GT #33: Wizards @ Pelicans 8 PM CSN

[AFM]

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him.

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him.

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him.

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him.

[jivelikenice]

I mean, pick your poison. If you have Booker starting, our pick and roll defense will suck. With Ves starting, our one on one post defense will suck.

Booker brings offensive rebounding and the occasional long two to the offense. Ves brings someone who will ACTUALLY CUT TO THE BASKET SOMETIMES and keep the ball moving the way Nene does when he's in. With Booker in the offense grinds to an absolute halt.

Ves has to emulate Garett Temple and just not engage in activities that are detrimental to the team when on the floor. Don't set illegal screens. Don't try to do to much with the ball and turn it over. Be the player that you are.

You have to go with the best matchup on a given day. Booker wasn't going to excel versus Davis and Vesely got off to a solid start so they stuck with him. It needs to be a fluid situation (as long as Seraphin isn't included in that fluidity!)

[Dat2U]

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him. I think Jan would be better off going back to Europe.

You know I've felt the exact same way since the moment he was drafted?

[tontoz]

Oh I disagree. I mean the reason why this is even being discussed is that Booker starting has been an obvious, obvious failure. His defense is terrible. The offense grinds to a halt when he's in there. He's the reason Gortat is forced to take long twos. He's the reason Beal is forced into taking contested long twos.

I don't know if Vesely would be any better. But I'm curious if Vesely's improved court awareness and willingness to move around on offense and his vastly superior team defense would help? Or is his inability to guard hefty PFs one on one and his tendency to get stupid fouls called and turn the ball over make things worse? Only one way to find out! Try it!

LOL WTF? Booker starting has gone extemely well. There is a 10 page thread devoted to how well it has gone.

If you think Vesely is even remotely comparable to Booker then you really haven't been paying attention.

[Zonkerbl]

Oh I disagree. I mean the reason why this is even being discussed is that Booker starting has been an obvious, obvious failure. His defense is terrible. The offense grinds to a halt when he's in there. He's the reason Gortat is forced to take long twos. He's the reason Beal is forced into taking contested long twos.

I don't know if Vesely would be any better. But I'm curious if Vesely's improved court awareness and willingness to move around on offense and his vastly superior team defense would help? Or is his inability to guard hefty PFs one on one and his tendency to get stupid fouls called and turn the ball over make things worse? Only one way to find out! Try it!

LOL WTF? Booker starting has gone extemely well. If you think Vesely is even remotely comparable to Booker then you really haven't been paying attention.

OMG really? You look at the dismal mess of our offense and defense with Booker starting and think, hey, that's rather decent! I think watching our bench play has ruined you.

I see an offense and defense that is running at about half it's normal efficiency and see it as a glass is half empty thing I guess.

I don't know if Vesely would be better, but I do know that Booker has SUCKED. His team defense has SUCKED. His wandering around aimlessly on offense has SUCKED. My eyes tell me so. And the things that Booker has sucked at, team defense and playing intelligently in a motion offense, Vesely is actually pretty good at. I don't know if Vesely would be BETTER, but at least it would be a different FLAVOR of suck.

[tontoz]

Oh I disagree. I mean the reason why this is even being discussed is that Booker starting has been an obvious, obvious failure. His defense is terrible. The offense grinds to a halt when he's in there. He's the reason Gortat is forced to take long twos. He's the reason Beal is forced into taking contested long twos.

I don't know if Vesely would be any better. But I'm curious if Vesely's improved court awareness and willingness to move around on offense and his vastly superior team defense would help? Or is his inability to guard hefty PFs one on one and his tendency to get stupid fouls called and turn the ball over make things worse? Only one way to find out! Try it!

LOL WTF? Booker starting has gone extemely well. If you think Vesely is even remotely comparable to Booker then you really haven't been paying attention.

OMG really? You look at the dismal mess of our offense and defense with Booker starting and think, hey, that's rather decent! I think watching our bench play has ruined you.

Our offense has been dependent on 3 point shooting all year. That didn't suddenly happen just because Booker started.

Booker has been keeping the team in games at times. In their OT loss to Atlanta he was the best player on the team, by a mile. If WAll didn't lay an egg they would have a winning record since Booker became a starter.


Booker is a far better scorer than Vesely. It isn't even close. And Booker's turnover rate is less than half of Vesely's.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sig has been updated.

If Jan could find a role as an energy/hustle player, like our version of Birdman Anderson, I'd be fine with that.

Isn't Booker already 26 years old? Jan is 23 and full of energy. He has summer league jumper skills. His form was like Dirk's in Vegas. Jan was FIBA's top rebounder and was also a scoring leader among many great, older, international players.

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him. I think Jan would be better off going back to Europe. But I also think he's good enough to start right now.

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Hey CCJ - I think he is fragile - not sure why but he is. Really struggles with confidence - just look at what happens when all eyes are on him at the FT line.

Why not continue to let him build his confidence coming off the bench? He is finally contributing in a meaningful way. Clearly Witt is going to let him play minutes 15, 20 and 22 in the last three games.

I don't understand why folks want to change when we finally have the front court rotation working?

I am terrifically happy and surprised by the progress Booker/Vesely have made and they both seem to be doing well in their roles - I think we just have to get behind Witt on this one and root for both of them.

I said good enough, but didn't say change anything now. Sorry if I wasn't clear...

Great post. Any success breeds confidence. I am suprised Randy is actually playing him after the animus between the two this offseason. Also, I think the Wizards essentially washed their hands renouncing Jan's rights.

They maxed Wall, but how good was John at the start of his third season? Jan should have been protected IMO. His effort has been great but his confidence is epically fragile.

I say he is a diamond in the rough. He's also built Javale. He's weak on pressure scoring but so what?

Dckingsfan, I am also ecstatic to see Booker and Vesely balling!

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[tontoz]

Bookers ORTG is 116 vs 97 for Vesely. These two are not comparable at all. It would take Vesely several games to get 24/14, which Booker did vs Atlanta.

[dckingsfan]

Oh I disagree. I mean the reason why this is even being discussed is that Booker starting has been an obvious, obvious failure. His defense is terrible. The offense grinds to a halt when he's in there. He's the reason Gortat is forced to take long twos. He's the reason Beal is forced into taking contested long twos. !

LOL WTF? Booker starting has gone extemely well. If you think Vesely is even remotely comparable to Booker then

I don't know if Vesely would be any better. But I'm curious if Vesely's improved court awareness and willingness to move around on offense and his vastly superior team defense would help? Or is his inability to guard hefty PFs one on one and his tendency to get stupid fouls called and turn the ball over make things worse? Only one way to find out! Try ityou really haven't been paying attention.

OMG really? You look at the dismal mess of our offense and defense with Booker starting and think, hey, that's rather decent! I think watching our bench play has ruined you.

I see an offense and defense that is running at about half it's normal efficiency and see it as a glass is half empty thing I guess.

I don't know if Vesely would be better, but I do know that Booker has SUCKED. His team defense has SUCKED. His wandering around aimlessly on offense has SUCKED. My eyes tell me so. And the things that Booker has sucked at, team defense and playing intelligently in a motion offense, Vesely is actually pretty good at. I don't know if Vesely would be BETTER, but at least it would be a different FLAVOR of suck.

Yeah, I am in the "it has gone well" camp. And I don't think that Booker starting caused Beal's long twos (which started before the Booker era) or Gortat's long twos (which started before the Booker era). Remember our bench before Nene?

Jan has a confidence issue - hiding him in the second unit is by far the best for Jan and the team, IMO.

But you have some good points - Booker's help D isn't there and Vesely has play well on D (sans his 6 PFs in 6 minutes game). Disagree on the offensive end though - I don't see your argument that Vesely is better and my eyes and the numbers prove that out.

[jivelikenice]

^Why a comparison? They both bring some things to the table but have flaws that will eventually show. You just have to find the one that gives you better production given the matchup on a given night. My biggest takeaway is now that we have a 4 big rotation of Gortat/Nene and Booker/Jan, lets dump Seraphin immediately for guard help. Seraphin stinks but hes a big man with some scoring abilitty. That always has some value as a coach always thinks they can get the talent to show more consistently.

[dckingsfan]

Isn't Booker already 26 years old? Jan is 23 and full of energy. He has summer league jumper skills. His form was like Dirk's in Vegas. Jan was FIBA's top rebounder and was also a scoring leader among many great, older, international players.

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him. I think Jan would be better off going back to Europe. But I also think he's good enough to start right now.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Hey CCJ - I think he is fragile - not sure why but he is. Really struggles with confidence - just look at what happens when all eyes are on him at the FT line.

Why not continue to let him build his confidence coming off the bench? He is finally contributing in a meaningful way. Clearly Witt is going to let him play minutes 15, 20 and 22 in the last three games.

I don't understand why folks want to change when we finally have the front court rotation working?

I am terrifically happy and surprised by the progress Booker/Vesely have made and they both seem to be doing well in their roles - I think we just have to get behind Witt on this one and root for both of them.

I said good enough, but didn't say change anything now. Sorry if I wasn't clear...

Great post. Any success breeds confidence. I am suprised Randy is actually playing him after the animus between the two this offseason. Also, I think the Wizards essentially washed their hands renouncing Jan's rights.

They maxed Wall, but how good was John at the start of his third season? Jan should have been protected IMO. His effort has been great but his confidence is epically fragile.

I say he is a diamond in the rough. He's also built Javale. He's weak on pressure scoring but so what?

Dckingsfan, I am also ecstatic to see Booker and Vesely balling!

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Got it - we are in violent agreement then... if the two of them become a solid rotation - I am going to be sooooo happy! See you on one of the game threads.

[jivelikenice]

CCJ, I don't know if it was about protecting Jan....I just think the incompetent staff we had and still have had a hard time figuring out what he was. He was drafted as a potential 3, then they tried to bulk him up and make him a center...He's finally playing a role that fits what he is.

[AFM]

From Bullets Forever

[nate33]

[tontoz]

On the season Ves has 86 points (and 54 fouls). Maybe he can get to 100 by the end of the month.

Maybe Vesely realizes he is flirting with history at the foul line and it is throwing him off his 40% pace.

[DCZards]

Hey, Wilt shot around 50% from the FT line during his career. So maybe Ves is indeed the second coming.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I think the Wizards fans mostly don't deserve him. I think Jan would be better off going back to Europe.

You know I've felt the exact same way since the moment he was drafted?

Nice one, Dat. Well played.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

CCJ, I don't know if it was about protecting Jan....I just think the incompetent staff we had and still have had a hard time figuring out what he was. He was drafted as a potential 3, then they tried to bulk him up and make him a center...He's finally playing a role that fits what he is.

Your assessment of the staff is harsh but IMO not unwarranted, jive.

They not only tried to change him after his rookie year, but they only did so after creating setbacks to his developing game. Okafor and Ariza took spots. Jan and Kevin Seraphin had been playing good minutes with healthy Nene. Booker was out hurt. They had a good stretch four in James Singleton. Vesely over the offseason got bumped down and also forced to bang without spacing from Singleton or passes from Nene.

I think Jan could play SF next to Gortat and Pau. Years ago Bird, McHale, and Parrish dominated. Jan is a good athlete.

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[TGW]

Hey, Wilt shot around 50% from the FT line during his career. So maybe Ves is indeed the second coming.

It would be a miracle if Ves actually shot 50% from the line...

[TGW]

Enjoy your camping trip, hands. I'm sure you'll be pitching a tent after this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3wF9t7tZWw[/youtube]