Renegade7

@GS (avg 103.5 PPG - 11th) > held to 85 OKC (avg 105.4 PPG - 4th) > held to 81 POR (avg 108.3 PPG - 1st) > held to 90 And we didn't score more then 100 points in any of these three games. Damn good feeling being over .500 (you can tell the survivors in this thread thru hell and high water). The way this team is playing defense to make up for not having a cast of dominant offensive players is what keeps this from feeling like fools gold to me. Team is definently overacheiving now, but last monkey on the back is probably consistency against teams they should beat (don't **** this up and go lose to Orlando or something in 3 weeks). Interesting playing the Spurs, because that loss was what really pissed this team off in the first place this season.

   Um, thats given Durant would even want to leave OKC. And we already have $16 million wrapped up in 3 small forwards right now. He's also free agent the same year Nene's contract expires, so I don't understant your premise of blowing up this team in order to save it. The upside of our backcourt and our defense is what we have to look forward to. We already have an 11th ranked defense, top ten in assists, and middle of the pack on rebounds. As Wall and Beal mature and we become top 10 in points per game, there are a lot of teams that aren't going to up for that (same way a lot of teams are having trouble with us when we're on right now). If anything we need to improve our physicallicty to go up against teams that tend to pwn us like Indiana and the timberwolves. But we just beat the best team in the west by 15 points. Miami had $43 million in cap space the offseason the big three decided to sign there. That is their team, and yes it won them back-to-back rings, but there's a good chance that's going to be it now.

Smh at comments for 2016 offseason in 2014. This team right now has proven it can beat teams like miami and okc playing our game (defense and fast break / three point on-slaught). We had the same concerns regarding Ariza leaving this offseason that we did Webster leaving last offseason (both are still here). We could give both Gortat and Ariza $5 million (like what Webster is getting) each that could go up after Nene's contract ends in two years, and we'd still be under the $58 million salary cap next year. We'd still have to decide what to do with Vesly, Seraphin, Booker, and Temple, but we're at $70 million right now. In theory this team should get better because so many important cogs are still young (and most importantly, showing improvement). We don't know what Wall and Beal's ceiling is, nor do we know if Booker will continue to improve on his jumper that's keeping him out the starting lineup or Seraphin's consistency. All these smart franchises, only one is champion at the end of every season. Losing Ariza to fill another hole creates another hole. We're not that good nor have enough cap space apparently to be doing that. We may be in a situation that this is our band until Nene's $13 million finally comes off the books.

I'm seeing this, too, and its obvious he's pissing off the refs during the game. I want to say someone needs to sit him down, but he's the most veteran leader on this team. I don't know who would get thru to him if someone tried.

If Wall has a triple double and we're still losing at home to teams under .500, maybe it is time to consider a trade. We have a couple players overacheiving, but that doesn't make them great basketball players. Maybe this the year of gaining respectability again, and waiting for players like Seraphin, Booker, and Beal to grow even more next year. Right now we only have one elite talent player, and that's why Kevin Love has never won anything in the NBA and why Bron Bron and Bosh joined Wade in Miami. We have players to win, but we don't have players to kill.

I have to admit, that postgame interview with andrews was epic. Running around with his hands around his neck was f'd up, tho. Hate to say it, but I have a bad feeling Legion of Boom is going beat Denver's receivers into submission in 2 weeks. Peyton is a great QB, but doesn't have a good track record against teams that try to punch him in and his receivers in the face. The Colts getting pwned in the 2004 playoffs basically changed the NFL with the rule changes for the offense.

Watched that whole game and was telling my dad there were two reasons it was that quite even when we were beating the crap out of them in that first quarter: Miami fans stunned and wizard fans praying they didn't let them complete the comeback. Even Phil and Steve were like "ya, we're up, but will we stay up, cause they're coming". They did, but we wouldn't have it. Last 3 minutes of that game were truly special once the home crowd realized we were really going to pull this off. I know its tacky to get this excited about a regular season wins, but after all the nonsense I've been forced to watch that is DC sports, I felt a little vindicated for my patience on that one. Just starting to fit into how I feel about this team: you can destroy us by stopping our fastbreak, but if you don't, you're asking for it (doesn't matter who you are). Redskins are my favorite team, but right now John Wall is my favorite player. I don't think there's a single player in this city that wants to win more then him, and you see it every game, not every once in a while.

I want to defend them and talk about that being a total off-night from free throw land, because we still got to the line 21 times. Sad thing is, even if they hit every single one of them, this is still a double digit loss. Not in same league as Indiana this year. It's not that we can't beat them, we just do everything possible to fit into them kicking our *** everytime we play them. The recipie for annihlating this team is stopping the fast break. We can run a halfcourt offense, but we always seem to crack when we're FORCED to run a half-court offense. The last Minnesota game and this one are prime examples of that.

I'm just besides myself with the comment on Jan finally getting some respect. I mean, GD, the man had nearly twice as many personal fouls as FGs made last year, respect and appreciation have to be earned, man. lol But really, I'm with Destino here. Ya he's not playing like a #6 overall pick, but he's serving a purpose off the bench right now, finally, and should be cheap enough to keep. A third year player who in theory should still have upside left, why not???

I feel it's too early to right off Otto given it took 3 years for Wall's jumper to start falling. He's already doing things I really like on defense and his mobility for a big man. He needs to add weight, but how many players don't at 20 years old?

I don't know how I feel about this, because I've watched Ariza go off with or without Nene in the lineup. Ariza is doing his job, don't we need players that do their job???

I'd have a hard time letting Ariza walk the way he's playing not really knowing yet what we have with Porter. Even if Porter gets his shot going, Ariza is still arguably one of our best defensive players. If we can afford it, especially if Nene retires, we should make it work and keep Ariza. Let history be the judge...

*Gasp. Full power, Captain???

This is still one of the better wizards teams I've seen in a minute, and I liked the comeback to take it to overtime when we could of just packed it in again. Bench played better, and it will be interesting to see if Booker can start becoming more consistent or not. Having said that, glad to get Webster back, but still not good enough to overcome missing two starters (Beal and Nene). This is still a playoff team, imo, but I'm getting tired of talking about how respectable we can be with everybody on the floor because it just never seems to happen for us.

Not playing since monday and being down 3 starters would hurt any team. Still tired of losing to sub-.500 basketball teams at home, though. Btw, Breaking News: John Wall is a max player. I'm very proud of that guy, I really am.

Watched the Indiana and Atlanta game, and I'm proud of way they bounced back instead of moping around about getting their tail handed to them. A healthy Wizards team with Porter and Beal might find a way to get there's anyway against a team like the Pacers that plays that level of defense. But as long as they beat the teams they're supposed to beat and don't crumble at the end of games (really impressed how we refused to give up the lead to the hawks last night, no matter how bad they wanted it), this is a playoff team. My dad asked me if Grunsfeld deserves credit for this, I told him it took 2-3 rebuilds to get it right and even though the Lakers and Hawks games we're good wins, we saw where we are (injured or not) against a team like Indiana. It's a competitive team in the east, but we still have work to do.

Ever chewed someone out in one thread then gave them a high five in another thread maybe an hour or two later? It's the beauty of extremeskins, hell, I forget to look at the sig names sometimes when I comment, I'll admit to that.

Hey, I'm not afraid to give credit where credit is due (even if these two wins aren't against world beaters). I was able to check in a little on both of them, and the box score isn't lying, this much is a much more explosive team then last year. I was telling my dad it doesn't matter if they let someone score 60 in a half against them like the twolves did, but the wiz then held them to less the 40 in the second half. Jan was fun to watch tonight, finally. And its awesome seeing us hovering around 30 assists a game consistently. And at some point, consistently beating teams by 20 plus points on the fast break is going to pay off. Defense is a lot about mentality, which this team needs to get back since they were a top 10 defense last year. If they can do that and still run people off the court, ya, its a playoff team. I really hate it when players go public with their complaints like Nene did, but this time it looked like it worked, and we'll forget about if this team starts winning more games then they lose...

Its tough watching this team just continue to stay irrelevant in the NBA. At this point the love is unconditional, because they haven't done anything to earn it since the Hibatchi days...

   C'mon, Zoony, her brother just scored a touchdown. What was she supposed to do, slow clap of approval? She looks like she's may age for crying out loud, lol

I just found out about this Hanna Montana / Robin Thicke non-sense. The reactions in stills are just priceless.

I'm trying to get into this summer league ball, but I only recognize 4 players and the others look like they're going to be bagging grociers soon. This cluster**** basketball play is teeth grinding, I kinda just have in on in the other room now, waiting for the preseason and checking in from time to time. Edit: for those who actually watched this game, what did you think of Vesly? Heard he did the damn thing today.

I feel asleep on it, but I did like what I saw from Porter and Rice, Jr. If they can stay healthy, wiz have a legit big 3 (Wall, Beal, Porter) to build around and contend. Porter has a great wingspan for tapping balls in traffic and a nice shot. I know it was the first game, but that was a good pick.

Doesn't he have the potential to be a very good 6th man? btw when does the NBA release their schedules approximately? I'm looking to plan a short trip to Orlando (I live in Jax) when the Wiz visit. Absolutely he does. If we can get our young big men (Booker, Singleton, Seraphin) to become more consistent, then our second unit is going to be legit. I haven't seen us stay "healthy" in a while, so keeping Webster and this young team together helps us have a team that can better stand injuries instead of digging holes we can't climb out of year after year. Schedule release is July 26th from what I can tell. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong on that...

I know it's not perfect, but we're a better team keeping Webster then letting him walk. I can live with it.