Deron Williams comments on Wall and the Wizards

[The Fax]

After the Nets vs. Boston Celtics contest, a reporter asked Williams about struggling young guards in the league and John Wall’s name was subsequently brought into the discussion.

“He’s handled it well. He’s a had a tough cast down there, I don’t want to put anybody down but he’s not playing with the smartest guys in the world. That’s tough, man, that’s tough,” Williams said.

Williams doesn’t want to put anyone down? It would have been mildly different if he would have just said Wall doesn’t have the best supporting cast. That would have been enough.

However, he did not just attack their talents. He attacked their IQ. Yet, it does not stop there.

Williams goes a bit deeper into his reasoning for calling the Wizards “not the smartest guys in the world” and manages to take shots at his own teammates in the process.

“They’re not smart, I don’t know," Williams said. "I’ve been watching. JaVale McGee (now with Denver) was on the Not So Top 10, like, 50 times this year,” Williams said.

“But I think he’s handled it well. He has to force a lot of things. I think I have to force a lot. I’m shooting 40 percent. I never thought I would shoot 40 percent in my career, but I’m taking tough shots over double teams and that’s really the only shots I get. I don’t get many open looks, I don’t get many just spot up shots and it’s just what it is.”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1146 ... rtest-guys

Williams is really a douche. I like how he indirectly said his teammates are dumb as well, what is that like the 5th time he's called them out now?

To his credit he has a point, but I wonder if he realizes that McGee and Young were both traded. Only dummy left is Blatche, probably Crawford too. Nonetheless, he still comes off as a dick.

[Jimmy Recard]

I'm getting really sick of listening to players, analysts and fans demean our franchise. Even after dumping low IQ players like Nick and Javale (with Andray half way out), there's still a perception that Wall is surrounded by knuckleheads and dimwits. It makes me sick hearing people say that Wall needs to get out of DC ASAP and that he's just counting down the days until he's a FA. It's his second year for f*ck sake, and people act like he's been stuck in an incompetent organization for 10 years.

It's ironic how these idiots who claim that Wall needs to ask for a trade to a better organization are the same one's who preach about the lack of 'loyalty' in todays NBA and cry about guys like LeBron/Melo/DHoward forcing there way out of small markets.

[veji1]

He does have a point though. BBall is a 5 against 5 sport. Everybody has to play their part for the team to hum into motion and it is true that for 2 years the Wizards epitomized what could be wrong about the NBA with knuckleheads playing for highlights with no apparent interest in victory, hardly any ball movement but almost every players wanting some "me me me me me" plays...

It takes time to turn perceptions around and the best way to do it is to win. It is up to the team to start next season as a cohesive unit that will vie for a playoff spot, as is the point of the whole regular season, rather than play the draft year in year out...

It is very possible, for example a lineup of Wall, Beale, Nene, Seraphin + a solid veteran 2/3 player with the current bench, well coached and focussing on defense can try to get in the Playoffs next year. Only next season can the team shed its image, the progresses since the trade are mainly going under the radar for the season's image is already soiled.

Dwill is a douche put at some point standing for your team only gets you so far. when your FO assembles a cast of dimwits and knuckleheads, criticism is warranted.

[truwizfan4evr]

We are consider the jokes and the punch line of the nba. Deron William have no right to make comments like that It's not like the nets have done anything either. I agree with what he said but he has no place to say it. We need to get rid of Ernie so bad he continues to bring in head case and selfish players. He's been apart of bringing in guys that are knuckle heads. This off season will say a lot about Ernie if he can get rid of Dray and maybe Jordan also.

[Ruzious]

Whether or not he should or shouldn't be saying it, all that matters to me as a Zards fan is - He's Telling the Truth. And I like to hear the truth.

[nate33]

Just win, and all this blather goes away.

[Rafael122]

....he's right though. I read the Gilbert interview and they equate being on the Wizards like being stuck in prison. They being JaVale, Nick, and Andray but my thing is, those two are the reason why it feels like they're in prison. Those 3 created that type of environment.

[DCZards]

Whether or not he should or shouldn't be saying it, all that matters to me as a Zards fan is - He's Telling the Truth. And I like to hear the truth.

+1

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Whether or not he should or shouldn't be saying it, all that matters to me as a Zards fan is - He's Telling the Truth. And I like to hear the truth.

List every guy on the current Wizards roster who falls in that 'not the smartest guys' category if you agree with him that much.

All the young guys including John Wall make their fair share of mistakes that make you go 'huh, what?; Deron Williams has past memories of the Wizards locked in his mind, has no reason to keep himself up-to-date with the Wizards because it's not his team, and made a lazy comment without being up on his facts. I watch guys on TNT and NBATV ridicule the Wizards, but they don't realize that the Wizards are finding pieces and growing in the process with players who give a crap getting more minutes. These same guys are going to feel stupid and be shamefaced when the growth of the Wizards as a team becomes apparent to everyone.

John Wall
Jordan Crawford
Shelvin Mack
Morris Almond
Chris Singleton
James Simgleton
Cartier Martin
Maurice Evans
Brian Cook
Kevin Seraphin
Jan Vesely
Trevor Booker
Nene
Andray Blatche
Rashard Lewis

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

After the Nets vs. Boston Celtics contest, a reporter asked Williams about struggling young guards in the league and John Wall’s name was subsequently brought into the discussion.

“He’s handled it well. He’s a had a tough cast down there, I don’t want to put anybody down but he’s not playing with the smartest guys in the world. That’s tough, man, that’s tough,” Williams said.

Williams doesn’t want to put anyone down? It would have been mildly different if he would have just said Wall doesn’t have the best supporting cast. That would have been enough.

However, he did not just attack their talents. He attacked their IQ. Yet, it does not stop there.

Williams goes a bit deeper into his reasoning for calling the Wizards “not the smartest guys in the world” and manages to take shots at his own teammates in the process.

“They’re not smart, I don’t know," Williams said. "I’ve been watching. JaVale McGee (now with Denver) was on the Not So Top 10, like, 50 times this year,” Williams said.

“But I think he’s handled it well. He has to force a lot of things. I think I have to force a lot. I’m shooting 40 percent. I never thought I would shoot 40 percent in my career, but I’m taking tough shots over double teams and that’s really the only shots I get. I don’t get many open looks, I don’t get many just spot up shots and it’s just what it is.”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1146 ... rtest-guys

Williams is really a douche. I like how he indirectly said his teammates are dumb as well, what is that like the 5th time he's called them out now?

To his credit he has a point, but I wonder if he realizes that McGee and Young were both traded. Only dummy left is Blatche, probably Crawford too. Nonetheless, he still comes off as a dick.

Crawford?

[closg00]

....he's right though. I read the Gilbert interview and they equate being on the Wizards like being stuck in prison. They being JaVale, Nick, and Andray but my thing is, those two are the reason why it feels like they're in prison. Those 3 created that type of environment.

It's not just the players, it's a pervasive culture of loserdom presided-over by Ed Tapscott and Ernie Grunfeld. Nothing will ever change until we start the house-cleaning with those-two being frog-marched out of the Verizon Center.

[FAH1223]

Deron is going to Dallas, don't know why he is complaining.

[keynote]

"He's *had* a tough cast down there."

That statement is accurate. Wall has had a smarter set of teammates (from a basketball IQ perspective) for only a few weeks. The new roster has rarely been fully healthy, and the current rotation is still one of the youngest and least-experienced in the league.

The fact that Williams didn't amend his statement to say "well, ever since the trading deadline a few weeks ago, Wall has had the good fortune to play with the MENSA rec-league all-stars, so please add that caveat" doesn't invalidate his overall premise.

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

"He's *had* a tough cast down there."

That statement is accurate. Wall has had a smarter set of teammates (from a basketball IQ perspective) for only a few weeks. The new roster has rarely been fully healthy, and the current rotation is still one of the youngest and least-experienced in the league.

The fact that Williams didn't amend his statement to say "well, ever since the trading deadline a few weeks ago, Wall has had the good fortune to play with the MENSA rec-league all-stars, so please add that caveat" doesn't invalidate his overall premise.

Just reads like he's spouting off ignorantly trying to cite Wall's teammates as the source of his personal struggles when Wall along with his teammates have work to do in order for the team to improve (Wall understands this). From what I've read, Wall seems to love the new rotation even though it doesn't always produce wins. I don't know if Williams was referring mainly or only to McGee, but I had to read his qoutes two or three times in order to come up with a possible dual meaning of what he may have been trying to express. If he was speaking on the past it isn't obvious, especially considering the comments were made this past Saturday. To me, Williams comments come off as reckless, and with the recent play of Seraphin (and team as a whole) it's not difficult to see how it could be insulting to some.

[doclinkin]

Except, reputations decay and alter slowly. It's not like Deron follows this team with the obsessive exactitude that we do on here. Teams who have played our squad recently do give props and recognize, but anyone else will tend to look at the record and not really pay much attention to the idea that the manbearpig has begun to devour opponents up front, for instance. (MBP!) Next year's narrative may include the phrase 'much-improved' and 'infusion of talent' and refer to this year's midseason trade or the startling development of then 3rd year player Keveen SeRAFon(g). I hope the language will include references to John Wall's vastly improved jumpshot, but in truth the only thing that will instantlyy change perception of this team around the league will be the late May revelation that our squad has landed the number one overall pick for the 2nd time in 3 years. Anything short of that will simply require hard work and wins to change anyone's mind.

[hands11]

....he's right though. I read the Gilbert interview and they equate being on the Wizards like being stuck in prison. They being JaVale, Nick, and Andray but my thing is, those two are the reason why it feels like they're in prison. Those 3 created that type of environment.

I would say four. I care very little what Gil says except that I hear that he stays in touch with Wall. Gil chiming in about Nick and McGee is laughable since he was the ring leader of dysfunction. He needs to just play ball and STFU. I have thought that for a while. What a drama queen. And D Williams is a db.

Gil was the main problem. He is gone.
Nick and McGee were infected. They are gone.
Dray was infected but he is in ER getting life saving treatment. We will see if he pulls through.

People that post half knowledged ( maybe giving them to much credit ) articles that are backward looking mean nothing.

This team is looking like it is on dramatically more solid footing now and moving forward, and that is all that matters. There isn't a list of knuckheads or bad contracts to get ride of that they can't easily get off the books. They still have a few concerns but so do all teams. On that list I have Wall, Crawford and Dray ( not in any order )

Wall - I think his questions get addressed next year when he adds a jumper and when he shares the leadership role with Nene, hopefully some vets that return such as J Singleton, upcoming players like KS, Booker, etc and another top 5 pick. So not really worried about Wall right now and he is really the only one to worry about because he is the only one that I see on that list of concerns that is slotted to stick around long term.

Crawford - I say they move him in the next 1-2 years. He really isn't a big issue, I just think his personality is not a great match. He complains to much when fouled and refs don't give him the call. He doesn't seem like someone the other players can bond with. He seems stubborn and distant.

Dray - I don't see him as an issue. Dray will do what they ask him to do moving forward. They did the right thing to get his attention. Dray isn't really a bad kid. He just got off track and was enjoying some success before he really reached the meaningful goals. Being a starter who could be a premiere scorer probably felt like he had arrived. Well he hadn't. Starting on a bad team that is rebuilding is not arriving.

I don't see a team of knuckheads or a team with a bad culture anymore. They just need to keep adding the right players moving forward so they don't back track.

Beal seems ideal in that aspect. Solid down to earth hard worker with a good personality. Next year is when they start winning. That is when the backward thinking bandwagoners while start writing articles about how things have changed. They will be a year behind in reporting what actually happened and when.

[hands11]

Except, reputations decay and alter slowly. It's not like Deron follows this team with the obsessive exactitude that we do on here. Teams who have played our squad recently do give props and recognize, but anyone else will tend to look at the record and not really pay much attention to the idea that the manbearpig has begun to devour opponents up front, for instance. (MBP!) Next year's narrative may include the phrase 'much-improved' and 'infusion of talent' and refer to this year's midseason trade or the startling development of then 3rd year player Keveen SeRAFon(g). I hope the language will include references to John Wall's vastly improved jumpshot, but in truth the only thing that will instantlyy change perception of this team around the league will be the late May revelation that our squad has landed the number one overall pick for the 2nd time in 3 years. Anything short of that will simply require hard work and wins to change anyone's mind.

While the tank would be best if they lose to MIK tonight, if they then turnaround and take down Miami in Miami, we may start to hear some props sooner rather then later.

Headline like.

Are the Wizards starting to turn it around after beating two of the best in the league.

Point is, it doesn't have to take waiting until next year if they can do something noteworthy now. When you have the 2nd worst record in the league, there is lots of opportunity to get some attention with a few wins against good teams. The roster clearly still has holes at SG and SF but with Nene back and if Mo Evans can give more of what he just gave, this roster can shock some teams now. What if Almonds can provide some of that outside shooting we just lost with Roger gone ?

But regardless of if we see it this year, more wins are on the way for next year as long as they don't change what they have been doing. In just two years they have done a lot of rebuilding. Now you can see how it is starting to come together. The main knuckheads are gone. Go Wiz.

[nate33]

Gil was the main problem. He is gone.
Nick and McGee were infected. They are gone.
Dray was infected but he is in ER getting life saving treatment. We will see if he pulls through.

I both LOL'd and nodded in agreement. Very well put, hands11.

[DCZards]

I think what D. Williams was really trying to do is defend the up-and-down play of Wall--a fellow member of the NBA PG fraternity. Yes, it's unfortunate that Deron threw other Zards under the bus to do that. But if Williams' words somehow encourages or gives solace to our fledgling superstar PG, I'm all for it.

[TGW]

Deron should acknowledge that John has been part of the problem, although I do agree with the basic premise that crappy teammates bring you down. It's especially true in John's case, because you can tell he simply does not want to shoot as much as he does, but because of the lack of offensive talent on this team, he's forced to. And asking someone to do something unnaturally (in John's case, creating a shot in a half-court setting) is just unfair in basketball terms.