Playoffs? Ya Kiddin me? Wizards vs. Bulls Game 1 Thread

[Rafael122]

I think we have more talent than Chicago but they are better coached with a deeper bench.

But...F it. Wizards in 7.

On paper we have more talent, we're probably better at every position with the exception of center. Talent often wins out, but yanno...we've got Wittman as coach.

[tontoz]

I keep reading 'Bulls in 5' from their fans.. yeah, no. Not saying they can't likely beat us in 6-7, but that team doesn't have the offense to win a playoff series in 5 games.

If your go-to scorer is DJ Augustin, you aren't beating anyone in 5..

The Bulls are a smart, disciplined team. The Wizards are neither. That gives them a pretty big advantage.

It boils down to 3 point shooting. the Wizards have a lot of guys who can make 3s. Their only hope is for hot 3 point shooting.

[Darko Miliminutes]

I like wall much better as a facilitator. Taking maybe 10-12 shots a game, while concentrating on assists. But against Chi. he's going to need that Wall hero-ball mentality. He can get his shots off, which will be tough for most other Wiz kids. Need to get him to the line! And those long 2's that everyone hates... they will be the most available open shots in this series. Cross your fingers, and get used to seeing alot of them.

I don't think Marcin will be able to do much against Noah. It's gonna come down to the making long 2's. Beal, Wall, and Ariza, will win or lose this series by making or missing Jumpers. Chi's perimeter D won't be giving up many 3's. I'm just hoping they can get Butler and Hinrich in foul trouble somehow.

[hasib w]

As a raptors fan, I REEEEEEALLLY wanted to face you guys in the first round. It didn't happen but I wish you guys the best of luck vs Chi.

I like where you guys are headed! John Wall is coming into form finally!

[GhostsOfGil]

I like wall much better as a facilitator. Taking maybe 10-12 shots a game, while concentrating on assists. But against Chi. he's going to need that Wall hero-ball mentality. He can get his shots off, which will be tough for most other Wiz kids. Need to get him to the line! And those long 2's that everyone hates... they will be the most available open shots in this series. Cross your fingers, and get used to seeing alot of them.

NOOOOO

[Hypnotizer]

As a raptors fan, I REEEEEEALLLY wanted to face you guys in the first round. It didn't happen but I wish you guys the best of luck vs Chi.

I like where you guys are headed! John Wall is coming into form finally!

Don't wish us luck, wish us a better coach.

[hasib w]

As a raptors fan, I REEEEEEALLLY wanted to face you guys in the first round. It didn't happen but I wish you guys the best of luck vs Chi.

I like where you guys are headed! John Wall is coming into form finally!

Don't wish us luck, wish us a better coach.

call me weird but I would love to see Adelman coaching the Wiz.

[miller31time]

Will Nene be off his minutes restriction for the playoffs? We need 30mpg of a healthy Nene to have a shot in this series, in my opinion.

[Dark Faze]

Even with terrible coaching our vets should be savy enough to find a way to corrale their bench over a series.

Harrington, Gooden, Miller, Webster...I just can't see them losing to the Chicago bench when its all said and done. Even with Wittman being Wittman those guys have too many years of combined experience to be a net negative.

I think they'll keep us afloat as the starters get used to thibs advanced schemes the first few games. Then we turn it on and don't look back.

I would put Ariza on Augustin from jump. If you can shut him down then it should be hard to nearly impossible to lose the series unless you average something 18 turnovers a game and shoot in the high 30's the entire time. Just not enough talent. We'd have to have some of the most abysmal offensive performances we've ever seen to lose out imo.

[keynote]

Just bought some tickets for Game 4. I want my dad and I to be in the building when the Wizards clinch the sweep.

[DCZards]

The Bulls are a smart, disciplined team. The Wizards are neither. That gives them a pretty big advantage.

It boils down to 3 point shooting. the Wizards have a lot of guys who can make 3s. Their only hope is for hot 3 point shooting.

Bulls might be more disciplined (which comes down to better coaching) but I don't think they are smarter. Ariza, Gortat, Nene, A. Miller and Harrington are all very smart ballers, and Wall, while inexperienced, has a rapidly improving bball IQ. So I don't think the Bulls have an advantage there.

And, yes, if the Zards make their three-pointers they can make it very interesting and competitive..and avoid having to depend on scoring against that very tough Chicago interior D. I like our chances if we can put the ball in the hole and not get frustrated by their tight D and physical play.

[tontoz]

The Bulls are a smart, disciplined team. The Wizards are neither. That gives them a pretty big advantage.

It boils down to 3 point shooting. the Wizards have a lot of guys who can make 3s. Their only hope is for hot 3 point shooting.

Bulls might be more disciplined (which comes down to better coaching) but I don't think they are smarter. Ariza, Gortat, Nene, A. Miller and Harrington are all very smart ballers, and Wall, while inexperienced, has a rapidly improving bball IQ. So I don't think the Bulls have an advantage there.

And, yes, if the Zards make their three-pointers they can make it very interesting and competitive..and avoid having to depending on scoring against that very tough Chicago interior D.

The Wizards lead the league in long 2 point attempts and are 25th in foul shot attempts. That is dumb basketball.

Their late game execution is suspect to say the least. Wall turns it over too much and frequently tries to be a hero instead of being patient and managing the clock.

[sfam]

As a raptors fan, I REEEEEEALLLY wanted to face you guys in the first round. It didn't happen but I wish you guys the best of luck vs Chi.

I like where you guys are headed! John Wall is coming into form finally!

The Wizards FO really needs to send a big boquet of roses to Brooklyn. Chicago isn't easy by any stretch, but the Wizards really don't match up well with Toronto.

[DCZards]

The Bulls are a smart, disciplined team. The Wizards are neither. That gives them a pretty big advantage.

It boils down to 3 point shooting. the Wizards have a lot of guys who can make 3s. Their only hope is for hot 3 point shooting.

Bulls might be more disciplined (which comes down to better coaching) but I don't think they are smarter. Ariza, Gortat, Nene, A. Miller and Harrington are all very smart ballers, and Wall, while inexperienced, has a rapidly improving bball IQ. So I don't think the Bulls have an advantage there.

And, yes, if the Zards make their three-pointers they can make it very interesting and competitive..and avoid having to depending on scoring against that very tough Chicago interior D.

The Wizards lead the league in long 2 point attempts and are 25th in foul shot attempts. That is dumb basketball.

Their late game execution is suspect to say the least. Wall turns it over too much and frequently tries to be a hero instead of being patient and managing the clock.

So you pretty much base your entire decision on how smart (or dumb) a team is on how many long two-pointers they take. Interesting. Some people might take into account how many assists they get. But to each his own.

BTW, how many of those long 2 pointers you refer to were taken by the guys I named--Miller, Nene, Ariza, Harrington or Gortat? I'll answer that for you. Not many.

And, yes, Wall has his flaws--but he's getting smarter as he gains experience.

Edit to Add: Here are the players with turnover #s similar to Wall---Durant, Leborn James, Harden, Curry and Westbrook. Not bad company, huh?

[sfam]

This will be a real chance for Witt to show off his coaching prowess, or lack thereof. The real question to me is what happens by like game 3, one both teams have made at least a round or two of adjustments. Does the series settle into a clear pattern where one coach has the clear upper hand (it will be Tibs if that's the case), or do both coaches continue to make substantitive changes that dramatically affect the on-court dynamic. I would hope to see given our actual depth at this point that Witt finds some ways to take advantage of movement and matchups. We've got to find ways over the course of the series to get Wall penetrating more, not less. Good things happen then.

[hands11]

Of all the people to start the first playoff game thread.

TGW has predicted 34 wins in the predictions thread yet was in such a hurry to start the game thread that the original post had the wrong faces for the Bulls

And "Playoffs? Ya Kiddin me?" in the title ?

Would have been more appropriate if the thread was started by someone that actually predicted over .500 and playoffs than someone who constantly beat up on the team all year.

I wish there was a dislike button ... Who are you to determine who's deserving to start a game thread or not?

Whatever DAT. My comments stand.

I didn't post IBTL or shut this down so I wasn't trying to determine anything. I just commented. I didn't direct.

Its common knowledge next game thread goes to the winner of the last thread. My other comments stand as well.

[montestewart]

The Bulls are a smart, disciplined team. The Wizards are neither. That gives them a pretty big advantage.

It boils down to 3 point shooting. the Wizards have a lot of guys who can make 3s. Their only hope is for hot 3 point shooting.

Bulls might be more disciplined (which comes down to better coaching) but I don't think they are smarter. Ariza, Gortat, Nene, A. Miller and Harrington are all very smart ballers, and Wall, while inexperienced, has a rapidly improving bball IQ. So I don't think the Bulls have an advantage there.

And, yes, if the Zards make their three-pointers they can make it very interesting and competitive..and avoid having to depending on scoring against that very tough Chicago interior D.

The Wizards lead the league in long 2 point attempts and are 25th in foul shot attempts. That is dumb basketball.

Their late game execution is suspect to say the least. Wall turns it over too much and frequently tries to be a hero instead of being patient and managing the clock.

That could go to his point about better coaching. We've seen coach and others commenting (with regard to the long twos) that players should take what they are given. It's hard to tell just how much the long two is discouraged as part of team coaching philosophy. Part of what seems to be missing on the Wizards is an offensive guru that helps them design an offense that doesn't need to settle for such shots so frequently.

[hands11]

Of all the people to start the first playoff game thread.

TGW has predicted 34 wins in the predictions thread yet was in such a hurry to start the game thread that the original post had the wrong faces for the Bulls

And "Playoffs? Ya Kiddin me?" in the title ?

Would have been more appropriate if the thread was started by someone that actually predicted over .500 and playoffs than someone who constantly beat up on the team all year.

And he stepped on Pines game thread streak after the Boston win.

Of all the people to criticize someone for poor predictions and posting errors. You and Millie...

Yeah, my predictions are so terrible that I came in 2nd in the draft predictions this off season. Nailed Noel dropping. VO rising. Beal rising and us picking him way before went up to top 3. And likely going to have two of the three top ROTY right. Also said EG wouldn't get fire early. And said they would extend Randy and EG for two years.

[TheKingOfVa360]

Wall is the best player on the floor but he needs to play like it. If he is aggressive and attacks the basket then the Wizards will win in 6. If not Bulls in 7. We need to cut out all the silly mid range jumpers we take and run more PNR.

[tontoz]

So you pretty much base your entire decision on how smart (or dumb) a team is on how many long two-pointers they take. Interesting. Some people might take into account on how many assists they get. But to each his own.

BTW, how many of those long 2 pointers you refer to were taken by Miller, Nene, Ariza, Harrington or Gortat? I'll answer that for you. Not many.

And, yes, Wall has his flaws--but he's getting smarter as he gains experience.

Edit to Add: Here are the players with turnover #s similar to Wall---Durant, Leborn James, Harden, Curry and Westbrook. Not bad company, huh?

In my post I mentioned long 2s, lack of foul shot attempts and late game execution as reasons why they aren't a smart team. RIF

And those players you listed score more points with better efficiency than Wall. They don't settle for long 2s nearly as often. Obviously players aren't going to turn it over too much when they shoot long 2s, the exact shots the defense wants them to take.