Wizards 2nd Half Predictions

[deneem4]

Wall realizes he as good as other top players and average 23/4/10/2 for the rest of the season..
nene gets traded
We go into playoffs as 4th seed vs Toronto and beat them in 5

[FAH1223]

Six-game win streak to end the season brings them to 44-38.

"Just like the 1978 championship team." (Ted Leonsis)

[hands11]

Wall realizes he as good as other top players and average 23/4/10/2 for the rest of the season..
nene gets traded
We go into playoffs as 4th seed vs Toronto and beat them in 5

TOR is one team I wouldn't want up to match up against.

That could change since we get to see them twice after the break. Maybe we play better against them but so far we haven't. Kind of like DET last year. Some teams you just don't match up well against. I think TOR could be on of them.

[deneem4]

Wall realizes he as good as other top players and average 23/4/10/2 for the rest of the season..
nene gets traded
We go into playoffs as 4th seed vs Toronto and beat them in 5

TOR is one team I wouldn't want up to match up against.

That could change since we get to see them twice after the break. Maybe we play better against them but so far we haven't. Kind of like DET last year. Some teams you just don't match up well against. I think TOR could be on of them.

Toronto scorers are extremely inconsistent...bunch of j.r. smiths...and all of them are young with no play of experience which might give us a better chance than say the hawks/pistons who have a top player that been to the playoffs

[mohammed10]

I think they'll stumble in the playoffs as a 7 seed. They'll win one game against Miami, and Ted will sell that as "progress." Grunfeld and Wittman are retained. Ariza gets a 4 year, 36 mil contract. Gortat gets 4 years/44 mil.

Wittman gets fired midseason of next year.

If this happens (any of this), my head will explode...

[mohammed10]

I predict more mediocrity.

Fixed...

[Illmatic21]

Wall at 2:50:

"Over the break, the main thing I've been talking to Brad about is that we both have to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, we settle for too many long twos"


http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/channe ... post-.nba/


Ding-ding-ding!! He gets it. Let's see if this actually translates for the two of them.


I'm actually encouraged by the fact that they've talked about this, looking forward to seeing how differently they play after the break.

[TheBabyMaker]

16-14 the last 30 games 41-41 total as predicted earlier this year. .500 ball baby can't get over that hump yet.

[dlts20]

Wall at 2:50:

"Over the break, the main thing I've been talking to Brad about is that we both have to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, we settle for too many long twos"


http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/channe ... post-.nba/


Ding-ding-ding!! He gets it. Let's see if this actually translates for the two of them.


I'm actually encouraged by the fact that they've talked about this, looking forward to seeing how differently they play after the break.

this is the most exciting quote Ive read in a long time. However, Wall takes alot of blame after bad games and says he needs to do such & such better but still ends up settling so Ill believe it when I see it but still, this AS weekend had to boost their confidence to the next level. Bottom line is that if Wall/Beal drive more and mix it up then we are a totally different team even with Witt's garbage asz

[The Consiglieri]

I predict we would finish 12th or 13th in the west, but because of the manure level of the East, we'll be 15-15 in the second half finishing 40-42 for the season and sliding in as a 6th seed. Because of the paucity of talent in the East, instead of being utterly irrelevant, we'll just humiliate ourselves in round 1 going out against another garbage team.

Lost draft pick, waste of assets on FA, no discernible growth whatsoever, and if rumors are accurate, even the possibility that Rice may be dealt for a backup PG in a package, a move that would send me into hibernation mode for the next decade.

[The Consiglieri]

worthwhile thing from grantland....midseason report..

link: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-r ... -miracles/

"...I was feeling pretty good about the first half of the year until a friend emailed me last night to remind me: The Wizards were 24-25 when John Wall was healthy last year, and this year they’re 25-27. Have they actually gotten better or is this conference just awful enough to make them look decent? More important: Will the playoffs-obsessed owner make the mistake of seeing a mediocre team finish in the top half of a horrible conference and then rewarding everyone involved with irrational contract extensions? Probably!...."

[nate33]

Wall at 2:50:

"Over the break, the main thing I've been talking to Brad about is that we both have to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, we settle for too many long twos"


http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/channe ... post-.nba/


Ding-ding-ding!! He gets it. Let's see if this actually translates for the two of them.


I'm actually encouraged by the fact that they've talked about this, looking forward to seeing how differently they play after the break.

The both settle for long 2's way too much. And Wall is definitely right that he needs to attack the basket more.

I'm not so sure I want to see Beal attack the basket that much more though - not unless he learns how to finish more efficiently. He shoots just 37% from 3-9 feet and 30% from 10-15 feet. (Wall, by comparison, shoots 52% from 3-9 feet and 36% from 10-15.) So unless Beal gets all the way to the rim (where he shoots 61%), he really hurts us when he shoots anywhere besides the 3-point line.

[nate33]

worthwhile thing from grantland....midseason report..

link: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-r ... -miracles/

"...I was feeling pretty good about the first half of the year until a friend emailed me last night to remind me: The Wizards were 24-25 when John Wall was healthy last year, and this year they’re 25-27. Have they actually gotten better or is this conference just awful enough to make them look decent? More important: Will the playoffs-obsessed owner make the mistake of seeing a mediocre team finish in the top half of a horrible conference and then rewarding everyone involved with irrational contract extensions? Probably!...."

While in some sense, this is true. The Wizards haven't really gotten any better than the 2nd half of last year. That said, it's worth noting that the Wizards have the point differential of a 26-26 team, and they have played one of the hardest schedules in the East. The two teams just ahead of them in the standings: Chicago and Atlanta, have had cakewalk schedules.

On the other hand, the Wizards are very fortunate to have remained healthy all season. Out of a possible 312 player-games, our top 6 players have missed a total of just 23 games. And 9 of those games missed were by our worst player in the top 6: Beal. Our top 5 players have missed just 16 out of 260 player-games.

[pancakes3]

I have no problem with the current mediocrity as long as the management and coaching has identified the problem spots and have a plan to get better moving forward. What do we do with the dead weight on the bench? What do we do in terms of drafting/Satoransky? What do we do in terms of trades? What do we do in terms of free agency? What do we do in terms of extensions? What do we do in terms of the talent we have currently? It's stagnation I'm worried about.

[Higga]

I predict we finish with 45 wins and the 4th seed. Wiz-Hawks first round playoff matchup.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

worthwhile thing from grantland....midseason report..

link: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-r ... -miracles/

"...I was feeling pretty good about the first half of the year until a friend emailed me last night to remind me: The Wizards were 24-25 when John Wall was healthy last year, and this year they’re 25-27. Have they actually gotten better or is this conference just awful enough to make them look decent? More important: Will the playoffs-obsessed owner make the mistake of seeing a mediocre team finish in the top half of a horrible conference and then rewarding everyone involved with irrational contract extensions? Probably!...."

Wall's PER is 19.8 this season. It was 20.8 last season. While taking and making more threes, John has taken and made far less free throws. The only leaps IMO are in the general public-perceived Wall improvement and real media hype and reputation gains by Wall.

I don't watch that closely. I do follow game threads and advanced box scores. I do consider what other NBA players say. Barkley and James, and also Durant see Wall as a superstar. I have a hard time getting past losses where Wall looks off a red hot Beal to miss a three. I don't like Phil Pressey, Will Bynum, Isaiah Thomas, and Nick Calathes outplaying Wall. My view is decidedly biased. OTOH, I really like Wall's will and his work ethic. He showed superstar play last March. He's got potential for greatness for sure. The Wizards are his biggest barrier against improving.

Consiglieri, you already KNOW this irrational owner is going to pay extra for short term playoff success. Gortat's gonna be paid whatever it takes to keep him. If Washington doesn't trade Ariza for Caron Butler (I predict Ariza, Vesely for Butler, Ridnour happens) I expect Ariza gets paid, too.

I expect playoffs then bust is what will happen. First round exit. No draft pick. Big coin for Gortat. Sign and trade of Ariza. Max contract Wall win be part of many 35-45 win teams for as long as EG/Ted make all decisions.

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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Wall at 2:50:

"Over the break, the main thing I've been talking to Brad about is that we both have to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, we settle for too many long twos"


http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/channe ... post-.nba/


Ding-ding-ding!! He gets it. Let's see if this actually translates for the two of them.


I'm actually encouraged by the fact that they've talked about this, looking forward to seeing how differently they play after the break.

The both settle for long 2's way too much. And Wall is definitely right that he needs to attack the basket more.

I'm not so sure I want to see Beal attack the basket that much more though - not unless he learns how to finish more efficiently. He shoots just 37% from 3-9 feet and 30% from 10-15 feet. (Wall, by comparison, shoots 52% from 3-9 feet and 36% from 10-15.) So unless Beal gets all the way to the rim (where he shoots 61%), he really hurts us when he shoots anywhere besides the 3-point line.

Beal needs to be the guy who shoots more threes, as Wall attacks the basket a lot more often.



Sent from my SGH-M919 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Illmatic21]

Wall at 2:50:

"Over the break, the main thing I've been talking to Brad about is that we both have to be more aggressive in attacking the basket, we settle for too many long twos"


http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/channe ... post-.nba/


Ding-ding-ding!! He gets it. Let's see if this actually translates for the two of them.


I'm actually encouraged by the fact that they've talked about this, looking forward to seeing how differently they play after the break.

The both settle for long 2's way too much. And Wall is definitely right that he needs to attack the basket more.

I'm not so sure I want to see Beal attack the basket that much more though - not unless he learns how to finish more efficiently. He shoots just 37% from 3-9 feet and 30% from 10-15 feet. (Wall, by comparison, shoots 52% from 3-9 feet and 36% from 10-15.) So unless Beal gets all the way to the rim (where he shoots 61%), he really hurts us when he shoots anywhere besides the 3-point line.

Attacking the basket gets defenses out of position, that's never a bad thing. Unless you have a tendency to turn the ball over on drives which Beal doesn't. He's clearly a good athlete with finishing ability, and he shoots 80%+ from the line. Only good things can come from him attacking the basket. It will help break down defenses and prevent those stretches of offensive stagnation. Plus, Beal isn't going to get better at it unless he does it more consistently.

[hands11]

Well with all the fun out of the way, the morning hang over kicks in.

We still have Randy as our HC.

Looks like we are very likely to add some players that are vets so that should make things easier for him. Operative word being "should"

Well at least we get to see post AS break Wall who I hope will start driving more down the home stretch and we get to see post AS game confident Beal.

This is the make of break period. I just hope Randy had some time to reflect during the break and come back better then we left him.

[payitforward]

Wall realizes he as good as other top players and average 23/4/10/2 for the rest of the season..
nene gets traded
We go into playoffs as 4th seed vs Toronto and beat them in 5

Lets see... Toronto is 3 games ahead of us. Toronto is 6-4 in their last 10, while we're 4-6. Toronto has a better record vs. the conference and a much better record vs. the division than we do. Toronto is on a 2-game winning streak, and we're on a 2-game losing streak.

So it's obvious we'll speed right by them? Assume for a moment they go 15-15 the rest of the way. We have to go 19-11 to get past them into 4th place. You think there's some chance we'll do that?

Get real.