GT #31: Bullets @ Jazz 9 PM (NBCSW/980 AM)

[FAH1223]

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[queridiculo]

Big big win.

Standout performers, Beal, Advija and Neto, but this was mostly a team effort on both ends of the court.

Rebounding, defense, moving the ball, just a complete basketball game despite starting the 1st quarter by putting themselves in yet another early hole.

Biggest difference to me, the Wizards played with purpose on offense and actually managed to move defenders with their actions.

They set good picks and consistently managed to get the ball to Beal on the move who did a great job keeping the ball alive when he didn't have a shot.

I liked that wrinkle to switch small on big and Washington's guards did a great job battling on those mismatches. Gobert and Whiteside combining for 14 points after destroying the Wizards with a combined 38 earlier tells the story here.

Good to see the coaches reward Avdija for his play, would like to see more of it.

[Dolevi]

The adjustments this team needs to make simply could not be any more obvious. Avdija is the best player on the team and Kuzma is the worst player on the team. One of these guys has played 913 minutes, the other has played 642.

We’ve also thrown away almost 500 minutes to a horrible non NBA level player in Aaron Holliday when both Kispert and Neto have been far more impactful.

We really need atleast a starting caliber PG. Dinwiddie has become a shockingly awful player. Hopefully he gets back to himself. Bad starting Pg play and mediocre coaching are the two main problems.

All truth.

[Frichuela]

The adjustments this team needs to make simply could not be any more obvious. Avdija is the best player on the team and Kuzma is the worst player on the team. One of these guys has played 913 minutes, the other has played 642.

We’ve also thrown away almost 500 minutes to a horrible non NBA level player in Aaron Holliday when both Kispert and Neto have been far more impactful.

We really need atleast a starting caliber PG. Dinwiddie has become a shockingly awful player. Hopefully he gets back to himself. Bad starting Pg play and mediocre coaching are the two main problems.

All truth.

Seconded. This team with someone like Derrick White at PG and Dinwiddie off the bench would be so much better.

[Ruzious]

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Beal's at his highest trade value since the season started. Great to see him playing close to last season's level.

[nate33]

The adjustments this team needs to make simply could not be any more obvious. Avdija is the best player on the team and Kuzma is the worst player on the team. One of these guys has played 913 minutes, the other has played 642.

We’ve also thrown away almost 500 minutes to a horrible non NBA level player in Aaron Holliday when both Kispert and Neto have been far more impactful.

We really need atleast a starting caliber PG. Dinwiddie has become a shockingly awful player. Hopefully he gets back to himself. Bad starting Pg play and mediocre coaching are the two main problems.

LOL. Avdija is not the best player on the team.

He is really playing well though, and has earned more playing time. Over the first 14 games of the season, Avdija was shooting just 28% from 3-point range (while Kuzma shot 35%) so I didn't have problem with Kuzma playing with the starters for spacing purposes. Indeed, it was working, since the team started out 10-4. But Avdija has shot 35% from 3 over the last 15 games on higher volume, forcing teams to guard him out there. And since he is obviously better than Kuzma defensively, there no longer is a compelling reason not to start him.

I don't really understand the Holiday hate. Statistically, he has played as well as Neto, but with better D. They both suffer from not really being true PG's. Neto is more of a combo guard who can create off the bounce. He does pretty well as a primary creator when Beal isn't on the floor, but the team has played poorly with Neto alongside Beal. Holiday is better as a 3&D guy off the ball. The team plays really well when Holiday is alongside Beal, and really poorly when Holiday is on the floor without Beal. I think they should be handled accordingly. I like it when Holiday starts in place of Dinwiddie. But Neto is probably a better option for the 2nd unit while Beal is out of the game.

[NatP4]

“We’re winning games so we can’t change anything”

Avdija was significantly better than Kuzma 15 games ago, and he’s significantly better now. Kuzma is a g-league level scrub that does nothing well. Avdija is one of the better young players in the NBA and the best player on the wizards. There are 2 ends of the court, Avdija is elite on defense.

I’ll give you that Holiday probably hasn’t been as bad as I’m claiming, it just makes way more sense to pick one of Neto/Holiday and play Kispert at the 2. Neto is a really good player, he’s the easy choice IMO.

[payitforward]

A very nice win powered by:

1. Extra possessions -- i.e. more opportunities to score the ball.
a. We committed 9 turnovers to their 15.
b. We rebounded better on both ends.

2. Defense -- they didn't have even a single player with a particularly good scoring night (i.e. lots of points at a high level of efficiency). No, not even Mitchell (he turned the ball over 5 times).

3. Effective, efficient offense --
a. A terrific night from Brad. I'm holding my breath that he's back.
b. An even better performance from the trio of Avdija, Harrell & Neto -- they combined to turn 23 shots & 7 FTAs into 37 points-- that's a .71 TS%!

Obviously a great great game from Avdija. & don't sleep on Harrell's outing: 11 pts on 6 shots & 3 FTAs, plus 6 boards (2 on the offensive end) & 3 assists.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

The adjustments this team needs to make simply could not be any more obvious. Avdija is the best player on the team and Kuzma is the worst player on the team. One of these guys has played 913 minutes, the other has played 642.

We’ve also thrown away almost 500 minutes to a horrible non NBA level player in Aaron Holliday when both Kispert and Neto have been far more impactful.

We really need atleast a starting caliber PG. Dinwiddie has become a shockingly awful player. Hopefully he gets back to himself. Bad starting Pg play and mediocre coaching are the two main problems.

LOL. Avdija is not the best player on the team.

He is really playing well though, and has earned more playing time. Over the first 14 games of the season, Avdija was shooting just 28% from 3-point range (while Kuzma shot 35%) so I didn't have problem with Kuzma playing with the starters for spacing purposes. Indeed, it was working, since the team started out 10-4. But Avdija has shot 35% from 3 over the last 15 games on higher volume, forcing teams to guard him out there. And since he is obviously better than Kuzma defensively, there no longer is a compelling reason not to start him.

I don't really understand the Holiday hate. Statistically, he has played as well as Neto, but with better D. They both suffer from not really being true PG's. Neto is more of a combo guard who can create off the bounce. The team has played poorly with Neto alongside Beal, but he does pretty well as a primary creator when Beal isn't on the floor. Holiday is better as a 3&D guy off the ball. The team plays really well when Holiday is alongside Beal, and really poorly when Holiday is on the floor without Beal. I think they should be handled accordingly. I like it when Holiday starts in place of Dinwiddie. But Neto is probably a better option for the 2nd unit while Beal is out of the game.

The play of Avdija has been encouraging. His 3pt shot looks improved also, he's shooting with more of a true stroke instead of that 2 handed set shot he was using.

Kuzma is essential to this team also IMO, when he is locked in on D and rebounding at a high level, and hitting from 3 is when this team was in a groove.

Dinwiddie obviously is not right. He has lost his burst and speed he had at the start of the season , and has stopped attacking offensively, and his D has also suffered. I'm not down on him long term, but he needs to get physically right, and should sit until he does. I'd say start Holiday for the time being with Beal, and bring Neto off the bench with KCP.

Looking forward to Rui 's return, and having a 3 man rotation constantly cycling between the 3 & 4 with Kuz, Deni & Rui, and hitting teams with a consistent frontcourt with size, length, D, rebounding, scoring.

When Rui gets back, there is no reason Bertans should see the floor. With Deni improving his 3, with Kuz & KCP, and having Kispert as off the bench option, there is no place for Bertans.

Bring KCP off the bench at 2-3. Start working Bryant in when Gaff & Trez get in foul trouble or need rest. Get Dinwiddie right.

This team is still working out chemistry issues and finding its way, coaching is still making adjustments, health issues and player availability and performance is still in progress. This team still has room to improve and find it's way before the end of the season.

[payitforward]

Nat, I wish you could make these points, which are clearly true:

...Avdija was significantly better than Kuzma 15 games ago, and he’s significantly better now. Avdija is one of the better young players in the NBA.... There are 2 ends of the court, Avdija is elite on defense....

...without needing to claim these 2 things, which are clearly not true:

...Kuzma is a g-league level scrub that does nothing well.... (Deni Avdija is) the best player on the wizards....

Kyle Kuzma is in his 5th year. He's not playing well. It'd be pretty hard to claim that he's a good NBA player. OTOH, even during this last downturn, he's had his moments. &, no, he is not "a g-league level" player.

Nor is Deni the best player on the Wizards -- not based on what he's done & not based on what one can expect from him the rest of this season.

OTOH, he's been one of the best, & he's been a terrific surprise. It would be fair to say that he appears to have the best future potential -- highest ceiling/best chance to get there -- of anyone on the team.

As to Holiday/Neto --

...it just makes ...sense to pick one of Neto/Holiday and play Kispert at the 2.

I agree entirely with this. Doesn't mean Kispert can handle the position defensively, but... let's find out.

[payitforward]

The play of Avdija has been encouraging. His 3pt shot looks improved also, he's shooting with more of a true stroke instead of that 2 handed set shot he was using.

Kuzma is essential to this team also IMO, when he is locked in on D and rebounding at a high level, and hitting from 3 is when this team was in a groove.

Dinwiddie obviously is not right. He has lost his burst and speed he had at the start of the season , and has stopped attacking offensively, and his D has also suffered. I'm not down on him long term, but he needs to get physically right, and should sit until he does. I'd say start Holiday for the time being with Beal, and bring Neto off the bench with KCP.

Looking forward to Rui 's return, and having a 3 man rotation constantly cycling between the 3 & 4 with Kuz, Deni & Rui, and hitting teams with a consistent frontcourt with size, length, D, rebounding, scoring.

When Rui gets back, there is no reason Bertans should see the floor. With Deni improving his 3, with Kuz & KCP, and having Kispert as off the bench option, there is no place for Bertans.

Bring KCP off the bench at 2-3. Start working Bryant in when Gaff & Trez get in foul trouble or need rest. Get Dinwiddie right.

This team is still working out chemistry issues and finding its way, coaching is still making adjustments, health issues and player availability and performance is still in progress. This team still has room to improve and find it's way before the end of the season.

Great post.

I could quibble about whether Kuzma is likely to get back to his level of the first few weeks & about the impact Rui can be expected to have after such a long layoff, but this is still the approach to take, so, overall, I'd say you've nailed it.

[Dolevi]

There's a lot of hatred against Kuz. I think offensively he has a lot of talent and he can really contribute on that end. Of course problems of consistency. On defense he tries sometimes but usually has his breakdowns. To generally claim that he is not a player at NBA level is wrong. There are a lot of guys who play at a lower level than him. His BBIQ is not so good either, but again, he's a bucket. I still think Deni is better (with all what connects to the contribution for a team's W) than him overall already, mostly because of the intelligence and BBIQ part (plus defense). But Kuz is not a bad player. Proportion.

[tontoz]

Just got done watching the game. That was an epic dagger by KCP, then Deni says 'no soup for you spider'.

Really big win on the road. Nice to see Beal play like an All Star. I also liked seeing the closing lineup.

Jazz had the lead late. That was an easy game to lose, especially considering what has happened lately.