Wiz @ Sonics

[DCZards]

It was certainly interesting to watch the fourth quarter (I missed the rest of the game). As soon as we made our run, you could see that we were a veteran contender and they were a young team without leadership or drive. Durant hit one three, but other than that they had no answer, and seemed resigned to the loss as soon as we had closed the gap to 4 points or so, before we had even taken the lead. I recognize these things because I was so used to seeing the roles reversed with an undermanned Les Boulesz desperately nursing a fourth quarter lead only to collapse under the determined onslaught of a contending team that simply "knew" how to win.

I hear ya. Even as the Wizards were falling behind by 17 points I had this feeling that they would find a way to win, which was a weird feeling given that in the past the Wizards were the team that I'd expect to collapse.

Last night, I just knew that the "adults" would take over the game at some point...and for me that meant AJ, AD and CB. As it turned out, the "adults" were Mason and DSong.

[pineappleheadindc]

Did Buck and Phil allude to any sort of friction between Haywood and DeShawn. The Sonics TV crew did - a lot. And they called out lots of instances where DeShawn flat out ignored Haywood for either a jacked 3 pointer or, when DeShawn was driving, an open Haywood.

In fact, they kinda named DeShawn as the reason the Wizards lost the early lead. They said that the Wiz were doing well with Wood inside, then lost their edge when DeShawn started jacking 3s. And they caught Haywood, after being ignored by DS as DS drove for an offensive foul, looking toward EJ with a look like "what do I (BH) have to do to get the ball?"

Anyway, was interesting to hear Seattle broadcasters opinions about the Wiz.

[hands11]

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Collison probably would have had 30 rebounds if Blatche and D-mac played more. D-mac was undersized against Collison and Blatche played like a complete marshmellow while he was in the game. Out of everyone, I think Haywood and Sangalia did the best on the boards.

As far as Mason, I agree he saved us last night. My only point was that there was no need for E.J. to take him out of the game during the last two minutes. However, no harm no foul.

Haywood did do well and we wouldn't have had such a difficult time if we would have just gone to the post more, which is what got us back in the game. That said, we should have played Blatche more with BH and DMAC should have gotten more burn and NY should have been used earlier.

PS- I did watch the game.

[hands11]

I think the reason EJ pulled RMjr with 2 min to play is that
1. he might have been tired

2. he (RMjr) had accomplished what needed to be done.
A fresh, well rested DeShawn to play D for 2 min
was more important to EJ than riding out RM until
he stopped hitting. IIRC, our lead had grown up
to 10 points (or close to it) by the time RM came out.

It was a gamble that ended up not costing us. I don't know how tired Mason was or not. I would have rather seen him finish it out because pulling him almost did cost us.

EJ got away with the move but that doesn't mean it was a good one.

Not a well coached game. One great one follow by 2 terrible ones.

[hands11]

Did Buck and Phil allude to any sort of friction between Haywood and DeShawn. The Sonics TV crew did - a lot. And they called out lots of instances where DeShawn flat out ignored Haywood for either a jacked 3 pointer or, when DeShawn was driving, an open Haywood.

In fact, they kinda named DeShawn as the reason the Wizards lost the early lead. They said that the Wiz were doing well with Wood inside, then lost their edge when DeShawn started jacking 3s. And they caught Haywood, after being ignored by DS as DS drove for an offensive foul, looking toward EJ with a look like "what do I (BH) have to do to get the ball?"

Anyway, was interesting to hear Seattle broadcasters opinions about the Wiz.

God I hope that isn't true. Something to watch out for in the next games though.

[DCZards]

I think the reason EJ pulled RMjr with 2 min to play is that
1. he might have been tired

2. he (RMjr) had accomplished what needed to be done.
A fresh, well rested DeShawn to play D for 2 min
was more important to EJ than riding out RM until
he stopped hitting. IIRC, our lead had grown up
to 10 points (or close to it) by the time RM came out.

Yes, Mason's work was done. With two minutes left and a 10 point lead, it made perfect sense to take out Mason, who had just played extended minutes, and put in a fresh DSteve, who also happens to be the team's best perimeter defender.

[hands11]

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Yes, Mason's work was done. With two minutes left and a 10 point lead, it made perfect sense to take out Mason, who had just played extended minutes, and put in a fresh DSteve, who also happens to be the team's best perimeter defender.

http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gamef ... ame=WASSEA

He could have finished it out.

[Ruzious]

Did Buck and Phil allude to any sort of friction between Haywood and DeShawn. The Sonics TV crew did - a lot. And they called out lots of instances where DeShawn flat out ignored Haywood for either a jacked 3 pointer or, when DeShawn was driving, an open Haywood.

In fact, they kinda named DeShawn as the reason the Wizards lost the early lead. They said that the Wiz were doing well with Wood inside, then lost their edge when DeShawn started jacking 3s. And they caught Haywood, after being ignored by DS as DS drove for an offensive foul, looking toward EJ with a look like "what do I (BH) have to do to get the ball?"

I think DS just made some bad decisions. He made a couple of long jumpers and being a very streaky shooter, he likely figured he'd try to ride the streak. Instead, he missed a whole bunch of 3's in the first quarter. If I had a teammate doing that when I'm on a roll, I'd likely be pissed for a bit and then get over it - as DS doesn't do that very often.

If it happens in the next game, then I'd have some concern, but not now.

[DCZards]

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http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gamef ... ame=WASSEA

He could have finished it out.

Interesting stuff in the popcorn machine. But I couldn't tell by looking at it whether Mason might have been tired after playing 12+ straight minutes in a game where he and his teammates had to work awfully hard to come from 17 points down.

I also can't tell from the chart whether it was a good coaching move to put your best defender (DSteve) in the face of the other team's top scorer (Durant) for the last 3 minutes of the game. I think it probably was.