Official Thread -- Wizards at Knicks (12/16/13)

[JWizmentality]

Why can't we just roll with last year's starting lineup? As good as Ariza has been, I don't like the idea of Webster off the bench.

I think the second team needs Webster, because he's a bit better scorer than Ariza is. Webster's surprising me with his ability to do things other than catch and shoot. On one 3, he freed himself up with some clever 1 on 1 move, and he seems to be making a conscious effort to drive when the 3 isn't available. I love the way Webster has been thinking out there lately - either go for the 3 or attack the basket. He'll take an occasional long 2 - but his choices are generally real good. Ariza needs Wall more than Webster needs Wall.

True, but Ariza did just fine off the bench last year. Granted, we had a somewhat competent backup PG then. While Ariza definitely needs Wall more, the Wall and Webster combo has so much more potential. I can live with the drop off of Ariza's game as oppossed to Webby.

...or we could go completely biblical and put Ariza at the 4, start Webster and Beal and rain 3s all day.

[JWizmentality]

"NBA Gametime on NBATV showed 5 Wizards highlights and 4 Knicks highlights. The bigger story for them was how the game ended though as they went to interviews with Anthony and Woodson. If Beal/Wall make plays like that at the end of games, the Wizards would be in a good position to get more love. But usually the media likes to talk about how a team with big expectations fails to live up to them."

Not the Gametime I watched. And why does the media always treat "up and coming" teams like Detriot or the Cavs different from us? Why are they deemed the next great young teams (with the story lines weaved to enforce that premise)?

You can dismiss unknowledgeable broadcasters. But, know this, their words go into GMs', refs', fans' and potential future fans' ears. Which leads to less crowd support; less money for free agents due to less revenue; less free agents looking to come to dc; lower trade value for our players; less "star calls" for our players and less pressure on management to develop a true contender.

We need to get mad and demand respect in the media. Sick of it.

We were getting a lot of love when we hit .500, then we went horse poop and lost 4 straight.

[pancakes3]

I'm sure Nene would love that since he'll get all the offensive touches he wants while only playing 24 mpg.

[Nivek]

The on/off numbers continue to indicate that Webster's offensive performance is just as efficient whether Wall is on the floor or not, but that Ariza's efficiency is excellent when he's playing with Wall and awful when he's not. That would suggest the Wiz would be better off starting Ariza and bringing Webster off the bench than vice versa.

Or, as JWiz suggests, starting both of 'em and bringing Nene and Booker off the bench.

Hmm, looks like the Wizards have used Wall-Beal-Webster-Ariza and then either Gortat or Nene for a total of 30 minutes this season. So, Ariza as S4 (which seemed like a good idea to me BEFORE they signed Harrington to play S4). Anyway, in that VERY limited sample, the Wizards ortg was 116 and their drtg was 100.

Their offensive rebounding was bad, which wasn't much of an issue considering that lineup's efg was .594, but they held their own on the defensive glass.

[dobrojim]

I think the small ball lineup with Ariza as S4 is a good backup alternative
when Nene doesn't play. I would go ahead and just start that lineup.

[Zonkerbl]

Maynor-Beal vs. Temple Beal, anyone? Anyone?

Is Temple Beal the worst ball handling tandem possible? And yet why are they more successful?

For that matter, why does the ENTIRE BENCH DISAPPEAR when Maynor is in the game? I've noticed that all the good minutes we've been getting from the bench seem to have occurred entirely bereft of Maynor's influence.

DNP-CD. Yeesh.

[DCZards]

I still prefer starting Ariza over Martell because I love the defensive intensity and smarts that Ariza gives you. I also think Webster provides that instant offensive off the bench that this team desperately needs. And, as many people have said, often what's more important is who finishes the game as opposed to who starts it...and most of the time both Webster and Ariza are on the court at crunch time.

Martell is really rounding out his games...as a scorer, rebounder and passer. He still doesn't have the impressive numbers in the last two categories but he's making a real effort, especially on the boards. Martell seems to be a late bloomer who's career was slowed early on by injury but is now starting to find his groove.

[Nivek]

Maynor-Beal vs. Temple Beal, anyone? Anyone?

Is Temple Beal the worst ball handling tandem possible? And yet why are they more successful?

For that matter, why does the ENTIRE BENCH DISAPPEAR when Maynor is in the game? I've noticed that all the good minutes we've been getting from the bench seem to have occurred entirely bereft of Maynor's influence.

DNP-CD. Yeesh.

Realistically, the Wizards are choosing between bad and just as bad when selecting between Temple and Maynor. Temple has been even less productive than Maynor individually, although the team is marginally less horrific with Temple than they are with Maynor. That is, with Temple, they have the efficiency differential of a 16-win team (over an 82-game schedule); with Maynor, their efficiency differential is that of a 2-win team. That's two as in, one...two...stop counting.

I think it would be difficult to argue that Temple is CAUSING the Wizards to be better with him on the floor than they've been with Maynor. But, I could probably concoct plausible-sounding theories about why that could be the case. What the numbers are really saying there (in my view) is that the Wizards have been royally screwed whenever Wall sits because BOTH Temple and Maynor have been awful.

Beal has been better with Temple, though again there's no reason to think Temple is the cause.

[Ruzious]

Speaking of the advantages of playing with Wall, why not use that to help speed up getting Porter "up to speed"? Don't necessarily start him, but give him some minutes with the starters. Kev pointed out that the stats show Webster isn't Wall dependent to score, so Webster can pick up more minutes playing with the backups. And if they use Ariza more at the 4, that could open up some extra minutes for Otto.

[tontoz]

Temple is scoring 4.9 pts per 36 minutes with a TS of 35.6%.

At least he is a competent defender but wow he seriously sucks on offense.

[dobrojim]

maynor just seems to pound the ball when he is in the game,
just drifts around the perimeter until a teammate comes and
gets the ball from him. I know I'm exaggerating a little but not much.

he doesn't make aggressive moves to even open up a passing lane
so the offense just stalls and on defense he basically allows the opp
PG to do more or less whatever he wants, very poor at stopping penetration
and at challenging shots.

[tontoz]

Nice meltdown from the Knicks board.

It wasn't bad enough for Dolan to sh*t on the years of excellent memories I have growing up a Knicks fan. He also has to make it as hard as possible to root for Carmelo, who could have been one of NY's greatest heroes. Instead this piece of sh*t owner has installed a piece of sh*t system that's enabled Carmelo to be about as unwatchable and unlikeable as a spectacularly gifted (quasi-) local folk hero can be. I'm a f*cking Cuse fan for f*ck's sake, you f*cking tw@t. How do you mismanage everything so fantastically bad to make Cuse fans get nauseated by Carmelo f*cking Anthony?

I've met Patrick Ewing several times. And I'll be honest, I hated him. He's a d*ck. But I rooted for him, loved him, respected him anyway. Why? Because his teams were run well and damn if they didn't go blood, sweat, and tears every damn night for the Ws. But this Dolan culture of shortcuts, backstabbing, and petty politicking is beyond shameful. It's sh*tting on everything we as fans grew up loving about this franchise. Enabling Carmelo's darkside is just the rotten cherry on top.

I really don't care what happens to Mike Woodson because it was an outright joke that he was hired to begin with. We're the NEW YORK F*CKING KNICKS. You don't hire an Isiah puppet just because he runs iso-Melo and is willing to sell out to CAA. You hire the best damn coach in the business despite his damn affiliations with any f*cking super agency and you give him a real GM with real autonomy....

You know what, F it. Life's too short. I'm closing the computer and going to lift heavy sh*t at the gym. Silver lining: At least I have great motivational imagery to push up that last rep of heavy back squats.

[nuposse04]

^^^Few things in life sweeter then a Knick's fans tears.

[GhostsOfGil]

Glen Rice Jr. went to see a specialist after hurting his wrist during the celebration last night. It was already sore but jammed it #wizards

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 17, 2013

OFFFFFF COURSEEEE

[Dat2U]

Glen Rice Jr. went to see a specialist after hurting his wrist during the celebration last night. It was already sore but jammed it #wizards

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 17, 2013

OFFFFFF COURSEEEE

Were probably looking at 2-3 weeks then.

[Upper Decker]

Speaking of the advantages of playing with Wall, why not use that to help speed up getting Porter "up to speed"? Don't necessarily start him, but give him some minutes with the starters. Kev pointed out that the stats show Webster isn't Wall dependent to score, so Webster can pick up more minutes playing with the backups. And if they use Ariza more at the 4, that could open up some extra minutes for Otto.

Webster and Ariza are just so much more productive than Porter with Wall. You'd be trying to prop up Porter, who is clearly not ready, to the detriment of the team.

[Dark Faze]

Glen Rice Jr. went to see a specialist after hurting his wrist during the celebration last night. It was already sore but jammed it #wizards

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 17, 2013

OFFFFFF COURSEEEE

Were probably looking at 2-3 weeks then.

I hope so

More minutes for Porter

[pancakes3]

Glen Rice Jr. went to see a specialist after hurting his wrist during the celebration last night. It was already sore but jammed it #wizards

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) December 17, 2013

OFFFFFF COURSEEEE

Were probably looking at 2-3 weeks then.

I hope so

More minutes for Porter

Not significantly more. Maybe only 2-3 more.

[mhd]

Speaking of the advantages of playing with Wall, why not use that to help speed up getting Porter "up to speed"? Don't necessarily start him, but give him some minutes with the starters. Kev pointed out that the stats show Webster isn't Wall dependent to score, so Webster can pick up more minutes playing with the backups. And if they use Ariza more at the 4, that could open up some extra minutes for Otto.

Ariza: 32 MPG SF
Beal: 34 MPG SG
Webster: 16 MPG SF, 14 MPG SG

Where is the PT for Porter?

[hands11]

Pine...the ignore feature is a beautiful thing brother.

One more thing...kinda disappointed we didn't see Hands' boy GRJr. I thought he has played decently with Beal out, and proved his worth as a defender. I'm hoping he gets more PT in the future.

He does have a nice base line with his defense doesn't he ?

And I like his aggressive drive dunk moves. The game just doesn't seem to big for him.

If he can get that outside shot going, that would be a nice mix for a first year player. Looks like a solid piece off the bench. He wasn't my pick. Felt there were other needs but once he was a Wizard, then I want hope for the best like we all do.

Still not sold on his persona/smart that I see in an interview, but I make the exception when I see production on the court that overrides what I see in an interview. Interviews can be very telling in some ways, but everything has its limits. Glen might be one of those situations.

As for my boys, lets not forget who endlessly pimped P Jackson on the draft board when he wasn't even ranked. He would make for an interesting back up PG spark plug. Mini Nate Robinson. Not sure he would fit on every time or even if he will pass the ball, but man can he get around the court and find angles to score.