RealGM

While I didn't anticipate the Cavs would struggle quite as much as they have lately, I very much thought that tonights matchup on national television would be between the two best teams in the East.

Instead it's basically the story of two seasons.

Boston overachieving after a crucial blow to start the year and Washington being on the opposite end of the spectrum looking like a contender one game and lottery bound the next.

Since losing Wall to knee surgery something strange has happened for Washington though.

They are finally playing with the kind of focus and effort you'd expect from a team that envisions itself as the best team the Eastern conference has to offer.

The things that have kept them from being in the conversation as being in the top tier now appear to be second nature.

Washington is moving the rock on offense, they're not killing themselves with careless turnovers and coupled with their improved shot selection they have been giving themselves more opportunities to make their effort defending in the half-court count.

Who knows whether that's going to be enough against a tough Boston team but if the past six games are any indication, at least we won't have to worry about their approach in what seems like the first back to back appearance on national television in a decade.

Go 'zards!

The Celtics are very good defensively you can't be #1 in the NBA without!
But they do have injuries and the rookies have hit the rookie wall and they can't score!
Washington is destined to be #3 in the East a good time to show it put the same effort they did against the Raptors!
Your win and Raptors win tonight would be sweet.

Say what you want about John, but out of all the star-studded PG matchups, he has his best against Kyrie. Not having him tonight will really hurt. I don’t expect us to win tonight, unfortunately.

Also, wild how we got back-to-back TNT matchups.

ClutchDJ wrote:Say what you want about John, but out of all the star-studded PG matchups, he has his best against Kyrie. Not having him tonight will really hurt. I don’t expect us to win tonight, unfortunately.

Also, wild how we got back-to-back TNT matchups.

Agreed. Wall does poorly against some guys, like Payton and Schroder, and he's not particularly noteworthy in defending guys like Curry or Westbrook, but he has done consistently well against Kyrie, at least as far as I can recall.

It was always Lebron that killed us when we played Cleveland, not Kyrie.

We're playing on TNT? That's a sure L.

FAH1223 wrote:We're playing on TNT? That's a sure L.

0-2 so far this season. Last win on TNT was toward the end of the 2016-17 season against Detroit, without John Wall.

FAH1223 wrote:We're playing on TNT? That's a sure L.

So Gortat is going to be playing tonight??!!!



I had my doubts yesterday.

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

So the entire #EverybodyEats crew returns????



No horrible trade By Ernie Grunfeld....

Prayers answered!

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

queridiculo wrote:

While I didn't anticipate the Cavs would struggle quite as much as they have lately, I very much thought that tonights matchup on national television would be between the two best teams in the East.

Instead it's basically the story of two seasons.

Boston overachieving after a crucial blow to start the year and Washington being on the opposite end of the spectrum looking like a contender one game and lottery bound the next.

Since losing Wall to knee surgery something strange has happened for Washington though.

They are finally playing with the kind of focus and effort you'd expect from a team that envisions itself as the best team the Eastern conference has to offer.

The things that have kept them from being in the conversation as being in the top tier now appear to be second nature.

Washington is moving the rock on offense, they're not killing themselves with careless turnovers and coupled with their improved shot selection they have been giving themselves more opportunities to make their effort defending in the half-court count.

Who knows whether that's going to be enough against a tough Boston team but if the past six games are any indication, at least we won't have to worry about their approach in what seems like the first back to back appearance on national television in a decade.

Go 'zards!

It should be very competitive game and I expect the Wizards will win.

If Washington plays the way it did the first five games Wall was out; then Boston can play their best but the Wizards can still beat them... I think.

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

cammac wrote:The Celtics are very good defensively you can't be #1 in the NBA without!
But they do have injuries and the rookies have hit the rookie wall and they can't score!
Washington is destined to be #3 in the East a good time to show it put the same effort they did against the Raptors!
Your win and Raptors win tonight would be sweet.

Thanks

Washington may not move the ball like during the 5-game streak. Scotty plays Tim instead of Tomas. I can't figure out why. The head coach matters. Generally, Brad Stevens owns Scott Brooks.

We shall see what happens tonight.

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

ClutchDJ wrote:Say what you want about John, but out of all the star-studded PG matchups, he has his best against Kyrie. Not having him tonight will really hurt. I don’t expect us to win tonight, unfortunately.

Also, wild how we got back-to-back TNT matchups.

I recall Tomas Satoransky frustrating the hell out of Russell Westbrook.

I don't see why he cannot do the same thing to Kyrie Irving. He's way too big for Kyrie to cover. If the Wizards move the basketball they will force Kyrie to defend outside of his comfort level.

I think their chances are probably better without Wall playing.



Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

queridiculo wrote:

While I didn't anticipate the Cavs would struggle quite as much as they have lately, I very much thought that tonights matchup on national television would be between the two best teams in the East.

Instead it's basically the story of two seasons.

Boston overachieving after a crucial blow to start the year and Washington being on the opposite end of the spectrum looking like a contender one game and lottery bound the next.

Since losing Wall to knee surgery something strange has happened for Washington though.

They are finally playing with the kind of focus and effort you'd expect from a team that envisions itself as the best team the Eastern conference has to offer.

The things that have kept them from being in the conversation as being in the top tier now appear to be second nature.

Washington is moving the rock on offense, they're not killing themselves with careless turnovers and coupled with their improved shot selection they have been giving themselves more opportunities to make their effort defending in the half-court count.

Who knows whether that's going to be enough against a tough Boston team but if the past six games are any indication, at least we won't have to worry about their approach in what seems like the first back to back appearance on national television in a decade.

Go 'zards!

If they move the rock and do not turn it over and rebound well they should have a pretty good game.

I could see them blowing Boston out, honestly.

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

Kanyewest wrote:

FAH1223 wrote:We're playing on TNT? That's a sure L.

0-2 so far this season. Last win on TNT was toward the end of the 2016-17 season against Detroit, without John Wall.

Cleveland lost eight straight nationally televised games with LeBron. They finally beat (somebody) yesterday with LeBron playing like a hero in a great way.

Washington should win in my opinion.

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

nate33 wrote:

ClutchDJ wrote:Say what you want about John, but out of all the star-studded PG matchups, he has his best against Kyrie. Not having him tonight will really hurt. I don’t expect us to win tonight, unfortunately.

Also, wild how we got back-to-back TNT matchups.

Agreed. Wall does poorly against some guys, like Payton and Schroder, and he's not particularly noteworthy in defending guys like Curry or Westbrook, but he has done consistently well against Kyrie, at least as far as I can recall.

It was always Lebron that killed us when we played Cleveland, not Kyrie.

Yup.

Hopefully, Sato doesn’t fall for any of Kyrie’s crossover ball-fakes & just remain patient. That’s one reason why John is able to contain Kyrie when guarding him. Sato has the length, just hope he stays calm against the best ball-handler in the league.

Porter needs to outplay Tatum. Curious how Sato does against Kyrie. He has faired well against PGs who have tried to either out-quick him or out-power him... Kyrie is a different type of player. Physically he doesn't have anything going for him but his handles allow him to create space to get the shots he wants. Gotta stay discipline and not buy on the pump fakes.

Is Irving even playing tonight? Injury report lists him as day-to-day, still dealing with that strained quad.

Ted looks good.

The TNT camera cutaway of Ted Leonsis and Bradley Beal talking to each other made me feel good.

"My man!" I think is what Beal tweeted to Mr Leonsis. Or it was the other way around...

Barkley made the joke that Bradley was saying "we're better without John Wall". When former players make those kind of jokes you have to take it kind of seriously. They know what they're saying and they're saying it for a reason...

I think leonsis was probably telling Bradley Beal not to try to do too much even though he's on national TV



Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]

I am surprised that the board is so dead.

Sent from my [device_name] using [url]RealGM mobile app[/url]