Zach Lowe tidbits on the Wiz

[Knighthonor]

Next season they need to make up an excuse for why Beal and Wall have to miss the first quarter of the season. Say they collided into each other over the summer and injured themselves. This way Wizards get a better chance at a lotto pick.

[nate33]

Singleton was improving early on and was benched for it. Clear sign of a tanking plan. Both Crawford and Singleton improved this season and were dumped for it.

Now I've heard it all.

Singleton was never at a point where he could be characterized as "improving". He's had 3 good games all season and has been invisible in just about every other. He is posting a PER of 8.7 and a TS% of .437. These are incredibly bad numbers. Do you honestly think that benching Singleton and Crawford was part of a plan to tank?

[penbeast0]

It's improving nate. Last year Chris only had a PER of 8.3 . . .

[tontoz]

So here's a quick tally of player development from last season to this season:

Wall = regression
Seraphin = regression
Booker = regression

All three were much better last season.

Vesely = complete bust
Singleton = no progression
Mack = released

Yep, things are going swimmingly well.

By the way, that's our 2009, 2010 & 2011 drafts collectively..

Don't forget Jordan Crawford, who improved so much that he got traded for guys who'll never suit up for us.

Crawford is the only one who actually did improve and we gave him away. smh

[Nivek]

Not even sure that Crawford could be described as "improved". He had a month in which he posted nice glory stats (per game pts, reb and ast), but on meh efficiency. His numbers with the Wizards this season are almost identical to his numbers with the Wizards the previous season, which were pretty doggone similar to the year before.

[tontoz]

Not even sure that Crawford could be described as "improved". He had a month in which he posted nice glory stats (per game pts, reb and ast), but on meh efficiency. His numbers with the Wizards this season are almost identical to his numbers with the Wizards the previous season, which were pretty doggone similar to the year before.

His TS%, assist rate and rebound rates were all up significantly, not that it really matters.

Beal has really highlited the problem with Crawford. Beal makes the game look easy whereas Crawford looks like he is making a workout video when he tries to drive. He is just too ball dominant and not skilled enough to get away with it.

[dangermouse]

Yeah, when we see Crawford putting up 20ppg we seem to easily forget how frustratingly he got those points. Shooting crazy circus shots with 3 guys around him. Taking 3's with 18 seconds on the clock from 4 feet past the line. He had a hot streak, that was all. Like I said in another thread, sure he won the game for us in Portland with his shooting, but how many games this year and for the last 2 years has he shot us out of?

I'd keep Seraphin and Singleton. Seraphin has developed an offensive game (haha) since his arrival. He is also a decent man defender. And lately he has actually been waiting for contact before moving away from a screen. His court awareness isnt good, but that is something that can improve with minutes. Knowing where the competition is to box them out for a rebound. Knowing where the drive is coming from to rotate and defend the shot. It can all be learned, its little things, and its those little things that will bring his whole game together. Unfortunately you can;t teach determination, so its up to him to want to improve and learn.

Personally, I'd mainly keep him for trade bait, especially if we draft a big. Same with Singleton. I think they have more value as trade bits for something better than the time/effort/money it would take to develop their game.

[payitforward]

Don't forget Jordan Crawford, who improved so much that he got traded for guys who'll never suit up for us.

I hope the C's make a nice deep run in the playoffs and Crawdad is paramount to their success. Hopefully the announcers will consistently mention in puzzlement how he was acquired for nothing from a perennially bound lottery team.

Don't know how far the C's will go, but I'm pretty sure they aren't depending on Crawford to be "paramount to their success."

Amazing the high estimation of Crawford follows him to the C's. Where in his first 3 games he posted a sterling TS% of .40 (he's had one good outing since those first 3 -- won't be his last but he's never had many).

[payitforward]

Not even sure that Crawford could be described as "improved". He had a month in which he posted nice glory stats (per game pts, reb and ast), but on meh efficiency. His numbers with the Wizards this season are almost identical to his numbers with the Wizards the previous season, which were pretty doggone similar to the year before.

His TS%, assist rate and rebound rates were all up significantly, not that it really matters.

Beal has really highlited the problem with Crawford. Beal makes the game look easy whereas Crawford looks like he is making a workout video when he tries to drive. He is just too ball dominant and not skilled enough to get away with it.

Right. He was better this year. But better doesn't mean good. No reason to think he'll ever be good.