Wizards vs Bobcats Game Thread

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Pregame Humor
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1. I can just hear my haters ... "CCJ, since Flip is such a bad coach and you know so much, did Eddie Jordan ever coach the Wizards to a 20-plus point win with the opponent under 80 points? "
2. What will I say if Saunders turns out to be a good coach after all? I don't know. I do know I am Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.
3. True Story ... My fifth-grade son and my third-grade son were having a discussion in the bathroom. They argue like two old men, (where they get that from, I dunno), but they are very close. My fifth grader wants me to settle their latest. He asks, "Dad, isn't it true girls do both #1 and #2 out the back? (points to his behind). I am dying inside but value his feelings and don't want to embarass him. So, I ask him, "What do they have in the front? He is real nervous about the word, but he knows. I ask him the letter it starts with. "V" he answers. I ask what they do with that. "Make babies". So, finally, I tell him they do #1 with it, too. Next thing I hear: "Told Ya!". 3rd grader won this one. My young sons arguing over the function of the vajayjay... I am as proud of them as Pam McGee is of Javale.

--That's my 3 funny bits. Worked last game. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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Wizards 9-25 at Bobcats 12-21

Charlotte is a 2.5 point favorite.
Wizards are 0-17 on the road, and 0-5 last five games at Charlotte.
Paul Silas has them playing better. He's 3-2.
Wizard killer. Capt Jack, Stephen Jackson is expected to play.

Despite odds against, I think we got this. Wiz will win this game.

Washington will win. Wall is due for a big game, maybe a triple double in his home state. Main reason I'm confident in a win: Flip played Javale 33 minutes despite 5 turnovers, and Blatche played 29 in the win over NJ. Saunders+flexible=A lot more wins.

[pineappleheadindc]

Take us on a long winning streak, CCJ.

[closg00]

Bring it home CCJ!

[dopeismarcus]

Should be a good.... Oh wait were playing away?

[dlts20]

Call me crazy but when we got off to that great start, I was thinking that we need to save some for this game. Therefore I was actually glad that the Nets made a bit of a run a couple of times. I could see us in typical Wiz fashion just thrashing them from the jump, some of us maybe thinking they turned the corner, just to lay down a futile effort against the Bobcats with the worst D ever.

Now they we had to work some for it, I think that will again make us focused for tonight. It sucks that we didnt get to rest guys but fatigue shouldnt be a factor when youre 0-17 on the road and havent won 2 games in a row all season. You should be able to fight through it. Here's seeing if they can. Jax & Wallace always kills us and they are playing alot better without Brown. Lets see if our 2 new fan favorites in NY & Lewis can give those guys the same problems they ususally give us.

It would be great if we had Howard to matchup with them also but thats probably a long shot. Thorton or Booker will need to step up. If we go small some with Wall & Kirk, hopefully Jax doesnt kill us in the post. They will be active, physical, and hustle alot. If we can match that then we will be ok. Here's hoping that Dray has started to turn the corner and I think Wall could go for like 18 & 12 tonight or more tonight back in front of the hometown crowd.

[tontoz]

The 3 guard lineup was notably absent last game and Javale didn't get his customary 4th quarter benching. Is Flip finally getting a clue?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Definitely, tontoz.

I have been "critiquing" Flip since Nov 2009. The guy has been as predictable as sunrise and sunset with respect to lineups, minutes, and player preferences. I have sounded like a broken record criticizing the same old.

Not any more. Flip is doing things differently than I've seen. He's definitely getting it.

[hands11]

The 3 guard lineup was notably absent last game and Javale didn't get his customary 4th quarter benching. Is Flip finally getting a clue?

Maybe that had something to do with McGee playing well on defense.

Maybe it is McGee who was the one getting a clue and he was rewarded for it.

Just maybe, Flip knows what he is doing with players individually and now has healthier roster with rookies that have a few games under their belts and no Gil to worry about. The team chemistry is better than I can remember it being in a long long time. These are coachable pieces.

With a more stable roster that is healthy and players stepping up, Flip finally has some options and something to build from.

Maybe that is the more accurate evaluation. Just saying maybe he had a clue all along and it was others that didn't.

[tontoz]

The 3 guard lineup was notably absent last game and Javale didn't get his customary 4th quarter benching. Is Flip finally getting a clue?

Maybe that had something to do with McGee playing well on defense.

Maybe it is McGee who was the one getting a clue and he was rewarded for it.

Just maybe, Flip knows what he is doing with players individually and now has healthier roster with rookies that have a few games under their belts and no Gil to worry about. The team chemistry is better than I can remember it being in a long long time. These are coachable pieces.

With a more stable roster that is healthy and players stepping up, Flip finally has some options and something to build from.

Maybe that is the more accurate evaluation. Just saying maybe he had a clue all along and it was others that didn't.

I am not buying that. His use of the 3 guard lineup even with healthy 3s available makes me think it is on him. It was the 3 guard lineup that got crushed in the last game against Philly in the 4th.

[Kanyewest]

I thought Flip had that 3 guard lineup in for a bit in the 1st quarter.

[tontoz]

I thought Flip had that 3 guard lineup in for a bit in the 1st quarter.

Blatche and Lewis both played the entire 1st quarter. Hinrich came in for Young and played the 2 for awhile but Young/Hinrich/Wall did not play together at any time that i saw.

[nate33]

The 3 guard lineup was notably absent last game and Javale didn't get his customary 4th quarter benching. Is Flip finally getting a clue?

Maybe that had something to do with McGee playing well on defense.

Maybe it is McGee who was the one getting a clue and he was rewarded for it.

Just maybe, Flip knows what he is doing with players individually and now has healthier roster with rookies that have a few games under their belts and no Gil to worry about. The team chemistry is better than I can remember it being in a long long time. These are coachable pieces.

With a more stable roster that is healthy and players stepping up, Flip finally has some options and something to build from.

Maybe that is the more accurate evaluation. Just saying maybe he had a clue all along and it was others that didn't.

I am not buying that. His use of the 3 guard lineup even with healthy 3s available makes me think it is on him. It was the 3 guard lineup that got crushed in the last game against Philly in the 4th.

I never bought this line of reasoning. Flip went to a "3 guard" lineup in Philly because he wanted his five best offensive players on the floor at the same time: Wall, Hinrich, Young, Lewis and Blatche. I don't have a problem with that lineup because Nick is big enough to play SF. It wasn't like we were getting crushed on the offensive glass or anything. We lost that game because nobody could stop Holiday and Williams. It had nothing to do with our lack of size.

[tontoz]

The five best offensive players got scorched for 33 points in the 4th. i don't think that is a coincidence.

[nate33]

The five best offensive players got scorched for 33 points in the 4th. i don't think that is a coincidence.

Yes, but replacing Nick Young with, say, Al Thornton wouldn't have made any difference. Our problem wasn't a lack of size. Maybe Blatche should have been replaced with McGee to deter penetration - but the problem wasn't the fact that three guards were on the floor.

[tontoz]

The five best offensive players got scorched for 33 points in the 4th. i don't think that is a coincidence.

Yes, but replacing Nick Young with, say, Al Thornton wouldn't have made any difference. Our problem wasn't a lack of size. Maybe Blatche should have been replaced with McGee to deter penetration - but the problem wasn't the fact that three guards were on the floor.

So you think Hinrich can guard Holiday as well as Young could? I don't think Hinrich has enough length to bother Holiday.

I also think Nocioni is too strong for Young.

[nate33]

The five best offensive players got scorched for 33 points in the 4th. i don't think that is a coincidence.

Yes, but replacing Nick Young with, say, Al Thornton wouldn't have made any difference. Our problem wasn't a lack of size. Maybe Blatche should have been replaced with McGee to deter penetration - but the problem wasn't the fact that three guards were on the floor.

So you think Hinrich can guard Holiday as well as Young could? I don't think Hinrich has enough length to bother Holiday.

I also think Nocioni is too strong for Young.

Wall was on Holiday. Hinrich was on Williams.

[hands11]

The 3 guard lineup was notably absent last game and Javale didn't get his customary 4th quarter benching. Is Flip finally getting a clue?

Maybe that had something to do with McGee playing well on defense.

Maybe it is McGee who was the one getting a clue and he was rewarded for it.

Just maybe, Flip knows what he is doing with players individually and now has healthier roster with rookies that have a few games under their belts and no Gil to worry about. The team chemistry is better than I can remember it being in a long long time. These are coachable pieces.

With a more stable roster that is healthy and players stepping up, Flip finally has some options and something to build from.

Maybe that is the more accurate evaluation. Just saying maybe he had a clue all along and it was others that didn't.

I am not buying that. His use of the 3 guard lineup even with healthy 3s available makes me think it is on him. It was the 3 guard lineup that got crushed in the last game against Philly in the 4th.

Free your mind.

[pancakes3]

i don't consider playing wall/hinny/young a 3-guard lineup. young is tall enough (especially with his fro) to be a SF. he's at least as tall as butler or pierce. it was the 3-guard lineup of wall/hinny/gil that we saw a bunch in the preseason that's truly a 3-guard lineup and a coaching fail.

[dlts20]

The 3 guard lineup maybe isnt bad all the time but should only be used if its really working. Kirk was horrible in the 4th quarter. Its not about if NY can guard the 3 or if Kirk could guard someone but its about taking Kirk out for McGee. Youre not replacing him for another small guy so the Thorton thing defeats the argument.

Its the overall lineup getting bigger and having guys to defend the paint. Not only that but NY couldve posted up & scored on there small backcourt while Kirk couldnt do anything in the 4th. I just think we wouldve been much better with our starting lineup in the 4th against Philly and couldve posed more problems on both ends with our size

[tontoz]

Wall was on Holiday. Hinrich was on Williams.

And i don't like either matchup. I would rather have Wall on Williams and Young on Holiday.

Other than Wall every player was playing somewhere other than their best position. That is not my idea of how to finish out a tight game.

The Wizards easily could have lost even with their best lineup on the floor. However i don't see any sense in going with such a strange lineup especially given their recent 4th quarter problems.

I can't remember seeing the 3 guard lineup actually produce good results. It was understandable back when they didn't have healthy 3s but now it makes no sense.