Official Thread - Wizards at Pacers (11/8/14)

[80sballboy]

The greatest small forward in NBA history-Trevor Ariza-is shooting 5 of his last 26 the last two games. Why? Dwight Howard was out on Friday and he probably didn't get the same looks

No doubt, PP is struggling because he's not a 30mpg+ player anymore. He's also 37 and probably spent more time playing poker than getting ready for this season. Otto will take over eventually but he doesn't seem like he's ready yet on the offensive end. This is where we could have really used Martell Webster. I think his absence has been undervalued. He would have allowed us to rest Pierce more and you could have used him or Porter at the 2, with Temple getting a lot less minutes.

[MOrgil]

I'm kind of worried about current make-up of the team. With Beal and Ariza gone, the team is slow on defense and not as explosive offensively as before. Plus, for some reason we suck on defense. I know it's been only a few games but Wizards look old and slow...


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[TheBabyMaker]

Wow the Raptors beat us down Friday and some their posters are still here trolling us. Just go back to your own forum already.

[TheBabyMaker]

BTW I missed the last couple of games due to work. Temple sure looks like a solid starting SG in this league ready to replace Beal in the Future. LOL ok this team has no REAL shooters outside of Beal and Webster.

[TheBabyMaker]

I'm kind of worried about current make-up of the team. With Beal and Ariza gone, the team is slow on defense and not as explosive offensively as before. Plus, for some reason we suck on defense. I know it's been only a few games but Wizards look old and slow...


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Memphis is slow too, probably the slowest team in the league, their not young either. They win games play defense and don't let some random journeyman lite them up every game like the Wizards do.

[tontoz]

The Pacers cut a 22 point deficit to 3 with all of their starters out. Good teams don't allow that type of nonsense.

Glad to see Hump back. He really helps on the boards.

Over his last 3 games Pierce is 8-39.

[tontoz]

Quick question, why is this game thread only 7 pages long thus far? Surely yesterday's slightly larger 17 page thread was not just because the Raps board users came over to visit?

Hmm, you may need our presence more often in this board, if the game discussions are only 7-10 pages long on average.

Maybe some people have better things to do on a Saturday night.

[hands11]

Anyone dumb enough to think this team is better without Ariza...you're an idiot. And i'm talking to the guy in my signature.

Also, I don't recall many people claiming that this team was better without Ariza. I think most people said that the Wizards defense would likely be worse without Ariza but the offense might be better if Pierce still had something left in the tank. I also recall people saying that not signing Ariza might be the best long term move as Otto could eventually replace is production. Again, I think its way too early to proclaim anything about this team, whether it was right or wrong to let Ariza leave, etc..

Right. It wasn't ever about if they would be better to start the year with TA or without. Clearly keeping him would have them the better team to start the year. But that's short sighted thinking and they were looking at the bigger picture.

Plus, it ignores that people long speculated that TA would leave when he became a FA to go more West. Well he did. People wanted to believe that him liking his team would open him to a 2 year deal, but locked in money is hard to talk a player out of. Specially when they have other good options and are 29. He got paid and he landed on a team where he could be used in a very similar why to how we used him here. Harden is now ball in hand running the offense as a SG/PG. With the way he drives to pulls in the defense, TA is wide open just like here. And Houston is a legit team with Harden and Howard. Its not like he went to PHI. This was his last big contract. He was only going to sign a 4 year deal.

So knowing he might leave, they drafted Otto as insurance to replace him and Otto has gotten off to a good start now that he isn' injured. He looks NBA ready as he was projected to be coming out of college. Otto is going to be more then fine as a TA replacement but NO ONE said he would be better to start the year. And lets not forget, Otto got on red shirt year to learn from TA while both where here. We paid 4M to Otto and used a #3 pick for that experience. And because of that, Otto could be well on his way after the first 1/4 or 1/2 of the season and Otto has skills TA didn't have. And he is the right age to grow with Wall and Beal. And he was already signed. And they used a top pick on him. So not signing TA just cleared the way for Otto to step in sooner, which is what you want to do with a #3 pick you are paying $4,470,480 and projected to be a starter. Wall, Beal and Otto is what makes this team that looks old, not old.

Paul was added to help bridge that transition and right now, he is on a 3 game stink. Hopefully that's just adjusting to a new team and 4 games in 5 nights on old legs.

There was a lot of things involved in the TA, Otto, PP moves and we came out of it very well for the long term. Specially with the cap space.

You can't accurately talk about TA and just ignore all the details involved in it.

What TA is going in HOU has nothing to do with what the Wizards are doing.

[hands11]

i AGREE!!!!!

Ariza is playing like someone being paid twice what his salary is. The qualifier "at his price" makes the statement a delusional one.

Not tonight he ain't. 3-16fg and 0-6 3pfg. Not a great night for your under paid man.

TA has games like that. He would have them with us every 5-6 games or so. Then he would bounce back.

Had TA never landed on HOU the first time and positioned as something he wasn't, a number one option like a PG, I think he would have had a more productive career as what he is, a spot up 3 point shooter with great man defense. If he stayed in LA, he would have made a smoother career because they already know what he was and how to use him.

TA was remade in DC with Wall and Randy deciding to start him over Webster who played well as a starter the previous year. He was put in the perfect situation to show case his skills with Randy having him spot up for the corner 3 and that set up his last big pay check. When he got here, posters were constantly complaining about how his contract was over paying and EG was a idiot for adding him. Now it looks more then fair even though he is making more then we paid him and that adding him for even 2 years was a good move.

I'm happy for TA. He was a 43rd pick 2nd rounder who has found his way to becoming a valued vet on a good team. It could have gone smoother if he made some different decisions but he got paid and he is a success story. Happy ending for a young man with a dream of playing in the NBA.

TA better not forget Randy and Wall come Christmas time.

[hands11]

Pierce really struggles on back2backs

Considering the mileage on his body, it's to be expected. He should somehow be stashed for the postseason only. Shorter amount of games, with rest inbetween.

Hopefully he buys in to that idea or already has and we just aren't there yet in the plan.

Eventually Otto will be the starter if he proves legit which he is doing. Paul is clearly not a long term solution.

I don't think anyone here would have expected Otto to be the starter to start the year because he missed so many games last year. They would clearly like to phase him into getting legit minutes first. He has to earn it on the court and so far, so good. I'm sure he is learning a ton in the time he is getting.

Its been 7 games and Otto is shooting .523 from the field and .500 from 3 on low volume and 0.80 from the FT line.

He is establishing himself and learning the NBA game. I think they are fine with him building up his confidence where he is right now as long as they are still winning while Paul is going against other starters and learning the team.

But at some point, if Otto has proven he is the better more productive player, they will switch to Otto starting. They didn't draft him #3 in the draft to remain a back up. Paul I'm sure knows that. I had to have been talked about because its clear as day. Paul is nearing the end of his career. Otto is just starting his. Paul was brought here to help bridge the gap and teach while filling in as needed, not to take over.

[exculpatory]

1. I think most people said that the Wizards defense would likely be worse without Ariza, but the offense might be better if Pierce still had something left in the tank.

2. Paul was added to help bridge the transition (to KD), and right now he is on a 3 game shooting stink. Hopefully that's just adjusting to a new team AND 4 games in 5 nights on 37 year old legs.

1. Mark my words: Paul has PLENTY left in the tank - even some occasional monster games. Mark my words, guys!

2. If Paul does not have an undisclosed injury (as was the case in 11/2013 last year with the Nets - when he played that month with an undisclosed fracture in his shooting hand), your Point #2 is spot on!

Most of you guys have just posted VERY VERY insightful, accurate & well written analytical posts. My compliments!

Please read again below an edited version of what I posted last night right after the game in this thread:

"Paul shot lights out during the 3 of the first 4 games. He is still assisting & rebounding very well, but this is the third game in a row that his shot is simply not there. The last time this happened was 11/2013 - when it turns out that he played the entire month of 11/2013 with an UNdiagnosed fractured shooting hand. Between 12/2013 & 4/2014, after his hand had healed, his advanced stats were truly freaking beyond AWESOME! Two possibilities: He has an undisclosed injury again OR his 37 year legs pooped out playing 4 games in 5 nights. If it is the former, he will heal. If it is the latter, he will gradually round into shape & then excel. Also, Paul has always been a notoriously "slow starter" during his 16 year first ballot HOF career."

PS At the end of the day, I predict that Paul & BB will prove to be the 2 best REAL shooters on the 2014-2015 iteration of the Washington Wizards.

Have faith in him (and me)! LOL.

[stevemcqueen1]

I'm kind of worried about current make-up of the team. With Beal and Ariza gone, the team is slow on defense and not as explosive offensively as before. Plus, for some reason we suck on defense. I know it's been only a few games but Wizards look old and slow...


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Defense takes time to cohere. A lot of our problems have come on PnRs and losing offensive players after high screens, and that's mostly communication issues. Our bigs aren't used to playing with Temple and Pierce and nobody on the bench is used to playing with each other.

Our close outs have been slow in games where we've had defensive breakdowns, but a lot of that is because we're so out of position after the defense gets broken during rotations. Not necessarily a lack of speed.

We need to play with more cohesion and effort on the perimeter no doubt. Hopefully that comes with time.

Offensively, we lose a lot of punch by missing our two best shooters. Truth be told, Beal and Webster are our only knockdown shooters from three. Pierce is a good three ball shooter but he has been slumping so hard. And Temple is regressing to his mean from three, he's not nearly as good a shooter as he shot in the first several games. Wall's a streak shooter and Miller doesn't have three ball range. GRJr can barely stay on the floor. And Porter appears to be a decent three ball shooter, but this is something he's only just added to his game. He's not a confident knockdown threat from that range, and prefers to work inside to mid range where he is very comfortable.

So we've been playing without a true three point threat in games where Pierce has struggled. That's drive and kick game is arguably the most dangerous part of our offensive arsenal, and it hasn't been working the past two games.

Once we get Beal and Webster back, we'll be a good three point shooting team again. At that point, I think our offense should be a good deal better than last year's.

[hands11]

I'm kind of worried about current make-up of the team. With Beal and Ariza gone, the team is slow on defense and not as explosive offensively as before. Plus, for some reason we suck on defense. I know it's been only a few games but Wizards look old and slow...


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Defense takes time to cohere. A lot of our problems have come on PnRs and losing offensive players after high screens, and that's mostly communication issues. Our bigs aren't used to playing with Temple and Pierce and nobody on the bench is used to playing with each other.

Our close outs have been slow in games where we've had defensive breakdowns, but a lot of that is because we're so out of position after the defense gets broken during rotations. Not necessarily a lack of speed.

We need to play with more cohesion and effort on the perimeter no doubt. Hopefully that comes with time.

Offensively, we lose a lot of punch by missing our two best shooters. Truth be told, Beal and Webster are our only knockdown shooters from three. Pierce is a good three ball shooter but he has been slumping so hard. And Temple is regressing to his mean from three, he's not nearly as good a shooter as he shot in the first several games. Wall's a streak shooter and Miller doesn't have three ball range. GRJr can barely stay on the floor. And Porter appears to be a decent three ball shooter, but this is something he's only just added to his game. He's not a confident knockdown threat from that range, and prefers to work inside to mid range where he is very comfortable.

So we've been playing without a true three point threat in games where Pierce has struggled. That's drive and kick game is arguably the most dangerous part of our offensive arsenal, and it hasn't been working the past two games.

Once we get Beal and Webster back, we'll be a good three point shooting team again. At that point, I think our offense should be a good deal better than last year's.

I'll add R Butler to that mix. He is a good 3 point shooter but hasn't gelled with the team yet. Hopefully he gets all of Glen's minutes so he can. I see investing in Glen as a waste of time mostly. He has a very limited role on this team once healthy. Temple play D and R Bulter can shoot the 3 and so can Webster. I see Glen as nothing more then Temples back up to defend bigger players Temple might not be able to handle with Temple eventually being the back up to Webster for defense who is the back up to Beal. Glen is end of the end of the bench so why invest time in him now ? Maybe he is a R Bulter replacement next year.

Also

I think Temple will remain a better shooter, but he is a rhythm shooter not a micro wave. He needs to get up a 3 every 3-4 minutes and at least some kind of shot every 2-4 minute in the rhythm of the offense to remain hot.

Throw out the TOR game where they looked like ass from the word go and Randy waited until they were drowning before he called a time out or made any adjustments. In that game no one hit shots. Temple was 0-6 in 30 minutes. He was missing and he wasn't shooting enough. But Wall was 3-13, Nene was 2-11, and Paul was 3-11. It was just a terrible night for lots of players and coaches.

Last night against IND, he was 1-3 from 3 and only took 4 shoot in 31 minutes. That isn't enough shots. That a shot every 8 minutes and a 3 ball every 10 minutes.

In the two previous games he got up 14 shots in 43 minutes and was 4-7 from 3 in one game, and 10 shots in 30 minutes where he was 4-7 from 3. That the pace he need to shoot at. And as he has commented, if he doesn't take them, it ruins the spacing of the offense as well.

This team needs to get up more 3 balls. Temple should be taking 5-6 in 30 minutes. Paul couldn't hit the broadside of a barn last night and took 5 three shots in 28 minutes and made 0, and 13 total shots in that time. One a night that Nene posted 8-16 in 31 minutes there weren't enough shots left over for Temple to find a rhythm and that's not the kind of player he is.

Even tough Nene played well, he shot to much. And Paul played bad and shot to much. More 3s balls need to be coming from Temple, Otto and R Butler, which is why I'm ready for Otto to start. His combination of mid range and 3 shooting works better with Temple out there and he is quicker on his feet for better defense then Paul provides. This will also work better when Beal is out there since Beal will be take a large chunk of shots. Let Paul tear up the 2nd units of other teams where he can play with Hump and there are more shot attempts available because Miller won't shot at all if he doesn't need to.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The greatest small forward in NBA history-Trevor Ariza-is shooting 5 of his last 26 the last two games. Why? Dwight Howard was out on Friday and he probably didn't get the same looks

No doubt, PP is struggling because he's not a 30mpg+ player anymore. He's also 37 and probably spent more time playing poker than getting ready for this season. Otto will take over eventually but he doesn't seem like he's ready yet on the offensive end. This is where we could have really used Martell Webster. I think his absence has been undervalued. He would have allowed us to rest Pierce more and you could have used him or Porter at the 2, with Temple getting a lot less minutes.

Houston was also missing two other starters besides Howard. In one of the games Ariza shot poorly, so did the Spurs. Houston won. Pop rested his starters. I agree 80sballboy, Ariza's shooting is dependent on the looks he gets.

I think Washington just needs to keep beating lesser opponents until Beal and Webster get back.

Ariza was a guy that had great chemistry in Washington. I don't know why people get so angry when his name is brought up. The guy is still doing quite well in Houston. I can be both a fan of the Wizards and a fan of Trevor Ariza at the same time. That doesn't mean I'm saying I told you so. I am not. We have a long season. The ultimate test won't be determined until the end of this season.

Even if they take a step backwards but Otto Porter develops that could still be a win. Regardless I'm going to be an Ariza fan, too.
.

[Detective]

Pierce really struggles on back2backs

Considering the mileage on his body, it's to be expected. He should somehow be stashed for the postseason only. Shorter amount of games, with rest inbetween.

Hopefully he buys in to that idea or already has and we just aren't there yet in the plan.

Eventually Otto will be the starter if he proves legit which it is doing. Paul is clearly not a long term solution.

I don't think anyone here would have expected Otto to be the starter to start the year because he missed so many games last year. They would clearly like to phase him into getting legit minutes first. He has to earn it on the court and so far, so good. I'm sure he is learning a ton in the time he is getting.

Its been 7 games and Otto is shooting .523 from the field and .500 from 3 on low volume and 0.80 from the FT line.

He is establishing himself and learning the NBA game. I think they are fine with him building up his confidence where he is right now as long as they are still winning while Paul is going against other starters and learning the team.

But at some point, if Otto has proven he is the better more productive player, they will switch to Otto starting. They didn't draft him #3 in the draft to remain a back up. Paul I'm sure knows that. I had to have been talked about because its clear as day. Paul is nearing the end of his career. Otto is just starting his. Paul was brought here to help bridge the gap and teach while filling in as needed, not to take over.

I disagree about the Otto starting eventually concept after he proves it. He needs to start now. He has to learn from his mistakes, and if you're coach doesn't realize that, then he's insane. Ross is our starter, and he's only a 3rd year SF swingman. He is not exactly consistent on a night in and night out basis, but he is learning from it, and came up big throughout the season last year(the playoffs were an exception due to nerves for the 1st time of experiencing it).

We did the same thing with Jonas. He struggled, got his fouls(still does), but figured it out and worked through them.

You hit the nail right on the head with the reference to his drafting order. You spent a 3rd overall pick on him, and don't use him properly. He should have been given consistent burn last season, behind Ariza, to get him used to the grind of the season. He did well early in the Raps/Wiz game.

He has the length, the tools, and cool sports spectacles to make an impact.

But your team needs to toss him into the fire or deep end as they say, to see what he is really capable with a larger body of work to examine his performance from.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

The Pacers cut a 22 point deficit to 3 with all of their starters out. Good teams don't allow that type of nonsense.

Glad to see Hump back. He really helps on the boards.

Over his last 3 games Pierce is 8-39.

And when the lead was down to three our guy AJ Price had a chance to tie it. He missed.

I am glad to see he's back in the league.

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[Earth2Ted]

As uninspiring as the overall level of play is, 5-2 is one of the best starts in franchise history. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you have to go back to the 75-76 team for the last time that happened. The 78-79 team that lost in the finals went 7-7, before running off a 14-2 streak, and the 74-75 team started 7-0, on their way to 60 wins, and then getting infamously swept by GS in the finals.

I think the guys are still figuring each other out, and learning how they are going to pace themselves through an 82 game season, they will probably fall back and stay around .500 for a while, but a 5-2 nut harvesting is pretty good, even if we have a couple off a really decimated Pacers team. Lord knows, we've gotten our own nuts harvested by the rest of the league too many years to count.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm kind of worried about current make-up of the team. With Beal and Ariza gone, the team is slow on defense and not as explosive offensively as before. Plus, for some reason we suck on defense. I know it's been only a few games but Wizards look old and slow...


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Defense takes time to cohere. A lot of our problems have come on PnRs and losing offensive players after high screens, and that's mostly communication issues. Our bigs aren't used to playing with Temple and Pierce and nobody on the bench is used to playing with each other.

Our close outs have been slow in games where we've had defensive breakdowns, but a lot of that is because we're so out of position after the defense gets broken during rotations. Not necessarily a lack of speed.

We need to play with more cohesion and effort on the perimeter no doubt. Hopefully that comes with time.

Offensively, we lose a lot of punch by missing our two best shooters. Truth be told, Beal and Webster are our only knockdown shooters from three. Pierce is a good three ball shooter but he has been slumping so hard. And Temple is regressing to his mean from three, he's not nearly as good a shooter as he shot in the first several games. Wall's a streak shooter and Miller doesn't have three ball range. GRJr can barely stay on the floor. And Porter appears to be a decent three ball shooter, but this is something he's only just added to his game. He's not a confident knockdown threat from that range, and prefers to work inside to mid range where he is very comfortable.

So we've been playing without a true three point threat in games where Pierce has struggled. That's drive and kick game is arguably the most dangerous part of our offensive arsenal, and it hasn't been working the past two games.

Once we get Beal and Webster back, we'll be a good three point shooting team again. At that point, I think our offense should be a good deal better than last year's.

To me the real story of this season is Glen Rice Jr. How is it that he cannot stay on the floor? He absolutely killed it in summer league. I am not that surprised about Pierce struggling at times. I am surprised that Glen Rice isn't playing well.

The other story is DeJuan Blair. I have been talking about him for 5 years. Never would have expected his Wizards initial games to be like this. Earlier in his career he rebounded better and fouled a lot less. I know the guy is a good basketball player.

Hopefully, before too long both Rice and Blair will get on track. The Wizards can use athleticism and energy.


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[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm kind of worried about current make-up of the team. With Beal and Ariza gone, the team is slow on defense and not as explosive offensively as before. Plus, for some reason we suck on defense. I know it's been only a few games but Wizards look old and slow...


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Defense takes time to cohere. A lot of our problems have come on PnRs and losing offensive players after high screens, and that's mostly communication issues. Our bigs aren't used to playing with Temple and Pierce and nobody on the bench is used to playing with each other.

Our close outs have been slow in games where we've had defensive breakdowns, but a lot of that is because we're so out of position after the defense gets broken during rotations. Not necessarily a lack of speed.

We need to play with more cohesion and effort on the perimeter no doubt. Hopefully that comes with time.

Offensively, we lose a lot of punch by missing our two best shooters. Truth be told, Beal and Webster are our only knockdown shooters from three. Pierce is a good three ball shooter but he has been slumping so hard. And Temple is regressing to his mean from three, he's not nearly as good a shooter as he shot in the first several games. Wall's a streak shooter and Miller doesn't have three ball range. GRJr can barely stay on the floor. And Porter appears to be a decent three ball shooter, but this is something he's only just added to his game. He's not a confident knockdown threat from that range, and prefers to work inside to mid range where he is very comfortable.

So we've been playing without a true three point threat in games where Pierce has struggled. That's drive and kick game is arguably the most dangerous part of our offensive arsenal, and it hasn't been working the past two games.

Once we get Beal and Webster back, we'll be a good three point shooting team again. At that point, I think our offense should be a good deal better than last year's.

I'll add R Butler to that mix. He is a good 3 point shooter but hasn't gelled with the team yet. Hopefully he gets all of Glen's minutes so he can. I see investing in Glen as a waste of time mostly. He has a very limited role on this team once healthy. Temple play D and R Bulter can shoot the 3 and so can Webster. I see Glen as nothing more then Temples back up to defend bigger players Temple might not be able to handle with Temple eventually being the back up to Webster for defense who is the back up to Beal. Glen is end of the end of the bench so why invest time in him now ? Maybe he is a R Bulter replacement next year.

Also

I think Temple will remain a better shooter, but he is a rhythm shooter not a micro wave. He needs to get up a 3 every 3-4 minutes and at least some kind of shot every 2-4 minute in the rhythm of the offense to remain hot.

Throw out the TOR game where they looked like ass from the word go and Randy waited until they were drowning before he called a time out or made any adjustments. In that game no one hit shots. Temple was 0-6 in 30 minutes. He was missing and he wasn't shooting enough. But Wall was 3-13, Nene was 2-11, and Paul was 3-11. It was just a terrible night for lots of players and coaches.

Last night against IND, he was 1-3 from 3 and only took 4 shoot in 31 minutes. That isn't enough shots. That a shot every 8 minutes and a 3 ball every 10 minutes.

In the two previous games he got up 14 shots in 43 minutes and was 4-7 from 3 in one game, and 10 shots in 30 minutes where he was 4-7 from 3. That the pace he need to shoot at. And as he has commented, if he doesn't take them, it ruins the spacing of the offense as well.

This team needs to get up more 3 balls. Temple should be taking 5-6 in 30 minutes. Paul couldn't hit the broadside of a barn last night and took 5 three shots in 28 minutes and made 0, and 13 total shots in that time. One a night that Nene posted 8-16 in 31 minutes there weren't enough shots left over for Temple to find a rhythm and that's not the kind of player he is.

Even tough Nene played well, he shot to much. And Paul played bad and shot to much. More 3s balls need to be coming from Temple, Otto and R Butler, which is why I'm ready for Otto to start. His combination of mid range and 3 shooting works better with Temple out there and he is quicker on his feet for better defense then Paul provides. This will also work better when Beal is out there since Beal will be take a large chunk of shots. Let Paul tear up the 2nd units of other teams where he can play with Hump and there are more shot attempts available because Miller won't shot at all if he doesn't need to.

Personally, I hope the young guy who can play another 10-15 years brings it. Rice has the tools to rebound well and to defend better than Butler. The Wizards have enough 30 something players. I hope Rice has that one breakout game. I know Butler hits threes but his upside is non existent.

If Rice does prove useless as you think, hands, I wish they never traded Wolters.

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[hands11]

The greatest small forward in NBA history-Trevor Ariza-is shooting 5 of his last 26 the last two games. Why? Dwight Howard was out on Friday and he probably didn't get the same looks

No doubt, PP is struggling because he's not a 30mpg+ player anymore. He's also 37 and probably spent more time playing poker than getting ready for this season. Otto will take over eventually but he doesn't seem like he's ready yet on the offensive end. This is where we could have really used Martell Webster. I think his absence has been undervalued. He would have allowed us to rest Pierce more and you could have used him or Porter at the 2, with Temple getting a lot less minutes.

Houston was also missing two other starters besides Howard. In one of the games Ariza shot poorly, so did the Spurs. Houston won. Pop rested his starters. I agree 80sballboy, Ariza's shooting is dependent on the looks he gets.

I think Washington just needs to keep beating lesser opponents until Beal and Webster get back.

Ariza was a guy that had great chemistry in Washington. I don't know why people get so angry when his name is brought up. The guy is still doing quite well in Houston. I I can do both, be a fan of the Wizards and a fan of Trevor Ariza at the same time. That doesn't mean I'm saying I told you so because I am not. We have a long season. The ultimate test won't be determined until the end of this season.

Even if they take a step backwards but Otto Porter develops that could still be a win. Regardless I'm going to be an Ariza fan, too.
.

Cough Cough..

Happy to see you happy and settled on this balanced approach CCJ. I agree, its a win win to be a fan of a player you like and be happy for them where they are and still understand that doesn't mean your own team messed up or doesn't have a bright future with the direction they implemented, but weren't you struggling a little more with this not just a week or two ago and I posted something pointing that out and you got snippy with me ?

Just saying, you should be able to understand why some struggle to get to where you are now. They just haven't gotten their yet. Its always tough losing a productive vet player and transitioning to things that are more question marks. Even if you feel positive about where those question marks will be in the near future. Its the know vs the unknown. TA really hit a stride here last year providing solid D and great 3 ball shooting. No team wants to see a player like that leave. Specially a team that hasn't won a lot over a long period of time.

But in time, I think Otto will make that process easier. Specially once he becomes a starter.