GT #16: HEAT @ Wizards 7 PM (NBCSW/980 AM)

[nate33]

Nobody wants to be the hero, but are you serious with Gibson at the nail or the foul line in the zone? He had to take that shot. KP just standing there doing nothing.

It seemed to me during the middle of the game that several of our players turned
down a number of decent looks, like nobody had confidence and was willing to
take the blame if they missed.

Agreed. Sphincters were tighter than Fort Knox throughout the fourth quarter. Everybody was short arming wide-open shots, particularly Porzingis. Basically, they knew it was an embarrassment for Miami to even be in the game, and by the end, they were just playing scared, trying not to lose rather than trying to win.

[SA37]

Nobody wants to be the hero, but are you serious with Gibson at the nail or the foul line in the zone? He had to take that shot. KP just standing there doing nothing.

It seemed to me during the middle of the game that several of our players turned
down a number of decent looks, like nobody had confidence and was willing to
take the blame if they missed.

Agreed. Sphincters were tighter than Fort Knox throughout the fourth quarter. Everybody was short arming wide-open shots, particularly Porzingis. Basically, they knew it was an embarrassment for Miami to even be in the game, and by the end, they were just playing scared, trying not to lose rather than trying to win.

[badinage]

Beal had 8 assists last night…and is leading the team in assists for the season. He had some sloppy turnovers last night but overall his TOS are down from last season.

BB was 5-9 on threes. For the season he is shooting almost 38% on 3s…a significant improvement from last season.

Beal was a +10 last night.

If the team had better PG play I’m sure we’d see less of Beal at PG…and fewer TOs. That would be best for team…as well as best for BB.

8 assists and 7 turnovers ain’t a winning formula. And turnovers aside, it is how Beal kills our offensive flow, the ball stops moving. As I said, compare the last 2 games to the previous 4: chalk and cheese!!!

I don’t single out Beal for the problems with ball movement. The bottom line is that Miami was playing a zone defense and Wes did a lousy job of attacking it. Attacking a zone defense is a team wide issue. It’s not about a single point guard.

So true.

Btw, I’ll never understand why the NBA allowed zone defenses, after decades and decades of being staunchly against.

Can someone explain?

[dobrojim]

the good stuff

https://www.bulletsforever.com/2022/11/19/23467441/wizards-eke-out-win-against-decimated-heat

[Wizraeli]

Btw, I’ll never understand why the NBA allowed zone defenses, after decades and decades of being staunchly against.

Can someone explain?

To stop "boring" players like Duncan and Shaq in favor of players like Kobe, Iverson and Allen, just a theory, in the early 2000s the league looked for its next "Jordan" and big guys slowly working the paint and forcing the other team to double and triple team them was maybe thought as much less attractive, also the international play started to catch up and NBA players was not accustomed to play against zones in international tournaments, I don't remember if the zone was allowed before or after the 2002 world championship where the US only won 6th place, but it was somewhere at that time.

[DCZards]

Not buying the narrative that there's less ball movement because of BB. It doesn't meet either the eye test or the #s.

Here are the assist #s for the 4 games without Brad:
Char. -- 21
Dallas -- 25
Utah -- 27
Memphis -- 26

Here are the assist #s for the last 2 games with Brad:
OKC -- 32
Miami --- 33

[barelyawake]

Nah, ball movement has been horrible with Brad in control. Kuz, Rui and even KP become disinterested because they know their role is merely to touch the ball and give it back to Brad. Our most effective selves are when Brad doesn’t touch the ball until the last 10 seconds or so. Kuz running the offense isn’t good, but it’s better. That said, I still have my fingers crossed for Davis and/or a trade before trade deadline.

[Kanyewest]

To stop "boring" players like Duncan and Shaq in favor of players like Kobe, Iverson and Allen, just a theory, in the early 2000s the league looked for its next "Jordan" and big guys slowly working the paint and forcing the other team to double and triple team them was maybe thought as much less attractive, also the international play started to catch up and NBA players was not accustomed to play against zones in international tournaments, I don't remember if the zone was allowed before or after the 2002 world championship where the US only won 6th place, but it was somewhere at that time.

The zone defense change came right after 2001 Lakers team that couldn't stop Shaq when they went 15-1 in the playoffs. I think the change came slightly before that world championship.

From a NY Times article.

Proponents of the rule, such as Jerry Colangelo, were worried about where the game was heading. According to Colangelo, the game didn’t have “any fluidity… There [was] less ball movement and less player movement than there’s ever been.”

[AFM]

I’ve never seen a crowd so quiet and uninterested when they’re team is up 1 in overtime.

Wiz fans have experienced so much trauma over the years they always root scared,
just waiting for something bad to happen.

Just waiting for Michael Ruffin to toss the ball in the air

[Kanyewest]

Weird stat of the day.

The Wizards are 2-1 in the games where Beal has 5 turnovers over more - with an average margin of victory of 1.5 points - both of those games the opposing team missed a jumper to win the game (Heat and Bulls). The loss was an overtime loss to the Cavs. All those games were toss ups

In the games where Beal has 1 turnover or less, the Wizards are 1-3. Could have easily been 2-2 if the Wizards held on to win against OKC. 2 blowout losses to the Celtics and Nets with the win coming against the 76ers.

[Kanyewest]

Beal had 8 assists last night…and is leading the team in assists for the season. He had some sloppy turnovers last night but overall his TOS are down from last season.

BB was 5-9 on threes. For the season he is shooting almost 38% on 3s…a significant improvement from last season.

Beal was a +10 last night.

If the team had better PG play I’m sure we’d see less of Beal at PG…and fewer TOs. That would be best for team…as well as best for BB.

8 assists and 7 turnovers ain’t a winning formula. And turnovers aside, it is how Beal kills our offensive flow, the ball stops moving. As I said, compare the last 2 games to the previous 4: chalk and cheese!!!

I don’t single out Beal for the problems with ball movement. The bottom line is that Miami was playing a zone defense and Wes did a lousy job of attacking it. Attacking a zone defense is a team wide issue. It’s not about a single point guard.

I also don't think Miami's zone defense is that easy to attack. They've given teams like the Bucks, Celtics, and Lakers fits in the playoffs. While missing Bam and Jimmy Butler may have slightly hurt Miami's defense, it also may be significantly better without Tyler Herro.

[AFM]

It seemed to me during the middle of the game that several of our players turned
down a number of decent looks, like nobody had confidence and was willing to
take the blame if they missed.

Agreed. Sphincters were tighter than Fort Knox throughout the fourth quarter. Everybody was short arming wide-open shots, particularly Porzingis. Basically, they knew it was an embarrassment for Miami to even be in the game, and by the end, they were just playing scared, trying not to lose rather than trying to win.

Nice to know what’s on Nate’s mind on a Saturday morning.