GT #44: Wizards (21-22) @ Warriors (27-18) 10:30 PM CSN

[dckingsfan]

We need more from the bench . Glen rice jr? Trample and maynot need to be replaced ASAP

Witt is so screwed --- as soon as he started to extend the bench --- yuck

[dckingsfan]

Beal's TOs tonight were alarming but he played a fairly sound game. 20-7-4. Still shouldn't have him being a primary ball handler yet but good to see him play a complete game.

Hmmm, I didn't think it was that sound. Not just the TOs but the shot selection and D were pretty off. His first half was miserable.

[dckingsfan]

Like others, I watched until halftime and then went to bed. I would have watched the whole game but was certain they would lose given how sloppy they were in the 1st half. Granted, the Warriors were just as sloppy but thought they would snap out of it at home. Glad I was wrong.

In any event, I am happy the Wiz won. Its just hard to get too excited, when I know deep down that the Wizards are still just an mediocre team that will bounce around .500 all year.

I'm curious. Did Maynor play in the second half? I got to give it to Witt...he always gives guys second chances. I just would not have given Maynor one. He is indeed horrible.

Second, third and fourth chances... Temple played the backup minutes - didn't turn the ball over but had a hard time getting anything going. D was reasonable.

[jivelikenice]

Wall need to drive it to the hoop instead of always settling for jumpers.

I agree, but yesterday was the first time where I felt there was no room for him to drive (with the exception of the end of half drive). Golden St packed it in the paint and Bogut is imposing down low, and of course our bigs leave little space to drive.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I am glad I didn't follow this game thread. Overwhelming negative comments on Gortat, Beal, Wall, and Wittman in win on the road against a team that wins at a .600 pace. The same team that crushed the Wizards at Verizon.

-The one fan who WAS AT THE GAME liked the big man play.

-Gortat did not cost a first. Okafor was injured and a foolish GM waived Kendall Marshall and Shannon Brown (who was a good reserve with Ariza for a Laker championship team, as well as a starter-worthy player on Phoenix) when Gortat was acquired.

-The Wizards outrebounded GS

-Wall and Beal outshot Curry and Thompson, even from three.

-The Wizards starting five outplayed the Warriors starting five.

-It IS hard to be enthusiastic because of EG's moves and Randy's not using a bench. Maynor may indeed suck. I like Gortat but fully agree that locking him in a 11M a year is going to be a mistake. But reality is he makes what Ariza does, 7M per. In addition to not being overpaid, he finished once again net POSITIVE. Virtually every game he does.

I hate on EG and am resigned to the idea this team will be in the .500 realm.

At the same time, I think the fans should hope for a trade to make the bench stronger OR for coaching to bring out the best of the bench. As bad as Vesely can be, he played WELL in a few games. Three steals and three blocks in the same game, in limited minues in one. Wittman has not played him since. That is on Randy. At the same time, Randy is winning on the road and at .500.

It isn't all bad.

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[Higga]

Crashed before halftime. Glad we got the W. Too bad we're probably gonna get smashed by the Clips tonight, but I'll take a 2-2 West Coast trip anytime.

[dckingsfan]

Wall need to drive it to the hoop instead of always settling for jumpers.

I agree, but yesterday was the first time where I felt there was no room for him to drive (with the exception of the end of half drive). Golden St packed it in the paint and Bogut is imposing down low, and of course our bigs leave little space to drive.

But he does need to get in the lane and then kick out or find a big (when the other bigs drop off to help). Yesterday, GS got Wall to shoot (or made it easy for him to shoot) 19 shots + 5 TOs vs 5 assists. So, I thought the GS game plan on Wall was pretty effective.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Like others, I watched until halftime and then went to bed. I would have watched the whole game but was certain they would lose given how sloppy they were in the 1st half. Granted, the Warriors were just as sloppy but thought they would snap out of it at home. Glad I was wrong.

In any event, I am happy the Wiz won. Its just hard to get too excited, when I know deep down that the Wizards are still just an mediocre team that will bounce around .500 all year.

I'm curious. Did Maynor play in the second half? I got to give it to Witt...he always gives guys second chances. I just would not have given Maynor one. He is indeed horrible.

What I wish for is just one roster move or trade that will improve the bench. They need over the last 38 games to win 21 in order to finish IMO very respectably 43-39. A better bench is needed to get there.

I think one spark plug PG is what's most lacking. A trade involving Maynor and two of Seraphin, Singleton, and Vesely would be a good idea.

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[jivelikenice]

But he does need to get in the lane and then kick out or find a big (when the other bigs drop off to help). Yesterday, GS got Wall to shoot (or made it easy for him to shoot) 19 shots + 5 TOs vs 5 assists. So, I thought the GS game plan on Wall was pretty effective.

Wall drives and kicks a lot. The issue is he leaves his feet and sometimes gets stuck with no outlet. Spacing is the issue and a stretch 4 is needed to fix it. Neither guard was able to get in the paint and neither got tothe ft line. Ariza tried to drive baseline also and was repeatedly met by multiple defenders. GS had a sound defensive plan based on our roster makeup. The only time we had a clean drive to the hoop was when we went small right before the half.

[dckingsfan]

But he does need to get in the lane and then kick out or find a big (when the other bigs drop off to help). Yesterday, GS got Wall to shoot (or made it easy for him to shoot) 19 shots + 5 TOs vs 5 assists. So, I thought the GS game plan on Wall was pretty effective.

Wall drives and kicks a lot. The issue is he leaves his feet and sometimes gets stuck with no outlet. Spacing is the issue and a stretch 4 is needed to fix it. Neither guard was able to get in the paint and neither got tothe ft line. Ariza tried to drive baseline also and was repeatedly met by multiple defenders. GS had a sound defensive plan based on our roster makeup. The only time we had a clean drive to the hoop was when we went small right before the half.

I think we are saying the same thing? Wall needs to not just "drive". But get in the lane, cause the D to collapse and then either hit the open wing or the big that sags off. GS was smart in that they had different looks for Wall to contend with. Wall choose not to get in the lane several times and take the mid-range jumpshot which GS "gave" him. Beal... yeah he doesn't have the handles to do that yet (hope it is yet). And neither does Ariza.

[payitforward]

I just want to point out that I (that's moi to you) called this win -- that's right, I predicted it. While all of you, whom milellie111 has called "moaners and whiners" were oh so sure we'd lose -- "get crushed" as one of you put it.

Hah!

I am soooo da*ned smart; sometimes I'm amazed at my own gifts, my prescience -- both my phylogeny and my ontogeny. Like hands I like being right, and I have the crystal ball to prove it!

Tonight I predict... nah, I better quit while I am (ever so briefly) ahead, don't you think?

[DCZards]

Hmmm, I didn't think it was that sound. Not just the TOs but the shot selection and D were pretty off. His first half was miserable.

Yes, Beal is inconsistent as hell. From game to game, from half to half, sometimes even from possession to possession. But I'd expect as much from a 20 year old, second year player. One thing he's shown consistently though is that he doesn't shy away from the big moment or taking (and often making) clutch shots.

[dckingsfan]

Hmmm, I didn't think it was that sound. Not just the TOs but the shot selection and D were pretty off. His first half was miserable.

Yes, Beal is inconsistent as hell. From game to game, from half to half, sometimes even from possession to possession. But I'd expect as much from a 20 year old, second year player. One thing he's shown consistently though is that he doesn't shy away from the big moment or taking (and often making) clutch shots.

So true, he has confidence - that is really good (special). Now he just needs to learn how to play smarter, improve his handles and give consistent effort of the defensive end of the court.

[dobrojim]

I don't know if it'll happen tonight but a team that hovers near .500
should not ALWAYS lose every game once they get to that mark, eventually
they'll go over. Perhaps only briefly, but it should happen.

[hands11]

What an ugly game. Both teams looked like rss.

Sure it was a W. But they aren't going to win many games playing like that.

GS looked terrible is the only reason the Wizards won.

Beal looked bad doing anything but catch and shoot.
Wall looked bad.
Gortat looked bad.
Maynor sucked.

Team took the same terrible outside shoot early and often.

[Kanyewest]

Wizards looked good defensively- hopefully everything offensively will fall into place.

[Flash Falcon X]

Warriors fan here, great game.

I was reading your guys' game thread hours before the game started. A majority of you were talking about how you were going to lose to the Warriors. It's funny because once I read your negative posts about your team it made me get that feeling that the Wizards would pull off a win. For some reason every time I see another team moaning in their game thread about how they're about to lose to the Warriors, they end up beating the Warriors. Reminds me of when we lost to Brooklyn... everyone on the Nets board was expecting a 20 point blowout. lol.

[FAH1223]

Warriors fan here, great game.

I was reading your guys' game thread hours before the game started. A majority of you were talking about how you were going to lose to the Warriors. It's funny because once I read your negative posts about your team it made me get that feeling that the Wizards would pull off a win. For some reason every time I see another team moaning in their game thread about how they're about to lose to the Warriors, they end up beating the Warriors. Reminds me of when we lost to Brooklyn... everyone on the Nets board was expecting a 20 point blowout. lol.

We want Ernie Grunfeld fired so we kind of want to miss the playoffs because that's the only way Leonsis will change up the front office. It's why I'm hoping we start to lose but this group is too damn mediocre to lose games en mass

[Kanyewest]

Looks like the Wizards' "mediocrity" is getting love from ESPN

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page ... other-step

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Hmmm, I didn't think it was that sound. Not just the TOs but the shot selection and D were pretty off. His first half was miserable.

Yes, Beal is inconsistent as hell. From game to game, from half to half, sometimes even from possession to possession. But I'd expect as much from a 20 year old, second year player. One thing he's shown consistently though is that he doesn't shy away from the big moment or taking (and often making) clutch shots.

Great observation, DCZ.

Beal's three is the best part of his game. Very few 20 year-olds in NBA history have been as solid from deep. Beal does have the clutch gene IMO.

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