Official Randy Wittman Thread - It's Playoff Randy Time LOL

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Kris Humphries got hurt.

Drew Gooden began to see minutes and suddenly, as hands11 has pointed out, Gortat's numbers improved.

Next thing that tool place was Otto Porter played extremely well towards the end of the season. Butler slumped. Pierce played like he had tired legs. Otto performed so well that he gained Wittman's confidence.

The Wizards luckily got Toronto in round one. Pierce beat them playing PF last season. Gooden and Porter took away all the minutes Humphries and Seraphin would have played.

I believe a confluence of things forced Wittman to see the light. However, he's still not a superior tactician. I want to see his coaching next round.

I think he learned that three point shooting is better than shooting long twos. He now sees just how devastating small lineups can be.

I want to see what happens when Wall and a Gortat are far less overwhelmingly good next round.

Exactly. Only thing you left out was. Kevin played the first 2 games.

Game 2 Kevin got a little sloppy. Randy wasn't going to risk missing out on this sweep so he shortened the bench even more. Which was easy with Otto and Gooden playing well.

I sure did think about Kevin Seraphin the first two games. He was very effective the first game. You and I agree about his game two.

I was shocked to see Wittman give Kevin a DNP-CD in game three. Mentioned in the game thread how surprised at that I was.

Honestly, that he didn't play Seraphin or stick too long with Nene both make me have an open mind. Who knows how Wittman will coach next round?

Maybe he will do well!

[hands11]

Wouldn't be awesome if Hump manned up and took one for the team….

In steps the HUMP.

Strained Groin

Sorry coach.. Can't play. Got this left groin thing going on.

Your consecutive post streak ends at seven. NOT IN OUR HOUSE!

GO WIZ!

Yeah.. got carried away there.

But "our" house ?

That makes no sense.

Explain what that was supposed to mean. Who house is this included in "our" ?

So this is your house and who else ?

Just want to make sure I put the right names on the thank you flowers.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Playing Pierce at the four didn't necessitate benching Humphries.

Wittman easily could have started Pierce at the three, and had lineups featuring him at the four, with Porter playing minutes at his natural position.

When Pierce plays 4 when does Humphries play?

If Humphries never went out injured we wouldn't be seeing Gooden or Pierce at PF. What took place at the end of the regular season (small lineups with a stretch four) never would have happened.

The whole point is Humphries wasn't benched. Players filled in after he was injured. Wittman was pretty much forced to accept the stretch four lineups which do put Humphries on the bench

Wouldn't be awesome if Hump manned up and took one for the team knowing they needed to get Gooden in there at S4 until post season when Paul would be ready to play there as well. Season was winding down. Had to get ramped up for the playoffs. Team wasn't playing well.

In steps the HUMP.

Strained Groin

Sorry coach.. Can't play. Got this left groin thing going on. Maybe Gooden can step if for a while.

Chris is getting payed anyway.. right. Signed two more years at $4,440,000 $4,630,00

Meanwhile, Gooden is a UFA and the team really needed to start opening the court. No doubt Gortat and Hump talk.

That would be such and awesome story if that is what really happened.

And if it didn't work. Hump would be like. I feel much better now. Ready to roll coach.

I can't imagine such an altruistic gesture but if anybody on the Wizards would do that, yes, I think he's the one.

I bet you Webster is happy for Porter.

Even Rasual Butler is just happy for the ride. Just like Gooden, he was out of basketball last season.

One thing Grunfeld and Wittman have nailed with this team is darned good chemistry.

I thought vets would run Wittman off when the team played poorly. That didn't happen. Gortat spoke out but that's not unusual. He's real vocal about difference between his preferred role vs how things were going. But even he is a good teammate.

I also owe Wittman an apology for what I posted when he rested several players when the 3 seed was possible. I wanted him fired. In retrospect, Pierce and Nene resting really helped Porter and Gooden get in time with Wall, Beal, and Gortat.

Sorry for the rant. We were discussing Humphries. The guy is a very positive addition to the team.

[montestewart]

Wouldn't be awesome if Hump manned up and took one for the team….

In steps the HUMP.

Strained Groin

Sorry coach.. Can't play. Got this left groin thing going on.

Your consecutive post streak ends at seven. NOT IN OUR HOUSE!

GO WIZ!

Yeah.. got carried away there.

But "our" house ?

That makes no sense.

Explain what that was supposed to mean. Who house is this included in "our" ?

So this is your house and who else ?

Just want to make sure I put the right names on the thank you flowers.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMeRE1DphAI[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfMUih-r2Mg[/youtube]

[hands11]

So its your house. I get you said that because you said "our" which would include you.

Who else is included in "our"

It your house and who else ?

Just so we all know.

[gambitx777]

And the conversation comes full circle.

Next year will be the first year Ted is not throw money down a dark hole and getting nothing for it. Dray's 7M boat anchor comes off the book.

Randy is signed one more year at something in the 3M range.

Would you keep Randy one more year if it meant Ted bellied up for a DL team ?

I would.

I would love if ted bought his own DL team! it would be amazing to start looking into a farm system. We could sign guys like Khem Birch, Christian Kabongo, Daniel Theis, Kwame Vaughn. Those guys have had very nice seasons in the DL or over seas. Keep them in the fold, if that would have happened we could have made call ups instead of going after guys like Bynum. I also think the league rules need to change to support farm systems. There should be an injury reserve system similar to baseball. So call ups can be made from the DL affiliate. I know you can get exceptions but that's a pain in the ass. Keeping young talent close, for when you need it could become key to building a good team.

[montestewart]

So its your house. I get you said that because you said "our" which would include you.

Who else is included in "our"

It your house and who else ?

Just so we all know.

Everyone in the entire world, living and dead. I think that number is 35 billion, but I'm citing to some character in a Philip Jose Farmer novel from the Riverworld series, and the series is from the 1960s and 1970s, so maybe it is an outdated number from an old work of fiction, but Farmer did a little nonfiction writing early in his career, so I wouldn't discount his grasp of facts. That number would include Gilbert Arenas, though I think he was born after the work was published. It's a self-correcting number.

[montestewart]

And the conversation comes full circle.

Next year will be the first year Ted is not throw money down a dark hole and getting nothing for it. Dray's 7M boat anchor comes off the book.

Randy is signed one more year at something in the 3M range.

Would you keep Randy one more year if it meant Ted bellied up for a DL team ?

I would.

I would love if ted bought his own DL team! it would be amazing to start looking into a farm system. We could sign guys like Khem Birch, Christian Kabongo, Daniel Theis, Kwame Vaughn. Those guys have had very nice seasons in the DL or over seas. Keep them in the fold, if that would have happened we could have made call ups instead of going after guys like Bynum. I also think the league rules need to change to support farm systems. There should be an injury reserve system similar to baseball. So call ups can be made from the DL affiliate. I know you can get exceptions but that's a pain in the ass. Keeping young talent close, for when you need it could become key to building a good team.

What would really be great is if he bought a team and put it in Baltimore! and after the last 48 hours, they could use some good news. I would drive up there to see dome DL games. The ongoing back story of players less than an hour away trying to make it to the Wizards could expand fan interest. It might go a long way toward rebuilding a larger Wizards following that could crowd out the fans of other teams.

I must say, people I work with who have been silent for years on the subject are suddenly coming up to me asking about the Wizards. It's always more fun when your team wins.

[hands11]

Its not only more fun, it makes acquiring good players easier. And in some cases, cheaper.
It makes the team more money.

And as Paul has said often lately. The playoff is where star can become super stars.

And, its a totally different game. You have to get your young talent that hasn't been there, there. And your coach.

You have to see what they can become and what they got.

[hands11]

Well...I guess I could believe that Randy's way of thinking is that it was wise to save Pierce's S4 ability for the playoffs due to breaking down...but I don't buy that being a logical excuse. Like I said, 16, maybe 12 mins a game of Pierce at the 4 consistently could have paid dividends throughout the season. Truthfully, not like their are many teams in the east sans the Bulls, Cavs and Pistons that had physically imposing 4s in the east. So I don't see where he'd break down from. Truthfully spacing the floor might have made the offense easier for him then anything. Also he wouldn't have to chase fast guys on D. So I think there are enough trade-offs that the "breaking down" problem isn't an issue. I also don't believe this was some card he didn't want to show for Xs and Os purposes. The moment he gave Pierce minutes at the 4, people will have a general idea of whats going on. Not like playoff teams haven't ever delt with the dilemmas of S4s.

4 min mark.

http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos/paul-pierce-postgame-podium-4-24-15

Paul made it clear in a video interview during the preseason that he didn't want to playing S4 during the year. Been saying that all year. Not sure why some people have a hard time excepting this fact.

You want to complain about the S4 issue. Complain they didn't play more Gooden there. That's the real issue to complain about.

We only started seeing serious Gooden minutes at S4 because Hump got hurt. That's also in line with Gortat playing better.

That's luck. No good coaching.

What if Hump never got hurt ? Would we still be seeing him lean on Gooden so much in the playoffs ? Would Hump be getting CD DNPs ?

Best think about Randy is his single minded focus on defense at a development tool for young players. That's what makes the team more playoff ready and allows Randy to do better in the playoffs when the team has time to game plan for a team. Defense is a great foundation for any young player to have. The sooner they buy into it, the better. So in that sense he has value.

Now that we have two years on intel on Randy, the picture is getting even more clear. Randy defensive boot camp is good for the team. He has that. He has that long term approach thing also. But he has totally blown the Gortat and Gooden stuff.

My guess on regular season Randy. Ws and Ls aren't always the most important thing. I think that's why he doesn't call timeouts. I think he wants to leave it to them to work it out if they can. He will also forgo some Ws to follow a development idea or at worse, follow a flawed idea. i.e. Nene/Gortat over more Gortat/Gooden. I think that is also why Kevin played so much. Development.

All his regular season approach isn't a bad thing. Development is good actually. But it does make estimating wins tougher. And that's ok. What really matters at the end of the day is how far you go in the post season. Not the regular season.

Randy isn't an easy coach to rank. Some things I really like. Some things I hate.

But if I was to be objective as I can be..

Otto working out is a huge feather in his cap. Same with Wall and Beal.
Top ranked playoff ready defense. That's a pretty huge feather.
4-0 sweep of TOR and 2nd round last year as well. more feathers.

Snail slow and more lucky then good finally getting Gooden at S4 and opening the floor for Gortat. The fact that Gortat had to go through all the crap he did this year. Those are major F ups. Specially if Gortat drops a tell all after the season which he has eluded to in interviews. Gortat was steaming pissed over how Randy did him this year.

Plus he throw them under the bus interviewing style is a bit douchie.

Now if they make it to the ECF, clearly there is a high chance he returns. But this has not been a smooth ride. Randy screwed up pretty bad and not sure that all that mess is cleaned up yet.

"My guess on regular season Randy. Ws and Ls aren't always the most important thing."

One thing I will give him credit for. He is no EFJ. He is the anti EFJ. EFJ max'd out and burned out players during the reg season and played zero defense. Remember when were we #1 at the ASB that one year. Only the crash and burn.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/04/30/randy-wittman-says-sometimes-he-wouldnt-go-for-a-win-in-regular-season/

[payitforward]

Hey Hands -- I see you've changed the title of this thread again (I think it's you -- is that right?).

Last title reflected your strongly worded and repeated conclusion that Randy should be fired -- on the spot, any spot, but certainly the minute the season ended.

"Eat the contract, Ted" were your words. There are not two different ways to interpret those words.

So, I'm just asking for the record: should Ted fire Randy? Not now, of course, but the minute the season ends?

If so, then you haven't changed your mind; you're staying consistent. If no, he shouldn't fire him, eating the contract, then in fact you have changed your mind -- as you have the right to, of course.

But which is it, please? Should he stay or should he go?

[hands11]

So that 8-1 on the road now for Mr Randy.

Playoff Randy lives LOL

Now the objective breaks down.

Starting Nene.. Can't really blame him for that but I do blame him for not pulling him quicker. He had to know that was a key area of concern regarding how this would play out. Milsap/Hartford vs Nene/Gortat was why we lost to them during the regular season. Its also why we lost to TOR in the reg season.

So what was he doing sitting there watching it not work again ?

Now... if this is what happened instead..then I give him credit.

He know Nene wouln't work but he also knew he would need Nene down the road at some point. So instead of embarrassing him pulling him and sitting him down the stretch, just leave him out there to get his 3rd foul. Then he would have an good reason to pull him and sit him.

Then he gave Nene a legit shot to start the 2nd, and pulled him the rest of the game.

If that's what he was thinking, then brilliant. LOL
Mission accomplished with the win and Nene got to mostly save face while getting to thing this over for himself.

It would now be on Nene to go to the coach and say... Coach..You have supported me all year and you have my support. If you need to use me less this series because ATL is some weird freaky constructed team that doesn't allow us to play our traditional rotations, then you have my support. That would make it easy on Randy. If not, its going to be up to Randy to make the adjustment quickly if the defense can't get set with him out there. I don't expect Randy would actually not start Nene. Not unless Nene goes to him and shows he would be behind such a move.

Soooo... Randy gets credit for his big picture message and focus. And for the 4th quarter line ups. And I will give him the benefit of the doubt regarding starting Nene and when he pulled him. At least for this game.

Next game will tell us a little more.

[closg00]

Hey Hands -- I see you've changed the title of this thread again (I think it's you -- is that right?).

Last title reflected your strongly worded and repeated conclusion that Randy should be fired -- on the spot, any spot, but certainly the minute the season ended.

"Eat the contract, Ted" were your words. There are not two different ways to interpret those words.

So, I'm just asking for the record: should Ted fire Randy? Not now, of course, but the minute the season ends?

If so, then you haven't changed your mind; you're staying consistent. If no, he shouldn't fire him, eating the contract, then in fact you have changed your mind -- as you have the right to, of course.

But which is it, please? Should he stay or should he go?

'The answer my friend is blowing in the wind"
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA[/youtube]

[fishercob]

One of two things would appear to be true:

1) The Wizards underachieved during the regular season
2) The Wizards are overachieving in the Playoffs.

Put another way, either the Wizards are what they were during the season (and they're getting lucky now), or the "real" Wizards are the playoff Wizards. The reason this is the case is because Randy is coaching the team differently now than during the season. That doesn't seem to be disputable.

I certainly hope the answer is #1, although the I think that there's a strength of schedule element in being 5-0 thus far. At the end of the day, I just want Randy to do his job well. I have no vested interest in him being fired. I am a fan of the Wizards and root for their success and would much rather them win with Randy -- and Ernie, and Ted -- at the helm than I would get my rocks off seeing anyone fired.

Keep it up, Witt! Go Wiz!

[tontoz]

One of two things would appear to be true:

1) The Wizards underachieved during the regular season
2) The Wizards are overachieving in the Playoffs.

Put another way, either the Wizards are what they were during the season (and they're getting lucky now), or the "real" Wizards are the playoff Wizards. The reason this is the case is because Randy is coaching the team differently now than during the season. That doesn't seem to be disputable.

I certainly hope the answer is #1, although the I think that there's a strength of schedule element in being 5-0 thus far. At the end of the day, I just want Randy to do his job well. I have no vested interest in him being fired. I am a fan of the Wizards and root for their success and would much rather them win with Randy -- and Ernie, and Ted -- at the helm than I would get my rocks off seeing anyone fired.

Keep it up, Witt! Go Wiz!

Not easy to call. On the one hand many of us criticized Randy for months for not playing Porter more/not playing Pierce at the 4. Now he is doing what we wanted and getting positive results.

But the regular season is different from the playoffs. In the regular season you have to use the bench more. I don't think it is reasonable to think that the Wizards would have played like this if Randy had made these changes earlier in the season. I think they would have played better, but not this much better.

We have to take into account that we are an old team with a weak bench. That wouldn't change no matter what moves Randy makes and those flaws hurt a lot more during the regular season.

I'll say this for Randy. They have been a consistently good defensive team under him. Has he suddenly seen the light about the offense/rotations? If so should we keep him?

I dont know

[payitforward]

Hey Hands -- I see you've changed the title of this thread again (I think it's you -- is that right?).

Last title reflected your strongly worded and repeated conclusion that Randy should be fired -- on the spot, any spot, but certainly the minute the season ended.

"Eat the contract, Ted" were your words. There are not two different ways to interpret those words.

So, I'm just asking for the record: should Ted fire Randy? Not now, of course, but the minute the season ends?

If so, then you haven't changed your mind; you're staying consistent. If no, he shouldn't fire him, eating the contract, then in fact you have changed your mind -- as you have the right to, of course.

But which is it, please? Should he stay or should he go?

'The answer my friend is blowing in the wind"
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA[/youtube]

I wondered whether anyone would catch the musical lyric reference. Good for you! But of course it's not Dylan, it's

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqH21LEmfbQ[/youtube]

[Ruzious]

I think the decision's already made that Randy will be here for 2015/2016. The question is - Are they going to extend him?

And Ernie.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Randy Wittman looks not so bright at times. If you judge a book by its cover ....

Susan Boyle had Simon Cowell about to summarily dismiss her. And then she opened her mouth and started singing.

Randy's postseason coaching record is damned impressive.

People will say it's because of Pierce, Wall, Beal, Porter, GORTAT...and that Wittman's a terrible coach.

Phil Jackson had Jordan, Pipoen, Rodman/Grant, Kerr; Kobe and Shaq with Horry, Fisher; Kobe with Pau, Odom, Bynum....Talent.

Randy Wittman is not the worst coach. He's like Woody Harrelson in "White Men Can't Jump". Gene Hackman coached a team in "Hoosiers". The Hustler, The Sting, etc..

I wouldn't want to play poker against Wittman. CHESS? YES...But if he beat me ... then I would see him in a whole new light.

I saw Josh Barnett fight, live, way back in the day. Jiggling fat dude. He beat down three guys in a tournament style event.

You never know. ..

[closg00]

I accept reality, Randy and Ernie aren't going anywhere. I will take my Tums in-advance on draft night.


#FireErnie ~ Because he believed Stephen Curry couldn't help us and Jan Vesely could.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I accept reality, Randy and Ernie aren't going anywhere. I will take my Tums in-advance in draft night.


#FireErnie ~ Because he believed Stephen Curry couldn't help us and Jan Vesely could.

I am open to new beginnings. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas ended up making good.

Turns out Otto Porter is a great pick. Nerlens Noel? Great for Philly.

Things are going so well that the Wizards might draft an awesome player at #19 AND 49.

OR, Ernie Grunfeld gonna Ernie draft night.

Heck, we have gone through 11 or 12 years of EG...not like we won't be Wizards fans, regardless.