Official John Wall Appreciation Thread

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I have nothing against wall. It upsets me that pre draft i brought up all these issues and was pro looking at other players. Also this was informed by no bias against him but the thought that pgs are a dime a dozen. We see how mcgee suffers against dwight but excells against others, Well dwight suffers against cousins go look at all their matchups and he is barely past being a rookie. I hope he comes here not necessarily for wall but imagine mcgee, Cousins and even davis frontline. The rest will be easy

You did have concerns about Wall before the draft, BruceO, and rightly so.

Cousins had Dwight on the bench in the first quarter of their most recent game, while Demarcus went on to get 10 points, 5 rebounds that quarter. For all the talk of Sullinger in the draft thread, I don't think Jared Sullinger will have the impact Cousins had as a rookie.

If the Wizards don't get a top-3 or 4 pick, it wouldn't be the craziest thing they could but to trade that pick to the Kings for Demarcus Cousins. He would help Wall immensely, and would be ideal next to Javale McGee.

[Dat2U]

Some good performances by DeMarcus doesn't change the fact he's a complete nut case and coach killer.

How long before he turns on his new coach?

Imagine how'd he act up here in our zoo?

I can't even begin to fathom how out of shape and surly he'll be once he gets paid.

I don't know why so many would even consider wanting to add such questionable character to a roster that is already overflowing with questionable characters.

[MDStar]

I agree Dat! The Wizards need basketball players with talent but also high character. We have to change the culture around here and dumping Blatche, only to pick up Cousins seems like a lateral move in that department.

[BarnabyJones]

We have to change the culture around here and dumping Blatche, only to pick up Cousins seems like a lateral move in that department.

Except that Cousins is a much better basketball player than Blatche. . . .

[queridiculo]

We have to change the culture around here and dumping Blatche, only to pick up Cousins seems like a lateral move in that department.

Except that Cousins is a much better basketball player than Blatche. . . .

I think the point here is that talent isn't a substitute for having a winning mentality.

If Blatche had any heart, pride, and work ethic he could be every bit as good as Kevin Love.

[BarnabyJones]

Whoops.

Yeah, I agree. Misunderstood his post.

[BruceO]

Here we go again projecting him being fat and out of shape just like they did pre draft without proof. Its not only a few games btw for the record. He is this seasons third leading rebounder behind dwight and love at 21. He was right to kill that coach and his useless offense. Most sac fans wanted him out the same way we want flip out. Look at his fg percentage since the change .537 thereabouts theres an uptake. High charector guys like jamison won us nothing. Rodman, rasheed, Artest won something

[hands11]

Wall still made his share of mistake against Phili game one but I saw some things I really liked from him in that game.

He made some amazing passes.
He managed the offense for the most part.
Even when they were down, he mostly remained patient.
He made a nice change of pace drive and a couple other chance of pace moves.

He still jumped, then passed for a turnover and a handful of other things but I got a sense that even though he knew they would lose, he tried to play with in himself.

That is all I wanted to see from him. Focus on your game and what you can do better. Let the rest of the chips fall where they may. That is on other players and some will get benched over it.

I thought Nick mostly played like crap, stupid and heartless. Crawford deserves a shot at starting again. He at least never gave up and had heart. Move Nick back to the bench. Specially since they are missing Drays points off the bench.

KS showed some nice touch around the rim. 3 block. Best game of the year.

McGee played like an rss. Looked like the though it was a scrimage put together so he could play around with him offensive game.

Singleton needed to step up and he in no way did. Disappointed in him this game. Big time.

They really need to get Mason going. They need someone with a quick release who can shoot from outside.

And welcome back Mo. Even though you didnt do anything.

[MD's Finest]

Wall still made his share of mistake against Phili game one but I saw some things I really liked from him in that game.

He made some amazing passes.
He managed the offense for the most part.
Even when they were down, he mostly remained patient.
He made a nice change of pace drive and a couple other chance of pace moves.

He still jumped, then passed for a turnover and a handful of other things but I got a sense that even though he knew they would lose, he tried to play with in himself.

That is all I wanted to see from him. Focus on your game and what you can do better. Let the rest of the chips fall where they may. That is on other players and some will get benched over it.

I thought Nick mostly played like crap, stupid and heartless. Crawford deserves a shot at starting again. He at least never gave up and had heart. Move Nick back to the bench. Specially since they are missing Drays points off the bench.

KS showed some nice touch around the rim. 3 block. Best game of the year.

McGee played like an rss. Looked like the though it was a scrimage put together so he could play around with him offensive game.

Singleton needed to step up and he in no way did. Disappointed in him this game. Big time.

They really need to get Mason going. They need someone with a quick release who can shoot from outside.

And welcome back Mo. Even though you didnt do anything.

I have noticed Wall playing with more control and being more selective when he is aggressive as well as playing better defense for the last few games. As you said he still is making some bad decisions but overall I think he is not forcing the issue so much anymore I just think his confidence is really low right now in his own offense and the team offense is just in bad shape and I dont think thats mostly on him. I think if he keeps approaching it the way he seems to be now he will turn the corner in the next couple of weeks.

[hands11]

I can only say I saw it this game. Well since the Boston game.

But the Sixer are way better so it was hard to see the effects.

Against a lesser team, it would have showed more in the results.

What he needs to do it focus on what he did today. He needs to work more on that change of pace move and just stay under control. That is the move that is going to establish his game and slow everything down for him. As he gets better at it, it will help the entire team to get better.

Everyone needs to do the same thing. McGee stepped outside of that today but in other games he has been doing the same. The outside shot is something he can take sometimes but McGee went wack today trying to do to much.

Everyone just needs to focus on the things they are capable of doing and play their role. That is how this unit will react it max efficiency. Now that may still only be just an average team but that is the max and best they can do so that should be the goal.

Kind of like KS did today. He stepped his game up. For such a young raw team, that is what it is going to take.

[orangeparka]

Check out how Kryie's being brought along in Cleveland.

He started off as like a sixth man, and has slowly seen an increase in his minutes. He's still only getting around 27mpg, and he's been really effective, making each minute of his playing time count.

I think this kind of playing time discipline would've been beneficial for Wall. Instead of giving him the reins to the team and 38mpg right off the bat, managing his minutes slowly and making him play hard and effectively might've been the better direction.

[hands11]

Check out how Kryie's being brought along in Cleveland.

He started off as like a sixth man, and has slowly seen an increase in his minutes. He's still only getting around 27mpg, and he's been really effective, making each minute of his playing time count.

I think this kind of playing time discipline would've been beneficial for Wall. Instead of giving him the reins to the team and 38mpg right off the bat, managing his minutes slowly and making him play hard and effectively might've been the better direction.

That is always the preferred way to go.

Sadly, this team has not had the roster/talent to do that. While they did have Kirk on the roster to start last the year, he was there starting SG so Wall was the only PG. Wall got injured. Then Gilbert returned. Then Wall and Gil were around for a few games together but Wall got injured again. When he returned, Gil was gone.

Once Nick was starting they had Wall and Nick and Kirk back up Wall. That was as good as it got.
Then Kirk was moved and all they had to back up Wall was Mustafa Shakur

It was a total mess that Wall came into. It would have helped Wall if they brought in a vet PG this year and used their draft picks differently like shooting help. Brooks, Harper.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=301028019

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Some good performances by DeMarcus doesn't change the fact he's a complete nut case and coach killer.

How long before he turns on his new coach?

Imagine how'd he act up here in our zoo?

I can't even begin to fathom how out of shape and surly he'll be once he gets paid.

I don't know why so many would even consider wanting to add such questionable character to a roster that is already overflowing with questionable characters.

Kings had 60 points last night and shot .256 for the game as a team.

Cousins isn't the only one that will kill this coach. Jimmer might be saying "Get this MF out of here" soon.

As far as how Cousins might act in the Wizards zoo? I'm thinking somewhere between silverback and wolf. I still would like that better than sloth that we get from the resident PF.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

We have to change the culture around here and dumping Blatche, only to pick up Cousins seems like a lateral move in that department.

Except that Cousins is a much better basketball player than Blatche. . . .

I think the point here is that talent isn't a substitute for having a winning mentality.

If Blatche had any heart, pride, and work ethic he could be every bit as good as Kevin Love.

I agree with BarnabyJones. Cousins is just way better than Blatche. Add to that he and Wall went to a Final Four as freshman and they dominated together in the Rookie/Sophomore game All Star weekend. They play well together and they are friends.

[nate33]

Some good performances by DeMarcus doesn't change the fact he's a complete nut case and coach killer.

How long before he turns on his new coach?

Imagine how'd he act up here in our zoo?

I can't even begin to fathom how out of shape and surly he'll be once he gets paid.

I don't know why so many would even consider wanting to add such questionable character to a roster that is already overflowing with questionable characters.

Plus infinity.

People love to come and post after Cousins had a good game and rave about how right they were on draft day. I here crickets in here after Cousins posts one of his routine 1 for 7 or 4-12 shooting nights (excepting CCJ). Since being reinstalled into the starting lineup after the Westpaul firing, he has shot 32/71, or 45%. And that's after a so-called string of "great" games when he posted double doubles.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The 1-7 just shows that Dalembert owned DMC psychologically and also is too long for Cousins to exploit. Scola had a big game that game, and Cousins had 4 fouls in 17 minutes. The 4-12 game I noticed that Cousins still had a double double, even though his team scored just 60.

In January (thru 8 games so far), DeMarcus is averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds on .477 rebounding in January. He is shooting 81% from the FT line. His PER is "down to" 20.4.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... lits/2012/

[sfam]

As far as how Cousins might act in the Wizards zoo? I'm thinking somewhere between silverback and wolf. I still would like that better than sloth that we get from the resident PF.

OK, this line may be the funniest of the month!

[JonathanJoseph]

Wall's performance vs the Sixers was shameful. Beyond the poor play, he quit on plays repeatedly and that is inexcusable.

"B"- I am now throwing out the first letter. The "U" isn't far behind.

[sfam]

Wall's performance vs the Sixers was shameful. Beyond the poor play, he quit on plays repeatedly and that is inexcusable.

"B"- I am now throwing out the first letter. The "U" isn't far behind.

B and U? Is this the start of, "BUt I still have confidence that he's going to improve. I certainly don't advocate giving him up for a salami sandwich like many here do."?

[JonathanJoseph]

Wall's performance vs the Sixers was shameful. Beyond the poor play, he quit on plays repeatedly and that is inexcusable.

"B"- I am now throwing out the first letter. The "U" isn't far behind.

B and U? Is this the start of, "BUt I still have confidence that he's going to improve. I certainly don't advocate giving him up for a salami sandwich like many here do."?

I didn't say give him up for a salami sandwich, but I am fully in favor of trading Wall asap.