Official John Wall Appreciation Thread 2.0

[SizzlinSimms]

Who would you put ahead?

Paul
Curry

Then:
Parker?
Lillard?
The Dragon?
Conley?
Lawson?
Westbrook?
Lowry?
Irving?
Rubio?
Isiah Thomas?

I don't get a chance to watch many west coast games, since I live in VA, and I'm not always willing to stay up will 12-1am to finish a game. Sadly, I don't have NBA's League Pass either.

[Illmatic21]

After Paul and Curry (and Westbrook if he hadn't missed time), there are like 8 different guys you can argue for the rest of the top 5. I think Wall has a solid argument for top 5, but I don't think leaving him out of the top 5 is that egregious either. PGs like Dragic, Conley are doing everything their team asks of them and playing winning ball.. they deserve much credit too.

One thing I can say about Wall, if his fg% and ts% were a higher he'd be a clear top 3 pg (and probably top 10 player in the league). But as long as he continues to struggle with his efficiency, it's hard to really champion him as being this amazing player.

For Wall to be officially elite, I need to see him shoot around 44% fg, 35%+ from three, and draw 6-7 FTAs a game.

[DCZards]

One thing I can say about Wall, if his fg% and ts% were a higher he'd be a clear top 3 pg (and probably top 10 player in the league). But as long as he continues to struggle with his efficiency, it's hard to really champion him as being this amazing player.

For Wall to be officially elite, I need to see him shoot around 44% fg, 35%+ from three, and draw 6-7 FTAs a game.

Let's not forget about the defensive end of the court. He's top 5--or close--as an all-around PG, imo.

[Wizardspride]

Click to read.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1970 ... who-ya-got

John Wall or Kyrie Irving: Who Ya Got?

The Eastern Conference has many young point guards filled with potential and seemingly guaranteed of a bright future, but two stand out above the rest—Kyrie Irving and John Wall.

They've each enjoyed stellar individual seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, respectively, earning nods on the All-Star team. Irving was voted in as a starting backcourt member due to his immense popularity, and Wall was a shoo-in for the reserves.

Both are great, but who's better?

To answer the question, I'll be breaking down the three major facets of their games: offense, defense and intangibles. After determining the winner in each category, it'll be time to move on to the overall summation.

So, who ya got?

[Nivek]

Who would you put ahead?

For this season only, the league's most productive PGs per minute:

Significantly More Productive

- Chris Paul
- Stephen Curry
- Kyle Lowry
- Mike Conley
- Ty Lawson
- Russell Westbrook
- Tony Parker

About the Same

- George Hill
- Eric Bledsoe
- Isaiah Thomas
- WALL
- Lillard
- Rubio
- Irving

Solidly Below

- Patrick Mills
- Mario Chalmers
- Kemba Walker
- Kendall Marshall
- Jrue Holiday
- Deron Williams
- Brandon Jennings

As I've written in an array of places, Wall does LOADS of good stuff out there. He also does loads of "bad stuff" (poor shot selection, missed shots, turnovers) that hurt.

For what I think Wall can do over the course of his career -- if he cuts down on the bad shots, improves his shooting and reduces his turnovers -- I'd take the next 5 years of Wall over the next 5 years of any PG on that list, except Chris Paul. But, in terms of what's happening on the court THIS SEASON, there are guys who are more productive.

[Dat2U]

Who would you put ahead?

For this season only, the league's most productive PGs per minute:

Significantly More Productive

- Chris Paul
- Stephen Curry
- Kyle Lowry
- Mike Conley
- Ty Lawson
- Russell Westbrook
- Tony Parker

About the Same

- George Hill
- Eric Bledsoe
- Isaiah Thomas
- WALL
- Lillard
- Rubio
- Irving

Solidly Below

- Patrick Mills
- Mario Chalmers
- Kemba Walker
- Kendall Marshall
- Jrue Holiday
- Deron Williams
- Brandon Jennings

As I've written in an array of places, Wall does LOADS of good stuff out there. He also does loads of "bad stuff" (poor shot selection, missed shots, turnovers) that hurt.

For what I think Wall can do over the course of his career -- if he cuts down on the bad shots, improves his shooting and reduces his turnovers -- I'd take the next 5 years of Wall over the next 5 years of any PG on that list, except Chris Paul. But, in terms of what's happening on the court THIS SEASON, there are guys who are more productive.

Next year I think it will be Paul, Curry & Wall then everyone else. But both Wall & Beal really need a new coach to dissuade them from those long 2s.

[Nivek]

At some point, if I get time, I want to estimate just how much productivity is being pissed away by those 2pt jumpers. The impact is significant, but I'd be interested in putting an actual number on overall productivity, which can then be translated into wins.

[nuposse04]

I think Wall would actually drive more if the lane wasn't constantly clogged. He does have that dog in him that believes he can finish and that he's entitled to the foul call. Even if the floor was opened up more, I wonder if Beal would drive more. He seems to believe he's an elite mid range shooter, when simply, he isn't there yet. Beal is probably the one that needs to lectured on his shot selection, I think Walls long 2s are more circumstantial....and you can point blame to the FO for that

[jeffsays]

I think Wall would actually drive more if the lane wasn't constantly clogged. He does have that dog in him that believes he can finish and that he's entitled to the foul call. Even if the floor was opened up more, I wonder if Beal would drive more. He seems to believe he's an elite mid range shooter, when simply, he isn't there yet. Beal is probably the one that needs to lectured on his shot selection, I think Walls long 2s are more circumstantial....and you can point blame to the FO for that

If we play more small ball, I think we can open up the lane for John a little more. Hell even having Al out there past the perimeter would help John, not to mention adding another 3pt threat out there.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Who would you put ahead?

For this season only, the league's most productive PGs per minute:

Significantly More Productive

- Chris Paul
- Stephen Curry
- Kyle Lowry
- Mike Conley
- Ty Lawson
- Russell Westbrook
- Tony Parker

About the Same

- George Hill
- Eric Bledsoe
- Isaiah Thomas
- WALL
- Lillard
- Rubio
- Irving

Solidly Below

- Patrick Mills
- Mario Chalmers
- Kemba Walker
- Kendall Marshall
- Jrue Holiday
- Deron Williams
- Brandon Jennings

As I've written in an array of places, Wall does LOADS of good stuff out there. He also does loads of "bad stuff" (poor shot selection, missed shots, turnovers) that hurt.

For what I think Wall can do over the course of his career -- if he cuts down on the bad shots, improves his shooting and reduces his turnovers -- I'd take the next 5 years of Wall over the next 5 years of any PG on that list, except Chris Paul. But, in terms of what's happening on the court THIS SEASON, there are guys who are more productive.

It's seems that all those more productive guards play in the high scoring, faster-paced WC. Where are the Wiz in terms of pace?

[Sluggerface]

For Wall to be officially elite, I need to see him shoot around 44% fg, 35%+ from three, and draw 6-7 FTAs a game.

That's not going to happen with this offense. We don't have the floor spacing.

[Nivek]

It's seems that all those more productive guards play in the high scoring, faster-paced WC. Where are the Wiz in terms of pace?

My ratings are adjusted for pace. Wizards are pretty close to average in pace -- 93.5 possessions per 48 minutes vs. a league average of 94.0. With Wall on the floor, they're a little faster -- about 94.5 possessions per 48 minutes.

[Dark Faze]

Playing with stand still wings isn't helping things for John at all either though. With Beal and Ariza just being guys who are catch and shoot types, it basically destroys Johns ability to become an off-ball player during certain sets.

He's got the potential to be the best off-ball guard in the league easy and its just not happening due to coaching and the roster. How many alley oops does he catch a year? 5 in the whole season? How many times has he gotten an off-ball screen or had an off ball play run for him?

[tontoz]

A lot of those long 2s come when he pulls up in transition without anyone else touching the ball. There is no excuse for that. If he takes one near the end of the clock it doesn't bother me.

[stevemcqueen1]

For all the talk about Wall settling for jumpers too often, he's still one of the best and most productive slashing guards in the league this season,

- Despite being the first thing opponents try to stop
- Despite our lackluster pace
- Despite our inability to space the floor
- Despite getting shafted by refs

http://bkref.com/tiny/9YcES

Shots at the basket this season, minimum 100 FGs, sorted by percentage of assisted field goals so that the PGs are at the top.

Wall's production stacks up with any other guard this year. The only one who is doing a better job converting at the rim with a comparable assisted buckets % and volume is Goran Dragic. But Phoenix plays a much faster pace and is much better at spacing the floor than we are. When you consider that, Wall's numbers look even more impressive.

Wall, Dragic, Parker, and Harden stand out as the tier of the most productive and efficient slashing guards in the league this year. Wall stands out within that subset because his team is the only one that sucks at spacing the floor. And he's also the one making the most plays for his teammates from that group.

Wall is an elite slasher and facilitator and he's a very good two way player considering the awful defenders you usually see at the PG position. There is only one other guard in the league better at doing all of those things than Wall--CP3.

[Nivek]

A lot of those long 2s come when he pulls up in transition without anyone else touching the ball. There is no excuse for that. If he takes one near the end of the clock it doesn't bother me.

Exactly. Take whatever shot you can get when you've run the offense and haven't been able to get the ball inside or get a 3pt shot. Not just whenever.

[dlts20]

I dont see wall taking nearly as many transistion 2's as you guys are suggesting

[Nivek]

Transition probably isn't the best term. It's not like he's pulling up and shooting 20-footers on a 2-on-1 break. It's more sorta the secondary transition thing where the defense has gotten back, but not set and he lets fly. Or, the early in the shot clock jumper because his defender is laying back.

[jeffsays]

Transition probably isn't the best term. It's not like he's pulling up and shooting 20-footers on a 2-on-1 break. It's more sorta the secondary transition thing where the defense has gotten back, but not set and he lets fly. Or, the early in the shot clock jumper because his defender is laying back.

Yeah, it usually occurs when there is 14-15 seconds on the shot clock. It's almost as if John likes the match up he's got and decides to shoot over his defender after a quick move. Sometimes it works for him, most of the time it doesn't.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Who would you put ahead?

For this season only, the league's most productive PGs per minute:

Significantly More Productive

- Chris Paul
- Stephen Curry
- Kyle Lowry
- Mike Conley
- Ty Lawson
- Russell Westbrook
- Tony Parker

About the Same

- George Hill
- Eric Bledsoe
- Isaiah Thomas
- WALL
- Lillard
- Rubio
- Irving

Solidly Below

- Patrick Mills
- Mario Chalmers
- Kemba Walker
- Kendall Marshall
- Jrue Holiday
- Deron Williams
- Brandon Jennings

As I've written in an array of places, Wall does LOADS of good stuff out there. He also does loads of "bad stuff" (poor shot selection, missed shots, turnovers) that hurt.

For what I think Wall can do over the course of his career -- if he cuts down on the bad shots, improves his shooting and reduces his turnovers -- I'd take the next 5 years of Wall over the next 5 years of any PG on that list, except Chris Paul. But, in terms of what's happening on the court THIS SEASON, there are guys who are more productive.

Next year I think it will be Paul, Curry & Wall then everyone else. But both Wall & Beal really need a new coach to dissuade them from those long 2s.

Since Bledsoe went out, I would rate Dragic either the same or solidly above Wall.

Wall can certainly benefit from a new coach and new offense. I think maybe Andre Miller can demonstrate a few old man game tricks that could help Wall. John Wall is big enough to be more physical to his advantage.

One thing I believe that almost everyone can agree on is that Wall has tools and potential for improving. Greatness is in his grasp.

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