Official John Wall Appreciation Thread

[Dat2U]

do you guys think wall can/will make the olympic roster anytime soon?

Not a snowball's chance in hell. The international game is all about half court offense and being able to shoot (vs zone defense), areas where Wall is on the wrong side of mediocre. I doubt that even if Wall reaches his full potential that he will ever play for Team USA.

Yeah because Russell Westbrook & Derrick Rose didn't have a shot a playing for the olympic team either.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I like the words coming from Wall now in post game interviews. I am very pleased with his progress. Now he sounds like a guy with competitive fire but also leadership ability. I like that guys like Nash, Wade, and Lebron are pulling him aside and offering helpful advice. They wouldn't waste their time if Wall didn't impress them and if they couldn't see his great potential. The Wizards losing isn't on him, for the most part.

Wall now needs to work on his outside shot and more, keeping smaller or quicker guards from beating him off the dribble and getting into the lane. Wall needs to learn to use his forearms, knees, hips, and most of all to play uncomfortably close distance to whomever he is guarding. I suspect, Wall might have to slow down a little on offense just to have the energy to body up on defense.

All of that said, I've been converted on Wall. The light clicked on dramatically for him approximately three weeks ago and now, even when he has a lapse of bad defense or he makes a bad decision or two; Wall is still playing much better.

I am happy to see this.

[REDardWIZskin]

Wall definitely seems to have gotten out of a funk and I'm happy about that, but lately Crawford has played really well. Do we afford the same excuses of being a 2nd year player coming off of a short off-season to Crawford like we do for Wall? The second half of the season will be very interesting.

[verbal8]

Wall definitely seems to have gotten out of a funk and I'm happy about that, but lately Crawford has played really well. Do we afford the same excuses of being a 2nd year player coming off of a short off-season to Crawford like we do for Wall? The second half of the season will be very interesting.

I am less optomistic about Crawford. The last 5 games I think are false hope similar to Blatche's "April Fools" production. If you look at the 5 games before that, you could reach the conclusion that he doesn't even belong in the NBA. I think taking the 10 games together gives you a pretty accurate picture of what Crawford is - a streaky, inefficient scorer.

I think a player that is an efficient version of Crawford will help Wall out a lot.

[DCZards]

Agreed that Crawford has been a frustratingly streaky shooter. And, even as an early supporter of Jordan, I have to admit that his absolutely awful shot selection makes me want to choke him sometimes.

However, it is true that Crawford is a second-year player and, given his obvious offensive talent, you do have to wonder if there's a chance he could mature, get smart about his shot selection and someday (hopefully soon) become a more efficient shooter and an above-average scoring threat off the bench.

[jivelikenice]

I like the words coming from Wall now in post game interviews. I am very pleased with his progress. Now he sounds like a guy with competitive fire but also leadership ability. I like that guys like Nash, Wade, and Lebron are pulling him aside and offering helpful advice. They wouldn't waste their time if Wall didn't impress them and if they couldn't see his great potential. The Wizards losing isn't on him, for the most part.

Wall now needs to work on his outside shot and more, keeping smaller or quicker guards from beating him off the dribble and getting into the lane. Wall needs to learn to use his forearms, knees, hips, and most of all to play uncomfortably close distance to whomever he is guarding. I suspect, Wall might have to slow down a little on offense just to have the energy to body up on defense.

All of that said, I've been converted on Wall. The light clicked on dramatically for him approximately three weeks ago and now, even when he has a lapse of bad defense or he makes a bad decision or two; Wall is still playing much better.

I am happy to see this.

Good point on his play versus smaller point guards. He seemed to get more and more uncomfortable versus Thomas in the 2nd half on offense & defense. Offensively he should have realized trying to outquick a 5'8 pg is going to be tough so he needed to use his length and size more to his advantage. He needed to be more decisive off of the picks and make strong moves to the hoop, although the defense would have collapsed with how stagnant things had gotten. More to your point defensively, with his length, he doesn't have to play as far up as he does on smaller point guards. He would be far more effective playing a little off and giving a small player like Thomas fewer options other than pull ups which Wall should still be able to challenge based on his size advantage.

[GhostsOfGil]

Love this quote from TAI.. thought id share,

Wall balls out and Wizards still lose. Wall almost had a triple-double with a line of 21 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and five turnovers. Until the team finds success, critics will put a share of the blame on Wall; but what type of positive outcome is likely when Wall must pass to Rashard Lewis in the corner for three?

[no D in Hibachi]

TAI? Who?

[Higga]

Wall is the only reason this team isn't one of the worst in NBA history.

[GhostsOfGil]

TAI = truth about it.

http://www.truthaboutit.net/

By far, my favorite wizards blog.

[theboomking]

No good highlights in this thread for a while.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZrbf3AGKrA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sISwB64oXlY[/youtube]


Those clips remind me a bit of Russell Westbrook in the contact absorbed and how far away from the basket Wall was when he took off. BTW, Wall's sophomore PER is currently better than Westbrook's, and is still trending up.

[hands11]

Walls jumper is looking a lot better.

Hardin would be a great personality to bring on this team to partner with Wall. That is what he really lacks. He needs a back court partner. Not just a shooter but someone with the right personality to compliment him. It isnt Nick. And while Crawford is playing better and I want to see him start, I dont get the sense it is Crawford. Though I do think Crawford personality, handles and driving ability matches will Wall better then Nick. Mason is to old.

Curry would be an interesting personality match also but Hardin is more rugged.
I think Beal would be a good match as well. Beal strikes me as a Iggy/R Allen blend. That would be interesting.

Right now I think finding the right SG and SF to run with Wall is the first step before finding the right PF or Center. They can get by with Booker and McGee for now. What Wall needs is help at SG and SF. Shooters and ball handers but the players have to compliment his personality. Hardin really strike me as someone who would fit well with Wall.

[willbcocks]

Yeah, I would throw a lot of money at Hardin if I were the Wiz.

[queridiculo]

I'd rather throw that money at Batum to be quite honest.

[ErikChowbay023]

Irving starting over Wall in the Rising Stars game...

[Jimmy Recard]

Watched OKC vs LA yesterday...i know i've said this plenty of times before...but damn, Harden would be perfect as Wall's backcourt partner. He's got the total package; the smarts, the defense, the intangibles, the intensity, the jumper, the playmaking, the open court explosiveness, the unselfishness. I'd love him in DC. If only he was a RFA at the end of this season instead of next season, i'd throw 12-14 mil at him. He'll be an all star in no time.

[hands11]

I'd rather throw that money at Batum to be quite honest.

Either or both would work for me.

[DallasShalDune]

Wall's exciting and playing well, but this game, as meaningless as it is, helps me understand the viewpoint that Kyrie is better.

****

[B-easy]

Wall's exciting and playing well, but this game, as meaningless as it is, helps me understand the viewpoint that Kyrie is better.

****

For now.

[ST21]

john wall missed assist tracker. pretty interesting read

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/2/27 ... #storyjump