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Whenever I was watching wall in the playoffs or other wise it seems like he doesn't drive as much as he should considering he is the fastest point in the league

Now there are a few culprits for why he wouldn't try to get there AMAP

1. Handling ability?
2. Defenders playing off him?
3. Mentality?
4. Low explosiveness compared to top end speed? ( least likely IMO
5. Coaching?

I know he is unselfish and a wonderful distributor but it's weird when he chooses not to attack the rim so much.

Especially when vs the Knicks he was on the attack, not always getting an open shot but finding 3 men like crazy and getting to the line.

I'm just wondering why he doesn't utilize this as much as some other guards who are slower than him seem to do.


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Wall has a chronic problem with the sole of his foot. Some days are better than others, but basically the forces created by his forays to the basket peel the skin away. Think of it like the worst blister you've ever seen. After some games when he drives a lot, Wall has been seen literally wringing blood and pus out of his socks. It's painful, but he soldiers on. Just without as many drives to the basket as some might like.

Yes, it baffles us also. Then again, 82 games of Wall far better than 60 games of a beaten up Wall. I think PGs have to adjust their games, which is why he is trying to develop a jumpshot. Sure he can get inside the paint but he will probably get flattened in the process. See Derrick Rose.

Nivek wrote:Wall has a chronic problem with the sole of his foot. Some days are better than others, but basically the forces created by his forays to the basket peel the skin away. Think of it like the worst blister you've ever seen. After some games when he drives a lot, Wall has been seen literally wringing blood and pus out of his socks. It's painful, but he soldiers on. Just without as many drives to the basket as some might like.

Holy Mother Teresa dude, I was eating breakfast.

Analogous:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBxWtsLH40M[/youtube]

The 2 biggest culprits are:

1- Witt's system/philosophy is the same as Flip Saunders which is about shooting jumpers. Along with Cassell as an assistant, they encourage long 2's. I think there system also teaches to set screens in a different way. Alot of times our bigs set picks to get the ball back moreso then to free up the pg or to give him the advantage.

2- and probably the biggest right now is that Wall 99.9% of the time plays with 2 low post bigs who have limited range. There is no one to stretch the floor or open up the lane. I would give anything to see him get that. I think his talent would go through the roof. Alot of these PG's that people sweat not only play with one but 2 stretch guys, like the Suns did alot of last year. It changes everything for a PG being able to penetrate. Anything helps. Hump hasnt had 3pt range but he has longer range than Nene & Gortat so I think that will help Wall but IDK how often they will be on the floor together

RSCD3_ wrote:Whenever I was watching wall in the playoffs or other wise it seems like he doesn't drive as much as he should considering he is the fastest point in the league

Now there are a few culprits for why he wouldn't try to get there AMAP

1. Handling ability?
2. Defenders playing off him?
3. Mentality?
4. Low explosiveness compared to top end speed? ( least likely IMO
5. Coaching?

I know he is unselfish and a wonderful distributor but it's weird when he chooses not to attack the rim so much.

Especially when vs the Knicks he was on the attack, not always getting an open shot but finding 3 men like crazy and getting to the line.

I'm just wondering why he doesn't utilize this as much as some other guards who are slower than him seem to do.


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Mostly, I think last year was about health. He finally played 82 games. Driving a lot the way Wall does exposes him to injury. Now if he can learn to probe more like Parker, he can get some clean lanes for layup and not expose himself. But Parker getting those open lanes is also a function of Pops offense. We don't have Pops offense so the lanes are more clogged.

That said, Wall over passed last year. He would have some open lanes and he was just to fixed on dishing to the 3 in the corner. He would do that even when he was 3 feet from the basket.

As for this preseason. Again. Injury protection. He drove some later in the preseason to get warmed up and he did survive the preseason uninjured. Check. But he did hit the floor when he did it. With no Beal, we can't afford to have Wall injured.

I think that is the core of Walls driving. Its a calculation regarding injury. If they can win without him doing it to much, he won't. Why risk it. But he will use his speed to get down the floor and force teams to not commit extra men to offensive rebounding because they have to get back.

Ideally, we figure out a way to spread the floor more and the lanes are larger. Then he drives more. Safely.

dlts20 wrote:The 2 biggest culprits are:

1- Witt's system/philosophy is the same as Flip Saunders which is about shooting jumpers. Along with Cassell as an assistant, they encourage long 2's. I think there system also teaches to set screens in a different way. Alot of times our bigs set picks to get the ball back moreso then to free up the pg or to give him the advantage.

2- and probably the biggest right now is that Wall 99.9% of the time plays with 2 low post bigs who have limited range. There is no one to stretch the floor or open up the lane. I would give anything to see him get that. I think his talent would go through the roof. Alot of these PG's that people sweat not only play with one but 2 stretch guys, like the Suns did alot of last year. It changes everything for a PG being able to penetrate. Anything helps. Hump hasnt had 3pt range but he has longer range than Nene & Gortat so I think that will help Wall but IDK how often they will be on the floor together

I think #2 here is relevant. If Wall ever played with a stretch four, he'd have a field day. If you dig up the data on minutes played with Ariza at PF, the Wizards offense is off-the-charts good.

The other issue is that Wall has suspect range and is only a 3-point threat if he has a little wind up time. Opposing PG's can back off him, take away the drive, and just let him shoot the long 2.

two lost post bigs

hate the offense

People play off Wall and let him have the jumper.

Dark Faze wrote:two lost post bigs

Hmm, Seraphin and who else? I think they've done a decent job of getting rid of their lost post bigs.

It's a combination of things. But I think the biggest indicator is Wall's decision making. Last year, he still wasn't feeling the game at an optimal level. I recall several times where Wall would fire that jumper early in the shot clock when the Wizards were already in the process of running a play. There were also times when he would take bad angles on the pick and roll and end up driving slightly laterally, letting his defender push him out, instead of straight to the rim, forcing him into taking a stepback jumper.

RSCD3_ wrote:Whenever I was watching wall in the playoffs or other wise it seems like he doesn't drive as much as he should considering he is the fastest point in the league

Wall used to attach the rim more often, but was commonly dinged up by injury, only playing 49 games the year before last. Last year playing more cautiously he started all 93 games. Every year with his speed etc he's needed treatment for some injury, this past off season getting shockwave therapy and already resting one game in the preseason for tendinitis. I suspect he's looking to to stay healthy, period, as his first priority, having learned in part from the case study of fellow Kentucky alum DRose as well who also used to be a more headstrong player. Wall can't affect the game if he is on the bench, it seemed like it was killing him to watch.

Wall suffered from overconfidence trying to split the defense his first couple years. Scouts learned his tendencies and defenses learned to clog the lane, testing his iffy jumper. John on the attack suddenly racked up fouls, turnovers and contusions in bunches; worse yet he build a rep as a player too fast for his own good, in the media and ultimately refs who made it a self-fulfilling fact.

But most importantly given his questionable jumper John can only reasonably attack the lane if he gets out in front of the defense or if the team can spread the floor for him. Our Bigs are okay in the midrange (as so so jump shooters, and good screeners/pick and roll options) but we have never surrounded him with shooters at every position, which would emphasize his strength, give him options and clear the lanes for that speed to take best effect. And now two years in a row we have lost our best outside shooters (Trevor Ariza to free agency; Martell Webster to age and injury). I expect him to struggle in this unless and until one of a few things happen: he develops a deadly or at least reliable outside J; we land a true ranged threat as a stretch big; we develop Otto Porter, Rice, or somebody as a threat on the opposite wing; and Beal can stay healthy and finally breatkthrough to do consistently what he often flashes or threatens or promises.

His handle isn't as good as you probably think, combined with defenders giving him the jumper

And I thought this question was from a woman...
Oops.

Tom, I read the bible a lot and I am trying really hard to be a good man of God...

but I have to admit your thoughts and mine are along the same line. I didn't think basketball when I read the tread title, either. Really couldn't seriously entertain joining the discussion. John's a father, I know, already ...