The amazing thing is IT literally lost a tooth and barely complained. Oubre acted like it was the cheap shot of the century. From the few times I've watched the play, there seemed to be no intent from KO. He literally is a horse on skates.
I think it was the fact that KO hit him high on two screens in something like 3 possessions that sent Oubre off. I thought at the time the first screen was less legal than the second one, which is why I wasn't surprised that KO got called for the second one.Also, on a prior possession, Wall caught him with an elbow, which he might have thought was from Olynyk.
Do basketball players (I never played more than pickup) generally set their arms where they expect a player's chest to be on screens, for maximum leverage? I wonder if it's one of those things where KO expected the Wizards to call out the screen, and Oubre to straighten up. When they didn't, Oubre plowed into him with his head/neck at arm level. So it looks cheap to the casual observer when really, KO is just doing what years of experience have taught him to do based on how he expects the play to unfold, and when Washington fucks up he ends up looking like the bad guy.It wasn't the screen that was hard....it was that Olynyk's forearm was up around HIS shoulder and head area of Oubre. Per the rule a screen cannot cause undue contact. I'm guessing the officials interpretation of contact above the shoulder/neck area of Oubre justifies the personal foul.
I wouldn't call it a cheap shot as I don't believe there was any intent to injure. Olynyk can get away with that play if he was set OR if he kept his forearm below his own shoulder. In this case, Olynyk was moving AND had his forearm high. Officiating isn't an exact science especially at this level with the speed of the game and technique matters when it comes to avoiding fouls. It was simply a poorly executed screen no matter how you slice it. Not dirty though imo.Do basketball players (I never played more than pickup) generally set their arms where they expect a player's chest to be on screens, for maximum leverage? I wonder if it's one of those things where KO expected the Wizards to call out the screen, and Oubre to straighten up. When they didn't, Oubre plowed into him with his head/neck at arm level. So it looks cheap to the casual observer when really, KO is just doing what years of experience have taught him to do based on how he expects the play to unfold, and when Washington fucks up he ends up looking like the bad guy.
Then finished the quarter on a 24-12 run.Definition of insanity is to do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. Down 8-0 early.
So much for coaching prodigy. Don't want to hear that crap anymore.
Never mind - not worth piling on as I am sure you see how foolish that looked in retrospect.Definition of insanity is to do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. Down 8-0 early.
So much for coaching prodigy. Don't want to hear that crap anymore.
I think game 5 at home is just about a must win for them. If they win it in convincing fashion (not a blowout, which I don't see happening, but just a game where they play consistently well throughout and don't give up a huge run), then a game 7 win seems like a possibility for them. If they drop it, it doesn't get back to Boston.I'm increasingly thinking Wizards will win this series 4-3, or even 4-2, if Boston has some bad breaks in their next home game. I thought that after the Celts were up 2-0, but it sounded too pessimistic at the time to post. The Wizards have been dominant at home over the Celtics all season long, and nothing's really changed in the playoffs. The Wizards meanwhile can play the C's close enough in Boston to take one of those two games. Last night's game was a mess, with those dumb behind-the-back passes by Smart and Thomas bouncing off Wizards players, like outtakes from a Globetrotters' tryout. Still, when John Wall comes out ice cold, and the Wizards are turning over the ball a lot, and the Celtics are hitting threes, and the best they can manage is a tie at halftime ... I don't think that bodes well.
Yes, both of these. Unless Rozier ends up being a piece (not a throw in) in a deal, I think that at the very least one of Bradley or Smart will be gone.On the bright side, as a fan, I think two positive takeaways from the series will be: (1) The emergence of Terry Rozier. Love watching this guy on the court; he's electric. Glad he didn't get moved in a trade as a minor piece. (2) Danny's getting a really good look at the Celtics' weaknesses against top competition. The off season should be interesting.
This is righ ton the nose. And it gives me hope for game 5. They should be able to tighten up and not turn the all over.Biggest adjustment for the next game is... they need to not turn the ball over. Marcus obviously was the culprit two games ago.
It has been mentioned before ut either guy was markedly better from 3 they would be on another strata and maybe you can't afford both.I didn't read the game thread so this may not be contributing anything new here, but yesterday Crowder's and Bradley's inability to hit open shots was a huge problem. I've seldom seen both of them hit as many bricks as they hit yesterday. Unless someone not named IT can shoot, it's a lost cause.
This was one of the opponents where having home court was a tremendous advantage due to the Wizards struggles on the road both during the regular season and in Atlanta during the first round. One way to view this series is that no matter what happens in DC the Wizards have to win a game in Boston to win the series.C's were fortunate to be up 2-0. Wiz could have won one or both of those games while you can't say the same for the C's abot games 3-4. So yeha game 5 is a must win
The Wizards have real good ball movement and Wall's ability to break down the defense to force rotations/switches have a huge impact in allowing them to get to the rim as it places us out of rebounding position much like when Rondo played in those first two games. You are likely correct that this will continue to be an issue as long as Wall is on the floor.Of course, we also got killed on second-chance points, but that problem probably just isn't fixable.
I think a Wizards fan could have written this exact same post on the Sons of Jeff Bullard on May 3.This team needs the home crowd boost in the worst way. I'm disappointed with how the past 2 games went but I'm confident we're going to see a much more energized team on Wednesday. And if we don't, then the season will be over on Friday.
Yup - brings back bad memories from my HS playing career. Runs happen all of the time in the NBA but those multiple goose egg 15+ runs are pretty rare for a top team. I know we're not a "real" #1 seed but come on already.I think a Wizards fan could have written this exact same post on the Sons of Jeff Bullard on May 3.
The thing that I can never remember seeing anywhere is the extreme runs that Boston has let Washington have. 10-2, 12-4, 18-6 -- those are the kind of big runs I would expect. But 16-0, 23-0, etc -- yikes.
It's hard to even get too riled up about these types of offensive boards. Generally, you're not keeping Wall out of the paint, so the big has done a good job if A) Wall doesn't hit a layup and B) hasn't been able to find the cutting big for an easy bucket. At that point you're relying on either Wall's small defender to recover and help rebound (over Gortat) or whoever is covering Porter way out in the corner to rotate down quickly to help out, or a fortuitous bounce to the big who helped on Wall in the first place and forced the miss. The C's are undersized and under-athletic in most lineups so it's tough.The Wizards have real good ball movement and Wall's ability to break down the defense to force rotations/switches have a huge impact in allowing them to get to the rim as it places us out of rebounding position much like when Rondo played in those first two games. You are likely correct that this will continue to be an issue as long as Wall is on the floor.
"Shit. Who am I gonna call now for kicking-people-in-the-balls lessons?""He’s dirty. Dirty player, man. I don’t respect guys like that," Green said. "I mean, I know he’s not like the greatest basketball player of all time, so maybe you feel like you got to like do that, but you don’t like — just dirty. Like I don’t respect that man, he dirty.” Draymond Green on KO
I simply hope both collapse in spectacular fashion. They are the enemy, period.As for rooting interests. I hope the Warriors win if they play the Cavs, just so I can watch Lebron fanboys talk about how unfair it is to put together a super-team.
Until then cheer against both.
I'm not sure this is the case. IT got plenty of questionable calls in the CHI series and earlier in this WAS series. He has gone to the line double digit times in 6 out of 10 playoff games. He averaged more FT attempts per game in the CHI series than he did during the regular season (and this includes his zero attmepts in game 3).One of the things that's pretty obvious (and this is no revelation, as it's been true for years) is that you simply don't get the ticky-tack foul calls in the playoffs that you do in the regular season.
Part of the reason he was out of control was he was grabbed or bumped on almost every play... with almost 0 calls. Whoever is saying ticky tack calls aren't made in the playoffs was not watching Wall go to the basket the past two games.I'm not sure this is the case. IT got plenty of questionable calls in the CHI series and earlier in this WAS series. He has gone to the line double digit times in 6 out of 10 playoff games. He averaged more FT attempts per game in the CHI series than he did during the regular season (and this includes his zero attmepts in game 3).
From my view, he was just ridiculously out of control and made many, many bad decisions with the ball in game 4. Sure, he may have gotten whacked a few times, but his own play was much more of a factor than any non-calls by the officials.
Agreed 100% on this. When you are playing out of control the officials recognize this and you rarely get the benefit of the 50/50 call (which is what many calls are anyway)......unless you're Hayward on that corner fallaway against the shot clock last night when Curry got whistled for a foul. The best at getting to the line are always in control of their body and how to create contact off the angles they generate.....LeBron, Wade, Pierce, DeRozan, Dirk, Carmelo, Ginobili, Iso Joe, etcI'm not sure this is the case. IT got plenty of questionable calls in the CHI series and earlier in this WAS series. He has gone to the line double digit times in 6 out of 10 playoff games. He averaged more FT attempts per game in the CHI series than he did during the regular season (and this includes his zero attmepts in game 3).
From my view, he was just ridiculously out of control and made many, many bad decisions with the ball in game 4. Sure, he may have gotten whacked a few times, but his own play was much more of a factor than any non-calls by the officials.
Well if decent is digging an 8-0 hole in the first 3 minutes.....sadly this was our best start of the series with Green/Amir being targeted from tipoff. The rookie on the road thing is overplayed imo. We wouldn't have been asking a lot out of Jaylen to where there is pressure on him. There was MUCH more pressure on Dejounte Murray in his two starts on the road in Houston as the PG with Patrick Beverly in his face for 94 feet yet he performed admirably when Popovich placed his trust in him and not asking him to do anything more than stay within himself.Brad has to change the starting lineup for Wednesday right? I know the start was decent in game four, but you could easily look at the start of the third quarter and the same unit was a disaster. It's clear Amir is not the answer, his lack of athleticism seems to stand out against the Wiz, and he is a total zero on offense.
I would like to roll the dice on Jaylen Brown's length and athleticism - let's just see what it looks like with the starters. Can it really be any worse than what has been put out there thus far? I understand not playing that card on the road - that might be too much to ask. But at home, I think it's a worthwhile gamble that some energy plays early on might go a long way.
My fear is that they will go with Jerebko instead. That is what they did last year in a kind of similar spot.
Is there really any discussion other than Green talk?.Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @WojVerticalNBA
For all the new discussion about @KellyOlynyk's NBA character, here's his history: Career technicals (3), flagrants (0), ejections (0).
Not that it matters but NBA Twitter has been discussing it since the Kelly vs Kelly happened.
Brown has looked bad on defending ball screen's in his few garbage time assignments. I doubt I spotted the reason, but there must be a some reason they think he has more to learn to be ready to get thrown not the playoff fire. I expect it is something defensive, since they can put up with him on O.I would like to roll the dice on Jaylen Brown's length and athleticism - let's just see what it looks like with the starters. Can it really be any worse than what has been put out there thus far? I understand not playing that card on the road - that might be too much to ask. But at home, I think it's a worthwhile gamble that some energy plays early on might go a long way.
pot.
If being at the Garden is a spark, this news is a wet log.Brad announces no changes to the starting lineup for Game 5. We need more Amir like we need more cowbell.
At this point I'm done whining about it but he better have a quick hook. This team needs a fast start.Brad announces no changes to the starting lineup for Game 5. We need more Amir like we need more cowbell.
Actually how they start is largely irrelevant aside from our nerves. All we should care about is that they finish with more points than Washington when the game ends.At this point I'm done whining about it but he better have a quick hook. This team needs a fast start.