Wizards/Pistons Take 2..at Detroit 7:30pm on Non National TV

[dandridge 10]

Very satisfying win to get back to .500.

Wall was a stud and finally hit a clutch shot. Hopefully, that gives him the confidence to hit that shot again down the stretch.

Glad to see Otto continue to improve. If he continues, he can really help to shore up the bench.

Obviously, sitting Maynor and bringing Nene off the bench has been the real key to the improved bench play. Seraphin and Nene also seem to feed off of each other. I give the game ball to the bench for the strong start in the 4th quarter. Their defense was really good.

As others mentioned, Jennings and Smith helped us win the game. Horrible hero shots by both players. Thank god neither one is on our team.

[Illmatic21]

The Washington Wizards are simply a better team than the Detroit Pistons.

Jennings and Smith are talented but don't have a feel for the game. You guys were killing us down low all game, but when times get tough Jennings decided to fall back on chucking which let the Wizards defense off the hook.

Smith would actually be a huge matchup problem if he committed to playing in the post. He's way too quick for most PFs, I got scared every time he was on an island with one of our bigs. But the guy loves his long twos, I guess.

[hands11]

Very satisfying win to get back to .500.

Wall was a stud and finally hit a clutch shot. Hopefully, that gives him the confidence to hit that shot again down the stretch.

Glad to see Otto continue to improve. If he continues, he can really help to shore up the bench.

Obviously, sitting Maynor and bringing Nene off the bench has been the real key to the improved bench play. Seraphin and Nene also seem to feed off of each other. I give the game ball to the bench for the strong start in the 4th quarter. Their defense was really good.

As others mentioned, Jennings and Smith helped us win the game. Horrible hero shots by both players. Thank god neither one is on our team.

Sadly, that was there from the start. But better late then never.

[dobrojim]

Why the **** is Seraphin trying to take charges on a damn point guard...challenge the shot you big pansy.

If you're talking about the play I think you are. it looked like a bad call at first live
but on replay, KSera didn't screw his feet into the ground or he probably would've
gotten the call.

[J-Ves]

This sounds like typical group think mentality. While his reputation as a defender is poor, his synergy stats say otherwise. He even ranks higher then Dwight on defensive PPP this season.

Even so how do you propose we get him? Signing him outright means no Ariza and no MLE for another free agent to fill up the holes. Plus hes a RFA, if Detroit matched our offer we'd be up the creek.

It would likely mean no Gortat, Ariza or MLE type. The Wiz would have to renounce those guys to sign Monroe to an offer sheet. Bright side is that those renouncings (renunciations ???) would be revokable if Detroit matched. But, this is The Issue (wrote about it over at the blog a few weeks ago) facing the Wizards -- they're really not going to be in position to ADD talent via free agency. They could REPLACE guys like Gortat, Ariza and Booker (rotation free agents), but signing a significant free agent means these guys are departing. Using cap space could be "addition" if the free agent's production is significantly better than the departing players. Otherwise, it's replacement -- changing the names and jersey numbers, but not the team's overall trajectory.

So, I think they're going to re-sign their rotation free agents and then go shopping for depth using the MLE. And then hope someone (or some-two or some-three) from the Wall-Beal-Porter trio blossoms into an elite player.

What kind of contract do you think Ariza will get assuming he keeps up this level of play the rest of the season? Considering AI just got 4yrs/48mil do you think Ariza could be looking at something close to 4/40?

[dobrojim]

Gortat better snap out of it, terrible game by him today.

tough game from him tonight but he came through with a big play or 2 at the end.
And folks, we're complaining about our front court being soft when they're playing
the most physical front court in the east, maybe the league. Of course they're not
going to look strong against them. Gortat was coming off a near perfect game against
DET Sat night. He has been less consistent than I would like, but he's been pretty solid
overall and doesn't make a lot of stupid plays. He usually plays the right way.

[hands11]

This Dallas game is huge. Time to start winning against the better teams.

They have lost against MIA, DAL, IND, SA, etc.

Big test.

Next 3 games at home are a good test. DAL, TOR, GS

[GhostsOfGil]

Gortat was coming off a near perfect game against
DET Sat night. He has been less consistent than I would like, but he's been pretty solid
overall and doesn't make a lot of stupid plays. He usually plays the right way.

Fair assessment if we're strictly talking about his offensive game.

[dobrojim]

Walls first clutch shot ever

that is so wrong, pure hyperbole

nobody, especially lots of the superstars like LBJ and Kobe, hit clutch
shots nearly as often as the rep some of these guys have would suggest. Some folks
here have the opposite problem with Wall. S#it, his first win as a Wizard
was keyed by hitting 3 FTs to send a game to OT.

I'll agree that I don't like it when they go into stall mode but that's
more on Randy than it is on John I would guess.

Wall is getting better all the time.

[dobrojim]

No thanks to Monroe. He only plays this well against crappy interior defenses like ours. Yes he had 22/10 tonight, but he only averages 16/8 on the season.. go figure


That was a really bad loss for Detroit. They have to be bordering on meltdown mode right now.

as others have remarked, they are not a smart team. And they're a bad home team. Go figure
on the 2nd one. You'd figure a less than smart team would be that much worse on the road
but not DET.

edit to add - Jennings might be cursed by dropping 55 early as a rookie.
Now he feels entitled to jack at will. Smith is just a head case, kinda like
a rich man Blatche in that he wants to prove how well rounded his game is
instead of consistently playing to his own strengths.

[dobrojim]

The Washington Wizzards are simply a better team than the Detroit Pistons.

after being owned by them since forever, this is now true. Be still my fluttering heart.

[queridiculo]

AI is a really poor comparison. AI is far more explosive, a better defender, and excels at putting the ball on the floor.

I think Ariza deserves more than the MLE, but the reality is that teams that could really use his services don't have the cap space to offer it, and other teams might be hesitant given his history with the Rockets and New Orleans.

He's a great fit here where he isn't counted on to create shots for himself, but being somewhat of a specialist I doubt he'll get much more than the exception.

4 years full MLE might just be enough to resign him.

[dobrojim]

So, I think they're going to re-sign their rotation free agents and then go shopping for depth using the MLE. And then hope someone (or some-two or some-three) from the Wall-Beal-Porter trio blossoms into an elite player.

Add Webster to that list as well even though he's older. And team chemistry continuing to improve.

TA and Wall continue to play with great chemistry. As Wall gets better, he appears to be the kind
of player that has what it takes to pull the wagon carrying the rest of the team. He did that tonight.

[queridiculo]

Walls first clutch shot ever

that is so wrong, pure hyperbole

nobody, especially lots of the superstars like LBJ and Kobe, hit clutch
shots nearly as often as the rep some of these guys have would suggest. Some folks
here have the opposite problem with Wall. S#it, his first win as a Wizard
was keyed by hitting 3 FTs to send a game to OT.

I'll agree that I don't like it when they go into stall mode but that's
more on Randy than it is on John I would guess.

Wall is getting better all the time.

Not only that, he made a few shots in the fourth quarter that were far more important than that "clutch" shot.

His free throw numbers alone were clutch. In a game were the Wizards had absolutely no margin for error he made all but one inconsequential shot.

[dobrojim]

AI is a really poor comparison. AI is far more explosive, a better defender, and excels at putting the ball on the floor.

I think Ariza deserves more than the MLE, but the reality is that teams that could really use his services don't have the cap space to offer it, and other teams might be hesitant given his history with the Rockets and New Orleans.

He's a great fit here where he isn't counted on to create shots for himself, but being somewhat of a specialist I doubt he'll get much more than the exception.

4 years full MLE might just be enough to resign him.

A team that doesn't have a player like Wall to set up TA would be advised not
to overpay. We might overpay, but he is worth it (within limits) to us.

[dckingsfan]

kudos to the Wiz - very nice rotation sans Vesely... way to weather the storm

And Ariza on the boards!!!!!

Really ..

No.. that was not really nice rotations. But we won anyway.

Sure it was - I said sans Vesely - that was the only really bad part of his rotations... and he made the right adjustments at halftime - gotta give credit when credit is due.

[Wizardspride]

Michael Lee ‏@MrMichaelLee 1h

Fan just shouted, "Let Wall shoot! He can't shoot it!" John Wall turned around & winked to the fan #wizards


Marcin Gortat ‏@MGortat 19m

Hey wiz fans!! Great win!! Im sorry i played like s..t:((( i have to be better on the glass!! Im glad other guys stepped in !!!

[jeffsays]

Michael Lee ‏@MrMichaelLee 1h

Fan just shouted, "Let Wall shoot! He can't shoot it!" John Wall turned around & winked to the fan #wizards


Marcin Gortat ‏@MGortat 19m

Hey wiz fans!! Great win!! Im sorry i played like s..t:((( i have to be better on the glass!! Im glad other guys stepped in !!!

Loved both of those tweets. Wall should have gave them the finger (Just kidding )

Marcin can play a lot better than he did tonight, I think he'll step up his game soon.

[jeffsays]

Take a look at who is missing from this picture (hint: it's Mr. DNP)

EDIT: Actually he might be sitting next to GRJR, I haven't seen him play in so long that I forgot his face

[dobrojim]

John's shooting has been pretty solid lately. He's definitely on a roll now.
Watch out 2014. Gotta love that the kid has come in and worked hard
to get better and improve on weaknesses, like his shot.

He's like the LBJ of PGs, bigger stronger faster and a great facilitator for his team.