Official John Wall Appreciation Thread

[fishercob]

I appreciate John trashing Nick and Javale in the paper today!

[FAH1223]

Had a dream we made the playoffs next year due to Wall's development.

[nate33]

I appreciate John trashing Nick and Javale in the paper today!

What Fish is talking about:

“At times it was tough because you had guys like Nick and JaVale; they wanted the ball a lot and took a lot of shots. It’s kind of tough to find what kind of team it was with them,” John Wall said, throwing his support behind the deal for Nene. “I think it was the right decision. We had a lot of jokes and stuff going around the locker room, but [now] the energy is more serious, everybody is being on time, taking things more serious, being professional about everything. We just interacting more as a team.”

[jimij]

You could tell even in the first few games after the trade that Wall appreciated being around more professional players all the time (between the two who left, the benching of AB and the exile of Lewis who just didn't want to be here).

He's definitely even happier now that we are winning more but I thought his attitude change was instantaneous.

[miller31time]

Those comments are no surprise. The kid has been a winner his entire life. And then he gets drafted by the Wizards and suddenly, everything is ass-backwards. Even for as young as he is, I'm sure that he absolutely hated the nonchalant losing culture we had here with Nick, Javale and AB.

[Spence]

Hard to imagine John's burning any bridges with those comments because I doubt he was that tight with those guys anyway.

The trade for Nene is a big part of this, but I suspect telling Andray Blatche to go away and replacing him with guys like James Singleton, Cartier Martin and such, is also a contributory factor. Having guys on the team who are thrilled to be in the NBA instead of guys who are just happy cashing a fat paycheck must make a difference in the atmosphere around the team. Money matters to all those guys, just as it does to relative paupers like us, but some guys want to earn their money and others just want it. Makes a difference.

[MF23]

Glad to see that comment from John Wall. Not surprising but nice to see.

I'm sure John Wall learned how to build a tank this season because he was a different player once the NOH went out of reach. I don't begrudge it, they were built to stink this season. He's a smart young man displaying perspective though I'd doubt he'd ever admit it.

[cdouglas]

Remember the situation Lebron was in his first season with the Cavs. They traded off Miles and Ricky Davis because it was hard for Lebron to do what he did best with them on the team. I don't think they were willing to take orders from the rookie. Well I believe it was hard for Wall to do what he did best with Blatche, McGee and Young. I read on the board where some of you are against Crawford being on the team. Well after reading a comment he made about having a hard time having to play after Young when he returned, I too think it would be best to replace Crawford. The ball needs to be in Wall's hands and the team looked really good in the games with Crawford.

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

Remember the situation Lebron was in his first season with the Cavs. They traded off Miles and Ricky Davis because it was hard for Lebron to do what he did best with them on the team. I don't think they were willing to take orders from the rookie. Well I believe it was hard for Wall to do what he did best with Blatche, McGee and Young. I read on the board where some of you are against Crawford being on the team. Well after reading a comment he made about having a hard time having to play after Young when he returned, I too think it would be best to replace Crawford. The ball needs to be in Wall's hands and the team looked really good in the games with Crawford.

I think Crawford and Wall need to spend less time on the court together but I don't want Crawford gone. I think he can become a really good 6th man - so we just need to find a starting 2.

[Rafael122]

Crawford's ideal role is on the second team providing instant offense off the bench. I wouldn't trade him, it sounds like the kid hates losing as well. You need guys like that.

[DCZards]

Crawford's ideal role is on the second team providing instant offense off the bench. I wouldn't trade him, it sounds like the kid hates losing as well. You need guys like that.

I'm also for keeping Crawford as a back up. He's capable of playing backup at both SG & PG. He's a chucker (something I hope he learns to control), but I love Jordan's competitiveness and confidence.

[Nivek]

I also like Jordan's competitiveness, but I could do with more accomplishment to go with the confidence. Among the 41 players this season with a usage rate of 25 or higher, Crawford was 38th in efficiency.

[DCZards]

I also like Jordan's competitiveness, but I could do with more accomplishment to go with the confidence. Among the 41 players this season with a usage rate of 25 or higher, Crawford was 38th in efficiency.

I need a little more info/context. Where did Crawford rank among those 41 players in terms of experience? age?

[7-Day Dray]

Jordan's idea of competing is to chuck and go into "Me Against the World" mode. Not really seeing his competitiveness as a positive.

[Dat2U]

I just can't get over Jordan Crawford's shot selection. I've played with dudes like that and a guy with no conscious like that just breeds contempt and selfishness amongst his teammates. Jordan often turns everyone else including Wall into a spectator. Even if were talking about a backup role, he'd still be taking a lot of questionable shots. And Wall is going to be playing 36-40 minutes a night in most cases so even in a reserve role, Crawford & Wall would play together in spots.

If were about totally serious changing the culture, I think that means Jordan Crawford's shot jacking ways need to go as well.

[Nivek]

I also like Jordan's competitiveness, but I could do with more accomplishment to go with the confidence. Among the 41 players this season with a usage rate of 25 or higher, Crawford was 38th in efficiency.

I need a little more info/context. Where did Crawford rank among those 41 players in terms of experience? age?

Crawford was 8th youngest. Of the 13 players his age or younger, he ranked 11th. Of the 6 players his age or younger AND in their 1st or 2nd year in the league, he ranked 5th. Over the past 10 years, there have been 40 players seasons in which a player in his 1st or 2nd season played at least 500 total minutes and had a usage rate of 25 or higher. Crawford this season ranked 35th. Last season, he ranked 38th.

[Liverbird]

Kevin - so who were the other 4 players that ranked above Crawford in efficiency based on age and years experience?

Cheers

[GUYANNAGRIZZLI]

KS NENE vesely are ALREADY 3 GUYS VERY IMPRESSIVE IN THE PAINT WHO CAN Hold
THE COMPARISON FOR NEXT YEAR WITH THE 3 GUYS OF UTAH BIG AL MILLSAP AND FAVORS. it's great for the Wiz who has totaly change his roster on the current season in the paint and in much better. ByE BYE Mcgee and Blatch guys who don't have the good mentality to be effective and leaders and welcome for Seraphin and nene who are real offensive threat and solid defenders in the paint and with a percentage of shooting highly over 50%. And what about the end of season of Vesely who is so athletic for his 6.11 and has a great futur in this league with great ability in offensive and defensive rebounds.
Some great perspective in the paint to add with Wall who has now a solid and clearly definished front court and can really dishes a lot of assist in the paint and still be a scorer and he has really impressed whith his ability to run cost to cost, he is very very spectacular but also effective in his game which is the most important.
I think for the draft if they can't have Davis, a good shooter from the field who has the ability to catch and shoot at 45 % and to make some 3pointers would be the better option and also who is able to defend good. Harrison Barnes, gilchrist, bradley beal.
To finish i would just say that what has really improve lately the Wiz in this season is the complementarity of Nene ks, and ves (singleton)who are the main reason of the good results because without some solid big guys whith at least 6.11 for nene and VES and 270lbs like Seraphin you have no chance to win in long terms, it's just impossible. And now Wiz is a candidate for the playoffs if they continue to defend well.

[The Consiglieri]

Anyone seen these quotes? Boy do they paint a picture:

Link:

http://hoopshype.com/rumors/tag/washington_wizards

"
The Wizards were certainly hamstrung by the lockout, because their young roster had no summer league, a short training camp and limited practices. Conflicting agendas early on also fostered an environment of individual play that was so unproductive that the phrase “selfish play” was used after nearly every loss. “For some guys, it was contract year, wasn’t serious with the basketball as I think they should’ve been and with them being traded to veteran teams, it helped them,” John Wall said. “We didn’t have any veterans to get on them, they was the veterans. Now they are with veteran teams doing better and we’re doing better.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall | share


Wall, the 2010 No. 1 overall pick, struggled early, finally got on track shortly before Saunders was dismissed, then put up all-star caliber numbers for nearly 20 games, and later entered a lengthy slump before finishing with an assist flurry. He had 12 assists in the season finale. “This year, really, after the trade, it felt like it was my third year,” Wall said. “It was a whole totally different team and we started playing totally different, to be honest. No disrespect to any guys we had before, but everything changed. We were more serious in the locker room, more serious on the court, unselfish play, everybody played together and just wanted to win.” Washington Post"

[gesa2]

Budding Defensive Stopper Award: John Wall

Everyone looked around and mumbled, "What's wrong with John Wall?" when he got off to a surprisingly sluggish start this season. Quick review: he averaged 13 points and six assists on 27 percent shooting while turning the ball over nearly five times a game in December. January wasn't much better. The culprit: Wall was surrounded by a horde of inexperienced teammates who had yet to grasp the concept of team basketball. Wall eventually turned it around and had a pretty solid season.
Dwyane Wade
Geoff Burke/US PresswireWall is developing into a savvy defender.

But something else happened. Ironically, while we were expecting fireworks offensively, Wall quietly began to transform into a legit defensive player. His pick-and-roll defense and decision-making improved considerably from a year ago. He took fewer gambles and his on-ball pressure could be suffocating at times. On Feb. 8, he held Chris Paul to two points on 1-for-8 shooting. In two games he limited Kyle Lowry to 5-of-21 from the field. This season he was second among guards in blocks and only one of two guards to average 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks. (Three-time All-Defense second-team defender Dwyane Wade was the other.)

Sure he still misses assignments and occasionally lacks focus (he's only 21), but with Jason Kidd-like size and quickness Wall has the potential and ability to one day soon become one of the league's top defenders.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/ ... nal-awards

Hopeful. I wonder what Wall's more advanced defensive stats show this year? I hope we can create an identity as a team that fights on defense, rebounds and pushes the ball. We'll need to unless we have a significant upgrade in offensive talent.