GT #27: Wizards @ Nets 7:30 PM (NBCSWA/1500 AM)

[HoopsMalone]

You need to stay on this board posting with us. When Meeks clangs a shot, just squint and imagine it’s MKG. When Kief gives no effort, just close your eyes and dream about Howard not giving a flying fig.

Stay. Commiserate with us. We’re snarky but friendly.

This sounds fun. Who is your designated "Take the ball out of the net after your man scores on you" that looks like Frank Kaminsky?

Also, do you have anyone on your team who throws the ball to the girl in the first row on PNR possessions that speaks French?

Kaminsky = Jason Smith
French turnover machine = Mahinmi

Uncanny.

Think about the other ‘coincidences.’ Exec of the year Michael Jordan.

Ex Washingtonian, Ex LOL-Cats owner Bob Johnson.

Bbq = Half Smokes.
Marion Barry = Jesse Helms.

I could go on and on Brother.

Brooks and Clifford both share a mutual love for the good ole "Long 2 out of a timeout". This is wonderful. Between the wiz and hornets i can throw the proverbial remote at the TV 6-7 nights a week.

I watch games on my PC now via live stream. But when Howard steps on the baseline doing a spin move it still feels right to throw the remote. Otherwise it just collects dust

[NatP4]

"like every team in the league, we are as good as our personnel" What?? we are a 14-13 team???? the celtics are the top team in the east? Brad Stevens doesn't make a difference?

Satoransky would've been playing if Wall didn't get hurt? bull

Brooks is average AT BEST. nothing more. Ernie has put together a fine team this year if Brooks just used Satoransky and started Oubre over Morris. plain and simple, we all know it. Don't spew that same BS.

its a disgrace that this team is 14-13

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

"like every team in the league, we are as good as our personnel" What?? we are a 14-13 team???? the celtics are the top team in the east? Brad Stevens doesn't make a difference?

Satoransky would've been playing if Wall didn't get hurt? bull

Brooks is average AT BEST. nothing more. Ernie has put together a fine team this year if Brooks just used Satoransky and started Oubre over Morris. plain and simple, we all know it. Don't spew that same BS.

its a disgrace that this team is 14-13

Cmon Nat. Did you really just interrupt this burgeoning bromance between our board and and the LOL-cats?

Hoops Malone is on to something. We could form an allegiance and promise to watch all the Charlotte games, getting just as mad at Walker dribbling 16 times between his legs in order to jack up a fade away three as the shot clock expires as we do when Wall bricks a long two after a no pass possession.

[NatP4]

"like every team in the league, we are as good as our personnel" What?? we are a 14-13 team???? the celtics are the top team in the east? Brad Stevens doesn't make a difference?

Satoransky would've been playing if Wall didn't get hurt? bull

Brooks is average AT BEST. nothing more. Ernie has put together a fine team this year if Brooks just used Satoransky and started Oubre over Morris. plain and simple, we all know it. Don't spew that same BS.

its a disgrace that this team is 14-13

Cmon Nat. Did you really just interrupt this burgeoning bromance between our board and and the LOL-cats?

Hoops Malone is on to something. We could form an allegiance and promise to watch all the Charlotte games, getting just as mad at Walker dribbling 16 times between his legs in order to jack up a fade away three as the shot clock expires as we do when Wall bricks a long two after a no pass possession.

No way, I would never force wizards basketball onto anyone. I saw a video of Dwight crossing over and dunking on someone, how bad can it possibly be over there???

[NatP4]

I don’t even know why I got worked up for that post, I wasn’t even mad during the game. I’ve enjoyed this season and not really cared about the wins/losses honestly.

I’ve been able to laugh at the horrific moments this year.

[queridiculo]

We're both right.

Seriously, I'm taking note of Boogie's turnovers, offensive fouls, excessive FGAs. I just think he's a pretty unique big. Beal isn't unique or particularly special IMO. Otto is when he's on his game; but he's way too passive for my liking.

Thing is, a lot of the issues with Cousins game from the role he's forced into and the abundance of minutes he's out there.

After 8 seasons in the league I am not so confident that all of his shortcomings are down to coaching, but I'm also pretty confident that this staff certainly isn't going to be the one to correct bad habits.

[queridiculo]

But, really, come on: it's not Brooks who made Beal shoot 30%, & it's not Brooks who sent the Nets to the line 50% more than we got there.

Like every other team in the league, we are as good as our personnel.

The thing I take issue with isn't so much Beal's poor shooting but the type of shots he took to get there.

By NBA standards you can argue that a good percentage of the shots agains the Nets were open, but I question whether Brooks is doing a good enough job getting Beal the shots in the spots that he's most effective in.

The eye test and the numbers over the years bear out that Beal makes his most significant impact on the catch and shoot and that by far the weakest aspect of his game is the pull up.

He's always been an underrated inside of 10 feet, but this year he took another step and he's probably the best finisher on the roster.

Knowing all that wouldn't it makes sense to keep Beal in constant motion off the ball and to add wrinkles that have the rest of the team key off the attention Beal is receiving from defenses?

Against the Nets 53% of his shots where of the pull up variety and he converted 4 of 17. He uncharacteristically put up a donut on only 4 shots of the catch and shoot variety but compensated for it with a sizzling 64% on 7-11 shooting inside 10 feet.

Consistently expecting Beal to create offense against a set defense as the primary ball handler is asking for trouble and that's precisely what Brooks has been doing and encouraging with some of his lineup choices and play calls.

Beals shooting over the past 5 games kind of tells a story here.



Just take a look at how the Warriors are dealing with this to get Curry free for example.

Watch on YouTube

There's a general lack of creativity in what the Wizards do and Brooks has a history of simply turning his best offensive players loose without much regard for anything else.

Lack of ball movement, shot location and the effort on defense are all of things squarely fall on Brooks shoulders.

Arguing that the Wizards are lacking the personnel to beat teams like the Nets, Suns, Lakers, Clippers, Hornets, Mavericks seems a bit absurd.

[dangermouse]

F*cking shocking

Brooks is rubbish. This team is obviously all Wall.

I should write Ted for my money back after watching the same "Gortat screen - Beal long two - missed" over and over and over and over and over until we were almost 20 points down. I turned the game off.

Gortat is a bum. Morris is a bum. Frazier is a bum. Porter & Beal needs to EARN YA DAMN PAYCHECK and play like an all-star.

Satoransky and Oubre the only ones trying out there and Brooks still isnt starting them to send a message to the other bums. WEAK.

[Dark Faze]

At least Beal is clearly trying. When you look at the other offensive options--what the hell is he supposed to do? He can't somehow dictate a Spurs like offense by himself. If he falls back and decides to defer, then you're just gonna get forced shots from less capable players.

And Otto needs to start being aggressive. Yes, this isn't a Quinn Snyder Advantage Offense scheme or something Pop is going with or some kind of Budenholzer team ball scheme but the objective is to win under scenario you're dealt. You just got a max and are a second option and you're sitting there content with the way things are going.

And as I've been saying all year--better to tank and get some kind of pick, even a second for Gortat and Kieff than to sit there and risk this team extending them simply because they have nothing to replace them with.

[pcbothwel]

...There are 10 coaches in this league that would have this team winning 60 games.

The fact that we have Frazier, Sato, Oubre, and Scott all playing good basketball should be enough to win in complement to our starters.

Brooks is Not a good coach....

Here's a question for you about the guys you mention above:

Frazier is playing the best basketball of his NBA career, right? If you think coaching makes a big difference to player performance, then doesn't the coach get any credit for that?

Scott is having the best year of his career, right? If you think coaching makes a big difference to player performance, then doesn't the coach get any credit for that?

Oubre is developing at a really impressive rate, wouldn't you agree? Doesn't the coach get some credit?

Satoransky has improved significantly this year. No credit to the coach for that?

It was a frustrating loss, I agree. & it came on the heels of another frustrating loss. So, sure, it's natural to express that frustration. I'm not trying to make anything of that, really: the loss annoyed me as much as it did you.

But, really, come on: it's not Brooks who made Beal shoot 30%, & it's not Brooks who sent the Nets to the line 50% more than we got there.

Like every other team in the league, we are as good as our personnel.

I disagree PIF. Young players with obvious potential will naturally improve as they get stronger, practice and play at a higher level and compete against stronger competition. I know this from personal experience and observation. A good coach will not accept lack of effort or inattention to detail. That is a major difference between Brooks and Popovich. Brooks has a lot to learn about mgmt and motivation. Too bad our idiot GM didn’t recognize that deficiency before signing him to a long term contract.

Popper.. I agree except im not sure how much credit/blame I give EG for Brooks. I may be mistaken, but didnt Ted basically directly hire Brooks? Correct me if im wrong.

PIF... Go look at Sato's pedigree in Europe compared to other elite Euro players that made a career in the NBA. He is on par with them, so I dont see some big jump. Mike Scott is playing identical to his 15-16 season, just as I said he would and why I have the sig. Frazier also appears to be right in line with his recent career averages, so again, not sure of your point.
EG gave Brooks 2 very good backup PG's, and he still plays Beal there... how do you not see that as a problem with the cook, not the person who bought the groceries.
EG drafted Oubre and signed Scott, but Brooks was to weak to sit Kieff when he came back from injury.
Brooks has been pampered with the most elite talent of this generation... And he couldnt get it done.

[queridiculo]

Pooper.. I agree except im not sure how much credit/blame I give EG for Brooks. I may be mistaken, but didnt Ted basically directly hire Brooks? Correct me if im wrong.

That's what it seems like to me, quotes from Leonsis indicate that EG was under the edict to get him, I'm sure it was part of Ted's misguided idea that this would somehow sway Durant's decision.

[gravytrain24]

I know I'm super late to the discussion but my takes on watching this debauchery,

1.Frazier's inability to guard anyone is a hindrance whether he starts or comes off the bench because they just blow by him, post him up with ease or use him on the P&R and get an open shot for anyone.

2. Where has Otto been since that Minnesota game. Now that may be because of Beal dominating the rock, but in the moments he's had he hasn't produced on either end like a max player

3. The bench seems to be the reason, aside from Beal's 51, why they won or were in 4 of the 5 games at the end. The emergence of Mike Scott's scoring ability and Sato's play, I think opens the door for Morris & Frazier to be dealt, although the depth after, meh.

4. Players come and go but things stay the same, the wizards play up and down to competition. I wouldnt be surprised if the grizzlies win by 20 tonight.

[bsilver]

I know I'm super late to the discussion but my takes on watching this debauchery,

1.Frazier's inability to guard anyone is a hindrance whether he starts or comes off the bench because they just blow by him, post him up with ease or use him on the P&R and get an open shot for anyone.

2. Where has Otto been since that Minnesota game. Now that may be because of Beal dominating the rock, but in the moments he's had he hasn't produced on either end like a max player

3. The bench seems to be the reason, aside from Beal's 51, why they won or were in 4 of the 5 games at the end. The emergence of Mike Scott's scoring ability and Sato's play, I think opens the door for Morris & Frazier to be dealt, although the depth after, meh.

4. Players come and go but things stay the same, the wizards play up and down to competition. I wouldnt be surprised if the grizzlies win by 20 tonight.

Of our outside defenders Frazier might be the biggest defensive liability, but he has lots of company when it comes having opponents blow by them. That, and Gortat being planted to the ground, limit our defensive prospects.
Porter, Wall, and Oubre, who are supposed to be defenders can't keep their man in front of them. Meeks certainly not. Sato can't with quick guards. Beal seems best at it when he's trying on defense, which is not consistently so.

Given all that, our defense has improved from our terrible start. I think the switch on everything approach is behind the improvement.

[TGW]

I've been saying for weeks now how beta Otto Porter plays, and a bunch of people got mad at me for saying it.

Are you guys seeing it now?

[The Bandit]

Markieff Morris appears to just walk around out there unless he's playing against one of his former teams. How long till he gets benched?

[TheBabyMaker]

Markieff Morris appears to just walk around out there unless he's playing against one of his former teams. How long till he gets benched?

Don't wish injury on any player but this will not happen here unless he either gets hurt or traded. I still don't think he is fully healthy at least it appears hes playing that way.

[tontoz]

We have won 5 of 11 without Wall on the season which is better than I thought they would do. The starters clearly miss Wall's ability to routinely break down the defense.

On the plus side several of the bench guys seemed to really step up. That should help a lot going forward.

I am still not impressed with Meeks. He is shooting 37%from the field, 31% from 3 and doesn't bring much else to the table.

[NatP4]

We have won 5 of 11 without Wall on the season which is better than I thought they would do. The starters clearly miss Wall's ability to routinely break down the defense.

On the plus side several of the bench guys seemed to really step up. That should help a lot going forward.

I am still not impressed with Meeks. He is shooting 37%from the field, 31% from 3 and doesn't bring much else to the table.

yeah, we would be better off trying to upgrade on Meeks to a player that can create his own shot better, like Dat's guy Lou Will. Clippers are clearly not going anywhere, we should really try to get him for a future 2nd.

maybe we could flip a 2nd and Morris for Barton and just insert Oubre into the starting 5? either way, you feel good about Sato/Scott/Mahinmi at this point as well as the small ball 5 that has a net rating of an insane +22.5.

[Shanghai Kid]

If the starting line-up can get back in sync, we will have a stronger team then last year because of our improved bench. We have legit back-ups now.

The issue is it seems like Morris/Gortat are in full regression mode.

[dlts20]

If the starting line-up can get back in sync, we will have a stronger team then last year because of our improved bench. We have legit back-ups now.

The issue is it seems like Morris/Gortat are in full regression mode.

Gortat is soft and sucks but I think fans are too hard on Kieff right now. He can give better effort but he had a legit injury. He is just out of shape and rusty. That all combined with Wall being out means a slow start. He will be a lot better