Round 2, Game 2: GET GREEDY! Wizards @ Pacers 7 PM TNT 5/7

[hands11]

3:20, we're down one point after a great pick and roll play by Wall and Gortat, and from that point on Walls decision making turned to ****.

The three point attempt with a fresh clock after an offensive board was awful, and the three from the corner with Nene all by himself under the basket was just as bad.

Then to compound, he tries to be the hero and turns the ball over.

Didn't care for Beal's three point attempt either, but at least he was relatively open, not a good shot to take in that situation though.

Not a good performance down the stretch.

Yeah, and I had to make a comment right before the last 3 minutes on how impressed I was with their composure, especially the young guys. Then the inexperience came out and they sh** all over themselves.

Not sure if he could squeeze that in that but yeah.. I say that and thought that was the pass that Wall would make.

He really did have a great game. He was making the right pass, pulling it back up, etc all game.

I was shocked he make those 3 bad plays so close together.

I was talking to the TV ... John... why... what are you doing. It just didn't make any sense after how well he managed the game. I'm sure he will own it in the post game interviews. And I'm sure his teammates will cover for him and say no, it wasn't Johns fault. He played great.

Why ? Because that the kind of team they are.

I expect them to come on first quarter next game on a mission because I have some to expect nothing less from this team.

[tontoz]

Wall getting to the foul line only twice is a problem, especially since his jumper has been off for awhile.

But the rest of the team missed 7 foul shots, Nene going 0-4. Winnable game that they let slip away.

[Illmatic12]

If Wall doesn't change his playing style next game, it's going to say a lot about who he is as a player.

[queridiculo]

One more thing, that missed dunk at the end of the half turned out to be a pretty big deal too.

Every possession counts, Wall has done such a great job taking that to heart so far, frustrating to see him lose his head down the stretch.

[dobrojim]

Wall needs to fricken earn his Max salary. Lance wasn't afraid to shoot when he had to.

If were Randy I wouldn't let John close-out games if he was sucking all game. Totally winnable game tonight if Wall was even average tonight.

Wall's problem wasn't being afraid. It was lack of discretion at times and shot selection at other times.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

It must be a lot of bandwagon fans here...considering wall has been playing tremendous all playoffs...i dont expect wall to be an efficient scorer...i do expect him to be an effective playmaker and he's been doing that for the last 7 games...Yea he missed the 3's but that's ok...He hit all his freethrows he only had 1 turnover to 9 assists...i can't get mad at wall...i can ask nene to hit his freethrows

No one is saying that Wall hasn't played good in his first run in the playoffs, what many of us are saying is that it wouldn't be that difficult for him to be much better with some adjustments. It's not Wall's efficiency that bothers me, it's how he is approaching getting his own shot opportunities. He's been given some good opportunities to take it to the rack, but doesn't seem to have interest in doing so. When he does drive it seems that he's not even looking to score but to pass. In these first two games he's had quite a few good looks in driving only to sometimes elect for a more difficult pass. We've lucked out so far and many players have converted those, but by doing that he's self checking himself and not making Hill work on the defensive end. Him driving to the rim for his own shot, make or miss, makes us better. He draws a ton of attention, it sucks the defense in, and opens up three point shooters and gives chances for offensive put backs. To make things worse, when he is passive for three and a half quarters, when we need him to make some big shoots, he's completely cold and out of rhythm. No one is asking that he be overtly aggressive either, just balanced and play to what the defense is giving you. Long twos, especially with the slump he's in at the moment, are as good as turnovers.

[dobrojim]

Wall getting to the foul line only twice is a problem, especially since his jumper has been off for awhile.

But the rest of the team missed 7 foul shots, Nene going 0-4. Winnable game that they let slip away.

especially when you consider that fouls drawn might have been against
Hibbert who we didn't attack.

[dlts20]

first Gil and now Wall. Im sick of having mentally weak, front running Superstars. I dont mind us losing at some point in these playoffs but Ill be super po'd if we do it with Wall never ever regaining his scoring touch because I think if we had that then we could win every game

[hands11]

If Nene splits his free throws this is a different game, and you to expect Beal to make his free throws from the line as well.

The lack of attempts in general though is a concern.

Something to think about, the Pacers needed 18 makes on 21 attempts to keep pace with us on offense in a low scoring affair.

We can't bail them out by sending them to the free-throw line, and conversely we have to try to be more aggressive and get to the line.

I'm also a bit worried how easy it was for Hibbert to get to his spot on the blocks. When he's that close to the basket it's impossible to defend him, you have to give him different looks, and battle him for post position.

I want to see them front Hibbert, double him on occasion, throw different defenders at him etc.

You've got to make him think down there, you can just let him hold the ball for 5 seconds while sets up his move.

Hard to guard a 7-2 dude that was

1) Hot
2) Walking
3) Hooking
4) Getting tons of calls from the refs and not getting called for jack.

They did eventually adjust the D. They also shut down PG again though which was big.

It was a very winnable game. One the road. A game that IND had to win over the series was over. That they lost by 4. If not for the above and...

Wall brain fart
Better FT shooting
And the refs being pure suck

They would have won by 10 plus.

Now they have something to work on and get hungry over. And the home court refs should be better then this butt wipes.

FT shooting ? Got no answer for Nene's FT shooting. It has never been good. Not sure why something can't teach him to put some arch on the ball.

[dckingsfan]

One more thing, that missed dunk at the end of the half turned out to be a pretty big deal too.

Every possession counts, Wall has done such a great job taking that to heart so far, frustrating to see him lose his head down the stretch.

Every possession, every shot, every game has to be valued... mess up a possession or two, it costs you a game and that can cost you a series.

[FAH1223]

Not surprising

Long jumpshots

No action towards the basket

John needs to wake up and realize his shot isn't on and he needs to get to the line.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

If Nene splits his free throws this is a different game, and you to expect Beal to make his free throws from the line as well.

The lack of attempts in general though is a concern.

Something to think about, the Pacers needed 18 makes on 21 attempts to keep pace with us on offense in a low scoring affair.

We can't bail them out by sending them to the free-throw line, and conversely we have to try to be more aggressive and get to the line.

I'm also a bit worried how easy it was for Hibbert to get to his spot on the blocks. When he's that close to the basket it's impossible to defend him, you have to give him different looks, and battle him for post position.

I want to see them front Hibbert, double him on occasion, throw different defenders at him etc.

You've got to make him think down there, you can just let him hold the ball for 5 seconds while sets up his move.

Going back and looking at this game there's a ton of things you could say cost us the game. Wall's missed dunk before halftime, a couple more free throw makes, Trevor sinking that pretty good look from three after Miller won the tap, that Beal turnover that was looking to be a good attempt for Gortat who was rolling to the rim, two rushed threes by Beal and Wall down the stretch (that Wall three after the offensive board was one of very few horrific plays we've had this postseason), Hill's strip on Wall, and the list goes on. That's probably the most frustrating thing about tonight, that a make or two more and a stop and we'd have been in good shape and could have gone up 2-0 going hime. But maybe in a way it's a good thing, we've had a lot of things go our way this postseason, so maybe some adversity is good in the long run. No reason to get down on ourselves, I though we played great in game 1 (the score didn't do that win justice) and I think we played good enough to win game 2 against a desperate team, the ball just didn't roll our way, that's basketball.

[Illmatic12]

Wall has no feel for the game in crunchtime.. he needs to watch film of hmiself and see how dumb he looks

[closg00]

Wall needs to fricken earn his Max salary. Lance wasn't afraid to shoot when he had to.

If were Randy I wouldn't let John close-out games if he was sucking all game. Totally winnable game tonight if Wall was even average tonight.

Wall's problem wasn't being afraid. It was lack of discretion at times and shot selection at other times.

John scored 6 points tonight. Down-the-stretch John can be too deferential because he isn't a dagger shooter.

[dlts20]

Wall has no feel for the game in crunchtime.. he needs to watch film of hmiself and see how dumb he looks

he's good in crunchtime when he's shot solid but if he's bricking everything then he freezes in crunch time because teams play him to score and he doesnt want to shoot

[Illmatic12]

Wall has no feel for the game in crunchtime.. he needs to watch film of hmiself and see how dumb he looks

he's good in crunchtime when he's shot solid but if he's bricking everything then he freezes in crunch time because teams play him to score and he doesnt want to shoot

He is probably the streakiest shooter in the entire league, at least of any All-Star caliber player.

His jumpshot cannot be relied upon at all. Then he always gets too much in his head and starts trying to force it. I know he's young but it's painful watching some of the things he does.


If he can improve his shot, all of this will go away. Watch Cp3 and Parker in crunchtime, if they have an open shot they just dribble into it and knock it down

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Lost a very winnable game.

John's decision making down the stretch was bad, but gawd Randy. When the team is out of synch, call a dang timeout and call a play.

[Darko Miliminutes]

Watching Ariza and Beal be the hero's might have been tough for wall, especially Beal. Wall wanted to be the hero... i get it. That was your 1 time to be a hero ball idiot mr. wall. Young backcourt, live and learn, yada yada yada.

Late in the games their needs to be no more Wall early clock jumpers, no more Beal running the point. This is the playoffs. Play to strengths!! You don't get to lose many games that you should've/could've won. Indy can get out of their slump in a split second. They are a great team. This could prove very costly.

Do not let your young backcourt be idiots again, coach!

[Jay81]

wall is in a terrible shooting slump dating back 2 monts

last 4 games

4-15
2-13
7-19
4-14

17-61 from our max player

[Illmatic12]

Wall's postgame interview:

http://www.monumentalnetwork.com/videos ... ame-5-7-14

"I feel like I lost this game for my team"


Respect