Game Thread Wizard @ Boston 1/2/09

[hands11]

At what point does Ernie become responsible for this mess?

It's not a mess. We didn't have AB, BH or GA against Boston coming home from a west coast trip.

This looked a lot worse then it really was and this one blow out doesn't change what Tapps/EG are doing with this team and its goals. We have been playing well lately. This counts as one loss and it was pretty much baked in the cake that it was going to happen. No surprise. If Blatche is healthy, I expect a much better game against Cleveland ( they just lost Z ) and maybe a win.

Look, who really thought we stood a chance with

Boston returning home after a rough west coast trip for some home cooking and refs in their back pockets. You know they would play well.

Plus......

Blatche going down in the first - we are just to thin at C to loose him. No AB or Wood - No Win
CB coming back after 4 games off and starting. - Disagreed with him starting but not surprised.
AJ playing maybe his worst game of the year shooting 6-20 in 32 minutes missing shots he makes.

I knew the score of the game before I watched it and still watched the whole game. I took some positives from the game and didn't have a major issue with Tapps line ups, coaching and the plays of most of the players. For a blow out, I saw some good things.

There was good news that will actually help us against Cleveland and beyond.

1 - CB returned and looked mobile. Ankle seemed fine after worries of his MRI.

2 - NY played 17 mins and scored 15 pts. He drove. He dunked. He..ah.. still made a stupid 1 on 4 fast break shot but over all it he played better then he has and since I think NY is Tapps next #1 issue to handle ( he is mental ), this was great to see. Kid needs to find his 3 ball because we need it.

3 - Crit got extended burn. 21 minutes with DS out ( back injury ? ). I would say he has officially been taken out of the gift box. It seems he has leaned enough to be put on the floor at times. This was the best he has looked. 4 rebounds, 4 assist 3-4 from the line 1-2 from the field.

4 - Blatche - That rolled ankled looked really bad but he came back and looked like he was moving around a lot better then I thought he would be able to do. Just seeing that was great. Even better was that they pulled him because there must have been discomfort even though he could run the floor and looked fine to me. Hopefully he gets treatment and is ok.

5 - We didn't give up - even when we were way down I was still seeing some good plays and player hustling. It was actually hard to believe we were down 25 because it just didn't feel like it given some of the things I was seeing on the floor. We had 81 shots to there 74 but they were 12-20 from 3. That made it a bigger blow out then it felt like watching it. And even with 28 FTA to their 18, the refs still let Boston get away with a lot of fouls but I expected that coming into the game.


Not so good.
McGee still looks really awkward on the floor..except when he alley opps which is super sweet. He thinks he is a 7-0 George Gervin. He needs to grow into his body and play stronger on offense. He didn't get any help from the refs on that one close shot he was clobbered by Perkins. Right now he plays more like a SF which is exciting to see he is that kind of athlete. Maybe later we can play him some with Haywood at PF but we need him to be a center first and foremost so he has a lot of work to do.

OP - Stewie is such a Stewie. He also got no help from the refs but he needs to shot from somewhere other then the 3 line. Dude, it's nice you can shoot from out there but your 7-0 and your first name isn't Dirk. I liked it better when he scored from inside. He shot 3 3's in 10 minutes. Hit 1. hist

DMAC couldn't stop PP. At all. PP was 9-10 5-6 from 3
James couldn't do anything to stop Rondo

These last two things bothered me the most. Also Crit couldn't guard house but he is new. That is excusable.

But I liked how Tapps lined them up and coached them in a blow out. He did what a good coach should do in that situation. He got his younger players time without allowing it to become disorganized like we used to see when EFJ would empty the bench. They got some productive time in the court the way Tapps did it.

It was one loss. They still aren't folding the tent just yet. Hopefully Blatche is OK and with him ok, CB back, and AJ waking up tomorrow and forgetting this ever happened, Crit more usable, NY working out of his slump, they will be a better team heading home to play Cleveland..... which was a bigger game all along once this got out of control. Revenge for the game the refs stool from us.

We pretty much know this one was a loss anyway so no biggy.

[hands11]

We arent beating big teams like that without Haywood..especially without Haywood and Arenas...BUT ESPECIALLY without Haywood, Arenas AND Blatche.

Crittenton looks pretty good.

I miss Haywood.

That is pretty much it, only I would just say without Haywood and Blatche cuz we kind of beat them twice last year in a back to back without GA and then another time with him.

They are big and strong in the post. Haywood is the key if you want a good chance but without Haywood, Blatche and another vet big was key if you want any chance.

With
Perkins 6-10 280
KG 6-11 253
Big Baby 6-9 290

You have to have more then
McGee raw rookie, DSONG and Etan playing center.

You need at least Haywood and Blatche but at a mio you need Etan and Blatche.

This is why I suggested that as our starting line up. I think it was our only real chance so Etan could play Perkins, AB on KG, CB on PP, AJ or DMAC on Allen, James on Rondo

But with no Blatche, there was no chance.

[spaceman_E]

[quote="hands11"]
DMAC couldn't stop PP. At all. PP was 9-10 5-6 from 3
quote]

Butler was guarding Pierce the entire time. I don't know why we didn't switch Mcguire onto him, especially with CB being hobbled a bit. I'm guessing either Butler had too much pride not to man Pierce, or Tapps was trying to protect Dmac.

Oh, and we were also without Stevenson tonight. That makes about 4 of our top 7 players missing. NY also played the 3 for the first time that I can remember. I imagine because him and critter were in together and can be pretty wreckless at times, prompting Taps to put the vet Dixon in with them.

[hands11]

DMAC couldn't stop PP. At all. PP was 9-10 5-6 from 3
quote]

Butler was guarding Pierce the entire time. I don't know why we didn't switch Mcguire onto him, especially with CB being hobbled a bit. I'm guessing either Butler had too much pride not to man Pierce, or Tapps was trying to protect Dmac.

Oh, and we were also without Stevenson tonight. That makes about 4 of our top 7 players missing. NY also played the 3 for the first time that I can remember. I imagine because him and critter were in together and can be pretty wreckless at times, prompting Taps to put the vet Dixon in with them.

I thought I saw DMAC on him more then a few times but I could be wrong. Back to the tapes to confirm.

edited. - Spaceman -" Butler was guarding Pierce the entire time."

OK Spaceman. That was not the case. I watched to first half again. CB was on PP for the first 2 possessions. Maybe about 2 mins. PP didn't score once. Then they put DMAC on him and he covered him he rest of the half. All the PP pts were scored on DMAC and others in transition or on a switch. CB was on Ray Allen.

CB only got scored on twice in the half and both were on switch pick n roll plays were he ended up on Perkins who scored. Once early in the first and second later in the second when he fouled him on a made layup. Only 5 pts can be assigned to CB in the half.

A lot of our problems were

- The refs sucked the first quarter mostly. Perkins should have been on the bench in foul trouble.
- AJ couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but shot a tone. He usually hits open shots.
- No one could hit a wide open shot - AJ and James mostly
- DMAC couldn't cover PP
- James and Crit couldn't cover Rondo or House
- No luck. CB missed a end of first quarter 3 by .2 seconds.

It was actually a competitive game the first quarter and they played ok the first half but the score didn't show it.

[spaceman_E]

Agree to disagree Hands. What I really meant was the entire time I saw. I watched the entire game, although not paying full attention but I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't numerous times, at least 4 where Pierce was being guarded by Butler and he scored on him with ease. Maybe DMac started on Pierce and they had already switched off, but Butler fared no better. Either way though, tonight was much more a case of Pierce just being red hot and not the man guarding him. Usually when you see a guy go 9-10 it's a PF getting all dunks but Pierce hit 5 3's and at least 1 other long jumper so he earned his points tonight. Tip of the cap to him.

[hands11]

Agree to disagree Hands. What I really meant was the entire time I saw. I watched the entire game, although not paying full attention but I wouldn't have said it if it wasn't numerous times, at least 4 where Pierce was being guarded by Butler and he scored on him with ease. Maybe DMac started on Pierce and they had already switched off, but Butler fared no better. Either way though, tonight was much more a case of Pierce just being red hot and not the man guarding him. Usually when you see a guy go 9-10 it's a PF getting all dunks but Pierce hit 5 3's and at least 1 other long jumper so he earned his points tonight. Tip of the cap to him.

Cool. But just so you know I did go back and watch the entire first half just watching to see who was covering PP on each play and what I said is what happened. CB wasn't on him except 2 time to start the game then once later. Actually the one time he did get switched on him later, he forced PP to not shoot so he passed to big baby who didn't cut and it was a turnover.

PP didn't score on PP even once the first half and CB was only scored on twice on pick and rolls for a total of 5 pts by Perkins.

[hands11]

Ok, since I did go back to watch the half over again, I jotted down some notes. Again, this wasn't as ugly as it looked. AJ was ice cold and missing shots he usually makes and the refs missed a lot of calls in the first quarter. Perkins should have been on the bench in foul trouble. But beside all of that, loosing Blatche gave us no chance for a come back in the 2nd half. They just have to many post player for us to cover. But it would have been easier with Perkins on the bench where he belonged with all his fouls.

CB scored on by Perkins in pick and roll 2pts
James misses wide open 3
James beat on drive by Rondo - lay up
Blatche hammered by Perkins on put back - no call shooting foul lets say he goes 1-2 +1
AJ missed wide open 3
PP blows by DMAC for layup
Rondo travel under basket - jumps on a pump fake - no call -2
CB 0-2 FTs - that doesn't happen much lets say he goes 1-2 +1

At this point it is 6-8 - If Blatche only hits 1-2 FT, CB 1-2 FT, Rondo travel -2, and one of James or AJ hits a wide open 3, then Wiz +5 Bos -2

Score 6-8
(Adj) Wiz +5 Bos -2, Perkins has his 1st foul.
(Adj) Score 11-6

Blatche finger roll on nice move - fouled by Ray Allen who bodied him 2 pts but should have been +1
James misses 2nd wide open 3, 0-2
Blatche turns ankle on James's foot

Score 8-13
(Adj Wiz +6 Bos -2) added the and +1 for AB but didn't add anything for James 2nd wide open 3.
(Adj) Score 14-11 Perkins has his 1st foul. Allen has 1 foul


CB 0-2 Fts again - This is crazy. He is now 0-4 from the line. Let say he hits 1-2 +1
McGee in for Blatche. Fouled by Perkin on the body but called a block. Perkins should have 2 fouls now and McGee at the line for 2 Fts. Say he hit 1-2 if he made it there. +1
AJ misses wide open 3 again 0-2
McGee looses ball under hoop. Rookie mistake. Score is still only 10-15
AJ fouled by Perkins under hoop - no call. Perkins should have 3 fouls and be on the bench plus AJ at the line for 2 FTs. Say he makes 1-2 +1
AJ misses easy floating layup
CB hammers under hoop by Perkins - they called this one - finally. Could have been a flagrant. Hard foul. Perkins has now fouled 4 times. We are still in the quarter. All 4 missed.
AJ forces drive and misses - he is starting to force things now.
CB hit a 3 from half court but .2 seconds to late. +3

End of first.
Score is 14-28
(Adj Wiz +6 Bos -2) - gave CB the +3, +1 FT, McGee +1 FT, AJ +1 FT, AJ 1 shot about of 2 he usually makes +2
(Adj Wiz +14 Bos -2)
(Adj) Score 28-26 - Perkins 3 or 4 fouls. Allen has 1 foul

Perkins should be on the bench with at least 3 fouls. He actually committed 4 fouls.

So that is to end the first. I was pretty conservative wtih giving the Wizarrds extra point. Only counted 50% of FTs and allowed for below average or normally made shots.

28-26 with Perkins in foul trouble would have been a very different first quarter and it's what you need on the road. You have to survive the first quarter. Boston would have been pressing more after a crappy last 3 games.

The refs got a little better once it was a blow out but here is more of what happened.

[hands11]

2nd Quarter
Powel fouled under hoop 2pts +1 1-1 from line. There was no foul. -1
CB reverse layup fouled by Big Baby - No Call should be +1
AJ fouled - missed both FT 0-2 let say he make 1-2 +1
NY misses wide open 3
DSong blocks Powel twice back to back under hoop. Very nice.
NY splits the D and drives for a dunk - sweet move

score 20-39
(adj) Wiz +16 Bos -3) -1 powel, +1 CB, AJ +1
(adj) 36-36

Allen blows by James layup
AJ finally hits from the outside
House hit open 3 on Crit
AJ misses another easy close shot
AJ misses another wide open 3
Tony Allen blows by James layup
Tony Allen blows by Dixon layup
AJ misses another wide open shot
James misses open 2pt shot
AJ forces shot on fast break missed
AJ fouled by Perkins under hoop - Perkins should have 5 fouls by now, 4 min.
PP burns DMAC on pump fake - foul.

End of half 34-58

Now I don't know how to adj things for all those missed shots but even just carrying over the previous adjustments give you get.

End of half 34-58
(adj) Wiz +16 Bos -3)
(adj) score 50-55

Half time could have easily looked like this.
If AJ or James even hit a few of those shots the game is tied or we are up and Perkins has 4 or 5 fouls.

Boston played their starters the whole 3rd quarter and we stay with them neck n neck until the end of the quarter we put McGee in and they went up +5 real quick. +7 for the quarter.

This didn't have to be a blow out. It was the refs, AJ sucking, James not playing well, and AB injured for the most part.

But like I said, I saw some good things that should help us against Cleveland if Blatche is able to play and Z is out. It's going to be hard to evaluate this team straight up against good teams since we are in the dog house with the refs again. You know how they do things in the NBA.