Wizards Summer League 2013 - Mini Camp 8th Games July 13

[hands11]

I think the Teyshawn Prince comaparisons were pretty good comparison for Otto Porter so far from what i see.
On the plus side he is long and relatively mobile. On the downside not particularly quick from what I see.

I think he's a guy that wont really impact the box score that much. Hes gonna be a glue guy I think. Another similar guy may be Kiralenko. I saw some nice anticipation on the defensive side and and he hustles.
He can hit the open shot but hell never be a lights out shooter. I think hell be a good teammate and will allow us to do a lot of things. I dont think hell be an impact player but will be a team guy.

Also stats in summer league stats are always unreliable but I think hes gonna have to change his shot a bit to get it off in time. I think hes having to rush his shot because hes not used to the pace of the game.

I think Porter was in the right spots. He was aclive on D. He suffered from horrible pg play so he seldom go the ball in the flow of the game. I agree that Im not panicing but I hoped for a bit more with the #3 pick. You expect an impact player.

Rice= Nick Young..he can shoot but isnt reliable..plus he puts up bad shots.

Veseley looked pretty good.

But we went over all this before the draft. We know we were not getting that kind of player if they went with Otto. And the draft didn't really have that kind of player in the top.

VO was that kind of player, he was taken 2nd. But he would be a back up for us. Which I was fine with.
Other then that, your looking at Burke or CJM. I liked them both but same issue as above.

But then you are hoping Trevor A would stay, I was fine with that.

Could have gone with Len. Would have made good sense but their are injury concerns. People would be going nuts if we found this second ankle concern and more nuts if we didn't.

Or Zeller or KO. Both nice options. I like Zeller better as a PF. Either would have made sense.

Zeller or CJM probably would have been better picks. But Otto was probably a good one as well. To early to really say which was the right move yet. But I suspect CJM would have made a really nice 3rd guard and Zeller would have really helped round out the front court.

[hands11]

Funny that a lot of the guys who are rushing to judgement on Otto are the same ones who rushed to judgement on JWall. Worst part about it is its been TWO SUMMER LEAGUE GAMES!! I guess lessons aren't learned.

Wall sucked for a number one pick for almost three years. He did something in his third season that I never thought I'd see. Guys like Jrue Holiday and Kyrie Irving made the all star team before he has made it. I didn't rush to judgment on Wall. Wall put on a really good display after MUCH public criticism.

Now, I'd say he's my favorite Wizard. He sounds very mature and realistic about his role and his teammates. I love to see him getting along so well with Beal and feel like I'm glad I was wrong (but I didn't rush to judgment at all on Wall.)

Likewise Otto is clearly lacking physical strength. He's deferring a lot. I expect in time he will be an above average player but if you ask me TODAY Zeller is better. That's all.

Wall was a good example of a player with tons of potential and physical skills, but lacking in BB skills and BBIQ. But Wall also had a ton of drive so he eventually got there. But it was pretty touch and go there for a good while.

The dream that he would get there is why he went #1. But it was a rough road from year one until last year. Adding those vets around him really helped. Walls struggles his first years was in large part because of the crap team around him.

[hands11]

I'm not worried at all about Otto. The pace of the Georgetown princeton is very different from what they're doing in SL. He'll figure it out and adjust. I remember having the same thoughts about Beal early last year... oh no maybe I was wrong about him, he's too short, he's not athletic, he's not getting his shot off, he looks slow, too passive, handle doesn't look good, etc etc.

I don't mind him struggling here. It will fuel his motivation to work as much as possible the next 3 months. He's gonna make progress in that time.

And to make it worse, he was getting his shot blocked a lot. Having been so all in for Beal for so long, I was thinking I might have some serious egg on my face. But then BAM. He started to light it up. He learned to get space. He adjusted. Then Wall returned and it got even easier. Then he had mad swag.

With Wall it took longer because he had a crappier team.

With Otto, he should be a much easier transition. Honestly, they really don't need him to do much. Webster and Trevor A can man the SF. For Otto, he needs to learn because he needs to earn the minutes. Not because the team needs him like they did Wall and Beal. For year one, Otto is a luxury. An extra.

All he really needs to do initially is hit open shots, learn and get stronger.

[Knighthonor]

What the heck happen tonight?

[DCZards]

Been reading a lot here about how Wall sucked his first two plus years and how it took him until his third season to show his stuff because he was on a crappy team. Well, I think some people are forgetting just how good of a rookie season Wall had. If fact, if it were not for all of the hype surrounding Griffin, John would have been ROY.

Here's how Wall's rookie season compared to 3 other pretty good PGs.


Chris Paul's Rookie Numbers
MPG. PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
36.0 16.1 7.8 5.1 2.2 .43 2.3

Russell Westbrook's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
32.5 15.3 5.3 4.9 1.3. .39 3.3

Derrick Rose's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
37.0 16.8 6.3 3.9 0.8 .47 2.5

John Wall's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
37.8 16.4. 8.3 4.6 1.8. .40 3.8

[Rafael122]

Hard to read some of the stuff that's been posted recently. Otto, Singleton and Vesely are playing with guys that are not probably going to be on an NBA roster this season.

And on top of that, for some asinine reason, they have Otto playing the 2-guard position when he's a natural 3. I didn't watch today's game, but the rush to judgment is beyond ridiculous and pretty much is no worse than a regular troll. It's summer league for crying out loud.

Maybe it IS a good thing that they are keeping Ariza and Wesbter. Otto is smart enough to adjust, but he needs to be brought along slowly.

Calm down.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Been reading a lot here about how Wall sucked his first two plus years and how it took him until his third season to show his stuff because he was on a crappy team. Well, I think some people are forgetting just how good of a rookie season Wall had. If fact, if it were not for all of the hype surrounding Griffin, John would have been ROY.

Here's how Wall's rookie season compared to 3 other pretty good PGs.


Chris Paul's Rookie Numbers
MPG. PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
36.0 16.1 7.8 5.1 2.2 .43 2.3

Russell Westbrook's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
32.5 15.3 5.3 4.9 1.3. .39 3.3

Derrick Rose's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
37.0 16.8 6.3 3.9 0.8 .47 2.5

John Wall's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
37.8 16.4. 8.3 4.6 1.8. .40 3.8

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lch01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ede01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ljo01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... bru01.html

IF YOU WANT TO COMPARE PLAYERS, BASKETBALL REFERENCE HAS A SIMILARITY SCORE. Under Paul you see Jerry West, Walt Frazier, Magic Johnson, John Stockton, Dwyane Wade, Oscar Robertson, and other HOF players. They had a similar Win Score at this point in their careers.

Under Wall you see Sleepy Floyd, Sam Cassell. Jack George, Al Smith, Skeeter Swift, Jamaal Tinsley. These guys didn't suck, the ones that I recognize. But they do not belong in Paul's category for comparison.

In their rookie seasons:

--Paul had about as many steals as turnovers. His PER was 22 as a rookie. His WS/48 was .178. Paul came into the NBA great. By his third season he was 2nd in MVP points.

--Rose shot significantly better. His second season was considerably better and by his third he was League MVP.

--Westbrook's first season was much like Wall's, but he had played SG in college and was making the transition to PG. He was the fourth pick, not the first. Westbrook's numbers and game do strongly resemble what Wall did. He got better in his third season.

DCZ, I said Wall sucked almost three seasons. For the top pick he IMO did.

[hands11]

Been reading a lot here about how Wall sucked his first two plus years and how it took him until his third season to show his stuff because he was on a crappy team. Well, I think some people are forgetting just how good of a rookie season Wall had. If fact, if it were not for all of the hype surrounding Griffin, John would have been ROY.

Here's how Wall's rookie season compared to 3 other pretty good PGs.


Chris Paul's Rookie Numbers
MPG. PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
36.0 16.1 7.8 5.1 2.2 .43 2.3

Russell Westbrook's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
32.5 15.3 5.3 4.9 1.3. .39 3.3

Derrick Rose's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
37.0 16.8 6.3 3.9 0.8 .47 2.5

John Wall's Rookie Numbers
MPG PPG APG RPG SPG FG% TOs
37.8 16.4. 8.3 4.6 1.8. .40 3.8

One post mentioned the word sucked and it was .. he sucked for a first pick for almost 3 years. I don't know if that qualifies as " a lot"

Wall did struggle. Lots of stats have been posted to support that as well. Then he did really turn it around last year. I think all the post said that. Not sure what you have a issue with.

[WizKid25]

Here are some things I think you are missing.

You can MEH, PHX passing on him for Len, but thats a big ass MEH.

2nd, Wall and Beal are very young. Maybe they didn't want another project post player. If they did, they could have drafted Len who actually has some offense. I think the plan is to first, evaluate Nene in the post this year. If Nene recovers his health and some bounce, great. And even if that happens, I think they will look for a more mature piece then a rookie to be the 3rd piece to Wall and Beal as a post player to replace Nene if they can. Nene and Okafor are a solid front court for now. And with cap space and picks, they will have the assets to be players in getting a big piece down there. One that much better then Noel will be over the next 3-4 years.

That isn't Noel, even if he can stay healthy.

They are going to hold onto Nene down there as long as he is producing or until they can find that next legit piece to replace him. Someone like a Favors, or Bosh, etc. Not a Len or a Noel. They need vet experience down there to balance out how young Wall and Beal are.

If all goes well, they will be looking to be Conference title contender not this year, but next.

Do we know why Phoenix passed on Noel? Or are we assuming it because of his knee? Maybe the Suns just had Len rated higher, which is fine. There was talk of Len going first overall. But unless we know for sure that Phoenix passed on Noel for medical reasons then it seems to me you're using one questionable decision to justify another. Here's a recent sampling of the guys Phoenix has passed on in the draft:

2012: Maurice Harkless (took Kendall Marshall)
2011: Kawhi Leonard (took Markieff Morris)
2009: Jrue Holiday/Ty Lawson (took Earl Clark)
2008: Roy Hibbert (took Robin Lopez)
2007: Arron Afflalo (took Rudy Fernandez and traded him for cash)
2006: Rajon Rondo (selected him and traded him for a '07 pick)

I understand the Suns' medical staff is considered top notch because of how they've kept a few aging and injury-riddled players healthy in recent years. But let's not make their draft-night decisions out to be something they're not. They passed on quality players in six of the past seven years. As someone earlier posted, Chad Ford said on Bill Simmons' podcast that each of the top five teams told him Noel's knees weren't an issue. So based on that, it sounds like they made their selection based on talent, or who they felt was best for them. My point is that should have nothing to do with what we do.

I'm sure you can do that kind of .. who missed who .. with any team.

As for the PHX concerns. Have you been keeping up with draft stuff ? Did you even try an internet search before replaying to my post to see if they did have concerns ?

http://fansided.com/2013/06/27/nba-draf ... of-top-10/

NBADraft.net is reporting as apparently, league sources have told them not only have the Suns put up the red flag in regards to Noel’s knees, but it’s possible he may slip out of the top ten.

Again, Chad Ford told Bill Simmons that teams were more concerned about drafting a player that would not contribute for a year and, thus, having no immediate return on a top five pick. He said Dr. James Andrews was putting his own reputation on the line by going on the record the whole time saying the kid would make a full recovery. So let's consider that conflicting reports. The point is why are we using a questionable decision to justify another questionable decision?

[gambitx777]

That was awesome.

Yeah I know right, he hit the nail on the head with that one !Porter will be fine, every one needs to just calm down, and let porter get in to a grove.

Considering the Colin Cowherd love, you might want to rethink, considering he wrote off John Wall as a loser who would never win anything because of the Dougie in his first start, repeatedly referred to RG3 as a runner and not a thrower, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary, and despite my love of Luck (who I still prefer to RG3 long term and always did), his analysis of the Colts versus the redskins is ludicrous. He sees the Colts winning the AFC because of the Luck factor, conveniently ignoring the metrics that he touts, when they back his arguments, and ignores when they don't (as in the Colts won a statistically unsustainable amount of close games in '12, and that their phythagorean win total was also essentially the statistically least likely and most improbable playoff run in decades). Oh, he also continues to support LeBron's "The Decision," and to misrepresent its critics as idiots who can't handle a free agent leaving a team (conveniently forgetting that fans have been coping with free agent departures for 20+ years, it's players having a 30 minute special dedicated to capturing the moment that you "take your talents to south beach (i.e. the greatest example of self-aggrandizing delusional thinking since Wall Street started crying about not being loved after destroying the economy, and then getting bonuses for it, and being paid off by the gov for it, but that's another story).

I could go on and on, I love his show because sports talk tends to be massively redundant, and sometimes completely unlistenable, while other times being monstrously tedious. His show is never either of those things, but I have a problem with his misrepresentation of himself and his arguments (picking and choosing philosophies with the pretense that that is how evaluates anything, rationally, only to abandon them when they aren't conveniently for a particular contrarian take he makes to drive up ratings.

I completely agree with you. I am not saying that he is a beacon of truth, ll i am saying is that he hit the nail on the head with this 1. he makes good points and its a good argument. I do not agree with ever word he says, but on that one topic with that one video he made a hell of a lot of sense.



I think anyone panicking over porter is just totally uncalled for. Porter just needs time to get acclimated to the NBA.

[jivelikenice]

Hard to read some of the stuff that's been posted recently. Otto, Singleton and Vesely are playing with guys that are not probably going to be on an NBA roster this season.

And on top of that, for some asinine reason, they have Otto playing the 2-guard position when he's a natural 3. I didn't watch today's game, but the rush to judgment is beyond ridiculous and pretty much is no worse than a regular troll. It's summer league for crying out loud.

Maybe it IS a good thing that they are keeping Ariza and Wesbter. Otto is smart enough to adjust, but he needs to be brought along slowly.

Calm down.

Totally agree. The second guessing as gone to a level of absolute lunacy. Zeller has a good SL game and now is an allstar and Otto at best is the next Ariza. Absolutely comical.

If you actually watched a good amout of Georgetown ball this season (not just the NCAA tourney game), you'd realize what Otto's game is. He's a good mid range player and a developing three point shooter. He's versatile, a good passer, and moves well w/o the ball. The Wizards are playing him out of his comfort zone which isn't a bad thing. Throw him into the fire and see how he adjusts. He's such a hard worker that there's no doubt in my mind that he'll get there, its ludicrous to cap the upside of a 20 yr old with that much length.

Now I won't say i expected him to struggle like he has but look at the circumstances. This is a kid who played in the Princeton offense and avoided the AAU circuit. This is a whole new animal to him. He also only worked out for teams in the top three and you old see the impact its had on his conditioning (his legs just don't seem to be there).

I was torn between him and Bennett but I still see him as a great fit. When he gets on the floor with NBA caliber players he'll get shots in the flow of the offense. That J he hit right before halftime was prime example of a shot he'll get over and over again on this team. His midrange game will come in handy especially playing off Wall n the half court. Also with Wall's improving offense his ability to bring the ball up as a three will create more chances for Wall to be a scorer. This team doesn't have a second ball handler who can fascilitate. Otto may not be able to dribble drive off ISOs, but his ball handling/passing will give us that element and Wall won't have the burden of getting everyone going.

A day off before the next game is ideal. It will give him a day to look at film and make adjustments. Lets see how he responds. In the end though I want to see how he takes this SL experience and attackes workouts after this. This is where the Georgetown FA too comes into play. You know theyre going to put him to work at McDonough and he'll get a lot of run w/ Green, Hibbert and Monroe. These guys all had limited athleticism and maximized their talents. They'll push him. In terms of comps, I see the physical comparison to Tayshaun but I see game wise a similarity to Igoudola. He's not the athlete Andre is, but he's be a more efficient shooter/scorer. Andrea's carreer averages are 15/6/5. I think you'll see something close from Otto.

[hands11]

truthaboutit.net


Game 2

M.V.P.

Jan Vesely. The Wizards shot 35 percent, were out-rebounded 51-34, and lost badly to the Knicks. With all that said, I still don’t mind crowning Jan Vesely with MVP honors. Jan was the only player on either team to record a double-double on the day (10 points, 10 rebounds) and personally collected nearly 30 percent of the Wizards’ total rebounds. Maybe even more impressively, Jan committed only four fouls despite his trademark defensive “activity.” Four fouls is not an outrageous amount of fouls. Usually, Jan commits an outrageous amount of fouls. Another “mythbuster” moment came early in the first quarter, when Jan knocked down two (2) free throws, back to back. Add in a block, two steals, and a few “little things” like taking a charge under the hoop and getting back quickly on defense, and this was borderline encouraging performance for Vesely in a discouraging game for most of his teammates. He’s not the King of the Desert yet, but he’s officially on his Las Vegas grind.

[jivelikenice]

Jan's efficiency has been a pleasant surprise. He put up decent numbers in a few games last yr during SL but in those same games he's had foul issues and missed some easy attempts. This is the closest he's looked to being an player and envisioning how he could fit. Now can he replicate it for 2-3 more games in Vegas and bring it back with him. The crazy thing is the opportunity is there. After Néne and Okafor the first reserve spot is WIDE open.

The disappointment to me is Singleton. The game just doesn't come easy to him. I mean he's putting out a decent statline but its not in a role that will translate. It's obvious he's auditioning for this team and others and its just not conducive to clean basketball or him playing within a team concept.

Last SL point....why doesn't Ernie bring in a decent pg! Year in and year out the SL team struggles and we never get a good opportunity to evaluate rooks because of the poor pg play around them. Maybe he was caught off guard with Sato's absence?

[stevemcqueen1]

Funny that a lot of the guys who are rushing to judgement on Otto are the same ones who rushed to judgement on JWall. Worst part about it is its been TWO SUMMER LEAGUE GAMES!! I guess lessons aren't learned.

Wall sucked for a number one pick for almost three years. He did something in his third season that I never thought I'd see. Guys like Jrue Holiday and Kyrie Irving made the all star team before he has made it. I didn't rush to judgment on Wall. Wall put on a really good display after MUCH public criticism.

Now, I'd say he's my favorite Wizard. He sounds very mature and realistic about his role and his teammates. I love to see him getting along so well with Beal and feel like I'm glad I was wrong (but I didn't rush to judgment at all on Wall.)

Likewise Otto is clearly lacking physical strength. He's deferring a lot. I expect in time he will be an above average player but if you ask me TODAY Zeller is better. That's all.

Wall was a good example of a player with tons of potential and physical skills, but lacking in BB skills and BBIQ. But Wall also had a ton of drive so he eventually got there. But it was pretty touch and go there for a good while.

The dream that he would get there is why he went #1. But it was a rough road from year one until last year. Adding those vets around him really helped. Walls struggles his first years was in large part because of the crap team around him.

Wall always had tremendous skills and IQ.

Wall didn't suck his first three years either.

Wall had a very good rookie season and would have been ROTY if Blake Griffin hadn't been a rookie on a technicality. He got better as a sophomore, but not as much as people had hoped. But it was a lockout year, short season, and he played for a **** horrible team where the coach got canned midseason and the only stretch of games he played with an NBA starter was 9 games with Nene late in the year--when he started winning some. Trevor Booker was the best NBA player Wall played more than 9 games with his first two years. The he came back from a serious injury mid season of year three that kept him out of action for months and he had to work himself back into shape and into the flow of things, after which he tore the league a new **** and started winning games. Didn't slow down until 6 of our top 7 players got put on the shelf down the final stretch where we tanked.

Wall is the same guy he's always been. He didn't suddenly transform into a new person in March. He came into the league the same spectacular and transcendent talent he is today, doing things nobody had done since Oscar and Magic that early in their careers. Fans just got frustrated with him because we kept losing. It really is that simple. They lost perspective. They got impatient, got knee jerk living and dying with every quarter, sunk into negativity looking for scapegoats. That's what fans do. Players don't get patience and the benefit of the doubt from fans until they win championships. But it doesn't mean fan histrionics are any sort of reflection of reality. They almost never are.

[jivelikenice]

^Areed. Wall was one of three players to avg 16/8 during the span that covered his first two seasons. He veered off the right path at times due to a combination of frustration, poor roster around him, and the lockout. He shares some responsibility there but to say he sucked his a gross exaggeration. The all star argument is the most annoying because it was impossible for him to make it last year based on his early season absence. Jrue made the AS team but who here actually thinks Jrue had a better season?

[Kanyewest]

"Otto Porter Searching For His Game In Vegas"
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page ... daily-dime

[closg00]

On vacation and haven't seen the two games, good-thing. Now back to vacation.

[Sonny Carson]

Funny that a lot of the guys who are rushing to judgement on Otto are the same ones who rushed to judgement on JWall. Worst part about it is its been TWO SUMMER LEAGUE GAMES!! I guess lessons aren't learned.

Wall sucked for a number one pick for almost three years. He did something in his third season that I never thought I'd see. Guys like Jrue Holiday and Kyrie Irving made the all star team before he has made it. I didn't rush to judgment on Wall. Wall put on a really good display after MUCH public criticism.

Now, I'd say he's my favorite Wizard. He sounds very mature and realistic about his role and his teammates. I love to see him getting along so well with Beal and feel like I'm glad I was wrong (but I didn't rush to judgment at all on Wall.)

Likewise Otto is clearly lacking physical strength. He's deferring a lot. I expect in time he will be an above average player but if you ask me TODAY Zeller is better. That's all.

Wall was a good example of a player with tons of potential and physical skills, but lacking in BB skills and BBIQ. But Wall also had a ton of drive so he eventually got there. But it was pretty touch and go there for a good while.

The dream that he would get there is why he went #1. But it was a rough road from year one until last year. Adding those vets around him really helped. Walls struggles his first years was in large part because of the crap team around him.

I'm still trying to understand how John Wall "sucked" his 1st two seasons. And using Jrue Holiday as a means to prove it. A Jrue Holiday who put up 14/5 the year before......and 17/8 this past season?

Just because Kyrie Irving transition to the league has been better than Wall doesnt mean Wall has been crap for a #1 pick.

For the record...I think Wall's rookie year was just as good as Kyrie's rookie year. Kyrie just had a much better 2nd year improvement. Then again Wall had a bit more instability at HC imo. But give Kyrie credit. He was ready to be a 22/6 player by his 2nd year. Wall was still a 16/8 guy. Which again.....isnt a HUGE difference...but still better.

I still think Wall showed enough in those first 2 or 3 years that he could be as good as Kyrie or better. Its just Byron Scott = knows how to handle young PGs (despite being a bad coach overall) vs. what Wall was dealing with. It took far too long to figure out how to use John Wall's strengths imo.

just my 2 cents.

[hands11]

Wall sucked for a number one pick for almost three years. He did something in his third season that I never thought I'd see. Guys like Jrue Holiday and Kyrie Irving made the all star team before he has made it. I didn't rush to judgment on Wall. Wall put on a really good display after MUCH public criticism.

Now, I'd say he's my favorite Wizard. He sounds very mature and realistic about his role and his teammates. I love to see him getting along so well with Beal and feel like I'm glad I was wrong (but I didn't rush to judgment at all on Wall.)

Likewise Otto is clearly lacking physical strength. He's deferring a lot. I expect in time he will be an above average player but if you ask me TODAY Zeller is better. That's all.

Wall was a good example of a player with tons of potential and physical skills, but lacking in BB skills and BBIQ. But Wall also had a ton of drive so he eventually got there. But it was pretty touch and go there for a good while.

The dream that he would get there is why he went #1. But it was a rough road from year one until last year. Adding those vets around him really helped. Walls struggles his first years was in large part because of the crap team around him.

Wall always had tremendous skills and IQ.

Wall didn't suck his first three years either.

Wall had a very good rookie season and would have been ROTY if Blake Griffin hadn't been a rookie on a technicality. He got better as a sophomore, but not as much as people had hoped. But it was a lockout year, short season, and he played for a **** horrible team where the coach got canned midseason and the only stretch of games he played with an NBA starter was 9 games with Nene late in the year--when he started winning some. Trevor Booker was the best NBA player Wall played more than 9 games with his first two years. The he came back from a serious injury mid season of year three that kept him out of action for months and he had to work himself back into shape and into the flow of things, after which he tore the league a new **** and started winning games. Didn't slow down until 6 of our top 7 players got put on the shelf down the final stretch where we tanked.

Wall is the same guy he's always been. He didn't suddenly transform into a new person in March. He came into the league the same spectacular and transcendent talent he is today, doing things nobody had done since Oscar and Magic that early in their careers. Fans just got frustrated with him because we kept losing. It really is that simple. They lost perspective. They got impatient, got knee jerk living and dying with every quarter, sunk into negativity looking for scapegoats. That's what fans do. Players don't get patience and the benefit of the doubt from fans until they win championships. But it doesn't mean fan histrionics are any sort of reflection of reality. They almost never are.

He couldn't shoot from outside.
Had trouble finishing
He couldn't change speed.
Turned the ball over a lot.


Those are the skills and bbiq I was talking about.

Wall is no way the same guy he has been. He is way way better now. I tracked his stats down the stretch in this Wall thread. Down the stretch he was posting numbers near Parker and Chris Paul. That is not the John we had before that run.

This conversation was already over anyway. The past is the past. I think everyone is happy we have this John Wall. It was a rough 2.5 years and it wasn't all his fault. But some was. No biggy. We are here now and moving forward.

[deneem4]

Fxk it im blaming the coaching and development staff once again....why the fcuk are we not scoring??..why the **** is otto playin 2...why the fck is little booker not getting shot attempts...why the **** dont we have a pg??? We couldve atleast invited seth curry, hes no pg, but he does have something to prove especially after his brother potlst season...but once again, wizards management failed...and we have 2 rookies who cant find them selves and 2 veterookies thats tryin to play without one...we need new staffing...were the only sl thats not scoring