GT #39: Bullets @ Bucks 8 PM (NBA TV/NBCSW/980 AM) [1/3/23]

[Silvie Lysandra]

This team would honestly have a lot of hope if we could get assets for Beal and Kuzma. No tanking required even. Deni is going to be a championship level starter for someone even if it isn't us, and Rui is finally starting to get it as a basketball player. Sadly, as much as I've defended Sheppard for being saddled with a bottom 5 sports owner who refuses to tank, his draft management is indefensible at this point. So he would have to go to really maximize the value of trading Beal/Kuz.

[nate33]

According to ESPN play by play at a glance, Kuzma took 15 shots in the 4th quarter.

Here's the 4th quarter box score:

[Frichuela]

This play by Beal pissed me off big time...

Read on Twitter

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I still believe Beal coming back negatively impacted this game.

How? They were up when he was in the game.

It’s convoluted thinking but I’m nonetheless inclined to think it so.

[DCZards]

I still believe Beal coming back negatively impacted this game.

Of course you do.

[dobrojim]

Kevin had a very solid analysis of this game making sure to point out how horrible Kuzma
was on the night.

Also Kev's analysis has Beal with the highest PPA among Wiz players who played
more than a minute or 2 and in his written part of the game report, defends
Beal as the Wiz best player this year. I'll add that I'm sure he doesn't defend
the contract Beal got. That's a different subject.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I still believe Beal coming back negatively impacted this game.

Of course you do.

Remember when pretty much all of you were down on Gafford?

Wes apologists tend to also rally behind Beal. My thoughts are he’s not Damian Lillard. Recall that draft when I said I would trade down for Lillard because he’s better than Beal?

Bradley is a great player. His contract is horrible. I thought he never should have played yesterday. RgIII overruled a weak coach to play injured. Gilbert Arenas came back and a foolhardy Eddie Jordan played Gil an average of 41 minutes in a horrible playoff loss.

Seems to me if it’s not broke don’t try and fix it.

They might have started the game like they played the third quarter without Beal; AND FOR SURR tight hamstrings would not have been aggravated.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Kevin had a very solid analysis of this game making sure to point out how horrible Kuzma
was on the night.

Also Kev's analysis has Beal with the highest PPA among Wiz players who played
more than a minute or 2 and in his written part of the game report, defends
Beal as the Wiz best player this year. I'll add that I'm sure he doesn't defend
the contract Beal got. That's a different subject.

Hey, I tend to miss big when I do swing.

I’ll accept that I’m outnumbered.

I also know more than once or twice ALL OF YALL been wrong. (Millsap comes to mind and Boozer before him)

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Kevin had a very solid analysis of this game making sure to point out how horrible Kuzma
was on the night.

Also Kev's analysis has Beal with the highest PPA among Wiz players who played
more than a minute or 2 and in his written part of the game report, defends
Beal as the Wiz best player this year. I'll add that I'm sure he doesn't defend
the contract Beal got. That's a different subject.

The whole point IS THE CONTRACT.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Imagine how happy we’d all be if the Wizards had swept Milwaukee.

I still care.

That win streak piqued my interest.

I really do APOLOGIZE TO OTHERS UPSET WITH ME OVER MY BEAL PLAYER HATING.

The best would have been for Bradley to stay healthy and the Wizards win.

I know it’s WRONG for me to want Brad out. I cannot rationalize my contempt. WHAT I WISH is Beal had done like Gilbert did and take something less than max plus no trades BUT THE TRUTH: Washington turned on Gil and Brad was wise to take EVERYTHING HE COULD GET.

I’m just flummoxed.

Maybe it’s the new diet…

Out

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

God is messing with my conscience.

Lol

[nate33]

Imagine how happy we’d all be if the Wizards had swept Milwaukee.

I still care.

That win streak piqued my interest.

I really do APOLOGIZE TO OTHERS UPSET WITH ME OVER MY BEAL PLAYER HATING.

The best would have been for Bradley to stay healthy and the Wizards win.

I know it’s WRONG for me to want Brad out. I cannot rationalize my contempt. WHAT I WISH is Beal had done like Gilbert did and take something less than max plus no trades BUT THE TRUTH: Washington turned on Gil and Brad was wise to take EVERYTHING HE COULD GET.

I’m just flummoxed.

Maybe it’s the new diet…

Out

I don't have a problem with complaints about the contract. Arguing that Beal is overpaid is fair game. Arguing that the team can't ever put together a contenting roster because of Beal's contract is fair game. Arguing that Beal should therefore be traded because of his contract is totally understandable.

I just object to these arguments being twisted into an assertion that Beal isn't a good player while actually on the basketball court; or that he actively makes the team worse when he is on the court. I vehemently disagree with that. Beal is still an extremely good player. Unfortunately he is merely around the 30th best player in the league and not among the top 10-12. You need a top 10-12 guy to contend in this league.

[penbeast0]

Kuzma reminded me of a John Thompson quote about one of his Georgetown guys (David Wingate?). Paraphrasing: "If he misses 12 in a row, he comes to me and says, Coach, get me the ball, I'm due!"

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Kuzma with 28 shots while Porzinga East Player of the Week has 13 makes no sense…bad coaching? Monte giving the rock to his pal?

Agreed. Stories of the game tonight:

1. Kuzma shot jacking.
2. Lack of strategy to slow Giannis. Gotta get in his grill starting at mid court.
3. Went away from double bigs too early.
4. Giannis is really, really good

This was the biggest thing. He just got a giant head of steam and ran downhill on us all night and we refused to put a body on him, make him adjust. I think that's why it was so frustrating, so many of his points were just too easy. Great players are going to put up great nights, but at least make them earn it. We didn't do that.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

According to ESPN play by play at a glance, Kuzma took 15 shots in the 4th quarter.

Here's the 4th quarter box score:

Epic fail. We could have created mismatches using Rui and Zinger. THEY should have been the ones we fed after using motion to force switches and get the match ups we wanted.

The game moves too fast for WUJ to figure this out in real time. And Kuz should be the fourth option in our closing lineup.

Playing with two bigs, I wouldn’t mind seeing Kuz initiate the offense from the elbow with his back to the basket on occasion, but only when he gets matched up with a shorter defender.

And, any time Joe Ingles was in the game, we should have gotten the ball to his cover - every possession. He is the NBA’s worst defender.