Zach Lowe article on Wiz from Grantland

[80sballboy]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-w ... in-durant/

[tontoz]

Some nice stuff in this article.

Beal has a silky shot, but he jacks an eye-searing number of midrange jumpers that mostly miss. He’s a tentative driver who pulls up early, and he once again ranked as one of the worst pick-and-roll ball handlers in the league this season, per Synergy Sports. Wittman has a bizarre crunch-time love affair with Beal pick-and-rolls, even though those plays turn Wall into a passive bystander with a shaky jumper that defenses don’t respect.

[barelyawake]

Stasis is the status quo in Washington, especially when they are winning.

Dude understands Washington sports. I hope we make a big move this offseason to prepare for Durant. We aren't one piece away (we are two), and this run was built on a patchwork of aging players who need to be replaced by another foundational piece.

[GhostsOfGil]

Is Zach Lowe the greatest sports writer ever? Yes is the only question to that answer.

[tontoz]

I was surprised at how well informed he is about the Wizards. I haven't read much from him but i was impressed.

[FAH1223]

Zach is one of the best writers there is on the NBA.

He understands the Wizards fandom, the horrible front office, the sentiments about Witt, and the lack of 3rd year jump in Beal.

[nate33]

It is amazing how plugged in Zach is to so many NBA teams. He is the GOAT NBA sportswriter. Nobody else comes close.

[JWizmentality]

Some nice stuff in this article.

Beal has a silky shot, but he jacks an eye-searing number of midrange jumpers that mostly miss. He’s a tentative driver who pulls up early, and he once again ranked as one of the worst pick-and-roll ball handlers in the league this season, per Synergy Sports. Wittman has a bizarre crunch-time love affair with Beal pick-and-rolls, even though those plays turn Wall into a passive bystander with a shaky jumper that defenses don’t respect.

I want to cry. It's like when a therapist sits you down and breaks down your anger issues and you get this sense of jubilation that someone finally understands you.

[gambitx777]

amazing article, 9/10. I wish he had mentioned Thomas or this draft!

[DCZards]

The article shows that Lowe, like many of us Zards fans, is hopeful, however. Here are some of the encouraging things that he sees:

And there are reasons to be bullish on both Beal and Porter — especially if Wittman, or some new coach, molds an offense that better fits their skill sets. Washington has over-stretched Beal’s ballhandling, but that might be healthy for him in the long run. He’s still only 21. He might not be able to work the pick-and-roll against a set defense, but slogging through that process now will turn Beal into a vicious secondary ball handler. When Wall bends the defense and dishes to him, Beal has the chops to blow by defenders closing out on his jumper, slice into the lane, and actually do something productive.

Maybe that won’t last. But Porter improved his shooting over the course of the season, and has morphed with frightening speed from a guy you’re fine leaving open into someone who inspires a little pang of panic when he rises for an open triple. He’s a terror on the glass, a canny off-ball cutter, and a committed defender who flustered DeMar DeRozan in the first round.

But they’ve started to nail the little things. Pierce has been a huge plus, on and off the court, and the Wizards turned trade exceptions into bargain deals for Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair, and Ramon Sessions — and even more trade exceptions. The trades for Nene and Gortat, controversial at the time, turned out well. They have four people doing analytics and a well-regarded training staff.

[Higga]

Pretty spot on article all around. Impressive for a national writer considering most of them are absolutely clueless about our team.

We just have to win enough to entice Durant to want to come here. I think he would love to win a title in his hometown but he isn't gonna come here to play with a bunch of scrubs.

Wall/Beal/Durant = RING for sure.