GT #76: Pacers @ Wizards, BULLETS CHAMPIONSHIP ANNIVERSARY

[bjack18]

I never thought John would be THIS kind of scorer to be honest, even if he did turn the corner. I'm surprised, pleasantly. He would have had like a 37/17 game had we had a big who could hit something from mid range.

Good to see Seraphin have another decent game. He needs to finish off the season strong, if not just for his confidence but for his trade value

agree, I thought with a reliable jumper Wall would be a better version of Rondo but I never envisioned him shooting this good...before I'd be surprised if he hit a jumper but lately I'm surprised if he clangs one, great and pleasant improvement by him.

[GhostsOfGil]

Anyone else notice that there were stretches in the second half, where AJ Price was the primary ball handler playing with Wall? Witman must have some serious confidence in Walls jumper if he's playing him as the off guard.

[Knighthonor]

John Wall just went SSJ3!!!!!

[Knighthonor]

Man I wanted Wiggins in Washington!!!!>:-(

Maybe EG need a new excuse to not play Wall and Beal for half the season again or at least 75% of it. That way the Wizards get Wiggins, Wall, and Beal...

Yikesss scary domination

[penbeast0]

GM for the long term, coach and play for the here and now. The coach and players should never tank but EG should have shut Nene down a long time ago which would leave more developmental time for the young bigs.

Wish I'd gotten to see this one; just got home.

[hands11]

NBA TV doing highlights.

They are calling him the Wizard of Wall

Gave him made props and laughing it up..

They did a entire piece on him.

Said he needs to slow down. Can't become a legend overnight.

Then they called him John Legend.

Wall says if they can win like this on the road, they are easily a top 4 or 5 team in the East.

They man is very confident right now.

[dangermouse]

Are we watching the birth of greatness? Are we... are we all witnesses?

[B-easy]

Are we watching the birth of greatness? Are we... are we all witnesses?

In this stretch (last 15 games) he is probably performing at Top 3 NBA player level . Even if his level drops off slightly he'll still be elite.

I am still skeptical though, his stretch of games is still too small to say he has turned the corner but I hope he doesn't look back. In my opinion confidence is the key, if he loses that i think he will struggle. We have seen this happen before.

[WizardsWorld]

This Summer we better just not play any games and give Wall his extension. Was hoping to get him for less than MAX.... but with this late play theres no way he'll accept anything less than MAX. I say we just get it over with and give him his 5 year MAX deal this summer and get ready for many years of great play ahead

[hands11]

Are we watching the birth of greatness? Are we... are we all witnesses?

In this stretch (last 15 games) he is probably performing at Top 3 NBA player level . Even if his level drops off slightly he'll still be elite.

I am still skeptical though, his stretch of games is still too small to say he has turned the corner but I hope he doesn't look back. In my opinion confidence is the key, if he loses that i think he will struggle. We have seen this happen before.

Not probably. I posted the numbers. He is playing at Tony Parker and near CP3 levels.

Now if he can just produce on the road he his numbers would look even better.

http://stats.nba.com/playerStats.html?PlayerID=202322

[B-easy]

Not probably. I posted the numbers. He is playing at Tony Parker and near CP3 levels.

Now if he can just produce on the road he his numbers would look even better.

http://stats.nba.com/playerStats.html?PlayerID=202322

He is not simply playing at there level he is playing above them. Lebron would be the only player better.

His stats over last 15.
25.3 ppg (49%fg, 82% ft)
8.5 apg
5.3 rpg
1.5 stls
0.6 blks
2.7 tov (!)

PER of ~30

Those stats are so mind blowing that he won't be able to maintain this level unless he is the second coming of 08-09 d-wade or something.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wall getting a ton of FTAs ever since he was ejected.

And now that he is getting the calls, he is going to keep getting the calls.

That shouldn't go unnoticed as one of the season achievements.

The Wizards now have a star who is going to get calls. Once you have one, your entire team is more likely to get better calls.

That's huge.

And Beal is such a likable young man. Ref should treat him well.

This team is looking more and more like something the NBA wouldn't mind marketing. So we should be getting treated better moving forward.

Now Wall has to prove he can take his show on the road. That is their next maturity hurdle.

On top of that, now all the top FAs will consider Washington a good destination.

I don't like Bynum at all but Washington would be a great team for him. Same with Dwight Howard. I know they'll chase max money and so will Josh Smith--but each of those guys could consider themselves a player to put the Wizards over the top.

Old heads like Antawn Jamison or Grant Hill now can look at the good press and see the Wizards wins of late and say this is a team they'd play for after having ups and downs elsewhere. Dirk would never leave the Mavericks, but could you imagine him at stretch PF for this Wizards with all the other players they have on this team who get it done defensively?

Realistically, the Wizards can look to sign players the same way that signed Martell Webster and AJ Price. I don't know is Sam Dalembert or Zaza Pachulia would sign one year tenders. Same with Biedrins who could opt out in GS. But if they did for the minimum, they could give quality depth.

This Wizards team is trending upward right now. Just like Wall's FTs.

[dobrojim]

I have some extra tickets on CL for sale....section 103, $50/seat

Jim, are you going to the pre-game festivities (chalk board talk and autograph session with the 78 team)? Unfortunately, I am missing it because I committed to a golf tournament with some friends, but I am sending my wife and son to collect some autographs. I already have a ball signed by Bobby D, Phil Chenier and Kevin Grevey. It would be nice to get the rest of the team on it. Lots of pressure on my wife to get the autographs of the entire 78 championship team (at least what's left of it)!

I went but we got there late. I got some autographs on a poster they were giving
away. If I had had my thinking cap on I would have taken a Bullets hat (for autographs) that I bought
right before the name change and almost never wear so it is in good condition.

Sidenote that I consider to be really good news, almost at the very moment the
'ceremony' was over, Wall came out of the locker room and began shooting.
As has been said, it's great when your team's best player is leading the way
as far as working on your game and generally being a pro. Temple was out at
almost the same time FWIW.

Then of course Wall backed it up with another MVP level performance.

If in season improvement over the last portion of the year were the basis of the award,
Wall should be a shoe-in for the MIP. He's been nothing short of sensational for more than
a month now.

[dobrojim]

good move coming back with Webster. I think Witt saw what I was seeing in that Ariza hesitated on every open shot. Gotta sit him after that because he's clearly not in a groove

ended up having a solid rebounding game though, not to mention our team, led by
Ariza in this case, held George to 2 points.

[dobrojim]

time for Wall to go for 40 tonight if he gets a fair shake. Im the last person to make in game predictions because I think guys can easily cool off and games can change but I said "if he gets a fair shake" because he shouldve went to the line about 10 times so far. Therefore even if he cools off in the 2nd half, he should still make it up at the line if the refs do there jobs

while it may be unseemly to complain about refs in a game you win by
nearly 20, the refs sucked ballz last night.

[dobrojim]

Wizards are punking a good team that has had their number for years.

They, led by Hansbrough, tried to punk us. Not in our house baby.

[dobrojim]

Are we watching the birth of greatness? Are we... are we all witnesses?

[dlts20]

game thread?

KG & PP are back tonight with Green also still staying in the starting group. Alot of Boston fans seem to think Bradley will shut Wall down like he does everyone he plays against

[sfam]

Its funny comparing the size of the George Mason Final Four banner with the Bullets' 78 Championship banner. The Mason banner is like 4 times bigger. And really, the Championship banner in the Verizon Center is smaller than the division banners. I'd love it if they put a new, HUGE banner up, and put the old one in a glass display out front or something.

How cool is that! They actually put up a lots bigger banner! My wish is their command!