Celtics @ Wizards - 11/3/12

[Zonkerbl]

Summary: Kevin's the real deal, looks like. Good thing because that makes Nene and Okafor unnecessary. Unfortunately, we have a gazillion bucks tied up in redundant front court players.

Who's better at backup center, Ves or Okafor?

Beal SUCKED SUCKED SUCKED. Cmon Beal! Get your head in the game, man!

Webster finished 1-6!

Why can't the zards execute out of time outs?

Rondo's miracle shot basically won the game. That's annoying.

Jordan Crawford is the second best active player on the roster. That is an enormous indictment of Beal.

[nuposse04]

I'm not mad that we lost, since I didn't think we'd win...I'm mad at how they executed at the end. Barring a team shooting absurd from 3 pt land I think Wittman will make sure the team has a chance in each game...but that was just a baffeling end of game situation. Wasn't crawford inbounding the ball...of all people he should have been the one taking the last shot.

Beal really needs to grow up though...I understand having rookie woes...but it just seems like he's coasting out there. Says all the right things but just does more of the same. His defense has been alright though.

And for gods sake...send Okafor and Ariza to the end of the bench. Singleton should be getting all the backup SF minutes and you might as well start Earl Barron at this point, he can at least run a pick and pop with Price, Okafor has been just as disappointing as Ariza out there.

[GhostsOfGil]

So essentially, our 5 best players are the same 5 players we had last season.. Sarcastic applause goes to you Mr. Grunfeld..

[Ed Wood]

I'd say it's a little early to deem Nene superfluous. I'm tickled too to have A good frontcourt player (and did you see what Seraphin did to the Celtics defensively when he came in, fabulous stuff) but generally you want two. And more than that on the roster generally.

Rotations could be sorted out better than they were sure, but the team is still mostly a very bad NBA team, and while I wouldn't go so far as you do with Crawford it's ridiculous that the team should have so many bad players on it. Any team might struggle without two of its marquee talents (though Wall and Nene aren't overwhelming in that role either) but not all teams would do so with AJ Price.

[hands11]

This team is fine finding some offense when they're trailing...it's when the game tightens up and on the line when the boneheaded decisions come

Because they don't have a go to player or two established yet.

Right now I would say its Kevin inside, but that take a PG to get it to him. What they are missing is Wall.

This is going to look pretty good once Wall and Nene are back.

Wall, Nene and Kevin are legit.

Beal is starting to worry me.

Okafor is a bench player. He can rebound but not much more then that.

Trevor A just looks to be so heartless. 17 minutes and all he produced was 1 steal 1 TO and 1 PF
Not one rebound, assist, or pts.

[miller31time]

So essentially, our 5 best players are the same 5 players we had last season.. Sarcastic applause goes to you Mr. Grunfeld..

And most of us were screaming this at the time of the trade, too.

This isn't one of those "hindsight is 20/20" deals. This was a terrible trade from the start and we collectively said as much.

Fire EG.

[jangles86]

^^ Fickle fickle Zards supporters. We wonder why our young players fail to develop.. How long before you guys jump on Beal is a bonehead bandwagon.

This was Beals 2nd.... That's right 2nd! Game in the NBA. Not only that he has not played one game with his future backcourt co-superstar! Get a grip and get out of ur bubble.

Great to see Serephin come out firing today and Crawford gain some confidence. We pushed a +.500 team with out our two best players. I'm pretty sure in 60 games or so Martell Webster won't be taking our game winners.

[hands11]

Summary: Kevin's the real deal, looks like. Good thing because that makes Nene and Okafor unnecessary. Unfortunately, we have a gazillion bucks tied up in redundant front court players.

Who's better at backup center, Ves or Okafor?

Beal SUCKED SUCKED SUCKED. Cmon Beal! Get your head in the game, man!

Webster finished 1-6!

Why can't the zards execute out of time outs?

Rondo's miracle shot basically won the game. That's annoying.

Jordan Crawford is the second best active player on the roster. That is an enormous indictment of Beal.

Consider this. As bad as they looked to start and as bad as the roster looks at times, they only lost by 1 to Boston.

[Ed Wood]

Boston which has itself struggled to be better than abysmal thus far this year.

[tontoz]

The starting lineup needs to change. Beal isn't ready and Okariza can't score for crap. The late game execution was awful but it wouldn't have come to that if the starters hadn't gotten outplayed so badly.

I need to get a Seraphin jersey.

[jangles86]

It's great to see Keveen kick off from where he left last season and the Olympics. Love to see him get 30+ mins a game.

[montestewart]

Yeah, pretty good game for a loss, considering how it started. KS looked great. Hope he stays healthy. If only Crawford could play like this more often, attacking the basket more (and hopefully making his FTs). I cringed at Pargo a few times, but that was his best game with us. A few more of those (and a few more of Price missing everything) and Pargo might start. That last shot was disappointing, but Webster didn't leave himself any options when he allowed Garnett to chase him into the corner.

[miller31time]

I wonder if Ted and Ernie will force Wittman to play Okariza big minutes all season just to try and save face on their failed, crippling trade they decided to make.

They're clearly hurting the team and we clearly have better options then the two of them, but I could easily see Ted and Ernie making Witt play them 20-30 minutes each per game.

Where's the damn "Wizard trade Shard and a 2nd for Okafor and Ariza" thread? That baby needs to be bumped like there's no tomorrow...

[montestewart]

The starting lineup needs to change. Beal isn't ready and Okariza can't score for crap. The late game execution was awful but it wouldn't have come to that if the starters hadn't gotten outplayed so badly.

I need to get a Seraphin jersey.

How about CCJ and Hands (and maybe a few others) favorite suggestion: KS at PF?

Okafor
Seraphin
Webster
Crawford
Pargo

I can see plenty going wrong with that lineup, but I can see the same with almost any other scenario as well.

[hands11]

I'd say it's a little early to deem Nene superfluous. I'm tickled too to have A good frontcourt player (and did you see what Seraphin did to the Celtics defensively when he came in, fabulous stuff) but generally you want two. And more than that on the roster generally.

Rotations could be sorted out better than they were sure, but the team is still mostly a very bad NBA team, and while I wouldn't go so far as you do with Crawford it's ridiculous that the team should have so many bad players on it. Any team might struggle without two of its marquee talents (though Wall and Nene aren't overwhelming in that role either) but not all teams would do so with AJ Price.

Actually I think once they have Nene back its going to work really well.

I would separate them so each line up has a solid post scorer who can hit a mid range.
Ves matches up nicely with either. Then you just have to figure out what to do with Okafor. Does he really offer anything more then Barron does.

Personally, I have never been an Okafor fan so he has a lot to prove before I'm convinced.
Trevor A seems to be pretty useless outside of being a defensive stopper. I see both as off the bench role players who deserve no set amount of minutes. Certainly not starters. With Kevin S back and other options at SF, I wouldn't start either. The money is spent. No sense in losing by starting them on top of that.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Inferences from the Box Score and Recap -- I missed this game and did not listen on the radio
==============================================================================

1. Two games left in preseason, Bradley Beal injured himself in practice. He played through and played decently the second-to-last preseason game. He ended preseason with his shot being blocked a lot. Beal, after starting preseason poised, proficient, and on top of his game has since had three poor games in a row, including his first two starts. MY GUESS: I wonder if Beal is hurting? At the least his confidence has been severely shaken. I would bench Beal.

2. More bias by Wittman. Shelvin Mack outperformed Pargo and wasn't beat out by Price IMO, but he got cut. Tonight, Chris Singleton played 18 seconds. Ariza played 18 minutes. Chris had a strong preseason, but with Kevin Seraphin back it is clear that Chris is seen as a PF only, just like Vesely. Also, veteran Ariza is going to play even if he doesn't play rather well. In addition to veteran bias, the Wizards took two guys EG drafted as SGs and now only consider them as backup PFs.

3. Okafor is not as good as Seraphin. Hell, he's not any better than Earl Barron, perhaps. Way to go Ernie Grunfeld, the worst GM I know of.

4. Great comeback. If the team was down 17-2 but fought back to lead 86-84, that is very encouraging.

5. Kevin Seraphin is a beast. He is the bright spot of hope.

6. Cartier Martin is the guy the Wizards could be starting at SF and looking smart to be doing so. But now, they have to pay for Ariza.

I think the talent is there. Washington dominated the boards and slightly outshot Boston. Looks like a quality loss.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

what happen to Beal?

He hasn't been right since that injury scare in practice a couple weeks back IMO.

[hands11]

It's great to see Keveen kick off from where he left last season and the Olympics. Love to see him get 30+ mins a game.

And Booker quietly had a decent game. 10 rebounds 11 pts in 29 minutes.

[TheBigThree]

Our next game isn't until Wednesday? Who the hell designed this schedule?

[Spence]

Okafor
Seraphin
Webster
Crawford
Pargo

Probably the best option the team has until it gets healthier.