Official John Wall Appreciation Thread 2.0

[hands11]

Congrats to Wall for making the team.

We finally have an AS. And it only cost us the #1 pick in the draft.

EG is now batting 1 for 3 in top 3 picks.

Its progress. Even if its slow progress.

[GhostsOfGil]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JMichaelCSN/status/429063196830597120[/tweet]

The skills competition is boring, but it'd be nice to see what Wall could do in the dunk contest.

Not sure how I feel about Wall in the dunk comp. The gimmicks make it nearly unwatchable. If he decides to participate, I hope he keeps it simple.

[keynote]

He's got a chance to be the biggest star in the contest -- which means if he lasts until the final, he'd have a solid chance of winning the popular vote (unless he's going up against a Knick). Winning a dunk contest might seem trivial, but it would help solidify his status as a star. That means more All-Star votes in the future, increased marketability, more games on network TV, etc. Perhaps that'll make the Wizards a little more marketable to FAs?

[Dat2U]

"Lowry deserves it moreso than Wall?'

How do you figure that?

Wall beats Lowry in basically every category except for FG% and even there the difference isn't huge.

Wall averages more points, assists, rebounds, blocks per game and is a better free throw shooter.

Now I will give Lowry credit for being a much better 3pt shooter and his team having a better record (slightly).

Lowry has been a helluva player for Toronto this year. Arguably the best guard in the East and one of the best in the league.

PER: Wall 19.8 vs. Lowry 20.4
TS%: Wall .521 vs. Lowry .587
eFG%: Wall .459 vs. Lowry .539
AST%: Wall 39.4% vs. Lowry 35.4%
TO%: Wall 15.8% vs. Lowry 13.6%
USG%: Wall 27.5% vs. Lowry 20.6%
ORTg: Wall 106 vs. Lowry 122
WS48: Wall .129 vs. Lowry .216

Lowry uses fewer possessions & Wall is slightly better at creating for teammates but Lowry is far more efficient, turns the ball over less and overall has been more mistake free than Wall whose performance continues to be dragged down with his decision making (long 2s especially - I put more blame on coaching than Wall for this).

This makes me feel MUCH better about Lowry routinely outplaying Wall. He's simply a better player. Dat, those are some deserving numbers, I agree. I am glad you posted.

Looking back at the draft years back, IMO Lowry is probably the better player over Randy Foye. Foye was drafted ahead of Brandon Roy. In hindsight, I think the Villanova team with Foye and Lowry had two lottery talents. (Like UNC with Stackhouse and Wallace, eg). Lowry is playing exceptionally well--better than solid NBA veteran Foye.

Sometimes one player on a great NCAA team ends up being better than others drafted ahead of him in the same draft. I recall feeling strongly that Boozer was better than Dunleavy or Jayson Williams.

I have no problems with Lowry over Wall. John is very young and he's on the right track to be a fan favorite and perennial all star years to come.

Sent from my SGH-M919

I remember I had posted my first and only Wall trade where I suggested Lowry, Valanciunas & 1st rd pick for Wall & filler. It was right before Wall's explosion after the all-star break

I wouldn't trade Wall though. He's a freak of nature and he's just beginning to realize some of that talent. There's honestly a lot of room left for improvement for him.

Lowry is having a great season though on both sides of the ball. It's a travesty he didn't make it. He's been more of catalyst to Toronto's success than DeRozan has.

[Illmatic21]

Kenny said were mediocre and we cant get over .500, I normally wouldn't care what Kenny says but its true!!!

They said that Lance Stephenson deserved to make an all star team and I think they were hinting that they would have had him over Wall. The guy who should have made it was Lowry over Joe Johnson.

No they didn't, all four of them unanimously had Wall AND Stephenson on their reserves list that they did last week. The players none of them picked were Derozan and Joe Johnson.

[pancakes3]

He's got a chance to be the biggest star in the contest -- which means if he lasts until the final, he'd have a solid chance of winning the popular vote (unless he's going up against a Knick). Winning a dunk contest might seem trivial, but it would help solidify his status as a star. That means more All-Star votes in the future, increased marketability, more games on network TV, etc. Perhaps that'll make the Wizards a little more marketable to FAs?

In all seriousness, look at what it did for Javale. No such thing as bad press. Between him being on Shaqtin' a fool and the dunk contest, he's much more recognizable than better players like say... Vucevic, Pekovic, and the Lopez twins.

[stevemcqueen1]

20 % is a drastically lower usage rate than 27. Most of Lowery's superior efficiency comes from that and his three point shooting. All his points come from threes and drives, which is good for efficiency numbers, but not necessarily good for putting an offense on your back. He's not as versatile a scorer as John, not as good a ball handler, not as good a defender, and not as good a passer.

Lowery is having a great year. But he's 27 and John is already better than him. John's a superstar and franchise player and Toronto is trying to trade Lowery.

And as far as them matching up individually, Lowery got the better of Wall last time. But Wall destroyed him in the first game of the year.

DeRozan is less worthy of making the game than Lowery, but DeRozan is still pretty worthy. And on the whole, Toronto is a better team than us by virtue of having more good players.

[stevemcqueen1]

He's got a chance to be the biggest star in the contest -- which means if he lasts until the final, he'd have a solid chance of winning the popular vote (unless he's going up against a Knick). Winning a dunk contest might seem trivial, but it would help solidify his status as a star. That means more All-Star votes in the future, increased marketability, more games on network TV, etc. Perhaps that'll make the Wizards a little more marketable to FAs?

In all seriousness, look at what it did for Javale. No such thing as bad press. Between him being on Shaqtin' a fool and the dunk contest, he's much more recognizable than better players like say... Vucevic, Pekovic, and the Lopez twins.

I'd say infamy is bad press. It was a big part of the clown culture that made the Wizards brand utterly toxic. Which is part of why we're not a FA draw.

[MikeTheKid]

I just want Wall to do this again or something like this in the AS game so we can get some of these old guard guys out of the AS game. Its time for the new breed, Welcome to the New Age!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjNgfQpLAug[/youtube]

[verbal8]

I'd say infamy is bad press. It was a big part of the clown culture that made the Wizards brand utterly toxic. Which is part of why we're not a FA draw.

I would say a lack of winning is why the Wizards are not a FA draw. LA/NY and to a lesser degree Chicago will be FA draws almost no matter what. Some places like Utah or Cleveland, will never be much of FA draw. I think Washington is in the middle group of the vast majority of, although probably towards the top of that group. However what matters for that group is winning. It really matters for those bottom of the rotation players that get multiple vet minimum offers.

[stevemcqueen1]

I'd say infamy is bad press. It was a big part of the clown culture that made the Wizards brand utterly toxic. Which is part of why we're not a FA draw.

I would say a lack of winning is why the Wizards are not a FA draw. LA/NY and to a lesser degree Chicago will be FA draws almost no matter what. Some places like Utah or Cleveland, will never be much of FA draw. I think Washington is in the middle group of the vast majority of, although probably towards the top of that group. However what matters for that group is winning. It really matters for those bottom of the rotation players that get multiple vet minimum offers.

It goes beyond the lack of winning. How much winning had Golden State or Charlotte been doing when they signed David Lee and Al Jefferson? Neither are historical FA draws.

Our problem stemmed from a (valid) perception of a lack of serious competitiveness and professionalism. Who wants to go play with the weekly star of Shaqtin a Fool or the guy whose own fans relentlessly boo him every time he steps on the court? Who wants to play for a team where their star player brings guns into the locker room as part of a weird standoff/joke? There was a cultural problem here that went beyond losing.

Reputations matter to the players and their agents. Our reputation was toxic. It's definitely getting better, you can feel a sea change in the way the league looked at us last year. Doesn't feel like we're a place where careers and reputations go to die. I listen to a lot of game broadcasts from the other team's broadcasters and it's night and day different in the way most of them talk about us now.

It's a shame that our brand got so toxic, because DC is a fantastic market and by all rights, it should be a FA draw. We'll get there.

[verbal8]

I'd say infamy is bad press. It was a big part of the clown culture that made the Wizards brand utterly toxic. Which is part of why we're not a FA draw.

I would say a lack of winning is why the Wizards are not a FA draw. LA/NY and to a lesser degree Chicago will be FA draws almost no matter what. Some places like Utah or Cleveland, will never be much of FA draw. I think Washington is in the middle group of the vast majority of, although probably towards the top of that group. However what matters for that group is winning. It really matters for those bottom of the rotation players that get multiple vet minimum offers.

It goes beyond the lack of winning. How much winning had Golden State or Charlotte been doing when they signed David Lee and Al Jefferson? Neither are historical FA draws.

I think it was primarily money that made David Lee sign with the Warriors. It also looks like it was a sign and trade, that was actually a trade - Anthony Randolph had some trade value at that point. Also getting Lee didn't really turn the Warriors around.

Al Jefferson definitely went for the money with Charlotte. Which is understandable given it is likely his last chance for a big money contract. I don't think he saw the team as suddenly becoming a championship contender.

[stevemcqueen1]

I would say a lack of winning is why the Wizards are not a FA draw. LA/NY and to a lesser degree Chicago will be FA draws almost no matter what. Some places like Utah or Cleveland, will never be much of FA draw. I think Washington is in the middle group of the vast majority of, although probably towards the top of that group. However what matters for that group is winning. It really matters for those bottom of the rotation players that get multiple vet minimum offers.

It goes beyond the lack of winning. How much winning had Golden State or Charlotte been doing when they signed David Lee and Al Jefferson? Neither are historical FA draws.

I think it was primarily money that made David Lee sign with the Warriors. It also looks like it was a sign and trade, that was actually a trade - Anthony Randolph had some trade value at that point. Also getting Lee didn't really turn the Warriors around.

Al Jefferson definitely went for the money with Charlotte. Which is understandable given it is likely his last chance for a big money contract. I don't think he saw the team as suddenly becoming a championship contender.

We've got the same salary cap as those teams. Why isn't just money enough for us to bring in FAs too? The point is that they signed with losing organizations. Dumpy cities with loser teams and questionable management like Detroit sign FAs. Our problems went beyond losing.

[Higga]

Glad Wall got in. He really should be starting over Rondo. Too bad most NBA fans are braindead.

[fishercob]

What a difference a year makes.

A year ago, Kyrie Irving looked upnstoppable and on the come-up as a legit superstar. Cleveland was poised with assets and cap room. Wall was struggling and coming off a major injury.

While John has worked himself into being an all-star, Irving is sulking to the point of trade rumors and super depressing threads like this one. Cleveland (and in this instance I'm referring to the Cavs, not the city) is a flaming dumpster fire -- the vultures are circling.

So while I have reservations about our management and ultimate upside, I not only appreciate John, but that we are no longer a punchline -- that we're watchable, have good guys who play hard and play the right way. I appreciate that we aren't Cleveland.

[dlts20]

when I 1st heard about Wall asked to be in the dunk contest I said NO Way. I dont want that. Maybe a couple of years ago but not now.

However, I am rethinking it. HIs stock & notoriety is at an all time high right now with the All Star selection but there is nothing and I mean nothing that would blow him up more than him being in the dunk contest and doing well. He would be in instant star which I think would transfer over to the game with his style of play, then to the regular season with foul calls, and ending with a good playoff performance. Most of all is the personal though, I think his confidence would go through the roof with all the praise he would then receive and he would dominate the 2nd half of the season like last year.

Ofcourse the flip side is he gets in and sucks. That would be horrible and woiuld nearly reverse everything I just said......lol

[miller31time]

when I 1st heard about Wall asked to be in the dunk contest I said NO Way. I dont want that. Maybe a couple of years ago but not now.

However, I am rethinking it. HIs stock & notoriety is at an all time high right now with the All Star selection but there is nothing and I mean nothing that would blow him up more than him being in the dunk contest and doing well. He would be in instant star which I think would transfer over to the game with his style of play, then to the regular season with foul calls, and ending with a good playoff performance. Most of all is the personal though, I think his confidence would go through the roof with all the praise he would then receive and he would dominate the 2nd half of the season like last year.

Ofcourse the flip side is he gets in and sucks. That would be horrible and woiuld nearly reverse everything I just said......lol

The dunk contest really propelled Blake Griffin's career - both on the court and off. You could make a case that without it, he wouldn't be the NBA superstar he is today, that the Clippers wouldn't be such a desirable trade/FA/coaching destination and that they would look very different because of it.

Not saying Wall playing in and winning the contest will change the wizards for the better, if at all. But I think it certainly could.

[Kanyewest]

Kenny said were mediocre and we cant get over .500, I normally wouldn't care what Kenny says but its true!!!

They said that Lance Stephenson deserved to make an all star team and I think they were hinting that they would have had him over Wall. The guy who should have made it was Lowry over Joe Johnson.

No they didn't, all four of them unanimously had Wall AND Stephenson on their reserves list that they did last week. The players none of them picked were Derozan and Joe Johnson.

They actually said that the Pacers were more deserving of 3 all stars than the mediocre eastern conference teams each having one. You are right that they all had Wall but all of them also had DeRoazan (Kenny, Shaq, and Barkely). They said Indiana was more deserving because they had the best record in the conference, and Miami didn't deserve 3 all stars. Honestly the coaches did their jobs- Kyrie Irving shouldn't be in the game but I don't think Stephenson deserved it either- I would have put Lowry in ahead of him.

[Dat2U]

Joe Johnson has no business being selected. That's just terrible. You could make an easy case for Stephenson over Johnson. Coaches must of felt the need to select a Net for some odd reason. Lowry definitely deserved it over DeRozan as well.

[Upper Decker]

Congrats to John on the AS nod, but if one AS appearance and a hovering .500 season is public validation for his max contract then a hell of a lot of players are getting paid big-time going forward. IMO, this needs to be the first of at least 6 straight. Max contract guys S/B AS players every season of their contract, IMO.