Game Thread: Wizards @ Milwaukee (1-19-11)

[closg00]

You didn't read all of the posts. Bottom-line, If Yi is making shots and Lewis isn't... and we are losing, bumping Yi up from 13 min to 20 and shaving-off 4-5 min from Lewis should be a no-brainer considering this is a jump-shooting offense and team anyway.

btw, I mentioned it earlier in the thread, we had our biggest lead and were dominating, when we were out-scoring the Bucks in the paint. When we went back to jump-shooting and we went-cold, it was over for us.

Considering that Lewis was shooting at least 50% in each of his last 5 games, and Yi doesn't bring as many things to the table as Lewis (he's significantly worse in passing, finishing around the basket, and I can't see Yi being any better at defending small forwards).

Of course if Lewis shoots 30% (he shots 3-11 from the field) consistently, Yi will get his chance. But to ake that decision last night isn't as easy as your making it out to be since Lewis was shooting a fg% of 55-60 fg% in the previous 5 games

Most of the time you stick with Lewis, he was just especially bad last night.

[fugop]

The only thing surprising about the loss was that we were good, even dominant, in the 1st Q. We had active hands on defense and attacked the basket on offense.

We forced turnovers, 4-5 in the first six minutes of Q1, much of it Blatche swiping at interior passes and Wall jumping the passing lanes. On offense, we converted turnovers into break opportunities, passed well in traffic, and hit our jump shots.

Going for steals, like we initially did successfully, is a high risk move. The same moves failed when Boykins was the primariy ballhandler. The interior passing on offense is similarly high risk/high skill. It's great that Blatche can throw no-look passes to Lewis on the baseline. They aren't going to convert at a high enough percentage. Same with the jumpshots. The team's performance regressed to the mean.

We were doing well in the 1st quarter because our risky play was paying off. We aren't good enough, or mature enough, to sustain that conversion on the road.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

WD, I believe Flip consistently leaves stagnant lineups on the court on the road. Wall is not a game closer. Hinrich is not a closer. Lewis is not a closer. Blatche generally does not finish strong. Where I agree with WD is that McGee has no post game. Flip uses Javale for defense only and I think this allows opponents to double Blatche. The Wizards have no success on the road because they rely on jump shooters who can't draw fouls or hit big shots and they have no bigs that get to the rim.

I'm struggling to understand what you're saying. Flip is at fault for leaving stagnant lineups on the court on the road. Wall, Hinrich, Lewis and Blatche are not "closers." Aside from playing Nick Young 1-on-5, what options does Flip have? Those are his best players. Does anyone seriously think a lineup of Young, Martin, Booker, Seraphin and Thornton are going to "close" out a game successfully?

The Wizards haven't won a game on the road because they don't have good NBA players.

Go back and see who was on the court when Wittman coached. The Wizards blew a team out in the fourth using said players. Nivek, I do have a reason for saying this--I have seen them play well and finish strong.

Best players are not best all 48 minutes. Best players are not necessarily big shot makers or finishers or hustle players late. Flip loses because he is really predictable and his methods and thinking are fixed and rigid. Washington would be MUCH better with the right guys on the court at the end.

[closg00]

The re-broadcast on League Pass is blacked-out

[tontoz]

The re-broadcast on League Pass is blacked-out

Do you live in the DC area? If so that is why. They don't broadcast local games on LP.

If you don't live in the DC area then i have no clue what is going on.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The re-broadcast on League Pass is blacked-out

Not here. I saw it. Wiz looked really good the first 2 1/2 quarters. Blatche looks a whole lot better.

I didn't watch intently once Milwaukee began to pull away.

[closg00]

The re-broadcast on League Pass is blacked-out

Do you live in the DC area? If so that is why. They don't broadcast local games on LP.

If you don't live in the DC area then i have no clue what is going on.

Yep, local. Next time I'll record from Fios. I did see the game, but wanted to watch the 1st quarter again.

[Prince12]

Dont underestimate how disgustingly bad we were in the first quarter. Thats why weve only won 15 games we turn up with that rubbish.

[Nivek]

WD, I believe Flip consistently leaves stagnant lineups on the court on the road. Wall is not a game closer. Hinrich is not a closer. Lewis is not a closer. Blatche generally does not finish strong. Where I agree with WD is that McGee has no post game. Flip uses Javale for defense only and I think this allows opponents to double Blatche. The Wizards have no success on the road because they rely on jump shooters who can't draw fouls or hit big shots and they have no bigs that get to the rim.

I'm struggling to understand what you're saying. Flip is at fault for leaving stagnant lineups on the court on the road. Wall, Hinrich, Lewis and Blatche are not "closers." Aside from playing Nick Young 1-on-5, what options does Flip have? Those are his best players. Does anyone seriously think a lineup of Young, Martin, Booker, Seraphin and Thornton are going to "close" out a game successfully?

The Wizards haven't won a game on the road because they don't have good NBA players.

Go back and see who was on the court when Wittman coached. The Wizards blew a team out in the fourth using said players. Nivek, I do have a reason for saying this--I have seen them play well and finish strong.

Best players are not best all 48 minutes. Best players are not necessarily big shot makers or finishers or hustle players late. Flip loses because he is really predictable and his methods and thinking are fixed and rigid. Washington would be MUCH better with the right guys on the court at the end.

First, one game proves absolutely nothing. Which you know.

Second, do you really want to hang your "crunch time" hat on Booker and Martin?

The Wizards are -21 in Booker's few crunch time minutes this season. They're 0-6 during his crunch time minutes -- outscored every time he's been on the floor during crunch time (according to 82games). The per 48 minutes numbers are preposterous -- 37.9 points per 48 minutes on offense; 435.8 per 48 allowed on defense. Obviously in limited minutes (2% of the team's crunch time minutes).

Martin's a little better -- the team is only -2 during his crunch time minutes (6% of the team's total). They're 1-3 during his crunch time minutes.

I agree with the idea of not necessarily going with the best players, but instead going with the best lineup. That would be Wall-Young-Lewis-Blatche-McGee. The coaches don't fully trust McGee yet, so Blatche moves to center and you're picking from Yi, Thornton and Martin, most likely. I'd like to see Martin get more playing time, so I'd be fine with him getting some of those minutes. What I've seen of Booker does not convince me that he's ready to play well during crunch time.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If these coaches get fired the next bunch will do a lot better trusting McGee.