Are the wizards better without John Wall?

[Donkey McDonkerton]

Had to be done peoples!

[Ruzious]

I think his shoulder "injury" came at a convenient time. He's been make too many bad decisions lately and needed a game off, imo.

[Wizardspride]

Uh....NO.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

yeah, he's a bad, bad man....just wish he knew his shooting limitations. Im sure someone has sat him down and told him, but it might disrupt/change his overall play (less aggressive). He needs to adjust and let Beal/Otto shoot more. They are way more efficient, and better shooters.... The nights he's on, shoot, when he isn' find em'.

[queridiculo]

Wall is averaging 20/10 while also seemingly playing the worst season since his sophomore year.

I don't know if that's good or bad, but I'd like to see Wall take more of a backseat role and try to be more judicious of when and how he picks his spot.

Wall averaging 17/12 on 13 shots would be far more effective than what we're currently getting.

Heck if he just limited his pull ups and 1 against 2+ defenders on drives he'd be doing the team a tremendous favor.

[LyricalRico]

Wall averaging 17/12 on 13 shots would be far more effective than what we're currently getting.

Heck if he just limited his pull ups and 1 against 2+ defenders on drives he'd be doing the team a tremendous favor.

Was thinking the same thing. Beal should be be the primary option going forward, and Porter is now a consistent enough shooter that he can have a bigger role as well. Having John Wall take 20% less shots, and play 20% better defense would absolutely help this team take a step forward.

[queridiculo]

I wonder what the coaches say to Wall sometimes. The stats show he's averaging 4 turnovers a game, but when you add all the poor shots and drives he attempts you can probably double that number to 8 negative possessions a game.

What's worse is that some of those wild drives and pullups put the Wizards in a really tough spot defensively since the shots happen outside of the flow of the regular offense and players have to switch from offense to defense in a split second which tends to force bad rotations and match ups.

8 years into his career John still hasn't internalized what separates a good from a bad shot.

If Wall was playing for Popovich he'd find himself on the bench so quickly his head would spin.

[closg00]

A shake-up re-set was needed, too-much hero ball hurt us.

[Illmatic12]

I think his shoulder "injury" came at a convenient time. He's been make too many bad decisions lately and needed a game off, imo.

It was definitely a legit injury (was at the game and saw John run dead into Channing Frye, it happened right in front of me). And I think he’ll be out more than one game from the sounds of it.

But yes, watching a few games from the bench can really help him imo. John has always been pretty self-aware and I’m sure he’s observing how Otto and Brad’s new skills can be utilized better and what he can do to fit into the picture.

The main thing is that his teammates are a lot better than they used to be, so he has to adjust his game to incorporate them instead of trying to go it all alone like in seasons past.

[nate33]

Wall really needs to model his game after Jason Kidd/Rajon Rondo rather than Russell Westbrook/Isaiah Thomas.

Wall's defensive effort is uneven because he's tired from those reckless 1 on 3 fast breaks and the 17 FGA's per game. He needs to pick his spots on offense a lot more, defer to Beal and Porter more often, and focus his energy on defense and rebounding. I'd like to see more Beal/Gortat and Porter/Gortat pick-and-roll action with Wall in the corner getting a rest and getting a few easy looks from 3-point range. I recognize that nobody can give max effort on both sides of the ball for extended periods of time. I'd like Wall to bust his ass on defense and rest on offense, instead of vice versa.

It might also make sense to assign Wall the Dirk Nowitzki rotation, where he plays the first 6 minutes with the starters, sits 3, then plays the 6 minutes with the 2nd unit, sits 3 more, and comes back to play the final 6 with the starters. Two 3-minute rest breaks might be easier for him instead of one long 6-minute break. Also, he can keep the hapless 2nd unit afloat since they're a bunch of complementary players who need one alpha dog to bend the defense.

[zero2hero]

We're better without normal John Wall, but definitely not when he levels up to Gang Sign John Wall

[NatP4]

I wonder what the coaches say to Wall sometimes. The stats show he's averaging 4 turnovers a game, but when you add all the poor shots and drives he attempts you can probably double that number to 8 negative possessions a game.

What's worse is that some of those wild drives and pullups put the Wizards in a really tough spot defensively since the shots happen outside of the flow of the regular offense and players have to switch from offense to defense in a split second which tends to force bad rotations and match ups.

8 years into his career John still hasn't internalized what separates a good from a bad shot.

If Wall was playing for Popovich he'd find himself on the bench so quickly his head would spin.

we've heard Brooks say in interviews "I tell John over and over, you can dominate the game with defense and passing. We've also read reports about Brooks showing Wall film of his defense and telling him that he is clearly the worst defender on the team, Wall even acknowledged it in an interview, he said "wow, I am the worst defender on the team" but yet he still does these things.

the problem is, when you're a "players coach" the players don't give a **** about your criticism.

[tontoz]

Let's not forget that Wall was NBA player of the month in December last season..... and the season before that.

He really does need to pull his head out of his ass though.

[Kanyewest]

Wall was fine as a pass first point guard in his last game. Only 13 field goal attempts. 15 assists and 1 turnover. The problem of course being that the Wizards didn't have to go against LeBron James and a motivated Cavs teams. Unless Wall continues to secretly hanging out with Jan Vesley, I think Wall won't miss 5 free throw attempts per game.

[DCZards]

I find these observations about JWall and his current play pretty spot on.

No, the Zards are not better without Wall. And, yes, John needs to make sure Beal and Otto get more shots because they are both better, more efficient shooters than he is.

I also agree that Wall should and could be a much better defensive player…and that to make sure that happens he needs to get more rest both on the bench and while he’s on the court. Right now, JWall is being asked to put out max effort and minutes on both ends of the court. Something has to give in that situation and usually it’s his D that suffers.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Wall really needs to model his game after Jason Kidd/Rajon Rondo rather than Russell Westbrook/Isaiah Thomas.

Wall's defensive effort is uneven because he's tired from those reckless 1 on 3 fast breaks and the 17 FGA's per game. He needs to pick his spots on offense a lot more, defer to Beal and Porter more often, and focus his energy on defense and rebounding. I'd like to see more Beal/Gortat and Porter/Gortat pick-and-roll action with Wall in the corner getting a rest and getting a few easy looks from 3-point range. I recognize that nobody can give max effort on both sides of the ball for extended periods of time. I'd like Wall to bust his ass on defense and rest on offense, instead of vice versa.

It might also make sense to assign Wall the Dirk Nowitzki rotation, where he plays the first 6 minutes with the starters, sits 3, then plays the 6 minutes with the 2nd unit, sits 3 more, and comes back to play the final 6 with the starters. Two 3-minute rest breaks might be easier for him instead of one long 6-minute break. Also, he can keep the hapless 2nd unit afloat since they're a bunch of complementary players who need one alpha dog to bend the defense.

Great post. I think the long breaks with the quarter break thrown in tend to ice him and take him out of his rhythm.

We can still score with Frazier and Beal and Porter... but can't score with Frazier and Meeks and Sato.

So, let John be a facilitator with the starters and go hero when he's running with the scrubs.

[trast66]

By J. Michael December 15, 2016 4:45 PM

"John Wall is an open book about his shortcomings. Coach Scott Brooks blasted his defense in a loss to the Toronto Raptors earlier this season, when he sat his point guard down for a film study session together. And recently he revealed that Brooks wanted him to lose weight so he can be a more effective two-way player."

Does John look chunky to anyone this year?

A couple of the Wiz Girls look a little heavier than last year.

[Wizardspride]

By J. Michael December 15, 2016 4:45 PM

"John Wall is an open book about his shortcomings. Coach Scott Brooks blasted his defense in a loss to the Toronto Raptors earlier this season, when he sat his point guard down for a film study session together. And recently he revealed that Brooks wanted him to lose weight so he can be a more effective two-way player."

Does John look chunky to anyone this year?

A couple of the Wiz Girls look a little heavier than last year.

Nope.

He's more muscular.

[Dark Faze]

I'm kind of shocked by his numbers. They are much better than the eye test has said. He's going to bounce back for sure though. I actually like the aggressiveness. The 27ppg playoff Wall was very good. We have to remember--nobody is walking through that door to help us. We have to root for internal development--massive amounts of it. There are growing pains with that.

[Tricky_Kid]

John Wall is causing a lot of problem to our defence not fighting on the screen and switching your opponent on Gortat. I will be more convinced about answering this question after few games. But no doubt in my mind his poor defence and Brooks not fixing this thing is causing us some loses.

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