Bulls Drop Another At Home to Wizards, 105-99.

The good news is that Chicago Bulls G Derrick Rose may be out of his shooting slump with a 32 point game against the Washington Wizards.  The bad news is the Bulls looked a bit over-matched and lost the game 105-99 at the United Center.

The Bulls didn't play bad. It is that Washington played better. The Wizards are not intimidated by Chicago. Paul Pierce gives them that swagger, that confidence that has the Wizards playing some of the best basketball in the Eastern Conference. They (26-11) are better than Chicago right now.  The Wizards have so much talent with John Wall at PG emerging as new star in the NBA. Marcin Gortat and Nene outplayed the frontcourt of the Bulls tonight and a +10 advantage in rebounding.  Bradley Beal, the team's sharpshooter, lurks in he wings, waiting to hoist a trey.  Pierce plays like the knowing field general, leading by guiding, not directing.

The Wizards hit 51.3% of its shots against the Bulls.  While Chicago (26-14) hit 43.0% of their shots from the floor. That is a big difference.  Pau Gasol had a quiet game scoring 'only' 13 points and hauling in 8 rebounds. Joakim Noah played 13:25 minutes and may have some soreness in his knee.

The Wizards had 29 assists to just 18 assists for Chicago. The Bulls took and made 13-27 three-point shots, D Rose hitting 6 of 9 attempts. This means Washington was not letting the Bulls run their offense in the half-court game. The Wizards controlled the glass and the tempo of the game.  Paul Pierce had 22 to lead Washington, John Wall scored 21.

The Bulls have hit a rough patch, losing 2 of 3 home games.  A good team is expected to win at home however lately, the Bulls haven't been able to do that.

Read More

Wall, Wizards Wave Off Bulls In 102-86 WIn

The Chicago Bulls were coolly dispatched last night at the Verizon Center.  Chicago needed to find its mojo again after gettng lambasted by Utah a few nights back.

John Wall (16 points, 12 boards) and his team weren't in a cooperative frame of mind, and the Wizards won convincingly, 102-86.  The Wizards (25-11) are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and they played like it. This was not a good  team to play to "get back on track" if you rooted for Chicago.

The Wizards have an extremely dangerous backcourt in Wall and Bradley Beal, a three point shooter, who has the touch of a Reggie Miller. When Beal is on, forget it.  He made a late trey to put the game away for Washington, as "cool as the other side of the pillow", as the late sports anchor Stuart Scott liked to say.

The positive news for Chicago was that Derrick Rose had a good night, scoring 19 points, and was more aggressive on the court.  He made a beautiful move inside to beat a big man for a layup.  That move indicated that he's OK, he just might be a shooting slump. He is only hitting around 24% in his last 6 games.

In this game, the Wizards took a commanding 30-13 lead in the first quarter and the Bulls spent the right of the game trying to catch up. It's hard to catch up against a good team, especially with Paul Pierce playing.

Pierce is a warrior and won't back down from anyone. He gives the younger players a strong presence on the court, to do their thing.  Tonight, those guys did. Washington hit 47.7% in field goals and 8-15 in long ball attempts. Marcin Gortat continues to impress with 21 points and 13 rebounds. He is an immovable force close to the basket.  Every time the Bulls got within 8 points in the second half, Washington hit a three pointer to make it an 11 point lead.

The Bulls were led by Rose with 19 points. Pau Gasol had a "quiet" double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds. Aaron Brooks had 16 points. Mike Dunleavy missed the game with an ankle injury.

Prior to the Jazz loss, the Bulls were a hot team, winning 13 of 15 games. Now, they've lost two in a row, first time since early in the season.  There is a time and place for everything.

Read More

Could Paul Pierce make the difference in D.C.?

                                           
 
     The Washington Wizards are one of the more interesting teams in the NBA. Bradley Beal and John Wall, who combined for 36.4 points per game last season, have emerged into one of the best backcourts in the NBA to go alongside a solid front court rotation of Nene, Marcin Gortat, and Kris Humphries. However, as good as those five players are, the Wizards likely wouldn't be considered a serious contender if they didn't also have Paul Pierce, who is coming off a one year stint with the Brooklyn Nets.
 
     Now you might be saying that Paul Pierce is old and that what makes the Wizards really dangerous is the combination of players I mentioned before him. That's not at all inaccurate. Those five players I mentioned are going to have to carry the bulk of the load, especially Wall and Beal.
 
     However, I think Paul Pierce's presence is what the Wizards need to get over the hump and into the NBA Finals this season. Beal and Wall can get the Wizards close, but they need somebody else who is capable of doing damage late in games and also providing them with confidence. Especially in the playoffs.
 
     What better man to fill that need than Paul Pierce? He has championship and leadership experience, and ice in his veins. Pierce lives for the big moments, and when the Wizards are in such moments, Pierce will know what it takes to get the job done.

      In addition to being a weapon late in games, Pierce himself can still produce for four quarters. Last season in Brooklyn, Pierce played 28 minutes per game for 75 games and averaged 13.5 points per game. That's very solid production to add to your lineup. Especially when you already have other guys to do the heavy lifting.
 
     The bottom line is that Paul Pierce is a great addition to this Wizards team both because of the intangibles he brings and the actual on court production that he can provide night in and night out. If the Wizards figure out how to utilize him properly and put his abilities to full use, they could find themselves in the NBA Finals this season.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Read More

Washington Wizards 2013-14 Team Review

Written by Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

www.sportslogos.net

The 2013-2014 season was a very successful one for the Washington Wizards, as they found a successful balance and youth and experience. The perfect pairing resulted in a 44-38 season, the most wins by the Wizards since they won 43 games in the 2007-2008 season, coincidentally also the last time they made the postseason prior to this one. The 44 wins are tied for the second most since they were re-named the Wizards prior to the 1997-1998 season. Head coach Randy Wittman received a contract extension because of how well he and the Wizards performed this past season as well.

The road to success was built before any games were even played, as the Wizards traded for Center Marcin Gortat from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the injured Emeka Okafor and a first-round draft pick. Gortat was durable and productive for the Wizards alongside Nene’ giving the Wizards one of the most formidable big-men combination in the NBA. Another savvy addition in the summer was the signing of Al Harrington. The mercurial forward added a scoring punch and veteran leadership when the Wizards were into the postseason.

They continued to make strong moves during the season, finding a gem in Drew Gooden on the free agent wire. Gooden did not have a big role with the team, but he performed when called upon, and like Harrington, gave veteran leadership the Wizards lacked. They added more leadership, and filled a massive hole at backup point guard, when they traded for Andre Miller. In a three-team trade six days before signing Gooden, the Wizards landed Miller for spare parts. It was a great trade, as the Wizards got on a roll they were able to ride the remainder of the season.

The Wizards had a strong finish to their season, going 19-10 after a loss right after the All-Star break. The strong finish to the season enabled the Wizards to move up in the Eastern Conference standings, finishing fifth as they won the tiebreaker with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Wizards manhandled the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs, as Gortat and Nene took advantage of a Bulls team that focused on the dynamic duo in the Wizards backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal. The two big men combined to score 28.8 points and 16.1 rebounds per game.

They built up momentum heading into the second round, but were defeated by the Indiana Pacers as the playoff-hardened Pacers were able to slow down the Wizards. Even with the loss in the second round this was a great season for the Wizards. They took a major step forward, as their veteran additions worked out well and the backcourt combination of Wall and Beal continued to blossom.

Standout Star: John Wall

Win McNamee/Getty Images

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2010 NBA Draft was beginning to hear whispers that the Wizards used yet another top pick on a player that wasn’t going to pan out. Durability concerns and losing seasons were starting to mount against Wall, as plenty of people were ready to give up on him. The 2013-2014 season was the first time Wall had any real talent around him, and he like the Wizards as a whole, really benefited from it.

Wall took the next step in his career development, putting up career-high numbers across the board. The lightning quick point guard can get into the paint with ease, but struggled at times as defenders just sagged off of him and dared him to take jump shots. It was an effective strategy in past seasons, as Wall is one of the best finishers at the rim for a guard. His combination of strength, speed and athleticism is rivaled by very few players in the NBA.

But unlike past seasons, Wall was a threat from away from the basket this season as well. He shot by far his highest percentage from the three point line, knocking down 35.1 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. He actually made more three pointers this season, 108, than the rest of his career combined, as he made only 49 his first three seasons in the NBA.

The jump in three point percentage helped raise Wall’s scoring to a career-high 19.3 points per game, to go with a career-high 8.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 80.5 percent from the foul line.

Wall is finally starting to come into his own, and will only continue to improve. If he can keep trending upwards from the perimeter, he will be virtually unstoppable. Teams can get away at times letting him take jump shots now, but that looks like something is going to change very soon. As Wall goes, the Wizards go. He is the conductor of this locomotive that is beginning to pick up steam.

Off-Season Needs:

AP Photo

The Wizards main focus during the offseason should be bringing back their own free agents, namely Gortat and Trevor Ariza. It would be a big blow to the team if either player left as a free agent, but Gortat would be the bigger loss.

It is tough to find productive centers, and Gortat is one. He is going to be 30 years old when the season starts, but he does not have the wear and tear of a 30-year old in the NBA, as he was a backup for most of his first five seasons in the NBA, only becoming a starter for the 2011-2012 season with the Suns. He will have plenty of suitors, but a return to the Wizards is likely.

Ariza is not a player they should just let walk, but he will have plenty of suitors as well. He is a great two-play player, as he has finally developed an offensive game that almost rivals his high level of defense. Ariza came into the NBA with the reputation of a defensive stopper, and that has not changed; now he also is a threat offensively.

Like Wall, Ariza had career-highs across the board offensively, posting his best shooting season overall and from the three-point line, resulting in a career best 14.4 points per game. Not otherworldly, but a solid contribution for an offense that has plenty of other options ahead of him.

They also have decisions to make regarding Gooden, Harrington and a couple of players eligible for qualifying offers in Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin. Gooden and Harrington can most likely be brought back on minimum deals, while Booker and Seraphin may be allowed to enter free agency as unrestricted free agents.

Most of their cap space will most likely go into retaining their own players, as they look like they will try and go at it with the same core next season. As for luring other players over, they should look at getting some help on the bench. If they retain their players, their starting five will be set with Wall, Beal, Ariza, Nene and Gortat. Filling out the bench with some more explosive players to go with the veterans they already have could help them reach that next level.

The teams that can throw a wrench in these negotiations are the Suns, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers to name a few. They all have either cap space or pedigree to offer if any of the Wizards players are looking to shake it up. Ariza is the more likely of the two to leave, and if he does it would do the Wizards well trying to bring in a veteran such as Luol Deng to replace him.

2014-2015 Season Outlook:

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The future is bright for the Wizards, as they have arguably the best young backcourt in the NBA. There are not many teams that can go toe-to-toe with the combination of Wall and Beal in terms of youth and talent. They will be the best backcourt in the NBA before Beal’s rookie contract expires.

The veterans they had put up career stats in some instances, so it is unsure if they will be able to repeat those performances, but as Wall and Beal continue to grow, they will be able to carry this team more and more.

They also have Otto Porter Jr. waiting in the wings, as the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft failed to crack the Wizards rotation last season. He originally was thought to be filling a big hole on the Wizards roster, one that Ariza seemed to take offense to as he put up career numbers. Having Porter gain his footing in the NBA would help the Wizards immensely as they do not have much in the former of wings behind their starters.

The Wizards did not have a pick in the draft this season, as it was sent to the Suns for Gortat. While this was a loaded draft, the Wizards have to be happy with their decision to obtain Gortat. He was a big piece of their success this season, and will continue to be if they can lock him up.

The Wizards had an outstanding 2013-2014 and are trending in the right direction. As long as they can bring back Gortat and Ariza, this team should be just as good as last season. What pieces they can bring in to compliment the pieces they already have will be the deciding factor in if they can take yet another step. At the end of the day though, as long as Wall and Beal are in the fold, the outlook for this team will be bright.

Read More

5 Players With Most to Prove In Playoffs: Eastern Conference

The NBA Playoffs are finally upon us, and there are some teams and players with something to prove. Younger players making their much anticipated first appearances in the postseason and even some veterans that still have something to prove in their stored careers. There are plenty of viable picks that could be made, but here are my top five players and teams that have something to prove in the postseason in the Eastern Conference.

John Wall, Point Guard, Washington Wizards: Wall, the former first overall pick from the 2010 NBA Draft, will be making his first appearance in the postseason this year. He has been under the microscope since the moment he was drafted, and plenty of people were already labeling him a bust. Durability issues mixed with poor results on the court had people questioning the Wizards draft decisions once again.

Reuters

But, after recovering from his surgery last season, Wall led the Wizards to near-.500 basketball the rest of the way. The promise showed that season lead to the Wizards going all in this offseason, trading for Marcin Gortat from the Phoenix Suns. The results have been extremely positive this season, as Wall played in every game this season, and increased his shooting percentage immensely, making 35.1 percent of his three point attempts. He knocked down 108 this season, more than doubling his career total, as he made only 49 the previous three seasons.

With a capable three-point shot, defenses had to respect Wall’s jump shot and he took advantage, ravaging opposing defenses in the paint. With lighting fast quickness, Wall tore teams apart in the paint, shooting 55 percent from within 10 feet of the basket. His outstanding court vision also helped get his teammates involved, resulting in a career-high 8.8 assists per game.

A career season across the board has gotten people back on Wall’s bandwagon, and he will have the biggest stage of all to prove the remaining doubters wrong. This will be the first time the Wizards are on national television since 2010, so this will be the first time many people get to see Wall in action since his college days leading Kentucky.

Al Jefferson, Center, Charlotte Bobcats: Much like Wall, Jefferson has put together an outstanding season, but not to much fanfare. He has flown under the radar, but is a big reason why the Bobcats are in the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, along with his sidekick Kemba Walker.

Chuck Burton/AP Photo

Jefferson is the player being highlighted here though, because many people dismissed this signing over the offseason. They said it was a waste of money for the Bobcats, as they were still far from contending and this wouldn’t move the meter much. They were extremely wrong though, as Jefferson put together a monster season, averaging 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals per game; ask anyone if they knew and more often than not the answer is no.

Jefferson has thrived alongside Walker, much like he did alongside Deron Williams when they were teammates with the Utah Jazz. Jefferson has an arsenal in the post rivaled by very few, if any players in the NBA.

It will be a tall task knocking off the two-time defending champion Miami Heat, but Jefferson can single handedly get the Bobcats a win. If Roy Hibbert is able to pick the Heat apart, Jefferson should have a field day.

DeMar DeRozan, Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors: Much like Wall, DeRozan was a highly regarded pick in 2009, as the ninth overall pick by the Raptors. Once Chris Bosh left via free agency after his rookie season, a lot of the responsibility to make up for his production fell upon DeRozan.

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty

Armed with little more than supreme athleticism, DeRozan failed to make up for the production of Bosh. It did not help that Andrea Bargnani didn’t live up to his expectations, but DeRozan received just as much blame as well. So, the Raptors decided to take on Rudy Gay last time to help take some pressure off of DeRozan.

But, like in Memphis, Gay did not produce as much as the Raptors had hoped and they moved him to the Sacramento Kings. The onus once again fell upon DeRozan, and this time he took it in stride and ran with it.

DeRozan put up career highs across the board in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, three point shooting percentage free throw makes. DeRozan has become a respectable shooter, making his elite athleticism that much more potent. The increase in production has led to DeRozan being able to get to the rim more, resulting in his franchise record free throw performance this season.

The Raptors are not expected to go anywhere in the playoffs this season, as many people expect the lower seeded Brooklyn Nets to take them down. DeRozan will have much to say about that, as he will look to lead the Raptors to their first playoff wins since the 2007-2008 season.

Paul Millsap, Power Forward, Atlanta Hawks: If there is going to be a major upset in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, there probably isn’t a team riper for the picking than the Indiana Pacers. If the Pacers are going to be picked off, Millsap is the man to be leading the charge.

USATSI

Millsap, much like his former running mate Jefferson, was a signing that was met with much criticism. The former power forward/center combo for the Jazz never carried the team in the way many people thought that they would, but as solo players both have began to pick up steam.

Millsap put up respectable stats for the Hawks this season, averaging a career high 17.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. He has also added the three point shot to his game, making 76 this season, compared to 31 the prior seven season with the Jazz. The stats are even more impressive when you factor in that his front court mate, Al Horford, played in only 29 games this season.

The Hawks are being disregarded by almost every basketball person in the world, but they have actually had success against the Pacers this season, splitting the season series. Surprisingly, Millsap was pretty quite offensively in all four games, scoring seven or less points in three of them. Where he made his mark was on the glass, where he grabbed double-digit rebounds twice.

The odds are long that the Hawks will pull the upset, but they will be giving the Pacers everything they have. They are the ultimate underdog and have proven they are not afraid of the Pacers. If they are to put a scare into the Pacers, Millsap will be the man leading the way.

Paul George, Small Forward, Indiana Pacers: George came into this season with massive expectations. After showing out against the eventual champion Miami Heat and the best player in the world in LeBron James, George was on the path to stardom. It may have been a little early do so, as George’s production cratered once the going got tough for the Pacers this season.

Mary Schwalm/AP Photo

The Pacers began losing, and George failed at being the leader he was appointed to being. Things got rocky, as locker room talk began leaking into the media, making things more awkward. The end result was the Pacers playing uneven basketball, and people beginning to not believe in them.

George himself dealt with some off-court distractions, and it seemed to affect his play on the court. His shooting percentage plummeted throughout the season, dropping every month from November through March. He ended the season shooting 42.4 percent from the field, a number far to low for a player as athletically gifted as George, as he attempted 469 shots from 10 feet-<3 point line this season and only 283 shots at the rim.

People have begun to turn on George fast, but he still has some silver linings in his stats. The shot ratio was poor, but George still managed to make and take the most free throws in a season in his young career. So while the superstar talk may have been a bit premature, the fact people are jumping off his bandwagon this quickly is a bit surprising. George still has talent, and there is no better place to showcase that than here. It would go a long way for George and the Pacers to blow the Hawks out of the water to get confidence back as they go deeper in the postseason and face better opponents.

Read More

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards March 15th, 2014

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 15^th, 2014

W2W4: Brooklyn Nets vs Washington Wizards

The Brooklyn Nets will be heading to Washington to face the Wizards on Saturday night, as the Nets are riding a hot streak after beating the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat this week so far. The Nets are now (34-30) on the season, which is 3.5 games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Match-Up of the Game: John Wall vs Deron Williams

Easily the most fun match-up to watch in this game will be the Point Guard one, as it will feature two very good ones in John Wall and Deron Williams. Wall is having a great season for the Wizards, as with his great play he was well deserving of his All-Star Game selection this season. In the two Wizards victories over the Nets this season, Wall has averaged a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists per game to go along with five rebounds and 2.5 steals, as he has been great. Williams is coming off a down game against the Heat, but did hit a clutch shot late, so he will look to carry that big moments momentum into a solid game against the Wizards. This season Wall has outplayed Williams by a considerable amount, as Williams is just averaging 14 points and 6.4 assists per game.

barclayscenter.com

- Defense, Love It!

The main reason for the Nets winning seven of their last eight games has been their great defense, which has held opponents to under 100 points in each of those eight games. While the Nets are playing great defense now, in their two losses to Washington have given up 112.5 points per game. The last game against the Wizards was in December however when the Nets were not playing good basketball and are a completely different team from then.

- Still Banged Up

For what will be the eighth straight game the Nets will be without Center Kevin Garnett, who is still being bothered by back spasms, so yet again it will be Mason Plumlee in the starting lineup. Andrei Kirilenko seems a lot closer to coming back than Garnett, as he is listed as a game-time decision, and practiced in Miami on Friday.

- No Rest

Washington will be playing the second half of a back to back on Saturday night, as on Friday the Wizards played an overtime game against the Magic in Orlando that they won 105-101. Lots of teams struggle on zero days rest, but the Wizards have actually been pretty good with a 8-7 record, as their youth certainly helps them bounce back quickly.  

Read More