Game 54: WIZ (20-33) vs CAVS (14-40) Fri, 2/21 @ 7 PM ET

[Meliorus]

Beal had an impossibly bad game.

[nate33]

Looking at the shot chart, the Wizards are 13-60 on shots outside of the restricted area.

And that includes our hot start of 7/12 from 3.

They were 6-40 from outside the restricted area after the 1st quarter. They made just 6 shots that weren't dunks or layups.

[miller31time]

Looking at the shot chart, the Wizards are 13-60 on shots outside of the restricted area.

And that includes our hot start of 7/12 from 3.

They were 6-40 from outside the restricted area after the 1st quarter. They made just 6 shots that weren't dunks or layups.

[nate33]

I'm not even that mad about the game.

It's a long season. There are a handful of outlier games every year where you shoot so bad that it's impossible to win, or you shoot so well that it's impossible to lose. This was one of those games.

And it wasn't just Beal.

[DCZards]

Beal missed open midrange jumpers that he typically makes at about a 60% rate. Those are the shots you want him to take. Just a bad shooting night for BB. It happens.

[Kanyewest]

Cavs got their win after firing their head coach (I remember the Wizards getting a blow out after Flip Saunders was fired) but it is probably going to cost the Wizards a playoff spot down the road which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[gambitx777]

The boys had a bad night. It would be nice if we got a.play off run. But I doubt we make it. Now we gonna steal a win to make up for it.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[DANNYLANDOVER]

Well, that should end all talk of making the playoffs. Beal needs to go back in the lab and work on his jumpshots.

[Eli Babak]

Smith & Beal went 11/40, ugh. Wiz also had just 11 turnovers (Cavs 21). Ugly L.

[BigA]

I mostly checked out at some point in the 3rd quarter but had the game on with sound off. I would look at the TV once in awhile, and every time there was a Wizards shot clanging off the rim. Actually surprised that they were able to keep a lead until right near the end.

[nate33]

Well, that should end all talk of making the playoffs. Beal needs to go back in the lab and work on his jumpshots.

What's interesting is that he's not even shooting all that poorly from midrange. His midrange shooting percentage are right in line with the peak of his career. Indeed his long 2 percentage is the 2nd best of his career (behind only his 2016-17, which was the last year he played alongside a healthy John Wall for an entire season).



It's his 3-point percentage that's down. Way down.

[dckingsfan]

Drew Gooden is a dork, but he's kind of growing on me.

Yeah, he still isn't growing on me, he is too sophomoric for my tastes ... I am warming to Justin Kutcher.

[Ruzious]

Beal and Ish combined put up the worst jump shooting display from a starting backcourt that I've ever seen. Thompson got away with some hacks at the end, but that's not why the Wiz lost.

[dckingsfan]

Yeah, Ish's TS% of .208 probably won't get it done on most nights. That was always the knock on him...

I also thought that dividing up the minutes ~ 16ea for C wasn't such a bright move. And when your star player can't hit the broadside of a barn, don't play him near to 35 minutes.

[tontoz]

Beal missed 19 shots (nobody else attempted more than 13) and had 6 turnovers..... against the Cavs. He was awful.

I turned the game off in disgust during the 2nd half. Beal was dribbling way too much trying to play hero ball. Move the dam ball.

[smoothSeph]

Beal missed 19 shots (nobody else attempted more than 13) and had 6 turnovers..... against the Cavs. He was awful.

I turned the game off in disgust during the 2nd half. Beal was dribbling way too much trying to play hero ball. Move the dam ball.

When are we gonna talk about Rui starting out hot and getting zero looks in the 2nd half??? Happens over and over again. Never realized Beal's ego was this big.

[WallToWall]

Well, that should end all talk of making the playoffs. Beal needs to go back in the lab and work on his jumpshots.

What's interesting is that he's not even shooting all that poorly from midrange. His midrange shooting percentage are right in line with the peak of his career. Indeed his long 2 percentage is the 2nd best of his career (behind only his 2016-17, which was the last year he played alongside a healthy John Wall for an entire season).



It's his 3-point percentage that's down. Way down.

I wish there were a good way to tell how many of those 3ptrs were shot with <5 seconds on the shot clock.

[nate33]

Beal missed 19 shots (nobody else attempted more than 13) and had 6 turnovers..... against the Cavs. He was awful.

I turned the game off in disgust during the 2nd half. Beal was dribbling way too much trying to play hero ball. Move the dam ball.

When are we gonna talk about Rui starting out hot and getting zero looks in the 2nd half??? Happens over and over again. Never realized Beal's ego was this big.

I maintain that nearly all of Beal's shots were real good looks. Beal is a shooter and is totally capable of getting red hot in 2nd half after being ice cold in the 1st. You don't know your next shot is going to miss until you miss it.

I get frustrated as the next guy when Beal plays hero ball and forces bad, contested shots; but I really don't think he did so in this game. Nearly all of his looks were open.

[tontoz]

Beal missed 19 shots (nobody else attempted more than 13) and had 6 turnovers..... against the Cavs. He was awful.

I turned the game off in disgust during the 2nd half. Beal was dribbling way too much trying to play hero ball. Move the dam ball.

When are we gonna talk about Rui starting out hot and getting zero looks in the 2nd half??? Happens over and over again. Never realized Beal's ego was this big.

I maintain that nearly all of Beal's shots were real good looks. Beal is a shooter and is totally capable of getting red hot in 2nd half after being ice cold in the 1st. You don't know your next shot is going to miss until you miss it.

I get frustrated as the next guy when Beal plays hero ball and forces bad, contested shots; but I really don't think he did so in this game. Nearly all of his looks were open.

When you have to take over 5 dribbles to get open that is a problem unless you are an elite player, which Beal isn't. He is much better off, and so is the team, playing within the flow of the offense.

[nate33]

When are we gonna talk about Rui starting out hot and getting zero looks in the 2nd half??? Happens over and over again. Never realized Beal's ego was this big.

I maintain that nearly all of Beal's shots were real good looks. Beal is a shooter and is totally capable of getting red hot in 2nd half after being ice cold in the 1st. You don't know your next shot is going to miss until you miss it.

I get frustrated as the next guy when Beal plays hero ball and forces bad, contested shots; but I really don't think he did so in this game. Nearly all of his looks were open.

When you have to take over 5 dribbles to get open that is a problem unless you are an elite player, which Beal isn't. He is much better off, and so is the team, playing within the flow of the offense.

Agree to disagree.

I hate hero-ball Beal as much as the next guy. And Beal was real frustrating back in December when he was really forcing things. But ever since he sat out a few games due to injury in January, I think he has been pretty good about taking good shots. He has averaged 32 points a game on a .618 TS% over the last 15 games prior to last night. And he did that despite shooting just .339 from 3-point range, so it's not like he is being buoyed by unsustainable shooting. He is taking good shots and getting to the line. Last night, the shots just weren't dropping.