Wizards in the Media Thread

[NatP4]

I swear the media has no clue who Thomas Bryant is. Every article is “Westbrook and Beal are good and David Barton is a good shooter but that’s about all they got”

I’m surprised this guy even mentioned Troy Brown Jr, that’s the first article I’ve seen him mentioned.

[NatP4]

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[J-Ves]

Forgive me if this article has already been posted, but what do folks think? The premise of the article (ball-dominant point guards need shooters to kick out to in the modern NBA) seems unassailable, but I'm not as pessimistic as the writer about the Wizards' chances.

https://www.theringer.com/2020/12/15/22175373/washington-wizards-bradley-beal-russell-westbrook

It feels like all the players' 3-point shooting woes are correctable. If Troy Brown would invariably jump straight up-and-down rather than fading/kicking/twisting when shooting jumpers (this is going to become my version of hip bend and back arch); if Hachimura has permanently added the additional arc displayed against the Nets; and if Avdija, who's only 19, continues to develop (and perhaps is a better shooter than the overseas numbers indicate), then adding them to Beal, Bertans, and Bryant feels like a recipe for 4 shooters around Westbrook in most lineup combinations. If Matthews is playable and Wagner shoots more like the first half of last year than the second half, then virtually every rotation player outside of Westbrook's back-up point guards at least has to be guarded from 3.

The article is frustrating because it conveniently leaves out certain rotational players that will help in the 3 and/or D department, but at its core I think it mostly gets it right. The growth of the team is on the backs of our young 1st round forwards improving their 3pt shot.

[Kanyewest]

Here are relevant quotes about Westbrook in an ESPN piece - granted the goal of the article seems to be to take down Harden.

Sources said Westbrook frequently expressed his displeasure during the season with not being able to "play my game," as he put it. There were questions about the Harden-Westbrook fit when they were pushing to play together again, including D'Antoni privately expressing his concerns, sources said.

Those concerns were quieted, internally and externally, when Westbrook thrived after the Rockets' switch to small ball opened up the floor. He averaged 32.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game while shooting 53.1% from the floor over a two-month span before the coronavirus pandemic halted the season.

HOUSTON'S CASUAL CULTURE appalled Westbrook. In Oklahoma City, despite the fact that he enjoyed the same sort of superstar privileges as Harden has had in Houston, the Thunder operated with the discipline of a military unit under Westbrook's watch. The Rockets were a stark contrast, especially last season under D'Antoni, who was never known as a disciplinarian and who was a lame duck in the last year of his contract after extension negotiations infamously fizzled twice over the summer.

Westbrook didn't tolerate tardiness. With the Rockets, scheduled departure times were treated as mere suggestions by Harden and others.

"Nothing ever starts on time," a former Rockets staffer said. "The plane is always late. The bus is never on time. ... It's just an organized AAU team."

On one occasion in the Florida bubble, Harden waited to get his daily COVID-19 testing until just before the Rockets' film session was scheduled to start. When he wasn't on time, Westbrook barked, "Start the film! Start without him!" D'Antoni explained that they'd just have to start over when Harden arrived, which didn't do much to calm Westbrook.

Whether Westbrook or Harden wanted out first isn't clear, but they no longer wanted to play together, a season after the Rockets mortgaged their draft future to make it happen.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30528130/james-harden-houston-rockets-breaking-point

[badinage]

**** man, this is the kind of guy I have wanted on this team for a long, long time. Disciplined, tough, no BS. AND he’s a ****’ superstar? A guy who raises the level of intensity of the entire team. **** yeah.

Wall balled out when he wanted to. But man, so many listless goddamn nights against the also-rans of the league. And the showing up to camp fat. And the incessant this-is-my-team talk. (Even Steph never talks like that.) And the clear displeasure with the camaraderie and good vibes — and good play! — of “Everybody Eats.” And the ball domination in an era when the ball needs to move, unless you have a killer 3, which he doesn’t.

I loved the guy, but I grew tired of the guy.

THIS guy — this is bracing. This is what this **** goddamn franchise has needed.

I also find it funny that people here and elsewhere are so focused on this idea that he needed to have the team be 5-out in order to flourish. One, he’s Russell **** Westbrook — when and where has he not flourished? And two, he was playing with Harden, who, hello, also benefited enormously from a gimmick O.

Discipline. Accountability. Effort. Intensity.

GODDAMN.

[nate33]

**** man, this is the kind of guy I have wanted on this team for a long, long time. Disciplined, tough, no BS. AND he’s a ****’ superstar? A guy who raises the level of intensity of the entire team. **** yeah.

Wall balled out when he wanted to. But man, so many listless goddamn nights against the also-rans of the league. And the showing up to camp fat. And the incessant this-is-my-team talk. (Even Steph never talks like that.) And the clear displeasure with the camaraderie and good vibes — and good play! — of “Everybody Eats.” And the ball domination in an era when the ball needs to move, unless you have a killer 3, which he doesn’t.

I loved the guy, but I grew tired of the guy.

THIS guy — this is bracing. This is what this **** goddamn franchise has needed.

I also find it funny that people here and elsewhere are so focused on this idea that he needed to have the team be 5-out in order to flourish. One, he’s Russell **** Westbrook — when and where has he not flourished? And two, he was playing with Harden, who, hello, also benefited enormously from a gimmick O.

Discipline. Accountability. Effort. Intensity.

GODDAMN.

The leadership aspect of the Westbrook acquisition sure seems great. I really expect the team will benefit a great deal from his work ethic and accountability.

I just hope Westbrook can adjust his on-the-court idiosyncrasies just a bit. He has a lot of talent, but we don't want to see a 35% usage out of a guy with a below-average TS%. Hopefully, he can learn to constructively control his aggressiveness a bit to make sure that the offense integrates the best of Beal, Bryant, Bertans and others. Let's see a usage of around 28% and a TS% above league average.

[tontoz]

I agree that Russ has some old school hard ass in him which is welcome here.

I do think that he might actually try to change his game a bit. He was doing that in Houston. He is obviously aware of the narrative surrounding him and probably wants to change it. He's already made the big money and won an MVP. At this point all that's left for him to accomplish is a ring (which won't happen here) and to change his reputation.

Just look at how much last season helped Chris Paul's reputation.

[Frichuela]

I agree that Russ has some old school hard ass in him which is welcome here.

I do think that he might actually try to change his game a bit. He was doing that in Houston. He is obviously aware of the narrative surrounding him and probably wants to change it. He's already made the big money and won an MVP. At this point all that's left for him to accomplish is a ring (which won't happen here) and to change his reputation.

Just look at how much last season helped Chris Paul's reputation.

A Chris Paul type redemption season would be fantastic.

Russ comes across as the right personality fit to what Tommy wants, a “character”/professional player.

We shall see how he plays and gels with Brad and the rest of the crew. From what’s been published in the media, so far so good.

[Kanyewest]

Deni comes across as a really good prospect in this interview with Casspi which was recorded before the draft.

Some takeaways
- Avidja may have been considered as the number 2 pick by the Warriors- as Omri Casspi goes on a a tangent on how the Warriors are the best organization that he played for (short practice times, everyone is a professional, owners pays to rent out restaurants, wives get a paid vacation when players are on a a road trip) as Deni listens intently.
- It seems as Deni has been through a lot with the Israeli media- he said he hasn't met the high expectations that he met for himself (he thought he could be the next Luka ) but he couldn't but has instead used hat as a learning experience to get himself to become a better player
- Casspi also seems to be confident that he will become a very good pro and urges him not to get too high or too low or overreact when fans say he is the best or the worst.
- Casspi also points out that Russell Westbrook is a "monster defender" (not sure if that's actually true anymore but it will probably be an upgrade as far as the Wizards are concerned)

Watch on YouTube

;vl=en&ab_channel=OmriCasspiPodcast-%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%93%D7%A7%D7%90%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%99

[Frichuela]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[closg00]

Smitty reads the board, Wiz for surprise Eastern team, and he likes Memphis out West

Watch on YouTube

[queridiculo]

Read and weep.

https://theathletic.com/2289793/2020/12/29/russell-westbrook-washington-wizards-nba-trade/

[nate33]

A caught a little of Bill Simmons' latest podcast. He said Brooks was doing a terrible job and should be the first coach fired this season. He also likes Avdija and puts him on his "honorable mention" list of rookies who are playing very well. He says the guy plays like an 8th year veteran.

[keynote]

I remember folks in jest blaming Kuzma's trade to the Wizards (and relocation to DC in general) for his breakup with model Winnie Harlow. Well, looks like those two crazy kids are back together, trying to make it work.

https://www.tmz.com/2021/12/23/kyle-kuzma-winnie-harlow-back-together-five-months-after-split/?adid=social-twa

Who says DC athletes can't date LA-level WAGs?

[FAH1223]

I remember folks in jest blaming Kuzma's trade to the Wizards (and relocation to DC in general) for his breakup with model Winnie Harlow. Well, looks like those two crazy kids are back together, trying to make it work.

https://www.tmz.com/2021/12/23/kyle-kuzma-winnie-harlow-back-together-five-months-after-split/?adid=social-twa

Who says DC athletes can't date LA-level WAGs?

She was in the crowd tonight. Behind Wes Unseld Jr. when he got to the scorers table and NBCSW had her there. I had to do a double take

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[dobrojim]

All the way from dead and buried deep on page 11 (this thread) , because, after all, you
have to be relevant to be in the media.

I suspect Golliver will get a lot of head nodding yup yup from the board.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/01/02/wizards-mavericks-raptors-roster-moves/

There’s no need to mince words: Washington is the most aimless team in the league, ranking 30th
in home attendance percentage and barely appearing on national television. Despite a brief upturn recently,
the Wizards are on pace for their fifth straight losing season and have made precious little progress in
assembling a young core for the future. Thanks to a string of underwhelming first-round picks, the Wizards
have one of the NBA’s least impressive collections of 25-and-under talent.

[doclinkin]

Not Wizards though they talk Poole and mention Gilbert briefly but these three have great chemistry. I'd love to hear them talk about basically anything. Three smart cats, great basketball insight, and they clearly enjoy talking with each other.

Watch on YouTube

[Kanyewest]

Read on Twitter

Seems random.

[doclinkin]

Random? With an Israeli player on the team? The cynic would say it seems calculated, that likely multiple levels of people had to approve that tweet.

In a world where even decrying violence is automatically political, everything is suspect. "Killing is bad". 'Which killing. Who. Whatabout this killing and that other killing?' 'Thou shalt not kill' becomes up for debate, a referendum on who Thou is. Life, man. Life. Sigh.

[badinage]

Read on Twitter

Seems random.

The NBA and teams in the NBA made statements of support and solidarity in the wake of George Floyd’s death.