GT: Wizards host Bobcats - Nov 24th 7 pm

[WizKid25]

What an embarrassment. Everyone on the team sucks except Nene and Webster. They're the only guys who would see the floor if they played on a top tier team. Ariza and Singleton are marginally competent and might ride the pine on a good team. Seraphin sucks. Vesely sucks. Beal sucks. Price sucks. Crawford sucks. Okafor sucks. They don't belong on an NBA roster right now. (Seraphin and Beal might eventually be useful, but they suck now.)

Fire EG.

You're just frustrated. Give Beal time. He's a rook. Let's wait and see how Wall helps his game. I envision Beal shooting much better once he sees and understands how open he'll routinely be when Wall is driving and kicking to him.

As for Webster, he wouldn't see the floor on a top tier team either. He never has.

[hands11]

Wonder if there has ever been a 0-11 team that have gone into OT 3 times in those first 11 games.
I would surprised if that wasn't a first.

[closg00]

Yep, we are pretty terrible, the roster is horribly constructed. We are the NBA's worst team right now.

[queridiculo]

Wonder if there has ever been a 0-11 team that have gone into OT 3 times in those first 11 games.
I would surprised if that wasn't a first.

Does it really matter? You're sounding like Buckhantz.

[pineappleheadindc]

Seraphin has no business starting. He NEVER sets a pick -- always slips them. If I were a Washington guard, I'd fire the ball at the back of his thick skull until he figured out what the meaning of the word "pick" is.

And, if anyone had some good sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, I'll give you Jordan Crawford for them. At least one small tupperware full, please.

[queridiculo]

Kemba Walker would be a great counter example, but I see where you're coming from. I don't see bluechip talent with Beal, and that's sort of what you would expect from a guard taken 3rd overall.

What disappoints me the most is his apparent inability to create anything of the dribble. He's a complete self check in that respect. If he's not open there isn't much you can expect from him offensively and that doesn't bode well for his future.

Let's hope his jumper comes around because if it doesn't, he'll be just another Washington lottery bust.

[hands11]

He has to improve his handles. To often he looks like he is afraid to put the ball on the floor. He can't create any space for himself or his teammates.

If there is any spacing when the gets the ball, if he doesn't just pass it along and he tries to dribble, the entire defense gets adjusted and reset as he goes no where with the ball off the dribble.

How good would Damian Lillard look on this team right now ?

[dangermouse]

I'm extremely disappointed in Beal. I've finally come to the conclusion that players really don't improve all that much once they get into the league, particularly guards. If they're not pretty good right away, it's unlikely that they'll ever become good. Right now, Beal's ORtg is 92 and he has shown no above average skill. That's embarassing. While I'm sure it'll get better, I'm losing faith that there will be a dramatic transformation. WYSIWYG. Beal is a mediocre player at best. We are no longer talking Ray Allen, Eric Gordon, or a shorter James Harden. I'm thinking his upside is more like Randy Foye, Bobby Phils or Hubert Davis. Basically, a below average starter or a bench player. Yay. Another bench player.

Not necessarily true... check this out
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... oga01.html

He's 19, man. I think thats when I lost my virginity.
Kidd Gilchrist is averaging 11 and 6. Is he a bust too?

So what you're saying is we need to get Beal some pussy?

[AFM]

Or less. Maybe he's getting too much and is tired out there.

[willbcocks]

Beal got a number of assists driving and dishing to teammates. He's showing he has the size and athleticism to get rebounds and blocks. The two big problems right now are shooting (33% from 3 land isn't enough, he needs to be a 40% shooter) and finishing at the basket. Finishing in the NBA is an adjustment, but he shouldn't be missing so many open, open, shots. He needs to start putting up 1000 shots every day in practice.

[Wizardspride]

He has to improve his handles. To often he looks like he is afraid to put the ball on the floor. He can't create any space for himself or his teammates.

See, I don't think it's his handle per se that needs improvement.

The real problem imo is lack of a killer first step.

[TheBigThree]

Beal hasn't proven to be above average at anything. At best, he's a solid rebounder for such a young guard. Other than that, there's nothing about his game that stands out.

FT shooter! Championship!

You're absolutely right, though. So far he hasn't displayed any skills of a top 2 guard. Hitting open shots would be a great start, but all good NBA two guards have an innate, uncanny ability to gain separation from their defender both off the ball and with the ball. I haven't seen Beal display that skill once.

[Mickstix]

Still the Ashington Izards I see.. And nothin will change in Teddyville.. Booooo!!!

[noworriesinmd]

Last year I used to cheer for Vesely because he gave you 100% every game.
I don't get that same feeling with Beal. I don't say he has flashes of greatness...instead I use the word "but" to justify why he is not productive.
1. He disappears for long stretches of the game, BUT he's only a rook
2. He has very little movement, BUT he's only 19 and is learning
3. It looks like NO ONE on the team wanted to pass him the ball during the overtime minutes, BUT he just unselfish.
4. He looks lost when he gets the ball, BUT he'll get better..it's better to pass
5. He doesn't have a constant jump shot, BUT give it time it will fall
6. He looks like a boy among men, but he's only 19.

I feel I'm trying to talk myself into liking Beal.....

Players are playing AAU ball from an early age...what if he's reached his ceiling? Instead of going on what we see...we are going on hope...which is what money-ball is supposed to prevent.

I know he had a decent stat line tonight, but he was ghost during the 2 OT periods. It's funny because I kept looking up at the board to see if he was there because he just disappears.

Just a random thought, what if we are one player away from being great???
This team plays HARD, but it is obvious we don't have that elite go-to scorer who can either shoot the ball or break down their defender and get to the rim. Toward the end, JC couldn't break down his defender and he settles for circus shots. For example D-Wade or D-Rose if they lacked a jump shot...they could get to the rim.

This team is in every game, and their problem is not that the team is filled with people who don't play hard and who don't know how to win...but they just don't have one guy that is a crazy scorer.

I wonder how good this team would have been with Harden?
Is there one person in the draft that just knows how to score with efficiency?
I wonder, are we one player a way....because we are not getting blown out...we are so close.

This could be what TL sees

[WizKid25]

I'm extremely disappointed in Beal. I've finally come to the conclusion that players really don't improve all that much once they get into the league, particularly guards. If they're not pretty good right away, it's unlikely that they'll ever become good. Right now, Beal's ORtg is 92 and he has shown no above average skill. That's embarassing. While I'm sure it'll get better, I'm losing faith that there will be a dramatic transformation. WYSIWYG. Beal is a mediocre player at best. We are no longer talking Ray Allen, Eric Gordon, or a shorter James Harden. I'm thinking his upside is more like Randy Foye, Bobby Phils or Hubert Davis. Basically, a below average starter or a bench player. Yay. Another bench player.

How can you say that? Plenty of guards have improved during their pro careers. While I’m not comparing Beal to any of the below players, here’s a sample of more recent guards who have developed well after being drafted, and their respective ORtg in their rookie seasons.

Avery Bradley: 68
Jamal Crawford: 84
J.R. Smith: 95
Mike Conley: 97
Rajon Rondo: 97
Russell Westbrook: 99
Jason Terry: 100
Leandro Barbosa: 100
John Wall: 100
O.J. Mayo: 103

As previously mentioned numerous times, Beal is just 19. He needs time. Maybe he is mediocre right now. But very few guards aren't as rookies. Will he evolve into the second coming of Ray Allen? Maybe, maybe not. But he has the potential to be a nice complement to Wall for years to come if properly developed.

[dandridge 10]

I'm extremely disappointed in Beal. I've finally come to the conclusion that players really don't improve all that much once they get into the league, particularly guards. If they're not pretty good right away, it's unlikely that they'll ever become good. Right now, Beal's ORtg is 92 and he has shown no above average skill. That's embarassing. While I'm sure it'll get better, I'm losing faith that there will be a dramatic transformation. WYSIWYG. Beal is a mediocre player at best. We are no longer talking Ray Allen, Eric Gordon, or a shorter James Harden. I'm thinking his upside is more like Randy Foye, Bobby Phils or Hubert Davis. Basically, a below average starter or a bench player. Yay. Another bench player.

I am starting to get concerned too, particularly for 2 reasons. First, I always watch Beal during warm-ups and that guy doesn't even make shots during pre-game warm-ups. He is also missing wide open jumpers during games. Truly great shooters don't miss open jumpers. Second, he just appears two timid on offense. He doesn't appear to have much of a killer instinct and often looks scared to take shots or take it to the hole.

Honestly, Beal reminds me a lot of Calbert Cheaney when Cheaney played for us. He had great form on his jumper, but he really wasnt a very good shooter. The guy also had confidence problems. I hope Beal proves me wrong.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm extremely disappointed in Beal. I've finally come to the conclusion that players really don't improve all that much once they get into the league, particularly guards. If they're not pretty good right away, it's unlikely that they'll ever become good. Right now, Beal's ORtg is 92 and he has shown no above average skill. That's embarassing. While I'm sure it'll get better, I'm losing faith that there will be a dramatic transformation. WYSIWYG. Beal is a mediocre player at best. We are no longer talking Ray Allen, Eric Gordon, or a shorter James Harden. I'm thinking his upside is more like Randy Foye, Bobby Phils or Hubert Davis. Basically, a below average starter or a bench player. Yay. Another bench player.

I agree, Beal doesn't pass the eyeball test and he has ZERO swag. However, you've got to hope that we will see some dramatic improvements at some point once he gets some experience.

I can't just lurk on this one.

Beal is 19 and has played 11 games. Compare game logs with James Harden's first 11 games, aged 20.

Rookie Beal: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2013/
Rookie Harden: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... elog/2010/

During 30 games of his rookie season (December and January) Harden shot well under 40 percent. Check his splits: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lits/2010/

(OKC might have been thinking WYSIWYG also, well into Harden's rookie season.)

As for your conclusion that Gs do not improve, do you remember this player?



Your rule works as a broad generalization, nate, but look at Malone's first-year PER and WS/48 compared to his 2nd through 5th seasons.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... nje01.html

For historical reference, Gary Payton, John Starks, Derek Harper are all notable exceptions to your observation. They improved after age 22. Beal is 19.

[nate33]

How can you say that? Plenty of guards have improved during their pro careers. While I’m not comparing Beal to any of the below players, here’s a sample of more recent guards who have developed well after being drafted, and their respective ORtg in their rookie seasons.

Avery Bradley: 68
Jamal Crawford: 84
J.R. Smith: 95
Mike Conley: 97
Rajon Rondo: 97
Russell Westbrook: 99
Jason Terry: 100
Leandro Barbosa: 100
John Wall: 100
O.J. Mayo: 103

Comparing him to hyper athletic PG's like Rondo, Wall and Westbrook is pointless. Beal is nothing like those guys. (Those guys had an impact that exceeded their ORtg.) And among the rest of those guys listed, there isn't much that gets me excited. Crawford, Smith, Terry, Mayo and Barbosa are all bench players or below average starters.

[dandridge 10]

Last year I used to cheer for Vesely because he gave you 100% every game.
I don't get that same feeling with Beal. I don't say he has flashes of greatness...instead I use the word "but" to justify why he is not productive.
1. He disappears for long stretches of the game, BUT he's only a rook
2. He has very little movement, BUT he's only 19 and is learning
3. It looks like NO ONE on the team wanted to pass him the ball during the overtime minutes, BUT he just unselfish.
4. He looks lost when he gets the ball, BUT he'll get better..it's better to pass
5. He doesn't have a constant jump shot, BUT give it time it will fall
6. He looks like a boy among men, but he's only 19.

I feel I'm trying to talk myself into liking Beal.....

Players are playing AAU ball from an early age...what if he's reached his ceiling? Instead of going on what we see...we are going on hope...which is what money-ball is supposed to prevent.

I know he had a decent stat line tonight, but he was ghost during the 2 OT periods. It's funny because I kept looking up at the board to see if he was there because he just disappears.

Just a random thought, what if we are one player away from being great???
This team plays HARD, but it is obvious we don't have that elite go-to scorer who can either shoot the ball or break down their defender and get to the rim. Toward the end, JC couldn't break down his defender and he settles for circus shots. For example D-Wade or D-Rose if they lacked a jump shot...they could get to the rim.

This team is in every game, and their problem is not that the team is filled with people who don't play hard and who don't know how to win...but they just don't have one guy that is a crazy scorer.

I wonder how good this team would have been with Harden?
Is there one person in the draft that just knows how to score with efficiency?
I wonder, are we one player a way....because we are not getting blown out...we are so close.

This could be what TL sees

I don't think we would be great with a closer, but I think we would be a heck of a lot better if we had a go to person at the end of games. Right now, it really doesn't appear like anyone really wants to take that last shot. The Wizards were force feeding Nene tonight hoping he could close the game for them, but he is not a closer either. Unfortunately, this team is just chock full of role players who are being asked to be more than what they are.

[Jay81]

i wanted Harrison Barnes and you guys(Dat2U) especially talked me out of it. I was also in favor of trading the pick for 6 and 11 where we could of got Lilliard.