The Wizards big man situation is an embarrassment

[TheSecretWeapon]

Nah, they don't need to tank. They have plenty of resources available to improve the team in the coming offseason. It would have been nice if they'd done a better job of maximizing their resources the past few offseasons, but...well...they did what they did. There's still the potential for a terrific future if the youngsters develop and they bring in an elite producer.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I take it back, Dudley in game shape is not the answer. Dude doesnt rebound. Is he allergic?

Rebounding and turnovers killed us against the Hawks. We could have and should have won that game. Wall, and Beal, need to take better care of the ball. Less lazy passes. Less early 3s in the shot clock.

Our offense looked great in the playoffs. What is this we are getting now? Is it rust? Will we be fine a few more games in? Its absolute garbage right now, we barely look like a playoff team.

A motivated, playoff Pierce is the big difference.

Think about the rebounds he would have snagged last night and the momentum generating threes he would have splashed in contrast to Dudley's clanks.

Right now, Dudley is good from about three feet inside the arch. Doesn't have the range for threes. On the bright side, he does have a history of hitting threes...

But I'm not sure we can replace Pierce's rebounding and underrated post defense.

This is the ultimate hot take, lol. This poor start is because of Pierce.. right. Yet 'The Truth wasn't doing a damn thing when we went on that 10-12 game slide last season, and the team looked 10x worse than they do now losing to the Sixers.

And he wasn't playing any 'post defense' last year considering we were using him as an SF

Our SF position hasn't been the problem this season.

I was specifically talking about last night vs. how we did against the Hawks in the playoffs last year.

I agree. The Truth skated through the regular season. But his particular skillset really helped against the Hawks.

Our problem is glaring. We are playing a style that requires a stretch four... And, well, we don't have a stretch four.

[Illmatic12]

A motivated, playoff Pierce is the big difference.

Think about the rebounds he would have snagged last night and the momentum generating threes he would have splashed in contrast to Dudley's clanks.

Right now, Dudley is good from about three feet inside the arch. Doesn't have the range for threes. On the bright side, he does have a history of hitting threes...

But I'm not sure we can replace Pierce's rebounding and underrated post defense.

This is the ultimate hot take, lol. This poor start is because of Pierce.. right. Yet 'The Truth wasn't doing a damn thing when we went on that 10-12 game slide last season, and the team looked 10x worse than they do now losing to the Sixers.

And he wasn't playing any 'post defense' last year considering we were using him as an SF

Our SF position hasn't been the problem this season.

I was specifically talking about last night vs. how we did against the Hawks in the playoffs last year.

I agree. The Truth skated through the regular season. But his particular skillset really helped against the Hawks.

Our problem is glaring. We are playing a style that requires a stretch four... And, well, we don't have a stretch four.

I agree about the lack of a good stretch 4, I think this whole board realizes that. But I seem to recall Pierce getting lit up by Millsap when it counted in that series, and if Millsap was 100% he probably would have destroyed PP even worse than he did.

Acquiring a guy like Markieff Morris could help us in these types of matchups. Or Terrence Jones. But nothing about last night's game remotely made me think "we really need Paul Pierce's 40yo legs defending Millsap, that's the missing link here"

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Hey. Chuck Hayes was just released by the Rox.

I can see it now. Mr. Double Bottom Line Life has lost a ton of weight and overseen the physical transformation of formerly rotund Kevin Seraphin and DeJuan Blair.

He signed an upscale health club for tenancy in the Phone Booth.

Maybe this is his second bottom line. Forget championships, he could sign Hayes, slim him down and be well on his way to Richard Simmons status.

Infomercials. SlimWiz shakes. The Monumentalist elliptical.

[tontoz]

Obviously we miss Seraphin.

[closg00]

Watching Ibaka flying around snatching rebounds from our slower reacting players tonight, we have no counter.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I was about to suggest trying to trade for Jarnell Stokes.

I can't believe the Heat gave up (older) Mario Chalmers to pick up young Stokes and Udrih.

Stokes is a very good rebounder.

[Dat2U]

I think it really comes down to this.... replacing Nene in the starting lineup with Hump. We hoped Hump's spacing would provide extra spacing to allow the Wall/Gortat P&Rs to flourish... instead....Hump has made some 3s but defenses aren't respecting his shot and still cheating off....meaning no real offensive benefit. Going a step further, Hump is also not skilled or athletic enough to do anything other than spot up or crash the boards. Unlike Nene, Hump is unable to operate in the triple threat position in the mid-post area, you can't actually run the offense through Hump so while Nene slowed our offense down to a crawl, there were times he would be effective offensively because of his skills & abilities. Defenses actually had to account for him.... defenses are pretty much ignoring Hump because of his limitations and low usage.

Additionally, it's having a massive impact defensively. I think partly because Gortat has become frustrated with his situation - it's not going as he had hoped and he's currently sulking. Additionally, the downgrade from Nene to Hump defensively is very noticeable. Nene was still a very solid defender at the PF spot. He covered for a lot of mistakes made by others with his presence. Taking that away, Gortat is now basically on an island as guys like Hump & Gooden are non-factors defensively if not a bit of drag in that area.

Bottom line we need a 4. Or a guy capable of playing the 4. Or someone that can impersonate a 4.

[nate33]

I think it really comes down to this.... replacing Nene in the starting lineup with Hump. We hoped Hump's spacing would provide extra spacing to allow the Wall/Gortat P&Rs to flourish... instead....Hump has made some 3s but defenses aren't respecting his shot and still cheating off....meaning no real offensive benefit. Going a step further, Hump is also not skilled or athletic enough to do anything other than spot up or crash the boards. Unlike Nene, Hump is unable to operate in the triple threat position in the mid-post area, you can't actually run the offense through Hump so while Nene slowed our offense down to a crawl, there were times he would be effective offensively because of his skills & abilities. Defenses actually had to account for him.... defenses are pretty much ignoring Hump because of his limitations and low usage.

Additionally, it's having a massive impact defensively. I think partly because Gortat has become frustrated with his situation - it's not going as he had hoped and he's currently sulking. Additionally, the downgrade from Nene to Hump defensively is very noticeable. Nene was still a very solid defender at the PF spot. He covered for a lot of mistakes made by others with his presence. Taking that away, Gortat is now basically on an island as guys like Hump & Gooden are non-factors defensively if not a bit of drag in that area.

Bottom line we need a 4. Or a guy capable of playing the 4. Or someone that can impersonate a 4.

Our record last season with Humphries starting at PF was 10-5. It was 10-4 if you exclude the game Beal missed.

[Dat2U]

I think it really comes down to this.... replacing Nene in the starting lineup with Hump. We hoped Hump's spacing would provide extra spacing to allow the Wall/Gortat P&Rs to flourish... instead....Hump has made some 3s but defenses aren't respecting his shot and still cheating off....meaning no real offensive benefit. Going a step further, Hump is also not skilled or athletic enough to do anything other than spot up or crash the boards. Unlike Nene, Hump is unable to operate in the triple threat position in the mid-post area, you can't actually run the offense through Hump so while Nene slowed our offense down to a crawl, there were times he would be effective offensively because of his skills & abilities. Defenses actually had to account for him.... defenses are pretty much ignoring Hump because of his limitations and low usage.

Additionally, it's having a massive impact defensively. I think partly because Gortat has become frustrated with his situation - it's not going as he had hoped and he's currently sulking. Additionally, the downgrade from Nene to Hump defensively is very noticeable. Nene was still a very solid defender at the PF spot. He covered for a lot of mistakes made by others with his presence. Taking that away, Gortat is now basically on an island as guys like Hump & Gooden are non-factors defensively if not a bit of drag in that area.

Bottom line we need a 4. Or a guy capable of playing the 4. Or someone that can impersonate a 4.

Our record last season with Humphries starting at PF was 10-5. It was 10-4 if you exclude the game Beal missed.

Example A of why extrapolation of stats/W-L records is a bad idea.

[Ruzious]

Also, Hump's played a minute per game LESS this season than last. The fall of Nene is definitely a problem, but he and Gortat did have issues playing together on the offensive side. This season, people expected Gortat's production to rise, because the folks playing PF were going to have 3 point range. But I think teams looked at the stats - particularly Gortat's terrific proficiency in his roll to the basket layups on passes from Wall - and they've adjusted. Now it's up to the Wiz to adjust to that adjustment.

Defensively, Dat's right on losing Nene's defense at the 4. He was a top defender, and our current crop of PF's are all deficient - particularly the backups.

[nate33]

I think it really comes down to this.... replacing Nene in the starting lineup with Hump. We hoped Hump's spacing would provide extra spacing to allow the Wall/Gortat P&Rs to flourish... instead....Hump has made some 3s but defenses aren't respecting his shot and still cheating off....meaning no real offensive benefit. Going a step further, Hump is also not skilled or athletic enough to do anything other than spot up or crash the boards. Unlike Nene, Hump is unable to operate in the triple threat position in the mid-post area, you can't actually run the offense through Hump so while Nene slowed our offense down to a crawl, there were times he would be effective offensively because of his skills & abilities. Defenses actually had to account for him.... defenses are pretty much ignoring Hump because of his limitations and low usage.

Additionally, it's having a massive impact defensively. I think partly because Gortat has become frustrated with his situation - it's not going as he had hoped and he's currently sulking. Additionally, the downgrade from Nene to Hump defensively is very noticeable. Nene was still a very solid defender at the PF spot. He covered for a lot of mistakes made by others with his presence. Taking that away, Gortat is now basically on an island as guys like Hump & Gooden are non-factors defensively if not a bit of drag in that area.

Bottom line we need a 4. Or a guy capable of playing the 4. Or someone that can impersonate a 4.

Our record last season with Humphries starting at PF was 10-5. It was 10-4 if you exclude the game Beal missed.

Example A of why extrapolation of stats/W-L records is a bad idea.

I dunno. You seem to be pinning the blame of our 3-4 start squarely on Humphries. How is that any different? At least my sample size is twice as big.

I'm not trying to say that Humphries was the cause of our success during that 10-4 run last year. I'm merely stating that the team clearly can be successful with Humphries at the 4. Obviously, he's the weakest link and an improvement at the position would be welcome, but there must also be other factors involved with our poor play.

[Dat2U]

No I'm saying the downgrade from Nene to Hump is part of the blame. Gortat's frustration offensively has impacted the defensive side of things too.

Hump is what I said he was. A guy that's a consistent drain offensively and a non-factor defensively. I've said that since the moment he became a Wizard. Can you win with him? Sure, if the players around him are good enough to carry a weak link like that. Right now, our lineup isn't good enough to cope with Humphries being a starting PF.

[dckingsfan]

I am not a fan of moving Nene back into the starting lineup.
1) This is his last year, he is oft injured, we need reliability
2) We need to have a backup C and Blair isn't the answer
3) We need to at least try to stay with the new offense
4) The problem with the team right now is the PG. If Wall isn't playing at an All-Star level, just forget it... and he isn't.
5) If you look at WS/48 or VORP defensive rebounding, Humphries and Nene are close.

But it all really goes back to the defensive end of the court + Wall. And neither of those can be blamed on Humphries any more than on any other player on the team.

[Dat2U]

I am not a fan of moving Nene back into the starting lineup.
1) This is his last year, he is oft injured, we need reliability
2) We need to have a backup C and Blair isn't the answer
3) We need to at least try to stay with the new offense
4) The problem with the team right now is the PG. If Wall isn't playing at an All-Star level, just forget it... and he isn't.
5) If you look at WS/48 or VORP defensive rebounding, Humphries and Nene are close.

But it all really goes back to the defensive end of the court + Wall. And neither of those can be blamed on Humphries any more than on any other player on the team.

Wall hasn't been great and he definitely needs to play better but I think Gortat's issues have had a huge impact, partly for the reasons already stated. Gortat & whoever were pairing him with in the front court are not getting the job done, especially defensively. It's sad when 6-5 Jared Dudley with a gut is currently your best defender at the 4. When you add to the fact we have 4 relatively healthy NBA players capable of playing well and the rest of the roster is meh any slippage among those top guys will be quite noticeable.

[dckingsfan]

I am not a fan of moving Nene back into the starting lineup.
1) This is his last year, he is oft injured, we need reliability
2) We need to have a backup C and Blair isn't the answer
3) We need to at least try to stay with the new offense
4) The problem with the team right now is the PG. If Wall isn't playing at an All-Star level, just forget it... and he isn't.
5) If you look at WS/48 or VORP defensive rebounding, Humphries and Nene are close.

But it all really goes back to the defensive end of the court + Wall. And neither of those can be blamed on Humphries any more than on any other player on the team.

Wall hasn't been great and he definitely needs to play better but I think Gortat's issues have had a huge impact, partly for the reasons already stated. Gortat & whoever were pairing him with in the front court are not getting the job done, especially defensively. It's sad when 6-5 Jared Dudley with a gut is currently your best defender at the 4. When you add to the fact we have 4 relatively healthy NBA players capable of playing well and the rest of the roster is meh any slippage among those top guys will be quite noticeable.

I am not arguing that the FC hasn't been a disaster or that Gortat hasn't been a disaster. I am arguing that it doesn't matter if Wall doesn't play at an All-Star level - which he hasn't.

The two biggest drop-offs have been from Wall & Gortat. If those two were playing at last year's level - we are probably just fine.

[Higga]

We're basically playing 4 on 5 at the moment. I'm not even sure we have a professional NBA PF on the roster.

[dckingsfan]

I think we are playing 2 on 5. Wall, Humphries and Gortat need to step it up...

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

No I'm saying the downgrade from Nene to Hump is part of the blame. Gortat's frustration offensively has impacted the defensive side of things too.

Hump is what I said he was. A guy that's a consistent drain offensively and a non-factor defensively. I've said that since the moment he became a Wizard. Can you win with him? Sure, if the players around him are good enough to carry a weak link like that. Right now, our lineup isn't good enough to cope with Humphries being a starting PF.

The MAIN reason Blair has been 100% ineffective is not one minute of PF was ever possible playing behind Humphries. Gooden and Seraphin assured no minutes for Blair. The very instant Blair signed I said it was a bad move signing him AND Humphries.

Injuries allowed Ariza to shine but had Webster stayed healthy that would have been a similar example of redundant players who could not effectively split minutes.

As good as the 10-4 record nate alluded to with Humphries starting, the Wizards were WAY better with Pierce and Gooden at PF and no Humphries last season.

My eyes tell me Humphries/Gortat is a bad starting combination.

[dckingsfan]

I would rather have Gortat/Gooden, Nene/Humphries - but that is just me.

Blair should be on the bench, IMO.