Will this be John Walls breakout year?

[Higga]

Yes. Wall will be the best PG in the East this year as he leads the Wizards to the playoffs. 18/10 type year.

no way, 10 assist???

he'll score more, 22-25 range with 8 assists.

He's averaged 8 assists passing to a bunch of clowns. Now he'll be going into his third year where players naturally break out and will have much better players around him.

He won't put up 22 a game. 20 tops, unless his shooting improves by a TON. It will improve but not enough to go into the 22-25 PPG range.

[orangeparka]

I think he'll average around the same number of points but on better efficiency, and improve his assists and AS/T ratio.

[flashstinson0]

Yes. Wall will be the best PG in the East this year as he leads the Wizards to the playoffs. 18/10 type year.

no way, 10 assist???

he'll score more, 22-25 range with 8 assists.

He's averaged 8 assists passing to a bunch of clowns. Now he'll be going into his third year where players naturally break out and will have much better players around him.

He won't put up 22 a game. 20 tops, unless his shooting improves by a TON. It will improve but not enough to go into the 22-25 PPG range.

BINGO

[Geaux_Hawks]

I wouldn't call it a breakout year, since he has been kind of productive with the garbage he has around him. I can easily see him bump his efficiency up and score one or 2 more, while averaging double digit assists as well, which will be a more productive, and improved season.

The screw ups are gone, and some good vets have been brought in. Beal hopefully contributes with his shooting & spacing, and allows Wall to stick to being the natural pass first PG he is. Washington making the playoffs and Wall producing a 18/10/4/2 line with better efficiency would be a breakout year, though not what most are looking for. After that, 20/10 consistently, would definitely look more like what a #1 pick should be producing. Until then, I don't think you could ever label him a bust considering the talent level, and mediocrity he has been surrounded by.

[jwehrheim]

He averaged a 16/8 last year even though he had the team with a horrendously low basketball IQ. The Wizards didn't just trade away their problems for solid players, they also got veterans who can provide real leadership and character. Combine his improved team with a real training camp and his experience with the Select Team, and I would be shocked if he didn't have a breakout season.

[Optms]

Yes. Wall will be the best PG in the East this year as he leads the Wizards to the playoffs. 18/10 type year.

no way, 10 assist???

he'll score more, 22-25 range with 8 assists.

I think it is the other way around myself. It is more likely Wall averages close or more than 10 APG than score 20. His jumper from what I've seen is so far below average its embarrassing but he's at his best when he has the ball is in his hands and finding teammates, which he hasn't had a entire lot of his first two years in the league.

[bullsnewdynasty]

I don't think so. For all the talk about his improved teammates, I don't think they're all that good. And smarter teammates won't necessarily make him a smarter player, a competent floor general, or make him suddenly learn how to shoot the ball.

The D Rose comparisons are really stupid. They have speed in common, that's it. Rose is more athletic, much stronger and a stronger finisher, even faster (healthy), plays better D, and of course has a much better shot.

The stats suggest Wall is a better finisher. Wall made 62% of his shots at the rim, Rose made just 58% last year and 60% the year before. And this despite Wall having to finish against tougher interior defense because opposing defenses can pack the lane (since neither Wall nor his teammates can shoot from the perimeter). Wall also averaged .45 free throws per shot attempt (compared to Rose's .34).

I also challenge the notion that Rose is a better defender, though defense is harder to prove with statistics.

Rose is a much better midrange shooter. That's the dramatic difference in their games. If Wall ever learns to shoot a respectable percentage from midrange, there's no reason at all to think that he won't be roughly as good as a healthy Rose. Wall also has better court vision.

There's also the ability to play in the halfcourt. Wall hasn't shown any evidence that he can run a team.

[ahunterknight]

No all he do is in really fast and jump really high his basketball skills sucks. He can't shoot,bball iw is terrible, handles are average at best for a pg I guess his passing is decent but overall he sucks.

[siydee]

How can a guy be a bust when his career averages are 16 PPG and 8 APG and 4 RPG????

If he has a breakout season you guys do realize that'd be in the neighborhood of 20-22 Points 10-12 Assist and 5-7 Boards per?

That's big big time for a 22 year old in his 3rd year, he'd have the best numbers for a guard in the L, hands down.

Wall is not a bust at all, he just needs to polish his O.

im not sure what exactly makes you think he would automatically have those types of numbers just because hes had a breakout year. the numbers you posted arent breakout year type numbers, they're fairy tale type numbers.

[nate33]

I don't think so. For all the talk about his improved teammates, I don't think they're all that good. And smarter teammates won't necessarily make him a smarter player, a competent floor general, or make him suddenly learn how to shoot the ball.

The D Rose comparisons are really stupid. They have speed in common, that's it. Rose is more athletic, much stronger and a stronger finisher, even faster (healthy), plays better D, and of course has a much better shot.

The stats suggest Wall is a better finisher. Wall made 62% of his shots at the rim, Rose made just 58% last year and 60% the year before. And this despite Wall having to finish against tougher interior defense because opposing defenses can pack the lane (since neither Wall nor his teammates can shoot from the perimeter). Wall also averaged .45 free throws per shot attempt (compared to Rose's .34).

I also challenge the notion that Rose is a better defender, though defense is harder to prove with statistics.

Rose is a much better midrange shooter. That's the dramatic difference in their games. If Wall ever learns to shoot a respectable percentage from midrange, there's no reason at all to think that he won't be roughly as good as a healthy Rose. Wall also has better court vision.

There's also the ability to play in the halfcourt. Wall hasn't shown any evidence that he can run a team.

It's much easier to "run a team" if you are a viable threat to sink a 17-foot pull-up jumper. That prevents the defender from going under the high screen and completely opens up the offense. If Wall develops that shot, then everything changes.

I have total respect for Rose's game. It's clear that he is a vastly superior player right now. I'm just saying that this notion that Rose is better in numerous aspects of the game is false. He's really only better in one key aspect of the game: the midrange shot. Wall may never develop that shot, but if he does, there will be very little difference in the effectiveness between Wall and Rose.

[DMVleGeND]

Having said that, it's hard to not be disappointed with Wall's first two years as he basically was given the keys to the team (unlike say, E. T.). The D Rose comparisons are really stupid. They have speed in common, that's it. Rose is more athletic, much stronger and a stronger finisher, even faster (healthy), plays better D, and of course has a much better shot.

Rose is NOT faster than Wall. Wall is probably the fastest player in the league (or Ty Lawson).

[ManualRam]

It's much easier to "run a team" if you are a viable threat to sink a 17-foot pull-up jumper. That prevents the defender from going under the high screen and completely opens up the offense. If Wall develops that shot, then everything changes.

I have total respect for Rose's game. It's clear that he is a vastly superior player right now. I'm just saying that this notion that Rose is better in numerous aspects of the game is false. He's really only better in one key aspect of the game: the midrange shot. Wall may never develop that shot, but if he does, there will be very little difference in the effectiveness between Wall and Rose.

derrick had a deadly mid-range game his first 2 yrs, not so much the last 2.

derrick's better at picking his spots offensively, he's a better decision maker, has a better variety of shots inside the paint and is better at executing in the halfcourt.

[bullsnewdynasty]

It's much easier to "run a team" if you are a viable threat to sink a 17-foot pull-up jumper. That prevents the defender from going under the high screen and completely opens up the offense. If Wall develops that shot, then everything changes.

I have total respect for Rose's game. It's clear that he is a vastly superior player right now. I'm just saying that this notion that Rose is better in numerous aspects of the game is false. He's really only better in one key aspect of the game: the midrange shot. Wall may never develop that shot, but if he does, there will be very little difference in the effectiveness between Wall and Rose.

I think decision making and leadership are also very important. Things like playing under control and limiting turnovers, learning how to score in the halfcourt instead of just transition, and running offensive sets are also areas where he needs to improve.

There's also the fact that the Wizards have seen no improvement as a franchise since drafting Wall, and actually had a worse winning percentage the last 2 years than they had in the year before they drafted him. It should be very concerning when you see 0 improvement from year 1 to year 2.

[nate33]

I think decision making and leadership are also very important. Things like playing under control and limiting turnovers, learning how to score in the halfcourt instead of just transition, and running offensive sets are also areas where he needs to improve.

I agree with all of this. I'm saying that all these things will improve considerably if Wall develops a midrange shot because defenses will be forced to do all kinds of wacky things to stop the high screen and roll.

There's also the fact that the Wizards have seen no improvement as a franchise since drafting Wall, and actually had a worse winning percentage the last 2 years than they had in the year before they drafted him.

The loss of Jamison, Butler, Miller and Haywood had a little something to do with that. Those were the four best players on the team in the year prior to Wall's arrival.

[Alex_De_Large]

Individually yes, in term of wins i don't think so.

[ChildishGambino]

shiiiiieeet....it better be

[rockymac52]

There have only been three players in the history of the NBA to average at least 16 PPG, 8 APG, and .8 BPG over the course of a season. Each of them only managed to do this feat once in their careers.

Who are those three players?

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. John Wall


He has plenty of flaws in his game from what we've seen in his first two seasons, but that stat alone speaks volumes to just how good he already is. Obviously he's not in the same class as MJ and LeBron yet. Not even close. But he's posting numbers that are historic. Even if some of his other numbers, like FG%, 3pt%, and TO are obviously very subpar.

As a Wizards fan, it's come to a point where I won't believe it 'til I see it. I expect him to be marginally better than last season and the year before. I won't blindly expect him to come to training camp with a decent jumper. If he does, AWESOME. If not, oh well. Hopefully he can improve his game in other areas.

I think the change in his teammates this season will greatly improve his game. At the very least, I expect him to average at least 1 more assist per game, very possibly 2. Considering his 8 APG last season were 7th best in the NBA, that would mean he'd become one of the best distributing/passing/playmaking/(insert PG buzz word here) in the league. That's great. Even if he still can't shoot the ball and be an elite offensive weapon. Offense is all bonus from here on out. If he ups his assists per game by 1 or 2 (or even more) AND shows a decent jumper, he's going to instantly become an all-star PG in this league. He's so close. He averaged 16 and 8 and everyone thinks he sucks. If he adds 4 PPG and 2 APG (neither of which is that easy, mind you), he'll be a 20/10 player. Just so you all know, there wasn't a single 20/10 player last season in the NBA (with assists, not rebounds). Chris Paul was the closest, averaging 19 PPG and 9 APG. So that would mean Wall would have to add 3 PPG and 1 APG to be on that level. Again, there's much more to being a good player than just those two stats, but those are obviously the big ones we look at to make a quick judgment on a PG's skill. Wall is RIGHT THERE. Seriously, he's only going to need very marginal improvement and the Wizards to start winning some games to the point of simply being a .500 team for the rest of the league to take notice and start talking him up as an all-star.

[siydee]

There have only been three players in the history of the NBA to average at least 16 PPG, 8 APG, and .8 BPG over the course of a season. Each of them only managed to do this feat once in their careers.

Who are those three players?

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. John Wall

who makes that list if we bump it up to 17 PPG?

[rockymac52]

There have only been three players in the history of the NBA to average at least 16 PPG, 8 APG, and .8 BPG over the course of a season. Each of them only managed to do this feat once in their careers.

Who are those three players?

1. Michael Jordan
2. LeBron James
3. John Wall

who makes that list if we bump it up to 17 PPG?

I made it clear that there is clearly a huge divide between MJ, LeBron, and Wall in my post. Don't focus on how those three compare. Within those three, there's clearly 2 guys at the top and 1 at the bottom. Instead, compare those 3, and what they have in common, with the only thousands and thousands of NBA players over the history of the league, which have failed to do what they did.

[bullsnewdynasty]

Those numbers mean absolutely nothing. You have some kind of misconception that certain assist and PPG numbers make someone an elite PG. They really don't. Elite PG's make their teammates better. Elite PG's make the playoffs. Elite PG's are team leaders. Those are the things that matter, not putting up stats on lottery teams.