GT #32: Wizards @ Bobcats 7 PM CSN

[hands11]

While I don't care for Wittman and offense, I think the offense is still developing and the Beal/Gortat two man game is a piece of it. Beal is learning. It should look better and better. Its their answer to everyone blanketing him and running him off the 3 line. Learning to work this kind of a game with Gortat is really going to teach Beal a lot about reading defenses and using picks properly. Gortat is an expert at doing this. Once the get the basics down, they can expand it or start working on something else.

Really liked that Nene got to rest in a win. Only 15 mins for Nene is good with a back to back coming up. Nene with 5 more mins out of Gortats bucket and I think this is the rotation and mins target. Things like 20 for Booker and 20 for Ves. Booker more offense. Ves more defense. 10 for Otto while he finds his legs.

The individual players should be able to expand their games and the team should be able to gel. If Ves can end up being that 3rd big that helps protect the rim with Gortat and Nene, that's going to help a lot. That is a player they were missing to is core to them betting better teams.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400489381

[dckingsfan]

Missed the whole game except the last 2 minutes. It looks like we hit just enough long 2's to win the game. That's not exactly the type of win that makes me feel like we're turning a corner.

Nice to see Vesely have a good game on r defense.

Wouldn't say Vesely's defense was stellar. He got abused in the first half, then got better and had a few blocks and 'bounds in the second.

He played a lot of consecutive minutes and our offense was putrid with him on the court. He took up space and seemed even less interested in touching the ball than usual.

The difference in this game was one, terrific run at the beginning of the 2nd half. Booker was en fuego and the team was actually running isos for him. They were also laughing after each successive shot he hit, as in, "what? Booker hit that? "

The one most encouraging thing was that, after they scored a couple of buckets to start that 17-0 run, they picked up their defensive intensity for a good 5 minute stretched...

Then Randy went to the bench and it all pretty much sucked again until Beal got hot late.

boom - great synopsis - I would add that the Wiz weren't turning the ball over but that is about it...

[GhostsOfGil]

was that Vesely's best game???

HAS THE JANCHISE ARRIVED?

While some disagree, I think hes had a positive effect while on the floor. As bad as his stats have been, I've been pleased with his play.

[payitforward]

Another terrible game from Booker, who in 22 minutes did no more than grab 8 boards, go 5-8 (and 2-2 FTs), get a block and a steal and an assist, and have zero turnovers and zero fouls. He's limited to this kind of crappy production, because he's too small and wasn't a high lottery pick.

(note... that was sarcasm, in case it passed anyone by).

If we got 43 minutes of PF play every night at the level of last night's combination of Booker and Vesely, we'd be hard to beat. Add Gortat's production, and that's why we won. No one else played well. Yes, Beal shot well, but not much else by way of contribution.

Right now we project to 38-9 wins. That's pretty much the kind of team we have -- we are right at average: 15th best record in the league. 9 of the 15 Western Conference teams have records better than ours, and keep in mind that they play each other a lot!

[jeffsays]

I just read that the bobcat's defense is ranked 3rd in the league?? Can anyone confirm if that is true? If so, I'd say that the Wizards win on the road was much more impressive than I originally thought.

[daSwami]

was that Vesely's best game???

HAS THE JANCHISE ARRIVED?

While some disagree, I think hes had a positive effect while on the floor. As bad as his stats have been, I've been pleased with his play.

No disagreement here. He's one of those players who makes his teammates better. (Or at least look better by comparison anyway.)

[Nivek]

I just read that the bobcat's defense is ranked 3rd in the league?? Can anyone confirm if that is true? If so, I'd say that the Wizards win on the road was much more impressive than I originally thought.

After last night's game, Charlotte is ranked 6th defensively. But, they're also 2nd to last on offense.

[Kanyewest]

Another terrible game from Booker, who in 22 minutes did no more than grab 8 boards, go 5-8 (and 2-2 FTs), get a block and a steal and an assist, and have zero turnovers and zero fouls. He's limited to this kind of crappy production, because he's too small and wasn't a high lottery pick.

(note... that was sarcasm, in case it passed anyone by).

If we got 43 minutes of PF play every night at the level of last night's combination of Booker and Vesely, we'd be hard to beat. Add Gortat's production, and that's why we won. No one else played well. Yes, Beal shot well, but not much else by way of contribution.

Right now we project to 38-9 wins. That's pretty much the kind of team we have -- we are right at average: 15th best record in the league. 9 of the 15 Western Conference teams have records better than ours, and keep in mind that they play each other a lot!

Wall didn't shoot well but had 0 turnovers to go along with his 8 assists. The Wizards as a team only had 7 turnovers.

[hands11]

I just read that the bobcat's defense is ranked 3rd in the league?? Can anyone confirm if that is true? If so, I'd say that the Wizards win on the road was much more impressive than I originally thought.

After last night's game, Charlotte is ranked 6th defensively. But, they're also 2nd to last on offense.

Sounds like they are about what the Wizards of last year where when injured.

Ves has played well the last two games.
Actually, when he was getting 20 mins a game earlier, he had several productive games like these.

20/21 mins each for Ves/Booker works out pretty well.

From here, if Ves is out there playing good D, getting steals and rebounding, I want to see the team run a few plays for him toward the basket. Then he won't be as much of a self check on offense. If he gets 2-3 looks like that to go along with his scape pts, we might get 6-7 rebounds, 1-2 steals, 1-2 blocks and 8-10 pts from him in 20 mins. That is not suck production from a player that also plays good D and is 7-0 242. And it helps Gortats effectiveness go up when Ves is out there helping him protect the rim.

Pulling for Ves to get it done. And with him keeping his personal coach with him all season and Gortat working with him as well, I think he is getting there.

As for Booker, he looks like he is getting more comfortable shooting from range. If he can bring that on a nightly basis, bring it. I have no problem with both of them playing well.