Game 58 : WIZ (21-36) VS JAZZ (36-22) 2/28/20 GAME TIME 2100

[DCZards]

I think getting **** kicked in the play offs does help a young team

It's alright. The Jazz are a good team playing at home. We're supposed to lose games like this.

Agree. Playoff experience is always good experience. Whether you win the series or get blown out in 4 straight.

[payitforward]

Agree -- playoffs are good. Also payoffs are good. Layoffs, however, are not good.

[nate33]

It's garbage time, but Payton can hit open 3's and actually guard people. Why doesn't he play more?

Maybe Beal could learn something from him, like not standing straight up and flat-footed so often on D.

Haven't you heard? The Wizards rotation is almost impossible to crack! Just way too many talented young players. Oh yea, and Robinson also shoots 28% from 3 for comparison to GP2

Robinson is 22 and under contract next year. Payton is 27.

Also, Robinson is shooting .333 on 3's with the Wizards, on 6.7 attempts per 100 possessions (meaning he is shooting partially contested and/or off-the-dribble 3's, not just wide-open catch and shoots). Payton only gets up 1.7 3's per 100 possessions, meaning his is picking and choosing only the most wide open looks, and he is still hitting just 31%.

I don't want to be put in the position of defending Robinson. He doesn't really deserve his minutes either (not over Brown and Mathews). But at least there's an argument that he's young enough to make significant improvement.

[payitforward]

Right... what possible context is there to compare those two guys' role on the Wizards. We're stuck with Robinson for next year, so we really must hope that he can improve; we have to give him a chance to improve. Payton is just a guy.

[nate33]

I think getting **** kicked in the play offs does help a young team

Agree. Playoff experience is always good experience. Whether you win the series or get blown out in 4 straight.

My issue with making the playoffs is how it affects our draft position.

As it stands now, if we finish 1 game behind Orlando and just barely miss the playoffs, 5 non-playoff teams in the West will have a better record than us and we will end up with the 9th pick. If we win just one more game and make the playoffs, we finish with the 15th pick. That's 6 spots in the draft for one win. I don't think the "learning experience" of getting swept by Milwaukee is worth the loss of 6 spots in the draft.

[TheBabyMaker]

Don't worry Wiz ain't making no playoffs heck teams like the Hawks and Hornets may pass us in the standings. Just look at the remaining schedule, its brutal.

[DCZards]

I think getting **** kicked in the play offs does help a young team

Agree. Playoff experience is always good experience. Whether you win the series or get blown out in 4 straight.

My issue with making the playoffs is how it affects our draft position.

As it stands now, if we finish 1 game behind Orlando and just barely miss the playoffs, 5 non-playoff teams in the West will have a better record than us and we will end up with the 9th pick. If we win just one more game and make the playoffs, we finish with the 15th pick. That's 6 spots in the draft for one win. I don't think the "learning experience" of getting swept by Milwaukee is worth the loss of 6 spots in the draft.

I'm torn on this. I understand the argument that making the playoffs means a lower draft pick. But I also believe that playing and competing in a playoff atmosphere is an invaluable experience, especially for young players...regardless of the outcome of those games.

On top of that, many experts are saying that the 8th or 9th draft pick in next year's draft probably won't yield a much better player than a pick a little later in the draft.

[gambitx777]

Since the changed the rules can't you still make the play offs and be in the loto? If 15 teams have better records than you and you slide in at 8 with a loosing record in the east you're still in the loto right?

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[WallToWall]

I'm not concerned about the young pups getting playoff experience this year. They will have got enough "schooling" from the regular season from which to build upon. Some of these young pups are also not used to a full season of the NBA regular season, and will need the time to recover. No playoffs also means more time to work one-on-one on their skills.
What I am quite worried about is Beal and, to a much much lesser extent, the other vets on the team. Beal wants to make the playoffs. He doesnt want to waste his prime years. What will be his mindset if we dont make the playoffs?

[NatP4]

Why does Troy Brown play so little??? The wizards rotation is an abomination. 4 of their best 5 players come off the bench

[NatP4]

Matthews and Payton should play

[TheBabyMaker]

Where is Matthews is he still with the Lizards?

[nate33]

Why does Troy Brown play so little??? The wizards rotation is an abomination. 4 of their best 5 players come off the bench

I don't think that's true. I think, in many cases, the difference between the "starter" at the position and the bench is pretty situation dependant.

For example, at PG, I don't know who is better between Napier and Ish. But I believe Napier fits better with the starters because he can play off-ball better. Meanwhile, Ish is better as a primary creator against second unit defenses. So I'm happy with Napier starting over Ish.

Likewise, at C, one can make an argument for either Mahinmi or Bryant. Bryant is way better on offense, Mahinmi is way better on defense. For now, I think we're better off with Mahinmi playing the first 7 minutes and helping to set a defensive tone.

I think Hachimura may have emerged as our best forward of late. (Okay, 2nd best behind Bertans.) Since returning from injury, he is averaging 16.6 points and 7.7 boards per 36 minutes on a TS% of .588 with an on/off rating of +1.4. And his defense has been better than any of our forwards except Bonga.

As far as Brown versus Bonga, Brown is definitely better, but Brown has said that he prefers to come off the bench. It also makes sense to have Brown in the game when Beal is out since Brown is a capable secondary ball handler.

Overall, I don't have much of a problem with Brooks' rotation of late, except that he is playing Robinson far too much and Brown far too little. It bugs me that Brooks has occasionally played Beal at SF just to get Robinson more time when we'd be better off with Beal at his natural position and Brown in the game at SF instead of Robinson. If anything, Brown and Bonga should handle all of the SF minutes and Brown should steal a few extra minutes at SG.

My other minor beef is that I don't like this effort to play all 3 of Mahinmi, Bryant and Wagner at center. Pick two and let them handle all of the center minutes (with maybe Hachimura getting a few center minutes to provide more forward minutes for Bonga and Brown). Nobody is getting enough time to get into a rhythm.

[payitforward]

Yet -- that leaves unanswered the question of why Brown's minutes have dropped. I don't think it reflects any judgment on Brooks's part about Troy.

I think the answer is that they've dropped in order to create minutes for Robinson. Having traded for the kid, they want to play him as much as possible the rest of the season. This is sensible, since they have a $5.4m decision to make about him this Summer.

Whether the trade itself made sense is a different question. I would simply have waived IT.

We did the Clippers a favor by taking Robinson off their hands, which cost us $3.7m at minimum. I doubt they would have kept him past this season. Why not let them waive him, then pick him up this Summer at minimal cost/commitment? I guess there might have been competition.... Somehow I doubt it.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this is what is behind the changes in rotation.

edit: As to Center minutes -- isn't Bryant on a minutes limit?