1PM, Rubio VS Wall (Wolves - Wiz Game Thread)

[miller31time]

More controversy:

Frank Hanrahan @JFrankHanrahan 4m
Source: Wizards’ Rashard Lewis was late scratch versus Minnesota because he got into an argument before game with an asst coach. #Wizards

I knew something was up. I wish the Wizards would just say he didn't play because of "conduct detrimental to the team" instead of lying to the fans. Don't they know stuff like that will get out. It just makes this organization look more like a joke than it already is.

It's cute how they think they're important enough for people to care.

Wiz PR Man #1: "Shard and Sammy just got into a big fight"
Wiz PR Man #2: "NO!!! That will be all over the press in minutes if this gets out!"
Wiz PR Man #1: "Then it won't....get....out...."
Wiz PR Man #2: "What do you mean, #1? Are you saying...?"
Wiz PR Man #1: "Exactly. We lie. Not a soul can know about what happened in that locker-room"
Wiz PR Man #2: "I guess this is why you get paid the big bucks"

High-fives ensue.

[queridiculo]

I'd be surprised if PR controlled the message here, seems like the President of Basketball Operations doing. Kind of funny that he chose to cover for Lewis in this case, but couldn't be bothered to do the same for his franchise player.

[hands11]

I was out of town all weekend at my nieces wedding.

What awesome kids.. well, young adults, I have in my family.

Truly blessed.

So what did I miss ?

[WizarDynasty]

grunfeld messed up by not getting us a veteran high bbiq backup defensive point guard to replace hinrich. He probably should have overpaid Watson if he didn't have a plan B.

[hands11]

it's hard to gauge what kind of motivation these guys would respond to. it's like trying to parent teenagers. you set strict larry brown rules on them and they'll just rebel and burn your house down. you try to buddy up to them and they won't respect you and openly steal your beer and cigarettes. it makes sense because most of our talent are effectively children. i wonder if supernanny is available for a reasonable contract?

They steal my beer and cigarettes and I'll go Bobby Knight on their a$$es

PS: They might go all Sprewell on mine

Super Nanny is not a bad idea at all.

But given where they are, you let them suffer the result of their effort. Let them be exposed for their stupidity and see who grows up.

This is on the player more than anything else.

Keep, draft, trade and hire via FA players who are mature and have heart first. Look at Tebow. That is the only way to turn this franchise around. Currently, I don't even put Wall on that list. I have seen some flashes from him, but not enough compared to the stupid stuff has done.

Right now the most important thing for this team is to get Vesely on the court more. Singleton effort and heart was rewarded with 40 minutes. Now he has to live up to what he has been given. Booker also looks like he qualifies. I haven't seen the game yet but if that is where you have to start, then that is where you need to start. Looks like we have two players with heart and one more potential in Jesely.

Two more games to go.

Ah, looks like Lewis and Sam got in a fight.

[montestewart]

What "stupid stuff" has Wall done?

[mohammed10]

Um, what did I miss?

ESPN highlites showed Rubio having a whale of a game. Were we that bad (or is that a rhetorical question)?

[DaRealHibachi]

it's hard to gauge what kind of motivation these guys would respond to. it's like trying to parent teenagers. you set strict larry brown rules on them and they'll just rebel and burn your house down. you try to buddy up to them and they won't respect you and openly steal your beer and cigarettes. it makes sense because most of our talent are effectively children. i wonder if supernanny is available for a reasonable contract?

They steal my beer and cigarettes and I'll go Bobby Knight on their a$$es

PS: They might go all Sprewell on mine

Super Nanny is not a bad idea at all.

But given where they are, you let them suffer the result of their effort. Let them be exposed for their stupidity and see who grows up.

This is on the player more than anything else.

Keep, draft, trade and hire via FA players who are mature and have heart first. Look at Tebow. That is the only way to turn this franchise around. Currently, I don't even put Wall on that list. I have seen some flashes from him, but not enough compared to the stupid stuff has done.

Right now the most important thing for this team is to get Vesely on the court more. Singleton effort and heart was rewarded with 40 minutes. Now he has to live up to what he has been given. Booker also looks like he qualifies. I haven't seen the game yet but if that is where you have to start, then that is where you need to start. Looks like we have two players with heart and one more potential in Jesely.

Two more games to go.

Ah, looks like Lewis and Sam got in a fight.

Did Wall kill your dog or something...???

[B-easy]

The game changed went Wall went out and Crawford came in. Minny made a huge run and never looked back. Vesley was also pretty poor, especially rebounding wise. He kept getting hit by the ball on the rebounds lol .

Both guys had a +/- of -21 which was clearly evident by the way the team looked when they came in.

[hands11]

What "stupid stuff" has Wall done?

Are you watching the games ?

The question is more like, what smarts stuff has he done.

He has played with the maturity of a two year old. ( except Boston game )

[hands11]

The game changed went Wall went out and Crawford came in. Minny made a huge run and never looked back. Vesley was also pretty poor, especially rebounding wise. He kept getting hit by the ball on the rebounds lol .

Both guys had a +/- of -21 which was clearly evident by the way the team looked when they came in.

Actually it was Rubio that made the difference.

As to the question did Wall kill my dog. Nope. Just calling it as I see it. He is not a very effective PG.

He has moments were he makes good plays but mostly he doesnt play very smart.

He is currently like McGee has been over the years as a center. He does a thing or two good, but he doesn't understand the position. At least not year. And he has an over inflated ego.

If I had to choose PGs for this team for this year right now, I would take Rubio.

Wall needs to go watching some of the Boston game footage.

[DaRealHibachi]

The game changed went Wall went out and Crawford came in. Minny made a huge run and never looked back. Vesley was also pretty poor, especially rebounding wise. He kept getting hit by the ball on the rebounds lol .

Both guys had a +/- of -21 which was clearly evident by the way the team looked when they came in.

Actually it was Rubio that made the difference.

As to the question did Wall kill my dog. Nope. Just calling it as I see it. He is not a very effective PG.

He has moments were he makes good plays but mostly he doesnt play very smart.

He is currently like McGee has been over the years as a center. He does a thing or two good, but he doesn't understand the position. At least not year. And he has an over inflated ego.

If I had to choose PGs for this team for this year right now, I would take Rubio.

Wall needs to go watching some of the Boston game footage.

I find it hilarious how you had nothing to complain about Wall last year, and now because he is in a funk, you call him dumb, immature and what not (over inflated ego, lol, based on what..???);

According to your "logic", it is possible for one to know how to play PG, then all of a sudden forget how to... and I bet if he picks it up (like the Boston game), he is a PG again...

Dude, do you even know how ridiculous that ish sounds...???

[Zonkerbl]

Well, it's clear he's not playing well. Last year he said he was injured -- this year he doesn't have that excuse.

I think he's pressing. But what the hell is going on with this team? It's NOT POSSIBLE for this team to be worse than last year's. It's just not.

Looks like selfish play from Blatche and Crawford and N1 is bringing the whole team down. Crawford in particular has been TURRIBLE.

[dangermouse]

Apparently it was Cassell

At least he has the balls to get in Lewis' face. That last game was pathetic and insulting.

Get Flip outta here and promote one of the assistants for the year.

[dangermouse]

It's NOT POSSIBLE for this team to be worse than last year's.

Well we are seeing it...

And we should have seen it coming. Lockout shortened training camp and pre-season, young team who needs lots of practise and coaching.... Then when we realised that a certain player was out of shape, and another certain player was getting paid a boatload and didnt care any more, we should have known this was going to be a LOOOONNNG short season.

[hands11]

DaRealHibachi

You must be thinking of a different poster.

You say I had no complaints about Wall last year. That is what is ridiculous.

I have been very consistent with evaluating his game. I even said they should consider a trade for Kyrie coming into this draft. I suggested trade options the year he was drafted by trading down or deferring the draft pick for future ones.

I never drank the Wall koolaid. I have talked about the same holes in his game all last year and before we drafted him.

I was the first one to make an issue about him being a captain before he earned it.

Yes, I saw the Boston game as a good game from him. He made smart decisions. He ran the office. So he has it in himself to play more efficiently. That is what is bothering me. Most of what he is doing wrong is by his own doing. I see little difference between his approach to the game and Crawfords approach to the game. To think that doesn't have a huge effect on the teams play would be blind to how basketball is played. PGs are supposed to bring organization, leadership and make the game easier for other players. Wall is not doing much of that. Actually, he is doing the opposite.

I hope the kid gets it because he is here and I doubt they trade him but to act like I am opportunistic about critiquing him and beyond ridiculous.

[LyricalRico]

Finished watching the game on DVR late last night. A few observatioins:

- Booker and Singleton come to play. Even when the game was out of reach in the 4th, Booker was still playing hard. Those two are definite keepers.

- Wall had more energy and better body language. Even if he's still developing as a PG, he still needs to be a leader in energy.

- Crawford is a complete ball stopper. There is no semblance of an offense when he's in the game. I'd say bench him like they did Lewis, but Mason/Mack aren't much better.

- Young is also chucking. He's better at it than Crawford, but he threw up some bad shots that just ended up going in (and of course Buck gushes to no end when it happens).

- Blatche was still bad, but he was at least watchable when he was playing C for a stretch alongside a high energy group.

- Vesely strikes me as smart and aggressive, although I think the returns will be limited until he plays alongside some quality veterans.

- Why are 3pt shooters ALWAYS open? It was like EFJ was coordinating the defense. Excessive helping on every pass to the point that the cross-court pass was open to MInny on almost every possession. I still think Flip is essentially letting the guys do whatever they want and just waiting to get fired.

[verbal8]

- Why are 3pt shooters ALWAYS open? It was like EFJ was coordinating the defense. Excessive helping on every pass to the point that the cross-court pass was open to MInny on almost every possession. I still think Flip is essentially letting the guys do whatever they want and just waiting to get fired.

The Twolves are 5th in 3 point attempts and hitting at a good rate(36%). They were very close to their averages, but the defense should tweaked to prevent them from playing to their strengths(open 3s).

[GhostsOfGil]

Quote of the night from Chris Singleton:

"What does 0 and 8 mean to you?"
"It means were losers"

End of interview

[Zonkerbl]

I think the defense tends to assume that Javale/Blatche will get beat one on one and automatically sends helpers even when the guy with the ball hasn't made a move yet. I don't know if that's by design or by stupidity on the helpers' side.

I say give the post defender a chance to make a stop before rushing to bail him out. Force the ball to stick.