GT: Suckers vs Bullets part 4

[CobraCommander]

I disagree that Beal post ups were ineffective, or that the Wizards should go away from the strategy. Although Beal did struggle backing down and passing out of the double team, it seriously impaired the C's defensive integrity. Everyone's eyes were on the matchup, and the entire defense cheated off their man to potentially give IT help. It shouldn't be a go-to strategy every chance we get, but if the opportunity is there, it's worth a shot to exploit it. An off-balance defense is a vulnerable defense, and that matchup immediately skews the green jerseys.

Totally agree- It also leads to IT being tired later on in the game because he has to expend energy on defense----Which I think is underrated! Wall and Beal were tired in the 4th but IT was fresh in game two...you know why...cause he only played half a game while our guards played on both ends of the court.

[Mojo Amok]

Here's what the amazing ESPN number machine has as the odds for the series:



I'd suggest it's missing a lot of nuance, like the benefit of the top-heavy Wizards gaining another rotation player (Ian) and then having all this rest come up after that rough Hawks series. It does also have the Rockets with only a 35% chance against the Spurs, which seems extreme.

[DCZards]

Placing IT on Otto may have unexpectedly backfired on Stevens. By running plays through Otto early on in the series, he gained offensive confidence which we've seen has translated to defensive confidence as well. And now we see Beal getting back on track too as Stevens has opted to put IT on him early as his preferred matchup.

I don't know if Otto has the desire to become a great player like Wall and Beal, but I think if he continues his performances and takes this momentum into the offseason, next year he'll at least become a player who can get his own shot consistently when needed while being a dead-eye. That to me would be worth the value we'd pay him for a max deal over the course of 4-5 years, with us capturing most of his prime during the length of his contract. And if our cap situation becomes unfeasible when we have to super-max Wall, I'm sure Porter's contract will be decently valued as he should be a better player 2 years from now.

Agreed. When Otto scored easily in the post over IT on 2 or 3 consecutive possessions in Game 3 it had the crowd roaring with approval...had to be good for OP’s confidence.

If there’s one thing I’m pretty certain about it’s Otto work ethic and his desire to get better. He’s a humble, small town kid who likely takes nothing for granted. The main thing Otto has to do is get stronger physically so that he can withstand the banging and constantly getting knocked to the floor that is the life of an NBA player. I’m pretty sure part of Otto’s inconsistency this year is due to the fact that he had a hip injury and other physical ailments most of the second half of the season.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Is there a more important Wizards game in the past 20+ years than game 5 this Wednesday?

I mean not really, neither of us are beating Cleveland anyway

For the Wizards a successful season IMO is just making it to the conference finals.

Any win in the ECFs would be gravy.

[Meliorus]

Here's what the amazing ESPN number machine has as the odds for the series:



I'd suggest it's missing a lot of nuance, like the benefit of the top-heavy Wizards gaining another rotation player (Ian) and then having all this rest come up after that rough Hawks series. It does also have the Rockets with only a 35% chance against the Spurs, which seems extreme.

It's just very hard for the road team to win game 7. I think we have to close out in 6.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Is there a more important Wizards game in the past 20+ years than game 5 this Wednesday?

I mean not really, neither of us are beating Cleveland anyway

For the Wizards a successful season IMO is just making it to the conference finals.

Any win in the ECFs would be gravy.

F that. We're gonna shock the world!!!

[AFM]

I mean not really, neither of us are beating Cleveland anyway

For the Wizards a successful season IMO is just making it to the conference finals.

Any win in the ECFs would be gravy.

F that. We're gonna shock the world!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

[dangermouse]

Someone help me out because I only saw bits and pieces of the game until late in the 1st half but I was watching a video from a Celtics blogger and he basically felt that us going at Thomas pretty much backfired in this game and did not have nearly the same effect as game 3. His basic notion is that he likes when the Wiz try to iso Thomas because he feels like the Celtics have a much harder time stopping us when we are moving the ball instead of forcing an IT mismatch every trip. He was begging us to continue doing it

Beal post ups were a fail. I am pretty sure he only scored once on that, and it did screw up the offense.

On the other hand... IT was a marginal player through the entire game. It wasn't just a lack of calls when he drove, he had a much smaller impact. That could have just been a bad game or a great defensive scheme, but it certainly seemed like the extra effort (and contact - dude has broken teeth, every little bump has to suck for him) wore him down.

I re-watched the game because it was so good. Beal posted up IT and scored at least twice (once when the double came, he spun the other way and faded over IT). He also got an alley oop, which was made easy because IT posed no challenge to intercept or muscle Beal out of the way. All in all I think Beal used his size against IT the the tune of 10 or so points, which included those couple of post ups.

I dont think it was a fail at all. IT wasn't getting torched by Beal, but he wasnt stopping him most of the time either.

[tontoz]

Beal doesn't really need to post up much to score on IT. All he has to do is play his normal game. IT isn't going to be able to contest his jumpers or his drives.

[FAH1223]

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[Kanyewest]

Someone help me out because I only saw bits and pieces of the game until late in the 1st half but I was watching a video from a Celtics blogger and he basically felt that us going at Thomas pretty much backfired in this game and did not have nearly the same effect as game 3. His basic notion is that he likes when the Wiz try to iso Thomas because he feels like the Celtics have a much harder time stopping us when we are moving the ball instead of forcing an IT mismatch every trip. He was begging us to continue doing it

Beal was 2 of 3 from the field when posting up Thomas (the Wizards recovered the offensive rebound on that missed shot), although Beal did have an offensive foul resulting in a turnover. It didn't have the same effect in game 3 only because Porter absolutely dominated in that game, Beal still was able to manufacture offense in other ways off of back cuts to the rim and from 3.