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

[Rafael122]

I'd ride the season out with those two regardless of what happens. Guys like Hollins and Van Gundy aren't going to take jobs mid-season.

[Dark Faze]

I'd ride the season out with those two regardless of what happens. Guys like Hollins and Van Gundy aren't going to take jobs mid-season.

I'd rather take a slight downgrade in potential GM talent than allow Ernie to make continued awful moves that could affect this franchise for years to come.

Stop the bleeding with GM ASAP, the coaching change can wait until the offseason.

[Dat2U]

Keeping Ernie is only poisoning the well even more. Keeping Witt only ensures that we continue to get sub-par coaching going forward.

Not sure Ted really needs any more time. He knows what he wants to do. It's just whether Ernie & Randy make it palatable enough for Ted to bring them back without getting too much negativity from fans and the media. Making the playoffs and not getting embarrassingly swept in 4 games probably ensures this.

[Rafael122]

I'd ride the season out with those two regardless of what happens. Guys like Hollins and Van Gundy aren't going to take jobs mid-season.

I'd rather take a slight downgrade in potential GM talent than allow Ernie to make continued awful moves that could affect this franchise for years to come.

Stop the bleeding with GM ASAP, the coaching change can wait until the offseason.

I can't recall the last time someone from the outside took over as GM in the middle of the season. It's an unnecessary distraction.

[hands11]

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/811/which-coaches-are-really-on-the-hot-seat

Which coaches are really on the hot seat?

The Wizards, while not quite living up to preseason expectations, have sufficiently rebounded from yet another slow start to the point that they're starting to look like what passes for a playoff team in the ugliest Leastern Conference in memory, which should get Wittman through the final year of his contract. Sources say, furthermore, that it's always been the preference of Wizards owner Ted Leonsis to complete the season without changing anything and then assess everything in the offseason with the deals of both Wittman and general manager Ernie Grunfeld expiring.

The fact that Ted is still "assessing" Ernie is unbelievable.

(side note- I think Wittman is indeed a good coach and would consider resigning him. Don't agree with 99% of the flack he gets around here)

What did you expect him to say ?

[leswizards]

I am fed up with Wittman calling the players out in the press every time they struggle. I wish he would STFU and just coach the team. The next time he does it, I wish one of the better players would anonymously say to the press something like "The players such as Wall, Nene, Gortat, Ariza, Webster, et al are not the problem this team. The problem is an incompetent GM who waste every available opportunity to improve this team."

[jivelikenice]

Have you ever seen a coach this clueless? He has no answers other than out top players need to make plays. REALLY? That's it!....hey John, Brad, Néne, go find a way to get us some pts. Is it possible he knows nothing and is one of those guys that managed to stick around under the radar? I haven't heard anything from him other than play D, run, and make a play. Haven forbid he helps put his players in better position to do any of these things. http://www.csnwashington.com/wizards/wi ... -wood-shed

[JWallConnect]

Worst coach in the league hands down

[Ruzious]

Have you ever seen a coach this clueless? He has no answers other than out top players need to make plays. REALLY? That's it!....hey John, Brad, Néne, go find a way to get us some pts. Is it possible he knows nothing and is one of those guys that managed to stick around under the radar? I haven't heard anything from him other than play D, run, and make a play. Haven forbid he helps put his players in better position to do any of these things. http://www.csnwashington.com/wizards/wi ... -wood-shed

And a problem with Wittman's comments is - you know that if the top players try to make plays and they still lose, he's going to say - they were playing too selfishly. It's a no-win situation for the players - especially when playing a team that's 18-1 at home and is the NBA's top defensive team.

[BruceO]

I'd like to get thibodeau in the off season. I think the writing is on the wall. We had a chance to get him earlier but we got power played out of it by our then coach. I think it was flip or whoever..
There's always been talk of him and the management and owners relationship gone sour. But now with rose injured, the fact they fired one of his close assistants who is back in Boston (Ron adams) and Ron was hurt by it, and thibs not consulted I think. The fact that his favourite player deng has been traded despite the fact that they hate it. Noah hates it to a point he's not addressing media. I think they're folding away this group the way wizards did after the gungate.
I'd go further and go after joakim Noah. If wizards can somehow swing signing deng or noah , those other two would follow. I can really like a lineup with wall, Beal, deng, nene and noah

[hands11]

I'd like to get thibodeau in the off season. I think the writing is on the wall. We had a chance to get him earlier but we got power played out of it by our then coach. I think it was flip or whoever..
There's always been talk of him and the management and owners relationship gone sour. But now with rose injured, the fact they fired one of his close assistants who is back in Boston (Ron adams) and Ron was hurt by it, and thibs not consulted I think. The fact that his favourite player deng has been traded despite the fact that they hate it. Noah hates it to a point he's not addressing media. I think they're folding away this group the way wizards did after the gungate.
I'd go further and go after joakim Noah. If wizards can somehow swing signing deng or noah , those other two would follow. I can really like a lineup with wall, Beal, deng, nene and noah

Good way to evaluate things by also considering what players will follow what coaches. Its time for a change. Randy was fine for what they needed before. I give him credit for doing some good things. And for him, being a .500 coach would be good. He doesn't have that on his resume right now.

And being a .500 team is even good for the Wizards. They haven't been that team in a while. But the question is, what do you need to take this .500 team and make it better moving forward. I think it's clear that will take a coaching change.

[noworriesinmd]

I used to be a Wittman fan, but after looking at Bill & Jalen's second birdmester videos (which are really good), I've decided we need a change. Coaching does make a difference.

* Someone needs to come up with a real scheme. Wall driving and dishing for corner threes is not really a playoff/championship offense.

* Players need to be "coached". I don't accept that Beal is ignoring everyone and just shooting long twos. If Leonsis and everyone on this board sees that long twos are killing Beal's game...then it is the coaches responsibility to educate, inform, drill, prevent a player from relapsing into bad habits.

* Player development. When JV played had 12pts and 6 boards, It caused me to wonder if just benching a player for not playing well is a valid excuse. A coach knows his player's strengths and puts them into a position to succeed.

I'm one of the few who didn't like how the Redskin's situation went down. IF you are replacing coaches all the time and HOF/Superbowl couches are not succeeding...something is wrong with the Org. Something is wrong with this Org (EG needs to go), but I don't believe Wittman is the guy to lead this team in the future.

I don't mind our record...we are a "below average team". However we need a coach that will add wins.

I keep on thinking about Memphis and Denver....both had good coaches who lead their teams to impressive records last year...however both teams are not as good as they were after letting go their good coaches....thats what I want....a coach that ADDS wins.

[hands11]

I used to be a Wittman fan, but after looking at Bill & Jalen's second birdmester videos (which are really good), I've decided we need a change. Coaching does make a difference.

* Someone needs to come up with a real scheme. Wall driving and dishing for corner threes is not really a playoff/championship offense.

* Players need to be "coached". I don't accept that Beal is ignoring everyone and just shooting long twos. If Leonsis and everyone on this board sees that long twos are killing Beal's game...then it is the coaches responsibility to educate, inform, drill, prevent a player from relapsing into bad habits.

* Player development. When JV played had 12pts and 6 boards, It caused me to wonder if just benching a player for not playing well is a valid excuse. A coach knows his player's strengths and puts them into a position to succeed.

I'm one of the few who didn't like how the Redskin's situation went down. IF you are replacing coaches all the time and HOF/Superbowl couches are not succeeding...something is wrong with the Org. Something is wrong with this Org (EG needs to go), but I don't believe Wittman is the guy to lead this team in the future.

I don't mind our record...we are a "below average team". However we need a coach that will add wins.

I keep on thinking about Memphis and Denver....both had good coaches who lead their teams to impressive records last year...however both teams are not as good as they were after letting go their good coaches....thats what I want....a coach that ADDS wins.

And that is why coaches get paid what they do. Its a competitive league. Its a game of momentum. The coach that can maximize his talent and limit down side swings can change a team wins as much as 5 or more in a year. Well that's not just 5 more wins, that 5 less loses. Take and average team that is 41-41. Add a good coach and they are 46-36. That 10 games over .500. Its a huge swing.

By my reading looking at it game by game, Randy is costing them games, not adding wins. Right now they should be 1 or 2 games over .500. And he is slowing player development. I think Kevin and Ves would look better with a better coach.

http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos ... game-11114

Yeah. I posted that they did those videos. Those two are awesome together. They know so much it makes my head spin.

But listen to Randy. CCJ has to enjoy this. He sounds a lot like Flip did now. Its all on the players. He doesn't understand he is a part of the problem. Seems like another coach that just wants a roster of vet players that can get it down with or without their help. That's just not reality Randy. You are the HC of a team trying to rebuild. Who you play, when, what system of offense... it all matters.

You want leaders, well I see the natural leaders. They are Nene, Gorat and Webster. Wall should be like Parker was as they where grooming him in SA. A young leader, but not the leader. Beal should be bumped back to talented shooting SG. He is not a leader yet. He is to young and to inexperienced. I would have no problem moving him to the bench behind Webster as starting SG. He has a bright future, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Take some of the pressure off of him and let him develop.

Randy isn't a bad coach. He seems like a great defensive assistant coach that is border line on being a legit average HC. Problem is, we need a above average to great HC. He isn't that.

Hell, I cant even say I totally disagree with this message about the team needs to hold itself accountable. But there are things a HC can do to set up that environment. To start, it would be putting the right leaders in charge of the team. This is taking to long. Shoot, don't shoot. We need players to step up. We don't need you to be a hero. We have no stars but I want leaders. Give players like Beal a free pass instead of breaking his ball sometimes with a well timed benching. Kicks Ves and Kevin around like they aren't on the team but Booker is his boy, even though he sucks on defense.

I can understand why Crawford got tired of this.

Let Newman take over.

[dckingsfan]

Get rid of EG and let the new GM pick the replacement. Have a plan - don't suck.

[hands11]

If Teds plan is to make the playoff and go as deep as possible so he is getting Wall and the team the most experience and giving up the lowest first round pick possible, then he lets Randy go now while it still matters. And the smoothest transition would be to an existing coach.

From Randy's post game comments, clearly players and him are not seeing eye to eye.

So who is the best option on the Wizards staff ? My guess is Newman.

They aren't changing GM and then waiting for that GM to decide on a coach with all HC options aren't available.

They aren't changing GM and let Randy stay as a lame duck.

[hands11]

http://www.truthaboutit.net/2014/01/do- ... rolls.html

This is why Randy has to go...

We can infer from this data that, provided that the Wizards are so inept at the P&R, their level of reliance on it is at a strangely high level. We do have to remember that this is all relative; the data at hand won’t necessarily tell us at what point any one team should stop using the P&R.

But the naked eye certainly suggests that there is too much of a focus on the P&R in Washington, and this perpetuates another issue of the Wizards offense: an over-reliance on inefficient midrange jumpers. To date, the Wizards have taken the ninth-most midrange shots, despite being 26th in midrange percentage (26.1%). By electing to focus on ball-handler driven P&Rs with these midrange shots, the Wizards aren’t tapping into their great cutting potential, and they aren’t getting Nene and Gortat the “pick-and-pop” looks they need (Nene, for one, shoots from midrange at an above average clip of 43 percent, and is an outstanding passer). Furthermore, Washington is not creating opportunities for themselves to get closer to the rim—the Wizards currently have the second fewest field goal attempts in the paint.

---

How do you get more attempts in the paint ?
1) You can hardly stop Kevin from shooting and he is in the paint a lot.
2) Ves is an ally opp waiting to happen, but do they work that play ? Not nearly enough.
3) Nene is always driving to the rim when he gets the ball down low.
4) Gortat love to PnR toward the basket.
5) And when they get Glen back, he is another player that like to go toward the basket.

But does Randy focus on this ? Nope. He uses Gortat to get Wall and Beal another long 2. Webster and Trevor A long 3s. They ignore Ves and they sit Keven on the bench because they need the mid range shooting no defense undersized Booker out there.

There is enough talent here to do better. Randy has been Flipped. He runs an offense designed to shoot the long 2.

[hands11]

Like I said, Give the man an extension

Hey, he changed to Nene starting and a righter 8 man rotation and that is working. He has to expand that, but for these last two game, he got it done.

[milellie111]

Ted will extend both Whittman and Grunfeld. Their vision for this team is working.

[Nivek]

Ted will extend both Whittman and Grunfeld. Their vision for this team is working.

Their vision for not tripping over stuff is also working.

[jimij]

I thought Randy was the right coach for this team after Flip was sacked - he held players more accoutable for their effort and got them playing much harder and much more consistently from night to night. Now that the talent level has increased signficantly from a couple of years ago I still think he's an okay coach but don't think he has the X's and O's chops to take us further than a first round playoff team given that we don't have any truly elite player on the squad (i.e. Durant, James, Paul, etc). Randy's post game analysis that the players don't have energy or were settling fails to acknowledge that when that happens its HIS job to get that back on track. All too often we set up an offense for John to do the P&R with no movement from any of our other players and on nights when we're not hitting our shots we the coaches never seem to come up with any other answer so the players keep right on playing the same way.

If Randy and the coaching staff aren't seeing these issues then the deserve to be let go for not identifying what's wrong with the team. If they do see them but can't get the players to play more effectively then that's even more damning in my opinion.

I don't see how we fire Randy at this point and unless EG is fired at the same time I wouldn't trust him to pick the next coach anyway. A mid-season firing to a team in playoff contention for the first time in years would be ridiculous and probably would be detrimental to the team as well.

That said I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Ted will realize that if he really wants to build a contender he needs to bring in a new GM and new coach in the offseason.