GT - Portland Trail Blazers @ Washington (12-3-2010)

[DallasShalDune]

Woo! Great interior D. Too many o-boards for Portland, but they were seriously bothered down low.

[nate33]

I don't think that number is quite as bad as it sounds. A lot of it was Aldridge playing volleyball against the backboard. He had 9 offensive rebounds, but he shot 6-17 on the night. In essence, it was more like 4 offensive rebounds and him shooting 6-12. They also missed 62 shots overall. That's a lot of offensive rebounding opportunities.

[tontoz]

McGee has 5 blocks and 0 fouls. Incredible.

With his crazy standing reach and athleticism he should be getting plenty of blocks. Now it looks like he is getting a little smarter going for them. i would still like to see a little boxing out though.

I remember in Josh Smiths rookie year other teams didn't know about his shotblocking and he blocked 10 shots in a game against the Mavs without a foul. That had been done only two other times in NBA history.

[TheBigThree]

Until the very end of the 4th quarter, Blatche played some really great defense on Aldridge.

Interesting that the teams essentially swapped positions after half time. In the first half, we couldn't hit a shot, but we got lots of second chance opportunities while Portland hit their shots but got out rebounded. In the second half this was the exact opposite.

[closg00]

McGee is our defacto game-changer.....for now.

[TGW]

If we had a power forward (ahem Love) that could rebound, this team would be pretty good. A lot of these defensive possessions would be one-and-done if we could grab defensive boards. Loved Javale's energy tonight, but I would love if he could just 2 more defensive boards a game.

[closg00]

If we had a power forward (ahem Love) that could rebound, this team would be pretty good. A lot of these defensive possessions would be one-and-done if we could grab defensive boards. Loved Javale's energy tonight, but I would love if he could just 2 more defensive boards a game.

+1 Need another rebounder

[tontoz]

I don't think that number is quite as bad as it sounds. A lot of it was Aldridge playing volleyball against the backboard. He had 9 offensive rebounds, but he shot 6-17 on the night. In essence, it was more like 4 offensive rebounds and him shooting 6-12. They also missed 62 shots overall. That's a lot of offensive rebounding opportunities.

The problem is that with all those missed shots the Wizards got only 31 defensive rebounds.There were 8 team rebounds. If you take those away there were 54 potential rebounds on that end and the Blazers got 42% of them.

[dlts20]

Good Win, But........







you already know what Im going to talk about. I just dont get why Kirk has to start over Gil. Kirk is the perfect backup PG. Look at our starting lineup tonight. We dont have 1 consistent scorer on the floor. Our 2 most money scorers are Gil & NY and Flip wants to bring both off the bench. We have to depend on guys like Wall or McGee or Kirk or Gee or Dray to score for us? Just start Gil. It makes so much more sense. I also think its becoming clearer that Gil & Wall "can" play together like I said. Wall just needs to get his timing back & Gil just needs his J to start falling again.

The thing Im most upset about is the sked. We are going out West right now. If youve followed the Wiz then you know Gil always finds his rythm out West. You going to put him on the bench against a running team like the Suns who has Nash or either Gil's boy Richardson to guard him? He always goes off in situations like that. Then going back home to LA to play the Lakers? Thats 2 places he dropped 54 & 60pts and we bring him off the bench. No PG the Lakers have can guard a motivated Gil and Kobe is too big to guard him.

Then we go to Sac? That sked has the Arenas takeover written all over it. He could single handily keep us in those games or win those games but we want him on the bench for Kirk and we want us to start off looking like crap every game. Starting every game with Wall wanting to pass but having no go to scorer to pass it to. Then he has to be the go to scorer which he is not. Then we end up bringing Gil in anyways because we havent gotten anything going. Just start the normal lineup Flip, you idiot.

I just could see Gil & Wall looking great out West in uptempo games. We could start looking like a different team. Look at that lineup & rotations tonight. We arent going to win hardly any games like that and if we do, it will all be stressful dog fights. We already have NY for the bench scoring. NY & Kirk are a great match on the bench together. I just dont get it. Its just setting everything back. Then by time he switches it up, everything will be too far gone. We will already be in suck mode.

I mean, are we seriously going to have Gil benched for Hinrich? Again, this isnt a Hinrich diss. He can play but his role on this team is the backup PG, not the starting 2 you fool, espically when we have no consistent scorers in the starting unit. I could see us being explosive if Wall & Gil get going at the same time with guys like Dray & McGee in the frontcourt. It sholdnt even be for debate. Gil's playing very well right now except his J is way off. You know one of these games he's going to get it back and we are going to waste that. It doesnt make sense.

Gil can do things like Lebron did the other night as far as having a 20pt quarter. Kirk isnt capable of that. Why Flip? Ive said all along that its going to take a Hinrich injury for him to be put in his proper role and I dont want to wish injuries on anyone but thats just how dumb Flip is right now. It makes no sense. Gil starting with Kirk & NY on the bench is just the perfect mix. Our team would look night & day with that group but maybe Flip is just tanking it or something. If youre going to tank, it would help to build up Gil's stock in the process though

[tontoz]

Good Win, But........
you already know what Im going to talk about. I just dont get why Kirk has to start over Gil. Kirk is the perfect backup PG. Look at our starting lineup tonight. We dont have 1 consistent scorer on the floor. Our 2 most money scorers are Gil & NY and Flip wants to bring both off the bench.

When was the last time both guys were brought off the bench? It didn't happen tonight.

[dlts20]

Good Win, But........
you already know what Im going to talk about. I just dont get why Kirk has to start over Gil. Kirk is the perfect backup PG. Look at our starting lineup tonight. We dont have 1 consistent scorer on the floor. Our 2 most money scorers are Gil & NY and Flip wants to bring both off the bench.

When was the last time both guys were brought off the bench? It didn't happen tonight.

because NY was hurt and missed the game

[dlts20]

lol, did you hear what Flip just said? He's such a tool. He talked about how Gil talked with Sam before the season about wanting to come off the bench and how it would be best for the team but when it came around to really doing it, I dont know if he still felt that way.

Basically its just what I thought. Gil was saying that stuff just to be a good team guy but didnt think Flip was dumb enough to really do it, espically after he had been in the starting lineup all this time now and has had some big games. Atleast bench him for a star or a guy like Wall but you dont bench him for Hinrich.

He could play well out West but it still wont be what it couldve been if starting. If he gets 30 off the bench against the Suns, that is a game where he wouldve got 45 if he was starting but Flip will be too dumb to even realize that

[tontoz]

Good Win, But........
you already know what Im going to talk about. I just dont get why Kirk has to start over Gil. Kirk is the perfect backup PG. Look at our starting lineup tonight. We dont have 1 consistent scorer on the floor. Our 2 most money scorers are Gil & NY and Flip wants to bring both off the bench.

When was the last time both guys were brought off the bench? It didn't happen tonight.

because NY was hurt and missed the game

You didnt answer the question.

Did it occur to you that Young being out might have been the reason Gil didn't start? You are complaining about something that isn't even happening. Arenas had started 9 straight games.

[DMVleGeND]

Great game by the Wiz. Great D too. They played with high energy, and played great interior D.

I was impressed with Blatche tonight. He has gotten bashed A LOT this season and it has been warranted, but tonight, he played good defense. He obviously isn't in the best shape physically, but today, he didn't just let his defender waltz by him like in other games. He stayed in front of his man the best he could and bodied them. His shot selection was solid too. Very good game from AB.

I was VERY impressed with McGee. He NEVER takes plays off and blocks shots like a mad-man. He will only get better too. As he gets stronger and adds post moves to his offensive repertoire, he can become an all-star.

[clancy]

lol, did you hear what Flip just said? He's such a tool. He talked about how Gil talked with Sam before the season about wanting to come off the bench and how it would be best for the team but when it came around to really doing it, I dont know if he still felt that way.

Basically its just what I thought. Gil was saying that stuff just to be a good team guy but didnt think Flip was dumb enough to really do it, espically after he had been in the starting lineup all this time now and has had some big games. Atleast bench him for a star or a guy like Wall but you dont bench him for Hinrich.

He could play well out West but it still wont be what it couldve been if starting. If he gets 30 off the bench against the Suns, that is a game where he wouldve got 45 if he was starting but Flip will be too dumb to even realize that

You know, it's kind of fascinating to watch you reinterpret everything to match your definitions of Flip as an idiot. Seems like it must be hard work.

[dlts20]

tontoz, Gil also started 9 games because Wall was hurt. Flip already said it had nothing to do with NY being out. Hopefully he wises up for next game but if you guys think its smart to start Kirk over Gil or that it doesnt matter then you guys dont know basketball at all. There is a reason why Gil kept coming in early.

The Lakers are good enough to win games with Kobe coming off the bench also but they arent dumb enough to think thats there best lineup or that it helps the team more

[tontoz]

tontoz, Gil also started 9 games because Wall was hurt. Flip already said it had nothing to do with NY being out. Hopefully he wises up for next game but if you guys think its smart to start Kirk over Gil or that it doesnt matter then you guys dont know basketball at all. There is a reason why Gil kept coming in early.

If Wall hadn't gotten hurt in the Philly game they probably would have started together since then. they started together the very next game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=301125001

If anything Flip has played Arenas too much since he is still working himself back into game shape. You can't expect Arenas to come through in crunch time if he is already gassed. Maybe Flip finally realizes this.

With all the injuries Flip has had to juggle the lineup. I don't see the big problem.

[pineappleheadindc]

Moding this board is maddening. This is like the era where MJ came back and played for the Wiz. The John Wall fanboy posts almost trigger an anti-Wall feeling in me because of their general....well, let me say that it's like reading a board full of MJForever/Troy Wingates.

For all the guys harping about the starting backcourt.

- WTF. Name one game we lost because of Flip's choices on the starting backcourt. Just one.

- Wall had a very pedestrian game (2 dimes and how many TOs?) Yet you blindly ignore it.

The Wiz have bigger problems. Lots of them. Who starts in the backcourt is priority number 1,000,000. Particularly since everyone gets theirl minutes, starting or off the bench.

Worry about the bigger issues - interior D, inability to play with energy on the road, trying to find a real predictable rotation in the midst of injuries galore. In short, start thinking about the name on the front of the jersey, not the back.

[nate33]

The numbers may not show it, but that was, by far, Blatche's best game of the season. He was fantastic on defense until the last 3 minutes when he was gassed. He completely shut Aldridge down and did a very nice job on defensive rotations. I haven't seen him this active on D since... since... ever.

This is what we need out of him defensively every night. He really took pride in his D, and surprise surprise, we won the game and had the best team defensive effort of the season. Blatche also tied for the team lead in on/off differential (a stat in which he has showed poorly all season).

[Hoopalotta]

Good to know, all I saw was the last six minutes and I was worried about the defensive interior. Dray definitely had some clutch scoring down the stretch there too, which bodes well for confidence. Ice-man free throws and that little fast-break dippsy doodle where Mathews thought he was going to take the charge and just ended up standing there with a scoop dropped over top.

The offensive rebounds crashed on us were concerning in the close out, but it sounds like that wasn't an issue for the majority of it.

All told, not bad. The record on the home court now compares favorably with some of the better teams in the league.

While it might be getting a bit overstressed, I will say I am surprised to see Hiney starting and going for 35 minutes again here. I'm not saying that this had any real effect on anything tonight, but let's just say I didn't see this coming over the summer. If we're still talking about this a month from now, the board is not going to be renowned for mirthful exchanges amongst dispassionate patrons.

Gil's shooting has really got to be a concern now. Just looking at the shot chart on ESPN, you're going to be streaky putting up that many shots from the perimeter. On the Hoopdata numbers, Gil is ranked 88th out of the 100 guys listed for total shots at the rim amongst anyone who played 30 or more minutes. That's 1.7 attempts at the rim a game, right ahead of guys like Mayo, Shart Lewis and Battier. He would need to almost double that figure to move into being around the middle of the pack there. Of course Hinrich is 95th on that measure.

http://www.hoopdata.com/shotstats.aspx? ... =0&mins=30

(you might have to shift around on that link as it started crashing on me)