Game 44: Wizards (14-29) @ Cavaliers (12-32) Thu, 1/23 @7 PM

[gambitx777]

I think maybe Beal had Abit of a crisis there when he was in the thrust of trying to make an all-star game and maybe the pressure got to him

Man we are lucky to have Beal. Just keeps adding to his game every year

He's had a very good couple of games in a row now. It's nice to see him break out of his slump.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Meliorus]

Gun to your head: Who will have the better career? Rui Hachimura or Isaac Bonga?

Hachimura will earn many magnitudes more money. Bonga will do like Oleksiy Pecherov and Jan Vesely and have a nice career overseas.

IS anyone really paying a power forward tweener from the 2000's who doesn't shoot 3's and has no defensive instincts (when people only care about defense and 3 point shooting nowadays?). Maybe if he's the Japanese ambassador over here forever, teams will be paying him by default.

[gambitx777]

Why in the **** is every one acting like we know what rui is. Saying he can't shoot or defend like he isn't a rookie with 1/4 of a season played and can't improve . Rui has shown a willingness to take the shot and Try on D so I think he can and will improve!

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[nate33]

Since coming back from injury, Beal has averaged 33.4 points per 36 minutes with a TS% of .642.
He's also averaging 6.1 assists per 36.

He's played 29.6 minutes per game over that stretch. That might be a good number for him for the rest of the season. Why play 37 minutes a night in a season that doesn't matter? Better to play harder in fewer minutes while giving the youngsters more time to figure things out.

[nate33]

Why in the **** is every one acting like we know what rui is. Saying he can't shoot or defend like he isn't a rookie with 1/4 of a season played and can't improve . Rui has shown a willingness to take the shot and Try on D so I think he can and will improve!

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

Obviously we don't know for sure how either guy will pan out.

Hachimura is very talented and coordinated, and he's a good athlete. He has all the tools to be great.

I just find it notable that Bonga, who has less coordination, strength, athleticism and shooting touch than Rui, just happens to be good at the things you want your role players to be good at. I think it's possible that Rui will be the better player in the abstract, but Bonga will be better fit on most teams who will fill a specific role much better. Bonga may help you win more games.

It should be very interesting to watch going forward.

[gambitx777]

Yeah I love bonga!!!!! And we got him for free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He does a lot of good off the bench and he's a good young piece. I just think people are too hard on Rui. The kid litterally broke his nuts trying to get a rebound. Let's cut him some slack

Why in the **** is every one acting like we know what rui is. Saying he can't shoot or defend like he isn't a rookie with 1/4 of a season played and can't improve . Rui has shown a willingness to take the shot and Try on D so I think he can and will improve!

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

Obviously we don't know for sure how either guy will pan out.

Hachimura is very talented and coordinated, and he's a good athlete. He has all the tools to be great.

I just find it notable that Bonga, who has less coordination, strength, athleticism and shooting touch than Rui, just happens to be good at the things you want your role players to be good at. I think it's possible that Rui will be the better player in the abstract, but Bonga will be better fit on most teams who will fill a specific role much better. Bonga may help you win more games.

It should be very interesting to watch going forward.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[JWizmentality]

Why in the **** is every one acting like we know what rui is. Saying he can't shoot or defend like he isn't a rookie with 1/4 of a season played and can't improve . Rui has shown a willingness to take the shot and Try on D so I think he can and will improve!

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

I know right. I've been off for a while but this board seems to have turned against him during the injury. We have people saying the chances of him developing a 3pt shot are akin to winning the powerball. I don't know whether to take that idiocy seriously or jokingly? But whatever, fans are fickle.

[payitforward]

What's the matter with you people. To me it's obvious that Rui has a tremendous chance of winning the Powerball.

[payitforward]

More seriously... I actually think there are fewer people who criticize Rui Hachimura than there are people who criticize people who criticize Rui Hachimura.

I, for example, have never criticized Rui even once -- & I mean that -- but you'll find a lot of people who like to say that I "hate" the kid. Sorry, but that's just thoughtless.

Rui has a chance to be a really good player -- for all the reasons that nate listed. We can't predict with confidence that he will be -- but that's true of almost all rookies. It's not especially true about Rui.

Above all, saying that it was a mistake to pick Rui at #9 in the draft is not criticizing him; it's criticizing the people who made the choice! Duh. Rui Hachimura didn't pick himself!

In fact, it's not even saying he is or will be bad; it's just saying that there were other, better things to do with that #9 pick.

[smoothSeph]

Why in the **** is every one acting like we know what rui is. Saying he can't shoot or defend like he isn't a rookie with 1/4 of a season played and can't improve . Rui has shown a willingness to take the shot and Try on D so I think he can and will improve!

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

I know right. I've been off for a while but this board seems to have turned against him during the injury. We have people saying the chances of him developing a 3pt shot are akin to winning the powerball. I don't know whether to take that idiocy seriously or jokingly? But whatever, fans are fickle.

It's funny cus while some see a player that can't shoot the 3 ball, I see a rookie that can score 14 a game WITHOUT the 3 ball. Rui has elite offensive potential.

But I guess everyone will focus on what they want.

[DCZards]

I just took a look back at some of what was being said about Beal four years ago (Jan. 2016). There were posters saying that BB would NEVER be able to take opponents off the dribble because he didn't have a good enough handle.

Kinda reminded me of what some here are saying about Rui's ability to shoot the three.

Guess what. Players, especially young ones, often get better at those things they are not good at when they enter the league. BB has silenced his doubters and I wouldn't be surprised if Rui does the same.

[Illmatic12]

Hachimura was late to basketball but he’s shown a high aptitude for learning so far. Makes sense to be patient with his development.

Rote repetition should help Rui improve instincts+muscle memory quickly than anything. Here’s the coaching staff drilling him on PnR defense .. this individual skill work will make him better:

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[smoothSeph]

Hachimura was late to basketball but he’s shown a high aptitude for learning so far. Makes sense to be patient with his development.

Rote repetition should help Rui improve instincts+muscle memory quickly than anything. Here’s the coaching staff drilling him on PnR defense .. this individual skill work will make him better:

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Shot looks improved too. Released on the way up not down

[dckingsfan]

Some standouts in this game too...

Troy Brown DRB% 34.2%
Bradley Beal AST% 57.9%
Isaac Bonga eFG% 1.333%

[gambitx777]

I'm really impressed with bonga. I hope we don't go back very board in the off season. We have good young pieces.

Some standouts in this game too...

Troy Brown DRB% 34.2%
Bradley Beal AST% 57.9%
Isaac Bonga eFG% 1.333%

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[TheBabyMaker]

edit NVM.