We need to go back to last years style of play

[Sluggerface]

Its not working. We don't have the roster to do this--we're getting gouged every night.

I'd seriously have tried Oubre at the 3 and Porter at the 4 by now, and its a lineup I called for at the beginning of the season. Simply put, if you run that up and down offense, its the best chance you've got right now because Dudley isn't in shape or in condition atm.

We're getting gouged every night because the team can't understand the golden rule when it comes to playing efficient basketball.

Taking care of the **** ball.

It doesn't matter who you put on the court. If our lead ball-handlers (Wall/Beal) can't secure the ball at a freaking league average level the team is basically gifting 10-20 free points to the other team. It doesn't matter if it's dudley/oubre/porter/freaking blair at the 4. You can't win turning the ball over on +20% of the teams possessions.

[TheSecretWeapon]

I might write about this tomorrow, but I think at least some of the turnover issue is the emphasis on playing fast. There's zero research showing a correlation between pace and efficiency. "Fast" isn't good or bad -- it's just fast. There's no problem with going fast, if the players can play fast while also being under control. The John Wooden maxim comes to mind: "Be quick, but never hurry."

[TheSecretWeapon]

Just for the heck of it, I ran some quick numbers on the relationship between pace and efficiency so far this season. Basically, about 8% of the variation in offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) can be explained by pace. About 3% of the variation in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). Overall, less than 1% of variation in scoring margin can be explained by pace. Small sample size sure, but these numbers are basically the same for SEASONS worth of data.

[payitforward]

I'm not sure it makes much difference which offense we use, seeing as the sky is falling.

Yeah, isn't that more of a defensive issue?

[Ruzious]

I'm not sure it makes much difference which offense we use, seeing as the sky is falling.

Yeah, isn't that more of a defensive issue?

No, it's "This guy is fouling." It's just an internet accent thing.

[Rafael122]

Just the eye test, I know stats say otherwise but playing Hump with Gortat, two guys who aren't known for our defense is somewhat killing us. Hump can't guard Millsap, he's not going to guard Ibaka tomorrow night. Nene made up for a lot of Gortat's defensive shortcomings, IMO. If only Nene practiced shooting the 3 ball too. If felt like Atlanta was killing us running the same play over and over, leaving guys open for corner 3s. And I kept yelling at the TV saying "why are we double teaming?" Why are we double teaming Horford, and Paul Millsap

[Hidden Eye]

What Nene brings Humphries has to add to his skillset, Nene couldn't shoot the 3 but could rebound,box out, had a good first dribble drive, post up, pass and Defend. Humphries has to be a better defender and add more variety to his offense.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Biggest issue with Humphries is how slooooowwwwww he does things. He's caught a significant number of passes for open threes, but his process of shooting the ball is so glacial that defenders are on him. Then he tries that dribble-drive thing, and that's glacial too.

[gtn130]

Just for the heck of it, I ran some quick numbers on the relationship between pace and efficiency so far this season. Basically, about 8% of the variation in offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) can be explained by pace. About 3% of the variation in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). Overall, less than 1% of variation in scoring margin can be explained by pace. Small sample size sure, but these numbers are basically the same for SEASONS worth of data.

When Wall is sprinting down the court it likely creates more space by virtue of the fact that nobody is set.

Also, if Washington actually has an edge on offense this year then maximizing their number of offensive possessions is advantageous. The Suns played their seven seconds or less offense primarily for that reason -- they wanted more offensive possessions.

[tontoz]

So far this season we are 15th in the league in 3 pt attempts (27th last year) and 13th in 3 point percentage (9th last year). We are averaging 2 more made 3s per game.

So they are shooting more 3s but it doesn't seem like it is make any difference since they are turning it over so much.

[gtn130]

It's also a bit of a no-brainer to get Wall out and running. We have the fastest player on the court. Maybe we should have him, you know, like run?

[gtn130]

So far this season we are 15th in the league in 3 pt attempts (27th last year) and 13th in 3 point percentage (9th last year). We are averaging 2 more made 3s per game.

So they are shooting more 3s but it doesn't seem like it is make any difference since they are turning it over so much.

We're six games in. The turnovers are unsustainable bad.

[Induveca]

When teams press you the answer isn't to go faster......especially in half court sets. It's causing the turnovers.

We don't have a leader willing to slow down the game when needed by holding the ball and barking out instructions. Nene or Pierce did so routinely last year.

The Humphries experiment is a waste of time.

[gtn130]

When teams press you the answer isn't to go faster......especially in half court sets. It's causing the turnovers.

We don't have a leader willing to slow down the game when needed by holding the ball and barking out instructions. Nene or Pierce did so routinely last year.

The Humphries experiment is a waste of time.

They're playing at nearly the exact same pace as Golden State.

[DCZards]

When teams press you the answer isn't to go faster......especially in half court sets. It's causing the turnovers.

We don't have a leader willing to slow down the game when needed by holding the ball and barking out instructions. Nene or Pierce did so routinely last year.

The Humphries experiment is a waste of time.

The Zards have a leader willing--and able--to slow down the game, John Wall. However, the new offense stresses rapid ball movement, even in the half court offense. I think that's a big part of the reason for those rushed passes that end up being turnovers.

I agree on Hump. I give him big props for becoming a better 3 pt showing, but asking him to become a S4 is a lot like they're trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. And as TSW points out, Hump is very slooowww in all of his oncourt actions and movements...other than rebounding which is his top skill, that's wasted by playing him on the perimeter.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

So far this season we are 15th in the league in 3 pt attempts (27th last year) and 13th in 3 point percentage (9th last year). We are averaging 2 more made 3s per game.

So they are shooting more 3s but it doesn't seem like it is make any difference since they are turning it over so much.

Right now, "Lost in Space" is what they're playing IMO.

They've seemingly lost interest in playing sound defense and in making sound, fundamental plays.

A baseball analogy would be they're swinging for the fence all the time. Striking out more. Swinging at bad pitches. Pridefully forsaking walks, they want glory or bust.

[Dark Faze]

I wouldn't say its a lack of interest. The bad defense is coming from easy scores off turnovers, increased fatigue from our main ball handlers who are playing faster, and a serious degradation in our front court defense with the switch to Hump and the increased reliance on Gooden.

Acquire a backup center to play with Nene off the bench, start Oubre at the 3 and Porter at the 4. The starting unit is perfect for Oubre even as a rookie--run hard and defend. Spot up. That's it.

It's the only tandem we have to be able to defend at this pace with the starters. Dudley will be able to work once he gets in shape possibly.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Just for the heck of it, I ran some quick numbers on the relationship between pace and efficiency so far this season. Basically, about 8% of the variation in offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) can be explained by pace. About 3% of the variation in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). Overall, less than 1% of variation in scoring margin can be explained by pace. Small sample size sure, but these numbers are basically the same for SEASONS worth of data.

When Wall is sprinting down the court it likely creates more space by virtue of the fact that nobody is set.

Also, if Washington actually has an edge on offense this year then maximizing their number of offensive possessions is advantageous. The Suns played their seven seconds or less offense primarily for that reason -- they wanted more offensive possessions.

There's no advantage if the additional possessions are turnovers. IF Washington gains advantage by playing at a faster pace, they should do so -- obviously. As I mentioned in my season preview (and in the post above the one you quoted), there's no evidence showing that playing fast causes a team to be better on offense (or defense). Good offensive teams play fast, but so do bad ones and mediocre ones. Good offensive teams play slow, but so do bad ones and mediocre ones.

"Playing fast" is a stupid goal because it has nothing to do with winning. A team should play at a pace where it can be efficient on offense and defense.

[TheSecretWeapon]

It's also a bit of a no-brainer to get Wall out and running. We have the fastest player on the court. Maybe we should have him, you know, like run?

Wall should run when it's advantageous to run. The fact that he's fast doesn't necessarily mean it's advantageous for the Wizards to play at a fast pace. Again -- play at a tempo that allows the TEAM to be efficient because it's efficiency that wins.

[TheSecretWeapon]

When teams press you the answer isn't to go faster......especially in half court sets. It's causing the turnovers.

We don't have a leader willing to slow down the game when needed by holding the ball and barking out instructions. Nene or Pierce did so routinely last year.

The Humphries experiment is a waste of time.

They're playing at nearly the exact same pace as Golden State.

They don't have Golden State's personnel.