Comment from Reuben
Time December 31, 2008 at 2:34 PM

THATS CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!! $11

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time December 31, 2008 at 10:23 PM

I hope that I’m not violating some protocol by posting this blog on two days, but I wanted wizards_fusion to see that I read his post and I responded.

Good evening wizards_fusion and thanks for taking the time to respond to my post.

I’ll try to respond point-for-point:

1. I believe that there are enough good coaches with NBA experience available that we would not have to suffer through Tap’s learning curve. This is the NBA…only the best belong/survive here. Tap’s prior experience did not qualify him for the job. His friendship with Ernie did.

2. Even Tap, himself, stated that the Wiz stayed with the Hornets until we could no longer match baskets with them in that 4th quarter stretch. It’s tough to match scoring with someone else’s starting team when you only have one real NBA scorer on the floor. The game was lost in the middle of the 4th quarter due to very poor rotation decisions.

3. While the Triangle DOES require players to move, it is not a motion offense. It is not a scripted routine movement like the Princeton offense. The Triangle is basically a 3-on-3 (triangle) offense. It requires the players to execute the basics of professional offensive tactics (pick and roll, screen and roll, give and go, etc.). If there is nothing happening on the side where the triangle is executing, the ball is swung to the opposite side and another triangle is established. It is not that difficult to teach, nor understand. These are highly-paid professional athletes who have been playing the game since they were children. They learn quickly. However, I really don’t care if the Wiz use the Triangle offense or not. I just want them to stop standing around watching a teammate try to create some offense on his own.

Regarding the Triangle post play. Blatche is a great passer with tremendous court vision. He’d be great in the post of the triangle. More to my point, he is NOT at his best as a 20 foot jump shooter, and that is where they get him the ball most frequently. Darius, although smaller, is a most effective passer from the post. I believe that McGee could develop into a fine post player also.

4. I’m not knocking Abe Pollin. He has made an investment and has made the city better for it. However, Abe has a potential monetary return for his investment; the only return I get on my investment at the moment is being able to discuss b-ball with you and other fans. I’d really like my investment to include cheering for a team that has a chance to win.

5. For the past three years the Wiz coaching staff has been advocating better defense. This year ex-coach Jordan went so far as to say that the team spent about 80% of the pre-season working on defense. It appears as though coach Tap has the same philosophy. So be it. However, I don’t see any improvement. Our perimiter players consistently allow their man to penetrate and cause our big guys to have to watch two opponents at once…leading to fouls, and foul trouble for the bigs.

Additionally, if I wanted to watch a low-scoring defensive basketball game, I’d watch the Ivy League. The NBA is entertainment. Entertainment is putting the ball in the basket. Are there any special skills categories at the All-Star pre-game shows that emphasize defense? Have you ever seen the best defensive player in the draft chosen with the #1 pick? For that matter, has anyone ever designated a college player as the best defensive player?

The best times at the phone booth were when we were running and gunning with Gil at the trigger. Then we knew we had a chance to win.

Thanks again wizards_fusion.

Go Wiz!

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time December 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM

I just read Wizards_fusion’s response to dcButler357′s post. “Thus, when getabigboyoffense bashed Tap, I didn’t think it was justified. How can someone, like getabigboyoffense, that probably doesn’t know Tapscott at all, call him stupid?

During Eddie Jordan’s first year in Washington, he guided the team to a 25-57 record. If Jordan was fired after that year, Washington basketball would not have seen a revival in the fun department.”

I did not intend for anyone to read that I called coach Tap stupid. I said that the decisions were stupid. As Wizards_fusion justifiably pointed out, I don’t even know coach Tap, I just see his decision-making.

I don’t believe that a 197 wins, 224 loses record (.468) with the Wiz qualifies ex-coach Jordan for any coaching award, even though he did improve on his 25-57 first-year record with the Wiz. Jordan didn’t provide the “fun”, Gilbert did. Coach EJ went along for the ride. When the horse went lame, the rider got pitched.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time January 1, 2009 at 2:11 PM

WHEW, I’ll post this again also:

Tom and Getabig,

Maybe the wiz can put you on some type of Post-game show or something….but as hard as getabig goes, it would have to be on cable;-)

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time January 1, 2009 at 3:37 PM

Hmmmm, I wrote some very long analysis at the end of the last post. I’ll copy it all in here:

On Offense/defense: the key team statistic is *differential*. From that number everything flows. How many more/less points does one team score than its opponents over a season.

From differential, you can predict *very closely* how a team did in the season and the playoffs. For example, last year the Celtics had the highest positive differential of any team in the league.

It is from this starting point that we analyze how good a player is. We determine what that player did to produce positive differential for his team. Once we know that, we can divide by games and minutes to find out how “good” a player is. Note that we find out how good he is from what he accomplishes concretely. Not the reverse.
*
The difference in value — and even in definition — between defense and offense can be hard to know in a game as free-flowing as basketball (i.e. it’s obviously easier in football or baseball).

For example, take rebounding — a “defensive” rebound and an “offensive” rebound accomplish exactly the same thing. They give a team the ball and a new 24 second clock. But, not only common sense, analysis of the numbers too says that they have exactly the same value. Yet, we tend to value an offensive rebound more intuitively. It seems like the gift of an “extra” possession.

It’s easier to see that a steal is (good) defense and a turnover is (bad) offense. Yet, couldn’t you think of a steal as offense? So often it leads directly to a breakaway bucket.
*
A turnover, too, even though it happens on offense, could as easily be thought of as a defensive flaw. It so often creates an undefendable opportunity for your opponent.

Of course, poor execution of a defensive scheme is another matter. As are failures in man-to-man defense. But, sometimes *excellent* offensive execution can make defensive execution appear to have been poor. It’s not always Nick in the wrong place on the court, or Antawn unable to contain a much bigger opponent.

The key fact is that if you analyze the numbers we actually have, and give them their proper value, you can explain overall differentiation to about 95%. You can understand how good a team is, and you can tell how much a given player is contributing to success or failure.

Obviously, a FG or FT attempt *costs* the team something. Obviously, a point *gains* the team something. A steal gains something, and a turnover costs something (those two, obviously, cancel each other out). A foul costs the team something, a block or an assist gain something.

Only one “number” really matters, obviously — the score at the end of the game. But, it’s those things above that *directly produce* that number. Understanding how “good” a player is requires only that you understand how he contributes to those things — how much what he does *costs* the team, and how much it *gains* the team.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time January 1, 2009 at 6:46 PM

Tom,

More numbers to ponder….

http://www.82games.com/0809/0809WAS.HTM

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 1, 2009 at 7:58 PM

Strange. No Wizards game on CSN or CSN+. No gameday thread. No bloggers here? What’s up? Is this the twilight zone? I do see a signpost up ahead?

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 1, 2009 at 7:59 PM

ooops a day early lol

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time January 1, 2009 at 8:17 PM

That’s pretty funny dcbutler357. Tom M. and me on cable…think voluntary blackouts.

Tom M. – While I understand the logic that says that any one rebound is statistically equal to any other one rebound…consider…if a team’s shooting average is 50% and it gets two chances on each possession (offensive rebound), they have doubled their chance to score without the opponent getting possession of the ball. However, and more importantly, with an offensive rebound, they don’t have to defend against the opposition’s offensive set which could lead to an opponent score. While someone could argue that a defensive rebound then prevents the opposition from getting an extra shot, I believe that that only enhances my argument about the value of the offensive rebound. The psychological lift that an offensive rebound provides to the offensive team and the letdown that it produces for a team that has worked hard to defend is important.

Blog on…

Go Wiz!

Comment from neal
Time January 1, 2009 at 8:22 PM

Grifon your basketball IQ is slipping. Careful we don’t trade you to Oklahoma City.

Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time January 1, 2009 at 8:24 PM

Hey Grifon and Neal, Happy 2009!

Comment from Bridge
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:19 PM

Happy New Years everyone!

Unfortunately I won’t be able to blog or watch tomorrow because I’ll be at a (theatre) play. LET’S GET THOSE CELTICS THOUGH!!

GO WIZARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:24 PM

Too many mid week holidays Neal. I’m all screwed up lol. Oklahoma City? This time of year? I’m afraid I’ll pass. I lost my snowshoes

Happy New Year GetaBigBoy. Here is in hoping for a great 2009!

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:25 PM

Hiya Bridgy… Happy New Year!

Celtics? Piece of Cake

Comment from neal
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:27 PM

We’ll see if he likes blogging with a bunch of Okies.

Or maybe to the Phizzlies. See if he fits in with rednecks.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:43 PM

Redneck… possibly. I cut my grass this summer and found and old car?

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 1, 2009 at 10:52 PM

Okies are ok though… I can blog with a drawl LOL

Comment from TAG FLIP
Time January 2, 2009 at 5:12 AM

Happy 2nd day of 2009 everyone. Been reading through all the posts and they’re quite interesting to say the least. I have really no additional input on anything, other than they’re all very interesting points that I had been wondering myself. Hope to see everyone blogging tonight against the Celtics!

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time January 2, 2009 at 7:58 AM

Hey dcb — I don’t dig those roland rating, etc. numbers. They are analyzing something that does not *directly feed* the final score.

Getabigboy — sure, if you don’t think of a rebound as giving you a new possession, then an offensive rebound looks like it *extends* your possession — i.e. gives you an extra chance on this possession. But that’s just, as you put it, a “psychological” lift. The numbers don’t show any difference in results. More rebounds makes a difference in win/loss records. The % of them that are *offensive* doesn’t make a difference.

Realize — every *defensive* rebound prevents the opponent from getting an *offensive* rebound.

Comment from neal
Time January 2, 2009 at 8:49 AM

OK then Grifon, you’re slated for OC. EG thinks he can get a 2nd round hot dog vendor with potential for you and that sandwich.

First Tom will have to make sure the new guy will be more productive than you.

Bridge already talked to your wife. It’s not a problem. She’ll write you.

You heard it first here.

Comment from neal
Time January 2, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Actually Grif, you’ve been on the block for some time. I thought you knew.

Comment from Bridge
Time January 2, 2009 at 11:41 AM

Neal – what the…?

Have you been drinkin’? I don’t have a wife because I don’t swing that way (if you know what I mean); not married…

Why am I confused?? Whatever…

Comment from Bridge
Time January 2, 2009 at 11:47 AM

Oh, I get it…lol…Nevermind, neal – sorry bout that .

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time January 2, 2009 at 12:08 PM

Too Funny Bridgy

Comment from Bridge
Time January 2, 2009 at 12:47 PM

LOL GR. My mind works kinda fast, therefore, I “speed-read”/skim-read things A LOT; I need to slow down huh …I blame it all on school!; having to read all those damn text books, but hey, I always got good grades .

New Year’s Resolution: To slow my mind down a bit for the sake of not misunderstanding my fellow bloggers’ comments…Lol.

AGAIN; HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!!!

Comment from Bridge
Time January 2, 2009 at 1:15 PM

….I even once got the back of my hand hit with a ruler…just because I once asked a nun if she had ever ‘gotten it on’ before…She told me that God doesn’t love me…lol

Naw, I’m just kidding and being crazy right now…

GO WIZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment from neal
Time January 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM

Would have been a terrific question to ask, though Bridge. I’m laughing just thinking about what if.