GT Wiz vs Pistons (11/21/10)

[hands11]

This is one you have to close out in regulation. I doubt they'll get close to a playoff contender but if they do, this one will cost them. Blatche's defense on Villanueva, letting Rip go off in OT, so many of the little things that this team doesn't do. Giving up key offensive rebounds. Wish we had one more big undnerneath.

What's Seraphin on the bench all game for? Maybe bring him in very late just for energy and sub him out. Monroe made some plays tonight. I'm not mad at Flip at all, though.

Gil having 6 turnovers, most down the stretch, and the 6 fouls, while Rip just went off is why they lost.

The GOOD NEWS is now Wall and Yi can come back and the Wizards work them into the lineup.

I see no upside in add Yi right now. He doesn't set pick worth a grab. I would rather Booker and Seraphin get in the game than Yi. Now if he is going to sets some dame picks, maybe. On a team with to many finesse bigs, Yi doesn't help that situation.

[hands11]

I haven't read any of the thread yet, so I'll comment on comments afterwards.

First, great game, a lot of fun to watch. Great rhythm for both teams, everyone played hard and was into it, making open shots. At the end, they caught fire more then we did and Gil had two big turnovers in a row, but I'm not unhappy with this.

I thought we played very well overall. This was on the road so I didn't think we'd win, but aside from Blatche's abysmal play in the first 2-3 quarters, we were balling.

Player:

Gil: played out of his mind. Still had the best game for our side even with the late TOs. Ran the team exceptionally well throughout the entire game, setting up easy shots, getting his looks. Nice to see.

Mcgee: great game, though he was a bit weak on the defensive glass in the fourth, often because he would close too hard on shooters who he had left too wide open to begin with. Flip didn't pull him for mistakes, actually patting him on the back when he came in during TOs. The color announcer for the Pistons was literally talking about McGee the entire game. I felt like we had home announcers tonight.

Kirk: I am going to call his move the "poundover." He pounds the ball over and over and then it results in a turnover. Not a great game but not terrible either.

Nick Young: shot the ball well, did nothing else. His defense was spotty--got his ankles broken by ben gordon who nailed an open 3 with young on the ground. Also committed a few bad fouls on shooters.

Blatche: had as bad a first 3 quarters as any he's had recently (which is saying a lot), but picked it up in the fourth and OT. He really has to get with the program for us to win games.

Thornton et al provided very little at the SF spot. It's looking more like his play the first 5 games was anomalous.

Good review except one correct. Nick did not get his ankle broken. He tripped over Gordans left foot and feel over. They just got their feet tangled up.

[Jimmy Recard]

This isn't on Gil, he was solid the whole way through. And i counted at least 3-4 assists from him in OT. We just didnt get stops.

Good news is McGee and Nick, two major bone heads, are playing a lot better.
The bad news, Dray and AT are not. Dray was making all kind of bone head plays. It is amazing how well his line ended up looking. Didnt look like that watching the game.

Now that McGee seems on track, time for Flip to turn his attention back to Dray.

That's one thing i'm noticing about Dray too. I couldnt help but shake my head watching him out there seeing how undisciplined he still is. Then i look at the box score, he still had 20-8-2. Kinda reminded me of Antawn actually. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

[nate33]

I think perhaps Gil is falling victim to his own past heriocs, which certainly did exist, but were not always the outcome of his having the ball late in close game situations. Reckless passes, misses, good passes and clutch makes all are, and always have been, on the table.

Maybe, but I'd rather that than the alternative. I'd rather a slightly overconfident Arenas than one that defers to inferior players.

[nate33]

I see no upside in add Yi right now. He doesn't set pick worth a grab. I would rather Booker and Seraphin get in the game than Yi. Now if he is going to sets some dame picks, maybe. On a team with to many finesse bigs, Yi doesn't help that situation.

The one thing Yi gives us is a big man off the bench who is competent offensively. Flip plays Blatche so much (despite lackluster and sometimes lazy performances) because he has no choice. The offense bogs down with an offensively incompetent player at the PF position. That's not going to change unless Booker develops an outside shot. Yi would give Flip the option of benching Blatche when he is tired, lazy, or ineffective.

[dlts20]

Cosign on Thorton. His play at the end of the fourth killed us. He's been awful for the past couple of games. I thought we lost all our rhythm when at replaced n1

and the truth is he's been so awful that I wouldnt be shocked if we see the 3 small guard lineup again and I mean to start games

[dobrojim]

Let's stop trying to find a scapegoat people. The Wizards played pretty good, but not good enough. The other team is a professional basketball team as well. And they had the refs on their side.

The final play of regulation was just fine. Gil drove to the basket, Blatche's man doubled him, Gil passed the ball to a wide open Blatche, Blatche missed it. It happens.

+1

lots of positives to take away from this game - we're coming around -

very disappointing to lose the way we did. The refs stunk. Rip got
hot. What are you gonna do?

I think we can still contend for a playoff spot. Gil, Blatche, Wall
McGee are likely to improve as the season progresses. Gil is
playing GREAT and was robbed in this game of min by the zebras.
Add another quality player in Howard.

As long as we keep winning at home. The road wins will
come.

[dobrojim]

This is one you have to close out in regulation. I doubt they'll get close to a playoff contender but if they do, this one will cost them. Blatche's defense on Villanueva, letting Rip go off in OT, so many of the little things that this team doesn't do. Giving up key offensive rebounds. Wish we had one more big undnerneath.

What's Seraphin on the bench all game for? Maybe bring him in very late just for energy and sub him out. Monroe made some plays tonight. I'm not mad at Flip at all, though.

Gil having 6 turnovers, most down the stretch, and the 6 fouls, while Rip just went off is why they lost.

The GOOD NEWS is now Wall and Yi can come back and the Wizards work them into the lineup.

Seems to me it would have been nice to have another big like Yi
to challenge CV. Can't say for sure if it would have helped but I
think it might have.

[JonathanJoseph]

Let's stop trying to find a scapegoat people. The Wizards played pretty good, but not good enough. The other team is a professional basketball team as well. And they had the refs on their side.

The final play of regulation was just fine. Gil drove to the basket, Blatche's man doubled him, Gil passed the ball to a wide open Blatche, Blatche missed it. It happens.

+1

lots of positives to take away from this game - we're coming around -

very disappointing to lose the way we did. The refs stunk. Rip got
hot. What are you gonna do?

I think we can still contend for a playoff spot. Gil, Blatche, Wall
McGee are likely to improve as the season progresses. Gil is
playing GREAT and was robbed in this game of min by the zebras.
Add another quality player in Howard.

As long as we keep winning at home. The road wins will
come.

+1

Never felt better after a bad loss.

[Dat2U]

Blatche is pissing me off. He's living up to his rep as complete loser. I'm a big fan of his but I got to call a spade a spade.

You don't play the way he played and let stinkin Charlie Villanueva look like Dirk Nowitzki without some harsh criticism. I criticized Antawn Jamison for the same thing for years and I'd be a hypocrite to not call AB out as well. He was main reason we lost that game. His lack of effort on D, his play through the first half into the 3rd quarter and that boneheaded decision to shoot that 3 at the end of regulation.

If I was Flip, I'd ban Blatche from ever attempting a 3 again. Whenever he takes one, he should get benched!

In fact, I'm all for benching Blatche right now. Nothing permanent, but more as a motivational tactic to send a message with the additional benefit of allowing his knee to heal up a bit. Start Booker if we have to. Right now we wouldn't do any worse with the way Blatche is playing.

[closg00]

Blatche is pissing me off. He's living up to his rep as complete loser. I'm a big fan of his but I got to call a spade a spade.

You don't play the way he played and let stinkin Charlie Villanueva look like Dirk Nowitzki without some harsh criticism. I criticized Antawn Jamison for the same thing for years and I'd be a hypocrite to not call AB out as well. He was main reason we lost that game. His lack of effort on D, his play through the first half into the 3rd quarter and that boneheaded decision to shoot that 3 at the end of regulation.

If I was Flip, I'd ban Blatche from ever attempting a 3 again. Whenever he takes one, he should get benched!

In fact, I'm all for benching Blatche right now. Nothing permanent, but more as a motivational tactic to send a message with the additional benefit of allowing his knee to heal up a bit. Start Booker if we have to. Right now we wouldn't do any worse with the way Blatche is playing.

Blatche's play of-late has been a huge disapointment, especially after getting the pay-increase. I keep wondering how-much of his loafing is due to injury-recovery/conditioning. Dray was a man playing with fire and passion last-year after the trade.

[pineappleheadindc]

Any volunteers for thread starter for Tuesday's game???

[dandridge 10]

I'm still giving Blatche some slack because of the injury, but it worries me when I see him hustle on one play but loaf on a few others. To me, it seems like he is coasting until the 4th quarter. Perhaps he is still getting in shape and thus conserving energy...however, maybe it is because he is just plain lazy. We shall see as the season progresses, but I won't be sold on this guy until he shows me something on a consistent basis (and that is more than 20 games during the end of a lost year). With Blatche, its never been a question regarding his talent...the question has always been with his heart and effort.

[nuposse04]

I'm still giving Blatche some slack because of the injury, but it worries me when I see him hustle on one play but loaf on a few others. To me, it seems like he is coasting until the 4th quarter. Perhaps he is still getting in shape and thus conserving energy...however, maybe it is because he is just plain lazy. We shall see as the season progresses, but I won't be sold on this guy until he shows me something on a consistent basis (and that is more than 20 games during the end of a lost year). With Blatche, its never been a question regarding his talent...the question has always been with his heart and effort.

I noticed something funny at one moment in the game. When Blatche was pushed outta bounds but no foul was called he motioned for villanueva or someone to help him up. CV was jawin at him as if he wasn't going to help him. AB seemed to try harder for the rest of the game. AB shouldn't need that hairless bastard to get him going lol.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Seems to me it would have been nice to have another big like Yi
to challenge CV.

I think you ought to put "big" in quotation marks for Yi.

He plays smaller than any big man I've ever seen.

But yes, in this rare case, against a 6'11 three point jacker like CV, Yi-vaporate might have had some use.