Official Randy Wittman Thread - It's Playoff Randy Time LOL

[queridiculo]

Karl: There is no question that there is a philosophical difference in what he [Brian Shaw] was saying and what I believe in. You know, I’ll be honest with you, I can’t stand the shot selection that the Denver Nuggets have now. They take more bad shots and more tough two’s then any team in the NBA. Tough two’s go in 40% of the time. I don’t care if you’re open or not, that’s what goes in. And it’s been that same percentage for 10 years, so if you want to try to win basketball games making 40% of your shots ...

There are teams that win that way, don’t get me wrong. The Portland Trailblazers are a jump shooting team and they make 45-46%. In general, I don’t mind jump shots, but they have to be incorporated into the philosophy that I am trying to do. If a team is going to take away the rim and give us wide open jump shots, we are going to take them. I’d prefer that jump shot to be a 3 pointer. It’s a basic philosophy. It’s a simple philosophy. And it’s based on that a wide open 18 foot jump shot is not a good shot in the NBA game today.

http://www.denverstiffs.com/2014/2/8/53 ... he-nuggets

Contrast with:

“You take open shots. You take open shots. Where they are is dictated by what the defense does. If you predicate what kind of shot you’re going to take not based on what you’re doing reading the defense, you’re not going to get good shots. I just worry about goods shots.

You know what? Those numbers you can stick… alright? You know, all you analytical people that take that… You take good shots, that’s the most important thing. Maybe we’re not taking good midrange shots, maybe we’re taking contested ones. I understand the numbers are there for a reason, we look at the numbers, but to sit there and… We got a good, open shot we’re taking, I don’t care where it is.”

[dandridge 10]

Whether you like Wittman or not or think he can do a better job making adjustments during games, I think its hard to disagree with most of his post game comments on the reasons why the Wizards lost a particularly game. For example, I think he hit the nail on the head when he commented how the Wizards came out against the Bobcats without any energy or focus. You might wonder why Wittman did not have his players better prepared, but what concerns me the most -- I have made this comment before -- is that Wall rarely agrees with Wittman's post game analysis. For example, after the Bobcats loss, Wall disputed Wittman's comment about the team not coming out with energy and just blamed the first half on the Bobcats getting hot from 3 and the Wizards missing shots. Baloney. There was a significant difference with how much energy and focus the Wizards played in the second half (particularly from Beal and Wall on the defensive end) than the first half. The reason that the Bobcats hit a lot of shots in the first half is that the Wizards were not playing near the stifling defense that they played in the second half. The failure to recognize that says a lot about Wall and why we tend to lose against bad teams.

The bottom line is that Wall needs to be a better leader of this team. Too often, Wall is not aggressive, both offensively and defensively, against teams that are supposedly worse than the Wizards. He really doesn't kick it into gear until the Wizards fall behind. Unfortunately, I think the rest of the team kind of follows Wall's lead on this. If Wall comes out non-aggressive, the rest of the team seems to play the same way too.

Wall needs to do a better job coming out with more energy and focus and try to maintain that intensity throughout the game. If he did so, I think we will see more sustained effort from the rest of the guys. Until Wall recognizes that, however, I think we are doomed to watch a lot more losses like the one against the Bobcats on Wednesday night, and the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz a few weeks ago.

I'm not blaming everything on Wall, because there is enough blame to go around. I just think this has to be the next step in Wall's maturation process.

[LyricalRico]

Count me in for Karl or either of the Van Gundys, but what about Lionel Hollins? He had Memphis in title contention before the owner got cheap.

[Wizardspride]

Count me in for Karl or either of the Van Gundys, but what about Lionel Hollins? He had Memphis in title contention before the owner got cheap.

SVG I can live with but definitely not Jeff.

Not unless you want to win games 89-88.

That "grind it out style" doesn't fit our personnel imo.

[hands11]

Yeah George Karl would be a great choice for this team. His philosophy is a perfect fit. He won't get this franchise a championship but he will provide some good insight on efficiency for these players. I feel like he's good to get this franchise to the next step of 50 wins. And as much as folks complain about Beal here and his inefficient ways, Karl, I think can essential bring out the best in him as a player. He did it for Arron Afflalo and Beal has much more potential.

The two hottest coaches right now are Tibbs and Pops.

What do they have in common. Then find a coach with those traits.

But it would be entertaining to see Ron Jeremy freaking out on the sidelines. That dude is a trip.

[Illmatic21]

Count me in for Karl or either of the Van Gundys, but what about Lionel Hollins? He had Memphis in title contention before the owner got cheap.

A big reason why Hollins was fired by Memphis was his aversion to advanced stats. He's one of those old school "You can shove those numbers up your.." types, not unlike Wittman in that regard.

Hollins was convinced that Rudy Gay was a great player and wouldn't hear otherwise, despite the whole basketball world clearly seeing that Gay's play was a detriment to the team


http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/1/11/3 ... rview-2012

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1659 ... -hollinger



Hollins style worked great in Memphis, but he won't have a defensive anchor like Gasol here. He won't have an automatic 20/10 beast in the low post like he did with Randolph. How would he adjust to coaching a finesse team like Washington? It's hard to predict.

I'd prefer a coach who is open to looking at all the information available to him and adjusting to his personnel, rather than someone who is set in his ways and wants to force his system even if it's not optimal. We're seeing how well that works this season.

Now I like Hollins personality, demeanor, and leadership much more than Karl's (who comes across as pretty unprofessional tbh). But for this team, I'd prefer Karl as the coach. I feel like he'd be more likely to maximize the talent on our roster, and he would do a better job of advising the front office on roster moves that would actually help. I think a much more optimal fit for Hollins next year would be Detroit.

[hands11]

Whether you like Wittman or not or think he can do a better job making adjustments during games, I think its hard to disagree with most of his post game comments on the reasons why the Wizards lost a particularly game. For example, I think he hit the nail on the head when he commented how the Wizards came out against the Bobcats without any energy or focus. You might wonder why Wittman did not have his players better prepared, but what concerns me the most -- I have made this comment before -- is that Wall rarely agrees with Wittman's post game analysis. For example, after the Bobcats loss, Wall disputed Wittman's comment about the team not coming out with energy and just blamed the first half on the Bobcats getting hot from 3 and the Wizards missing shots. Baloney. There was a significant difference with how much energy and focus the Wizards played in the second half (particularly from Beal and Wall on the defensive end) than the first half. The reason that the Bobcats hit a lot of shots in the first half is that the Wizards were not playing near the stifling defense that they played in the second half. The failure to recognize that says a lot about Wall and why we tend to lose against bad teams.

The bottom line is that Wall needs to be a better leader of this team. Too often, Wall is not aggressive, both offensively and defensively, against teams that are supposedly worse than the Wizards. He really doesn't kick it into gear until the Wizards fall behind. Unfortunately, I think the rest of the team kind of follows Wall's lead on this. If Wall comes out non-aggressive, the rest of the team seems to play the same way too.

Wall needs to do a better job coming out with more energy and focus and try to maintain that intensity throughout the game. If he did so, I think we will see more sustained effort from the rest of the guys. Until Wall recognizes that, however, I think we are doomed to watch a lot more losses like the one against the Bobcats on Wednesday night, and the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz a few weeks ago.

I'm not blaming everything on Wall, because there is enough blame to go around. I just think this has to be the next step in Wall's maturation process.

I don't disagree with most of what he says in post game. I disagree with his in game coaching. He isn't a TV commentator. He is a HC.

That said. I really liked that he played Otto the way he did tonight. I thought it was stupid he pulled him in the 4th like he did because Otto was balln but at least he finally got his head out of his butt and played him.

That is what I want to see. Use your players. We have more talent than he has used. Temple can even help off the bench at times.

Hate that they came out flat again, but at least Randy finally made an in game adjustment. Been saying it all year. When they play athletic younger teams, they need to respond with their own mix of younger legs. Otto had a HUGE impact on the game. Had he not played him, I am convinced they would have lost.

And had they lost and people bitched about why no Otto, then people would say why are people always blaming Randy when its the players. This is a good example of what many here have been calling for and why we say Randy has cost us game. Who you play impacts the outcome, not just how hard the players you play .. play.

[80sballboy]

http://jonathanhopwood.blogspot.com/201 ... ttman.html

Interesting point of view about Witt.

[hands11]

Count me in for Karl or either of the Van Gundys, but what about Lionel Hollins? He had Memphis in title contention before the owner got cheap.

http://isportsweb.com/2013/06/13/head-coach-please/

6 Fired after reaching playoffs

It's just hard to imagine they wouldn't look at a crop of coaches that know their way around the HC job better then Randy does vs hoping he learns.

Now if he dazzles us in the playoffs, I don't know. He did just call a time out 1-2 mins into the start of a slow start to the 3rd quarter last game. I never saw him do that before. Or if he has, it was a long time ago.

Its all about getting your team ready for the playoffs and then winning in them. Maybe there was a method to his madness and he was just leaving them out there to figure things out in the regular reason as a way of getting them to grow up. Cuz that's all I got as a reason for him not calling time outs when he should.

[hands11]

http://jonathanhopwood.blogspot.com/2014/04/randy-wittman.html

Interesting point of view about Witt.

That was a good read. Thanks for the post.

That is pretty much in line with my thinking. He has done good things for the team. His core focus and message is good. Hell, I wanted them to sign him for the two years. But in those two years, I have gotten to see him coach 82 games each season. You can see the holes in this game time coaching. Things I wouldn't have expected like not knowing when to call a time out. Not having his team ready to play. Not adjusting properly in game and going to the player needed vs the easy name.

So yeah. If the roster is turnover over with better professional players, then why are they not listening ? This isn't a bad cast of characters. Actually its the opposite. It should be a cake walk dealing with this group. As you team gets better and you have going head to head as a legit team against legit teams, you need to also know how to motivate and push buttons. Zen was a master at this. Its more then Xs and Os. You are dealing with minds and emotions.

..

During one of the waiting-for-Kemp flights, Briggs was saying that if the Cavs didn't leave soon they'd miss their "window" to fly into Newark…and that would cause problems with the control tower. But Randy didn't want to leave Kemp. Finally Briggs was so frustrated about the indecision he told the coach, 'If you don't have any balls, you can borrow mine.' Wittman just sat there stone-faced.

So it seems like Raisins Randy was actually true.

Hey, everyone isn't cut out to make the quick discussions. Some are better when they have more time to think. That doesn't make him a bad coach. It would just makes him a bad Head Coach because Head Coaches have to coach live games and make quick decisions. They have to have BIG BALLS.

Hey, there you go. Let Jordan Crawford coach the team..

[dlts20]

anybody see this article? Well, Im happy for him, I guess

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/15/wiza ... ef:nbahpts

[nuposse04]

When Randy first took over, I kind of liked his approach. He gave the young guys a chance and was basically trying to play the best players. He wasn't playing favorite with the vets like Flip did.

I figured our offense sucked back then mostly because of lack of personnel and inexperienced players. Fast forward to now...we still have a meh offense, but a good defense. I can't act like I know X's and O's better the Randy, cause odds are, I don't but his philosophy just doesn't work IMO with the current personnel...I would have hoped by now, he would have maybe adjusted certain things here and there. I can't stand how little off ball movement the majority of our guys exude, when ever beal and gortat for example, play their two man game, literally everyone else just stays still. No creativity.

That's my knock on em, it is his overbearing simplicity. It may get us to treadmill success in the regular season, but unless he's been playing possum this whole time, the post season coaching matchups are maddening. And while I think player development isn't all on coaching staffs, I'm pretty sure they play a crucial role....John is the only guy we've drafted that has notably improved so far...I'm not sure it is because of Randy, or that he has the pedigree of being a number 1 overall pick, but he's the only one who has visually, and substantively improved....maybe Booker as well. At least to the point where they deserve minutes (I guess Seraphin has improved facets, but he still sucks).

While I'm happy Randy gets to experience the playoffs as a coach, I don't feel compelled to thank him all to much. He did what he was suppose to do, get us to the playoffs. That was the expectation, that we would be a treadmill team with the talent we had accrued. Randy would deserve kudos if he actually got us in the mix for HC, while not having to rely on veterans as much as he had. He couldn't coach up marginal talent and implement a system that optimized what basketball talents the young guys had (or motivate them in a consistent manner) and now we're left with a directionless future under him.

Barring a run to the ECF, I see no reason to be enthralled with Randy this season.

[hands11]

I say bare min for him to be considered next year is getting out of the first round

and actually coaching well doing it.

There are just to many good coaches available to this franchise now to resign Randy unless he really looks like he is getting it done.

[hands11]

Holly crap.

Did everyone notice Randy calling another quick time out just minutes into the 3rd quarter against Boston ?

That's twice now in like 2-3 games. WTH was that all year ?

Gotta say, Wizards offense has looking tight the last two games and Booker is gaining tons of confidence in his offensive game over the last week or two.

Wall had everything clicking. I think Miller is starting to rub off on his.

I think the team is peaking at just the right time. They could seriously shock a lot of people with a game one victory.

[Illmatic21]

This is from October, but definitely not the first time I've heard Karl be complimentary of our team:

“I love John Wall and his speed with the ball,” Karl said. ”I think the way we played in Denver last year we liked the guard to be always on the attack mode and he’s one of those guards that is so fast with the basketball and is so committed to penetrating the ball into the paint that he makes a lot of things happen. And he’s gotten to be very, very good at making good things happen more often than making bad things happen.”


On Beal, Karl said: “The Beal kid, in the second half of last year had shot the ball extremely well. He reminds me a little bit of Ray Allen early in his career, his ability when you get him open — he’s got a quick release and he’s deadly and he has a confidence to his game that I think is first class.”

I've heard him give us props on TV multiple times as well, usually complimenting the talent we have. I'd bet anything that Karl is secretly dying to coach this team, especially being in the Eastern Conference where he'll have an easier time breaking his "can't get out of the first round" reputation

It would piss me off so much if Randy is just automatically resigned without other options being considered. Resigning Wittman would lock us into being the Hawks for years.

[hands11]

Randy Wittman Playoffs 1-0

Well done Mr Randy. Well done.

[dlts20]

yeah, Witt had this team very prepared. Ive ripped him all year but overall yesterday we looked very well coached. The only problem I may have had was the guys who he used but I dont mind him going into it like that. Now this is when coaching comes into play. Do you use those same guys like Book who dont seem to matchup well or do you right it off as a bad game and he can play better next time? Then in the sense of x's & o's, you know Thibbs willl adjust. Can Witt keep up. Again, we have more talent and should win

[Ruzious]

Wall's hard work has made him a better 3 point shooter. Wittman's and Cassell's coaching has made Wall less aggressive and less productive.

[fishercob]

I thought Randy's rotations were pretty darn effective in Game 1 and that he did a decent job overall. That said, I continue to hate cross-matching Beal onto Dunleavy. Brad's off-ball defense is still pretty deficient, and Dunleavy abused him with cuts and movement for the second straight game. I'd prefer Brad on Butler and Ariza on Dunleavy.

I really liked Randy's demeanor in the post-game press conference. Similarly, I loved that there was not a shred of panic when the Wiz went down 13 in the 3Q. Good job, fellas. Onward and upward.

[hands11]

I thought Randy's rotations were pretty darn effective in Game 1 and that he did a decent job overall. That said, I continue to hate cross-matching Beal onto Dunleavy. Brad's off-ball defense is still pretty deficient, and Dunleavy abused him with cuts and movement for the second straight game. I'd prefer Brad on Butler and Ariza on Dunleavy.

I really liked Randy's demeanor in the post-game press conference. Similarly, I loved that there was not a shred of panic when the Wiz went down 13 in the 3Q. Good job, fellas. Onward and upward.

13 pts is a decently large lead to overcome in the 3rd. The team now has tasted playing with an early lead, losing it and playing from behind, and closing it out.... in the playoff... on the road.. in game 1.

Good experience to gain for Wall, Beal and the other young players.