Game 2 EC SemiFinals: Wizards @ Celtics 8 PM (TNT/1500 AM) [5/2/17]

[Saqs]

Beal smh......

https://www.google.com/amp/deadspin.com/some-basketball-stuff-bradley-beal-did-last-night-1794873507/amp

Beal was hungover or something. He played like complete dog****.

[gambitx777]

when us run off an emotional tank for physical activity. it burns you our faster, its like NoS, makes your car go really fast but can burn up the parts it you use it too much or often. I'm sure hes not sleeping or eating right. I hate to say it because its an awful thing, but I have a feeling hes going to crash.

[WallToWall]

Beal smh......

https://www.google.com/amp/deadspin.com/some-basketball-stuff-bradley-beal-did-last-night-1794873507/amp

Clearly not a good game for Beal, and probably one of his worst. Normally, you'd yank a player that was having this bad of an off-game. However, even at Beal's worst, we got nobody who has proven to be better than him on the bench. That is on EG, and a different topic.

That said, the bench has to rise up, challenge themselves, and play better. We can still win this, but not without something from the bench.

[Meliorus]

I keep trying to rationalize these first 2 games, and it's hard to do. We were the better team for 75% of Game 2, and still lost. By law of averages, that was our best shot as the road team to steal a game. Is it possible that we will be the better team for 75% of Game 5 or Game 7? Not to mention the high possibility of Boston stealing at least 1 home game?

Game 1 was another game that was completely in our control. Teams are 82-8 (don't remember exact stat) when they're up 16-0.

Even if our bench stopped being handicapped, can you really count on our starters to keep pounding them?

The only possibility is that we are actually so, so, so much better than Boston that Game 1 and Game 2 were both flukes on Boston's end where they made comebacks off of hot shooting and turnovers. Well, if we're much better the next 4 games could be all wins.

[WallToWall]

I suppose the non technical foul on Morris for blatantly throwing Horford into the media was clean too?

No, that was definitely a foul. Morris was getting back at Horford because he thought that Horford tried to injure him on purpose in the previous game. I think Morris was right. Never the less, that should have been a T, but the refs missed it. The refs then started to call Morris more closely for ticky-tack fouls the rest of the game. Thats how he was in foul trouble the rest of the game and fouled out eventually. Refs made him pay, in a different way.
Imagine if the refs actually called that Morris throw down a T. Then all the shenanigans that are of that ilk will have to be called a T, and lesser fouls would actually have to be called fouls (as opposed to a throwdown or smack to the head just being a "regular" foul, and "regular" fouls not being called at all)...and that will not favor the Celtics. The refs would actually have to call things like moving screens, squeeze play on the screens, holds and pushes off the ball... it would result in a different kind of game where there will be oh so many fouls, and Celtic players fouling out.

Basically, I want the refs to do their job and do it well, without bias. If this happens, this would be a different series.

At one point Morris was the leading scorer besides Wall and the refs fouled him out of the game pretty much.

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Yup, there were points in the game when, with regards to fouls, Morris was held to a different standard (the correct standard, but different from the perspective of the game) than anyone else on the court. Thats on the refs, and something for the NBA to review.

[gambitx777]

the refs are punishing john wall. Its pretty simple.

[DaRealHibachi]

Can we please stop blaming the refs and start blaming ourselves?

[Dark Faze]

Whatever, this team is young. We're going to be right back there again next year. Win or lose my main concern is how to fix this team moving forward.

[Wizardspride]

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[Meliorus]

Whatever, this team is young. We're going to be right back there again next year. Win or lose my main concern is how to fix this team moving forward.

Team is not young. Wall is wasting his prime with each passing year. Turning 27 this off-season. How long do you think a point guard predicated on speed will last? He's been on the Wizards for 7 years and the best we've surrounded him with is just an one-time All-Star. Everybody knows you need at least 3 All-Stars to contend nowadays.

Kyrie's got Lebron and Love. Chris Paul had MANY opportunities with Blake and DeAndre. Russel had opportunities with Harden and Durant. Curry had Klay and Draymond.

Wall had errrr....60 games of inefficient Beal and plodding Nene?

[ClutchDJ]

Can't wait for Wall to teamup with Kawhi in San Antonio. He deserves better than bum*** Ernie.

[Meliorus]

Can't wait for Wall to teamup with Kawhi in San Antonio. He deserves better than bum*** Ernie.

All-NBA will keep him in DC forever...muhahahahaha

[Dark Faze]

Whatever, this team is young. We're going to be right back there again next year. Win or lose my main concern is how to fix this team moving forward.

Team is not young. Wall is wasting his prime with each passing year. Turning 27 this off-season. How long do you think a point guard predicated on speed will last? He's been on the Wizards for 7 years and the best we've surrounded him with is just an one-time All-Star. Everybody knows you need at least 3 All-Stars to contend nowadays.

Kyrie's got Lebron and Love. Chris Paul had MANY opportunities with Blake and DeAndre. Russel had opportunities with Harden and Durant. Curry had Klay and Draymond.

Wall had errrr....60 games of inefficient Beal and Nene?

Wouldn't expect a decline until 31 most likely. That's 4 years of the same Wall we have now. And look--lets be honest, we weren't beating GS. Nobody is beating GS right now.

I'm not giving up, I'm just saying it's not like we've missed some amazing opportunity. The Raptors will be a year older next year, as will the Cavs.

My main concern is how do we put this team in a better position to win moving forward.

[Meliorus]

2016 offseason:
John Wall: "So it's really that easy? You can just throw the ball up as high as you want and DJ or Blake will catch it?"
Chris Paul:

4th quarter of Game 2:
John Wall: "Kieff! Next play I got you on the lob"
*Ball soars over Markieff's out-stretched arms.

[Dark Faze]

btw I know Dwight has his issues but we could have really used him snagging rebounds last night and defending the rim

Gortat gives us absolutely nothing defensively

[Meliorus]

btw I know Dwight has his issues but we could have really used him snagging rebounds last night and defending the rim

Gortat gives us absolutely nothing defensively

I don't know if it's on Wall or Brooks, but we switch more than any other team I've watched. It seems like Wall is just jumping for the first opportunity to dish the responsibility of guarding IT to Gortat/Morris.

Then they get left on an island and well...die.

[Dark Faze]

btw I know Dwight has his issues but we could have really used him snagging rebounds last night and defending the rim

Gortat gives us absolutely nothing defensively

I don't know if it's on Wall or Brooks, but we switch more than any other team I've watched. It seems like Wall is just jumping for the first opportunity to dish the responsibility of guarding IT to Gortat/Morris.

Then they get left on an island and well...die.

I think everyone has bad habits defensively except for Beal.

John plays defense like he can control everybody on the court like its 2k. He's really quick to randomly switch assignments.

Otto is so desperate to overhelp or cheat to crash the glass for a rebound and leaves his man open.

Gortat just sucks. Doesn't know what's worth prioritizing.

Markieff is basically a center. His feet are REALLY slow. And he can't help but to foul. Again, he's basically a center. He's not a good player.

I noticed that Gortat and Kieff are too slow on PNR defense. I think our guards are getting sold out a little by the front court too. On switches yes, our guards leave them out to dry, but when we go over the screen Gortat and Kieff aren't in position to ever cut off the ball handler. Basically we should be trapping--because a lot of our action is to go over the screen, and Gortat or Kieff are supposed to hedge to stop the penetration but they are far too slow.

[Meliorus]

btw I know Dwight has his issues but we could have really used him snagging rebounds last night and defending the rim

Gortat gives us absolutely nothing defensively

I don't know if it's on Wall or Brooks, but we switch more than any other team I've watched. It seems like Wall is just jumping for the first opportunity to dish the responsibility of guarding IT to Gortat/Morris.

Then they get left on an island and well...die.

I think everyone has bad habits defensively except for Beal.

John plays defense like he can control everybody on the court like its 2k. He's really quick to randomly switch assignments.

Otto is so desperate to overhelp or cheat to crash the glass for a rebound and leaves his man open.

Gortat just sucks. Doesn't know what's worth prioritizing.

Markieff is basically a center. His feet are REALLY slow. And he can't help but to foul. Again, he's basically a center. He's not a good player.

I noticed that Gortat and Kieff are too slow on PNR defense. I think our guards are getting sold out a little by the front court too. On switches yes, our guards leave them out to dry, but when we go over the screen Gortat and Kieff aren't in position to ever cut off the ball handler. Basically we should be trapping--because a lot of our action is to go over the screen, and Gortat or Kieff are supposed to hedge to stop the penetration but they are far too slow.

Yea let's not act like we got Utah's bigs, who make you not want to run pick and rolls.

[FAH1223]

btw I know Dwight has his issues but we could have really used him snagging rebounds last night and defending the rim

Gortat gives us absolutely nothing defensively

I don't know if it's on Wall or Brooks, but we switch more than any other team I've watched. It seems like Wall is just jumping for the first opportunity to dish the responsibility of guarding IT to Gortat/Morris.

Then they get left on an island and well...die.

The Spurs switch just as much as us. Its better when Dedmon is playing C instead of Lee or Gasol.

[Wizardspride]

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