GT #4: Wizards @ Lakers 10:30 PM (ESPN/NBCSW/1500 AM)

[FAH1223]

YOUR Washington Bullets ARE 3-0!

With the W over Denver, your Bullets are off to their best start since 2005!

They are in LA and will take on the young, improving Lakers led by Luke Walton. Lonzo Ball's play has been impressive after a rough first game. He's accumulated the most assists by a player in his first three games since John Wall in 2010.

To make things even more exciting, Lonzo's dad, LaVar Ball has said his son won't lose twice in a week and the Wizards should "beware". Gortat responded:

https://youtu.be/ohAUJtWhF9M

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Wall pledges no mercy

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Lonzo response

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Let's get this show started...



-------------------------VS-------------------------


LAST GAME:
Wizards @ Nuggets - 109-104 (W)
Pelicans @ Lakers - 119-112 (L)
Lineups:











Bench:

[TheBabyMaker]

Lakers have a **** team. They should of kept D'anlow But knowing the Wizards we (should win) but we don't blow nobody out. It's a 5 point game either way.

[MikeTheKid]

I just want a dominant win could care less about the Wall/Lonzo matchup

I'll be up late for this one

[NatP4]

hey look its cash considerations at backup PG for them!

[CobraCommander]

The one thing Lonzo does better that Wall- answer questions during an interview. You cant deny that Lonzo is poised in front of a microphone. I love how he answers the questions about his dad in a way that doesn’t embarrass his dad or give credence to any of the idiotic things his dad says. “I grew up with it...”,”i dont care about triple doubles I just want to win” , “i can play better...” , “we did some good things out there” and he gave props to D-Fox for being the fastest point guard he has faced...

But the truth is JWall gonna have to tourture Ball because Gortat spoke it into existence

[MikeTheKid]

hey look its cash considerations at backup PG for them!

I doubt he'll be there too much longer

[JWizmentality]

It should be illegal what Wall will do to Ball tonight.

Johnny hasn't even hit 2nd gear this season yet.

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[Ruzious]

The one thing Lonzo does better that Wall- answer questions during an interview. You cant deny that Lonzo is poised in front of a microphone. I love how he answers the questions about his dad in a way that doesn’t embarrass his dad or give credence to any of the idiotic things his dad says. “I grew up with it...”,”i dont care about triple doubles I just want to win” , “i can play better...” , “we did some good things out there” and he gave props to D-Fox for being the fastest point guard he has faced...

But the truth is JWall gonna have to tourture Ball because Gortat spoke it into existence

Gortat meant well, but... don't make comments your teammate has to back up - especially against a talented player who's going to have the entire arena rooting for him.

[montestewart]

The one thing Lonzo does better that Wall- answer questions during an interview. You cant deny that Lonzo is poised in front of a microphone. I love how he answers the questions about his dad in a way that doesn’t embarrass his dad or give credence to any of the idiotic things his dad says. “I grew up with it...”,”i dont care about triple doubles I just want to win” , “i can play better...” , “we did some good things out there” and he gave props to D-Fox for being the fastest point guard he has faced...

But the truth is JWall gonna have to tourture Ball because Gortat spoke it into existence

Gortat meant well, but... don't make comments your teammate has to back up - especially against a talented player who's going to have the entire arena rooting for him.

Agreed, but if Wall actually does that, another brick in the legend

[payitforward]

Agreed (with Ruz). It would have been better to defuse the situation w/ a humorous comment about Daddy Ball. There's really no upside for Wall or the Wizards in this.

If I were John Wall, I'd go over to Lonzo before the game & give him a big smile & hug & wish him well. Tell him he loves his game, etc. Would make John look great & dad look like a bozo -- as he should!

[queridiculo]

Trap game.

Can't let these guys get a sense that there's any other possible outcome other than a L right from the jump. Keep the game simple, don't let the Lakers get too many scoring opportunities in transition.

A bit worried about the bench matchups. Kuzma and Clarkson could end up being a mismatch, can't let those two go off and put the starters in a hole.

[payitforward]

..the truth is JWall gonna have to tourture Ball ...

... if Wall actually does that, another brick in the legend

You're kidding, right? If he makes a rookie look bad? He's supposed to make a rookie look bad. In fact, if he shows him up & it looks intentional, it'll be John who is tarnished.

Btw, what "legend?" John Wall is an outstanding NBA point guard -- an outstanding NBA player. Superstars have "legends" I guess. John Wall is not a superstar.

[montestewart]

..the truth is JWall gonna have to tourture Ball ...

... if Wall actually does that, another brick in the legend

You're kidding, right? If he makes a rookie look bad? He's supposed to make a rookie look bad. In fact, if he shows him up & it looks intentional, it'll be John who is tarnished.

Btw, what "legend?" John Wall is an outstanding NBA point guard -- an outstanding NBA player. Superstars have "legends" I guess. John Wall is not a superstar.

I never kid, and stop calling me Wright.

[Ruzious]

... if Wall actually does that, another brick in the legend

You're kidding, right? If he makes a rookie look bad? He's supposed to make a rookie look bad. In fact, if he shows him up & it looks intentional, it'll be John who is tarnished.

Btw, what "legend?" John Wall is an outstanding NBA point guard -- an outstanding NBA player. Superstars have "legends" I guess. John Wall is not a superstar.

I never kid, and stop calling me Wright.

Surely you jest. Kidd could handle the ball with the best of them. He was legendary.

[trast66]

Looking forward to this one, should be fun. Hoping the starters play defense in 1st half and get out to a lead.

Last year out there we were down double digits going into Q4 then Wall and Mahinmi carried us to the W.

[nuposse04]

Lopez always seems to give Gortat trouble.

I'm a little concerned how we will do on the boards. Randle could be effective off the bench if he is playing the 4 and outrebounding scott. Too bad he can't make a jumper consistently.

Lonzo Ball on defense is awful, dude doesn't have much lateral quickness.

[Ruzious]

Gotta say, the Lakers have a compelling young roster - kinda wierd that they got Bogut. Kuzma had a big game the other night. It'll be interesting to see if they play him and Nance together as bookend tweener forwards. And Ingram is starting to literally grow into an NBA player. Can we steal Josh Hart from them please? Looks like he's not going to be a rotation player for them unless they get a backcourt injury. This is the type of team that can beat anyone convincingly on any given night.

[Kanyewest]

Gotta say, the Lakers have a compelling young roster - kinda wierd that they got Bogut. Kuzma had a big game the other night. It'll be interesting to see if they play him and Nance together as bookend tweener forwards. And Ingram is starting to literally grow into an NBA player. Can we steal Josh Hart from them please? Looks like he's not going to be a rotation player for them unless they get a backcourt injury. This is the type of team that can beat anyone convincingly on any given night.

I saw him play a couple of minutes in the Suns game and he was pretty passive. But then against the Pelicans he had 5 points, 4 rebounds, and an assist in 15 minutes. And he was +21 when he was on the court.

[dlts20]

As a Wiz fan I honestly don't like this. If Wall wants to talk then fine but it's stupid to talk about what someone else is going to do. Now all the pressure shifts from Ball to Wall. If Ball does anything good or if Wall does anything bad then the team/arena will rally and Wall will feel more pressure. I could see Lonzo scoring over Wall/Gortat on a p&r play and Wall start bickering at Gortat when it wouldn't have happened before.

I think Lava talked about the Wiz and how Lonzo won't lose 2 in a row or play bad twice in a row. Gortat should have talked about the Wiz winning or stopping Ball instead of singling out Wall to crush him. I actually thought Wall was going to crush him this game but Gortat possibly made it more difficult and gave them bulletin board material.

Thats not even including the fact that they might try to hammer him now. What if Wall takes a beating because of what Gortat said. Stop feeding into Lavar. This is one of those times where Gortat should have just went to Wall, told John to torture him, and then talk publicly about it "after" the game instead of putting undo pressure on his teammate.

I know that it's different because he's a rookie but I'm sure that Gortat wouldn't like it if Wall said that Gortat is going to torture Cousins or something... Smh

[cammac]

Believe Wiz will go 4 & 0 after tonight while my Raptors face GS. They are still the best 2 teams in the East looking forward to 1st game against each other. Good luck tonight!