GT 73 - WIZ AT CLEVELAND!!!!! 7:30 PM

[dckingsfan]

What a game! The Cleveland All-Stars are loaded, but are loaded with OLD all-stars. The Wizards by contrast are fast, really fast. Fast with good D wins in today's game.

The Wizards is like the wrong name for the way we play. To fit our style, we should be renamed to the Washington Flash. Wall flat out speeds past everyone when his shot is falling. Combine this with Beal and everyone working off of them, they are impressive, and, powerful actually.

Wall really is power and speed. If we had to pick a name for power and speed, its not the Washington Flash, maybe the Washington Bullets! Yeah, that name sort of fits the playing style, doesn't it?

That name has a ring to it, and a championship. Would love to get another one.

This!

[europeanfan]

So I can finally post my reaction. First of all I hoped the defense would be better, too much Gortat mostly, feels like the team is boxing with an arm behind its back. I almost want Gortat to get injured so that I can see the team going full Iron Mike on some poor team.

Wall was magnificent but we can't expect video game Wall to show up on the regular in a series. Just like the Cavs can't expect Lebron hitting 3pt bank shots on the regular. What they can build on is the 4th quarter. DEFENSE generating easy points on the other end, and the effort came from everyone with the shining star being Kelly.

Kelly is amazing, I hope he doesn't read this and doesn't listen to Phil and Buck saying he has superstar potential as he'll have to work so so much to get there (especially on his shooting). I feel young Kawhi vibes from his impact on his team. That's unfair of me to compare him to that level of player, but Kawhi was the missing piece that ended the era of the Spurs playing stupid offensive minded basketball that got them ousted in the first round as a first seed to contender status once again. Year 2 Kawhi got to the nba Finals. While Kelly is no Kawhi, I feel there's something there, let's witness the impact of year 2 Kelly. Would be criminal if he can't learn to shoot, get him the whole summer with the best shooting coaches in the world.

I didn't like that Beal looked gun shy at times but I loved his passing, could have gotten more assists too, pretty unlucky with some of the finishes from his teamates.

[Kanyewest]

So I can finally post my reaction. First of all I hoped the defense would be better, too much Gortat mostly, feels like the team is boxing with an arm behind its back. I almost want Gortat to get injured so that I can see the team going full Iron Mike on some poor team.

Wall was magnificent but we can't expect video game Wall to show up on the regular in a series. Just like the Cavs can't expect Lebron hitting 3pt bank shots on the regular. What they can build on is the 4th quarter. DEFENSE generating easy points on the other end, and the effort came from everyone with the shining star being Kelly.

Kelly is amazing, I hope he doesn't read this and doesn't listen to Phil and Buck saying he has superstar potential as he'll have to work so so much to get there (especially on his shooting). I feel young Kawhi vibes from his impact on his team. That's unfair of me to compare him to that level of player, but Kawhi was the missing piece that ended the era of the Spurs playing stupid offensive minded basketball that got them ousted in the first round as a first seed to contender status once again. Year 2 Kawhi got to the nba Finals. While Kelly is no Kawhi, I feel there's something there, let's witness the impact of year 2 Kelly. Would be criminal if he can't learn to shoot, get him the whole summer with the best shooting coaches in the world.

I didn't like that Beal looked gun shy at times but I loved his passing, could have gotten more assists too, pretty unlucky with some of the finishes from his teamates.

Actually I thought 23 minutes was fairly low for Gortat considering Ian got injured and left the game in the first half. I liked that Brooks went to the small lineup more with Oubre.

Sent from my LG-D851 using RealGM mobile app

[nate33]

So I can finally post my reaction. First of all I hoped the defense would be better, too much Gortat mostly, feels like the team is boxing with an arm behind its back. I almost want Gortat to get injured so that I can see the team going full Iron Mike on some poor team.

Wall was magnificent but we can't expect video game Wall to show up on the regular in a series. Just like the Cavs can't expect Lebron hitting 3pt bank shots on the regular. What they can build on is the 4th quarter. DEFENSE generating easy points on the other end, and the effort came from everyone with the shining star being Kelly.

Kelly is amazing, I hope he doesn't read this and doesn't listen to Phil and Buck saying he has superstar potential as he'll have to work so so much to get there (especially on his shooting). I feel young Kawhi vibes from his impact on his team. That's unfair of me to compare him to that level of player, but Kawhi was the missing piece that ended the era of the Spurs playing stupid offensive minded basketball that got them ousted in the first round as a first seed to contender status once again. Year 2 Kawhi got to the nba Finals. While Kelly is no Kawhi, I feel there's something there, let's witness the impact of year 2 Kelly. Would be criminal if he can't learn to shoot, get him the whole summer with the best shooting coaches in the world.

I didn't like that Beal looked gun shy at times but I loved his passing, could have gotten more assists too, pretty unlucky with some of the finishes from his teamates.

Actually I thought 23 minutes was fairly low for Gortat considering Ian got injured and left the game in the first half. I liked that Brooks went to the small lineup more with Oubre.

Sent from my LG-D851 using RealGM mobile app

Yup. Brooks didn't play Mahinmi at all in the 2nd half. Once Lue sat Tristan Thompson in the middle of the 3rd, Brooks sat Gortat and we played small ball for the rest of the game. Lue brought Thompson back in for 3 minutes late in the 4th, but Brooks didn't bother to counter. He just let Morris guard Thompson and Porter guard Love.

[tontoz]

Been on the road awhile and got back today. Just finished watching the game. Wow. Been awhile since they really played well. Lebron played 41 minutes so clearly they were trying their best to win but just couldn't hang with our starting backcourt.

Nice to see Wall have a hot shooting game. His shooting has been pretty weak, and too frequent, since the break. Beal didn't have a hot shooting game but still came up with 27/6 with a 61% TS. Some of the moves he made off the dribble were not as easy as he made them look.

Good production off the bench from Smith and KO. Smith has been pretty consistently but KO, not so much. We will need him in the playoffs and this game should really help his confidence.

Cavs don't have any shotblocking threats and we really took advantage of it. They are definitely vulnerable.

[dangermouse]

What a game! The Cleveland All-Stars are loaded, but are loaded with OLD all-stars. The Wizards by contrast are fast, really fast. Fast with good D wins in today's game.

The Wizards is like the wrong name for the way we play. To fit our style, we should be renamed to the Washington Flash. Wall flat out speeds past everyone when his shot is falling. Combine this with Beal and everyone working off of them, they are impressive, and, powerful actually.

Wall really is power and speed. If we had to pick a name for power and speed, its not the Washington Flash, maybe the Washington Bullets! Yeah, that name sort of fits the playing style, doesn't it?

That name has a ring to it, and a championship. Would love to get another one.

Even low level Wizards can cast "Haste"

The trick to winning is casting "Haste" on yourselfand your party, and then cast "Slow" on the opponent.

[dangermouse]

Kelly was amazing, i'd say he won us the game with his offensive rebounding and finishing plays around the rim. I'm not that worried about his shooting. He's never gonna be a scorer like Beal. Will he even hit the 3 like Porter is right now? I think he'll get close. His form is ok, a little slow so he struggles to get it off before the help comes. WHen he's open he seems to hit it fairly regularly. If he works with a shooting coach in the offseason he should make a leap.

I stand by my position that he could start for us in a few years, and that he has a higher ceiling than Porter.

[nate33]

Kelly was amazing, i'd say he won us the game with his offensive rebounding and finishing plays around the rim. I'm not that worried about his shooting. He's never gonna be a scorer like Beal. Will he even hit the 3 like Porter is right now? I think he'll get close. His form is ok, a little slow so he struggles to get it off before the help comes. WHen he's open he seems to hit it fairly regularly. If he works with a shooting coach in the offseason he should make a leap.

I stand by my position that he could start for us in a few years, and that he has a higher ceiling than Porter.

I think they'll both start in a few years. Porter will play PF.

[StupidDopeSTAR]

Oubre's ceiling is probably Trevor Ariza.
Excellent length, can hit the open 3.
He didnt show much at KU but potential to be a role player, a Damn Good Role Player. May be a trade asset down the line get overvalue from a Young team who may think they can make him into more than he is.

Would love for him to develop into a STAR, but I dont see it yet.

[80sballboy]

Oubre's ceiling is probably Trevor Ariza.
Excellent length, can hit the open 3.
He didnt show much at KU but potential to be a role player, a Damn Good Role Player. May be a trade asset down the line get overvalue from a Young team who may think they can make him into more than he is.

Would love for him to develop into a STAR, but I dont see it yet.

I wonder if it's worth keeping Otto (I know he can play S4) for the max, because the Nets will force our hand. You can take a gamble that Oubre will be ready to take over the 3 spot, which he may or not be ready next season. His upside is definitely higher than Otto because he's more athletic with a similar wingspan. Oubre has to know that when he's focused, he can be a great defender and a decent offensive player. He appears ready to take the next step because he does have the work ethic. Of course, keeping both would be great. Having them on the floor at the same time with the wingspan makes it tough on opponents and then you add Mahinmi at the 5. Hmm.

[benb331]

Will he even hit the 3 like Porter is right now? I think he'll get close. His form is ok, a little slow so he struggles to get it off before the help comes.

Hmmm - my eye test says that Oubre's release is quicker than Porter's by a significant margin. That ball goes up in a hurry.

Anyone see Beal handling the ball and go blind, completely missing a wide open Oubre for the house-silencing alleyoop in the 4th? The kid pointed at the basket and was getting ready to fly, but the pass never showed up. Best Oubre game by far.

Man, it's been worth the 25 years of Bullets/Wizards misery to see a game like this one from a squad like this one. Loving it.

[nate33]

Oubre's ceiling is probably Trevor Ariza.
Excellent length, can hit the open 3.
He didnt show much at KU but potential to be a role player, a Damn Good Role Player. May be a trade asset down the line get overvalue from a Young team who may think they can make him into more than he is.

Would love for him to develop into a STAR, but I dont see it yet.

I wonder if it's worth keeping Otto (I know he can play S4) for the max, because the Nets will force our hand. You can take a gamble that Oubre will be ready to take over the 3 spot, which he may or not be ready next season. His upside is definitely higher than Otto because he's more athletic with a similar wingspan. Oubre has to know that when he's focused, he can be a great defender and a decent offensive player. He appears ready to take the next step because he does have the work ethic. Of course, keeping both would be great. Having them on the floor at the same time with the wingspan makes it tough on opponents and then you add Mahinmi at the 5. Hmm.

If we let Porter walk, we still wouldn't have any significant cap room. It might ease the luxtax burden down the road, but it's tough to see how it would make us a better team.

Keep Porter. Our core lineup for the next 2 years is under contract: Wall, Sato, Beal, Oubre, Porter, Morris, Gortat, Mahinmi, Smith. In two years, Wall and Oubre will be due a big fat raise, but Gortat, Smith and Morris come off the books to provide the luxtax room to resign them. As long as we keep winning, we'll always find Jason Smith type of players to join us on reasonable contracts.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Oubre's ceiling is probably Trevor Ariza.
Excellent length, can hit the open 3.
He didnt show much at KU but potential to be a role player, a Damn Good Role Player. May be a trade asset down the line get overvalue from a Young team who may think they can make him into more than he is.

Would love for him to develop into a STAR, but I dont see it yet.

I wonder if it's worth keeping Otto (I know he can play S4) for the max, because the Nets will force our hand. You can take a gamble that Oubre will be ready to take over the 3 spot, which he may or not be ready next season. His upside is definitely higher than Otto because he's more athletic with a similar wingspan. Oubre has to know that when he's focused, he can be a great defender and a decent offensive player. He appears ready to take the next step because he does have the work ethic. Of course, keeping both would be great. Having them on the floor at the same time with the wingspan makes it tough on opponents and then you add Mahinmi at the 5. Hmm.

If we let Porter walk, we still wouldn't have any significant cap room. It might ease the luxtax burden down the road, but it's tough to see how it would make us a better team.

Keep Porter. Our core lineup for the next 2 years is under contract: Wall, Sato, Beal, Oubre, Porter, Morris, Gortat, Mahinmi, Smith. In two years, Wall and Oubre will be due a big fat raise, but Gortat, Smith and Morris come off the books to provide the luxtax room to resign them. As long as we keep winning, we'll always find Jason Smith type of players to join us on reasonable contracts.

Just to be clear. Their are no 'Jason Smith type' players.

There's the real thing. And there are shoddy knock offs.