Official John Wall Appreciation Thread

Jay81 · Post #1281 » by **Jay81** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:46 pm

Michael Lee said Wall has been a disaster in Las vegas.

cant run an offense.....cant handle the intensity and his jump shot is still broken

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

DCsOwn · Post #1282 » by **DCsOwn** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:01 pm

Jay81 wrote:Michael Lee said Wall has been a disaster in Las vegas.

cant run an offense.....cant handle the intensity and his jump shot is still broken

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

said Triano, the Team USA assistant and former Toronto Raptors coach. “Everyday, he’s been better. And that’s part of the growth. He got kind of shellshocked the first day. I mean, everybody. We couldn’t score. Then we started to play better and adjusted to the talent level a little bit. These guys have a long way to go, but that’s why they are here. To have them grow.”

Colangelo added that this is Wall’s opportunity to learn and gain from the experience. “He’s one the top point guards in the league today, one of the best young point guards,” Colangelo said. “When you look at the Walls and the Kyrie [Irvings], you’re looking at the potential guards for the future. That’s why they’re here. Many, many players have used the Select Team as a springboard for making our team.”

As for the fine? “It was no big deal,” Colangelo said. “He’s been great. No big deal.”

Post #1283 » by **Rafael122** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:09 pm

Jay81 has some terrible reading comprehension.

Post #1284 » by **nate33** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:43 pm

It's certainly going to be a good experience for Wall. After playing against the league's elite, a typical NBA game is going to feel like slow motion.

fishercob · Post #1285 » by **fishercob** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:59 pm

Rafael122 wrote:Jay81 has some terrible reading comprehension.

I don't think it's so much that is that he views life through sh*t-covered glasses. He makes Eeyore look like Tony Robbins. His constant, often irrational hyper-negativity makes me angry sometimes, but every now and then I feel for the guy because he must have come by the negativity somewhat honestly.

Jay81 · Post #1286 » by **Jay81** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:07 pm

On twitter from truth About it

@Truth_About_It: Other league scuttlebutt, aside from Michael Lee's piece, relays that John Wall has looked "pretty bad" with the USA Select Team.

FAH1223 · Post #1287 » by **FAH1223** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:30 pm

Wall looking bad with the Select Team isn't good news. But the brightside is, he is getting beat by the NBA's best instead of playing pickup somewhere like last summer with the lockout.

Its just disappointing that his shot still sucks and it doesn't seem like he will improve.

Post #1288 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:45 pm

Jay81 wrote:On twitter from truth About it

@Truth_About_It: Other league scuttlebutt, aside from Michael Lee's piece, relays that John Wall has looked "pretty bad" with the USA Select Team.

A nabob of negativity; a derecho of derision?

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #1289 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:45 pm

I was the most critical person when Wall was drafted. I said he was overrated. Ironically, I thought he wasn't a pure PG. I was more worried about his assists than his shooting stroke. Once John played, I thought he lacked competitive fire. His defense was bad. His second season, John did a better job scoring in transition but his three point shooting became among the worst of any PG ever. He didn't improve hardly UNTIL the coaching change and the last few games of the season. Those last six games John Wall played like a superstar. Through all of that, my criticisms of Wall's game are not what they once were.

I think John is going to continue to thrive in up tempo and struggle when he is forced to run half court sets. He does not have a good shooting stroke, but that doesn't mean he won't evolve as a player. I like the way Wall competes now. He picked up his intensity. Looking at Rajon Rondo, his jumper has taken years but it has come around. Wall's will, too. Eventually, it will IMO.

I am not worried about Wall now. If Beal can kill it from outside, and if Ariza regains his form, they will help John a lot. Wall's speed and the way he attacks the rim are his strengths. They new guys will allow Wall to work to his strengths. Anything Wall gives from outside is a bonus. Ariza is a good passer. So is Nene. So is Jan Vesely. So is Brad Beal. All of them are going to take pressure off of Wall. He can become more of a scoring PG, and his passing is already superior. I don't think his outside game will hurt him that much. Also, the improved defenders around him are going to take even more pressure off of John Wall.

Wall is what he is at this point. IMO he's a little better than average as a PG, but I expect this will be a minor breakout year for him. With less pressure he will be able to do more scoring, like Westbrook, at the rim.

TGW · Post #1290 » by **TGW** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:07 pm

Jay81 wrote:Michael Lee said Wall has been a disaster in Las vegas.

cant run an offense.....cant handle the intensity and his jump shot is still broken

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

That is not what Michael Lee said. Stop being idiotic.

Saqs · Post #1291 » by **Saqs** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:07 pm

Reading the Post piece is definitely a lttle alarming IMO. This is Walls 3rd year..... Hearing phrases like "has a long way to go" in reference to him in ANY capacity at this point shouldnt make anyone comfortable at all. Le sigh.

jivelikenice · Post #1292 » by **jivelikenice** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:46 am

I read in a couple of places that he had a strong day versus Westbrook on Tuesday but I haven't been able to find many details. Anyone else have any luck?

jivelikenice · Post #1293 » by **jivelikenice** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:52 am

TGW wrote:
Jay81 wrote:Michael Lee said Wall has been a disaster in Las vegas.

cant run an offense.....cant handle the intensity and his jump shot is still broken

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

That is not what Michael Lee said. Stop being idiotic.

LOL. Did you read the same article? Where in the world did they say he was a disaster? I actually find it encouraging that he started off slowly running international half court sets against the best defensive players in the NBA and has improved as the week has gone on. In addition I've read in a couple spots that he had his best day yesterday and him and Westrbook really went at it. This is encouraging. Wall is a 16/8/5 guy right now for his career. If he ONLY improves his ability in a halfcourt offense, he becomes a borderline all-star. If he slightly improves his shot in addition to becoming better the in the half-court, he's a perennial all star.

queridiculo · Post #1294 » by **queridiculo** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 5:52 am

Yeah, reading that a 21 year old NBA pro has a long ways to go to live to the expectations is extremely alarming :roll:

How about some perspective here? Wall wasn't a finished product coming out of college, and everybody watching him while he was playing for Kentucky should have know that.

That said, could you please name a prospect out of that draft class that would have been a more appealing option, or better yet, is a prospect with more upside going forward?

Coming out of college Wall had a number of things going for him, his jumper quite obviously not being one of them. That said, he's still a freak athlete with great court vision and more importantly, the drive and work ethic to be a star in this league.

At the end of the day that's all you can really ask for, and if that's not good enough, so be it. It's not like there were obvious prospects that we've passed up in favor of him.

Cut the kid some slack and give him time to develop in an environment that may just be more conducive to winning basketball.

Worrying about Wall at this point is pretty darn pointless if you ask me. He's not going to go anywhere, and it's not like there are any other options available that we can look towards being the franchise type of guy this team needs.

Hoopalotta · Post #1295 » by **Hoopalotta** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:08 pm

Well, it sounds like the whole thing was just a total disaster....

Faced with a choice of letting the likes of James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant continue to “punk” him and his teammates in practice or step up to the challenge, Wall chose the latter. “He got better every day,” Select Team Coach and Team USA assistant Jay Triano said on Wednesday. “I mean, I think [Tuesday], in the scrimmage, he was good as anybody on the floor.”

At the conclusion of their training sessions with the Olympic team, several members of the Select Team lauded Wall for his play. Indiana Pacers forward Paul George said the standouts from the week were Cleveland Cavaliers rookie of the year Kyrie Irving, Utah Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward and Wall.

“John showed everything — his playmaking ability, his open court speed and his shooting,” George said. “I really think he opened a lot of eyes on his shooting.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

DOOMED!!! We're DOOOMMED, I say!

Post #1296 » by **Rafael122** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:16 pm

He hired Hopla, great move. Wiz management gets **** on for the whole McGee/big man coach situation. Here's the difference, Wall went out and got help b/c he wants to be great while McGee expects to be handed everything or have his hand held.

FAH1223 · Post #1297 » by **FAH1223** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:16 pm

I watched the practice yesterday on NBA TV and John looked fluid out there. He had a couple of nice open court passes and played pretty well.

I guess its just one of those things where you start slow and struggle and gradually get comfortable.

I mean he is playing against the best players in the NBA all at the same time

jivelikenice · Post #1298 » by **jivelikenice** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 3:58 pm

Hoopalotta wrote:Well, it sounds like the whole thing was just a total disaster....

Faced with a choice of letting the likes of James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant continue to “punk” him and his teammates in practice or step up to the challenge, Wall chose the latter. “He got better every day,” Select Team Coach and Team USA assistant Jay Triano said on Wednesday. “I mean, I think [Tuesday], in the scrimmage, he was good as anybody on the floor.”

At the conclusion of their training sessions with the Olympic team, several members of the Select Team lauded Wall for his play. Indiana Pacers forward Paul George said the standouts from the week were Cleveland Cavaliers rookie of the year Kyrie Irving, Utah Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward and Wall.

“John showed everything — his playmaking ability, his open court speed and his shooting,” George said. “I really think he opened a lot of eyes on his shooting.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... _blog.html

DOOMED!!! We're DOOOMMED, I say!

That was extremely encouraging to read and only reinforces the need to bring a veteran presense to the backcourt to help teach Wall on the job. Who has he learned from and who has pushed him since Hinrich's departure? Mack? Crawford (who needs his own mentor)...They need someone who can push him in practice and settle him down on the floor in a backup role and playing with him at times. Having Cassel around is great, but he's a coach and played a different style of point guard.

FAH1223 · Post #1299 » by **FAH1223** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:24 pm

LeBron James: "John is definitely one of those younger guys that we look at in this league as a guy that’s on the brink of becoming a star."

jivelikenice · Post #1300 » by **jivelikenice** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:42 pm

So Wall is working with Dave Hopla. Is Dave still permanently on the staff or has been brought back to work with Wall and some of the other young guys?