Coach Witt on 106.7 NOW...

[dckingsfan]

I am not sure I buy either argument. That the player alone is responsible for their development or the team is responsible for the players development.

This is straw man stuff. No one -- not even me -- is saying the player ALONE is responsible for their development. The team's job is to provide the resources the player needs. The player's job is to put in the work. Since the work -- the boring repetitive practice -- is what's most important, primary responsibility belongs to the players.

You also want both the structure and an environment that is conducive for the young players to develop their skills and that pushes them to do so. Missing either will reduce the effectiveness of your player development.

When Arenas was with the team, they provided him with 24-hour access to the building so he could shoot and workout anytime he wanted. Which happened to be all the time, any time. I don't recall hearing Vesely, Singleton or Seraphin talking about wanting to practice or have a workout and the team prevented them from having access to their practice facilities or coaches.

Clearly you can draft players that don't want to work and create a tipping point where they won't work. I think we witnessed that when Young, Blatche and McGee created their own negative work environment. You can have a subpar development environment or a tipping point where the players in the program don't work.

All have to be aligned to be successful - IMO. And clearly there have been multiple factors in play for the Wizards to fail so badly at drafting and developing young talent - it is clearly a systemic problem.

I think the real problem is on the player selection side.

I think my point is that a multitude of factors go into having a good player development program. Getting stuck on one side of the argument or the other bails out either the player or the organization. I have been a part of programs (not in basketball) that had successful development programs. I have also watched them fall apart either due to a poor program, lack of resources (sometimes facilities which is not the case here and sometimes coaching resources) or a tipping point of athletes that didn't have the requisite motivation.

And Nivek, you may be right that the single largest contributing factor was the player selection - I wouldn't really know unless I was there.

[pancakes3]

All have to be aligned to be successful - IMO. And clearly there have been multiple factors in play for the Wizards to fail so badly at drafting and developing young talent - it is clearly a systemic problem.

Nothing in the world is 100% but I think it's safe to say that at the professional level it's largely on the players to improve. In fact, barring something medical, I can't even think of a feasible scenario where management would be more at fault than a player not improving. How would management go about that? They would have to actively sabotage a player's improvements. Effusively praise Ves's play and make sure he practices only pull up 2's from just inside the arc. Worse yet, just tying Ves down and refusing Vesely the opportunity to practice.

Seriously though, what are you all envisioning? That our player development program is just a bunch of old stocky guys in grey sweatsuits sitting on their hands doing nothing? A rusted weightroom with leaky roofs and deflated basketballs strewn about a rickety court with bent double rims and no nets? Even if that was the case, how does that preclude the players from improving on their own? Do they just shine like a freakin diamond during practice only to sit on the bench game after game, and just shrug? Hey, the player development guy didn't tell me I had to improve my game so I guess that can't be the problem. Coach Witt just has it out for me.

The only reason people think it's a systemic problem is the heavy, heavy, heavy confirmation bias going on and the lack of an obvious cause.

Confirmation bias dating back to Jarvis Hayes, Ared Effries, Party John Ramos, and Kwame and dating to now with Mcgee, Young, Blatche, Ves, Singleton, and Seraphin. It seems improbable that these guys ALL happen to be lazy/untalented. Well... improbable but not impossible. What blows the "we can't develop players" myth to bits is that players HAVE improved. John Wall. Bradley Beal. Martel Webster. I guess they were the lucky ones that our incompetent player management decided to support at the expense of everyone else?

[payitforward]

You want player development. We turned McGee and Nick into Nene.

LOL !!!

[Kanyewest]

I spent some time yesterday on the phone with a reporter who recently retired from a major network job he'd held for 30 years. He was a hockey player as a youth, and pretty much (by his account) sucked through his first couple years of high school. After that 10th grade year where he made the JV, but road the pine, he said he got tired of sucking. So, he started practicing -- on his own. Started lifting weights -- on his own. And he got better.

He made varsity as a junior and a senior. He went to college on a hockey scholarship, where he was coached by Lou Lamoriello.

This reporter wasn't hounded by coaches. He wasn't "developed" by anyone or any entity. He went out and practiced. He worked on his body. He got tired of sucking and he put in the work to get better.

There is NOTHING stopping Jan Vesely from working hard in the weight room or going into a gym to shoot a thousand jumpers a day.

There's nothing preventing Chris Singleton from working on his ball handling and a corner three.

There's nothing preventing Kevin Seraphin from studying game film to improve his basketball knowledge.

If they want to be good NBA players, they'll put in the work and they'll be good NBA players. If they don't become good NBA players, it's not because "the team" failed to "develop" them. It's because they didn't put in the work.

I think there are limitations in Vesley's game (and Singleton). I'm sure they practice and puts in the effort, but so does everyone else at this level. BTW making it to the NBA is better than getting a scholarship to some hockey program.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Well we need to do something, the wizards are about to get screwed again for another year. The Heat, Bulls, Knicks, Nets, and Pacers are essential locks to make the playoffs. That means we have to contend with the Cavs, Pistons, Bucks, Hawks, 76ers for that final playoff spot. We had one of the worst teams in the NBA and granted I like Otto Porter, but you can't expect a 19 year old kid to come in here and make us playoff contenders right from jump.

We need to make moves, the cavs drafted Bennett, signed Jack, and now are potentially getting Bynum. The pistons picked up Josh Smith, the sixers and hawks are always in talks that they are interested in players. Grunfeld doesn't do jack but sit around and stuff his face. We need to make moves, we should have moved hell and earth to bring Josh Smith in here. Ernie get off your lazy butt and do something. That's all I have to say today. Just heard the knicks are interested in metta world peace, what the hell are the wizards interested in?

JParker227, I hear your concerns.

My thought: "Is it possible that Otto Porter is as good as Kawhi Leonard?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Mike Lee is on 106 now, just said the Wizards haven't been good at developing players. Say good-bye to your press credentials Mike.

Glad he calls it like he sees it.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Alright was in the car when I made the thread but heard the whole interview lets see here's what he talked about:

-Brought up FA and possible trade talk right off the bat after Lavar and Chad talked about the team and the moves that have been made and for some reason I really really believed it, he kinda said it emphatically

-He loves Otto

-Wall, Beal and Otto maybe the quietest core in the NBA and you never hear anything negative off the court with any of them

-Witt loves Otto more

-Talks about getting Nene healthy and the potential of the team when there all healthy

-Talks about Martell re-signing and the fact that to get minutes on this tem you have to prove you can play the game of basketball in all aspects

-Talked about the Patriots situation and being a head coach in that type of situation and keeping players under control

-Witt loves Otto even more and we got Lucky #3 and he's the best player in draft

-Witt didn't care about players who were specialists in the draft he wanted the complete player hence the Otto selection

That's pretty much it

I caught this, as well as Lee, and the tail end of Rice Jr earlier. But yeah I was mildly shocked at Wittman's enthusiasm and his near insistence that the Wizards will be making more moves.

Right off the bat he mentions their still looking at free agency. Then bringing up the intention of making a trade. He mentioned this a few times throughout the interview about making trades and stating their "not done".

And yes he likes Otto. He expects him to have similar development and success as Beal last year. He also really likes Okafor, and mentioned him being the one that gone in Wall's ear and being the reason his attitude and season turned around and took off.

I wanted Dave Joerger but now that he's off the list of alternatives, I'm down with Wittman for the long haul and wish him success.

I don't know how good his coaching chops are but he seems to have an unwavering spirit. He sees the possibilities for great success even under dire circumstances.

I like this coach. Randy kept it together last season and guys bought in. The Wizards will kick butt if they can stay healthy.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

But yeah I was mildly shocked at Wittman's enthusiasm and his near insistence that the Wizards will be making more moves.

Right off the bat he mentions their still looking at free agency. Then bringing up the intention of making a trade. He mentioned this a few times throughout the interview about making trades and stating their "not done".

Wow, if I was EG I would be having a S%$T FIT... no way I want my coach talking about possible deals. And if the deals don't get done, they know that their coach might not have wanted them.

Maybe I am off base... but that doesn't seem good.

Anything coach who gives Ernie a shyt fit is probably going to move him off his butt. Ernie selected Flip and Randy moved up in ranks from assistant, to interim, to head coach under EGs watch. Randy has nothing to lose and just as long a contract as Ernie. Ernie's success is largely in Randy's hands.

They got Otto. They need wins. Dudes have to close ranks and get it done.

I would welcome a different point of view if I were EG . They just need to be able to communicate using the right protocols.

[mhd]

Are we sure the Knicks are a lock for the playoffs? Amare has serious injury concerns. Chandler looked like a shell of his peak self last year. They traded a better 3 point shooter in Novak for Bargs.

[leswizards]

The team's job is to provide the resources the player needs. The player's job is to put in the work. Since the work -- the boring repetitive practice -- is what's most important, primary responsibility belongs to the players.

Outside the NBA, I would have no issues with a corporate entity embracing this philosophy. However, since we are discussing the NBA, I hope the Wizards are not embracing your philosophy. The reason I write this is due to rookie contracts for first round picks. These rookies are guaranteed to get paid no matter what they do their first few years, and can not get a "fair market" contract until their 3rd, 4th or 5th year in the league.

Hence, no rookie with a guaranteed contract has an incentive beyond personal pride to produce his first few years in the league. If these rookies produce they are vastly underpaid, if they don't produce, they are still going to get paid.

NBA teams on the other hand have every incentive for these rookies to begin to start producing as fast as possible. The faster they start producing the greater the benefit to the team.

I think the Wizards problem in developing these players stems from multiple factors beyond just poor personnel decisions. First, a lack of strategic vision has them building teams (ie acquiring Okafor and Ariza) that limit the opportunity for their young players to have as much opportunity as possible to learn on the job. Second, they draft players (ie Javale McGee) who even if they develop, they won't develop until the final years of their contract, hence there is almost no benefit for the team in drafting these players. Third, they seem to have no plan on how to push these players to get the most out of them in their early years, and seem to be content to wait for them to develop.

[LyricalRico]

Are we sure the Knicks are a lock for the playoffs? Amare has serious injury concerns. Chandler looked like a shell of his peak self last year. They traded a better 3 point shooter in Novak for Bargs.

I think they're a lock for a few reasons:

1. Melo
2. Smith/Felton get hot often enough to count for a few
3. Two teams in their division will be MUCH worse this year (BOS & PHI) and they'll get wins that way

Will they win 54 games and be a #2 seed again? Maybe not, but I can see them winning 48+ and still being a 5/6 seed. I wouldn't expect them to go far in the playoffs, though.

[dckingsfan]

All have to be aligned to be successful - IMO. And clearly there have been multiple factors in play for the Wizards to fail so badly at drafting and developing young talent - it is clearly a systemic problem.

Nothing in the world is 100% but I think it's safe to say that at the professional level it's largely on the players to improve. In fact, barring something medical, I can't even think of a feasible scenario where management would be more at fault than a player not improving. How would management go about that? They would have to actively sabotage a player's improvements. Effusively praise Ves's play and make sure he practices only pull up 2's from just inside the arc. Worse yet, just tying Ves down and refusing Vesely the opportunity to practice.

Seriously though, what are you all envisioning? That our player development program is just a bunch of old stocky guys in grey sweatsuits sitting on their hands doing nothing? A rusted weightroom with leaky roofs and deflated basketballs strewn about a rickety court with bent double rims and no nets? Even if that was the case, how does that preclude the players from improving on their own? Do they just shine like a freakin diamond during practice only to sit on the bench game after game, and just shrug? Hey, the player development guy didn't tell me I had to improve my game so I guess that can't be the problem. Coach Witt just has it out for me.

The only reason people think it's a systemic problem is the heavy, heavy, heavy confirmation bias going on and the lack of an obvious cause.

Confirmation bias dating back to Jarvis Hayes, Ared Effries, Party John Ramos, and Kwame and dating to now with Mcgee, Young, Blatche, Ves, Singleton, and Seraphin. It seems improbable that these guys ALL happen to be lazy/untalented. Well... improbable but not impossible. What blows the "we can't develop players" myth to bits is that players HAVE improved. John Wall. Bradley Beal. Martel Webster. I guess they were the lucky ones that our incompetent player management decided to support at the expense of everyone else?

Wow, nice writing!! Nice to read it even if I didn't agree with all of it.

Guess the "All have to be aligned to be successful..." part set you off. Just an opinion based upon my experiences. I could be wrong - but I don't think so...

Just one thing... Wall, Webster and Beal in the same group. It seems like the three all improved last year (under Witt). Is that a pattern too?

[pancakes3]

Just one thing... Wall, Webster and Beal in the same group. It seems like the three all improved last year (under Witt). Is that a pattern too?

Not unless you think Singleton, Vesely, and Seraphin are part of a sadistic eugenic control group that were given beanbags instead of basketballs.

[Nivek]

I spent some time yesterday on the phone with a reporter who recently retired from a major network job he'd held for 30 years. He was a hockey player as a youth, and pretty much (by his account) sucked through his first couple years of high school. After that 10th grade year where he made the JV, but road the pine, he said he got tired of sucking. So, he started practicing -- on his own. Started lifting weights -- on his own. And he got better.

He made varsity as a junior and a senior. He went to college on a hockey scholarship, where he was coached by Lou Lamoriello.

This reporter wasn't hounded by coaches. He wasn't "developed" by anyone or any entity. He went out and practiced. He worked on his body. He got tired of sucking and he put in the work to get better.

There is NOTHING stopping Jan Vesely from working hard in the weight room or going into a gym to shoot a thousand jumpers a day.

There's nothing preventing Chris Singleton from working on his ball handling and a corner three.

There's nothing preventing Kevin Seraphin from studying game film to improve his basketball knowledge.

If they want to be good NBA players, they'll put in the work and they'll be good NBA players. If they don't become good NBA players, it's not because "the team" failed to "develop" them. It's because they didn't put in the work.

I think there are limitations in Vesley's game (and Singleton). I'm sure they practice and puts in the effort, but so does everyone else at this level. BTW making it to the NBA is better than getting a scholarship to some hockey program.

Maybe I communicated that anecdote badly. The point of the story (at least to me) was that people can go from being bad at something to being very good at it by working hard at that skill. I was under the impression that Vesely and Singleton, like most basketball players, were humans and therefore could improve their basketball skills by practicing them, that they could improve their physical condition by working out.

I'm certain that they have not put in the kind of practice and effort that other NBA players have. If they had, the evidence would be apparent in their bodies and in their games.

[Nivek]

The team's job is to provide the resources the player needs. The player's job is to put in the work. Since the work -- the boring repetitive practice -- is what's most important, primary responsibility belongs to the players.

Outside the NBA, I would have no issues with a corporate entity embracing this philosophy. However, since we are discussing the NBA, I hope the Wizards are not embracing your philosophy.

This isn't my philosophy, it's reality. There's a lot of good research into how humans develop skills. Coaching/teaching is important, but the way people build skill is by repetition. Teachers rarely stick around for the long, boring, repetitive practice it takes to get good at something. Becoming a better jump shooter isn't magic. It's proper form plus practice. Gilbert Arenas, for example, was challenged by Dave Hopla to track every shot and to go for 100,000 makes in an offseason. Arenas surpassed that goal.

By the way, here's the advice Hopla -- one of the best shot gurus on the planet -- gives his "students": Point your feet at the basket and freeze the follow-through. Everything else he talks about is really to illustrate those two basics for shooting the ball.

Hence, no rookie with a guaranteed contract has an incentive beyond personal pride to produce his first few years in the league. If these rookies produce they are vastly underpaid, if they don't produce, they are still going to get paid.

NBA teams on the other hand have every incentive for these rookies to begin to start producing as fast as possible. The faster they start producing the greater the benefit to the team.

I think the Wizards problem in developing these players stems from multiple factors beyond just poor personnel decisions. First, a lack of strategic vision has them building teams (ie acquiring Okafor and Ariza) that limit the opportunity for their young players to have as much opportunity as possible to learn on the job. Second, they draft players (ie Javale McGee) who even if they develop, they won't develop until the final years of their contract, hence there is almost no benefit for the team in drafting these players. Third, they seem to have no plan on how to push these players to get the most out of them in their early years, and seem to be content to wait for them to develop.

I agree with much of this. If I was running the team, I'd almost certainly have a structured approach to teaching The Wizards Way. However, there are collectively bargained limitations on how much a team can require players to practice outside of official practices. Which wraps back around to player selection (picking guys who are good players and have demonstrated a willingness to work hard) and the primary responsibility for player development falling on the player getting his behind in the gym and working.

I know this is an unfair comparison, but I'll make it anyway because it illustrates the point. Larry Bird didn't spend a summer mid-career learning to shoot left handed because the Celtics had a great player development program. Magic Johnson didn't go from a 76% FT shooter to 85-90% because the Lakers hired a shooting tutor. Michael Jordan didn't decide to lift weights and get stronger because the Bulls hired a first-rate strength coach. Each of those guys decided to improve some aspect of their games and spent their summers working on it. There is nothing stopping any NBA player from putting in the same kind of work.

[doclinkin]

If they want to be good NBA players, they'll put in the work and they'll be good NBA players. If they don't become good NBA players, it's not because "the team" failed to "develop" them. It's because they didn't put in the work.

All of which is true in the NBA, especially where you mention the CBA's restrictions on required practice.

However the Spurs select and send players to Europe in large part because over there teams absolutely do force players to improve and drill fundamentals of team ball etc etc. Chris Copeland would have sucked if he made it to the NBA early in his career. Yes he was motivated, but he had a coach who helped to motivate and drive him. Euro coaches are hardasses. A guy like Ves was developing nicely in a system where he had hardcase coaches who rode him and used him for a few minutes a game in a role in which he was useful. If he wasn't the 6th pick I suspect he would have proven a far better selection if the Wiz could have afforded to draft and stash him.

And while the Spurs do select smart players, they also do improve and develop those players in large part because of their approach and ability to motivate players. Nobody wants to piss off Pop, not only because he will send your ass on a bus to the D-League as many times as it takes, but because he has presence and incisive intelligence and etc etc. Ask Tony Parker about player development. Pop rode him to a lather his first few years in the league.

Leadership does matter. Self motivation is key, sure, and the union contract essentially suggests this be the prime path for player development, but I disagree that this is the sole method of forging a better player. College coaches do it all the time. Euroleague does as well. In the NBA coaches get lazy and scared and fired if they butt heads with stars. I suspect playing under George Karl since day one would have been far better for JaVale than playing for 6 coaches in 6 years. Especially if Karl had the sort of institutional support that Popovich has: 'you do it my way or you will wish you had'.

[nuposse04]

I know it won't happen, but if Lionel Hollins was down for a 1 year gig with us, I'd welcome him. I actually think Randy and Hollins are a lot alike in that they're somewhat old school tough minded coaches that don't really diagram up potent offensive plays out of timeouts.

[dckingsfan]

Just one thing... Wall, Webster and Beal in the same group. It seems like the three all improved last year (under Witt). Is that a pattern too?

Not unless you think Singleton, Vesely, and Seraphin are part of a sadistic eugenic control group that were given beanbags instead of basketballs.

So there are sadistic patterns going on the NBA - two sets of control groups, one that develops their players and one control group that doesn't. It would be probabilistic to assume the one that does might have a slightly higher rate of return than the one that doesn't. doclinkin explains the possible outcomes from control group 1. Sadly, we get to watch control group 2 on a more regular basis.

I am encouraged that Witt is trying to move from 2 to 1.

[Kanyewest]

I spent some time yesterday on the phone with a reporter who recently retired from a major network job he'd held for 30 years. He was a hockey player as a youth, and pretty much (by his account) sucked through his first couple years of high school. After that 10th grade year where he made the JV, but road the pine, he said he got tired of sucking. So, he started practicing -- on his own. Started lifting weights -- on his own. And he got better.

He made varsity as a junior and a senior. He went to college on a hockey scholarship, where he was coached by Lou Lamoriello.

This reporter wasn't hounded by coaches. He wasn't "developed" by anyone or any entity. He went out and practiced. He worked on his body. He got tired of sucking and he put in the work to get better.

There is NOTHING stopping Jan Vesely from working hard in the weight room or going into a gym to shoot a thousand jumpers a day.

There's nothing preventing Chris Singleton from working on his ball handling and a corner three.

There's nothing preventing Kevin Seraphin from studying game film to improve his basketball knowledge.

If they want to be good NBA players, they'll put in the work and they'll be good NBA players. If they don't become good NBA players, it's not because "the team" failed to "develop" them. It's because they didn't put in the work.

I think there are limitations in Vesley's game (and Singleton). I'm sure they practice and puts in the effort, but so does everyone else at this level. BTW making it to the NBA is better than getting a scholarship to some hockey program.

Maybe I communicated that anecdote badly. The point of the story (at least to me) was that people can go from being bad at something to being very good at it by working hard at that skill. I was under the impression that Vesely and Singleton, like most basketball players, were humans and therefore could improve their basketball skills by practicing them, that they could improve their physical condition by working out.

I'm certain that they have not put in the kind of practice and effort that other NBA players have. If they had, the evidence would be apparent in their bodies and in their games.

Perhaps you are right. With Vesley he said he put on 7 pounds of muscle over the course of last season. That's not enough(http://www.truthaboutit.net/2013/06/the ... price.html). With the free throws- I don't know how you can shoot 30% from the line. He shot 62% from the line one season abroad. Coaching can help, Dave Hopla helped Haywood with his free throw shooting but perhaps Vesley should show more initiative - there's an IPhone/Android App from Dave Hopla that he can use https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iHopla/id434691486 .

With Singleton, he needs to work on his shooting ie 3 pointers. I wonder if it is player development that made him give up on 3 pointers or if it is something he just didn't work. He shot 35% in his rookie season but now shoots below 20%. But is it a function of coaching where the coaches should make Singleton keep shooting since he's shooting less than 1/2 the attempts per 36 minutes than his rookie season.

[hands11]

I think it's overblown. Grown men with millions of dollars and access to world class facilities playing a relatively simple game don't need a dedicated coach hounding them to make them better.

It's not like we magically "developed" Beal but failed to develop Nick Young as a 2-guard.

Ves, Singleton, and Seraphin are busts not because we're not focusing on them. It's because they're just bad players. To think we can "up" stats by lavishing attention and effort on a managerial level is video-game GM'ing and frankly patronizing. These are grown, functional men. Not vacuous automatons that require specific and infant-level coddling.

Actually they are not bad player. They are some of the better players available. People forget that to easily. But you are right. They are human being. With all three of those players the problems more mental then anything else. And last year, it was more about opportunity. And the lack of opportunity and the changed terms of their playing time affected them. Lots of poster projected that would happen under those new conditions.

Interesting enough I am just watching Morgan Freeman in through the wormhole. They are talking about how people can focus their minds to generate different alpha and beta waves. When they got people into a calm focused mental state, they were able to teach people to shoot like an expert archer in just a mater a days.

I am convinced that teams would benefit more from a sport psychologist as part of training then just about anything. Ves not being able to shoot FTs is all in his head.

This is why the Zen Master was so effective as a coach. He knew the Xs and Os, but he trained the mind. He connected with players for who they were and then helped them develop mentally. Thats a more unique talent then just teaching someone a play.