2013-2014 Washington Wizards Playoffs Thread.

[Nivek]

Through 2 games the Wizards are the only team in the NBA up 2-0, Wittman is outcoaching Tibs, Wall looks mature, Grunfeld's vision looks fairly ingenious and the Wizards have a crazy good shot at getting to the ECF. I have no credible explanation for any of the above.

Beating the Bulls doesn't say a ton about Grunfeld's "vision" -- it would mean the Wizards are better than the Bulls head-to-head. It's not a surprise to see the Bulls struggling to score -- they had one of the league's least efficient offenses this season. Over the full season, the Wizards were average. It doesn't make sense to fundamentally change assessments from an 82-game schedule based on a much smaller sample drawn (so far at least) from a matchup with a single opponent.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Through 2 games the Wizards are the only team in the NBA up 2-0, Wittman is outcoaching Tibs, Wall looks mature, Grunfeld's vision looks fairly ingenious and the Wizards have a crazy good shot at getting to the ECF. I have no credible explanation for any of the above.

Beating the Bulls doesn't say a ton about Grunfeld's "vision" -- it would mean the Wizards are better than the Bulls head-to-head. It's not a surprise to see the Bulls struggling to score -- they had one of the league's least efficient offenses this season. Over the full season, the Wizards were average. It doesn't make sense to fundamentally change assessments from an 82-game schedule based on a much smaller sample drawn (so far at least) from a matchup with a single opponent.

My take is this, secure a 3-0 advantage against the Bulls and then we can start talking about the Wizards having stolen home court advantage. That was my exact take after the game one victory. I'm not about to drop my guard as a fan...

I wasn't in favor of Randy Wittman sticking around after this year, but if the Wizards close out this series strong that will sway me a bit in his favor. If they do this against the Pacers, then my opinion will change completely and I will be in favor of bringing Wittman back.

The Wizards are showing the nation what they're about. Tough and very resilient...but things will only get tougher and that's where the real challenge will begin. That's when we'll really find out the value of Wittman.

Grunfeld still needs to go. He's good for a trade, but bad for the overall construction of a team.

CSN all the way!!! #KEEPINITLOCAL!!!

[Nigel Tufnel]

The Wizards have adopted the airline industry's method for pricing playoff tickets. Under the "dynamic" pricing method, public gate prices for playoff games will vary (that is, increase), from game to game instead of by playoff round. For example, the public gate price for seats towards the back of section 110 for games 3 and 4 cost $188. Same seats for game 6 will cost $266. And so on around the stadium. The Wizards would say this is them trying to capture the profits that now go to scalpers. But to me it seems more like the Wizards gouging their most loyal fans as soon as they make their once a decade visit to the playoffs.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Young PG phenom - check

Upper tier young 3pt shooting 2 guard - check

Young do-it-all wing - TBD but Webster fits the bill if he can stay healthy. Ariza still here is good too.

Healthy Nene >>>>>> Healthy Lee

Bogut >>> Okafor but both are great/good defensive C's

We a few band-aids and a Jarret Jack away from making the playoffs and making some noise next year?

Next year's Grizzlies East.

From the Wizards---next year's Warriors East thread

I think the comparison is especially fair right now...

[noworriesinmd]

The path to the ECF is getting clearer
http://nba.si.com/2014/04/23/lance-step ... -playoffs/

If we win this series, we will play either a VERY beatable Hawks team (yawn) or a dysfunctional Indiana team.
I really wanted to play Indy in the first round because they might be mortally wounded. Hibbert is a no-show and Stephenson and Turner are "beefing" (do kids still say that). Can you image us being in the ECF?

Sometimes a run can be had by taking advantage of circumstances.

[noworriesinmd]

The Wizards have adopted the airline industry's method for pricing playoff tickets. Under the "dynamic" pricing method, public gate prices for playoff games will vary (that is, increase), from game to game instead of by playoff round. For example, the public gate price for seats towards the back of section 110 for games 3 and 4 cost $188. Same seats for game 6 will cost $266. And so on around the stadium. The Wizards would say this is them trying to capture the profits that now go to scalpers. But to me it seems more like the Wizards gouging their most loyal fans as soon as they make their once a decade visit to the playoffs.

I totally agree with dynamic pricing. Season ticket holders get tickets "at cost". Game 6 tickets go on sale today.. I sold my tickets for double what I paid for them. I'll be going to both games 3/4 for free. You can get the same deal if you become a season ticket holder.

[JonathanJoseph]

Through 2 games the Wizards are the only team in the NBA up 2-0, Wittman is outcoaching Tibs, Wall looks mature, Grunfeld's vision looks fairly ingenious and the Wizards have a crazy good shot at getting to the ECF. I have no credible explanation for any of the above.

Beating the Bulls doesn't say a ton about Grunfeld's "vision" -- it would mean the Wizards are better than the Bulls head-to-head. It's not a surprise to see the Bulls struggling to score -- they had one of the league's least efficient offenses this season. Over the full season, the Wizards were average. It doesn't make sense to fundamentally change assessments from an 82-game schedule based on a much smaller sample drawn (so far at least) from a matchup with a single opponent.

I am obviously not going to become a Grunfeld fan and am still in complete agreement on his long term failure of both strategy and tactics, but his attempt to surround Wall and Beal with a strong complimentary veteran group appears to be coming to fruition for this season, even if the heavens appear to be opening up for us.

As Barkley and other pundits have mentioned, this particular team has playoff depth at every position in the rotation. They won't last, but I love, love, love the Nene+Andre Miller combo.

The team is playing well right now.

[jivelikenice]

^Agreed. A lot of us aren't fans of Ernie but based on this conference and where we're positioned now, you just can't say we're in a terrible spot. We could potentially have been in an even better position, but we have a chance to do some things over the next few years...

[Higga]

Lets just enjoy the moment and worry about next year, next year.

[hands11]

Wizards up 2-0 having won both on the road. Heading back to DC

Game 2 RECAP

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBb9ZagF0Zw[/youtube]

[hands11]

So they are 2-0 against the Bulls having taken not only home court advantage but they won both there.

Next up.

Two games in WAS
one in CHI
one in WAS
one in CHI

They have 3 games at home to win 2 and CHI has yet to win on their court.

Getting this next game will be HUGE. That gives them 3 more games to close it out. Gotta keep the petal to the metal and get this next one. Don't want to give them any hope to build from.

Wizards need to approach this like a win the series close out game.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

During the regular season I felt Wizards got more foul calls in their favor at home than on the road, so I was real surprised at how many foul calls the Wizards were awarded their first two games in Chicago. It was like the guys reffing in the Chicago didn't get the memo that read: Wizards players' don't get foul calls.

Something told me it strangely would be made up for when the Wizards returned home against the Bulls and it happened for the most part.

They reverted back to swallowing their whistles and being slack with calls; hopefully Nene's ejection forces them to go back to calling things more evenly as they did in games 1 and 2.

[pineappleheadindc]

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post documents the slow decline of that dufus Michael Wilbon as he's navigated the various stages of grief over his Bulls' soon-to-be-demise.

I like, in particular, how he (Wilbon) opines that the Wizards are the type of team the Bulls should "eat for lunch over a seven game series" before it all started.

Link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... the-bulls/

[hands11]

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post documents the slow decline of that dufus Michael Wilbon as he's navigated the various stages of grief over his Bulls' soon-to-be-demise.

I like, in particular, how he (Wilbon) opines that the Wizards are the type of team the Bulls should "eat for lunch over a seven game series" before it all started.

Link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... the-bulls/

Michael who ?

[godkingleonidas]

Round 2 Eastern Conference playoffs.

[hands11]

Round 2 Eastern Conference playoffs.

I just saw that. ATL up 3-2

Very interesting.

Going to be a battle for sure.

And we get to go against Mack and Martin if we meet up. That is going to be tough to watch if either does any damage.

But Korver is the one they have to lock down.

Full strength, we should match up well with them but it could be a real fight. Wall and Beal will need to really bring it.

Wall vs Teague
Beal vs Korver
TA vs D Carroll
Nene vs Millsap
Gortat vs Antic

Miller vs Mack
Booker vs Scott
Gooden vs Brand
Webster vs Williams

Plus Kevin S, Otto, Temple AH vs C Marin, Muscala and Schroder

[Hypnotizer]

I just saw that. ATL up 3-1

3-2.

[hands11]

I just saw that. ATL up 3-1

3-2.

Good eye.

Here are the brackets updated with wins.

http://www.nbaplayoffsbracket.com/2014/index.php

[doclinkin]

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post documents the slow decline of that dufus Michael Wilbon as he's navigated the various stages of grief over his Bulls' soon-to-be-demise.

I like, in particular, how he (Wilbon) opines that the Wizards are the type of team the Bulls should "eat for lunch over a seven game series" before it all started.

Link below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... the-bulls/

Yeah often he manages to swagger in retreat, claiming he's "not surprised" about whatever happenstance. Oh he's never surprised is out boy Wilbon. Here, or on the TK show, in his retro-prognostication he claims he" always knew the Wizards had more talent", but blah blah blah. Problem is in this case he was loud wrong, and didn't leave himself much of a path to maneuver that fat ass in reverse. Love it when Wilbon has to eat a healthy portion of his own manure.

[fishercob]

I'm not looking ahead. I'm NOT LOOKING AHEAD!

But it occurs to me that while the Wizards are worse than the Heat, they are deeper than the Heat. They also match up reasonably well with the Heat.

I'm not looking ahead!