Wizards in the Media Thread

[DaRealHibachi]

From that same article...

Gil said earlier this week that I needed to be more of a catch-and-shoot player in this system with Flip Saunders now in town. You know what? I’m going to adapt to any situation. If it’s about coming off screens, catching and shooting now, I’ll do that.

Good to him wanting to change his game for the betterment of the team... This would most def improve our offense...

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/m ... _blogs_NBA

Arenas said. “We’re trying to do the extra dribble, or get closer to the rim, or pass the ball an extra time when we could just take the first shot. If you look at a team like Phoenix, the reason they don’t have turnovers is they’re launching ‘em. They’re letting it fly so they don’t have a chance to turn the ball over.”

Gilbert thinks we need to shot quicker? Really? That all our "crazy passing and ball movement" is generating too many turnovers? I thought it was Gilbert going 1 on 5 and dribbling into a crowd of defenders that was generating the turnovers - silly me.

The offense was so smooth in the Dallas game when the ball we actually moving around and Gilbert was doing an excellent job with his passing. What happened to that?

[doclinkin]

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/18179640?source=rss_blogs_NBA

Arenas said. “We’re trying to do the extra dribble, or get closer to the rim, or pass the ball an extra time when we could just take the first shot. If you look at a team like Phoenix, the reason they don’t have turnovers is they’re launching ‘em. They’re letting it fly so they don’t have a chance to turn the ball over.”

Gilbert thinks we need to shot quicker? Really? That all our "crazy passing and ball movement" is generating too many turnovers? I thought it was Gilbert going 1 on 5 and dribbling into a crowd of defenders that was generating the turnovers - silly me.

The offense was so smooth in the Dallas game when the ball we actually moving around and Gilbert was doing an excellent job with his passing. What happened to that?

Teams adjusted and now play Gilbert to drive instead of to shoot from near-earth orbit. Also, Gil is playing heavy minutes without rest and a ton of responsibility no reliable distributing back-ups in a system that funnels 80% of the plays through his hands, we become a one-man team at least in setting up the offense. Physical and mental fatigue begin to play a factor. Mental fatigue-- in a player who already puts a ton of pressure on himself and is noted to be superstitious etc-- is not inconsiderable since he plays best when his aura of confidence has been kindled to a billion candlepower incandescence of swag.

The increased responsibility adds pressure to a player who excelled best when he could play loosey goosey acting as an x-factor on a team that could at least rely on steady offense from it's 20/10 guy in Tawn, but now needs Gilbert to play well every game in order to win. And as far is Gil is concerned the primary measure of whether he is counted as a good 'leader' is tallied in the box score in his assist-to-turnover ratio for instance. or leastways that's what gets trotted about on the general board; and since we know Gilbert Senior reads the baords, he will likely let the young master know all about it. So if Gil passes a ball that is then dribbled or re-passed he doesn't register the dime. His assist was just pissed away. Leastways that's how it registers on the boxscore.

That said he's right, in part, that the offense is a timing thing, you run a pattern to get open, if you do the work then you will have a split second to release before the trailing defense arrives. But if you run a pattern then try to pull off a dribble drive to get closer because you don't trust your catch and shoot release, well then you just wasted your time and energy running that pattern.

That said the problem is fixed best by returning catch and shoot capable players like Jamison and Miller, and the ball movement aspect is similarly fixed since other players (and Gilbert) register dimes and look good if they can get the ball to a guy who actually finishes. This team always plays best when they score. The spring returns to the step.

Good chemistry requires the right elements, the right catalysts, the right mix, and in some cases time, heat, a spark, etc. This team is improving in key areas, I'm not too worried that they will be unable to score once they get back a couple players who can actually hit a shot or two. As for Caron, he may take a little while but both Flip and the team will adjust to magnify his skills. Flip altered sets for Latrell (reluctantly) also for Sammy. I have no doubt that, given his talents and the teams powerful need for production, that Flip will find a score that will feature Caron's particular riffs. It may be a good thing that right now we have little enough alternative, the sooner Flip can examine how to improve Caron's role, the better the whole team will look.

Returning Jamison to the court makes a major difference in allowing CB3 a back-up at SF, and the lack of guards means Caron by necessity may get bumped occasionally to a passing/decision-making role. He doesn't have the superlative handle or first step or speed, but he's canny as a court assassin, makes quick reads to set others up, and can damn sure run some of Sammy Cassell's old back-down sets in the midrange. The fact that Sam may have to practice with the squad can give an object lesson to remind Flip of a few forgotten pages in his playbook. A short bench means Flip has too few options not to get creative.

[Munson79rip]

Help appears to be on the way:

Jamison didn't practice on Thursday, sitting out with an illness. But he is expected to go full-contact on Friday for the first time since the season began. Saunders said he should be able to play on Saturday against Detroit. Mike Miller participated in non-contact drills and said if he is able to go full-contact on Friday, Miller might be able to suit up against the Pistons as well.



http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizard ... hings.html

[ZonkertheBrainless]

Well whoever asked that question of Gil posted a blog saying that the quote was taken completely out of context, it was a question specifically about turnovers and Gil was answering that specific question. When the offense provides you an opportunity you take it without hesitation, is what he's saying, don't sit there and think.

[LyricalRico]

It is absolutely grating to listen to any local media "heads" discuss the Wizards. I had to turn off the Sports Reporters (980) last night because they were talking with Consor about the Wiz and all of them were completely clueless. I can understand Andy and Czabe. But Consor is a basketball guy by trade and is paid to analyze the team on a nightly basis. Still, his whole argument was that this team didn't have any problems offensively but they weren't very good defensively yet because of injuries.

Huh? Pretty much all of us here would agree that this team has been above average defensively so far this season, while the offense has struggled to get going consistently. According to him, it's the reverse. He also attributed Gil's turnovers to teams making him to something he's not comfortable doing - dribbling the ball. WTF? How about that he has nobody to pass it to so he's forcing the issue? Or maybe fatigue since all of his backups are hurt? Did you think about that, Glen?!?!

I swear, the local media is woefully uninformed on any subject other than the Redskins - even the ones that are paid to follow certain teams. Heck, even Consor's takes on the Skins are better than his Wiz analysis. At least the Nats have Loverro, who's pretty knowledgeable and insighful. We Wiz fans desperately need somebody like that. Michael Lee at the Post is a start.

[dobrojim]

many years ago I actually thought Consor was intelligent (about hoops).
you grow, things change (or your view of them changes), you realize some
things that you believed were wrong.

[fishercob]

many years ago I actually thought Consor was intelligent (about hoops).
you grow, things change (or your view of them changes), you realize some
things that you believed were wrong.

Hard for me to dis Glenn because he's such a good guy. And keep in mind what his actual job is -- to provide entertainment. He's a good broadcaster and makes that show much better than just DJ alone. They've got a nice rapport. He played the game at a high level and has worked with some great people. His strengths are not the high level stats stuff thought, this is true.

I'll never forget when he told me before the draft whatever year that was that DOnyell Marshall was "another Pippen."

[nate33]

It is absolutely grating to listen to any local media "heads" discuss the Wizards. I had to turn off the Sports Reporters (980) last night because they were talking with Consor about the Wiz and all of them were completely clueless. I can understand Andy and Czabe. But Consor is a basketball guy by trade and is paid to analyze the team on a nightly basis. Still, his whole argument was that this team didn't have any problems offensively but they weren't very good defensively yet because of injuries.

Huh? Pretty much all of us here would agree that this team has been above average defensively so far this season, while the offense has struggled to get going consistently. According to him, it's the reverse. He also attributed Gil's turnovers to teams making him to something he's not comfortable doing - dribbling the ball. WTF? How about that he has nobody to pass it to so he's forcing the issue? Or maybe fatigue since all of his backups are hurt? Did you think about that, Glen?!?!

I swear, the local media is woefully uninformed on any subject other than the Redskins - even the ones that are paid to follow certain teams. Heck, even Consor's takes on the Skins are better than his Wiz analysis. At least the Nats have Loverro, who's pretty knowledgeable and insighful. We Wiz fans desperately need somebody like that. Michael Lee at the Post is a start.

It really is amazing. There are at least 10 guys on this message board who could provide better analysis of the Wizards than any media talking head. Hell, we've got 3 or 4 guys who don't even live in the Washington area that know more than the local media.

[doclinkin]

It is absolutely grating to listen to any local media "heads" discuss the Wizards. I had to turn off the Sports Reporters (980) last night because they were talking with Consor about the Wiz and all of them were completely clueless. I can understand Andy and Czabe. But Consor is a basketball guy by trade and is paid to analyze the team on a nightly basis. Still, his whole argument was that this team didn't have any problems offensively but they weren't very good defensively yet because of injuries.

Huh? Pretty much all of us here would agree that this team has been above average defensively so far this season, while the offense has struggled to get going consistently. According to him, it's the reverse. He also attributed Gil's turnovers to teams making him to something he's not comfortable doing - dribbling the ball. WTF? How about that he has nobody to pass it to so he's forcing the issue? Or maybe fatigue since all of his backups are hurt? Did you think about that, Glen?!?!

I swear, the local media is woefully uninformed on any subject other than the Redskins - even the ones that are paid to follow certain teams. Heck, even Consor's takes on the Skins are better than his Wiz analysis. At least the Nats have Loverro, who's pretty knowledgeable and insighful. We Wiz fans desperately need somebody like that. Michael Lee at the Post is a start.

Here's the good thing about Glenn. You can easily change his opinion by talking with him. If you make a good point he adds it to his usual spiel. He and Dave Johnson chat on the official blog all game every game even while they are broadcasting on radio. Questions you submit will often find their way into post-game interviews, they are about as close as you get to a direct pipeline to the coaching staff. And as polite and helpful as boy scouts. If you drop a stat on them they will mention it on air and give you credit. I prefer to leave their blog untainted by some of our more esoteric and passionate stat deconstructions, it's a fan site for the casual and excitable general public, I don't want to change the culture and intimidate enthusiastic fans with dismissive over-informed nerd arrogance. But it's worth it dropping a nugget of knowledge every now and again.

The Three Mikes get the job done locally, and I enjoy the collegial interplay between them, there's no ego-stroking posturing as there was with good old Ivan. Mike Jones, Mike Lee do solid reportage, and our baby boy Mike Prada does yoeman's work keeping the Bullets Forever site a locus of information while remaining accessible to the general public. Plus he lurks here and steals from the best.

But as far as other media? Even Mike Wilbon is a bloviating sack of ass gas. Tony Kornheiser is a good listen, but he couldn't form a basketball insight if it fell out his colon. And as for radio: nothing but 12 hours a day of unrelenting brain-shriveling Washington Whiteskins drivel.

Take that back and add another Mike: Mike Wise actually knows a bit about the game and is interested enough to talk about it.

[nate33]

Agreed. The four Mikes are solid. Everybody else is worthless.

[daSwami]

Consor is a shill. Nice guy, but he knows who signs his paycheck. I used to ride the Verizon Center elavator with him after every home game (when I was wheelchair bound). He loved to talk hoops with anyone. If memory serves, he did play pro ball in Israel, so he's got some knowledge of the game. but he rarely gets the opportunity to display it. He gets far too caught up in empty stats, and makes illogical statements like last year's refrain: "Remember, this team is playing without its all-NBA point guard Gilbert Arenas. Which means this team is missing 30 points of offense from its starting line-up." As if the Wizards are starting each game at -30, which even casual fans know is nonsense. but consor repeats it enough, i'm beginning to think he really believes it.

[fishercob]

Consor is a shill. Nice guy, but he knows who signs his paycheck. I used to ride the Verizon Center elavator with him after every home game (when I was wheelchair bound). He loved to talk hoops with anyone. If memory serves, he did play pro ball in Israel, so he's got some knowledge of the game. but he rarely gets the opportunity to display it. He gets far too caught up in empty stats, and makes illogical statements like last year's refrain: "Remember, this team is playing without its all-NBA point guard Gilbert Arenas. Which means this team is missing 30 points of offense from its starting line-up." As if the Wizards are starting each game at -30, which even casual fans know is nonsense. but consor repeats it enough, i'm beginning to think he really believes it.

He did play in Israel, but before Israeli hoops was what it is now. Was a four-year starter for Pitino at Boston University, and had a tryout with the Bullets.

[jimij]

From Mike Jones practice report where he interviewed Mike Miller:

"I feel alright," he said when asked how he felt after practice.

"It'll be playable," Miller added with a smile.

Playable?

"I’m good," came his reply.

When asked why rush back rather than take an extra game off and be ready Wednesday vs. Cleveland, Miller said, "We need a win. I’ll be all right. I'm not going to put myself in any jeopardy, I'll be fine."

"I was a little tired today, but that was to be expected. I’ll be fine," Miller said, trying his best to assure the questioning group of reporters. "I told Flip that I’ll be ready to play, if he feels I’m hurting the team, take me out. If not, I’ll be ready to play. My job is to play basketball. if they pay me to play basketball, that’s what they should expect, they should expect me to go out there and play. Until they tell me not to play I’m going to do it"

http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/outl ... ce-report/

Loving this guy. Screw Rubio, we absolutely need to re-sign him after the season.

[LyricalRico]

Loving this guy. Screw Rubio, we absolutely need to re-sign him after the season.

[DaRealHibachi]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... _too_much/

Guess we found out what's wrong with Gil... Let's see if Caron can find out what his problem is...

[20MexicanosIn1Van]

"I was a reactor. Now I find myself being a thinker. I'm sitting there concentrating on getting assists -- averaging eight assists, averaging nine assists -- because I want to be labeled a 'point guard.' You see the players out there, Chris Paul averaging 20 [points] and 10 [assists], and you know they consider him the best point guard. So you put that in your mind, like, 'Man, in this system I can average 20 and 10. Let me go average 20 and 10.' And then I catch myself trying to force it."

Thinking in basketball is good. The problem is he thinks too much of what people think of him as.

[miller31time]

It was fairly obvious since the start of the season that Gilbert is back physically. He can get into the lane at will and cross fools up like it's nobody's business. The problem is mental.

I want the old Gilbert back. Whether that means 7 3's a game or a bit of chuckery or some incredibly ill-advised shots....I don't care, so long as the old Gilbert is back.

We were one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league when Gilbert was "Agent Zero". I never wanted him to be a "pass-first point guard" because it's just not him and it it's not necessary. We didn't need to become more efficient on offense - we needed to become more effective on defense.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I've never coached anything more than an intramural sports team. I shouldn't be so quick to criticize Flip Saunders. That said, it seems to me to be common sense that a coach shouldn't try to change the identity of players to fit the coach's mentality or system.

I've been saying for a while now that Flip doesn't seem like a great coach for Arenas, Butler, Young, or McGee; and it's because IMO he's asking all of them to be something they are not.

[nate33]

Thinking in basketball is good. The problem is he thinks too much of what people think of him

Well said.

The good news, as miller31time pointed out, is that the problem is mostly mental. It's a long season. Hopefully, Arenas can put it all together after 20 or so games. We just need to win enough games to stay with the pack until then. Hopefully, Jamison's return will be a boost.