East 1st Round - Game #2: Bullets @ 76ers 7 PM (NBATV) [5/26/21]

[dobrojim]

Sample size on Gill being able to play is minuscule, not sure I would trust him to play meaningful minutes either.

We do however have somebody in Hutchinson that can move, has a bit of size and has a motor on defense.

I'd like to see him at least got a shot in spot minutes as a defensive option, and I'm also struggling to understand why Matthews continues to be burried on the bench when Washington desperately needs to space the floor against a team that has the physical advantage.

With Beal and Westbrook playing 84 of the Wizards 96 guard minutes, it's crazy that we have Smith and Neto combining 45 minutes on the floor.

Also goes without saying that the our two stars cannot turn the ball over 12 times and expect to pull out a game.

If you want to point at one singular thing that cost the Wizards despite a stellar offensive outing, it's their loose play with the ball.

Even though I And1’d this post it’s worth noting that Hutch, like Gill, also has a very
small sample size on which to project likely performance.

[smoothSeph]

Rui has the athleticism to guard Harris, he was just guarding him incorrectly (which I’m surprised no one has mentioned coaching). That’s lack of preparation. They’ve had 2 days to look at film, that needs to be fixed.

The bigger issue is Embiid who we threw 3 centers, double teams and foul trouble at and still managed to get 30.

[prime1time]

Rui has the athleticism to guard Harris, he was just guarding him incorrectly (which I’m surprised no one has mentioned coaching). That’s lack of preparation. They’ve had 2 days to look at film, that needs to be fixed.

The bigger issue is Embiid who we threw 3 centers, double teams and foul trouble at and still managed to get 30.

Embiid is a problem, but lets be honest, our double teams were terrible. A lot of times they did not even fully commit. And if they did commit it was too late. Double early and double hard. Force the ball out of his hands and know how you want to rotate off the double. Be ready for the Ben Simmons backdoor screen for Steph and Green. To be honest, it is inexcusable that our double teams were so bad. It likely cost us an easy win. We have to have a plan for the double to come depending on where Embiid is on the floor and who the personnel is on the floor. We have to know who we are going to chase off the 3-point line - Green and Curry - and who we are willing to let shoot Thybulle/Simmons/Maxey. The weak side defender closest to the corner has to be vocal about cutters. None of this was done last game and it should have been.

As optimistic as we can be about the changes we can make, Philadelphia will also make changes. So it's painful that we basically through a game away do to things we can control. If Philly's not red hot from 3, we will have a chance to win this game.

[queridiculo]

Rui has the athleticism to guard Harris, he was just guarding him incorrectly (which I’m surprised no one has mentioned coaching). That’s lack of preparation. They’ve had 2 days to look at film, that needs to be fixed.

The bigger issue is Embiid who we threw 3 centers, double teams and foul trouble at and still managed to get 30.

Hachimura is a stellar athlete for sure, but he's not elite, and he's not blessed with quicks or nimble feet, he doesn't have wiggle or burst to stick with Harris, especially when Harris is playing downhill coming off picks.

[nate33]

The way I see it is that we were even with them in the 1st, 2d & 4th quarter.

IOW, if it hadn't been for the 3d quarter, we'd have gone to overtime. We've been quite good in overtime this season, so I think the key to winning game 2 is to eliminate the 3d quarter -- just play quarters 1, 2 & 4.

But... would the league go for that, I wonder?

Interestingly, this team has been far better in the 3rd quarter than in any other quarters. Go figure.

[smoothSeph]

Rui has the athleticism to guard Harris, he was just guarding him incorrectly (which I’m surprised no one has mentioned coaching). That’s lack of preparation. They’ve had 2 days to look at film, that needs to be fixed.

The bigger issue is Embiid who we threw 3 centers, double teams and foul trouble at and still managed to get 30.

Hachimura is a stellar athlete for sure, but he's not elite, and he's not blessed with quicks or nimble feet, he doesn't have wiggle or burst to stick with Harris, especially when Harris is playing downhill coming off picks.

The screens are definitely a problem. The only center we have that can guard anyone off a screen is Gafford.

[FAH1223]

This screams blowout L

[Dat2U]

I'd play Bonga some, mostly with Bertans to give us a bit a length at times to slow down Philly from setting a screen on a Rui and getting easy runs at the rim against midgets.

Also I'd throw Rui at SF with Bertans & a little bit of Gill to maximize taller lineups.

Only use 3-guard lineups for small stretches when either Harris or Simmons is out of the game. Don't use it when both are in.

[dobrojim]

Rui has the athleticism to guard Harris, he was just guarding him incorrectly (which I’m surprised no one has mentioned coaching). That’s lack of preparation. They’ve had 2 days to look at film, that needs to be fixed.

The bigger issue is Embiid who we threw 3 centers, double teams and foul trouble at and still managed to get 30.

Embiid is a problem, but lets be honest, our double teams were terrible. A lot of times they did not even fully commit. And if they did commit it was too late. Double early and double hard. Force the ball out of his hands and know how you want to rotate off the double. Be ready for the Ben Simmons backdoor screen for Steph and Green. To be honest, it is inexcusable that our double teams were so bad. It likely cost us an easy win. We have to have a plan for the double to come depending on where Embiid is on the floor and who the personnel is on the floor. We have to know who we are going to chase off the 3-point line - Green and Curry - and who we are willing to let shoot Thybulle/Simmons/Maxey. The weak side defender closest to the corner has to be vocal about cutters. None of this was done last game and it should have been.

As optimistic as we can be about the changes we can make, Philadelphia will also make changes. So it's painful that we basically through a game away do to things we can control. If Philly's not red hot from 3, we will have a chance to win this game.

Cost us an easy W? Really?

Yes we have a chance but there will be no easy wins.

[ducler]

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[dlts20]

This screams blowout L

Nah I don't see that at all but Russ has been due for a monster game. When he Flips the switch on offense again, Philly will be in trouble

[dlts20]

Wizards say that they will play more zone. To me that says Brooks is sticking with the same lineup but will try the zone to offset the size advantage. Guys will have to be big on the defensive boards then

[Ruzious]

Rui has the athleticism to guard Harris, he was just guarding him incorrectly (which I’m surprised no one has mentioned coaching). That’s lack of preparation. They’ve had 2 days to look at film, that needs to be fixed.

The bigger issue is Embiid who we threw 3 centers, double teams and foul trouble at and still managed to get 30.

Embiid is a problem, but lets be honest, our double teams were terrible. A lot of times they did not even fully commit. And if they did commit it was too late. Double early and double hard. Force the ball out of his hands and know how you want to rotate off the double. Be ready for the Ben Simmons backdoor screen for Steph and Green. To be honest, it is inexcusable that our double teams were so bad. It likely cost us an easy win. We have to have a plan for the double to come depending on where Embiid is on the floor and who the personnel is on the floor. We have to know who we are going to chase off the 3-point line - Green and Curry - and who we are willing to let shoot Thybulle/Simmons/Maxey. The weak side defender closest to the corner has to be vocal about cutters. None of this was done last game and it should have been.

As optimistic as we can be about the changes we can make, Philadelphia will also make changes. So it's painful that we basically through a game away do to things we can control. If Philly's not red hot from 3, we will have a chance to win this game.

Cost us an easy W? Really?

Yes we have a chance but there will be no easy wins.

Just as long as we win game 7, I'm okay if we don't get any easy wins.

[Ruzious]

Wizards say that they will play more zone. To me that says Brooks is sticking with the same lineup but will try the zone to offset the size advantage. Guys will have to be big on the defensive boards then

Exactly. Maybe the biggest problem playing zone is giving up easy offensive put-backs - especially against a big team like Philly. We gotta fight for those defensive boards and get out in transition for easy buckets. And get every loose ball. Easier said than done.

[dlts20]

Wizards say that they will play more zone. To me that says Brooks is sticking with the same lineup but will try the zone to offset the size advantage. Guys will have to be big on the defensive boards then

Exactly. Maybe the biggest problem playing zone is giving up easy offensive put-backs - especially against a big team like Philly. We gotta fight for those defensive boards and get out in transition for easy buckets. And get every loose ball. Easier said than done.

True. They also said that they will double Embiid harder and faster. They tried last game but felt that it was slow and soft. Should be interesting

[miller31time]

If we plan on playing a lot of zone, Curry is going to eat us for breakfast. Please only use zone in very rare and specific circumstances.

[dobrojim]

Yeah, zone to me looks like desperation combined with stubbornness to not
use players who might be better matchups.

[80sballboy]

Westbrook off to a rough start on both ends of the floor, but at least he's being aggressive.

[80sballboy]

Even though Simmons is killing us on the boards. I do like the defense thus far. As I say that, Rui picks up a terrible second foul.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Sending stupid doubles still.