Bullets Forever - Wizards vs. Bobcats: Washington falls apart in 119-114 loss"Ain't No Luck"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48097/BulletsForever-fv.png2013-03-19T11:50:46-04:00http://www.bulletsforever.com/rss/stream/38846632013-03-19T11:50:46-04:002013-03-19T11:50:46-04:00Recap roundup: A frustrating loss
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>Rounding up the recaps of one of the worst losses of the Washington Wizards' season.</p> <p>Here's your recap roundup from Monday's 119-114 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> loss to the lowly <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a>. As always, check <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/18/4120622/wizards-vs-bobcats-nba-game-2013">out our StoryStream</a> and view interviews of <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/randy-wittman-postgame-3-18-13/index.jsp">Randy Wittman</a>, <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/john-wall-postgame-3-18-13/index.jsp">John Wall</a>, <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/emeka-okafor-postgame-3-18-13/index.jsp">Emeka Okafor</a> and <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/garrett-temple-postgame-3-18-13/index.jsp">Garrett Temple</a> on Monumental Network:</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/wizards-vs-bobcats-washington-opens-road-trip-by-dropping-season-series-with-charlotte/2013/03/18/ba301e42-9036-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239_story.html">Washington Post</a>:</p>
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<p>"Mental lapses. Blown assignments. We all did it. You have four or five guys, six, seven guys that all have mental lapses, it all adds up to one big mess," forward <span>Martell Webster</span> said after the Wizards lost for the 26th time in 31 road games this season. "We were in control of that game and then all of sudden, we found ourselves becoming very complacent. Lazy on defense. And you just can't do that." </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2013/03/19/wizards-stunned-in-charlotte/">Washington Post sidebar:</a></p>
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<p>"We didn't play defense at all," rookie <span>Bradley Beal</span> said. "We didn't know what we were doing. We were switching on guys we shouldn't have switched on. We weren't denying, we weren't contesting. Our defensive effort wasn't good at all." </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/nba/sns-rt-bkn-wizards-bobcats-writethrumtze93jvs00hx-20130318,0,2963798.story">Associated Press: </a></p>
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<p>"We played about five minutes of what we call how we play, getting up and pressuring," Wizards coach <span>Randy Wittman</span> said. "Then we went back to just, 'Well, we're going to win this now, we're up five, we're going to coast in.' And you can't do that. It ends up biting you. Then we don't execute down the stretch. Inexcusable. It'll bite you every night in this league." </p>
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<p><a href="http://wizofawes.com/2013/03/18/wizards-fall-in-the-queen-city/">Wiz of Awes:</a></p>
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<p>Bradley Beal did not seem healthy to me, as he showed little movement on the court and even less lift on his jump shot. He capped off a forgettable 2-for-8 performance from the field with a badly missed 3 pointer that would have cut the Bobcats lead to 1 with under 30 seconds to play. I'm not sure if he needs additional rest, or if it was just a matter of getting his legs back under him but I am hopeful that he continues his fantastic progression since November and finishes his rookie year strong. </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.wizardsextreme.com/2013-articles/we-game-recap-wizards-at-bobcats-wiz-kids-still-homesick-fumble-one-away-in-charlotte.html">Wizards Extreme:</a></p>
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<p>Washington's bench again did not play a role in this game. Already short-handed with the injury to <span>A.J. Price</span>, and <span>Chris Singleton</span> not logging minutes due to personal reasons (presumably), the Wizards lacked the punch in their second unit to match pace with a Bobcats bench that got confident early. </p>
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<p><a href="http://districtsportspage.com/washington-wizards-game-66-wrap-road-woes-continue-as-wiz-fall-119-114-to-bobcats/16044">District Sports Page: </a></p>
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<p>With the loss, the Wizards are now 5-26 on the road this season, which represents the fewest road wins of any team in the league. </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/2013/3/18/4121612/charlotte-bobcats-defeat-washington-wizards-in-a-thriller-119-114">Rufus on Fire</a>:</p>
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<p>Tonight was a great night for the Bobcats. They looked like they had a real offense. The defense was actually not as horrible as the score indicates. There were a lot of possessions and a fast tempo, which led to the very high scoring we saw tonight. If the plan stays the course, we should be seeing a lot more games like this for the rest of the season. I think I speak for everybody when I say passing is fun so I hope we do. </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/18/3923629/charlotte-bobcats-beat-wizards.html">Charlotte Observer:</a></p>
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<p>Monday, Wall's key statistics were six turnovers and six fouls, sending him the bench late. Sure, he scored 25 points, but Walker clearly outplayed him down the stretch. It didn't help that Washington big man Nene (21 points) was also in foul trouble.</p>
<p>"We knew Nene had five fouls," said Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap. "We went to the pick-and-roll; we knew he'd play it soft. It was Kemba's game from there." </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/nba/henderson-walker-spark-bobcats-past-wizards-1.113524">Gaston Gazette</a>:</p>
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<p>Fourth-year forward <span>Gerald Henderson</span> led the way in the early going, then second-year guard <span>Kemba Walker</span> closed out a comeback rally on both ends of the court.</p>
<p>"I was brought in to develop players," Dunlap said in response to a question about Henderson's recent improved play. "His development is not deniable. So is Kemba's." </p>
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<p><a href="http://queencityhoops.com/blog/2013/03/18/bobcats-nip-wizards-in-shootout/">Queen City Hoops</a>:</p>
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<p>He's filling in nicely for Sessions. What the Bobcats brought him in to do. Oh, and Dunlap loves him.</p>
<p>Dunlap on Pargo's defensive energy and Bobcats strategy to get the ball out of Wizards big men, Nene and Okafor - "He knows how to what we call roam, and so he'll leave (John) Wall or (Garrett) Temple to see if he could plug some gaps and take some chances. Whatever we give up on the backside we'll take that, but we were trying to tag (Martell) Webster, (Bradley) Beal and (Trevor) Ariza and not leave them." </p>
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<p><a href="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/03/18/3924540/observations-charlotte-bobcats.html">Charlotte Observer sidebar</a>:</p>
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<p>Big Pat, the Charlotte Bobcats' normal public-address announcer, was ill Monday. The fill-in had a funny moment during the introductions when <span>Emeka Okafor</span> - first-ever Bobcats draft pick - was pronounced "E-meek-a." </p>
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https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/19/4123504/wizards-vs-bobcats-recaps-nba-2013Mike Prada2013-03-18T21:43:54-04:002013-03-18T21:43:54-04:00Wizards fall apart in 119-114 loss to Bobcats
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards are supposed to be beyond head-scratching losses to bad teams that make their fanbase want to pull their hair out. Apparently not, as they fell to the lowly Bobcats, 119-114.</p> <p>What a horrible meltdown. This team, this franchise, just has a way of kicking you in the pants after they start to get some positive momentum going.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> lost to the Charlotte Bobcats on the road, 119-114. They did so by surrendering a 12-0 run after it looked like they had seized control of the game. They did so thanks to a return of the <span>John Wall</span> that stinks at the end of games and some of the worst defense you'll ever see an NBA team play.</p>
<p>Let's try to recap. It looked like the Wizards would finally pull away after Wall found <span>Trevor Booker</span> on an alleyoop to give them a five-point lead with just over three minutes remaining, but as had been the custom all game, they couldn't keep their momentum. <span>Kemba Walker</span> got an easy layup on a blown pick and roll coverage to cut the lead to three, and Wall committed a turnover on the ensuing possession. <span>Ben Gordon</span> then tied the game with a three off another blown pick and roll coverage, and Wall responded with a missed layup, leading to a bank shot for Walker.</p>
<p>And that was just the beginning. Wall followed that sequence by committing an offensive foul trying to drive on Walker. It wasn't the best call in the world, but Wall got impatient even trying to attack. Walker scored again on the other end, and the Wizards committed yet another baffling turnover after that on a misconnection on the inbounds pass. <span>Gerald Henderson</span> put home the dagger after Booker decided to guard air in the lane instead of getting out on him, and that did it.</p>
<p>Making matters worse, the Wizards decided not to bother fouling down just five with 20 seconds left. What the heck was that about?</p>
<p>Just discouraging. Former coach Flip Saunders used to say that the basketball gods have a way of making you pay for not playing the right way, and that's exactly what happened tonight. A team this good defensively should not give up 63 first-half points and 94 after three quarters to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Bobcats</a>, but somehow, it happened. The defensive identity that <span>Randy Wittman</span> has built all year was suddenly forgotten. And why? Because this was the Bobcats and the Wizards are too cool to take a bottom-feeder like this seriously? No team has earned that right, much less <i>the Wizards.</i></p>
<p>I also need to question Wittman's decision to leave Booker in down the stretch. Foul trouble and the Bobcats' small lineup prevented Wittman from playing Nene and <span>Emeka Okafor</span> together, but why was Booker the man in there instead of <span>Chris Singleton</span> or a small lineup? Booker was completely lost on multiple pick and roll coverages, hedging poorly and constantly failing to contain Walker down the stretch. Popular sentiment will blame Wall for Walker's outburst at the end, but Booker is the real culprit. It's not like he helps offensively either, so why was he in there?</p>
<p>I thought this team was past these kinds of performances. Apparently not.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/18/4121278/wizards-vs-bobcats-score-final-2013Mike Prada2013-03-18T17:52:39-04:002013-03-18T17:52:39-04:00Your Wizards-Bobcats game thread
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</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://thesportsdump.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bobcats.gif" height="72" width="80"></center></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>March 18, 2012</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>Time-Warner Cable Arena</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>7 p.m.</strong></td></tr> <tr><td align="center" colspan="3"><strong>CSN, 106.7 The Fan</strong></td></tr> <tr><th align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="silver"><strong>Starting Lineups</strong></th></tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>Kemba Walker</span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PG</th> <td width="240"><span>John Wall</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>Gerald Henderson</span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">SG</th> <td width="240"><span>Garrett Temple</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>Michael Kidd-Gilchrist</span></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 style="text-align: start;"><span>Byron Mullens</span></span></td> <th align="center" width="20">PF</th> <td width="240">Nene</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240"><span style="text-align: start;"><span>Bismack Biyombo</span></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">91.7 (15th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">Pace</th> <td width="240">92.1 (12th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">100.6 (29th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">ORtg</th> <td width="240">98.2 (30th)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" width="240">110.9 (30th)</td> <th align="center" width="20">DRtg</th> <td width="240">102.1 (6th)</td> </tr> <tr><th height="20" bgcolor="silver" colspan="3">Also see: <a href="http://rufusonfire.com/">Rufus on Fire</a> | <a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/18/4120622/wizards-vs-bobcats-nba-game-2013">StoryStream</a> | <a href="http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/scouting-report-charlotte-3-18-13/index.jsp">On the Road with SB Nation</a> </th></tr> </tbody></table>
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<p>No <span>A.J. Price</span> tonight, the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> announced. <span>Trevor Ariza</span> is a game-time decision. We'll also see if <span>Bradley Beal</span> starts.</p>
<p>GO WIZARDS!</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/18/4120676/wizards-vs-bobcats-game-time-tv-schedule-and-open-threadMike Prada2013-03-18T17:50:43-04:002013-03-18T17:50:43-04:00Price out, Ariza a game-time decision
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<p>Via the Wizards.</p>
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<p><span>A.J. Price</span> (groin) out tonight,<span>Trevor Ariza</span> (knee) will be a gametime decision <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23WizBobcats">#WizBobcats</a></p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> (@WashWizards) <a href="https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/313766407890432000">March 18, 2013</a>
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<p>Both missed Saturday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a>.</p>
<p>This might be a good game to sit Ariza, given the team's tough upcoming schedule.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/18/4120738/a-j-price-out-vs-bobcats-trevor-ariza-a-game-time-decisionMike Prada2013-03-18T16:17:52-04:002013-03-18T16:17:52-04:00Meet the woeful Bobcats
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<figcaption>Streeter Lecka</figcaption>
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<p>The Wizards hit the road to face the woeful Charlotte Bobcats before going out to the West coast.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Wizards</a> get one more game of cupcakes before hitting the West coast for a strange, long road trip against actual legitimate opposition. Monday's opponent is the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a>, who are the worst team in the league. Let's learn more about them.</p>
<p><b>Where and when?</b> 7 p.m. EST at Time-Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.</p>
<p><b>Are they good?</b> Lolnope.</p>
<p><b>Who's out?</b> We'll see about <span>A.J. Price</span> and <span>Trevor Ariza</span> for the Wizards, but both sat in Saturday's win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Suns</a>. Ramon Sessions has been out a few weeks for Charlotte.</p>
<p><b>Why should I care?</b> Because there aren't any NCAA Tournament games yet.</p>
<p><b>What are they good at?</b> <a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/nba-opponent-diss-raps">Diss raps</a>.</p>
<p><b>What are they bad at?</b> Playing basketball.</p>
<p><b>Remember when the Wizards were rumored to trade <span>Andray Blatche</span> for <span>Tyrus Thomas</span>? </b><a href="http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/2/3/2769492/nba-trade-rumors-andray-blatche-tyrus-thomas-wizards-bobcats">That was funny</a>.</p>
<p><b>Where can I read more about the Bobcats?</b> Check out <a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com">Rufus on Fire</a>.</p>
https://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/3/18/4120374/wizards-vs-bobcats-preview-nba-2013Mike Prada