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I gotta say I liked it when we had Beal out there with Bertans and Mathews. That's gonna be tough for opponents to defend.

SUPERBALLMAN wrote:I don't think Robinson played either did he?

No he didn’t play tonight.

NatP4 wrote:Hypothesis: if you play Avdija, Bonga, and Mathews 30 minutes each, the game will be competitive, regardless of the opponent.

No. There are only 48 minutes in a game the last time I checked and five spots. Do you want to win games or be competitive. In no way, has Bonga shown he is deserved of playing 30 minutes per game. He is a 3, as is Deni and Matthews can play there (and Rui). He doesn't even look to the basket most of the game and doesn't play with a lot of intensity. You watch Wagner and Bonga, both German players. One guy is diving on the floor and the other guy is just there. If Bonga would consistently play as hard as Wagner, he'd get more time. That's why Matthews played more. Matthews is fine with the 20 he played. Deni shows flashes. They won by 21 tonight with him playing 19 minutes and he was a +3. Bertans also has to get at least 20-25 minutes per game and Rui about the same.

SUPERBALLMAN wrote:I gotta say I liked it when we had Beal out there with Bertans and Mathews. That's gonna be tough for opponents to defend.

Yes, I think it would also help Westbrook whenever he returns to play with those two instead of Ish and Robinson or Ish and Neto. Beal sometimes gets into that iso mode and with those guys on the floor, he can always kick it out instead of taking the tough shot when they send help to him. Even Lopez may not be Bryant, but he can set a mean high score and Wagner isn't a terrible three-point shooter.

80sballboy wrote:

NatP4 wrote:Hypothesis: if you play Avdija, Bonga, and Mathews 30 minutes each, the game will be competitive, regardless of the opponent.

No. There are only 48 minutes in a game the last time I checked and five spots. Do you want to win games or be competitive. In no way, has Bonga shown he is deserved of playing 30 minutes per game. He is a 3, as is Deni and Matthews can play there (and Rui). He doesn't even look to the basket most of the game and doesn't play with a lot of intensity. You watch Wagner and Bonga, both German players. One guy is diving on the floor and the other guy is just there. If Bonga would consistently play as hard as Wagner, he'd get more time. That's why Matthews played more. Matthews is fine with the 20 he played. Deni shows flashes. They won by 21 tonight with him playing 19 minutes and he was a +3. Bertans also has to get at least 20-25 minutes per game and Rui about the same.

It’s a hypothetical, obviously that won’t happen. Scott Brooks it the coach. Your evaluation of Bonga is just completely off though, this entire board would tell you that. Bonga should be playing atleast 30 minutes a night on this team.

I'm so happy for mathews


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nate33 wrote:

nate33 wrote:Mathews on/off differential must be +infinity. Basically, if he is on the court, the Wizards will outscore the competition. It's uncanny.

He should get a uniform with #8, only turn it sideways.

Nate as set-up man for his own jokes. Made me laugh

Y'all play better without Westbrook. Just sayin

long suffrin' boulez fan wrote:No Westbrook. No Robinson. Boom, good basketball

Recipe for sucess?

Kanyewest wrote:

NatP4 wrote:I’m waiting to judge Westbrook until I see him on the court with Mathews and Bertans

I think Westbrook can still be effective although perhaps he has to play fewer minutes in the short run when he comeback- significantly less than the 37 minutes he has been playing. That being said, I'm not sure if Brooks can navigate that sell to Westbrook although if this good play continues, maybe it will be easier to persuade him.

A tough, tough sell. I'd love to be able to listen in on that conversation if it ever happened. I just don't think Westbrook has reached a point where he can accept, essentially, that less of him, is more -- and there are not guarantees he'll be successful off the bench.

Hopefully this was the start of the Wizards finding a rotation that will make them competitive and a tough team to beat.

nate33 wrote:

NatP4 wrote:Defense looked much better without Bryant.

Sadly, it did....

Yeah, it really helps your defense when you score 68 points in the first half....

Now... I missed the first quarter in which Phoenix only managed 15 points. I think I'll go back and watch it. If, somehow (how...?), having Lopez instead of Bryant on the floor caused that miserable performance on their part, then there's something here to discuss.

Certainly Robin Lopez had a great night -- 7 offensive rebounds in 26 minutes! Wow...!!!

Pretty obvious in my opinion. The team doesn’t trust Bryant to protect the rim so they all over help on drives and leave shooters wide open. Last night, they stayed home and were able to limit the amount of open 3s. Lopez and Wagner also rebounded really well and boxed out all night. There were no easy layups, everything was contested in the paint. They also played a ton of zone and Phoenix had no idea how to attack it. They continued to try and run ball screens against it and it did not work. Playing Bonga and Mathews instead of Robinson and 3 PG lineups helps a ton. Rui also looked like he made a conscious effort to actually rebound for once.

And now apparently the wizards have two players in health and safety protocol after last night.

God Squad wrote:Y'all play better without Westbrook. Just sayin

Hopefully Brooks will manage Westbrick's minutes in a way that minimizes his drag on the team.

Due to health and safety protocols, Wizards practice has been cancelled today. 2 players fall under the covid guidelines...don't know who.

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payitforward wrote:

nate33 wrote:

NatP4 wrote:Defense looked much better without Bryant.

Sadly, it did....

Yeah, it really helps your defense when you score 68 points in the first half....

Now... I missed the first quarter in which Phoenix only managed 15 points. I think I'll go back and watch it. If, somehow (how...?), having Lopez instead of Bryant on the floor caused that miserable performance on their part, then there's something here to discuss.

Certainly Robin Lopez had a great night -- 7 offensive rebounds in 26 minutes! Wow...!!!

The Suns also missed some good looks from 3s that the other Wizard opponents were making. Perhaps Lopez's crazy hair is distracting shooters.

80sballboy wrote:

NatP4 wrote:Hypothesis: if you play Avdija, Bonga, and Mathews 30 minutes each, the game will be competitive, regardless of the opponent.

No. There are only 48 minutes in a game the last time I checked and five spots. Do you want to win games or be competitive....

To "be competitive" means "to win games". OTOH, a 3-8 record deserves to be called not being competitive.

80sballboy wrote:In no way, has Bonga shown he is deserved of playing 30 minutes per game....

Riiight... All Isaac Bonga is doing is shooting 75% on 2-pointers & 60% on 3-pointers. From where I sit that's pretty good. He's also getting @35% more rebounds than average for a 3.

80sballboy wrote:...He is a 3, as is Deni and Matthews can play there (and Rui).... Bertans also has to get at least 20-25 minutes per game....

Mathews makes perfect sense at the 2 not the 3. No, Rui cannot play the 3. Bertans is a 4 not a 3.

80sballboy wrote:...He doesn't even look to the basket most of the game....

It's always the same. How do we know a guy is good? Just check how many points he scores. No need to look any further.

80sballboy wrote:...Matthews is fine with the 20 he played. Deni shows flashes. They won by 21 tonight with him playing 19 minutes and he was a +3. Bertans also has to get at least 20-25 minutes per game and Rui about the same.

What does beating Phoenix last night have to do with anything? We also lost 8 of our previous 10 games.

But, you are right that the point is not "30 minutes." The point is that Bonga should play substantial minutes. As should Troy Brown Jr. for that matter. I assume you don't like him either, since you didn't even mention him!

In any case, your minute breakdown seems kind of irrelevant. Mathews should back up Beal, Rui & Bertans take care of the 48 minutes at PF. Deni needs to play 20+ minutes at the 3. The problem is how to use Troy Brown Jr.

Man, how stupid was declining Wagner’s option? He’s been one of the best players on the roster so far. Putting up great numbers. He’s been far better than Hachimura.

NatP4 wrote:Man, how stupid was declining Wagner’s option? He’s been one of the best players on the roster so far. Putting up great numbers. He’s been far better than Hachimura.

Ehhh. On my list of poor decisions this one is low. He was going to count 4M against the cap next year, and a backup 5 with defensive problems simply dont draw interested.
Alex Len, Giles, Kaminsky, etc. all show that.
I like Wagner a lot, but I dont see ANY team giving him more than 4M next year given the market.

WallToWall wrote:Due to health and safety protocols, Wizards practice has been cancelled today. 2 players fall under the covid guidelines...don't know who.

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They go by the names of Tank and Pingpong Balls.