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Respectablity is Reached?--Washington Wizards 2014-2015 Regular Season (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter DCThunder
- Start date
tom22406
Footballguy
They made a few runs but overall I have to agree it was butt ugly at best.
Hawks are simply better,no other way to say it.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
AAABatteries
Footballguy
tom22406
Footballguy
After that Hawks debacle they have turned in two really solid wins by beating the Spurs at Verizon and then on the road the next night(always tough)vs Bulls.Did I hear it correctly that they have 5 straight wins at United Center?
Tough 1st half last night with a ton of bad mental mistakes but they just hung around and then turned it on with good defense and solid shooting from Pierce.
Two really good teams going in D.C. right now and all the media can talk about are the stinking Skins.Talk radio here is miserable at best.
Tough 1st half last night with a ton of bad mental mistakes but they just hung around and then turned it on with good defense and solid shooting from Pierce.
Two really good teams going in D.C. right now and all the media can talk about are the stinking Skins.Talk radio here is miserable at best.
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STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
If I have to listen to Thom and Kevin talk about RGIII for one more hour , I may renounce my citizenship.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Surviving the brutal stretch on the schedule between Dec 29 and January 31 looks like the key to staying out of the 4-5 matchup, which should be the goal for the regular season. I can't believe they're 6-4 over that stretch so far, looking at the schedule that's really the best you could possible hope for over those last 10. They get a nice little breather here before another tough stretch of 6 games, although not as tough as the last 10.
As for talk radio- what I hate the most is that they say they're just giving the audience what it wants, which totally ignores the prominent role they play in driving the sports conversation in this town. If they talk more about the Wiz, so will their audience. I guess the nice thing about it is that for now it's still easy to get decent tickets to see top level basketball for a reasonable price.
tom22406
Footballguy
I caught an interview with the program director on ESPN 980 and he took calls on this very subject and swore that once the Skins season was over the station would devote more time to the Wiz and Caps(he got a few calls asking why very little coverage).On 106.7(I assume you guys pick the station up)Chad Dukes talks about this quite a bit because his twitter feed blows up about the lack of coverage and his reply is almost always ratings drive what they talk about and since the Skins are the main ratings driver that's why they get almost all the coverage.They sprinkle in a little more Caps coverage over 980 but since the hosts are usually clueless about hockey and ask generic questions it tends to just turns me off even more.106.7 does,however,have a Saturday morning show called "Crashing The Net" with Tom Daly and Neil Greenberg that talks nothing but hockey at 8am(I believe)for an hour.Greenberg does the fancy stats blog for the Post and is well versed in hockey lingo and talk so it makes for an enjoyable hour if I catch it.
Back to the Wiz and your first point.Being 27-12 was above what I expected so I'm happy but cautious(as most are I'm sure).Beating two very good teams back to back is no easy feat and they have shown they can play with anyone on any night and that is something we haven't seen for a long,long time here.Sure they need to improve in some areas and of course they are not an elite team yet but you can see growth in especially Wall and a little(defensively)in Beal and as a team overall so they can go as far as the coaching and progression will allow them.Right now having the Bulls as their ##### is extra sweet but things change quickly so enjoy it while we can.I'm very optimistic they can get over 50 wins and a top 3 seed and possibly stay out of the Hawks way until the Conf Final.
Swing 51
Footballguy
I'd like to see them prove they can beat the Raptors too. But those are definitely the three teams to beat in the East in my mind.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
I've never really understood the explanation given by the radio shows that the phones "light up" when talking the Skins, but not with the Wizards, as the reason for not talking about the Wizards. That seems to relate more to the segment of the audience more likely to call into a radio show, than number of listeners. But I guess I've never understood why anyone would ever call into a radio show either.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Seems like it wouldn't be too hard to match up quarter-hour ratings with the subjects being discussed. Would have to think the big corporate stations have a really good idea what their listeners want to hear at this point. Or am I giving them too much credit?
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
It's a bit of a chicken and egg problem. Sports talk radio drives the discussion- the more they talk about it the more the public is interested in it. If they decided to devote 2 hours a day to discussing the Washington Kastles people would get annoyed I'm sure, but it would definitely result in more Kastles interest too.
There's also the opposite perspective- if they don't talk about something they drive away people who are interested in it. I'm a big fan of all four local teams. but I'm more of a Wiz/Nats fan than a Skins/Caps fan, and I find all the gossipy Skins talk exhausting and annoying. So I almost never listen to sports talk radio. Therefore when they do talk about the Wiz or the Nats, people like me aren't around to move the needle on ratings or call-ins or whatever. If they spent a lot of time talking about the Wiz and the Nats I'd be more inclined to listen. It's like if a pop music station says they don't play indie stuff because their listeners don't like it. Well, no ####. You cater to pop music fans. If you played more indie stuff your listener base would probably change accordingly.
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tom22406
Footballguy
Nice to see the 76ers live up to the hype yesterday in what was some of the worst basketball I have seen(maybe the Knicks were worse but it's real close).
Most improved player on the Wiz has to be Seraphin.He just totally looks like a different player this year.Slimmed down,plays better D,is more aggressive and has become a decent passer.I really thought Porter would be the next level up guy but Seraphin has really impressed me with how hard he has worked to improve his game on both ends.
2nd in the East with a little cushion,I'll take it.
Most improved player on the Wiz has to be Seraphin.He just totally looks like a different player this year.Slimmed down,plays better D,is more aggressive and has become a decent passer.I really thought Porter would be the next level up guy but Seraphin has really impressed me with how hard he has worked to improve his game on both ends.
2nd in the East with a little cushion,I'll take it.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
You knew they'd blow a 4th quarter lead eventually, can't go all season without it happening at least once or twice.
Tough four game swing coming up, two back-to-backs with travel including a weird quirk where they'll basically play two road games 1,000 miles apart within 24 hours (10 PM Saturday in Portland then 8 PM Sunday in Denver). NBA schedule can be brutal sometimes. Guessing they sit Pierce and maybe Nene against Portland, better to target Denver then go all-out to try to beat a great team on the road and end up with two Ls.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
With the football season winding down and the All-Star break almost here , I'm ready for some Bullets basketball. After being highly disappointed I had to miss my last chance to see the Spurs as we know them last week, I did score club tickets versus the Cavaliers on the 20th and on the 24th against the Warriors!
I haven't been able to go to a game since before Christmas so of you can't tell already, I can't wait.
I haven't been able to go to a game since before Christmas so of you can't tell already, I can't wait.
Swing 51
Footballguy
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
I have tickets to this one too. I'll ask my wife if she's planning on going, if not someone here is welcome to the other ticket and we can make a cornhole of it.
tom22406
Footballguy
Time to panic on Beal yet?
Also,not very pleased with how Wall has played the last stretch of games either.Last night they were basically begging him to take the outside jumper and he either has to hit those or drive to dish to a shooter or get fouled if he isn't confident in making it(which he clearly wasn't).
Also,not very pleased with how Wall has played the last stretch of games either.Last night they were basically begging him to take the outside jumper and he either has to hit those or drive to dish to a shooter or get fouled if he isn't confident in making it(which he clearly wasn't).
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TobiasFunke
Footballguy
It's even worse than that. They're 12-12 (about to be 12-13) since starting 19-6.
Said it before, I'll say it again, probably for the next two seasons at least: Wittman is a great motivator and probably has done things for the team we can't see as fans, but his offensive shortcomings cap this team's potential.
The only team in the Top 10 in 3PAs that's not in the playoffs as of today is Detroit, and they will be soon. The only team other than the Wiz in teh bottom 10 in 3PAs that's not in the playoffs as of today is Miami, and they're 21st and are the team Detroit will likely replace. The Wizards are 27th. This isn't rocket science. You have Bradley Beal, Paul Pierce, Rasual Butler, Martell Webster and the best 3 point assist man in the league at PG. Shoot more ###### threes.
tom22406
Footballguy
You know I'm no Wittman fan and agree with everthing you said here.
The team really just looks slow and tired right now and the bench has just went away for the most part in helping them stay in games when others need rest.The lack of ball movement,shot selection and defensive effort are a problem right now.Gortat looks lost,so much so he cut off his Hawk in hopes of breaking out of his slump(he did look a little better).
I'm not liking the rotation Wittman is using right now.Temple is a great stopper but offers little else and I don't get seeing him play over Miller right now except to get Miller rest even though Miller hasn't looked very good.
They need some fresh legs and bad right now.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
At this point the only thing that gives me any hope that this team will win their inevitable 4-5 playoff series (other than the remote possibility of adding Ray Allen) is the fact that Wall and Nene can play 40+ minutes in the playoffs.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Nene's actually been a stud all year. Mike Prada offers a pretty good summary of his contributions here (#9), suggesting that he might even warrant defensive POY consideration. Gortat is the one who seems a little less engaged.
Bench is the real problem, though. And the perpetual Wittman shot selection thing.
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His game log seems to be a little uneven so I've probably just been catching him on bad nights. DPOY seems wonky given his minutes but I haven't read your link yet. I do think he is their most important player if not their best one.
Gortat had a tendency to disappear even in the playoffs last year. Not sure what his deal is.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Yeah, its definitely a wonky perspective. No chance he actually gets consideration, the award is reserved for rim protectors and perimeter on-ball defenders. IMO he's having his best regular season as a Wizard, though.
tom22406
Footballguy
Wittman doesn't seem to trust him given how few his minutes have been over the entire season.I wanted to see Porter and Pierce around the same number or have Porter slightly higher but that hasn't been the case at all.
Don Quixote
Footballguy
Free Otto.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
tom22406
Footballguy
Speaking of Bullets Forever,they are pushing the idea of bringing in Gerald Green from the Suns
http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/2/3/7972845/the-wizards-should-acquire-gerald-green
Depending upon the price I like this addition if it happens.
http://www.bulletsforever.com/2015/2/3/7972845/the-wizards-should-acquire-gerald-green
Depending upon the price I like this addition if it happens.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
tom22406
Footballguy
I only caught bits and pieces of the game but I knew they were going to blow that lead the way they were playing.
As Tobias has said let's just hope for a 4/5 seed 1st round win and then another exit at best.Until Wittman learns how to fix this offensive mess(which he never will IMO)this is who they are.A decent team not even close to contending.
As Tobias has said let's just hope for a 4/5 seed 1st round win and then another exit at best.Until Wittman learns how to fix this offensive mess(which he never will IMO)this is who they are.A decent team not even close to contending.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
There's a detailed breakdown at Bullets Forever; they tried to run elevator doors for Rasual but they started too late and DeRozan sniffed it out and Wall had to improvise. Going for a 3 was the right call- much better chance of winning than going for a 2 and then still having to win in OT on the road.tom22406 said:Did anybody really have any doubt Wall would take a 3 to end the game?
Down 2 with 8 seconds to go and that's the best shot you can get?
Beal down for who knows how long now and nobody really to step into the 2 role.Hope they hold onto 5th.
I didn't mind the result or the final minute- Wizards got themselves some decent looks that just didn't fall, Pierce defended DeRozan perfectly on the game-winner and he hit a very tough fadeaway. My problem was with what they did before that, leaving a rested Porter and Gortat on the bench in favor of Temple and Gooden. Made no sense.
At this point I feel like there's very little at stake for the rest of the regular season. We're gonna be the 5 or 6 so no home court regardless facing one of three possible opponents. You hope we end up facing Chicago or maybe Toronto rather than Cleveland both for matchup reasons and because losing the Lebron and the Cavs again would suck worse than losing to the other two teams. But there's no way to know where you want to be to accomplish that. So I say rest Beal and whoever else needs it and get Porter more minutes, including 4th quarter minutes.
tom22406
Footballguy
From that breakdownThere's a detailed breakdown at Bullets Forever; they tried to run elevator doors for Rasual but they started too late and DeRozan sniffed it out and Wall had to improvise. Going for a 3 was the right call- much better chance of winning than going for a 2 and then still having to win in OT on the road.tom22406 said:Did anybody really have any doubt Wall would take a 3 to end the game?
Down 2 with 8 seconds to go and that's the best shot you can get?
Beal down for who knows how long now and nobody really to step into the 2 role.Hope they hold onto 5th.
I didn't mind the result or the final minute- Wizards got themselves some decent looks that just didn't fall, Pierce defended DeRozan perfectly on the game-winner and he hit a very tough fadeaway. My problem was with what they did before that, leaving a rested Porter and Gortat on the bench in favor of Temple and Gooden. Made no sense.
At this point I feel like there's very little at stake for the rest of the regular season. We're gonna be the 5 or 6 so no home court regardless facing one of three possible opponents. You hope we end up facing Chicago or maybe Toronto rather than Cleveland both for matchup reasons and because losing the Lebron and the Cavs again would suck worse than losing to the other two teams. But there's no way to know where you want to be to accomplish that. So I say rest Beal and whoever else needs it and get Porter more minutes, including 4th quarter minutes.
So Wittman runs a play(that has worked in the past and clearly Toronto scouted it)that gives Wall no chance at a drive once it breaks down?
Like I said I had no doubts this would be the final shot.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Yeah I didn't like that aspect of it, although the timing is trickier than suggested in that analysis IMO. You want to shoot it with enough time on the clock for a putback, but you also don't want to leave them time to score if you hit the bucket (the possibility of a win after a miss and a foul is remote enough not to bother including it). But that's small potatoes. Like I said a three with less than 5 seconds on the clock was the right play because it gives you a much better chance to win than playing for a tie on the road against a deeper injury-free team. The game was lost when they blew the late lead because Wittman went with Gooden and Temple too long, not on that last attempt. As soon as DeRozan's shot fell they only had about a 25% chance to win at best anyway.From that breakdownThere's a detailed breakdown at Bullets Forever; they tried to run elevator doors for Rasual but they started too late and DeRozan sniffed it out and Wall had to improvise. Going for a 3 was the right call- much better chance of winning than going for a 2 and then still having to win in OT on the road.tom22406 said:Did anybody really have any doubt Wall would take a 3 to end the game?
Down 2 with 8 seconds to go and that's the best shot you can get?
Beal down for who knows how long now and nobody really to step into the 2 role.Hope they hold onto 5th.
I didn't mind the result or the final minute- Wizards got themselves some decent looks that just didn't fall, Pierce defended DeRozan perfectly on the game-winner and he hit a very tough fadeaway. My problem was with what they did before that, leaving a rested Porter and Gortat on the bench in favor of Temple and Gooden. Made no sense.
At this point I feel like there's very little at stake for the rest of the regular season. We're gonna be the 5 or 6 so no home court regardless facing one of three possible opponents. You hope we end up facing Chicago or maybe Toronto rather than Cleveland both for matchup reasons and because losing the Lebron and the Cavs again would suck worse than losing to the other two teams. But there's no way to know where you want to be to accomplish that. So I say rest Beal and whoever else needs it and get Porter more minutes, including 4th quarter minutes.
So Wittman runs a play(that has worked in the past and clearly Toronto scouted it)that gives Wall no chance at a drive once it breaks down?
Like I said I had no doubts this would be the final shot.
tom22406
Footballguy
No doubting Wittman is pretty horrible with his rotations and his late quarter plays he runs.
Both Temple and Gooden had more minutes over Nene,Gortat and Porter which really is inexcuseable(especially the first two).I wouldn't have minded seeing Seraphin getting more minutes either since he does have some offensive game.
Oh well,won't be long before the Bucks pass them by.
Both Temple and Gooden had more minutes over Nene,Gortat and Porter which really is inexcuseable(especially the first two).I wouldn't have minded seeing Seraphin getting more minutes either since he does have some offensive game.
Oh well,won't be long before the Bucks pass them by.
The_Man
Footballguy
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
This is the least successful team in American professional sports over most of our lifetimes. The coach is incredibly stubborn and employs a comically stupid offensive game plan. You knew it wouldn't last.
It really was fun, though. April/May 2014 and November/December 2014 was as good as DC pro basketball has been since I was 6 years old. The only minor disappointment was that all but one of the playoff wins came on the road.
I mentioned this a few times last year, but a fascinating "what if" for this team (in my view at least) is how good they would have been if they let Wittman go and picked up Karl last year. I really think he would have been perfect for this team.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
I told anybody who would listen that we should have hired George Carl.
tom22406
Footballguy
Why is Temple getting the minutes he is?I simply don't understand this at all.Why not let Porter get these minutes and see what they have with him.He may be a complete bust but we may never know unless they throw his feet in the fire with the starters more often.Temple finished the game a -27.They really have a huge hole at the 2 with Beal out and nobody behind him.
I also really wish Wall would stop jacking up shots as much as he does.
I also really wish Wall would stop jacking up shots as much as he does.
TobiasFunke
Footballguy
Karl is fine and all but his best attribute is that he's not Wittman. Wittman is a disaster. Even the personnel problems are his fault. Ernie has done some decent work, including the Nene trade and fielding a decent roster while also ensuring a ton of space on the books for free agents in 2016. The focus on vets and big men and the lack of three point shooters is, I believe, Wittman's influence. Sure you can blame Grunfeld for going along with the idea of building a 1990s NBA roster for the 2014-2015 season, but to some extent he has to work with the coach's plans.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
They had a great formula last year. Pick n roll with the bigs or wall driving and dishing to a wide open shooter.
Wuh happened?
Wuh happened?
tom22406
Footballguy
I did catch one stat that said the drives to the hoop per game for the Wiz was either dead last or 2nd to last(Knicks were worse I think).They had a great formula last year. Pick n roll with the bigs or wall driving and dishing to a wide open shooter.
Wuh happened?
Losing Ariza(and Beal for quite a few games) seems to have hurt more than originally thought for the open 3's but the driving to the hoop tells me they don't really have any guys(besides Wall)who can do this.