GT #41: Celtics @ Wizards 7 PM CSN - "Over .500?"

[dlts20]

Do you know the thing I dislike the most about our team right now? Its the way they are handling the .500 talk. Every time I read an interview, I get less confident that they are going to get over it, no matter who we play. They dont own it. They run from it. All of them talk scared and say they dont want to hear about it. Why not? Thats why they keep losing. You have to talk about it and own it.

People tell the media and teammates to not talk about things when things are going well. Like if you have a long FT streak or something like that. Thats the kinda things you dont talk about. Not bad things. I mean Lebron is in the press right now for having KD"s stats sent to him. He's not running from it. He's owning it to make him better. As soon as they start attacking the .500 talk, then they will win and get over it. They are instead running from it like cowards and playing scared, tight, or doing things that arent normal.

Right now its the elephant in the room. Everyone knows about it but no one wants to talk about it. Its stupid and weak. Own it and attack it, idiots. Where is the vetran leadership? I dont wanna hear a youngin like Beal saying not to talk about it. I want to hear a vet say we are getting over .500 tonight. Watch. Thats what I want to hear. If this were Kobe he would tell the media that .500 can kiss his ass and they will be over it soon enough

[dandridge 10]

Hmmm. I don't think Witt is a very good coach, but these guys are f-ing professionals. To blame Witt for the way these guys come out in these type of situations is laughable. Beal just said we came out with no energy, no focus. Witt is not Mark Turgeon, who is responsible to motivate his young team to play 35 games. These guys are getting paid millions of dollars to play a game that they love. I know it's not easy, but you are AT HOME! They come out to play the Heat because of a full house and LeBron but they can't get up for a team with no Rondo and Bradley. WTF. They'll always be mediocre until they grow the f-up and it starts with John Wall not getting abused by some D-League scrub who wasn't that great at Missouri. Jeff Green is good but come on. Martell Webster let 55-year old Gerald Wallace drive right around him in the most important part of the game.

I thought Nene was a vocal leader but I guess not by example. Nobody is on this average-at-best team.

+1000. I can understand a good team coming out flat every now and then against a bad team. It happens to every good team in the league. However, there is no excuse for it to happen to a team that has been striving to get over .500 all season and has the perfect opportunity to do so at home against a weary team playing a back to back without 2 starters. You would think the players would be tired of hearing how they can't get over .500. I guess not.

[Mickstix]

Good lord.. Just watched on DVR.. Come back from 19 down, get a 3 point lead late and still lose to "those" Celtics? Wow.. Our starting 5, smelling +.500 for the firt time in any of their Wiz careers, couldn't beat their "5" down the stretch or even in OT, at home, after the ride/game they had last night?? Just no excuse for that.. None.. Any hope this team gives off they quickly remind us of just how bad they still are.. Damn..

[dandridge 10]

Well Boston hasn't been playing that badly. They played Miami close and that was with Rondo going 0-8 last night and LeBron getting a lot of calls down the stretch. In the short term, they might be better without Rondo until he can rehabilitate back to 100%.

That being said I don't think their success is sustainable- Jeff Green isn't going to shoot 50% from 3 and Sullinger is going to have a tough time making those jumpers over 7 footers. Tonight wasn't the Wizards night.

I only caught the end of the game. That sequence where Wall was blocked twice in a row in the fast break was deflating. Not sure why Nene got those looks- the defense was giving him that shot and sometimes their a reason why the defense give it to you.

Otherwise the Wizards played reasonably well from what I saw. They can't afford to dig themselves into deep holes like that.

If you only caught the end of the game, I can see how you would conclude that the Wizards played "reasonably well." They were flat out horrible in the first half. If they played with half the energy they did in the second half, this wouldn't have even been a game. Part of the reason Green was so good in the second half is they allowed him to get in a groove in the first half.

[dlts20]

Hmmm. I don't think Witt is a very good coach, but these guys are f-ing professionals. To blame Witt for the way these guys come out in these type of situations is laughable. Beal just said we came out with no energy, no focus. Witt is not Mark Turgeon, who is responsible to motivate his young team to play 35 games. These guys are getting paid millions of dollars to play a game that they love. I know it's not easy, but you are AT HOME! They come out to play the Heat because of a full house and LeBron but they can't get up for a team with no Rondo and Bradley. WTF. They'll always be mediocre until they grow the f-up and it starts with John Wall not getting abused by some D-League scrub who wasn't that great at Missouri. Jeff Green is good but come on. Martell Webster let 55-year old Gerald Wallace drive right around him in the most important part of the game.

I thought Nene was a vocal leader but I guess not by example. Nobody is on this average-at-best team.

maybe, maybe not but even pro coaches, especially in football get ripped if there team doesnt seem ready to play. He's not doing something right. Pros or not, if they cant mentally get over a hurdle then there is something you are suppose to say or do to put them over. I got on the vets in my other response but Witt is just as responsilbe. A good coach can also have some wisdom in telling guys how to handle it or he can say things in the media about ownng the .500 thing also. He just goes along with what they say instead of telling them to own it and attack it

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

I've been posting on this board for as long -if not longer (Gils 1st or 2nd year)- than the vast majority of posters on this board. I wouldn't think that gives me any more juice when disagreeing to a less senior or newer poster. On the other hand, one would be wise not to question the fandom of other posters because he doesn't like what the other has to say... especially after we blew it again against another shitttty road team.

[jivelikenice]

The problem was clearly how we started. We let Boston get comfortable open looks early and it set the tone right away. At 7-4 I immediately realized we were in big trouble. Ariza was putting absolutely no pressure on the green and deserved to get lit up.

Wall I think tried to hard to lift the team during its lethargic start and made more mistakes because of it. His third quarter approach was much better and the team came back. After they came back he tried too hard again to complete the comeback. Then he scored 8 straight near the end to help give us a chance to win. It was crazy how Jekyll and Hyde his game tonight was, but to label him the problem is wrong, The problem is time and time again we've had winnable home games with a chance to get some separation in the standings, but we fall flat on our face.

Back to Wall, he struggled without that second ball handler and the ball always seems to come back out to him with :05 on the shot clock. That's roster construction! When beal is out we have only ONE person capable of creating a shot in the halfcourt and the result is poor execution whe. Ariza dribbles aimlessly for ten seconds before moving the ball.

Games like this happen, but when you also lose to Philly, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Detorit at home, this loss is inexcuseable

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have an idea then if you want to complain, root for another team, "it's been 5 years since we had .500" well root for another team, why don't you bandwagon the heat or the thunder. They will welcome you with open arms.

I appreciate your all peaches and cream post, but I think the Wizards fans on this board have a right to be disappointed when the Wiz lay an egg after having an opportunity to go above .500 at home, against a bad team, who played last night, got in early this morning, and were missing 2 of their starters.

Many of us can count five or ten very bad decisions made over the past 5 years.

It is extremely difficult to be a fan. I don't post much because I have a negative overall opinion. It doesn't help others who are here to enjoy the Wizards.

As far as this loss goes it just confirms that this team is mediocre and very dependent on how well John Wall plays. It comes down to the weak east and the playoffs. Washington will probably fizzle if they make the playoffs.

I think it's better to be neutral and not post much.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[jivelikenice]

I know Seraphin to many ppl is a lost cause but he undeniably has been playing better as of late. Didn't he deserve some more run tonight? He was 2-3 in 7 minutes and went 6-9 versus Boston earlier this year. Wittman is out of control with his rotations now...but hey, he managed to get Ariza his 43 minutes!

[The Consiglieri]

:lol: I've been posting on this board for as long -if not longer (Gils 1st or 2nd year)- than the vast majority of posters on this board. I wouldn't think that gives me any more juice when disagreeing to a less senior or newer poster. On the other hand, one would be wise not to question the fandom of other posters because he doesn't like what the other has to say... especially after we blew it again against another **** road team.

How about the fact that we're fans of a team that's <word I cant say> since the freaking Carter Administration? How about that. There's not a fan on this board that isn't die hard. If any fan in here was suspect in terms of loyalty, they wouldn't be a fan of the team in the first place. In what way exactly has this pile of manure with a wand of a franchise ever rewarded the loyalty of its long suffering fan base?

Incompetent management across multiple owners, multiple GM's, multiple coaches: Check

Innumerable moronic trades in which we've consistently gotten owned: Check

Horrendous draft day decisions year after year, decade after decade: Check

Hideous use of cap resources, amnesty provisions, and 2nd round picks: Check

Incompetent use of D League and refusal to own your own team: Check

Total failure season in and season out w/fewer playoff appearances than the Clippers/Warriors/Cavs in the last 25 years: Check

Total Seasons with more than 42 wins in the past 30 years 3< : Check (1996-1997 and 2004-2005)

Owner and Management not committed to the draft, or rebuilding the proper way: Check

Owner and Management unaccountable regardless of track record, and job safe: Check

Owner and F.O. built around friendship/loyalty rather than professionalism, and talent: Check

Total Failure to build a competitive team in any season at any point that could challenge for a title since the Shah ran Iran: Check


Is there anything anyone on the planet could say that's more absurd than challenging the fandom of individuals that not only support a team with this miserable of a track record, but also, post daily/weekly/monthly/yearly about all things related to said team, knowing full well its run by incompetents with no interest save, preserving their job and paycheck (EG), and receipts (Leonsis), and housing players that know full well the team is a trash compactor designed to grind up NBA title dreams, and replace them with salary chasing, grab the next buck cynicism?

There are no fans on the planet more loyal than fans of this team, of the Cavs, hell of the Clippers pre-Paul/Blake.

If you're a fan of this team for more than 10 minutes you deserve a gold star, fan for years, for life? Nobody can impugn your devotion or loyalty, 10 posts, or 10,000,000.

Just Absurd.

[dangermouse]

So who was it on the boards that said Jeff Green wasnt worth going after a couple of years ago? lol

Terrible game to watch as a fan. God damnit. Some terrible officiating, yet again. John "No Call" Wall and Nene get mauled, and whether or not they get a call seems like a coin-flip.

However, despite his impressive stat line, he looked more like rookie Wall than what we've been seeing lately.

[DANNYLANDOVER]

What's with all the dang pessimism. From what I can tell Wall played a good game, (didn't shoot too well) , but that's when other players should step up. Considering everyone being so negative, and thinking this team is not a playoff team, NEWS TO YOU WE ARE doing pretty good with seeding. The Wizards played a good game, kept it close and it came down to the last shot. NOT TO MENTION Jeff Green, Every single shot was lucky, including the one at near half court deep 3 off one leg fade-away jump shot, that went in. I don't blame any of the wizards for creating an expectation to reach above .500 I solely blame their fans and their negative views. I mean we aren't the worst team in the league nor the best, but just show some respect for the effort.

Another troll ...It's getting worse than BF over here.

[Hypnotizer]

The Wizards are still rebuilding.

But we miss something in Randy's puzzles

[TGW]

:lol: I've been posting on this board for as long -if not longer (Gils 1st or 2nd year)- than the vast majority of posters on this board. I wouldn't think that gives me any more juice when disagreeing to a less senior or newer poster. On the other hand, one would be wise not to question the fandom of other posters because he doesn't like what the other has to say... especially after we blew it again against another **** road team.

How about the fact that we're fans of a team that's <word I cant say> since the freaking Carter Administration? How about that. There's not a fan on this board that isn't die hard. If any fan in here was suspect in terms of loyalty, they wouldn't be a fan of the team in the first place. In what way exactly has this pile of manure with a wand of a franchise ever rewarded the loyalty of its long suffering fan base?

Incompetent management across multiple owners, multiple GM's, multiple coaches: Check

Innumerable moronic trades in which we've consistently gotten owned: Check

Horrendous draft day decisions year after year, decade after decade: Check

Hideous use of cap resources, amnesty provisions, and 2nd round picks: Check

Incompetent use of D League and refusal to own your own team: Check

Total failure season in and season out w/fewer playoff appearances than the Clippers/Warriors/Cavs in the last 25 years: Check

Total Seasons with more than 42 wins in the past 30 years 3< : Check (1996-1997 and 2004-2005)

Owner and Management not committed to the draft, or rebuilding the proper way: Check

Owner and Management unaccountable regardless of track record, and job safe: Check

Owner and F.O. built around friendship/loyalty rather than professionalism, and talent: Check

Total Failure to build a competitive team in any season at any point that could challenge for a title since the Shah ran Iran: Check


Is there anything anyone on the planet could say that's more absurd than challenging the fandom of individuals that not only support a team with this miserable of a track record, but also, post daily/weekly/monthly/yearly about all things related to said team, knowing full well its run by incompetents with no interest save, preserving their job and paycheck (EG), and receipts (Leonsis), and housing players that know full well the team is a trash compactor designed to grind up NBA title dreams, and replace them with salary chasing, grab the next buck cynicism?

There are no fans on the planet more loyal than fans of this team, of the Cavs, hell of the Clippers pre-Paul/Blake.

If you're a fan of this team for more than 10 minutes you deserve a gold star, fan for years, for life? Nobody can impugn your devotion or loyalty, 10 posts, or 10,000,000.

Just Absurd.

HOF post.

[Brenice]

I say boycott the Verizon Center until they break .500. Let them play in an empty arena. They knew the urgency of this game before going on the road. How many games do they want to give away.

THEY GOT TO DEVELOP AN I SMELL BLOOD, KILLER INSTINCT. In games like these, they got to be the predator, not the prey.

[LPHotspur]

:lol: I've been posting on this board for as long -if not longer (Gils 1st or 2nd year)- than the vast majority of posters on this board. I wouldn't think that gives me any more juice when disagreeing to a less senior or newer poster. On the other hand, one would be wise not to question the fandom of other posters because he doesn't like what the other has to say... especially after we blew it again against another **** road team.

How about the fact that we're fans of a team that's <word I cant say> since the freaking Carter Administration? How about that. There's not a fan on this board that isn't die hard. If any fan in here was suspect in terms of loyalty, they wouldn't be a fan of the team in the first place. In what way exactly has this pile of manure with a wand of a franchise ever rewarded the loyalty of its long suffering fan base?

Incompetent management across multiple owners, multiple GM's, multiple coaches: Check

Innumerable moronic trades in which we've consistently gotten owned: Check

Horrendous draft day decisions year after year, decade after decade: Check

Hideous use of cap resources, amnesty provisions, and 2nd round picks: Check

Incompetent use of D League and refusal to own your own team: Check

Total failure season in and season out w/fewer playoff appearances than the Clippers/Warriors/Cavs in the last 25 years: Check

Total Seasons with more than 42 wins in the past 30 years 3< : Check (1996-1997 and 2004-2005)

Owner and Management not committed to the draft, or rebuilding the proper way: Check

Owner and Management unaccountable regardless of track record, and job safe: Check

Owner and F.O. built around friendship/loyalty rather than professionalism, and talent: Check

Total Failure to build a competitive team in any season at any point that could challenge for a title since the Shah ran Iran: Check


Is there anything anyone on the planet could say that's more absurd than challenging the fandom of individuals that not only support a team with this miserable of a track record, but also, post daily/weekly/monthly/yearly about all things related to said team, knowing full well its run by incompetents with no interest save, preserving their job and paycheck (EG), and receipts (Leonsis), and housing players that know full well the team is a trash compactor designed to grind up NBA title dreams, and replace them with salary chasing, grab the next buck cynicism?

There are no fans on the planet more loyal than fans of this team, of the Cavs, hell of the Clippers pre-Paul/Blake.

If you're a fan of this team for more than 10 minutes you deserve a gold star, fan for years, for life? Nobody can impugn your devotion or loyalty, 10 posts, or 10,000,000.

Just Absurd.

I just want to say that your post just made me come out of my 5 year long absence (or however long it's been) of posting on this board. Just logged in for the first time in years, all so I could tell you that you just made one of the top 10 or 20 posts that I've ever seen in all the years of reading this forum. You just summarized in wonderful detail what many people have been feeling and thinking but unable to fully articulate. Bravo. Damn bravo. And if only Ted, EG, and every other person at the top of this organization could read it (not that I'm saying it would really change anything).

[fishercob]

Hmmm. I don't think Witt is a very good coach, but these guys are f-ing professionals. To blame Witt for the way these guys come out in these type of situations is laughable. Beal just said we came out with no energy, no focus. Witt is not Mark Turgeon, who is responsible to motivate his young team to play 35 games. These guys are getting paid millions of dollars to play a game that they love. I know it's not easy, but you are AT HOME! They come out to play the Heat because of a full house and LeBron but they can't get up for a team with no Rondo and Bradley. WTF. They'll always be mediocre until they grow the f-up and it starts with John Wall not getting abused by some D-League scrub who wasn't that great at Missouri. Jeff Green is good but come on. Martell Webster let 55-year old Gerald Wallace drive right around him in the most important part of the game.

I thought Nene was a vocal leader but I guess not by example. Nobody is on this average-at-best team.

+1000. I can understand a good team coming out flat every now and then against a bad team. It happens to every good team in the league. However, there is no excuse for it to happen to a team that has been striving to get over .500 all season and has the perfect opportunity to do so at home against a weary team playing a back to back without 2 starters. You would think the players would be tired of hearing how they can't get over .500. I guess not.

Guys, I think you know me well enough from these parts to know that I believe it is incumbent on the players to be professionals and to prepare themselves. I do believe that the Wizards' mediocrity is more about how their roster is constructed than coaching.

BUT...

I have seen enough of the Bulls in recent weeks to see that Thibedeau is getting far more out of his roster than Wittman is out of his. Yeah, the Wiz beat them twice in the span of a week, but if you watched those games, I think you saw what I saw -- furious effort from the opening tip to the final horn, complete defiant "f*ck you" refusal to back down under any circustances, etc. They were a bitch to play against. No Rose, no Deng, aging and injury prone bigs playing too many minutes. Starting DJ Augustin who was signed off of waivers? They should suck.

But they have a better record than us -- because of coaching. Because somehow, Tom Thibedeau is able to prepare them better than Wittman prepares our guys. The Wiz lost tonight because they didn't show up to play in the first half -- plain and simple. I can't see that happening to the Bulls. While this roster needs an overhaul, I have no doubt that it needs a new coach too. I wish Wittman the best, but we desperately need an upgrade.

[deneem4]

^^preach

[dandridge 10]

Hmmm. I don't think Witt is a very good coach, but these guys are f-ing professionals. To blame Witt for the way these guys come out in these type of situations is laughable. Beal just said we came out with no energy, no focus. Witt is not Mark Turgeon, who is responsible to motivate his young team to play 35 games. These guys are getting paid millions of dollars to play a game that they love. I know it's not easy, but you are AT HOME! They come out to play the Heat because of a full house and LeBron but they can't get up for a team with no Rondo and Bradley. WTF. They'll always be mediocre until they grow the f-up and it starts with John Wall not getting abused by some D-League scrub who wasn't that great at Missouri. Jeff Green is good but come on. Martell Webster let 55-year old Gerald Wallace drive right around him in the most important part of the game.

I thought Nene was a vocal leader but I guess not by example. Nobody is on this average-at-best team.

+1000. I can understand a good team coming out flat every now and then against a bad team. It happens to every good team in the league. However, there is no excuse for it to happen to a team that has been striving to get over .500 all season and has the perfect opportunity to do so at home against a weary team playing a back to back without 2 starters. You would think the players would be tired of hearing how they can't get over .500. I guess not.

Guys, I think you know me well enough from these parts to know that I believe it is incumbent on the players to be professionals and to prepare themselves. I do believe that the Wizards' mediocrity is more about how their roster is constructed than coaching.

BUT...

I have seen enough of the Bulls in recent weeks to see that Thibedeau is getting far more out of his roster than Wittman is out of his. Yeah, the Wiz beat them twice in the span of a week, but if you watched those games, I think you saw what I saw -- furious effort from the opening tip to the final horn, complete defiant "f*ck you" refusal to back down under any circustances, etc. They were a bitch to play against. No Rose, no Deng, aging and injury prone bigs playing too many minutes. Starting DJ Augustin who was signed off of waivers? They should suck.

But they have a better record than us -- because of coaching. Because somehow, Tom Thibedeau is able to prepare them better than Wittman prepares our guys. The Wiz lost tonight because they didn't show up to play in the first half -- plain and simple. I can't see that happening to the Bulls. While this roster needs an overhaul, I have no doubt that it needs a new coach too. I wish Wittman the best, but we desperately need an upgrade.

Maybe your right Fish. But, its also possible that while the Wiz might have more offensive talent than the Bulls, the Bulls also have more players that just play harder than their Wizard's counterparts and are better defensively. For example, I have never seen Noah take a night off. Dude plays hard every game and is one of the best defensive centers in the game. Can't say the same about either Nene or Gortat. Jimmy Butler also plays hard every night. Hinrich rarely takes a night off either. They ALL play hard on the defensive end (and did so in college and other teams in the NBA). In the end, while the Wizards might be more talented offensively than the Bulls, I think the Bulls have more talent defensively and have players that never take nights off. That might be the reason why they have about the same record as us.

But, I will say this. I don't think a coach like George Karl or Hollis would do worse than Wittman. I think it would be worth a try to change coaches just to see if it would make a difference. I just don't think it is going to happen this year. Its not like we will be contending for a championship and in the Eastern Conference, Wittman is good enough to get us to the playoffs. I think Ted will view that as a win this year and make a change in the offseason...hopefully with both Wittman and EG.

[dandridge 10]

I will also say this....if the players need the coach to juice them up to play a game in which they could finally get the monkey off their back and get over .500 for the first time all season (after talking about getting over .500 for weeks), then I would say there is something wrong with the players. The players shouldn't need the coach to get them fired up before a game like that. You would think they would have enough incentive to come out focused and play hard.