GT #35 Cav @ Bullets 7pm

[tontoz]

Chucking probably isn't the right word to characterize some of Beal's poor play. I think his problem at times has been trying to do too much off the dribble. His handles aren't good enough to play like James Harden.

When he makes decisive moves off the dribble he can be effective. When he dribbles around aimlessly trying to find an opening he can get into trouble. This tends to be a much bigger problem against good defensive teams.

His turnover rate is at a career high. If nothing is there he needs to just swing the ball instead of trying to force it.

With Allen and Rubio out the Cavs defense takes a big hit. Nice to get an easy win but part of the reason our offense looked good is those two being out.

[80sballboy]

Not going to play woe is me for Rubio and Allen being out for Cleveland. Maybe the Heat should take back their win for beating us without Beal and six other players. Of course, it helped us. But no Bryant, Rui, Dinwiddie, Neto, Bertans, Trez and Holiday. Maybe that's not a lot of quality, but it's quantity.

[nate33]

I'm watching the 2nd half right now. It's amazing how often the Wizards post defenders keep fouling Kevin Love's elbow with their midsection.

[nate33]

Man, Kispert with a nightmare outing. Nothing but open looks and he missed them all.

Avdija was horrific in the the 2nd quarter (0-6, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 1 turnover), but played exceptionally well for the rest of his minutes (5-6, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 0 turnovers)

[closg00]

We are the 8th seed currently, it's going to be quite a scrap for the play-offs

[nate33]

The final 3 minutes of garbage time made my eyes bleed. Just awful basketball all around.

[80sballboy]

Man, Kispert with a nightmare outing. Nothing but open looks and he missed them all.

Avdija was horrific in the the 2nd quarter (0-6, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 1 turnover), but played exceptionally well for the rest of his minutes (5-6, 13 points, 6 rebounds, 0 turnovers)

I made this same observation in the preseason and it seems to be hitting him again. His shot looks flat with barely any arc on it. A lot of his mid-range shots are coming up short. He doesn't lack for confidence like Deni does at times, but it appears to be mechanics.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Beal has been doing this since the beginning of January. Beal has NOT been a chucker. He has been taking good shots, he was just missing them for the first 20 games of the season. The guy has averaged 6.3 assists per game starting from his 7th game of the season. That ranks him 16th in the league in assists, and he's not even the point guard.

Beal's only problem has been the woeful shooting from 3-point range, and a bit too many turnovers. Other than that, he has been great.

I would say he's been playing great over the last 8-10 games. That includes the road trip where the rest of the team (Dinwiddie) stunk until Utah. I wouldn't say great all season. Even Beal would admit he hasn't played that well, though his defense has been solid. But he is a shooting guard and when you aren't shooting particularly well, that's a problem. Now, he's putting things together.

But as far as being a chucker all season? You're right, he has had a few games where goes batsh-t crazy and tries to go mano-a-mano with Tatum or other big scorers. But he's been pretty unselfish overall.

Agreed. I didn't mean to say Beal has played great all season. I just get annoyed with this narrative that Beal has been a selfish chucker who won't share the ball. That is absolutely untrue.

As hard as I've (we've, many of us at least) have been on Beal, he's a hot three point shooting stretch to having really good shooting splits this season with the slight exception that his free throw has been mediocre after a torrid start. Feels like this is Beal every season, crappy to start off then gets into a groove.

[payitforward]

Nice post-game interview with Echenique. I liked him in Summer League & am glad to see him getting a shot. Very nice kid.

Interview much longer than the time he got on the court!

[Ruzious]

Nice post-game interview with Echenique. I liked him in Summer League & am glad to see him getting a shot. Very nice kid.

Interview much longer than the time he got on the court!

And he seems useful as a 3rd center. He's not going to hurt the team for the most part - when he's playing against backups.

[Ruzious]

We are the 8th seed currently, it's going to be quite a scrap for the play-offs

I think - like it or not - this is what we'll stay. We'll be okay with it after wins and frustrated with it after losses. We are the classic average team.

[Ruzious]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

It's all because he got the vaccine.

[Ruzious]

Kuzma is unguardable right now

Kuzma for Mobley - who says no? Nice to see Kuzma finally play well in quarters 1 through 3. Seems like he's been great all season in 4th quarters.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Kuzma is unguardable right now

Kuzma for Mobley - who says no? Nice to see Kuzma finally play well in quarters 1 through 3. Seems like he's been great all season in 4th quarters.

Late to post this but I am VERY PLEASED by the latest turn of events. Brad at PG can work. Kuzma and Brad are on their games. Davis has found his shot. Deni is a legit defensive stud and a great point forward. Kispsrt is playing and producing.

I really love the carousel of capable players shuttled in off ten days or whatever the proper terminology is. Goodwin and Shakel among others (including unstoppable Brad Wannamaker ) bring energy to practice.

This is just the opposite of how it was under Ernie grunfeld.