Official John Wall Appreciation Thread 2.0

[stevemcqueen1]

I don't think there is any way Wall doesn't get signed to a max contract. I think he is going to finish the season with a PER over 21. I don't any of us imagined that that would be possible a couple of months ago. I also think that Wall is the kind of guy who will play harder if he gets the max, in order to justify his contract. Even when I was having doubts about how good he would be, he always seemed like a good, hard working kid. I am glad to see him having this kind of success. He seems like the anti-Dray/McGee.

Agreed. Wall is a max player. I don't think there's any doubt about it now.

In a way, we are fortunate about the injury keeping him out of All Star contention. He can't qualify for the supermax contract because he won't make 2 all star games during his rookie contract.

He could still win an MVP next season...

Hard to spin that into a negative though. If he got an MVP, we'd probably be the #1 or #2 seed in the East. That would mean the whole team is good. Basically, he'd need a year like Derrick Rose's MVP season.

I think the rule on the 30% max deal is that you have to be named a starter in the AS game twice. Or get All NBA twice. He could have made the AS game (which I think is a safe bet if he hadn't gotten hurt) so long as it was just as a reserve.

But with Rose and Rondo hurt, I think Wall is easily the starting AS PG in the EC this season if he hadn't gotten hurt. He's way better than Jrue Holiday and better than Kyrie at this point too.

[doclinkin]

He could get Most Improved Player this year, that's likely though I'm not sure if it counts. But even so he can't get two citations on his rookie contract if we extend him this summer. So no supermax this contract. Next contract we can hope he earns and deserves it.

[Higga]

Wall will be an All-Star easily next year, and I'm sticking with my prediction that Beal will too. Doubt he ever wins an MVP while Lebron is still playing though.

[dobrojim]

In case anyone missed my post in the IND game thread, I got good news...

At the conclusion of the ceremony Sat night, Wall was the first guy out of the
locker room to go out and shoot. It's definitely a good sign when your team's
best player is setting an example by his own behavior. FWIW, Temple was out
right after him to shoot as well.

[pancakes3]

Wall will be an All-Star easily next year, and I'm sticking with my prediction that Beal will too. Doubt he ever wins an MVP while Lebron is still playing though.

Beal definitely not, and Wall is no lock. This year there were 4 guards for 12 roster spots - Wade, Irving, George, and Holiday.

Next season Wade, Rondo, and Rose are locks leaving 1-2 more spots depending on how voting goes. Wall will have to compete with Irving, Holliday, Deron Williams, and Paul George for that remaining spot and George has the inside track as a SG. That doesn't even count the wild cards like Monta Ellis, Jeff Teague, and Raymond Felton. I think Wall is favored but not a lock.

Also, Grieves Vasques is 3rd in the league in assists/game, #1 overall in total assists. Too early to say he's already the 2nd best Terp in the Pro's behind Stevie Franchise?

[nate33]

Next season Wade, Rondo, and Rose are locks leaving 1-2 more spots depending on how voting goes. Wall will have to compete with Irving, Holliday, Deron Williams, and Paul George for that remaining spot and George has the inside track as a SG. That doesn't even count the wild cards like Monta Ellis, Jeff Teague, and Raymond Felton. I think Wall is favored but not a lock.

Good breakdown. I think Paul George will be a SF though. So of the 12 players in the East we are looking at:

5 guards among: Irving, D.Williams, Wade, Rose, Rondo, Wall
5 forwards among: Lebron, Melo, George, Bosh, Horford, Pierce, Deng
2 centers among: Noah, Chandler, Lopez, Hibbert, Monroe

If Wall plays anything like he did this past month, he's probably the best guard in the East. If he plays like his average over the entire season, then he's fighting Rondo and Williams for the 4th and 5th spot. My guess is that injuries will take out somebody (hopefully not Wall) making the decision pretty easy. I agree that Beal has virtually no chance next year - not unless he makes a radical jump in his second season.

Also, Grieves Vasques is 3rd in the league in assists/game, #1 overall in total assists. Too early to say he's already the 2nd best Terp in the Pro's behind Stevie Franchise?

Buck Williams and John Lucas?

[Illuminaire]

Eh, Rondo is no lock. If the Celtics underachieve as a team, the "Rondo is overrated" narrative will be out in force.

Wade and Rose are probably locks barring injuries though, I agree. Wall would need to play at the level of the last ten games for an entire season to sneak in past one of them - and even at that point, sheer voting apathy for Washington players could mean he only gets in as a coaches' selection.

Also agreed the Beal has very little chance. He would have to turn in 20+ pts/game AND get a reputation as a lockdown defender AND show a drastically improved isolation game. He's just not going to beat the sheer numbers of several very good guards. He may have a shot in 2-3 years if he keeps developing though.

[miller31time]

Most of this is dependent on how the Wizards perform next season.

Even if Wall puts up 20/9/4 next season on 45% shooting, if the Wizards are .400 at the break, he probably won't make it.

If Wall puts up 18/8/4 on 44% shooting and the Wizards are .600, he very well might get the nod.

Beal? He has no shot. And that's not a knock on him -- it's simply unfair to expect that much development in one off-season.

[TheKingOfVa360]

Wall ranked 21 on espn's NBA rank list. He was ranked 55 last year

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9144911/#nbarank-player-ratings-21-25

[dlts20]

Wall ranked 21 on espn's NBA rank list. He was ranked 55 last year

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9144911/#nbarank-player-ratings-21-25

just saw that. Big time for him to rise in people's eyes that far. On a side note, Vijay Singh? How random is that.....lol

Does he have some ties to the area that I wasnt aware of

[GhostsOfGil]

Wall's pouting when things arn't going well is known to wiz fans who follow him. Good to see Mek stepping up.

"Veteran leadership" is one of those vague intangibles that everyone uses, but few know how to apply. This anecdote relayed by Michael Lee would be a good application of "veteran leadership."

Lee reports that Emeka Okafor was fed up with John Wall's attitude following a one-point loss to the Detroit Pistons at home on February 27. That led to a shouting match that ultimately turned Wall's season around.

When Okafor attempted to explain afterward why Coach Randy Wittman had to make the decision to give A.J. Price more playing time, Wall snapped back, leading to a heated argument that was audible from the walls on the other side of the training room.

"It was just me being young and very frustrated. I wasn't making anything, turning the ball over, and we lost a lot of games that we should've won and I put the toll on me," Wall explained, as he recalled his emotions before the encounter. "A lot of frustration was coming out. As a veteran and being a leader on the team, [Okafor] stepped up and said something. At the time, it was in the heat of moment. I was upset."

Wall and Okafor talked the next day to clear the air, but clearly the exchange had an effect on Wall. Since that moment, Wall is averaging 22.7 points and 7.9 assists per game with a true shooting percentage of 56.4 percent and an assist rate of 40.4 percent.

It's just a small reminder that pros with credibility can have a lot of value to teams with young stars. Okafor may be overpaid for his production, but given his consistency and experience, he holds a lot of weight when he speaks up. It'd be easy for Wall to downplay similar comments by a fellow youngster like, say, JaVale McGee. It's much harder for him to do so when it's Okafor.

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/ ... on-wizards

[Zonkerbl]

Next season Wade, Rondo, and Rose are locks leaving 1-2 more spots depending on how voting goes. Wall will have to compete with Irving, Holliday, Deron Williams, and Paul George for that remaining spot and George has the inside track as a SG. That doesn't even count the wild cards like Monta Ellis, Jeff Teague, and Raymond Felton. I think Wall is favored but not a lock.

Good breakdown. I think Paul George will be a SF though. So of the 12 players in the East we are looking at:

5 guards among: Irving, D.Williams, Wade, Rose, Rondo, Wall
5 forwards among: Lebron, Melo, George, Bosh, Horford, Pierce, Deng
2 centers among: Noah, Chandler, Lopez, Hibbert, Monroe

If Wall plays anything like he did this past month, he's probably the best guard in the East. If he plays like his average over the entire season, then he's fighting Rondo and Williams for the 4th and 5th spot. My guess is that injuries will take out somebody (hopefully not Wall) making the decision pretty easy. I agree that Beal has virtually no chance next year - not unless he makes a radical jump in his second season.

Also, Grieves Vasques is 3rd in the league in assists/game, #1 overall in total assists. Too early to say he's already the 2nd best Terp in the Pro's behind Stevie Franchise?

Buck Williams and John Lucas?

Oooooooooohhhhhhh, Buck Williams. He used to play for the Blazers when I lived in Portland, the two years they made it to the finals. That brings back good memories.

[Ruzious]

Next season Wade, Rondo, and Rose are locks leaving 1-2 more spots depending on how voting goes. Wall will have to compete with Irving, Holliday, Deron Williams, and Paul George for that remaining spot and George has the inside track as a SG. That doesn't even count the wild cards like Monta Ellis, Jeff Teague, and Raymond Felton. I think Wall is favored but not a lock.

Good breakdown. I think Paul George will be a SF though. So of the 12 players in the East we are looking at:

5 guards among: Irving, D.Williams, Wade, Rose, Rondo, Wall
5 forwards among: Lebron, Melo, George, Bosh, Horford, Pierce, Deng
2 centers among: Noah, Chandler, Lopez, Hibbert, Monroe

If Wall plays anything like he did this past month, he's probably the best guard in the East. If he plays like his average over the entire season, then he's fighting Rondo and Williams for the 4th and 5th spot. My guess is that injuries will take out somebody (hopefully not Wall) making the decision pretty easy. I agree that Beal has virtually no chance next year - not unless he makes a radical jump in his second season.

Also, Grieves Vasques is 3rd in the league in assists/game, #1 overall in total assists. Too early to say he's already the 2nd best Terp in the Pro's behind Stevie Franchise?

Buck Williams and John Lucas?

Oooooooooohhhhhhh, Buck Williams. He used to play for the Blazers when I lived in Portland, the two years they made it to the finals. That brings back good memories.

Back in the day when the Terps played UVA when Ralph Sampson was dominant, the Terps had 6'8 Buck Williams going toe to toe with 7'4 Sampson. And the student section showed their poetic ability with a chant that rang through Cole Field House "Don't ____ with Buck! Don't ____ with Buck!" Ever since thin, it seemed the networks were very hesitant to televise MD home games for some reason. The first time I saw Buck, I was helping my sister move into one of the new dorms at Maryland. Buck held the elevator door open for her - he was either a junior or a senior then. Pretty cool way to start off life at college.

[Knighthonor]

Here is the thing. Do the Wizards tank or go for the Win next season with their current squad?

[dlts20]

Here is the thing. Do the Wizards tank or go for the Win next season with their current squad?

go all out for the win. They are too talented to tank if they are healthy. There is no doubt in my mind that neither Wall or Beal will go backwards so those 2 guys wll carry us to enough wins that tanking is out. If Nene comes along for the ride then they can be very good

[B-easy]

Ever since the game against the GSW wall has been getting to the line 11.6 times a game, thats is very impressive.

I'm waiting for wall to cool down but keeps just hasn't slowed down, it's getting to the point where this is a legitimate breakthrough. He is shooting 49% with TS 58% in the last 17, the improvement is remarkable.

I sometimes feel long breaks can disrupt the flow that player is in, but if he comes out next season playing like the end of this season then we should be excited.

[GhostsOfGil]

[Zonkerbl]

Thanks! Couldn't see the game!

[hands11]

Wall's pouting when things arn't going well is known to wiz fans who follow him. Good to see Mek stepping up.

"Veteran leadership" is one of those vague intangibles that everyone uses, but few know how to apply. This anecdote relayed by Michael Lee would be a good application of "veteran leadership."

Lee reports that Emeka Okafor was fed up with John Wall's attitude following a one-point loss to the Detroit Pistons at home on February 27. That led to a shouting match that ultimately turned Wall's season around.

When Okafor attempted to explain afterward why Coach Randy Wittman had to make the decision to give A.J. Price more playing time, Wall snapped back, leading to a heated argument that was audible from the walls on the other side of the training room.

"It was just me being young and very frustrated. I wasn't making anything, turning the ball over, and we lost a lot of games that we should've won and I put the toll on me," Wall explained, as he recalled his emotions before the encounter. "A lot of frustration was coming out. As a veteran and being a leader on the team, [Okafor] stepped up and said something. At the time, it was in the heat of moment. I was upset."

Wall and Okafor talked the next day to clear the air, but clearly the exchange had an effect on Wall. Since that moment, Wall is averaging 22.7 points and 7.9 assists per game with a true shooting percentage of 56.4 percent and an assist rate of 40.4 percent.

It's just a small reminder that pros with credibility can have a lot of value to teams with young stars. Okafor may be overpaid for his production, but given his consistency and experience, he holds a lot of weight when he speaks up. It'd be easy for Wall to downplay similar comments by a fellow youngster like, say, JaVale McGee. It's much harder for him to do so when it's Okafor.

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2013/4/9/ ... on-wizards

Sounds like whatever few extra million Meka is getting paid, he just made up the difference. If what he said had that kind of affect on Wall so that he took the next step, then he more then earned his keep.

Mad props to Mekatron

[hands11]

Here is the thing. Do the Wizards tank or go for the Win next season with their current squad?

go all out for the win. They are too talented to tank if they are healthy. There is no doubt in my mind that neither Wall or Beal will go backwards so those 2 guys wll carry us to enough wins that tanking is out. If Nene comes along for the ride then they can be very good

Tanks are designed.

If they want to tank and get one more solid pick in a solid draft, one way to do it is go for someone like CJM with the first pick.

That would leave the post kind of thin. If Nene can get in shape and step it up, they go for it. If he get injured or just can't jump anymore, then they will score more but they will lose their fair share.

Then you go SF or PF next draft and use the cap space to add whatever else you need.

They can go CJM and something like Muscala and Pierre Jackson

Oooww, first time I have seen us mock draft with Pierre going to us. Nice

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2013/

This one have us with Shabazz Muhammad, Wolters and Pierre

Unlikely we go Wolters and Pierre. One or the other. Both are high energy players. I would have to watch more Wolters for him to top Pierre in my book. I liked Pierre's game from the first time I saw him. He has great leadership, energy and awesome handles.