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Respectablity is Reached?--Washington Wizards 2014-2015 Regular Season (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DCThunder
- Start date
The_Man
Footballguy
Come now, young'ns. It was The Bruise Brothers.
I used to have a poster of the two of them dressed up like Jake and Elwood.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Tremendous.
I remember those guysand the posters vaguely, but not the series- just like I remember the "Fat Lady" t-shirts but not the actual playoff runs in 78 and 79. I was in third grade in 1982. So this run right now is the most joy the DC pro basketball team has ever given me. Kinda sad.
Notorious T.R.E.
Showdown!™ Administrator
As a Wolves fan, I have found myself pulling for you guys. 
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
tom22406
Footballguy
I still have this poster
http://mpsportsmedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/beef-brothers-400x264.jpg
Found this article from 82'
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Sebowski
Footballguy
I am unabashedly on board. What I've realized is that I don't so much like most sports as much as I like my teams. I would never sit through an entire basketball game (college or pros) unless my team was playing. Same with a couple other sports.
Seriously, all are welcome on the bandwagon. I hate those dumb longtime fans getting all protective about it. Come on board and don't feel the slightest bit weird about it- if you live in the area they're your team as much as they're mine. Even if that means I can't afford to go to both games this weekend
I also get a kick out of how much my GF hates my orange Arenas throwback Bullets jersey. And with cause. It looks terrible on me.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
I think Gortat will be fine, he's a pretty tough dude and he seemed to have a smile after he got up and walked it off a bit.
Gooden getting all those minutes last night was (I can't believe I'm saying this) a masterstroke by Wittman. He's a real problem on defense, but the Pacers struggle to score regardless and certainly aren't going to run their offense through the frontcourt if Hibbert is useless like he was last night. Gooden's been hitting from midrange and beyond since the Wiz snatched him out of the checkout line at the Bethesda Whole Foods and put him in the rotation, so they deployed him to loosen things up in the middle like the Hawks did with Pero Antic, and it worked perfectly.
Last night was unexpected but it wasn't even his best game as a Wiz, he's been a revelation since they added him. He had a crazy home game against Brooklyn in mid-March that in retrospect set up this whole run (we'd be on the Heat side of the bracket as the 6 or 7 otherwise) and a couple other monster games.
They say the playoffs are all about matchups but you don't really see it until your team is in a series. Booker was the perfect antidiote for the Bulls' hustle and rebounding but looked lost last night; Gooden did nothing against the Bulls and was a stud last night.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Well, yeah. But at that point the grounds crew had been working on the field for 30 minutes and had just finished putting the tarp on. There was no mention of the game or any updates until the game was stopped.
ETA: holy crap. Just saw the rain delay was 3:17. Must have ended after 1am.
tom22406
Footballguy
Down 3-1 after failing to even show for Game 3 and then handing the Pacers the W in Game 4 with another second half collapse.
Has anybody seen this dude at all in these playoffs?http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/0c9109c71ea0524d9fe840f91fabd67bb94a26a9/r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/10/01/10-1-2012-john-wall-3_4.jpg
With the praise Wittman got(from me for sure)in the Chicago series this is yet again another example of how he just isn't that good at what he does.How many times have we seen this team try to execute a play from inbounding the ball in crucial situations and just flat out failed to even get a good look?Down 3 and you can't even get the ball passed in correctly?
Even with as bad as Wall has been(and let's not kid ourselves,he has been terrible)they still at worst should have been tied in this series with just a few more executed plays.
Also have to give a hat tip to the Pacers and the coaching staff with the adjustments they are making to take the Zards away from what they want to do and are able to execute the plays they want when they want.Paul George last night was nothing short of amazing and Hibbert went from giving nothing to actually contributing meaningful minutes and production.
On a good note the AARP reserves were outstanding and almost bailed them out.
Has anybody seen this dude at all in these playoffs?http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/0c9109c71ea0524d9fe840f91fabd67bb94a26a9/r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/10/01/10-1-2012-john-wall-3_4.jpg
With the praise Wittman got(from me for sure)in the Chicago series this is yet again another example of how he just isn't that good at what he does.How many times have we seen this team try to execute a play from inbounding the ball in crucial situations and just flat out failed to even get a good look?Down 3 and you can't even get the ball passed in correctly?
Even with as bad as Wall has been(and let's not kid ourselves,he has been terrible)they still at worst should have been tied in this series with just a few more executed plays.
Also have to give a hat tip to the Pacers and the coaching staff with the adjustments they are making to take the Zards away from what they want to do and are able to execute the plays they want when they want.Paul George last night was nothing short of amazing and Hibbert went from giving nothing to actually contributing meaningful minutes and production.
On a good note the AARP reserves were outstanding and almost bailed them out.
pizzatyme
Footballguy
That was a tough loss I'm sure for you guys as fans. It seemed to me from the presser that Wittman wasn't taking enough of the blame. He kept saying "it's a learning experience for these guys" or some such. Well Randy, you kind of blew it down the stretch big fella.
I expect the Wiz to continue to fight and I still think this goes 7.
Good luck from this Pacers fan.
I expect the Wiz to continue to fight and I still think this goes 7.
Good luck from this Pacers fan.
There is no circumstance that would ever justify playing Drew Gooden more minutes than Nene in a must win playoff game. This series reinforces the fact that Wittman needs to be fired for this team to take the next step (though Wall maturing as a decision maker will help).
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
I mentioned this in the NBA thread- I'm not sure how much of it was the AARP gang and how much was the Pacers' mess of a bench that they squared off with at the start of the 2nd and 4th quarters. Wittman seemed to think it was the former, which I think was his big mistake in the 4th. He should have responded with the starters when Vogel reinserted Hibbert and West, I think somewhere around the 9 minute mark.
Anyway, hurts that we likely won't get a 6 or 7 game series here and it really hurts that John Wall didn't show up at all in the playoffs (he got a pass because the team was winning vs. Chicago but he wasn't himself in that series either). But all in all you can't really complain about the season. 44 wins and advancing to the second round would have been right around the ceiling for any preseason predictions.
tom22406
Footballguy
Not sure throwing Wall back in at that point would have been a good move the way he is playing but the others I agree on.Did Gortat even get off the bench in the 4th?Sure he was struggling much like Nene but they are the best you have down low so ride them out.
No doubting Wittman is just an average to below average coach IMO and his flaws are showing again at the worst time.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
As far as I remember Gortat sat most of the second and fourth- he got his burn with the starters at the beginning of each half and that was it. I was at the game and I've been avoiding any coverage for the sake of my sanity (not a great weekend for a huge Wiz/Nats fan) so I don't know if anyone said anything about it. Very weird, though, especially when they were struggling to score in the second half. They only scored 37 in the entire half.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Great breakdown today from Zach Lowe on the immediate future of the Wiz as this year's team prepares to exit. link
Not one mention of Durant, which is kinda odd but also a helpful reminder that he's still just a distant pipe dream probably not worth planning around. I still would be surprised if Ariza is back given the investments in Porter and Webster. Nice to see him mention Bosh, who would be an absolutely perfect fit, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe the Heat's Big 3 are gonna break up this summer.
Not one mention of Durant, which is kinda odd but also a helpful reminder that he's still just a distant pipe dream probably not worth planning around. I still would be surprised if Ariza is back given the investments in Porter and Webster. Nice to see him mention Bosh, who would be an absolutely perfect fit, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe the Heat's Big 3 are gonna break up this summer.
tom22406
Footballguy
I certainly didn't expect that beat down the Zards handed out last night but oh boy was it a glorious one.Wall finally showed up,Gortat was KILLING them and the rebounding edge was about as bad as you could ever do to someone.
To quote the movie Dumb and Dumber,"So you're saying there's a chance?"
Stranger things have happened and I'm not holding my breath this will but with an effort like what we saw last night they certainly can get right back in this tomorrow night with another solid effort(with that said,they throw up another 63).
Either way it has been a fun ride!
To quote the movie Dumb and Dumber,"So you're saying there's a chance?"
Stranger things have happened and I'm not holding my breath this will but with an effort like what we saw last night they certainly can get right back in this tomorrow night with another solid effort(with that said,they throw up another 63).
Either way it has been a fun ride!
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
I was at the game Sunday. Never ever heard the phone booth that loud.
The hype man who is actually quite likable deserves most of the credit as he would rile the crowd up during time outs and breaks.
Most fun I've had there. Unlike football where a loss leaves me upset, I don't lose my #### if the Wizards lose.
Last night was awesome. I can't get tickets as I pulled all the strings I had for Sundays game but I hope the Wiz give the fans a VERY LONG overdue home victory.
The hype man who is actually quite likable deserves most of the credit as he would rile the crowd up during time outs and breaks.
Most fun I've had there. Unlike football where a loss leaves me upset, I don't lose my #### if the Wizards lose.
Last night was awesome. I can't get tickets as I pulled all the strings I had for Sundays game but I hope the Wiz give the fans a VERY LONG overdue home victory.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Was in the middle of writing a reply offering my upper level tix up for $100 to you all when I got the email that they sold on stubhub. Bummer. Still they're not too bad on the secondary market yet. You can get something upper level middle or lower level behind the baskets for maybe $150-$200. I have a feeling prices are gonna go up over the next 24 hours.
Also, they did win two home games ago in Game 4 vs the Bulls, the Nene suspension game. But that was a comfortable Sunday afternoon win in front of a sorta sleepy crowd where worst case the series would be 2-2. Winning this one would be on a completely different level.
dgreen
Footballguy
That comes with time and increased expectations. (Or maybe increased hopes instead of expectations, since there really is no good reason to expect anything really good from any DC teams.) If we can actually taste some consistent success with the Wizards, playoff losses will start to piss us off. And that will be a good thing...I think.
We will go from "just happy to be here" to "we should be better" to "my week is ruined because they lost again!" Maybe someday Wizards fans will understand the agony of Caps fans.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
I hope so ?
I know we should be enjoying these playoff games but I'd be lying if I wasn't more concerned with keeping Gortat and Ariza.
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TobiasFunke
Footballguy
I can't imagine they'll let Gortat walk. I'd say Ariza is maybe 50/50.I hope so ?
I know we should be enjoying these playoff games but I'd be lying if I wasn't more concerned with keeping Gortat and Ariza.
Todd Andrews
Footballguy
Gortat is a man. That was a great game. I can see the Wizards pulling to 3-3 Thursday but I am not getting too optimistic.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Oddsmakers have Wiz roughly 65/35 favorites in Game 6, and give them about a 20% chance to take the series. Stranger things have happened.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Looks like prices have dropped a bit. I'd be tempted to buy a single seat and listen to the radio, but my wife already has plans tonight, forcing me to head home after work. Stupid dogs.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Don Quixote
Footballguy
When I looked this morning on Stubhub, cheapest seats (upper level behind the basket) were around $75. You could get upper level midcourt for around $100. A bit down from the $100/$150 prices that I saw yesterday morning.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
nittanylion
Footballguy
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
How depressing was that Sports Bog column today on all the home elimination games in DC over the last decade? Even the rare wins just resulted in more heartbreaking losses later in the series (2012 Nats, 2012 Caps).The_Man said:
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I'm sorry.
"Polish Machine" I can get behind.
"Big Panda"? OK, I guess. He's not that big.
"Lord Threeza"? Kinda weird, but whatever.
"House of Guards" is just awful.
"Polish Machine" I can get behind.
"Big Panda"? OK, I guess. He's not that big.
"Lord Threeza"? Kinda weird, but whatever.
"House of Guards" is just awful.
tom22406
Footballguy
2-18 on 3's and letting David West destroy you=goodbye Wiz.
It was a good run and something to build upon for the next few years without a doubt but I can't help think they blew a huge chance to advance even farther but just couldn't execute at crucial times so they are going home.Losing all 3 homes games against the Pacers and only winning 1 home game will not cut it any year and certainly not this one but I'm not gonna kill them over this.Hopefully they learned something and come out with fire in their eyes next year.John Wall simply has to be better for this team to win and I'm not really sure why George Hill owned him but that clearly was the case and it shouldn't have been.
Congrats to Pizza,good luck against the Heat!
Your team simply executed when it mattered more often and deserved the series.
It was a good run and something to build upon for the next few years without a doubt but I can't help think they blew a huge chance to advance even farther but just couldn't execute at crucial times so they are going home.Losing all 3 homes games against the Pacers and only winning 1 home game will not cut it any year and certainly not this one but I'm not gonna kill them over this.Hopefully they learned something and come out with fire in their eyes next year.John Wall simply has to be better for this team to win and I'm not really sure why George Hill owned him but that clearly was the case and it shouldn't have been.
Congrats to Pizza,good luck against the Heat!
Your team simply executed when it mattered more often and deserved the series.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
I dunno about feeling like it was a missed opportunity. Pacers were the better team. They had a lot to do with the 2-18 shooting from three. They denied and closed quickly at the three point line all series, night and day from the Hawks series.
I've never been so content after watching a loss to end a season. Can't remember the last time a DC team ended things with such a positive vibe, given how the 2012 Nats and Skins seasons ended. Plus you figure maybe five NBA teams finish the season with happy fans this year (the eventual champion, us, Raptors, Blazers, Suns). Not bad.
Gonna be a fascinating offseason as many have already discussed. I personally hope they keep Gortat but not Ariza, I want them to have flexibility to get another big piece. The defense will suffer short term but I think Wall can find someone else to make those 3s and it's worth the defensive hit next year to keep that flexibility going forward.
tom22406
Footballguy
Time to bump this one back up with the season fast approaching.
Porter Jr. has been looking like he's ready for the next step and he may be called on right away with Beal and Webster being out.Guess Wittman wants Rice Jr. to step in for Beal to start but he also is dealing with an injury but reports say he should be ready to start the season.He certainly has the ability to score but this clearly puts more pressure on Wall to take over more if Rice and Porter fail to produce.
Really weird having Pierce in a Wiz uniform since I loved to hate the guy after watching him torch this team over the years but let's hope "The Truth" brings a much needed closer for this team and he can stay somewhat healthy.
Playoffs should be a lock and I'm thinking a divison title is easily within reach with Lebron out of the division now but we all know the history of this franchise so nothing is ever a lock.
Top 4 seed and somehow stay out of the Cavs bracket for the 2nd round would be nice.
ETA:Had to throw in some love for the mohawk brothers
http://i.imgur.com/oB5HUxH.jpg
Porter Jr. has been looking like he's ready for the next step and he may be called on right away with Beal and Webster being out.Guess Wittman wants Rice Jr. to step in for Beal to start but he also is dealing with an injury but reports say he should be ready to start the season.He certainly has the ability to score but this clearly puts more pressure on Wall to take over more if Rice and Porter fail to produce.
Really weird having Pierce in a Wiz uniform since I loved to hate the guy after watching him torch this team over the years but let's hope "The Truth" brings a much needed closer for this team and he can stay somewhat healthy.
Playoffs should be a lock and I'm thinking a divison title is easily within reach with Lebron out of the division now but we all know the history of this franchise so nothing is ever a lock.
Top 4 seed and somehow stay out of the Cavs bracket for the 2nd round would be nice.
ETA:Had to throw in some love for the mohawk brothers
http://i.imgur.com/oB5HUxH.jpg
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TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Division title is gonna be tough. You can make the argument that this is the second-toughest division in the league, after the Southwest. Strange to say about the East, but four teams of the five teams have preseason over/under lines greater than 41 (ie above .500). Wiz are favorites for now, but if Beal is out until the holidays I don't think that's still the case.
Adding to the mohawk awesomeness- Otto Porter is sporting Rec Specs this season.
tom22406
Footballguy
Said specs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/files/2014/10/portergoggles1014a.jpg
Agreed on the division being tough but my hope is they have enough depth now to hold on until Beal is ready but as you say if it pushes into a longer wait it does certainly bring in questions for them.
I don't think they have the talent to compete for a title but I do believe they are a competitive playoff team given the current roster and coaching limitations.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I'm a fatalist, so I assume it will all go wrong somehow. Particularly with Whitman pulling the strings.
I get that nobody creates more open corner 3 looks than Wall, but I'm still uncomfortable with the third year in a row of expecting a new guy to be the person to convert most of those looks.
I get that nobody creates more open corner 3 looks than Wall, but I'm still uncomfortable with the third year in a row of expecting a new guy to be the person to convert most of those looks.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Only for a little while, though. Beal should be back in December and Webster should be back at some point TBD. Although of course I'm a fatalist too. At some point the pro sports teams in this town break down all of us. A Wall or Gortat injury or a Beal re-injury is the most likely death blow.
Anyway, Porter actually looks up to the task from what I can tell, which is not a lot. He was shooting threes well and with confidence and didn't look lost on either end. If he's as good as he's looked in summer league and preseason he could be a huge X factor. And yes, it's a bit sad to refer to the #3 pick of the 2013 draft as an X factor, but here we are.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
You can take solace in the fact that the 2013 draft is one of the worst drafts in NBA history. Only Greek Freak reaching his potential will save that draft.
tom22406
Footballguy
Even the worst beaten down follower of D.C. sports has to enjoy a 6-2 start to the season no matter how many bad teams they beat to get to that point.
Kinda figured they might struggle without Beal and in spots they clearly have but they have enough bench now to overcome what they once didn't have and that is a pleasant surprise.The downside is Paul Pierce and how bad he has looked so I hope Witt does the right thing and puts a limit on his minutes and gives Porter more time as the season moves along.Temple has been a nice surprise but I expect those wheels to fall off that cart at any moment.
Overall I'm pleased at the start but see they still have a ways to go before becoming a contender even in the East but luckily the East once again looks really weak overall and if they somehow can avoid the Cavs and Raps early on they could make a deeper run this year given good health.One thing that has changed so far is they are winning games now that they normally lost in the past.Both Pacer games,last night against the Pistons and the Bucks win come to mind right away of games they found a way to lose before so maybe the corner is being turned here?
I think 50 wins is well within reach but I'm sure they will make me eat those words come seasons end.
Kinda figured they might struggle without Beal and in spots they clearly have but they have enough bench now to overcome what they once didn't have and that is a pleasant surprise.The downside is Paul Pierce and how bad he has looked so I hope Witt does the right thing and puts a limit on his minutes and gives Porter more time as the season moves along.Temple has been a nice surprise but I expect those wheels to fall off that cart at any moment.
Overall I'm pleased at the start but see they still have a ways to go before becoming a contender even in the East but luckily the East once again looks really weak overall and if they somehow can avoid the Cavs and Raps early on they could make a deeper run this year given good health.One thing that has changed so far is they are winning games now that they normally lost in the past.Both Pacer games,last night against the Pistons and the Bucks win come to mind right away of games they found a way to lose before so maybe the corner is being turned here?
I think 50 wins is well within reach but I'm sure they will make me eat those words come seasons end.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Gotta cut Pierce's minutes regardless of how he's playing. He'll be fine when we need him and that isn't in November.
I wish I could, but I just can't get up for the NBA until after the all star break.
I wish I could, but I just can't get up for the NBA until after the all star break.