Has John Wall Turned It Around?

[Mediocrity]

Let's be honest, Wall was horrible for most of the season so far. However, I do not know what has changed, but over the last 5 games he has been averaging:
24.4 PPG
8.4 APG
8.2 RPG
44% FG

I know that it has only been five games, but do you guys think that he has rebounded from that horrendous start? Everyone was believing that Wall was a bust and that his rookie year was overrated, but I always thought that he was going to be a top 2 PG. He has all the physical tools, and the fact that he can average 7.5 APG for the year with this squad is a feat within itself.

[7-Day Dray]

I think he has. He's been attacking more and looks a little more confident in himself. A couple of ames after the slow start, he was being real passive and trying to play in the flow of the offense, basically letting his teammates do everything.

He still has a lot of flaws that might be exposed against great defensive teams, but he's been playing MUCH better lately. There's no doubt in my mind he would average a double-double with a better team.

[theboomking]

Too early to tell. I actually expect Wall to fall back a bit tonight against the Sixers. If I had to guess, I would say that I don't expect Wall to average 24, 8 and 8 over the rest of the season, but I do expect him to look better than he did as a rookie and in the beginning of this season.

I think the biggest difference in Wall over the last 5 games is just that he has a better understanding of who he is playing with, and what his role on the team as currently constructed should be.

[nate33]

In the Celtics game, I saw Wall make a very nice change-of-pace hesitation move to get to the basket. I also saw him make a floater. Those are very encouraging signs. He's starting to beat the opposition with skill, not just athleticism.

[fishercob]

In the Celtics game, I saw Wall make a very nice change-of-pace hesitation move to get to the basket. I also saw him make a floater. Those are very encouraging signs. He's starting to beat the opposition with skill, not just athleticism.

Saw that too, nate. That actually got me off the couch for a second.

[Ruzious]

As I said in his tough times, the only problem he's had that I'd be at all concerned about is his shooting - which was always likely to improve. I might add to that the amount of times he falls on his back - as I remember when TJ Ford's career was severely damaged when he landed poorly on his tailbone one time. Wall is built a lot stronger to take falls like that, but it's tempting fate a bit to keep taking so many falls. It'd be nice if someone else on the team would step up defensively and take some of the offensive fouls that he draws.

[Jay81]

the fact that he is still struggling a bit..has crappy teammates and continues to flirt with triple doubles is a testament to his amazing talent and athletic abilities.

He needs to finish better and just be able to hit a basic open jumper and get better teammates who can actually convert some of his nice passes

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

In the Celtics game, I saw Wall make a very nice change-of-pace hesitation move to get to the basket. I also saw him make a floater. Those are very encouraging signs. He's starting to beat the opposition with skill, not just athleticism.

Saw that too, nate. That actually got me off the couch for a second.

I only saw a few minutes of the game. So, that was one OHY. What was his overall WTF-OHY ratio?

[tontoz]

The shot that surprised me is the shot he banked very high off the glass to avoid the block. He hardly ever does that.

[sfam]

Fans were giving up on Wall WAY too fast. He hasn't turned it around, because that implies he was in great decline or something. The man just hit a rough patch, as did the team as a whole. Worse, the entire league hit a rough patch. Even top tier players like Dirk and Pierce came in to the season out of shape because nobody believed there was going to be a season. Bottom line, very few people developed their game this offseason (McGee should really be commended as someone who did).

Perhaps I'm an outlier, but I think Wall is still on pace to be an All-Star. I still think he develops a shot in a year or so, and, baring serious injury, within a few years becomes near unstoppable.

[JonathanJoseph]

Fans were giving up on Wall WAY too fast. He hasn't turned it around, because that implies he was in great decline or something. The man just hit a rough patch, as did the team as a whole. Worse, the entire league hit a rough patch. Even top tier players like Dirk and Pierce came in to the season out of shape because nobody believed there was going to be a season. Bottom line, very few people developed their game this offseason (McGee should really be commended as someone who did).

Perhaps I'm an outlier, but I think Wall is still on pace to be an All-Star. I still think he develops a shot in a year or so, and, baring serious injury, within a few years becomes near unstoppable.

That brings some interesting context to the conversation. If the consensus is that after his recent improvement he might be an all-star then isn't that a problem, since he's being given franchise cornerstone treatment? Franchise cornerstones are not "might be" all-stars.

Leaving the superstar PGs out of it and allowing for continued improvement is Wall going to be better than Ricky Rubio or Kyrie Irving or Brandon Knight? How about guys like Brandon Jennings, Kyle Lowry and Ty Lawson?

[LyricalRico]

That brings some interesting context to the conversation. If the consensus is that after his recent improvement he might be an all-star then isn't that a problem, since he's being given franchise cornerstone treatment? Franchise cornerstones are not "might be" all-stars.

My feelings are along the same lines, although probably not as strong as yours. Still, if we can get the Wall we've seen recently to show up every night for the next 5-7 years, it'll be good for this organization. I'd love to have that version of Wall as the third fiddle in a Big Three, which is nothing to sneeze at.

[GhostsOfGil]

That brings some interesting context to the conversation. If the consensus is that after his recent improvement he might be an all-star then isn't that a problem, since he's being given franchise cornerstone treatment? Franchise cornerstones are not "might be" all-stars.

My feelings are along the same lines, although probably not as strong as yours. Still, if we can get the Wall we've seen recently to show up every night for the next 5-7 years, it'll be good for this organization. I'd love to have that version of Wall as the third fiddle in a Big Three, which is nothing to sneeze at.

If Wall ends up averaging 24 8 and 8 as a third fiddle in a big three I expect not 5, not 6, but 7 championships!

[montestewart]

Pretty much sounds like Wall's ceiling won't be much higher than Jason Kidd. I doubt he'll ever be much more than an MVP runner up, and he'll likely never be the undisputed top dog on a multiple NBA champion. But he might surprise me.

[LyricalRico]

That brings some interesting context to the conversation. If the consensus is that after his recent improvement he might be an all-star then isn't that a problem, since he's being given franchise cornerstone treatment? Franchise cornerstones are not "might be" all-stars.

My feelings are along the same lines, although probably not as strong as yours. Still, if we can get the Wall we've seen recently to show up every night for the next 5-7 years, it'll be good for this organization. I'd love to have that version of Wall as the third fiddle in a Big Three, which is nothing to sneeze at.

If Wall ends up averaging 24 8 and 8 as a third fiddle in a big three I expect not 5, not 6, but 7 championships!

Well, I wasn't talking so much about the stats as the more under control style of play. If he's got two stars around him, his stats will probably be more like 18pts, 5rbs, 9asts since he won't have the pressure to do as much (essentially the PG equivalent of Bosh's numbers in Miami).

[theboomking]

24, 8 and 8 isn't, "might" be an All Star level. Just assume that Wall won't continue to rebound like this, because he won't. If Wall scores 23ppg, dishes out 8 assists, and grabs 5.5 rebounds, and defends well, he is unquestionably an All Star and well on his way to being a franchis cornerstone. How many players in the NBA have put up 23 & 8 & 5 while also playing defense in the last 5 years?

Pretty much sounds like Wall's ceiling won't be much higher than Jason Kidd. I doubt he'll ever be much more than an MVP runner up, and he'll likely never be the undisputed top dog on a multiple NBA champion. But he might surprise me.

Ahem. I think we'd all take MVP runner up.

[sfam]

Fans were giving up on Wall WAY too fast. He hasn't turned it around, because that implies he was in great decline or something. The man just hit a rough patch, as did the team as a whole. Worse, the entire league hit a rough patch. Even top tier players like Dirk and Pierce came in to the season out of shape because nobody believed there was going to be a season. Bottom line, very few people developed their game this offseason (McGee should really be commended as someone who did).

Perhaps I'm an outlier, but I think Wall is still on pace to be an All-Star. I still think he develops a shot in a year or so, and, baring serious injury, within a few years becomes near unstoppable.

That brings some interesting context to the conversation. If the consensus is that after his recent improvement he might be an all-star then isn't that a problem, since he's being given franchise cornerstone treatment? Franchise cornerstones are not "might be" all-stars.

Leaving the superstar PGs out of it and allowing for continued improvement is Wall going to be better than Ricky Rubio or Kyrie Irving or Brandon Knight? How about guys like Brandon Jennings, Kyle Lowry and Ty Lawson?

Well again, my contention is Wall has stayed on pace to be an All-Star. My point was that many were panicking that he might not be. So no, I see no problem here - those still panicking see a problem. As for where Wall ends up, I'd guess its somewhere near Rose, perhaps a tad south of that. So yeah, runner up MVP.


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[hands11]

Let's be honest, Wall was horrible for most of the season so far. However, I do not know what has changed, but over the last 5 games he has been averaging:
24.4 PPG
8.4 APG
8.2 RPG
44% FG

I know that it has only been five games, but do you guys think that he has rebounded from that horrendous start? Everyone was believing that Wall was a bust and that his rookie year was overrated, but I always thought that he was going to be a top 2 PG. He has all the physical tools, and the fact that he can average 7.5 APG for the year with this squad is a feat within itself.

When he plays all one speed, forces drives, jack shots he shouldn't be taking, tries to do it all himself and play disinterested, that is when he plays bad.

His problems where all between his ears and experience. Like a lot of players on this team. Bust or not was always up to him.

[Jay81]

“@BulletsForever: MT @JohnCTownsend: Wall is the only NBA player averaging at least 16 points, 7 assists, 5 rebs, 1 steal, and 1 block per game this season.”

[tontoz]

“@BulletsForever: MT @JohnCTownsend: Wall is the only NBA player averaging at least 16 points, 7 assists, 5 rebs, 1 steal, and 1 block per game this season.”

Fools gold