Official Randy Wittman Thread - It's Playoff Randy Time LOL

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I've never been convinced that Wittman was the right guy -- either as a "development" coach or as a "promised land" coach. He was fine as the interim guy, but I thought then they'd end up better served if they hired someone else -- Joerger was my preference at the time. The Wizards, of course, awarded the full-time job to Wittman without interviewing anyone else.

We agreed on Joerger.

I thought Randy Wittman was great compared to Flip Saunders. I said Wittman never coached a talented roster before and I think he's earned head coach. I wanted Joerger so badly I posted stuff where Ted Leonsis used to encourage fan input. But Randy Wittman impressed me as a good father figure type who guys liked. He IS a decent coach as far as I am concerned.

However, he's swimming in deep water now. Riptide and killer waves are about to overtake him; if he doesn't figure out what to do.

Coaches get fired.

I lost custody of sons.

Life is not always easy. Sometimes we get in over our heads. Or it could be when one door closes another door opens.

Wittman IMO might as well get to see if he can win two playoff series. He kicked Thibodeau in the bud last playoffs.

Perspective. ..

He did kick Things in the bud last playoffs and maybe could've beaten Indy also if John didn't hit the Wall but those are also the only 2 elite teams in the East who play 2 low post bigs like we do. Anytime we play teams who are either smaller or quicker or who spread the floor or who have a lot of motion to their offense then we suck.

Things is superior but still too old school and stubborn to do something different. If we get them again then we probably win. The sad part is we have the talent to beat the others but Witt won't allow it because he's not open to adjusting

He knows he's skating on thin ice. Snarkiness and smugness are about played out. Folks think he's witless, ego tripping, too inflexible...

Dude is TALKING change and saying adversity shouldn't deflate the team so much.

I know how I felt when my 13 - year old, 200 pound, defensive end playing son told me he was a man and how I was falsely accusing him. I have some empathy for how Doug Collins or Flip Saunders might have felt when their young men got .... rambunctious. Truculent is a word the late Howard Cosell used.

Flip is facing a shifting landscape and his old school ain't working. I feel him on that.

Let's see "what he do" if I may speak informally. Good news for Flip is unlike CPS the NBA will allow him to cuss a player or two out. But he needs to be HUMBLE. Do stand down if you are the problem, or in over your depth.

(Could not lay hands on son even after son laid one heavy hand on my shoulder. Down south or back in the day, fathers could utilize corporal punishment. If you laid hands on your dad in Old Testament days, like Isaac you may have become a sacrifice so to speak. I would never have hurt/injured my son physically (but he almost got one righteous ass whipping) but I am so glad I didn't have to. Parents are coming up against it in some ways. I am blessed and my kids seem to be better off with my ex-wife for the time being.)

[payitforward]

Randy Wittman is Mark Jackson. Can the Wizards find their Steve Kerr?

Great stuff, Fish. Really great.

We'll probably hire Marc Jackson.

[bealwithit]

Amazed that this article didn't get linked in this thread.

http://deadspin.com/uh-guys-i-think-the ... 1687621585

[hands11]

Amazed that this article didn't get linked in this thread.

http://deadspin.com/uh-guys-i-think-the ... 1687621585

That's my ghost writer.

Man, lots of stuff getting posted that's really nailing Randy. I liked the intern explanation about how Randy got results. I remember him saying he simplified the offense when he took over. That alone would get better results.

From there, all he has left is... our defense generates our offense. And like I say often.. that's great. But that is not an offense. You still need an actual offense.

And the Wall skip pass was shut down by Indy. Hard to believe its not there anymore though. Specially since Wall can shoot better now. I would think PnR and back screen skip passes would work better now then before since now Wall is more of a threat to shoot. And even a basic post, kick out, around the rim shout generate open 3s. It doesn't have to be overly complicated.

And if they would open the floor by separating Nene and Gortat, they could just let Wall do his thing. That would be way better then running Randy fake plays that set up nothing. Its like watching 10 seconds of EFJ weave to set up a Gil heave. No wonder Gil perfected the walk up 26 ft 3 ball. Its was better then anything the offense was going to generate.

I would love to see Randy just turn the offense over to Wall and get out of the way. Stop calling plays. Let Wall do it. Hell, let Gortat or PP do it. I don't care which at this point, as long as its not Randy.

[benb331]

We agreed on Joerger.

I thought Randy Wittman was great compared to Flip Saunders. I said Wittman never coached a talented roster before and I think he's earned head coach. I wanted Joerger so badly I posted stuff where Ted Leonsis used to encourage fan input. But Randy Wittman impressed me as a good father figure type who guys liked. He IS a decent coach as far as I am concerned.

However, he's swimming in deep water now. Riptide and killer waves are about to overtake him; if he doesn't figure out what to do.

Coaches get fired.

I lost custody of sons.

Life is not always easy. Sometimes we get in over our heads. Or it could be when one door closes another door opens.

Wittman IMO might as well get to see if he can win two playoff series. He kicked Thibodeau in the bud last playoffs.

Perspective. ..

He did kick Things in the bud last playoffs and maybe could've beaten Indy also if John didn't hit the Wall but those are also the only 2 elite teams in the East who play 2 low post bigs like we do. Anytime we play teams who are either smaller or quicker or who spread the floor or who have a lot of motion to their offense then we suck.

Things is superior but still too old school and stubborn to do something different. If we get them again then we probably win. The sad part is we have the talent to beat the others but Witt won't allow it because he's not open to adjusting

He knows he's skating on thin ice. Snarkiness and smugness are about played out. Folks think he's witless, ego tripping, too inflexible...

Dude is TALKING change and saying adversity shouldn't deflate the team so much.

I know how I felt when my 13 - year old, 200 pound, defensive end playing son told me he was a man and how I was falsely accusing him. I have some empathy for how Doug Collins or Flip Saunders might have felt when their young men got .... rambunctious. Truculent is a word the late Howard Cosell used.

Flip is facing a shifting landscape and his old school ain't working. I feel him on that.

Let's see "what he do" if I may speak informally. Good news for Flip is unlike CPS the NBA will allow him to cuss a player or two out. But he needs to be HUMBLE. Do stand down if you are the problem, or in over your depth.

(Could not lay hands on son even after son laid one heavy hand on my shoulder. Down south or back in the day, fathers could utilize corporal punishment. If you laid hands on your dad in Old Testament days, like Isaac you may have become a sacrifice so to speak. I would never have hurt/injured my son physically (but he almost got one righteous ass whipping) but I am so glad I didn't have to. Parents are coming up against it in some ways. I am blessed and my kids seem to be better off with my ex-wife for the time being.)

CCJ - I don't always agree with everything you say. I'd bet $100 that our opinions are on opposite ends of the spectrum more often than not. But man, you are hellaciously entertaining to read. I love your perspective. It's different, fresh. Keep doing what you do.

[benb331]

Ugh - it's a sad day in Wizards town when this thread, one I ignored for months, becomes the one I most frequently check hoping for a board buster announcement. I gave up on the Redskins this past year, but I'm not sure I could ever do the same for the Bullets. I don't know a single person IRL who's an NBA fan, but they're my team. This coach clearly needs to go. EG clearly needed to go long before, sorry Rico.

Tough stretch for the Wiz. I can't decide if I'm rooting for them to pull out of it or rooting for them to keep failing hard so that some management and coaching changes can happen. Such a short burst it was, if the latter idea comes to fruition. If this is the end of the early/mid-career John Wall glory days, well... I guess I'm glad it happened at all. Sheesh, was it short.

The more logical Nivek side of me says that this type of run happens for mediocre teams. They'll revert back to the mean. Overperformed early, underperformed lately. Likely to see a competitive 1st round matchup. Maybe they'll make it to the 2nd, probably not. Better than the doofus days with Pierre and friends, anyway.

Hard to look at this team and say with a straight face, "The future is bright."

[hands11]

Well, Rose is done for the year. WAS can still be in this thing and we might get CHI again in the playoffs. What's important is that Randy goes first before we turns things around because if we do make it out of the first, I don't want to be put in a position of picking the Wizards winning in the 2nd vs Randy sticking around another year.

This is exactly where I was last year at this time and I don't want to be here again.

So we get MIN.

Saunder v Wittless
No 3s vs low 3s

But the game is in MIN and KG has come home. I just heard his interview. That place is going to be going nuts.

WIZ could easily lose this one as well.

And that sets up the all important Sixers game. We lose that... And Randy could be gone. NOW

We were in the same position last year. I remember writing this same freakn post only I couldn't tell you to teams that were coming up with out going and looking.

It has to end now. Hate rooting for the Wizards to lose but short term pain for long term gain.

Sorry but... GO MINNY

[dckingsfan]

I think Wittman and Checkers will finish out the year. I think we win 46 games or so - which is more than last year. I think we luck into playing Chicago in the playoffs again and still get whooped in the second round. Ted claims success and we move on.

[Higga]

I think Wittman and Checkers will finish out the year. I think we win 46 games or so - which is more than last year. I think we luck into playing Chicago in the playoffs again and still get whooped in the second round. Ted claims success and we move on.

That's my fear as well.

As much as I hate to say it, part of me kinda hopes we completely tank down the stretch and end up as like the 6th seed and get smashed in the 1st round as a means to justify firing Wittman.

Remember, Ted did write some blog posts earlier expressing his frustration about the offense. I don't think firing Wittman after the year is completely out of the question but it's probably not likely if we win another 1st round series.

But even Eddie Jordan was a more imaginative offensive coach than Witless.

[dckingsfan]

I think Wittman and Checkers will finish out the year. I think we win 46 games or so - which is more than last year. I think we luck into playing Chicago in the playoffs again and still get whooped in the second round. Ted claims success and we move on.

That's my fear as well.

As much as I hate to say it, part of me kinda hopes we completely tank down the stretch and end up as like the 6th seed and get smashed in the 1st round as a means to justify firing Wittman.

Remember, Ted did write some blog posts earlier expressing his frustration about the offense. I don't think firing Wittman after the year is completely out of the question but it's probably not likely if we win another 1st round series.

But even Eddie Jordan was a more imaginative offensive coach than Witless.

My fear is that Checkers then picks a worse coach... I think for this to work we need a better GM first.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Losing Rose probably isn't going to hurt the Bulls all that much. He's been having a crummy year. In my last update at the All-Star break, he had a PPA of 89. Average is 100. Aaron Brooks will likely take many of those minutes. He's at a 69. His slightly above average PER is related to the fact that PER rewards guys who shoot more often, even with horrible efficiency (the break-even point for shooting from the floor is about 27% in PER).

[LyricalRico]

Amazed that this article didn't get linked in this thread.

http://deadspin.com/uh-guys-i-think-the ... 1687621585

Great article. My favorite paragraph:

So you've got grinding, pointless, time-wasting actions, designed to create shots the Wizards could get just by asking, out loud, "Hey, can I get a 19-footer?" and watching the defense part itself voluntarily. It's like a Rube Goldberg device designed to drop an egg on the floor. These are the Wizards: a talented team pursuing a stupid strategy via even stupider tactics, on purpose.

Geez, even the EFJ "weave and heave" looks like the freaking Triangle compared to what Witless has these guys doing. At least with Beal out we don't have to see as many dribble handoffs 25 feet from the basket.

[fishercob]

Randy Wittman is Mark Jackson. Can the Wizards find their Steve Kerr?

Great stuff, Fish. Really great.

We'll probably hire Marc Jackson.

Thank you.

That is a hilarious and scary prospect. Do Ernie and Jacko have ties from NYK?

[Ruzious]

I don't think I've ever heard Kenny Smith being mentioned as a GM or coaching candidate, but I think he could be real good in either spot. He's been the brains on that TNT group for how many years now? He's very smart, very articulate, works well with huge egos, seems to command respect, clearly loves and respects the game, has a great temperament... heck, he even played on 2 NBA Championship teams. Why is Kenny Smith not coaching or GMing in the NBA?

[TheSecretWeapon]

I don't think I've ever heard Kenny Smith being mentioned as a GM or coaching candidate, but I think he could be real good in either spot. He's been the brains on that TNT group for how many years now? He's very smart, very articulate, works well with huge egos, seems to command respect, clearly loves and respects the game, has a great temperament... heck, he even played on 2 NBA Championship teams. Why is Kenny Smith not coaching or GMing in the NBA?

Smith has been mentioned in connection with coaching jobs in the past. I don't remember him being talked about for GM jobs.

Perhaps he's too smart for that. TV work pays well and is a lot easier than being a coach or GM.

[fishercob]

People I know little about that I'd want to interview:

Kenny Atkinson
Elston Turner
Jim Boylan
Jeff Bzdelik
Chip Engelland
Fred Hoiberg
Jamie Young
David FIzdale
Kaleb Canales.

I'd be interested in talking to JOhn Calipari too.

[Dat2U]

Amazed that this article didn't get linked in this thread.

http://deadspin.com/uh-guys-i-think-the ... 1687621585

Ha! Wow, dude went in...does anyone have an e-mail to Leonsis these days?

[Ruzious]

It has been quite a long interim period.

[TheSecretWeapon]

There are three guys currently coaching in the D-League that I think might be worth talking to: Nate Bjorkgren, Casey Hill and Nevada Smith.

The guy to get from the D-League was Joerger, of course, but that's not likely anytime soon.

[Rafael122]

There's a fan post on Bullets Forever that suggests Kevin Ollie as a candidate. Also has ties with KD.