GT #18: Nuggets @ Wizards 7 PM (CSN/99.1 FM) [12/5/14]

[SUPERBALLMAN]

John Wall was fabulous tonight. If you want to pick nits, I thought he took 2 bad jumpers (I had not problem with the long two with the shot clock running down). But his pushing the tempo, passing, defensive hustle, etc were all fabulous and infectious.

Another inconspicuously fabulous game for Otto Porter -- 7 boards, 4 dimes, a steal and 2 blocks in 23 minutes. Love that.

My offseason optimism and 47 win projection was informed by two words: depth matters. That fact was on clear display when the ten-deep Spurs wiped the floor with the Lebrons in the Finals. The Wizards don't have a championship quality roster, but damn, they have lots and lots of good players.

Beal's jumpshot is gorgeous. March looks great diving on the pick and roll. Nene off the bench will be great. Hump is beastly. Happy night. Enjoy it and then on to Boston for a business trip. I want that one for Paul.

The depth of this team sure is looking good. I was looking at all kinds of guys to fill that final spot not named Rasual Butler. Who woulda thought this guy would be an even better addition to this team than Ray Allen?? Who would thought Humphries would play good enough to legitimately be an option to push Nene out of the starting lineup? Porter is coming into his game, Gortat is living up to his contract signing, Gooden is rarely getting in the game (even though he is playing good when he does), and Wall and Beal are continuing to get even better and truly looking like the best backcourt in the league. Webster has just been cleared for contact in practices. How about throwing out a small ball unit of Gortat manning the middle, Wall bringing it up with Butler, Webster and Beal spread around the perimeter??

[queridiculo]

On Nene coming off the bench, I feel like the lineup with Humphries alongside Gortat gives us much better spacing than the same lineup with Nene.

Nene tends to clog up the lane giving Gortat and everybody else less room to operate on the pick and roll.


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[SUPERBALLMAN]

On Nene coming off the bench, I feel like the lineup with Humphries alongside Gortat gives us much better spacing than the same lineup with Nene.

Nene tends to clog up the lane giving Gortat and everybody else less room to operate on the pick and roll.


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Agree. IMO our best rotation right now would be Gortat/Humphries and come off the bench with Nene/Gooden.

[dandridge 10]

We are almost a quarter into the season and I have to say, I have bought 100% into this team. I wouldn't call them the Spurs yet, but they are certainly Spurs light....Very unselfish, mature, defensive oriented, and deep.

I really think Paul Pierce was the key addition to the Wizards this year. He is not playing that great, but he seems to be the one that holds the other players accountable and is showing them how you have to play hard every night, beat the teams you are supposed to beat and protect home court advantage. The team just looks more focused than they ever have been before. Even in warm-ups before games, there is no more any joking around, playing one-on-one and goofing off. Each player just looks focused, preparing themselves for the game at hand.

Overall, this team is just fun to watch and what makes it even better is that they are a really good group of guys. No knuckleheads (aside for perhaps Rice, who is not even with the team) and just a bunch of hardworking professionals. Makes it even more enjoyable to root for this team.

It was a fun game to be at tonight. The only thing I couldn't understand is why Nene was in the game when we were up 20 points. Just seemed unnecessary to me given his foot issues....I think Wittman should have just used the blow out to rest him even more. With that said, I really liked seeing him with the second unit beating up on McGee.

Keep it rolling!

[doclinkin]

On Nene coming off the bench, I feel like the lineup with Humphries alongside Gortat gives us much better spacing than the same lineup with Nene.

Nene tends to clog up the lane giving Gortat and everybody else less room to operate on the pick and roll.


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And our rebounding advantage is formidable. Hammer and Hump complement eachother's rebounding styles, Gortat is tall enough and strong enough to catch them up high and hold his ground, Humphries anticipats well and gets balls outside of his own space. They tend not to get in each other's way.

Actually team rebounding has been solid. This game is an ideal illustration of that. Every player got at least one bounce, and 5 players had 5 or more boards. John with 8, Otto with 7.

And passing has been fun to watch. 35 assists on 45 made field goals, that's a pretty pretty thing. Johnny Ballgame's dozen dimes are great, but every game there's a handful of others with 4+ giftwrapped passes to the open guy or extra passes leading to that open shot.

With Nene out the Gortat/Wall Pick and Roll has been an assault tank at cruising speed, tough to stop.

[closg00]

I shouldn't look-past the up-coming games against Boston and Orlando, but I have that December 12 game against the Clippers circled.

[doclinkin]

What's interesting is that we're doing it all with very little added uptick from Paul Pierce. He is adding locker toughness and a fierce swagger, but himself is little more than role-player and moral support. He draws attention from defenders who remember the Truth of better days, which allows for better spacing, but himself does not command the ball or dominate it the way I feared he would. He has adapted to his own decline, it's actually a graceful receding more than a stumble and stagger. His toughness though, and game attitude and 3/4 speed swagger seems to be contagious.

Interestingly we have also gotten little to nothing from the vaunted DJ Blair, through little fault of his own, just awkward chemistry mismatches near Gortat and HUmphries. I suspect he'll play well near Nene if he can get in that line, but has not been needed.

So we lose Ariza's defense and 3pt shooting, lose Booker's moxie and athleticism. Expected to replace what we lose in offense with Paul Pierce's one-on-one game in part, and DJ Blair's stalwart board work.

But instead the real revelation has been Humphries' efficient shooting and rebounding. And afterthought Rasual Butler playing OUT O' HIS MIND on both ends.

Fun to see Beal's development as well. His handle and defense have picked up nicely.

[stevemcqueen1]

Paul Pierce is the reason we're letting our dicks swing this season. He's had a great influence on Wall and Beal. Those two play with an edge all the time now.

[doclinkin]

I shouldn't look-past the up-coming games against Boston and Orlando, but I have that December 12 game against the Clippers circled.

No you should not look past Boston. Their baby coach has them playing buzzer to buzzer, and they have defenders at the point of attack. Our passing is nice all over but this team goes how John goes, and if he is slowed up then we lose our key advantage. Boston will be tough, and I love the talent the Magic are assembling. Liked 'Dipo, Vucevic, and Gordon in each of those draft years. All are scrappy savvy feisty defenders who know how to play and have more upside to grow into with chemistry and time.

Boston particularly looks like a trap game but at least we get them back to back so even if we falter can maybe split the pair.

[stevemcqueen1]

Boston and Orlando aren't good yet. But they aren't as bad as their records. They play hard and they have good young talent. They'll have trouble finishing games with the well-seasoned teams (which we aren't quite there yet). We should be confident and expect wins. But of course we can't overlook these games.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'd love to know what was going through McGee's head this game. He sat for most of the consequential part and got totally clowned when he was in there.

He had to feel humiliated.

I have a soft spot in my heart for that young man. He's a nice guy who has some limitations.

Your compassion towards others does not have any limitations. You are a gem, CCJ.

Thanks, fish.

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[Youheardme90]

DC THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE , all through my dreams tonight

[Flippopotamus]

Checked out the Nuggets board, doesn't look to be very active. They seem to have a pretty deep hatred of Hickson.

This team lives and dies by Wall. If he plays like this in the playoffs then we will make a deep run. That was FUN basketball to watch on both ends of the court and you could pick out at least a couple good plays from everyone who played.

I hate to do this as a lifelong DC sports fan but I'm buying into the hype of this Wizards team. 13-5 is no time to be pessimistic, this team is locked in right now.

[cdouglas]

Good golly! Every Wizards player on the floor tonight, every single one, played positive minutes.

And, CCJ, I wouldn't say Rasual is playing at "almost all-star" level -- he's playing at an all star *starter* level! He looks like he owns the basketball court.

I've been watching NBA ball for a lot of decades, and I've never seen a guy transform in this way. It's almost more fun watching him play defense than offense!

Denver came in confident, a hot team, and they got off to a fast start on us too. Then Beal hit those three 3-pointers in a row, and the game was over!

I think it has a lot to do with being on an unselfish team without the prima donna persona. To add the topping to the cake you have a pass first point guard facilitating the team. I hope RGIII is observing this team and on how to lead and earn your team's respect.

[dobrojim]

We are almost a quarter into the season and I have to say, I have bought 100% into this team. I wouldn't call them the Spurs yet, but they are certainly Spurs light....Very unselfish, mature, defensive oriented, and deep.

I really think Paul Pierce was the key addition to the Wizards this year. He is not playing that great, but he seems to be the one that holds the other players accountable and is showing them how you have to play hard every night, beat the teams you are supposed to beat and protect home court advantage. The team just looks more focused than they ever have been before. Even in warm-ups before games, there is no more any joking around, playing one-on-one and goofing off. Each player just looks focused, preparing themselves for the game at hand.

Overall, this team is just fun to watch and what makes it even better is that they are a really good group of guys. No knuckleheads (aside for perhaps Rice, who is not even with the team) and just a bunch of hardworking professionals. Makes it even more enjoyable to root for this team.

It was a fun game to be at tonight. The only thing I couldn't understand is why Nene was in the game when we were up 20 points. Just seemed unnecessary to me given his foot issues....I think Wittman should have just used the blow out to rest him even more. With that said, I really liked seeing him with the second unit beating up on McGee.

Keep it rolling!

Agree on pretty much everything. Nene only played ~ 20 min so I'm not that worried
about that. I've bought into this team 100%. The question is, when will the city buy
into the team and start really creating demand for tickets so I don't have to take
a loss if I can't, or don't wish to go to every single game? On that note I repeat my
call for the Pump It Up activity by fans. Look for the guy in section 106 about 3 rows
off the floor wearing a Portis jersey. It's starting to catch on. I've been doing it
and now I see other folks scattered around the arena doing it too. Pump your
arms in the air! Our team is playing well enough, especially at home(!) to deserve
more rabid support.

[dobrojim]

I shouldn't look-past the up-coming games against Boston and Orlando, but I have that December 12 game against the Clippers circled.

No you should not look past Boston. Their baby coach has them playing buzzer to buzzer, and they have defenders at the point of attack. Our passing is nice all over but this team goes how John goes, and if he is slowed up then we lose our key advantage. Boston will be tough, and I love the talent the Magic are assembling. Liked 'Dipo, Vucevic, and Gordon in each of those draft years. All are scrappy savvy feisty defenders who know how to play and have more upside to grow into with chemistry and time.

Boston particularly looks like a trap game but at least we get them back to back so even if we falter can maybe split the pair.

We definitely should not look past them but they've had a terrible time closing
games out....several games where they've had huge lead and lost. Stay poised,
execute and we probably should win.

[Induveca]

The poor Knicks.

They sux.

I don't know what Melo was thinking staying there...

He's all about Manhattan with his wife seemingly. I actually semi-understand that.

[closg00]

I shouldn't look-past the up-coming games against Boston and Orlando, but I have that December 12 game against the Clippers circled.

No you should not look past Boston. Their baby coach has them playing buzzer to buzzer, and they have defenders at the point of attack. Our passing is nice all over but this team goes how John goes, and if he is slowed up then we lose our key advantage. Boston will be tough, and I love the talent the Magic are assembling. Liked 'Dipo, Vucevic, and Gordon in each of those draft years. All are scrappy savvy feisty defenders who know how to play and have more upside to grow into with chemistry and time.

Boston particularly looks like a trap game but at least we get them back to back so even if we falter can maybe split the pair.

Yup, we play them twice big trap/let down possibilities.

[hands11]

Thats a pretty chart. Game Flow

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart ... =400578570

The MIA one is nice as well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=400578542

[fishercob]

I shouldn't look-past the up-coming games against Boston and Orlando, but I have that December 12 game against the Clippers circled.

No you should not look past Boston. Their baby coach has them playing buzzer to buzzer, and they have defenders at the point of attack. Our passing is nice all over but this team goes how John goes, and if he is slowed up then we lose our key advantage. Boston will be tough, and I love the talent the Magic are assembling. Liked 'Dipo, Vucevic, and Gordon in each of those draft years. All are scrappy savvy feisty defenders who know how to play and have more upside to grow into with chemistry and time.

Boston particularly looks like a trap game but at least we get them back to back so even if we falter can maybe split the pair.

Yup, we play them twice big trap/let down possibilities.

Pauly will have us ready. I think part of his unseen impact is that the Wizards are ready to play seemingly every night. There have been 1, maybe 2 subpar efforts so far this year. His help D is amazing btw. There was one sequence last night where he was next to Gortat on the back line -- Paul literally push March into help position on a driver to cut off his path to the basket. His vision is incredible.