketball games will be played tonight. When you really think of it, too, there aren't too many games that are more ordinary than tonight's <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> versus <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a> contest. The two teams aren't in the same division, don't have much history together, are rarely on national television in America and feature no A-list players. Boston-LA this is not.</p>
<p>That said, it's still a basketball and it's still the Wizards, so it'll be worth watching. And hey, with all of the trades that will likely go down this week, this could be your last chance to see the team as it's currently constructed.</p>
<p><b>Where and when?</b> Tip off is at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Center.</p>
<p><b>Who's out?</b> Washington will be missing <span>Cartier Martin</span>, while the Raptors will be without <span>Linas Kleiza</span> and <span>Mickael Pietrus</span>.</p>
<p><b>Are they good?</b> Not really. Toronto is 21-32 on the year, with the NBA's 11th-best offense and fourth-worst defense. Coach Dwayne Casey has a reputation as a defense-first coach, but with Toronto's less than ideal defensive personnel, the team has been forced to attempt to win with its offense. That said, they're 5-2 since trading for <span>Rudy Gay</span>, so they might be better than their record.</p>
<p><i>For the rest of our preview, I had the pleasure of speaking with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/ScottCampsall">Scott Campsall </a>from our sister site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors HQ</a>.</i></p>
<p><b>1.<span>Terrence Ross</span> is a pretty good dunker. Will he ever be a pretty good player? What should Wizards fans know about him going into tonight's game?</b></p>
<p><b></b>Ross is definitely a good dunker and I think most of the NBA fan base now knows that, but he's actually already a pretty good player. He is a bit of streaky shooter, which at times forces Casey to keep him in the game, or give him the quick hook. He is also a pretty solid defender, and has all of the tools necessary to become a great defender somewhere down the road.</p>
<p>Since the acquisition of Rudy Gay, Ross has seen his minutes decrease, but earlier on in the season when the Raptors were ravaged by injury, Ross found himself in the rotation on a regular basis. He has scored in double figures on 14 separate occasions this season -- his highest output was 26 points against Sacramento -- which is a testament to how easy it is for him to get points when his shot is going.</p>
<p>Wizards' fans should just know that whenever he is in the game, he doesn't cheat himself, as<span> Casey</span> would say. He is going to get his shots up and he is going to try and dunk on someone.</p>
<p><b>2. How is the Rudy Gay thing working out? Is there a way of looking at it that might not have been picked up by the mainstream NBA media?</b></p>
<p><b></b>Well it's difficult to look at the acquisition in a way that hasn't been written about because his trade and subsequent fall out have been subject to constant media scrutiny. Having said that, this how I see the situation:</p>
<p>Financials aside, acquiring Gay has given the Raptors a legitimate scorer that can create his own shot, which has been huge as it has opened up the floor for others like <span>DeMar DeRozan</span> to be effective offensively without seeing double-teams or being the defensive focus of opposing teams. Gay is also a player that Casey can turn to at the end of games to make baskets in the clutch -- Gay has already made two game-winning shots in his brief time in Toronto.</p>
<p>On the flip side, statistically Gay has not been great. He has shot poorly in his seven games with the team -- 38 percent from the floor and 18 percent from beyond the arc -- and his shot selection has been more than questionable. At this point in time it's difficult to quantify his impact on the team, as they are 5-2 since his arrival, yet his individual statistics seem to indicate that he is hurting them. This situation will be interesting to watch unfold.<br><br><b>3. The trade deadline is almost here and you guys have a couple of people (coughFieldsandDeRozancough) who might be on their way out due to their contracts and the presence of the Gay-Valanciunas-Lowry core. Can they co-exist with their more well-known teammates, and what do you realistically think you would be able to get for them?</b></p>
<p>There has been a great deal of speculation about the team potentially moving Fields or DeRozan, but I honestly don't see it happening. DeRozan is a guy that the franchise just committed to long term and based on what I have seen from Bryan Colangleo during his tenure here, I don't think DeMar is going anywhere. Fields could potentially be a trade chip down the road, but again, his contract makes him difficult to move.</p>
<p>The player that I don't think fits into the Raptors' long-term plans and will almost definitely be dealt at some point is <span>Andrea Bargnani</span>. Bargnani has worn out his welcome in the city and could desperately use a change of scenery.</p>
<p><b>4. What's Toronto's short-term and long-term ceiling?<br></b> <br>Short-term, this is a team that should be competitive during the second half of the season and finish either ninth or 10th in the Eastern Conference. Long term depends a great deal on the development of <span>Jonas Valanciunas</span> and Ross, whether Kyle Lowry can sustain a high level of play for a significant period of time and what kind of moves Colangleo - or whoever the new general manager may be -- can make with the Raptors' total salaries already almost reaching the luxury tax level. Obviously, that is a great deal that is left up in the air. Without knowing how any of that is going to play out, the short answer is that this team should have enough talent to be a playoff team for the next few years.</p>
<p><b>5. Jonas Valanciunas came to the league with a lot of hype, but since he's on the Raptors, Wizards fans will only get a handful of chances to see him this year. How satisfied are you with his performance so far?</b></p>
<p>Valanciunas has been great. He has all of the physical tools to be a great player in this league and he also possesses the drive and work ethic that should help him reach that point.</p>
<p>This year is very much a transitional year for the young Lithuanian as he has had to adjust to not just the culture and the language but also the style of play and the size of players he has had to play against. That is a lot to deal with for someone who is only 20 years old and when you consider all of those factors, he was done extremely well. He has shown flashes of being an impact player, especially since his return from a wrist injury.</p>
<p><i>For more of Scott's writing, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Scott%20Campsall">check out his SB Nation profile</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/ScottCampsall">follow him on Twitter</a>.</i></p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/2/19/4005254/washington-wizards-toronto-raptors-preview-raptors-hq-scott-campsallThomas Pruitt