Game Thread: Wizards @ Warriors (1/19/09)

[miller31time]

It's a two-parter, regarding Caron.

1. He's moved to the SG position. This means he's facing quicker players and quicker defenders. The disadvantage is that he won't be able to beat people off the dribble like he would at SF. The advantage is that he should be able to post up his opposing defender. Unfortunately, Caron has yet to do that consistently, if at all.

2. He's completely and totally unmotivated. We're one of the worst teams in the league. We're not going to make the playoffs. We're not going to get Gil back. We're not going to get Haywood back. In his mind, there is no incentive to play smash-mouth, aggressive basketball. He's just fine sizing up his defender and shooting a contested jumpshot, because, hey, would we really get a better shot if he passed it up? And even if we did get a better shot, why would that have any impact on our season? (both questions rhetorical, just to give you his probable mind-set)

[WizarDynasty]

why is jamison even being allowed to shoot 3pters. He is shooting a horrible 32% from three point range and Tapscott is letting him take approximately 4 three pointers a game. A powerforward shooting 3's that poorly should really be in the post earning his points but this was Grunfeld's long site blunder.

Here is the problem...Jamison and Butler both look less athletic than they did last year. The problem is that neither player looks like they have gotten better since last season which means they are only going to go downhill. Caron has not improved his defense this year and physically he looks even less athletic. Michael Jordan had a ton of years where he didn't make the playoffs but you saw that he constantly got better and physically didn't deteriorate. CAron Butler is already breaking down physically. He hasn't done anything in the playoffs for this team when he had a chance to carry us. EAch night him and jamison are the two worst man to man defenders on the court as both have knee problems affecting their agility for the rest of their careers.
Caron has lost all his upside and if EG had any concept of building a team, he would have recognized that a combination of chronic knees injuries since college and poor agility for two of your starting players creates a mismatch against you every night not matter how hot the player is offensively. CAron lack of agility on defense due to his poor knees is problem that wizards will have to deal with every night for the next 10 years whenever he is matched up defensively against an above average offensive s/g=s/f. I would rather lose and develop a young player who i know can one day be above average on both sides that play a player who isn't getting any better and is loses the defensive battle every night against the player he is guarding. For the next 7 years or 7*82=560 games..we will see caron butler lose 560 defensive battles before we see a new starter replacing him and giving us a chance to win both the defensive and offensive matchup. that' is pretty depressing. Same with Jamison. there is absolutely no hope Jamison is going to magically get more agile and his knees allow him move sideways fluidly..he has bad knees. This is the same problem with Arenas. Crappy Grunfeld brings in 3 starters who all had a history of poor agility on others teams before Grunfeld brought them here. This defensive nightmare we see each night is all a result of Grunfeld's short term decision making.

[newslowsad]

Is this man high? It's not like the vets can defend a pick-and-roll either.

After yesterday's game I asked Tapscott about McGee's role: "It's the ability to execute what we are trying to do. If we are going to be a defensive team, then one of the things you have to do is play pick-and-rolls correctly, you gotta play post-ups and iso correctly. Mistakes at those times, cost you dearly against a very good offensive team. So now, you're looking for matchups and the proper reactions on defense. And those things just take time and experience. If you're thinking too much here in this game, you're behind. You've had to have done it enough, it becomes instinctual, you know it, anticipate it. Some of our young guys are struggling to get to that point. It's a process. I don't fault him. He plays hard, he gives his best effort. It's just a lack of experience that at times costs him and others in certain situations and that will come with time."

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Is this man high? It's not like the vets can defend a pick-and-roll either.

After yesterday's game I asked Tapscott about McGee's role: "It's the ability to execute what we are trying to do. If we are going to be a defensive team, then one of the things you have to do is play pick-and-rolls correctly, you gotta play post-ups and iso correctly. Mistakes at those times, cost you dearly against a very good offensive team. So now, you're looking for matchups and the proper reactions on defense. And those things just take time and experience. If you're thinking too much here in this game, you're behind. You've had to have done it enough, it becomes instinctual, you know it, anticipate it. Some of our young guys are struggling to get to that point. It's a process. I don't fault him. He plays hard, he gives his best effort. It's just a lack of experience that at times costs him and others in certain situations and that will come with time."

I seriously used to think the same thing about EJ when he never seemed to give Haywood a break for what seemed like years. Is this man high?

Even though I don't think EJ ever played Brendan quite enough minutes, he did eventually regard Haywood as a very dependable player. In a way, when Haywood went down it ended up costing EJ his job. Good news is they texted each other on Christmas and have great mutual respect. Brendan's as well respected for his playing ability as he can be and he's loved in DC.

Javale just needs to hang in there and get better. So far, it's only 20-something games of Tapscott finding reasons to doubt McGee. I feel like Javale will end up a better player down the road and Eddie Jordanscott will not be the coach.

We'll see.

BTW, just like with EJ I believe Tapscott's doing the best he can with what he knows. Wouldn't shock me a bit if injury forced McGee into the lineup that Tapscott would have to do just like Jordan did with Haywood. Respect.

[Mr. Grundle]

Butler isn't less athletic. He's just less motivated. If the season is already lost, why should he be attacking the rim with reckless abandon when he can just stand there, jab step, and shoot a jumper? This way he has less chance of injury and can just save himself and his body for next season.

Basically, he's just doggin it. And he's making even less effort on the defensive side.

I really don't have a problem with Butler dogging it. I know the old fiery Caron will be back once the team is capable of being competitive again.

I do a problem with Caron dogging it and still playing 40 minutes a game. It really is absurd. Tapscott HAS to start easing those minutes back.

This is Tapscott's first stint as a head coach, so I'll give him some leeway. He doesn't want to appear to be Grunfield's ball boy, tanking a season before the All-Star break.

But for the second half of the season Jamison and Butler should not be playing more than 32-35 minutes a game. If they are, Ernie needs to step in and say something, or I start to question his sanity.

[dandridge 10]

Butler isn't less athletic. He's just less motivated. If the season is already lost, why should he be attacking the rim with reckless abandon when he can just stand there, jab step, and shoot a jumper? This way he has less chance of injury and can just save himself and his body for next season.

Basically, he's just doggin it. And he's making even less effort on the defensive side.

I really don't have a problem with Butler dogging it. I know the old fiery Caron will be back once the team is capable of being competitive again.

I do a problem with Caron dogging it and still playing 40 minutes a game. It really is absurd. Tapscott HAS to start easing those minutes back.

This is Tapscott's first stint as a head coach, so I'll give him some leeway. He doesn't want to appear to be Grunfield's ball boy, tanking a season before the All-Star break.

But for the second half of the season Jamison and Butler should not be playing more than 32-35 minutes a game. If they are, Ernie needs to step in and say something, or I start to question his sanity.

I completely agree...Butler is clearly dogging it on both ends of the court. While I do have a problem with that (after all, these guys are getting paid millions to play the game), I am more upset with Tapscott for still playing Butler and Jamison 40 minutes a night. I'd rather see the young guys out there losing games with mistakes, but effort; than watching our vets lose games with a lack of effort. At this point in the season, there is absolutely no conceivable reason to play Butler and Jamison 40 minutes a night.