GT #17: Lakers @ Wizards 7 PM (CSN/99.1 FM) [12/3/14]

[fishercob]

Fish Thoughts!

First and foremost, Wednesdays are becoming my favorite days of the week. These blue alternate uni's are the best thing to happen to DC sports since the '91 Super Bowl.

Secondly, nice to get a W and increase the record to 12-5. If the Wiz play the rest of the season just a game over .500 they'll win 45 games. 50 seems like a reasonable goal, but time will tell.

Good feelings aside, I'm actually not loving what I'm seeing from the Wizards right now and am becoming increasingly concerned that we're in for a bit of a "market correction" if the quality of play doesn't pick up.

The Lakers had nothing resembling a consistent rim protector last night, and yet somehow the Wizards shot a ton of long two's -- many of them early in the shot clock, when just running their stuff would have likely netted a better shot, and certainly not a worse one. Wall shot 6-18 -- just horrible against a defense that bad -- and one of those makes was the complete fluke off the glass three.

Go look at Wall's shot chart HERE. John needs to get to the rim, suck in the defense, find shooters, shoot open 3's, etc. The long 2's need to be late in the shot-clock last resorts -- not PUJIT's! He took TEN 17-21 footers last night. That's recipe for disaster against good teams.

I also really didn't like Wittman subbing the bench in en masse; I don't know why he thinks that would be a good idea, rather than staggering a few starters and reserves. And WTF is he doing with Otto? 12 total minutes on the floor, and 3 of them with Wall and none with Beal? Randy's got to be more mindful of the big picture and of Otto's development, especially considering how productive he has been (117 ORtg, .133 WS/48.

I hope the winning ways continue, but we are going to have to play much better -- and smarter -- if they are going to do so when the competition stiffens.

[montestewart]

Fish Thoughts!

First and foremost, Wednesdays are becoming my favorite days of the week. These blue alternate uni's are the best thing to happen to DC sports since the '91 Super Bowl.

Secondly, nice to get a W and increase the record to 12-5. If the Wiz play the rest of the season just a game over .500 they'll win 45 games. 50 seems like a reasonable goal, but time will tell.

Good feelings aside, I'm actually not loving what I'm seeing from the Wizards right now and am becoming increasingly concerned that we're in for a bit of a "market correction" if the quality of play doesn't pick up.

The Lakers had nothing resembling a consistent rim protector last night, and yet somehow the Wizards shot a ton of long two's -- many of them early in the shot clock, when just running their stuff would have likely netted a better shot, and certainly not a worse one. Wall shot 6-18 -- just horrible against a defense that bad -- and one of those makes was the complete fluke off the glass three.

Go look at Wall's shot chart HERE. John needs to get to the rim, suck in the defense, find shooters, shoot open 3's, etc. The long 2's need to be late in the shot-clock last resorts -- not PUJIT's! He took TEN 17-21 footers last night. That's recipe for disaster against good teams.

I also really didn't like Wittman subbing the bench in en masse; I don't know why he thinks that would be a good idea, rather than staggering a few starters and reserves. And WTF is he doing with Otto? 12 total minutes on the floor, and 3 of them with Wall and none with Beal? Randy's got to be more mindful of the big picture and of Otto's development, especially considering how productive he has been (117 ORtg, .133 WS/48.

I hope the winning ways continue, but we are going to have to play much better -- and smarter -- if they are going to do so when the competition stiffens.

See the "Like a Spur" thread. You've been warned!

Like a Spur
Just behind your heel
Like a Spur
Think how the horse must feel
Ooooooooo

[Zonkerbl]

Went to the game. It was great. I loved seeing the Wizards put them away at the end.

OMG my throat is sore. Last couple of minutes were nuts!!

[verbal8]

I'm not concerned at all about Otto. I don't think he will ever be a star, but he will be solid pro. He just knows how to play and does all the little things that helps win games. I would like to see him a little more assertive, but hopefully that will come as he gains more experience.

He is looking a lot like Batum at this point in his career. Batum isn't a star, but he has been a solid starter on some good teams.

[WizWillWin]

Most fun I've had watching a basketball team in years...Wall and Beal are gonna be doing damage for a long time in this league, and Beal's not even in his prime yet..

[stevemcqueen1]

Most fun I've had watching a basketball team in years...Wall and Beal are gonna be doing damage for a long time in this league, and Beal's not even in his prime yet..

Neither is Wall for that matter. They're years away from peaking.

[WizWillWin]

Most fun I've had watching a basketball team in years...Wall and Beal are gonna be doing damage for a long time in this league, and Beal's not even in his prime yet..

Neither is Wall for that matter. They're years away from peaking.

I hope those years are far and away from now, cause once you're at your peak, the only way from there is down

[Kanyewest]

Fish Thoughts!

First and foremost, Wednesdays are becoming my favorite days of the week. These blue alternate uni's are the best thing to happen to DC sports since the '91 Super Bowl.

Secondly, nice to get a W and increase the record to 12-5. If the Wiz play the rest of the season just a game over .500 they'll win 45 games. 50 seems like a reasonable goal, but time will tell.

Good feelings aside, I'm actually not loving what I'm seeing from the Wizards right now and am becoming increasingly concerned that we're in for a bit of a "market correction" if the quality of play doesn't pick up.

The Lakers had nothing resembling a consistent rim protector last night, and yet somehow the Wizards shot a ton of long two's -- many of them early in the shot clock, when just running their stuff would have likely netted a better shot, and certainly not a worse one. Wall shot 6-18 -- just horrible against a defense that bad -- and one of those makes was the complete fluke off the glass three.

Go look at Wall's shot chart HERE. John needs to get to the rim, suck in the defense, find shooters, shoot open 3's, etc. The long 2's need to be late in the shot-clock last resorts -- not PUJIT's! He took TEN 17-21 footers last night. That's recipe for disaster against good teams.

I also really didn't like Wittman subbing the bench in en masse; I don't know why he thinks that would be a good idea, rather than staggering a few starters and reserves. And WTF is he doing with Otto? 12 total minutes on the floor, and 3 of them with Wall and none with Beal? Randy's got to be more mindful of the big picture and of Otto's development, especially considering how productive he has been (117 ORtg, .133 WS/48.

I hope the winning ways continue, but we are going to have to play much better -- and smarter -- if they are going to do so when the competition stiffens.

I agree the long 2s are not an ideal look. But Wall had 3 wide open 3 pointers in the first quarter since the Laker's crappy defense was just daring Wall to shoot. Eventually those kind of shots will go down. 4 out of 10 off a mid-range shots was OK. Wall needs to start knocking down those 3 pointers.

Porter's minutes could be limited as long as Rasual Butler is balling like he's been who has a better OTR and WS/48 than Porter. Beal had it going too so I understand why Wittman played him as much as he did. If Porter had been more efficient in this game, perhaps Randy would have stuck with Porter longer, but Otto was only 1/5 from the field in this one and not really filling up the stat sheet in other ways.

[stevemcqueen1]

Most fun I've had watching a basketball team in years...Wall and Beal are gonna be doing damage for a long time in this league, and Beal's not even in his prime yet..

Neither is Wall for that matter. They're years away from peaking.

I hope those years are far and away from now, cause once you're at your peak, the only way from there is down

Unless you're the Spurs or Mavs apparently.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

saw this on BF, had to repost it here.

Haha this was the play of the week- not the shot- the dance!

Btw - this the game we need! The one where Wall facilitiates and Beal is our high scorer. Only concern is Otto -?

I had the same concern, just didn't want to be a buzz kill, CC.

Otto was pretty crappy. Randy had to call a quick timeout just to sit Otto, even before the rest of the starters came back. In my mind I started thinking not good for a #3 pick. Trade bait. THEN I REMEMBERED that Otto was recently injured. Maybe he's not healthy yet.

Also, coming back from injury and missing a game, Porter's timing could be off and he could be pressing.

Otto did look real bad this game.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm not concerned at all about Otto. I don't think he will ever be a star, but he will be solid pro. He just knows how to play and does all the little things that helps win games. I would like to see him a little more assertive, but hopefully that will come as he gains more experience.

He is looking a lot like Batum at this point in his career. Batum isn't a star, but he has been a solid starter on some good teams.

2014-2015 Porter (this season) vs Career Batum

...... . FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% 2P 2PA 2P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
Porter 4.2 8.7 .483 0.7 1.8 .389 3.5 6.9 .507 2.0 2.5 .800 1.6 3.4 5.0 1.5 1.1 0.7 0.8 2.1 11.1
Batum 4.8 10.7 .450 1.9 5.1 .365 3.0 5.7 .527 2.0 2.4 .831 1.5 4.4 5.9 3.3 1.1 0.9 1.9 2.3 13.5

verbal, you are 100% on point. Eerily similar numbers except Nicolas Batum is a superior passer.

Forget last game. Porter looks to play a lot like Batum!

[AFM]

Batum? I call him "Baby KD". Batum is selling him short, baby.