Game Thread #2 Wiz vs Philly Home Opener Nov 1, 7PM

[Upper Decker]

Where are the Wiz going to get their first win?

@ Miami L
@ Philly ? maybe W
Brooklyn L
@ OKC L
@ Dallas L
@ SAS L

0-8 is very likely if they don't win in Philly this wednesday...BTW, they're 0-5 in their last 5 games at philly.

[hands11]

D10

I agree with most of what you are saying.

But I would highlight the following.

The lead and burst in the 1st was all Wall. Other then him, the offense sucked. Booker got creamed by Thaddeus Young and he was not what the Wizards needed to help the offense get going. He made a few nice post moves if he did that for two games, teams would shut it down. He tried to be a key offensive player to start last year and it was awful.

So going into the 2nd, I expected they would struggle unless Wall could keep it going and Beal started to normalize.

First time I saw what looked like an offense is when they went to

Maynor, Webster, Trevor A, AH, and Kevin and they took a nice lead.

Then Randy changed the line up. Not sure to what, but they lost the lead soon after.

I don't know Hands. AH and Kevin did a few nice things, but they also did a bunch of sucky things too. AH looked old and slow out there. Although Kevin had a few nice scoring plays, he also had a lay-up blocked which should have been a dunk, had a bad defensive 3 second call, and did not box anyone out on some rebounds that the Sixers got put-backs on. I don't think that they were playing that particularly well.

In any event, although I don't think our offense was particularly good this game, I don't think it is what lost this game. I think what lost this game was the lack of defensive intensity and focus in the second half and the fact that the Wizards players lost their composure at the end when it was becoming apparent that they might lose their home opener to one of the worst teams in the NBA.

Yeah, Kevin not dunking that shot makes me want to slam my head into a wall, but you can't not play him because of that. Not in a game with no Nene and Gortat in game 2.

As for AH, what line up are you talking about. I think AH can be useful, but its going to matter who he is out there with. Again, its about line ups.

[jivelikenice]

They'll win 1-2 unexpectedly. Question is what happens to this team if they start 0-8? Does someone get fired and who is the replacement?

[cdouglas]

They'll win 1-2 unexpectedly. Question is what happens to this team if they start 0-8? Does someone get fired and who is the replacement?

Ernie fires Whitman and is replaced by the assistant coach. The team feels responsible by the firing and wins enough games to make their first playoffs and are eliminated in the first round. After the Bulls are eliminated they fire their HC. Ernie meets w/the coach and then with Leonsis and DC has their new HC. Ernie receives a new contract.

[Hidden Eye]

Beal 4-18 lost the game for the wiz and the turnovers.

2nd half they didn't finish off the sixers which hurt the team add on to the late turnovers.


Oh yeah when the season ends fire Wittman and Ernie.

George Karl still doesn't have a coaching job.

[jivelikenice]

They'll win 1-2 unexpectedly. Question is what happens to this team if they start 0-8? Does someone get fired and who is the replacement?

Ernie fires Whitman and is replaced by the assistant coach. The team feels responsible by the firing and wins enough games to make their first playoffs and are eliminated in the first round. After the Bulls are eliminated they fire their HC. Ernie meets w/the coach and then with Leonsis and DC has their new HC. Ernie receives a new contract.

LOL. I wonder if ppl here could stomach Ernie if it meant Thibs....??? I also hope that Sam doesn't get the interim job. I have not been impressed with him at all and can't tell what he's added to this team.

[bjack18]

Thibs signed a 4 year extension last year...how bout Stan Van or Sloan or Kelvin Sampson

[jivelikenice]

So i was at the game but had to come and see it on TV to see what actually happened. A couple things stood out.

1. Booker is terrible. I don't know he gets a free pass from a lot of you guys. He's like the avg looking girl who hangs out with the unattractive ones to look better. He benefits because unlike Jan/Seraphin, he doesn't do anything terribly embarrassing to himself. I'm tired of his one handed rebounds he has trouble corralling, I'm tired of his garbage defense, and I'm tired of him irresponsibly crashing the offensive glass which in turn leaves our transition defense scrambling. He is terrible.

2. Beal was very indecisive early which lead to bad shots, then later on was very deliberate and had his mind made up to get off certain shots in certain spots. He also looked to be moving very slowly early in the game. Probably a result of his indecision on the court. I think think he's going to be ab AS this year or next, but Ernie really screwed up by not keeping brown or acquiring a quality backup 2 on the roster. \

3. Ariza v. Webster. I don't know what I prefer. I love Martell's shooting but I also love everything else Ariza brings to the floor. Logic says we should go with MW in the starting lineup since it worked last year, but I'm not convinced either way....

[Hypnotizer]

George Karl still doesn't have a coaching job.

Or Stan van Gundy and Jerry Sloan. Who knows, maybe Ernie can hire Phil Jackson?

[Hypnotizer]

Thibs signed a 4 year extension last year...how bout Stan Van or Sloan or Kelvin Sampson

you were quicker

[jivelikenice]

An interim would be pointless. If you fire Randy I think you reach out to an older coach like a Hubie/Sloan and sell them on a notion of coaching this team up and showing them how to win. Maybe you offer a front office role next year to entice them. They get a hands on year before moving into the FO with a keen understanding of whats missing.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

It's definitely a disappointing start to the season.

Wall has phenomenal skills, I just wonder if he'll ever get it in terms of running a team and managing a game as a pg. I just got the feeling he wasn't taking Carter-Williams seriously, like he thought I got this and could turn it on whenever he wanted. Played like it was a pickup game, then was hanging his head when things were going bad.

Beal hasn't found his comfort level yet, and like Wall was forcing things. Wall and Beal in general seem to see themselves as needing to carry the team, not letting the game come to them and taking what the defense gives them. Both of them are pressing with the weight of being the seen as the stars of the team, they will come around as the season progresses and start delivering the big time games predicted of them this year.

Webster really wants to win you can see it on his face he really cares about this team. Ariza has been playing great and with passion and effort as well. I wonder if his motivation is auditioning for the rest of the league.

I wish we had someone like Nate Robinson backing up Wall instead of Maynor. Our bench in general, outside of Webster is pretty terrible.

Losing faith in Wittman, not that I really ever had any to begin with. Maybe I'm used to college ball where coaches are more of the focus and watching guys like Billy Donovan, but I would of liked to have seen the coach gather the troops when things were going wrong and get them to refocus and give some encouragement to put this team away. Instead Wittman just kind of staggered around with a confused look on his face. On the day the Nats introduced Matt Williams as their new coach, maybe I was just more attuned to the Wizards coach this game. Stan Van anyone?

Not making any solid judgements yet though, I say give it another week. Let's see what we do when we roll out our actual starting lineup with Gortat and Nene with Ariza/Webster, Beal, Wall hitting on all cylinders.

Also of note watching Carter-Williams to me was encouraging for Otto Porter. Carter-Williams has some skills and looked good, but Porter was the best player on the floor when they shared the court last season.

[deneem4]

Wall definitely played off and on...far too many times he had the lane to drive...he did it alot in the 1st and a lil bit in the 4th but mostly he chose to pass it off befote attempting...

The 76ers ran the same play..thad or lavoy in left corner we run out snd bite the fake they get to the basket and easy basket in paint...we didnt have any type of defense adjustments

I wouldve love to see ves and rice jr play in this game...we had to no energy or emotion after the 1st qtr...

Wall can be a dominant offensive player, I really believe that...he has to be the 1st option, sorta like rose, thts how he played in the 1st, every time he saw a small hole he took it, when he came back in he slacked off a bit start tryin to get others involved but I feel if he has a hoy hand let him run it cold...its his team!!...

Booker is a bench player, thad young isn't an easy guy to guard...I cant place blame on booker he performed well if we would've got the win everyone would b applauding him...but this is nene job...tjis is why nene can't be in and out of games like this, players thts used to coming off the bench to provide energy has to start and it really changes they're roll considering our starters play more turned down..

Beal is forcing, but wht do you expect he has a bigger green light than wall, id live with beal misses id live with wall misses...but I can't accept whittmans rotations and coaching if beal is cold put webster in at 2 with ariza...thats ehat coaches do...if we go 0-5 whittman gets fired...if were mot better than 3-10 whittman gets fired...he cant use the nene or otto injury excuse especially after the okafor trade...were too good to be losing,

[B-easy]

Wall is a rhythm player. He often gets off to great starts ( 20+ points in 1st half) only to end games poorly. This has happened countless times.

[deneem4]

Wall is a rhythm player. He often gets off to great starts ( 20+ points in 1st half) only to end games poorly. This has happened countless times.

I think its cause he starts feelin lik he needs to get his team involved...he started passin on those jumpers and drives hettookin the 1st to pass when he got the same look again

[miller31time]

Ya know, for once, I'd like the home opener thread NOT to be a 20-page thesis on battered-wife-syndrome.

But Wizards.

[Mickstix]

Ya know, for once, I'd like the home opener thread NOT to be a 20-page thesis on battered-wife-syndrome.

But Wizards.

You'll have that when the teams a perennial bust. I saw the 1st quarter, Wall beatin his chest, 100% FG, up by 12 was it?.. Thought he'd have 40 on the night and they'd win their opener for once.. But he ended with 26? After gettin 20+ in the 1st half? WTFH??

At least the Caps slapped the Flyers silly.. (beat a terrible team, but was fun at least) But the Wiz off to yet another o'fer run to start a season.. SMH..

[Jay81]

This is just sad

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

It's definitely a disappointing start to the season.

Wall has phenomenal skills, I just wonder if he'll ever get it in terms of running a team and managing a game as a pg. I just got the feeling he wasn't taking Carter-Williams seriously, like he thought I got this and could turn it on whenever he wanted. Played like it was a pickup game, then was hanging his head when things were going bad.

Agreed.

Beal hasn't found his comfort level yet, and like Wall was forcing things. Wall and Beal in general seem to see themselves as needing to carry the team, not letting the game come to them and taking what the defense gives them. Both of them are pressing with the weight of being the seen as the stars of the team, they will come around as the season progresses and start delivering the big time games predicted of them this year.

Agreed. Carrying the team, hero ball, isn't the way to go. However, the veterans aren't really vocal leaders and I'm not sure how much the offense and lineups have to do with this. Seems to me there should not be stars or names associated with winning. Wall and Beal are pressing, SUPER. Great observations.

Webster really wants to win you can see it on his face he really cares about this team. Ariza has been playing great and with passion and effort as well. I wonder if his motivation is auditioning for the rest of the league.

I wish we had someone like Nate Robinson backing up Wall instead of Maynor. Our bench in general, outside of Webster is pretty terrible.

Ariza is in a contract year. More good stuff, SUPER. I don't worry even if that is his motivation. The Wizards tried to trade him for Caron. IMO it should be a motivator and I can't fault him if it is, particularly after the way the team's gone 0-2. I'm just happy he's bringing it.

One thing about Webster is he's the team player. The lineup was better with Wall, Beal, Webster last season. Coaching changed that to start Ariza.

Losing faith in Wittman, not that I really ever had any to begin with. Maybe I'm used to college ball where coaches are more of the focus and watching guys like Billy Donovan, but I would of liked to have seen the coach gather the troops when things were going wrong and get them to refocus and give some encouragement to put this team away. Instead Wittman just kind of staggered around with a confused look on his face. On the day the Nats introduced Matt Williams as their new coach, maybe I was just more attuned to the Wizards coach this game. Stan Van anyone?

Not making any solid judgements yet though, I say give it another week. Let's see what we do when we roll out our actual starting lineup with Gortat and Nene with Ariza/Webster, Beal, Wall hitting on all cylinders.

Also of note watching Carter-Williams to me was encouraging for Otto Porter. Carter-Williams has some skills and looked good, but Porter was the best player on the floor when they shared the court last season.

I am kind of disappointed because I've been a fan of Wittman. I was drinking the Kool Aid on this team and expecting Randy would figure things out.

Super, I think waiting a while to make a judgement sure is better for your state of mind and probably wiser than me reacting with disdain. I'm surprised how soon I feel burnt out on this team.

[closg00]

They'll win 1-2 unexpectedly. Question is what happens to this team if they start 0-8? Does someone get fired and who is the replacement?

Ernie fires Whitman and is replaced by the assistant coach. The team feels responsible by the firing and wins enough games to make their first playoffs and are eliminated in the first round. After the Bulls are eliminated they fire their HC. Ernie meets w/the coach and then with Leonsis and DC has their new HC. Ernie receives a new contract.

The coach gets fired and Ernie gets a new contract after the new team gets marginal improvement out of Ernie's crap roster. This is what we have to come to expect at some point.