Miami vs. Washington 3/30/2010

[Zonkerbl]

So to keep the game close the Heat's defense must have been equally debaculous, yes?

[nate33]

Just looked at the numbers from this game, and this was another debaculous defensive game for the Wiz. Heat had an ortg (100 x points / possessions) of 136, which ties with the 11/17 Boston game for the worst mark of the season. That 136 may be the worst defensive rating in team history.

In the Wizards' defense, I'll note that it was a 6 point ball game until Eddie House put the Wizards away with a 3-pointer with 1:59 left to make the score 113-104. At that point, the dog tired Wizards team just gave up. The Heat finished the game by going 3-3 from 3-point range, 1-1 from 2-point range, and 2-2 from the line. That boosted their ORtg a fair amount.

But yes, the Wizards defense sucks.

[W. Unseld]

Nivek, how much of that can be attributed to the Heat free throw parade? I honestly don't know the answer and I do know there were plenty of legit calls, I just don't think the refs were consistent.

In my younger days I would rail against the inequities but now I know that you have to win 5 on 8 a few times before the whistle tide begins to turn.

I'm not giving up on Blatche yet, work habit-wise maybe I should but the first game back from injury isn't a "he's done" situation. As for Cartier I don't think he's being used right. I like Jeffers but I think he's closer to 6'3" then 6'5"

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

I like Jeffers but I think he's closer to 6'3" then 6'5"

I was thinking the same thing the other day. He and Crawford look exactly the same from afar except he's much burlier.

[montestewart]

Bad rotations leaving House and especially Jones open repeatedly, Blatche and Co.'s inability to stop Wade penetration, numerous other hand wringing circumstances. Still, it couldn't have been one of Miami's better defensive outings either, against a rag tag assemblage of Wizards. And many here would probably agree with me that officiating contributed to that horrible defensive rating.

[dobrojim]

I heard on the radio going home that Jones has almost ZERO unassisted
baskets this year. Lots of makes, almost every single one
of them via an assist.

The MIA offensive efficiency was all about their big 3.
The rest of the team, not so much. For them, that was
enough. Against a bottom dweller. We'll see what happens
when the post-season starts. Their a jump shooting doughnut
team with 2.5 great players.

[hands11]

I had a mtg in Chinatown until 8 -- I stood out in the rain and watched the entire second half on the Verizon center big screen. Was great to see the guys compete like that. The team seemed in disbelief at the inequitable foul calls, a mugging goes unnoticed on our side, a coy glance gets a whistle on theirs.

I've gone off on my disdain for LBJ plenty of times, but he's a punk. I hope games like this ruin any affection Wall may have had for the guy.

I hadn't considered that. Lets hope that is true. I always hated the idea that Wall had anything to do with him.

Are there actually still LeDouche fans out there somewhere ?

[Nivek]

Just looked at the numbers from this game, and this was another debaculous defensive game for the Wiz. Heat had an ortg (100 x points / possessions) of 136, which ties with the 11/17 Boston game for the worst mark of the season. That 136 may be the worst defensive rating in team history.

In the Wizards' defense, I'll note that it was a 6 point ball game until Eddie House put the Wizards away with a 3-pointer with 1:59 left to make the score 113-104. At that point, the dog tired Wizards team just gave up. The Heat finished the game by going 3-3 from 3-point range, 1-1 from 2-point range, and 2-2 from the line. That boosted their ORtg a fair amount.

But yes, the Wizards defense sucks.

For what it's worth, Miami's defense sucked too. The Wiz ortg was 118, which ties for their 4th best offensive game of the season.

I wasn't really posting that stat to rip the Wizards, by the way. We all know they're bad.

[Dat2U]

I wonder how much our interior defense would improve with a Blatche for Varejao swap?

With a McGee, Varejao, Booker & Seraphin front line on deck, we'd be a starting PF away from really having a very solid front court.

[hands11]

McGee... is it just me or are we seeing a much different guy out there lately. Hes got some moxie in him, finally.

I wonder if that has anything to do with not playing with Blatche/Young for a while (moreso Blatche)? If he's out there with guys who care and are putting it all on the line, the positive on-court peer pressure could be a strong influence on him.

Exactly. Put tougher players around him and the boat will rise.

But when you say Dray, I say it is bigger than that. EFJ and Gil for starters. AJ second. Actually that whole team.

But once they left, yeah Dray, Yi (soft), a rookie in Seraphin. Even Booker just started to put him stamp on the team.

There wasn't enough to pull him up and plenty that was either a void or stuff to pull him down. Then add his own knuckheadness and youth.

There has been addition by subtraction and addition by addition.

[nate33]

I wonder how much our interior defense would improve with a Blatche for Varejao swap?

With a McGee, Varejao, Booker & Seraphin front line on deck, we'd be a starting PF away from really having a very solid front court.

The merits of this move are dependent on Seraphin's development. It's possible that Seraphin can become very similar to Varejao, but with a decent low post game as a bonus. He has much of the same qualities: lower body strength, quick feet, a willingness to defend. I think I'd like to give Seraphin a year or so to develop before trying to find a backup center via trade.

If Seraphin has a good offseason and comes back next year a bit sharper (and maybe a little lighter), we might be better off shopping Blatche for expiring contracts rather than Varajeo's contract.

Hmmm. Looking at the numbers, Seraphin can't hold a candle to a rookie Varajeo. Maybe I'm off base here.

[Dat2U]

Nate, even with Seraphin's development (which I'm more skeptical about than most), we still need a quality veteran on the front line IMO. I strongly disliked the idea of having no one to properly mentor our young bigs this year.

[nate33]

I kinda liked the Blatche for Varajeo trade for a while but now I'm not so sure.

Looking at Varajeo's contract, I don't like what I see. He has a 5% trade kicker which brings him up to $9M a year. His contract extends three more years (not counting this one) and he has a $4M buyout for the year after that. So even if we got him with the idea of grooming Seraphin for a few years behind him, by the time Seraphin was up for a new contract, Varajeo would still be on the books for $10.5M (or at least a $4M buyout).

[Nivek]

Nivek, how much of that can be attributed to the Heat free throw parade? I honestly don't know the answer and I do know there were plenty of legit calls, I just don't think the refs were consistent.

Miami's free throw parade certainly didn't hurt their efficiency. Dean Oliver uses free throws made / field goals attempted to measure the free throw part of the four factors that decide who wins and loses basketball games. Miami last night had the 2nd highest FTM/FGA for a Wizards opponent this season. Oddly, #1 was New Jersey on December 16.

If you look at free throws as a percentage of total points, Miami last night ties for 9th against the Wiz this season. They actually got a greater share of their points from the line in their 11/29 game against the Wiz. #1 is still the Nets on 12/16.

The Wizards (and bad teams in general) do get called for a lot of fouls. Wiz are 3rd highest fouls per possession this season behind Utah and New Jersey. Sloan teams traditionally foul a lot, so it's no surprise to see them at the top. OKC is 4th, followed by several lottery teams. Next playoff team to show is Boston at 10th followed by (surprise) Miami in 12th, right at the league average.

Some may theorize that bad teams are the victims of biased/unfair officiating, but I don't believe that. My theory is that bad teams actually do foul more because they're more frequently over-matched, and they're more likely to make undisciplined plays like playing defense with their hands (reaching in, hacking, trying to block every shot) instead of their feet.

All that said, the differences in fouling is fairly small. Utah is highest at 24.2 fouls per 100 possessions; lowest is San Antonio at 19.8. League average is 21.8.

[dobrojim]

Sideshoe Bob for Lewis (after we draft DWill)

[hands11]

I wonder how much our interior defense would improve with a Blatche for Varejao swap?

With a McGee, Varejao, Booker & Seraphin front line on deck, we'd be a starting PF away from really having a very solid front court.

They are assembling assets. They will get there.

The thing that is different this time is that it is younger talent and they are not all knuckheads. Just amazing how year after year this team ends the year so injured so we are always wondering, what would they look like if...

Wall/Crawford
Nick/Martin/Jeffers
Booker/Howard
Lewis/Yi
Dray/McGee/Seraphin

Wall/Crawford
Nick/Martin/Jeffers
Howard/Lewis/Yi ( spot up )
Booker/Dray
McGee/Seraphin

Yi would be end of the bench of brought in to hit a few mid range shots here and there.

Booker, Howard, Lewis, Dray and McGee would run most the SF/PF/C sets with Seraphin brought in for muscle.

Wall, Nick and Crawford would play most the PG/SG and Jeffers brought in for muscle and boards.

But no Booker, Howard, Lewis, Nick instead. We never get to see our roster all at once for some reason. We only get to see a piece or two at a time. Wall had his run, then injured but now making his return. Nick had his run, now injured. Then Booker got his, now injured. Lewis started to ball, now injured. Dray got his last year, then injured all this year. Now Crawford is getting his.

Just pieces. But we never get to see it all.

[Wizardspride]

I wonder how much our interior defense would improve with a Blatche for Varejao swap?

With a McGee, Varejao, Booker & Seraphin front line on deck, we'd be a starting PF away from really having a very solid front court.

Where is the scoring going to come from?

[Wizardspride]

“I don’t know if Mo Evans intentionally wants to be dirty. I watch a lot of basketball. I see a lot of basketball every day, and anytime when someone gets grabbed around the neck, it’s an automatic flagrant-1. If I’m wrong, tell me I’m wrong,” James said. “Sometimes it’s unfair, because of how strong I am, you know. I can take the punishment of course, but at the same time, I think it’s unfair sometimes.”

Can you believe this guy? He talks like a fourth grader. Dude, shut up already.

Remember this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGRzk_du ... r_embedded

[WIZKID]

When does NBA announce suspensions, 24 hrs, 48 hrs??

I wonder how long all the suspensions will be, speculation

[Hoopalotta]

Wall's been suspended for one game. Sound the alarm.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6278554

NEW YORK -- Wizards rookie John Wall has been suspended one game without pay and two Miami Heat players were fined for their actions in Wednesday night's game at Washington.

NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson announced the penalties Thursday in a statement.

In addition to Wall's suspension, Heat forward Juwan Howard was handed a $35,000 fine and teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas was fined $25,000 following a scuffle in the second quarter of the Heat's 123-107 win over the Wizards.

That actually works out really nicely for the tankstakes as it's a homer against Cleveland, so a toss0up with Wall as to mastery. I don't know if Cleveland can pass us, and 'Sota's got a real rough schedule, but I'll be dolly-dingled if I want to see us lap the Raps and finish fourth worst with even a whiff of Stern saying something that ends in Plumlee for our pick. Well, that's not realistic, but you know what I mean.

Still an outside shot for the Cavs to put on a run as their schedule is powdery through the end:

http://espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/ ... -cavaliers