GT: WIZ @ BUGS, 7:00 Wed., 11/25

[yosemiteben]

From JDR:

[HornetJail]

Hopefully Al is ready to play. We will need something resembling a post presence against them.

[yosemiteben]

Wiz play tomorrow night at home against the Pacers, then travel to Charlotte on Wednesday. Here's hoping for a quadruple OT game on Tuesday.

Wiz have only played 10 games so far this season due to scheduling oddities (we've played 14 already). I posted this stat in another thread, but the Wiz's starting unit is the worst starting unit by net rating in the league. Will be interesting to see how that shakes out.

Will be fascinating to watch to see if there are any rotation changes after tonight's performance.

[Liver_Pooty]

Honestly don't see how Frank doesn't at least get Hawes minutes after tonight.

[Braggins]

Ive never been impressed by this Wizards core and we seem to play really well against them. Wall is a stud and Beal is good but they are so vanilla and underwhelming outside of those two guys and Ive never really been able to figure out what their identity is supposed to be. Ill be disappointed if we dont win this.

[amcoolio]

We are better than Washington. They are so overrated. Pierce saved their asses last season.

[Chapelchilla]

We need to win this one at home because I am afraid we lose Friday unless Lebron eats too much Turkey.
I have 2 upper deck center court tickets in 208 available for tomorrow. I will sell them for under face value, say $20 each if you want em,.

[JDR720]

winner

[LamarMatic7]

Ive never been impressed by this Wizards core and we seem to play really well against them. Wall is a stud and Beal is good but they are so vanilla and underwhelming outside of those two guys and Ive never really been able to figure out what their identity is supposed to be. Ill be disappointed if we dont win this.

this season it's about them trying to run. so they have themselves a new identity. they've ditched the Gortat/Nene duo, they have their guys instantly inbound the ball to Wall and let him push it after made baskets and they play four guys out (problem is that their best options at the 4 are as questionable as Humphries).

Wittman has conceded that his old school ways are outdated. he wants them to run, strive on opponent mistakes and allow Wall the reigns of the offense, not interfering with strict play-calling.

the story is that when the team first showed up for involuntary practice in autumn, he had taped huge Xs on each wing and on each corner. those are the places where everyone should run to while Wall brings it up.

they have had their growing pains. and their pace has dropped off a bit after them starting off as the fastest team in the league. so it makes you wonder whether they don't revert to their old ways if/when things don't go as well as planned. but, yeah, when they do in fact try this out, it's interesting to watch the experiment. Gooden would attempt corner threes within 5 seconds of the shot clock. Wall wouldn't let the producer of the broadcast do a close-up of the previous scorer since he would already be at the three-point line with 22 seconds remaining on the clock:
http://gfycat.com/OrnateDeadArctichare

[jtsmith]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/hornets/status/669237824563101696[/tweet]

[yosemiteben]

Rick Bonnell ‏@rick_bonnell 14m14 minutes ago
Nic Batum has the stomach flu, listed as questionable to play versus the Wizards Wednesday.

Hmmmm

[fatlever]

OMG that Gary Neal card is the best. Struggle Street and I Dont Earn My Money. Killer.

[bws94]

Rick Bonnell ‏@rick_bonnell 14m14 minutes ago
Nic Batum has the stomach flu, listed as questionable to play versus the Wizards Wednesday.

Hmmmm

That greatly lowers the chance for a W if he can't play. Who is Batum's backup?

[JDR720]

if Batum cant play that probably moves Lamb into the starting lineup and Daniels will play backup SG.

Kemba-Lamb-PJ-Marv-Al
Lin-Daniels-?-Frank-Zeller

[bws94]

if Batum cant play that probably moves Lamb into the starting lineup and Daniels will play backup SG.

Kemba-Lamb-PJ-Marv-Al
Lin-Daniels-?-Frank-Zeller

The team is very Batum-centric, he plays a big role as a playmaker and defender who also scores. Lamb is a potent perimeter shooter and scorer, ok at playmaking but it isn't central to his game. And he's not so great on defense. Lin is a playmaker and gives effort on defense, but he is 6'3" and limited in who he can defend. You really need both of them to provide what Batum provides. I see some increase in their minutes if Batum can't go. But I guess it depends on matchups who to put in the starting lineup. That may not matter much, creative substitution plus using Frank a lot can go towards trying to make up Batum's production.

[Illmatic12]

I'm stealing this and posting it on the Wiz board. Gary Neal is an atrocious chucker

Only thing is he looks way to sloppy for 210lbs right now, dude is in terrible shape

[HornetJail]

I'm stealing this and posting it on the Wiz board. Gary Neal is an atrocious chucker

Only thing is he looks way to sloppy for 210lbs right now, dude is in terrible shape

He is absolutely atrocious. He gets signed to teams because he had a couple good playoff games for the Spurs years ago. Otherwise he'd be out of the league. Among the five worst players in the league right now. I hope he plays 35 minutes tomorrow

[Illmatic12]

I'm stealing this and posting it on the Wiz board. Gary Neal is an atrocious chucker

Only thing is he looks way to sloppy for 210lbs right now, dude is in terrible shape

He is absolutely atrocious. He gets signed to teams because he had a couple good playoff games for the Spurs years ago. Otherwise he'd be out of the league. Among the five worst players in the league right now. I hope he plays 35 minutes tomorrow

That's exactly it, he hasn't been good since that one hot streak he had in the Finals.

Dude sucks lol, he will hesitate on open threes and dribble into a contested long two. You will probably see more of Garrett Temple tomorrow than Neal. Once Alan Anderson is healthy and back in the Wiz lineup, Neal will never see the court

[HornetJail]

Dude sucks lol, he will hesitate on open threes and dribble into a contested long two. You will probably see more of Garrett Temple tomorrow than Neal. Once Alan Anderson is healthy and back in the Wiz lineup, Neal will never see the court

Be glad your coach doesn't insist on playing him, like ours did. Gary Neal shot 30% for like six weeks before he finally got benched and traded.

How's Garrett Temple? I vaguely remember him because he had a short stint here (prior to the lockout I think) and he shot like 22% over the month he was here, but it seems like he's found a home in Washington.

[Illmatic12]

Dude sucks lol, he will hesitate on open threes and dribble into a contested long two. You will probably see more of Garrett Temple tomorrow than Neal. Once Alan Anderson is healthy and back in the Wiz lineup, Neal will never see the court

Be glad your coach doesn't insist on playing him, like ours did. Gary Neal shot 30% for like six weeks before he finally got benched and traded.

How's Garrett Temple? I vaguely remember him because he had a short stint here (prior to the lockout I think) and he shot like 22% over the month he was here, but it seems like he's found a home in Washington.

Yeah Temple's still not great on the court (though he's on a nice shooting streak atm), but the coach and Wiz organization love his professionalism and attitude. He's one of those 'coach favorite' types who always come into practice early, stay ready to play and don't fuss about their role.

And he at least plays defense, which is a foreign concept to Neal smh