GT #21: Wizards @ Hawks 7:30 PM CSN

[truwizfan4evr]

LoL.. Can't believe I watched that whole game on tape to see them choke away that win after battling back from 15 down.. Just unbelievable how inept that team is.. As soon as they had that 2 point lead with under a minute, they all turned into little girls on prom night. Scared to death to just win the damn game..

And how many times do they need to see Wall throw up a brick at the buzzer to learn a new dance? I mean come on, does he ever make that shot? Run a play for god sake.. Him wasting 10 seconds at half court to dribble to the key and throw up a prayer every time has got to be getting old for the team -and- coach, no? Even if they fail, try **** something different once a month, damn.. 2 more night of free NBA, can't **** wait.. Not!

Cudos to the bench for not being afraid to play with out Nene in the lineup..

Great post! I agree 100% with you.

[Hidden Eye]

Lemme guess Booker was on Horford the whole night

[miller31time]

Didn't get to watch the game since I was at work (which looks to be a blessing in disguise).

One thing that stands out -- John Wall = 22 shots attempts, 0 free throw attempts

He still hasn't figured out what most superstars understand -- when you're having a tough shooting night, get to the rim. You'd think someone with his athleticism and burst would be not just willing but HAPPY to do this but it seems like pulling teeth with Mr. Wall.

[TheBabyMaker]

Somewhere Gilbert Arenas is turning over in his (NBA) grave watching this. Most unclutchness I have ever seen from any NBA team (yeah you too John Wall).
This team has a long way to go. From the GM, Coatching and the bench.

[TheBabyMaker]

Lemme guess Booker was on Horford the whole night

Yeah and Booker had 24-14 what else he supposed to do undersized. What other options they have with a broken down NeNe.

[hands11]

It's time for a new coach. 3 straight close losses

Well the thing that killed me was watching that starting line up. It just wasn't working. They were getting killed in the post every time he had them out there and they were struggling to get in an offensive flow and he did nothing to adjust.

[hands11]

Defend who? You think Vesely should have defended Horford? Are you serious? Horford would have gotten whatever position he wanted.

In 1.8 seconds?

I don't know about that Nate.

Gotten position before the ball was inbounded.

I can't believe this is an issue. Blame Wittman for sitting Gortat? Sure. But you don't blame him for sitting Jan freaking Vesley in crunch time when Booker was having a career night.

Scoring and rebounding. Not by stopping anyone from scoring.

[dobrojim]

becuase Wizards

Wall sleepwalks his way building a masonry house for 3 Qs wasting what
for us was a remarkable job by the bench.

ps - Why wasn't Ves used to harass the inbounds passer on the last play?
They didn't attempt to have anyone in that role. I know the reason why,
I just don't agree with it.

[GhostsOfGil]

3 close games in a row. We probably would have won all 3 if we had Nene to close it out. This team is so hopelessly reliant on an injury prone 31-year old that it's pathetic.

Well, that injury-prone 31-year-old is a pretty damn good player.

He was once. You think he's having a good season? No. Not even close. He's averaging 7.6 boards every 40 minutes, and his Offensive rebounds are down worse than Defensive.

The outstanding TS% he used to post in his prime has also leaked away.

Nene is a shell of the player he once was. Fortunately we've got him locked up for this season and two more years after that.

I dont care what the numbers say. Bottom line: Nene makes our team significantly better when he plays.

[Hypnotizer]

ps - Why wasn't Ves used to harass the inbounds passer on the last play?
They didn't attempt to have anyone in that role. I know the reason why,
I just don't agree with it.

Because we have "great" coach. I don't know what he was thinking about? Another offensive play with 1.5 sec left and the ball for ATL? Booker is 6-8, while Gortat is 6-11 and Vesely 7-0. Randy, have a mercy... Booker was that "little puppy" Gortat was talking about lately.

[Hypnotizer]

I dont care what the numbers say. Bottom line: Nene makes our team significantly better when he plays.

You should care - numbers say we lose every game without Nene.

[B-easy]

Didn't get to watch the game since I was at work (which looks to be a blessing in disguise).

One thing that stands out -- John Wall = 22 shots attempts, 0 free throw attempts

He still hasn't figured out what most superstars understand -- when you're having a tough shooting night, get to the rim. You'd think someone with his athleticism and burst would be not just willing but HAPPY to do this but it seems like pulling teeth with Mr. Wall.

You are right. When wall did look to drive he was making things happen. Its so easy.

[Ruzious]

Well, that injury-prone 31-year-old is a pretty damn good player.

He was once. You think he's having a good season? No. Not even close. He's averaging 7.6 boards every 40 minutes, and his Offensive rebounds are down worse than Defensive.

The outstanding TS% he used to post in his prime has also leaked away.

Nene is a shell of the player he once was. Fortunately we've got him locked up for this season and two more years after that.

I dont care what the numbers say. Bottom line: Nene makes our team significantly better when he plays.

Not only that, the numbers still say Nene is far superior to Pif's favorite player, Booker - including the TS% he used to make his argument. And in spite of the rebounding numbers he quotes, the team is rebounding far better when Nene is in the game. Nene's health is a legitimate issue. The quality of his play - at BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT - isn't. Horford dominated the game. If anyone believes that would have been the case if Nene was healthy, Pif probably has some prime beachfront property in New Orleans to sell you.

[GhostsOfGil]

I dont care what the numbers say. Bottom line: Nene makes our team significantly better when he plays.

You should care - numbers say we lose every game without Nene.

I think you missed my point.

[Hypnotizer]

I dont care what the numbers say. Bottom line: Nene makes our team significantly better when he plays.

You should care - numbers say we lose every game without Nene.

I think you missed my point.

I just play on words, I know what you mean.

[dlts20]

Didn't get to watch the game since I was at work (which looks to be a blessing in disguise).

One thing that stands out -- John Wall = 22 shots attempts, 0 free throw attempts

He still hasn't figured out what most superstars understand -- when you're having a tough shooting night, get to the rim. You'd think someone with his athleticism and burst would be not just willing but HAPPY to do this but it seems like pulling teeth with Mr. Wall.

dont worry, Im sure we will again here from Wall about how he let the Hawks take him out his game and settle for all J's and that it wont happen again. He said that after the Pacers game but yet here we are again this soon.

The funny thing is that I mentioned in the thread that we scored literally everytime he drove. He either made it, or he dished for a layup, or he missed and our guys got a tip in because the D shifted. Yet he hardly ever did it

[Mickstix]

For whatever reason Nene just seems to have a calming effect on the team. (from my view anyway) Especially late in games.. Wall is good for getting them pumped up and rallying, but as soon as a TO is called and they get to think about the situation, they go into shell shock or something? Last night you could just see the demeanor change as soon as they took the lead and had a chance to seal the deal.. All of a sudden everyone was indecisive, couldn't pass or rebound, much less shoot the ball with any confidence.. Gortat you'd think would be the last one to tighten up, but he looked worst of all of them at the end of regulation.. Wall has great confidence, but just can't pull it off and I think the team must sense that? But, one way or another, they're gonna have to learn how to win a couple games when Nene isn't in the lineup, or they'll never make that next step.

[hands11]

Yep Witt is innocent are you all blind?

I'm not a fan of Wittman at all but I'm also aware he's not the biggest problem we have.

Often enough he is. Last night I would say it was a tie between him and Wall. Since they are the two most important decision makers on the team, that's not good. Which is why Nene and Webster are so important to this team.

[nate33]

For whatever reason Nene just seems to have a calming effect on the team. (from my view anyway) Especially late in games.. Wall is good for getting them pumped up and rallying, but as soon as a TO is called and they get to think about the situation, they go into shell shock or something? Last night you could just see the demeanor change as soon as they took the lead and had a chance to seal the deal.. All of a sudden everyone was indecisive, couldn't pass or rebound, much less shoot the ball with any confidence.. Gortat you'd think would be the last one to tighten up, but he looked worst of all of them at the end of regulation.. Wall has great confidence, but just can't pull it off and I think the team must sense that? But, one way or another, they're gonna have to learn how to win a couple games when Nene isn't in the lineup, or they'll never make that next step.

I didn't get a sense that they froze up. What I saw was that, once we got a lead, Wall felt compelled to dribble 10 seconds off the shot clock before getting into our offensive sets. When that happens, other teams pack the lane because they know there's less time for us to drive-kick-and swing the ball to find an open shooter.

We need to stop even trying to milk the shot clock unless we're up by 7 or more points. Just run our offensive sets like it's any other time in the game.

[TheKingOfVa360]

It's time for a new coach. 3 straight close losses

Well the thing that killed me was watching that starting line up. It just wasn't working. They were getting killed in the post every time he had them out there and they were struggling to get in an offensive flow and he did nothing to adjust.

It's like Coach Whit doesn't make strategic adjustments. We never double teamed Horford, we shouldn't have let him score over 30 points on just lay ups.