GT #45: Bullets (22-22) @ Clippers (32-15) 10:30 PM CSN

[jivelikenice]

Seems like a lot of people are throwing a lot of blame around for last night's loss. I didn't watch the second half, but maybe the bottom line is that the Wizards lost because the Clips are a better team. I'm not too upset about losses like last night, especially when we lose against a better team on the road on a back to back. Now, losing against the Celtics, 76ers, Pistons at home is a different story.

That's reasonable, but what's unreasonable is playing the hack a Jordan when its a one possesion game, especially when he's coming off of two makes. Plus our strength is running off of defense. You can't do that off of free throws.

[jivelikenice]

Regarding Gortat, the longer the season goes, the worse I feel about this trade.

It seems like he's overmatched in a good 2/3s of his matchups, that's not a guy I'd be willing to extend a contract offer north of $40 million to.

In fact, that's precisely the kind of Ernie extension that's going to have us stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Very much like with McGee the right move would be to let him go, which given the traded draft pick isn't likely to happen.

I can already see Leonsis grinning ear to ear at the press conference telling us what a professional Gortat is and how much he loves his commitment and involvement with the community. Sigh.

Gortat has been up and down but its all about using personnel right. Gortat is good in the pick and roll game and had some nice quick post moves last night. That's what he needs to stick with. When he tries to do too much, he struggles and turns it over or forces a bad shot. Coaches have to instill that in him.

[jivelikenice]

Got to be a reason Marcin only logged 24 minutes; hard to imagine it was just a rotation decision. Maybe he's nicked up in some way...?

Don't think it was that. Seraphin showed some life early and Randy seems to stick with him when he does (i.e. Houston game). Randy doesn't understand that guys like Seraphin will get exposed the more they play and you should take what you can get, but still go back to the starters at the appropriate time.

[Dat2U]

Regarding Gortat, the longer the season goes, the worse I feel about this trade.

It seems like he's overmatched in a good 2/3s of his matchups, that's not a guy I'd be willing to extend a contract offer north of $40 million to.

In fact, that's precisely the kind of Ernie extension that's going to have us stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Very much like with McGee the right move would be to let him go, which given the traded draft pick isn't likely to happen.

I can already see Leonsis grinning ear to ear at the press conference telling us what a professional Gortat is and how much he loves his commitment and involvement with the community. Sigh.

Gortat has been up and down but its all about using personnel right. Gortat is good in the pick and roll game and had some nice quick post moves last night. That's what he needs to stick with. When he tries to do too much, he struggles and turns it over or forces a bad shot. Coaches have to instill that in him.

Gortat's offense isn't the problem. It's his slow rotations defensively. Problem is, he is what he is. He's not getting any better. Gortat would be one of the better backup Cs in the league but as a starter he's gonna leave you wanting more on many nights.

[jivelikenice]

Yesterday was a good example of the team's deficiencies summed up.

1. Poor coaching

2. Poor bench play- Seraphin played ok, but the bench quickly came in and got us in a whole in the 2nd quarter

3. Lack of spacing

4. Jump shot dependency- Explains part of the ft discrepancy

5. Lack of a "pecking order". JW has to get more than 2 fg attempts in the 4th.


We can compete with pretty much most teams nightly but we won't put together a meaningful winning streak and won't create any real momentum until some of these deficiencies are addressed.

[Higga]

I'll take a 2-2 road trip everytime. Encouraged we kept it close though.

Schedule gets brutal coming up, but we seem to be playing better lately against the good teams.

[Zonkerbl]

Yeah, I can see doing a "hack-a-whosit" strategy in the third quarter when you're down by 16 and trying to stop the bleeding.

Or maybe in the midst of a run when you're coming back from being down by 16.

Down by 3 with two minutes left -- you're taking the outcome of the game out of the hands of your players. And so much can go wrong.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Regarding Gortat, the longer the season goes, the worse I feel about this trade.

It seems like he's overmatched in a good 2/3s of his matchups, that's not a guy I'd be willing to extend a contract offer north of $40 million to.

Gortat is a decent center. Nothing special but pretty solid on most nights. He's been a little better shotblocker than I expected. I believe he's close to being in the top ten in the league this year.

Gortat is probably one of the top 2-3 big men available in free agency this summer. The question, as always, is how much is his worth? Nivek has him in the $10 mil per year range. Sounds about right. And if you don't resign him, the question becomes "who's your starting center next season?"

I believe trading Gortat for Sanders should be considered, even though it's IMO unfair to Marcin. Perhaps the Bucks agree to waive him.

Gortat either clears waivers and signs with a contender, or he gets claimed and used immediately.

The man is unrestricted in free agency. Losing him for nothing makes no sense at all IMO.

Sent from my SGH-M919

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Regarding Gortat, the longer the season goes, the worse I feel about this trade.

It seems like he's overmatched in a good 2/3s of his matchups, that's not a guy I'd be willing to extend a contract offer north of $40 million to.

In fact, that's precisely the kind of Ernie extension that's going to have us stuck in mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Very much like with McGee the right move would be to let him go, which given the traded draft pick isn't likely to happen.

I can already see Leonsis grinning ear to ear at the press conference telling us what a professional Gortat is and how much he loves his commitment and involvement with the community. Sigh.

Gortat has been up and down but its all about using personnel right. Gortat is good in the pick and roll game and had some nice quick post moves last night. That's what he needs to stick with. When he tries to do too much, he struggles and turns it over or forces a bad shot. Coaches have to instill that in him.

Gortat's offense isn't the problem. It's his slow rotations defensively. Problem is, he is what he is. He's not getting any better. Gortat would be one of the better backup Cs in the league but as a starter he's gonna leave you wanting more on many nights.

Agreed.

I think he's solid with the starters. The Wizards are good collectively 1 through 5. Gortat hustles, is unselfish, he hits 8 to 12 foot shots, he rebounds well, and is a good shot blocker.

I disagree with all the Gortat haters. He is just as effective as Okafor overall, IMO, and Emeka makes over 14M.

Wizard fans, myself included, are a bunch of haters. Gortat didn't blow the trade. EG got no 1st. EG waived Marshall because he already burned the BAE on Maynor. None of that is Gortat's fault.

I consider Gortat an average to slightly better than - average C.

Sent from my SGH-M919

[dckingsfan]

I would be down for a Sanders for Gortat Swap...

I think Okafor's defensive rotations were much better. But, Okafor's free throw shooting took him out of games at the end. So it is really a wash.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Got to be a reason Marcin only logged 24 minutes; hard to imagine it was just a rotation decision. Maybe he's nicked up in some way...?

Don't think it was that. Seraphin showed some life early and Randy seems to stick with him when he does (i.e. Houston game). Randy doesn't understand that guys like Seraphin will get exposed the more they play and you should take what you can get, but still go back to the starters at the appropriate time.

On watching highlights, Seraphin I noticed hit a shot to get the Wizards to 99-100.

Can't help but wonder about if Wittman's move instead of intentionally fouling Jordan were to insert a well-rested Gortat.

Sent from my SGH-M919

[DCZards]

Can't help but wonder about if Wittman's move instead of intentionally fouling Jordan were to insert a well-rested Gortat.

Sent from my SGH-M919

I was totally for fouling Jordan. Guy shoots around 40% from the line. Sucks that he made them last night but I'd rather take the chance of Jordan making his free throws than let them get the ball to Jamal Crawford or Reddick who were on fire.

[jivelikenice]

^Sorry but you can't do that in a one possession game unless you are going up against a Durant or Lebron. If the logic is "there's no way we can stop Reddick" then thats the bigger problem. Plus its disadvantageous to our offense as currently constructed.

[dlts20]

This Witt-Wall thing is still bothering me. Wall shoots 50% in the 1st half but only takes 4 shots. Only takes 12 for the game despite shooting like 64%

Witt has taken away his aggression. He's still our best player and our own coach is neturalizing him. I could still see him on the Wolves telling Love not to shoot 3's and publicly saying they don't have no 20ppg scorers so they have to do it as a team.

We are still at our best when Wall is attempting to dominated. This idiot just wants Jim to take 12 shots and run his crappy Offense.

Beal was beast though with those quick drives. He mixes those in then he's unstoppable

[jivelikenice]

This Witt-Wall thing is still bothering me. Wall shoots 50% in the 1st half but only takes 4 shots. Only takes 12 for the game despite shooting like 64%

Witt has taken away his aggression. He's still our best player and our own coach is neturalizing him. I could still see him on the Wolves telling Love not to shoot 3's and publicly saying they don't have no 20ppg scorers so they have to do it as a team.

We are still at our best when Wall is attempting to dominated. This idiot just wants Jim to take 12 shots and run his crappy Offense.

Beal was beast though with those quick drives. He mixes those in then he's unstoppable

Agreed. His shot selection needed to be refined slightly. But he is the catalyst for this offense and his teammates better opportunities either at the rim or from the 3 pt line. Randy hears Nene gripe and decides to play a plodding style of basketball again running through him. Randy's comments were about getting other players into rhythm in the Boston game. Wall didn't freeze anyone out of the game. Who was he referring to? Beal got 16 shots in 30 minutes. Nene got 14 in 33. Martell got 9 off the bench. Gortat and Ariza could have had a couple more but that's why I thought a slight refinement to how he played that night was needed. It would have been a great teaching tool.

[Kanyewest]

I blame the Luv-a-Bulls

[tontoz]

Watching the game now. Nice to see Beal getting some points in the paint. He took 6 shots in the paint. That might be his season high.