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Welcome back to another episode of All Wizards Talk Podcast on the All Sports Talk Network.
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I'm one of your cohosts, Bryce Nakens, strong alongside, as always, by Josh Valdez, Henry Brown.
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Feels like it's been a while since we've been together, guys.
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All three of us, it's been a while.
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Yeah, it's been a little bit.
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Can we think of the last time when it was all three of us?
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Uh it was before opening night because that's when Henry and I did ours.
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Wait, is that the first preseason game?
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I feel like it was.
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So almost like two and a half weeks ago, three weeks.
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We've been doing like these two-man things.
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We haven't done the three-man weave in a while.
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And so much has happened.
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So much so much has happened since the preseason already.
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It has.
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It has.
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And a lot of thoughts going on.
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But your Washington Wizards are two and two.
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Um, sin.
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They've been saying in that 500 range, win one, lose one.
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Win one, lose one.
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Um yeah, it's nice to see them actually start winning some games early on in the season, though.
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I will say that it's nice.
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And it's not like they're getting blown out anymore as well.
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Right.
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Uh lost to a good Raptors team by 10.
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Um, and we had we didn't talk about that.
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We weren't around for that.
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That's impressive to see.
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Back-to-back night, a game that you could easily lose, lose, you know, win win against the Bulls, although they are the Chicago Bulls.
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Um, and they do they're in a development sp uh stage for a lot of their young guys.
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Then you have tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, where I am, you know, I I had a lot of thoughts on this game.
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Uh I was gonna say which game which game frustrated you more, Bryson?
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Because I know the Bulls game was really getting no, I don't care.
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This one really frustrated me because there were a lot of stuff that they could have actually done better in this game that is controllable.
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And I mentioned it on this pre uh pre- and post-game show
Load full transcript
I do now that the effort is something you can control.
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The hustle is something you can control.
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There was no effort trying to get offensive and defensive boards tonight.
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They're just how the O boards they gave up to the Hornets?
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Was it 15?
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What was it?
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They gave up 20.
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Oh my god!
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They gave up 20 offensive boards.
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Because it was over half of them were from Musa Diabate.
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He had 11.
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Diabate had 11.
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Oh my god!
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11 by himself, so that's more than the other.
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The Wiz had 10 offensive boards as a team, and Diabate had 11 himself.
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That's just bad.
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That's just bad.
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Actually, like the opponents are not that big of a team.
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And the Wizards, like, what did Dawkins say?
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They're like the longest team in the league or the second.
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A third of the rotation is seven feet tall.
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And just if we can dive into it, I mean, they've how many times have we heard them say that defense is about effort and that it's about mindset?
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So, how do you explain?
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The defense, the defense effort is there.
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They're actually playing really good defense.
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But but that's not just like if it's about effort, then it's just not in the right place or it's not being diluted properly.
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And that's the kind of thing that you can attribute to, like, you know, how prepared are they are they for these games?
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To me, yeah.
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I mean, it's like no, because it to me, it's like it's not even like this complex preparation of like box out.
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You know, I don't understand, like, you know, it's not like this thing where it's this like you gotta drop a crazy scheme so you can like box out and get a defensive rebound.
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Like, I don't understand, especially when they you have the height that they have.
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I mean, you're you're playing a too big lineup.
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I don't understand how this even happens.
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Champagne goes down early in the game, and that's it.
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They can't get aboard.
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Like, I I never have seen, I was just saying um off camera, I've never seen a wing go down and then the rebounder just evaporates.
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Champagne had to love this.
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I I've been watching basketball for like, I don't know, like 17 years now or something.
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First time I've ever seen that.
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It's not like Champagne's like a really big wing either.
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He's not a Will Riley where he's 6'10.
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He's like 6'6, right?
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Like, yeah, and he he's I he might be leading the team in rebounds.
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That checks out.
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He had 14 in the game against Chicago.
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You oh my god, yeah.
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That's probably the way you are Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis, you should not be getting out rebounded by Justin Champagne.
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Like, just you guys are both seven foot tall, right?
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You are the big men down low.
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Like that, like I'm like, you should feel like some sort of pride as big man of getting the board, but you're letting 6'6 Justin Champagne outshine you there.
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And not to say Champagne's bad.
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I I used to be low on him when I got on the B, and I'll admit now I was wrong about my opinions on him.
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He is the most impactful player on this team right now.
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It's a shame he got hurt.
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I I will admit that.
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I was very wrong, right?
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But like Alex Sarr, you should not be averaging 6.5 rebounds to start the season.
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Oh, he's had a weird season.
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I wish I prepared for this.
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You know how on Letterman they used to do like the top 10 blank whatever?
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I feel like I should have done like top 10 wizards things this week that's stuck in Bryson's craw because last time we released a podcast, I believe there was the Raptors loss, the Bulls win that I know you hated, and this loss.
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And I'm really wondering how high the rebounding from tonight would be on the individual moments from a game or individual trends you've seen that this is.
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This is one of the most like, and I had to take like real moments like breathe and calm down coming into this.
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Or games, or not even a week.
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This was like the most like pissed off and angriest I've ever been watching a game.
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And then that's including like my time in the past two years of you know, like being locked in on the Wizards as like, oh, I'm really liking this team.
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I really like what they're building.
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I love Will Dawkins, the front office that they have.
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Like, like this pissed me off more than the BAM 83-point game.
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Because a lot of like sad.
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Like it was, yeah, that game was just sad, and it was like, hey, we're like, you know, like we all knew what was going on.
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You know, Bub Bub said it in you know, media day stuff, you know, like we knew what was going on, right?
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Like, you know, we like you're gonna have moments like that.
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Now, hopefully, you don't have a moment where you give up multiple 83-point games.
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No, that was like a caricature basketball game.
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That was like barely, that was a spectacle.
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But like I said, rebounding, like, majority of it is just effort and like you know, hustling.
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That's majority of rebounding, being physical, not being scared.
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And that's why I was so annoyed with this game.
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It's like, like we we talked about it, and Henry, you mentioned it to us before when you're like you're at the practices of media day.
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Uh, we talked about it like a month and a half ago.
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You mentioned that Alex Tarr, he does look like he's put on some muscle.
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He looks like he gained some you know real strength to him, but it isn't showing at all on the court besides maybe his on-ball screens, and that's really it.
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And even then, there's times I think it's like, is he really that much better of a screener this year?
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I mean, if we're if we're gonna dive into some individual performances, I'm glad we're talking about Saar first because he's someone who I think has had maybe the toughest hand dealt to him so far of anyone, in terms of throwing him out there and saying, like, we're gonna have to figure out on the fly because they wouldn't say what his role was before the season started.
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Um, I asked Saar, I asked Keith, and they wouldn't, like last season they were quite open.
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They were saying, you know, we're getting rid of the the the fadeaway jumpers, we're getting rid of the high three-point rate, we're gonna go to the rim, where I'm most efficient.
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They were pretty, pretty uh vocal about that.
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And this year they're not really being quite as expressive on that front.
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And I'm wondering if it's just because they hadn't figured it out yet.
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Because you look at when he's out there with AD or Aiden, and when Ayton's there, they have everyone else go to the perimeter.
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Like who, if he's with AD or if he's with SAR, they're just hanging out in the corner or they're just having the ball at the top of the key.
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Um, and Sarge ends up spending a lot of time outside, and it's hard to be impactful.
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And he's found he's found some success as this sort of cutting, passing, using his field.
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They've leveraged his field pretty well that he he understands the moment.
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He understands when to work off with someone else and cut to the basket, he understands when to do those little dump offs to 80 in the in the in the paint, point blank alley oops.
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He's had a few of those this season, but it it's felt like they don't really know how to best utilize him.
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And I think this is a game where it's easy to fall through the cracks if you don't have this clearly designated role.
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It's like, yeah, getting rebounds would be great as seven footer, but I just don't think they're really a hundred percent how to utilize him yet.
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Part of it is I think he's never played double big in his time with the Wizards either.
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It's because they've never had multiple bigs.
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It's been it was Alan Chunis for like the first 30 games, and that's really it.
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Yeah, and then you know, like Marvin Bagley, but he didn't start and they rarely played alongside each other.
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The occasional Vuksevich minutes as well, but like they didn't play alongside each other either, really.
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Where it's like he's never been in a double big situation, so I still think it's a learning process, but even then, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be boxing out guys on the defensive end.
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If you guys understand what I'm saying, that that's the thing.
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It's like, yeah, I understand if he's like a little bit more passive on offense than given that AD is right next to him, like doing taking so many shots.
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That's one thing, but just like getting boards as a seven-footer, I don't understand.
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Like, that shouldn't AD shouldn't affect that.
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Like no, you know what I mean?
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It doesn't make any sense.
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Like, and I'd put Sartre's effort this season up there with anyone.
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I think in transition, he's been like one of the guys hustling more than almost anyone.
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He's been super helpful when Trent has the ball just getting downhill and finishing and just being in the right place.
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So I don't know.
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Maybe this is I think we just got to see.
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I wanna I want like I want I just want to like make it clear.
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When I say effort, I don't mean like general buy into the game.
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I'm specifically talking about like effort to like put your body on someone to like generate more defensive rebounds.
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Like that's the effort I'm looking for.
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It looks like, and to me, it almost looks like he's scared of getting injured again.
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I was gonna I was gonna mention that he's still coming off the foot injury.
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I I'm I I feel like there might be because it he just he did look a lot more aggressive last season.
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Yeah, and you know, that he doesn't look as entirely aggressive as he was.
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And I get that he's still working back up, but it's like with this kind of rebounding issues, it's just like geez, you know.
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There's uncertainty there.
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There's a great point about the injury, is that it might be playing a role.
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It's why he looks a bit uncertain sometimes, it's why he doesn't have the ball as much.
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He his usage rate this season is like 13%.
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That's nothing.
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And he's still averaging like the highest assist rate of his career so far, just because he's at least knows what to do with the ball when he gets the ball, not that it's that often.
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So I it's we're four games in.
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This is this is such an important point not to freak out, because they've given us a lot of reasons to be unsure of the long-term product they've built.
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Granted, you know, we're still figuring out how everyone fits, still haven't seen AJ yet.
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There's still a ton of moving parts that have to be calibrated, but you you do have to point out when when when some players just aren't really in the position to succeed right now.
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Yeah, and not it's also like um, yeah, and I get that like there's there's four games in, they're trying to figure out like Alex, you know, coming off the injury, yada yada.
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I just think like we're talking at the game at its most base level, right?
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Just like boxing out.
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That that I'm just kind of stuck on that because it's like we can talk about all these things, like, yeah, there's like adjustments, this season's a lot different, yada yada.
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But how do you explain just getting killed by Diabate like that over and over again?
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You know, it's just it's just kind of weird.
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Like I just I just think they just gotta be more intense on the boards.
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That's all it that's all it is.
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It doesn't matter your roster makeup or or your new scheme or whatever.
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That's more, I think, you know, that's that's other things.
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I think everyone boxes out.
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It doesn't matter what you're doing, yeah.
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Like, yeah.
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So no, like it's and like I said, uh a lot of it is, you know, I look at him playing, and part of me is thinking to myself, is like he looks a little scared trying to play out there.
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And I don't know if it's partially like you know, the injury he's worried about getting injured again.
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Like, I don't know if that's what the case is, but if even if it is, like you just can't play scared at all, you know, when you're playing this sport, because then like even as like let's say you start going 50% for some reason, those are how injuries happen a lot of the time.
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It's because like you take a play off and then you're trying to make a quick explosive play, but you're not paying attention, then boom, something pops, something snaps, right?
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It's just you need to give 100% on every end and just not be scared about anything.
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I like that's my thing when I watch.
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Like it's and to me, when I watch him, and I don't know what the case is, like I said, he just looks very timid.
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He looks very scared.
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It looks like he's second guessing out there, and that's just not gonna help anyone out.
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I'm gonna try to just give grace.
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I mean, there's just so much they're trying to do at once right now.
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Like this, this they don't know what they are.
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Like, we still don't really know what this team's identity is on either end, which is funny because you look at the defense, and we talked a few times just about how this team is just has length everywhere, and yet they're just I feel like they're just not in a place to succeed.
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But that was always the point with this team.
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That was our job, was we have tried all summer to sort of slow the brakes on how exciting it can be, even though we're talking about win counts, we're talking about them winning 40 plus games, but it was always gonna be a process.
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So we're we're seeing how how the sausage gets made.
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You know, you're gonna need to have games like this where they they learn, all
right, if we're playing Musidi Bate, which they do eight times a year because there's 10 Hornets games for the Wizards every year.
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You know you're gonna have to get ready to box out.
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You know, you're gonna have to rebound.
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You've got to show up for this game.
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You're fully healthy on the front court.
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They weren't, um, and they just they just got sort of punked in Charlotte.
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So you got it right now.
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Then we got a Friday.
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Yeah, just speaking on the rebounds, like right now, they rank 19th in the NBA in total rebounds, but they rank 10th in defensive rebounds, where it's like, you know, defensively, like they do, but they could be generating a lot more, like we saw tonight, where they had like, you know, 30 defense, like 35 defensive rebounds, which is where they sit, you know, on average at the moment.
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But they could be generating so many more because they do give up a ton of offensive rebounds.
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It was even in that bulls game we noticed it, where like they gave up a ton of offensive rebounds, and that's why the Bulls were able to get back in it late in the game, was because they were just giving up a ton.
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And they also have to become better offensive rebounds themselves as well.
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They're only averaging nine offensive boards a game, and so like the rebounding is a key issue, right?
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We saw tonight the offense sometimes isn't going to be on, but they are a good enough defensive team now where you don't need them to shoot 40% from three and 55% from the field to win games now.
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You don't need them to generate 30 free throws to win games now.
00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:52.720
They're that good defensively where they can get 110 points and still pull off a win because that defense, it doesn't matter though, if they don't rebound as well as we know they can.
00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:55.600
Like Keyshawn George tonight, he only had four rebounds.
00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:59.519
We expect Keyshawn George to be able to give you six to eight rebounds a night.
00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.799
We expect that.
00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:03.440
He also didn't crash the glass all too well.
00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.039
So just a few guys like that.
00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.200
And like here's the thing that really surprised me.
00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:11.279
All right, and this is the last thing I like want to say on Alexar, because we do have more guys to talk about.
00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.080
Trey Young had the same amount of rebounds as him tonight.
00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:19.919
That should like six two Trey Young should not be getting the same amount of boards as
you.
00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:23.279
Yeah, no, that's that's that's crazy.
00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:24.000
It's crazy.
00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:26.960
I mean, it it just shows you that something obviously is wrong there.
00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:33.039
Like, you know, whether whether it's the foot, whether he's just you know not sure about being in the new system or whatever.
00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.159
Um, yeah, but that obviously can't continue.
00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:38.320
That's like the most obvious thing in the world.
00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:43.440
You know, he's like SARS like what like 10 10 inches taller than Jordan.
00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.360
So, you know, that's yeah, that's that's not gonna fly, obviously.
00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:54.480
But yeah, I I do think part of it probably is um just in general, just getting used to playing next to another big, like you were saying, Bryson.
00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:01.279
Like, obviously, I think A D is taking up a lot of you know time on you know on offense.
00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:05.440
And I think you know, it's it probably does affect Alex somewhat just because it how would it not?
00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:12.720
You know, he's like a young player, he's he's used to being one of the main focal points, and then all of a sudden, like this other big comes in and is you know taking up most of the oxygen.
00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:17.600
So if you think I can see how that would take him out a little bit, but you you just you still gotta box out, you know what I mean?
00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:25.600
If if you think about how like the offense is geared of who's prioritized with the ball in their hands right now, he's like number seven on the list of cores we're gonna look out for.
00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:28.000
Like, there's just a lot he's doing with right now as far as fit goes, sorry.
00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.919
Which is which is a lot different than last season.
00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.120
Yes, exactly.
00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:35.440
When he was like the main guy outside of like the older fellas like CJ and Middleton.
00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.480
Um that's what I mean.
00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:40.159
Like I like I'm I'm fine with him getting 12 points for six shooting.
00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:43.279
Like that's fine, but it's the it's the rebounds.
00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:48.480
Like, I like I don't I I don't like I'm I'm I'm still not convinced that one has to do with the other entirely, you know what I mean?
00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.039
Exactly.
00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:49.840
Makes sense.
00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:56.960
I'm glad you mentioned the Bulls game, by the way, because the Bulls were a weird matchup on paper because they do some things, even though they're not supposed to be very good.
00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:04.480
Um they do some things the Wizards don't, where they are really good on the boards, and you wouldn't know it by their percentages, but they shoot a lot of threes.
00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.360
And the Wizards just haven't really done that so far.
00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.120
Like, have they had any games shooting more than three?
00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.039
I have that pulled up right now.
00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:16.320
They're taking 31 threes a game, but they're shooting 29% from three.
00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:20.960
And like part of this is like some guys have not had a good start to shooting three ball at all.
00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:25.600
Like Keyshawn George, he went two of 15, I think, in his first three games from three.
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.639
And we know Keyshawn George is a much better three-point shooter than that.
00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.679
We saw that last year, right?
00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:34.799
Trey Johnson and I, it took him until a minute 30 left in the fourth quarter to make his first three of the game.
00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.320
Oof, he's gonna have tough games.
00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.799
Um, like it's like and that yeah, that's going to happen.
00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:48.399
Like I mentioned, you know, like the team is good enough defensively now where you don't need these, you know, insane offensive games from everyone, even though there are good offensive players on the team.
00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:55.519
It's just in this era of the NBA, you can't take less than 33s a game and think like you're gonna be able to hang in there.
00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:02.879
They made nine of them, but I mean, every team is you know sitting around, you know, at least 38 threes a game.
00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:07.359
You know, I wonder how it's gonna change when AJ's back because he's not exactly a high three-point volume.
00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:19.039
But if you think about it, like, even though you think of Trey as this guy shoots a ton of threes, even though we know that he's not as efficient as we once thought he was gonna be, most of the main offensive options are not creating threes.
00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:25.599
Like AD is not there to shoot threes, he's there to just do pick and roll off of Trey Young and maybe some bag work from 20 feet out.
00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:31.519
Trey Young is there to maybe he'll create a three, but he's also there to, as we said, create some pick and roll, keep the ball moving.
00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:35.279
Um, Keyshawn is perfectly happy to drive.
00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:39.599
So most of their top options aren't three-point first kind of guys.
00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.160
You know what I'm saying?
00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:42.480
Like Trey Young is there to pass, not just shoot.
00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:46.079
So this might be the sort of thing that nags them the whole year as far as volume goes.
00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:56.079
It's just a matter of how the bench guys, who we've pointed out, have had really good impact numbers so far, how they do, and what kind of percentage they can keep on a lower than the Celtics kind of volume.
00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:01.279
They're not
shooting 53s a game, but if you can hit like 35% of them, then you will happily that that's fantastic.
00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.599
Yeah, and you know it's pretty good for a whole team.
00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.519
35%, that's actually really good now that I say that.
00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:09.200
Yeah, that's that's what I was saying, where it's like, and I'll let you go in just a second.
00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:14.559
Like, my only thing is like, you know, if you don't want to take a lot of threes, that's fine, but you can't be taking, you know, like 31 a game.
00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:16.079
Like you can't hit it with that.
00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:24.400
Yeah, you can't expect to, you know, take 31 a game and you know only knock down eight of them or seven of them and think, yeah, we have a chance to win this.
00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:39.119
Yeah, no, but also it's a good point, Henry, about like with AJ, you know, I mean, that's why I with the offense, I don't even want to fully like judge anything yet, just because like obviously a lot of it's a lot of it's been the trade and uh trade and ad show.
00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:44.000
But when AJ comes back, if he's not, I don't think AJ is gonna take like six shots in a game.
00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.559
You know what I mean?
00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:46.160
I think he's gonna get his shots up.
00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:49.839
Yeah, and you know, that's obviously gonna change the change the dynamic there too.
00:18:50.079 --> 00:19:04.559
So I feel like what we're watching right now is sort of just like this is just really like them kind of seeing how things are, but just with without one of their main guns, where it's like, you know, I I feel like it's like you were saying, it's too early, and we don't even have one of the main guys.
00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:10.480
So them not shooting a lot of threes, maybe AJ drives and like you know, sprays out and they get more threes that way.
00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:14.880
Maybe maybe the more paint touches are gonna generate more outside looks of a classic offense.
00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:15.920
And so I think that's it.
00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.880
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.
00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.960
I'm that's a good point to bring up.
00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:28.559
Yeah, because it's like you know, they have guys who can shoot, like you said, like Keyshawn and Bub, like they've proven they can shoot threes, but it's like they need to like consistently generate the looks.
00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:33.839
Right now, it's just like A B and Trey taking a lot of shots and they're not really generating anything for other guys.
00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.240
So it's also just an IQ thing, it's a feel thing.
00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:42.160
Like there's times where like Balal gets the ball with two seconds left and he drives, and it's like ah, you really should have done something a little different there.
00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:46.160
Or uh I don't like and I don't want to blame like Bilal completely on those situations.
00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.680
No, that was just an instincts I thought of.
00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.880
Yeah, no, I I get that.
00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:54.960
There are also a lot of times where like I'm watching here, we see a lot of isolation ball for Anthony Davis.
00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:57.359
And yes, that is a fantastic point you make.
00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.799
I don't like that at all.
00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:13.759
I think, and uh that is a key thing where like he needs to have this team run more set plays, especially when you have good catch and shoot guys like Trey Johnson, Bub Carrington, Trey Young, even though he hasn't taken a thousand catch and shoot threes in his career.
00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:21.279
He is a like, I remember the stat, but he's above 40% catch and shoot three-point shooter, where it's like you have the catch and shoot guys that can make it.
00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:35.119
Why not run set plays to potentially set them up instead of going isolation ball where Anthony Davis takes off 16 seconds on the shot clock and either takes a bad shot with four seconds left or tries to pass it out and then they get in, you know, even worse lookup.
00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:37.759
Like, I just I'm not I'm not a fan of that whatsoever.
00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:41.519
And I think like that is something that has to stop going forward.
00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:45.200
Um I'm fine with isolation like every now and then.
00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.359
It can't be something you do four plays in a row.
00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:49.039
Yeah, you need to throw off a defense sometimes.
00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:53.119
We have to talk about this because it's one thing to have these like no one's involved.
00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.279
It's just four guys looking around standing there.
00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:00.880
And it's just if you think if you close your eyes right now and you think of the best plays the Wizards have to run, thank you, Brest.
00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:06.559
And it you're probably not imagining an AD uh uh face up from 20 feet out where he's just doing it.
00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:11.200
Right now I'm right now I'm seeing a Trey taking it down.
00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.000
That too.
00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.799
Um Champagne crashing on offensive board, no.
00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:21.680
Um I'm seeing Trey Young taking it down, and I'm seeing Anthony Davis, Alex Tsar setting screens on one side of each other.
00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:28.960
Um Trey Young is going to use Alex Tsar's screen, boom, star's gonna roll, AD's gonna pop out to the mid-range.
00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:38.240
Uh with AD and popping out to the mid-range, it's going to open up an opportunity for Keyshawn George to come off there, potentially get an off-ball screen and get a wide open look.
00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:44.559
You have Alex Sarr in the lob, Trey Young on the drive, AD mid range, Keyshawn on the three, and you have
Bilal just in case you need help.
00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.279
You're describing an action with four guys and they're moving.
00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.480
That just doesn't happen right now.
00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:51.279
We're talking about a bunch of guys just watching one guy dribble.
00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:54.640
They're all spaced out, which is cool, but the space is only good if you do anything with it.
00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:59.759
And I think we are so much happier if there are those those elevator screens with SAR.
00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:12.480
Davis just setting staggers or just doing anything outside to free up Trey Young, who, as we've seen, could probably use a bit of help just getting free 25 feet from the basket, where guys are actually going downhill.
00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.119
There is space.
00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:20.640
The fact that there are a bunch of bench players who can actually shoot this season and they're giving you this wide open real estate down low.
00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:33.279
And there's there's just so much more you can do than than watch AD, who has his moments, but I just I would rather roll the dice with with actions with multiple players than just watching the AD show for extended periods like this.
00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.240
It was a lot of ISO, man.
00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.279
It was a lot of mellow ball.
00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:47.359
It was him and you know, or kicking out to you know hardway.
00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:48.240
Right.
00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:56.880
Like it was like, and that's why it's I think I have been surprised by how much AD ISO they've been doing, considering you know how many young guys are trying to develop and everything.
00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:01.359
I know it's only four games in, but it's like the first game, it was like one like AD was hot.
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.920
That's one thing.
00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:08.160
Uh he got hot uh tonight too against Charlie towards the end, but um you gotta sit through a lot first, yeah.
00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:14.799
But and it's like what I just feel like it's strange, like it kind of goes against what they generally generally preach.
00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:24.319
Because the game is slowed down, they're all in on pace, and they're they're all in on just using that youth and length and zipping around opponents, and here you're just stopping everything to a halt, and that's just not what they do well right now.
00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:25.839
They're not developed enough for that kind of thing.
00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:30.160
Yeah, and it's like why, but also like why are you why?
00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.279
Like, I just don't understand.
00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:34.559
Like, it's just like what like because like why are you doing this with AD?
00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.759
And it's like I get that.
00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:39.680
He's not even the second guy in the starting lineup I would want going ISO.
00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.640
I'd rather have Keyshawn George go ISO before him.
00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:49.039
I mean, it's not even like I agree if we're talking about where he's because AD's setting up at the three-point line.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:51.440
That I see what you're saying from there, because they're just they're not.
00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:57.279
And I was looking at his stats as well, like you know, like shooting chart so far this season.
00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:00.960
He is shooting horribly from the mid-range and three-point range right now.
00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.400
Like, those are not his shots.
00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:05.440
He's doing really well right at the rim and in the painted area.
00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:14.720
But when he does this isolation, it's very rarely resulting in him getting a paint touch, it's always resulting in a mid-range shot, which just that's like he's not efficient from there.
00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.440
And that's the issue.
00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:19.839
If he was backing down and getting in the paint more, maybe I'd be fine with that because he's more efficient there.
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.640
The mid-range just hasn't been falling for him whatsoever.
00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:25.359
So it's like, why are you continuing to do something that doesn't work?
00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.480
That's just that's the definition of idiocracy, is what it is.
00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.240
That hasn't been his game since the bubble.
00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:33.119
Just that means it's not it hasn't been there for a while.
00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:36.400
That's what I mean by like why, like, what's the reason?
00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:38.240
Like, what I don't understand why you're doing it.
00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:38.880
Great question.
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:43.279
Because it's just like, okay, one or two games, but it's like they're doing this all the time now.
00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:51.200
Where and it's like if it's fine if you want AD to be one of the top three guys with the most shots, but you don't have to do it with the so much ball stopping, right?
00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:56.640
Like it's and there's times you see glimpses at such more productive avenues at scoring.
00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:07.599
Like, there's there's times where some of these games where they just do anything in transition and they just give it a Trey Johnson, and he just he didn't do it tonight, but he just hits this graceful looking three from so deep and it looks just effortless.
00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.440
And you're like, why aren't we using that guy?
00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:14.640
There, there's so many more options to turn to, and so many more we're gonna keep saying it, so much more that's worth developing.
00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:19.279
And it's it seems like just a strange use of resources right now.
00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:21.359
This this much, we knew there'd be a lot of AD.
00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:23.039
He's the one who just got there.
00:25:23.119 -->
00:25:25.359
He's the name on the marquee without AJ.
00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.720
He wants the extension.
00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.920
We're we were always gonna get a ton of AD after game one.
00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.839
It looked like he was totally warranted for that.
00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:34.640
34 points immediately off the bat MVP chance.
00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:43.279
But ever since then, it's like we we gotta mix in a little bit something else, just because this this at this volume at this age in this situation just is not working in mass.
00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.880
You know, you you know what I think too.
00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.799
Like this goes back to AJ coming back.
00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:51.279
Like, first of all, I just don't think there's any way AJ just sits there while AD does his thing once he comes back.
00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:53.200
And you're not gonna do that with the first overall pick.
00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.720
The guy who's gonna just you know, supposed to be a good thing.
00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.160
That's not how he plays either chess now.
00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.079
Yeah, it's just never gonna it's not gonna happen.
00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:08.960
Number two, I do think um this is kind of like their fallback thing, like without AJ there, and like they're they're kind of not sure the offense without AJ, because I guess they're for that.
00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:10.559
It it does look like plan B.
00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:19.599
Like it just looks like, all right, well, we know A D's good, so just you know, if we don't have any other ideas, just give them the ball, and then obviously Trey Young does floaters, and then that's that's pretty much it, you know.
00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.200
It's like they're burning clock right now.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:29.039
Like they they were hoping AG would be back by now, and it's like, you know, we showed you this, we we thought it would only be like for like two games right now, but I guess I guess we're still doing this.
00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:38.640
Because like it it just looks like something that was like their like not their main thing, like they're just kind of like it doesn't look it doesn't look hammered out yet.
00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:42.000
It's just we're we're seeing so many loose ends right now, right?
00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:45.680
Yeah, it's yeah, like there are a lot of loose ends.
00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.480
Um, I also do want to say like there have been a lot of positives.
00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.960
There truly has been a lot of positives.
00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:56.960
Um, I think the defense is a lot better than what a lot of people thought it was gonna be.
00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:02.480
And I know some people I know some people going into the season thought the offense would be better than the defense.
00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:04.880
Um, after watching preseason, I actually thought the opposite.
00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:07.519
I thought the defense
was gonna look much better than the offense.
00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.960
The players agree with you.
00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:10.799
Yeah, it's it's shown so far.
00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:19.200
I mean, like their uh defensive rating right now is uh 111.2, which you know, you look at them last season, that is much better.
00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.160
The defensive rating last year.
00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.680
It was probably like 125 last season.
00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:34.400
Yeah, and so like it's stuff like that where it's like looking at us like, man, like they truly do look a lot better as a defensive team this year, where it's like it's it really is impressive watching him play like this.
00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:39.759
If you just think about the fact that they don't have AJ, who will be a really fun energizer when he comes back.
00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:44.799
You you have Sarr who's awake, he didn't have a block in the first two games, then he had three against Chicago.
00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:49.680
Um, AD's probably helped by by the lack of weight on his shoulders compared to last year.
00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:57.519
You have other guys on the bench like Bilal, you have Trey Johnson and Bub, at least just giving it their all with active hands and these quick feet.
00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:06.720
So I think in a way the the minimized roles and usage for people may have really helped out in this platoon defense setting, even though they're still, you know, you're still gonna have Trey on getting burned sometimes.
00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.920
That's just sort of part of the deal.
00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.039
You signed up for that.
00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:09.599
Right.
00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:15.279
So you were saying off camera um Bub's uh um uh advanced rating on defense, right?
00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:18.000
Defensive rating, it's like what below 100 or something?
00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:23.279
Uh I can pull up, I can pull up because like I had a net rating of like all the main guys that I've been playing so far.
00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.920
Uh it's a lot better than expected, that's for sure.
00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:28.480
Right now, his defensive rating it's uh 113.
00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:34.799
And if you look at how bub played defense past few years, like you would know this is a great improvement from him.
00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:39.279
Um he has the fourth highest net rating right now on the team at plus four point three.
00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.079
That's crazy.
00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:43.839
Which his whole career he's been a negative net rating kind of guy.
00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:50.000
Especially like he he had the best, he had the worst plus minus ever or something, or what back to back seasons or something like that.
00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:52.079
He had the worst plus minus in league back-to-back seasons.
00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:58.400
I mean, Toronto, you want to take a guess what his defensive rating was against the Raptors?
00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.599
108.
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.359
95.8.
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:10.720
That checks out because in both the first two games, they brought him in at like the start of the second, and he just immediately just brought this this like life to the offense.
00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.400
He was just bailing them out with shots.
00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:17.119
He's just giving some other look to the perimeter besides whatever they were doing with Trey Young because that the Trey.
00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.160
But that's all offensive.
00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:20.079
That's that's not talking about his defense, though.
00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:21.759
Like I think they benefit each other.
00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.319
You're right.
00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.359
I think they benefit each other.
00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.839
I think that pace that gets they want to play with.
00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:30.079
Then the Chicago game, 108.9 for his defensive rating.
00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:33.839
Like Bub Carrington, you'll take that from Bub Carrington.
00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.319
Certainly.
00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:38.160
You'll take 113 defensive rating from Bub Carrington.
00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:40.160
We know he has some limitations defensively.
00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:44.720
We know he still has a lot to prove, you know, as much as he has improved on defense.
00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:48.319
It's the fact that he has like he's staying in front of guys now.
00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:51.920
He's not getting blown by, he's not getting broken, right?
00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:55.599
He's staying in front of guys and actually contesting shots.
00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:01.440
What matters to me more than that is that he's situationally aware because you never drafted him to be a point of attack defender.
00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:05.519
You're you're hoping that he's a really fun offensive player who has some defense to give.
00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.599
That that was never gonna be the selling point on Bub.
00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:25.279
And the fact that was it the Toronto game, I believe, that he I just remember who he was guarding shed or someone, but he was just having to scamper around a ton of off-ball actions, and I was watching him just look like a productive team defender, and and you're watching the the communication, and that's that's really what you want out of him.
00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:28.160
It's like, is this guy gonna be helpful when he's not in the action?
00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:45.519
And that that's that's and like like bringing up Bob and his defense is a good point because it was gonna mention something I was gonna mention next, whereas like the primer defense does look a lot better, and the stats are showing that right now, where um right now Washington they're giving up the 10th most amount of three-pointers a game at 39.3.
00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:51.359
However, they are holding opponents to 29.3% from three so far this season.
00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:53.200
That is fifth best in the NBA.
00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:56.480
Like that's that's impressive.
00:30:56.559 --> 00:31:06.000
Like the printer defense is actually contesting shots and affecting these long distance shots, where like now teams aren't able to make as many attempts against the Washington Wizards because of that.
00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:09.440
You wonder how they're gonna hold up soon because they've played some goofy teams so far.
00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:13.599
They've played two Patries teams and the Raptors who their offense was sort of a mess.
00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:18.319
Yeah, but like, you know, their eighth and opponent field goal percentage at 43.7.
00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.559
Yeah, not to poo-poo your stat.
00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.440
No, that that's real.
00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:24.480
Yeah, no, like that, like that, like this stuff is like real stuff.
00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:35.759
Is you know, not like they're you know, not giving up a ton of attempts, like, you know, like the um, you know, Raptors, for example, that you know, giving up 80, you know, field goal attempts a game and they're holding up guys to 41%.
00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:44.880
The Wizards, I mean, they're giving up the third most field goal attempts per game at 95.5, yet they're eighth in opponent field goal percentage.
00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:47.279
Second chance points just have to be playing a huge role.
00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.720
That was the next thing I was gonna mention.
00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:54.400
It's the second chance points and fast break points that are killing them because they just don't rebound well at the moment.
00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:59.519
That like that is the biggest thing that will kill this team if it doesn't improve, is the rebounding.
00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:07.759
They fixed the rebounding all of a sudden, they are probably 4-0 at this point because all these games have been close.
00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:13.200
I mean, you know, I'll say tonight they could have won.
00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:17.119
I think like the Raptors is the one where I'm like, I feel like the Raptors are gonna win.
00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:21.920
I I love your hypothetical, but I was at the Raptors game, and I I was at no moment was that like they're they're gonna win this.
00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:24.720
Like that their offense was a complete disaster against the game.
00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:26.319
But still, like, yeah, but you're you're right.
00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:35.279
Yeah, but no, like it's the fact like that's what I've been saying, where it's like, even though the offense, like, you know, last year, if they wanted to win, the offense had to be perfect, basically, right?
00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:39.279
Yeah this year, the offense can struggle, but the defense is so good now.
00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:42.640
You're still in these games, like this raptor, like the Raptors game, for example.
00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:46.720
Like I said, you know, the offense really struggled 38% from the field.
00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:49.119
You should not be winning a basketball game doing that.
00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:55.680
So you should not even be close to winning a basketball game, shooting 38% from the field and only making 30 shots.
00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:58.079
Um, but they only lost by 10.
00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:00.079
And part of it was the rebounding.
00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:05.680
They got out rebounded by 13 in that game as well and gave up 19 offensive rebounds to the Raptors.
00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:10.400
Their defensive rating was ranked 12 or 13th in the league uh entering this game.
00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:13.839
I doubt it moved that much because it's now like the the 110.
00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.599
Shot the cover off the ball.
00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.559
I doubt it's gonna move.
00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:20.720
And again, that's not actually healthy with starting lineup, and that just has to be mentioned here.
00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:22.960
They're doing all this while they're trying to develop on the fly.
00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:26.400
So you take the positive where you can find them in this kind of situation the Wizards are doing.
00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:30.079
Yeah, they're they're right in the middle of the pack at 16 up under 11.2.
00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.880
You'll take that.
00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:33.440
There's they're they're against considering where they were last year.
00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:40.400
I've never seen Keith hear it like he is right now, which is funny because he was two and one yesterday and people were still just letting him up online.
00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:43.519
But he's not an easy task ahead of him.
00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.599
People are still up on him right now online.
00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.079
Don't don't.
00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:52.160
Yeah, of course they are, just because you know, the as as we started the podcast, we spent the first 10 minutes talking about how can you get out rebounded like that.
00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:55.519
Like you ask players how you ask players themselves, you're like, how can you get a rebound?
00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:58.400
And then they all they all quote the Victorian Prince rebounding clip.
00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.559
Like to them, it's it's it's all mental.
00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:08.159
Yeah, and like I get people like want to be upset about Keith at some of this stuff, and like there are things that Keith does have to be better at.
00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:11.199
Keith is not the one out there boxing out and rebounding.
00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:15.920
Let's no, but but the preparation does have to go back to the coach.
00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:19.760
The preparation does have to, you know, it doesn't come down to him, but and accountability.
00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:26.239
If the players are just messes in games, we have to just change rotations and like in-game adjustments just aren't a negotiable here.
00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:33.199
Yeah, and so like I will I will say the thing I really like about Keith is I think he has great sideline and baseline out of bound plays.
00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:35.360
I think I think he does a good job with those.
00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:45.039
Everything else, I am questionable on it, and I'm gonna, you know, be skeptical, of course, because it is our job to you know, you know, ask these questions and be skeptical and figure out this sort of stuff.
00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.000
It is our job.
00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:50.800
Um, but I will say there are areas he does well in, there are areas that he doesn't do well in whatsoever.
00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:59.360
And so, but at the end of the day, like you know, tonight, for example, all right, he's not the one shooting nine of 28 from three, right?
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.400
Like, you know, we we you have shooting coaches for a reason and trainers to help out these guys, all right.
00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:09.679
You know, like and some a lot of these are open misses, like Trey Johnson missed four wide open attempts tonight.
00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:14.079
Like you're yeah, no, it's it's not like all on Keith.
00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:24.719
It's just I think my issue with Keith Moore is like he could have been more creative after AJ went down, like, all right, let's just not just do AD ISOs or whatever.
00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:32.320
And that I agree with that that is, you know, like like I said, that is on Keith to you know draw up actual offensive plays and not let ISO ball take over.
00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:37.599
I'm saying, like, you know, like the rebounding stuff, you know, a lot of it is just being physical.
00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:39.519
He does have to help better prepare.
00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:48.079
And end season, it is going to be difficult because you don't want to go too physical, and then all of a sudden, hey, Anthony Davis got injured in practice because we were doing a you know diving drill.
00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:48.719
Yeah.
00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:52.559
So I I understand that thought process of it as well.
00:35:52.639 --> 00:36:06.000
And so, but like, you know, a lot of like, you know, the like I said, the effort stuff, it does come down to the players, not just you know, like we can't you like I see people that put it all on key if that the about the rebounded night where it's like you can't just say it's all on key for that.
00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:08.000
No, it's not, it's it's a little of both.
00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:11.679
Yeah, and and again, I I I you know I hate arguing with you.
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.159
That's not true.
00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:13.039
I actually love arguing with you.
00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:20.800
We argue every day, just not on the podcast very much, but um I think if we're talking about the the shots they're getting and their their percentages aren't great.
00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:29.840
We just said a few minutes ago that
that 80s ISO ISO style is sort of a three-point like repressor, like they could just be setting their players up for better looks.
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:34.000
The fact that they're not getting schemed anything open does matter.
00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:37.360
Yeah, that that the way they're playing just isn't very three-point friendly right now.
00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:41.440
And some of these guys are just be not meant to be taking these kind of three-point shots.
00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:43.760
Like, this is just when we have to look at process over results.
00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:49.679
Like that these the players right now, like there's just a lot of sitting, watching, waiting, and then spotting up.
00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:52.880
And it's just it's this is not the flow the team wants to play in, I don't think.
00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:55.760
Yeah, and it's like the guys can't really get in a rhythm.
00:36:55.840 --> 00:37:00.320
The one time they finally got into rhythm was at the very end of the game when they were trying to come back and they actually hit it like two feet.
00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:01.440
Yeah, 40 minutes in.
00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:03.679
Like, yeah, it's that that's not enough, you know what I mean?
00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:09.360
Like, like we know that Trey, like Trey Johnson, Bub, like Keyshawn, we know they can shoot threes when they get in rhythm.
00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:11.679
It's just you have to get them in rhythm, you know what I mean?
00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:15.679
And and it was easy during the tank years when they were when that that was all that the team had.
00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:21.519
But now it's like with these, you know, you got big big time vets on the team and everything, you have to be able to balance that.
00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:26.000
And I think that's that's what I was interested in in Keith this season is how he's gonna balance those two things.
00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:29.519
And I think it's just gone way too much towards the the vets so far.
00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:35.519
The thing I am most looking at for Keefe is this is gonna be the kind of season again.
00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:37.199
We didn't think we're gonna win 50 games, I don't think.
00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.480
You know, the mods can go into that.
00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:41.840
I'm at like I'm at like 40 to 42, like you know, for being realistic.
00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:47.519
I had them at 40, I think, at the highest, but you knew there was gonna be a hard season and there's gonna be a lot of lessons.
00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:53.280
I want to see just how they deal with those lessons and how Keith, as a coach, is has his message heard.
00:37:53.519 --> 00:38:00.320
When he's gonna media, yeah, he's gonna talk to media about the things he wants to see differently, and he's gonna talk about the times that they're punched in the gut.
00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:01.119
It's gonna happen.
00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:05.599
It's a matter of do you change your process later and do you learn to adjust on the fly in games.
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:09.360
Yeah, you know, in games things have to change.
00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:15.440
Like, not if Keyshawn has had these moments, I hate to use him here, but like there's just times when he looks like he gets in his head sort of fast.
00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:27.440
He has like a few good threes, he has a few good drives, and then he throws like a one-handed skip pass that gets picked off by three different guys, and then he just like loses the ball, and then it it's like all collapsing, then he's fouling.
00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:32.400
I I think there has to be just a bit more in-game maintenance beyond whatever you're doing before the game.
00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:42.639
Yeah, and it's it's also clear they really need to AJ right now because like that 10th guy that they're trying to use at the moment, it just isn't working between Chris Middleton and Will Riley.
00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:52.079
Um, as much as the fan base and us included love Will Riley, um, he's had a very rough start to the season when he's gotten his opportunity.
00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:54.159
Yeah, it's been too old, it's too young.
00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:55.599
It's it's it's quite that simple.
00:38:55.840 --> 00:39:03.199
Yeah, and so it's he he needs, you know, like and usually you don't want to see second you know year players go to the G.
00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:07.280
He would really benefit getting a lot of reps in the G.
00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.199
He he would really benefit.
00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:13.920
I mean, but honestly, though, like he he cooks every time he goes down, so it's yeah, would it help?
00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:16.000
He's almost like a quadruple A player in baseball.
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:21.280
It's it's like Bobby Dahlbeck when he was with the you know, yeah.
00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:22.159
Bobby Dahlbeck, exactly.
00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:22.960
That's a great example.
00:39:23.199 --> 00:39:27.440
He is the world's greatest quadruple A player, but he is horrible at the majors.
00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:30.559
Yeah, we have Dylan Cruz in DC for for that sort of ego.
00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:46.800
I mean, look, we we saw him be good in like the the the you know fake tank games last season, so that was something and the preseason, but in the preseason, so it's like and we know that he has raw talent, like we know he's really you know, he can he has a lot of moves on the ball and everything, yeah.
00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:51.920
Um but it's just hard for him to find any kind of rhythm on in the in these conditions where there's so much.
00:39:53.119 --> 00:39:54.000
Yeah, and I get that.
00:39:54.159 --> 00:40:02.239
And um, you know, I I can get that where it's like, you know, like he didn't start off the year playing and he's been put into some tough situations as well.
00:40:02.400 --> 00:40:07.840
Um, I also just think the team in general does not handle pressure whatsoever,
like on you know, from defenses.
00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:17.519
You're correct, especially the ball handlers, because the way they use him today was they they figured out extremely quickly that Chris Middleton right now just doesn't quite have the legs for what they want to do.
00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:23.840
Um, and they tried to just quietly ease Riley in little by little um to eat a little bit of those minutes.
00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:26.639
Um, and today they had him guard Brandon Miller.
00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:27.599
That didn't work at all.
00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:29.599
Um, there wasn't really any defense being played out there.
00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.119
No one, no one could guard guard.
00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:32.480
We haven't said this name once yet.
00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:34.960
Brandon Miller just gave a half dozen guys, they're welcome to the league moment.
00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:36.960
Congratulations, Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets.
00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:41.199
Listen, man, look, he he he just got like a$209 million contract.
00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:42.880
So there you go.
00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.079
Oh my god.
00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:50.800
Yeah, this is like I remember Peyton Watson did the same thing last year when the Nuggets came to town, and he just he he fried Keyshawn's face off.
00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:56.000
That was sort of everyone after this game and I be in like, what's up with everyone getting career highs against the Wizards?
00:40:56.159 --> 00:40:58.159
Yeah, no, that's literally what I thought when one game was.
00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:01.840
Caleb Wilson gave him 30 as a rookie, man.
00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:02.960
That was his second freaking game.
00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:04.480
Of course, that's his career high.
00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:06.400
And and that's and okay, so I was talking about Riley Saving.
00:41:09.679 --> 00:41:10.320
Like a month.
00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:15.119
So Riley gets cooked, and then on the next time out, it's Riley save us.
00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:23.679
He gets the ball, faces that pressure immediately, throws like that that panic, pass out, falling out of bounds.
00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:27.760
And of course, we all know we all knew it was gonna get intercepted, that checked out.
00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:34.000
Um, and then you're like, wow, this guy just doesn't really look ready because that's the role they're putting him in as just another wing guy.
00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:35.280
And that's not really what he is.
00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:37.760
He's he's he's just a little bit raw right now.
00:41:38.159 --> 00:41:42.159
Yeah, yeah, no, it's it's yeah, and and that's the thing.
00:41:42.320 --> 00:41:44.960
It's like I know what Bryson means by going down in the G.
00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:47.760
It's just that it it really is like a middle ground.
00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:52.480
Like when he goes to the G situation for him, he's gonna he's gonna fry, he's gonna fry the G Leakers up.
00:41:52.559 --> 00:42:00.400
Yeah, but then but then in this, the problem is in the in the NBA club, it's like there's just too much else going on that he's not really gonna get.
00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:12.800
Unless, unless, you know, the only way I could see something working out in the next few days is if they just completely sit Chris Middleton down and give Riley like 15 or 20 minutes and just actually let him do some stuff and see if it's gonna be.
00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:25.199
Yeah, I mean, I think the only way to get him going is like he needs some time on the ball a little bit.
00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:25.760
100%.
00:42:26.239 --> 00:42:34.079
Yeah, that's why you got to use like an on-ball sort of wing, just because he's at his best when he's actually doing things besides spotting up and you know hoping for defense.
00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:39.360
Well, the issue the issue with that is he's you know, when he's coming off the bench, look at who he's sharing the court with.
00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:44.000
He's sharing it a lot with Bub Carrington, and we know Bub Carrington's a guy who needs to be on ball as well.
00:42:44.159 --> 00:42:56.800
And it's like, you know, it's like it's and I I hate to say this, but like it's almost set up like you know, when he does play, he's set up for failure because he can't quite play to his role um that he's you know really exceeds in.
00:42:56.880 --> 00:43:10.480
Like and it sucks, and because we know the potential is there, because you know, like you mentioned, Josh, like you know, the the tank games last year, like he looked really good in them when he was playing on ball, given his specific role that he thrives in.
00:43:10.639 --> 00:43:17.760
It's just off the bench because he's gonna either be splitting with minutes with Trey Young, Bub Carrington, Aja Devons, or Keyshawn George.
00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:24.800
And at the moment, are you telling, you know, will Riley to take the ball over out of any of those guys' hands at the moment, from what we've seen?
00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:27.280
No, yeah, and and that's the thing.
00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:42.480
It was like it was easy to to give him the ball, you know, in March, right, last season, but now this is a whole different thing now where he's just like they they might try to give him the ball a little bit next couple games if they want, but it's it's never gonna be the main thing this season, like it was for that whole stretch last year.
00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:43.280
Yeah.
00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:59.599
So and like we we we have no we we we don't have anything that shows that he can just be good in in a way like like Bub has been this year, where he's not he's not on the ball all the time, but he's just a lot, you know, he he impacts the game without having to have the ball that I don't think Riley's there yet, and that's what you were saying, Henry, without Raw.
00:43:59.679 --> 00:43:59.840
He is.
00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:06.400
Yeah, it's it it is
unfortunate because I want to see see him succeed.
00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:13.039
It's just I I just don't know if he has like off ball skills that can really set him apart in the rotation at the moment.
00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:21.199
And maybe yeah, maybe that's where the G can work where it's like, hey, we understand you can do on ball, we want you playing off ball in the G.
00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:23.360
We want you to learn how to be an off ball player.
00:44:23.440 --> 00:44:25.760
And so like and it's just gonna take some time.
00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:27.760
He's still young, he's 21 years old.
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:30.159
All right, like it's you know, yeah.
00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:36.480
If we got 78 more games to experiment, exactly, and a whole G League season to have him play off ball and develop those skills.
00:44:36.719 --> 00:44:38.559
The season started less than a week ago.
00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:38.960
I know.
00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:39.679
Is that crazy?
00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:40.559
That feels sort of crazy.
00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:42.000
So much has happened.
00:44:42.239 --> 00:44:42.559
Oh, yeah.
00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:43.440
So much has happened.
00:44:43.519 --> 00:44:44.960
The Thunder are already done.
00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:45.760
Yeah.
00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:47.360
It's so weird.
00:44:47.440 --> 00:44:51.119
It's it's so like injuries just plaguing the league right now.
00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:52.239
Yeah, the magic too.
00:44:52.400 --> 00:44:53.599
Yeah, the magic are done.
00:44:53.679 --> 00:44:56.079
The magic just need uh it's yeah, but they never start.
00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.800
Where do they start?
00:44:57.039 --> 00:45:00.159
They're but their their injuries aren't as bad as OKC, let's be real.
00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:01.440
And the magic do this every year.
00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:02.719
Yeah, they get hurt every year.
00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:04.159
That's good.
00:45:04.400 --> 00:45:11.360
Hollow and Prawns have like restraining orders against each other, but instead of like 300 feet, it's like 10 consecutive games.
00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:16.639
Yeah, no, it it is crazy how how how they don't spend any time on the floor together.
00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:25.039
Um do we want to talk about um the the news with um Koolibali and the Mark Stein thing?
00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:26.639
We we can real quick.
00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:30.480
Um just a quick recap because we have gone on for 45 minutes.
00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:31.599
Well, a lot's happened.
00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:32.880
There's actual basketball we played.
00:45:32.960 --> 00:45:34.880
We're not just talking about some summer league extension.
00:45:35.199 --> 00:45:37.760
It's like when we always come together, we put together a documentary.
00:45:37.920 --> 00:46:01.840
Like it's yeah, it's so but Mark Stein uh reported at night in his late night um NBA Intel uh you know that he that the Steinline did learn that the Wizards in Kool Bali had multiple discussions on uh Monday, the deadline day uh for an extension, um, and that they wanted to get a deal done, just you know, never quite got there um numbers wise.
00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:09.360
So the clear and like he said, like this is a clear sign that Washington sees cool bali as like a long-term part of their plans.
00:46:09.440 --> 00:46:18.400
And so I think that's kind of important to note where it's like, you know, Will Dawkins, Michael Winger, the whole old team is all in at keep you know, keeping below cool bali.
00:46:18.960 --> 00:46:26.880
So um, I know I mentioned in the past, like with restricted free agency, you know, watch out for like you know, the Warriors and like Nets, for example.
00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:33.119
I still think those are two teams that could really go out there and get him if they wanted to, because they're gonna have a ton of cap space.
00:46:33.360 --> 00:46:41.599
But like I said, it it seemingly looks like you know, Washington and Bilal, Cool Bali, they want to stay together in this relationship.
00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:45.599
It's just, you know, the numbers just quite weren't there uh over the summer.
00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:49.440
We gotta hear Yaxel's unfiltered thoughts on Bilal.
00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:52.559
I'm sure he has some some interesting insight.
00:46:53.440 --> 00:46:54.960
When he plays Trey Young, that would be a really good thing.
00:46:56.079 --> 00:46:56.800
He's gonna play Trey Young.
00:46:56.880 --> 00:46:58.159
He's like, that guy really fouls a lot.
00:46:58.239 --> 00:46:59.440
Like it's gonna be his first time.
00:46:59.519 --> 00:47:01.199
How does he not know that Luca fouls?
00:47:01.360 --> 00:47:04.079
Everyone knows Luca is like the biggest a-hole in the league.
00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:07.760
You know, you know who he talks like in these post-game uh press conferences?
00:47:07.920 --> 00:47:10.159
It's exactly like you're my player from 2K.
00:47:10.239 --> 00:47:28.480
You always get that one option where like you can either go for the teammate chemistry, you're like, oh yeah, man, like you know, like we play good tonight, we were playing really, you know, like together with the ball around, or let's get let's get 50,000 fans in a Gatorade partnership real quick, and like, hey yo, Luca, Luca, meet me in the locker room real quick, meet me outside real quick.
00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:28.880
You can't.
00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:44.079
It's like he just woke up out of like a cryo chamber, and it and everyone like the whole thing with Luca is like you could like just you don't have to watch basketball, you just go on undisputed back in the day, and Skip Bayless is down there calling Luca like a big baby because Luca talks to the refs a lot.
00:47:44.239 --> 00:47:47.920
And it I just don't know how you missed that entire leg of the news cycle.
00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:54.639
I he just said he watches highlights, which which you know he he did say that, so I guess he just thought he was
just the coldest guy, just scoring them all ethically.
00:47:54.800 --> 00:47:56.719
Um the big boys aren't like that.
00:47:56.880 --> 00:48:06.159
There's there's no goaded superstar who's winning MVPs and taking taking their team to the finals who's averaging 0.0 complaints to the rest of the game.
00:48:07.039 --> 00:48:08.159
They're always complaining.
00:48:08.239 --> 00:48:10.400
They're like every superstar in this league flops.
00:48:10.559 --> 00:48:13.920
As much as people want to say Ant does it, he does flop every now and then.
00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:15.440
He like he'll pull it out.
00:48:16.159 --> 00:48:17.840
Like you hear him, you can actually hear him.
00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:22.480
You can hear him more than almost all you hear like hey, like all the time when you're watching on the broadcast.
00:48:22.719 --> 00:48:23.519
No, that that that's Kat.
00:48:23.679 --> 00:48:25.519
He'll he'll go up and go, hey.
00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:28.559
I I love when they would do that together.
00:48:28.639 --> 00:48:30.079
It was like a harmony.
00:48:32.480 --> 00:48:33.199
Oh my god.
00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:41.440
I'm looking, but yeah, I mentioned the Luca thing also because I really hope AJ is in town for and ready to go when Luca plays, because he was the one who said he wants to play against Luca.
00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:49.679
He wants to feel the pace, and I was like, good luck, because we've seen Luca is the most like I really like watching him this year.
00:48:49.760 --> 00:48:57.119
Um, he's he's so bitter all the time, and he he holds every slight he's like like Mike, like he holds everything so personally, it's so funny.
00:48:57.280 --> 00:49:01.920
So when there's someone like Yaxel, of course you're gonna get like a half court like bean right in your face.
00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:02.880
That just makes such sense.
00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:06.800
So godspeed to AJ, and I I hope we're we're in town for that game.
00:49:07.280 --> 00:49:08.559
That would be fun.
00:49:09.119 --> 00:49:16.559
But we got we got anything else to talk about before we um end this three-part documentary that's at 50 minutes now.
00:49:17.920 --> 00:49:25.679
Um it's it's so easy to get to get hung up on on the messiness, but this is gonna be a messy season, so just enjoy it while it lasts.
00:49:25.840 --> 00:49:26.480
That's what we're gonna try.
00:49:26.639 --> 00:49:27.519
We're telling ourselves that.
00:49:27.840 --> 00:49:31.199
Key key thing is like, you know, think about it like this.
00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:35.199
Like they have done, they have done so Keith.
00:49:35.360 --> 00:49:49.760
The key thing is the the key thing is they have done so many things, like so poorly, like rebounding and shooting, and they are still two and two, and we're you know, still in those two losses where they could have easily won those, right?
00:49:50.079 --> 00:49:56.880
They've just fixed one of those issues, and all of a sudden, this team is looking like one of the best in the NBA somehow.
00:49:57.599 --> 00:50:00.559
And yeah, there's a lot to feel good about without AJ playing one minute.
00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:02.159
Yeah, that's a huge deal.
00:50:02.480 --> 00:50:10.639
This is all without the first overall pick playing, and like that's it, like it things are looking up, but that's a podcast, baby.
00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:11.840
That's a podcast.
00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:15.519
It was great, it was great seeing you all again on you know the same same screen.
00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:16.320
This was fantastic.
00:50:16.559 --> 00:50:17.280
We should do this more.
00:50:17.599 --> 00:50:18.880
We should do this more often.
00:50:19.119 --> 00:50:20.000
Three man, yeah.
00:50:20.079 --> 00:50:22.320
Next time, three man weave, three man weave.
00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:24.480
But thank you guys tuning in, listening as always.
00:50:24.559 --> 00:50:25.360
We'll see you in the next one.
00:50:25.440 --> 00:50:25.840
Peace.