Truth About It» John Wall Plays The Waiting Game

John Wall is so fast, but he’s always waiting.

He breezes past defenders with more than quickness, aided by long strides and big steps. Still, he often waits.

In attacking the rim with an offensive mind, Wall plays the waiting game. Waiting for the defending arms to clear out of the way. Waiting, and bracing, for a potential hit… a foul call if he’s lucky. Waiting for the last possible second to release his shot, a layup attempt at his final destination. Waiting until the coast is clear. Waiting to finish with points.

Some haven’t considered the exciting, scary thought— those two emotions coming from two different angles. You didn’t see an NBA-ready John Wall this season. His rookie eating habits were horrible, but expected for a teenager. His mentality fought to adjust to League-caliber athletes, and in many instances made them adjust to him. His body was not always fully healthy, and he admittedly rushed back beforefully healed (yet one day he’ll have to play hurt like Kobe Bryant). His semi-suspect Reebok shoes went through some “adjustments” to make them “firmer” after Wizards officials and training staff met with the shoe company,according to theWashington Post’sMichael Lee. If these things were holding Wall back to even the slightest degree, Wizards fans should be the excited ones, and the rest of the League should be scared.

Wall was introduced to the District with police escorts, red carpets and a section of a city unknown to himdraped with marketing efforts featuring his name. He scored 1,131 points, tallied 574 assists, 317 rebounds and 121 steals in 69 games. No other NBA rookie has reached those milestones in less than 70 games; Chris Paul, Mark Jackson and Tim Hardaway are the only other rookies who have done it period,according to Basketball-Reference.com. Wall also won the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month Award in January, February, March and April. All of the meaningless pizazz, surface accolades and numbers are there, but the best has yet to come. Just you wait.

Wall’s strength is the combination of being a pass-first point guard who can finish at the rim and run one-man fast-breaks fueled by great size and excellent athleticism, with the ability to wait. According toHoopData.com, he finished fifth among point guards who appeared in 40 or more games in makes at the rim per game.

1. Russell Westbrook- 4.1 FGM at the rim per game; 60.4 FG%
2. Tony Parker- 3.9; 65.4
3. Derrick Rose– 3.8; 60.0
4. Tyreke Evans- 3.7; 59.0
5. John Wall- 3.2; 59.9

The numbers and percentages will improve, especially if the franchise builds players around Wall who can shoot from the corners and beyond, and who can chase the rim with Wall, on both offense and defense.

But despite all that did go well, Wall had a more frustrating rookie season than he expected… than we all expected. By February, the Wizards had as many losses, 35, as Wall’s Kentucky team had wins in the previous season; while Washington was only able to tally 13 victories in the same time period to three losses for the Wildcats during all of 2009-10. The Wizards finished the season 23-59. But the frustration is a good thing. Because in everything overly evident from his arrival in Washington to the winding down conclusion, Wall was a sponge soaking up all the knowledge he could. He literally bugged the crap out of Kirk Hinrich with questions. Well, not literally. There were no bugs.

On April 22, Ted Leonsisblogged about his exit interviews with several Wizards players, John Wall was the only one he mentioned by name. Leonsis outlined, as he has done before, that the Wizards are rebuilding around Wall, and the owner all but said that the rebuild involves direct input from the young 20-year old star. It’s an essential, and additional, contract between the two parties, but this one has nothing to do with exchanged money.

The franchise will construct a team around Wall that will mesh with him both basketball-wise and effort-level-wise— because they certainly heard his frustrations regarding theeffort of teammatesduring the season. And Wall will improve his body and eating habits. He will prove that he can further apply the basketball intelligence he so readily received. All is currently copacetic with this hypothetical agreement, with more of an onus on Leonsis and Ernie Grunfeld to produce the surrounding results while Wall keeps doing what he does.

But the anticipated warmth of Wall’s sunny day future is unfortunately clouded by a collective-bargaining dispute between the league and it’s players that will likely mean a lockout for an extended period of time. Slightly unfair to Wizards fans who have waited long enough for a winner, but not beyond the horizon where they can’t wait some more.

Either way, bet that Wall already can’t wait to get back on that court. Bet that he can’t wait to make himself better. Bet that he can’t wait to zoom down the floor past a blur of flesh and limbs, only to wait some more for a blink of the eye before releasing a timely fast-break bucket as only a Game Changer can.

John Wall Flying, Pictures:

The Slide Show:

Source

Truth About It» Bittersweet Lew: A Half-Year In Review

When news of the Gilbert Arenas-Rashard Lewis trade broke, it was received with a groan. The less-than-enthusiastic reception of the 31-year-old Lewis wasn’t so much a public damnation of his basketball abilities, nor an uninterested dismissal of his more intangible, clichéd qualities – veteran leadership, for instance. No, it was the result of a city, of a fanbase, coming to grips with the end of an era.

The Washington Wizards traded away their (cult) hero, and all they got in return was a “lousy”stretch four.

Just a week before Christmas, Lewis arrived in the nation’s capital with his long frame, his long contract, and hislong face.Rough. Nick Young—by way of Gilbert Arenas’interview with ESPN’s Michael Wallace—made Lewis’ first impressions public:

“He was telling me about Rashard Lewis. Nick was like,‘I don’t know if he’s going to make it two weeks here. He feels like the world just ended.’“

From a professional standpoint, getting traded to the Washington was one of the worst things that could have happened to Lewis. In the time it takes to pen a bit of chicken scratch on a trade agreement, he went from championship contender to NBA doormat. But for the Wizards, the acquisition of the former All-Star was the best thing that could have happened to team—luck of the lottery draw notwithstanding.

The fact of the matter is that somewhere between the halfway house and the 2010-2011 media day, Gilbert Arenas had morphed into a roundball zombie. He showed no emotion. He looked slow, overweight, even lost on the court. He couldn’t buy a bucket with what was left of that $100 million contract. His only redeeming quality—amidst a rotten temperament and spoiled skills—was that he could grow a beard that would make James Harden proud.

The Wizards were fortunate. Orlando Magic president Otis Smith believed that the Arenas could bring“a little bit more punch”to central Florida. Not so. During the 2010-2011, Arenas started just 2 games out of a possible 49 for the Magic and averaged less than 22 minutes per game.

Player Comparison viaBasketball-Reference.com

{Click to expand}

By their numbers spanning the entire 2010-11 season, there is little question that the Wizards‘won’ that trade, but that isn’t to say that Lewis was, nor ever will be the Wizards’ knight in shining armor. The man is past his prime. He’s not snapping the team’s dreadful three-year slump… especially when you could make a convincing argumentthat the Wizards have become all too comfortable with losing. Was his year memorable? Not at all. Was he great? No. Reliable (before his season was cut short due to injury)? Productive?Professional? Those earmarks would most certainly apply. He is an asset the Wizards have at their disposal, to keep them competitive, and to help them mature.

But what about the money?

I don’t buy that his contract is big, bad, and bloated. The Wizards owe Lewis$43.8 million (just over $21 million guaranteed)over the next two years. That’s not cheap. But for the Wizards, it’s not a raw deal. What would they even spend that cap room on? The Wizards roster is young and inexpensive, plus there is money coming off the books.

Both Nick Young and Yi Jianlian are restricted free agents. While the Wizards should extend a qualifying offer to Young ($3.7 million), telling Yi to kick rocks would save the team $5.4 million. Mustafa Shakur, Othyus Jeffers, and Larry Owens are also restricted free agents, worth a combined $3 million. (Keep Jeffers, cut the fat.) Finally, Josh Howard’s expiring contract frees up an additional $3 million.

Bynotextending qualifying offers for the players listed above, the Wizardscouldopen up over $15 million—which would be extra cushion for a team already expected to be well-under a to-be-determined-by-a-new-CBA salary cap.

The way I see it, Lewis will help the Wizards rebuild by fulfilling his veteran responsibilities both on and off the court. When his tour of duty in D.C. comes to a close in 2013 (or perhaps even in the summer of 2012), the Wizards will be a focused, hungry, and battle-hardened bunch. The reassembled roster will have the pieces in place to be “a very good team for a long, long time.”That is the plan, right?

And if they miss in the draft, whiff in free agency, and Leonsis’ plan falls apart? Well, hey, at least the Wizards aren’t paying Gilbert Arenas.

Twitter:@JohnCTownsend

—

Sweet Lew drops veteran knowledge through a trying experience:

Source

Truth About It» Dissecting John Wall’s Rookie Quotes

The highlights and good times from John Wall’s rookie year represent the icing on the big ol’ cookie (or cake) that vested hype-machine types gladly diddle themselves to while resting assured on pillows encased with media& PR mints at night. Fodder for rainbows, puppy dogs and ice cream, but relatively useless to Wall himself. He doesn’t seem to take comfort in digits and puffery. Rather, he’s the sort wired to be driven toward success by frustration and failure,i.e., he’s a non-believer in the injury/rebuilding excuses readily applied by some around him. Nor does he appear to possess a complacency or apathy toward loving the game of basketball as some of his teammates have so often conveyed. He actually appears to despise such attitudes. At least this is what dime-store pessimists such as myself optimistically believe.

No, it’snot‘John Wall Wednesday’ here at Truth About It.net, although there could be a subsequent related post coming this evening that would make it three in a row about the 2010 No. 1 NBA Draft pick. But, you see, no biggie when it comes to the franchise pillar. Wall’s inaugural season has barely been put to rest as his NBA future looks to gainfully go from embryonic to full-on fetus mode. And then who knows… a crawl, walk or sprint into the postseason seems inevitable. Rookie year perspective is a prerequisite, yet no one will know how to properly assess Wall’s 2010-11 until a couple/several years from now. In the meantime, let’s take a videographic look at the experience of the rookie’s emotions through his carefully considered and well-trained quotes to the media covering his team, the Washington Wizards. Dissect this one way now and be ready to reconsider down the road.

Source

Truth About It» Two For The Road, Few For The Bench: Mustafa, Othyus, Hamady, Kevin and Cartier

Mustafa Shakur, Othyus Jeffers, Hamady N’diaye, Kevin Seraphin and Cartier Martin.

Those were all of the players available for the Wizards off the bench last night in Utah. Shakur didn’t play (coach’s decision being the given reason), and N’diaye tallied just three minutes in thebox score, nothing else. Jeffers, Seraphin and Martin combined for 18 points on 6-14 from the field and 17 rebounds, five offensive thanks to the bruising workmanship of Jeffers. The numbers of the bench squad with the most unique set of names ever weren’t astounding, but the Wizards made it work in their somewhat shocking 100-95 overtime win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.

Sure, Utah was missing Devin Harris and Andrei Kirilenko from their starting lineup, instead putting out a unit of Earl Watson, C.J. Miles, Raja Bell, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson. But a Wizards starting five of John Wall, Jordan Crawford, Mo Evans, Yi Jianlian and JaVale McGee didn’t have a chance of feeling sorry for the Jazz, or themselves.

Jazz fans, however, may be feeling sorry for themselves… enough to boo their team at intermittent times throughout the game as Washington fought to gain control early, and then tried their best to relinquish it late, despite Utah’s best effort to not take advantage. It was odd to hear the Wizards television team of Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier recount just how far the Utah franchise has fallen in the year 2011. The Jazz were 27-13 when they made an east coast trip in mid-January, beginning with a game in Washingtonon the 17th.

Jerry Sloan’s team proceeded to lose to the Wizards on Martin Luther King Day, and then they lost five more in a row. Barely a month later, Sloanresignedafter a 23-year run with the team and star point guard Deron Williams was traded to New Jersey. Now the Jazz are left in a vastly uncertain rebuilding mode with Tyrone Corbin as their coach, a six game losing streak (including last night’s take down by the Wizards), and a 36-39 record that looks to keep them out of the playoffs for just the fifth time in the last 28 years (also the fifth time in the last eight years, to be fair).

Yesterday was Jerry Sloan’s 69th birthday. Yesterday was also the first time Washington completed a season sweep of Utah since 1997. Yesterday things were a bit different for all.

The Wizards prevailed for just their second road win of the season, guaranteeing themselves to not match the 1990-91 Sacramento Kings with the worst road record in NBA history at 1-40.Let’s break for some video action…

John Walldid it with his size and moxie to get to the rim. As seen, Utah’s Earl Watson was relentless with his pressure on the ball, but physically he didn’t stand a chance. Wall scored 24 first-half points and finished with 28 on 10-20 shooting and 8-10 from the free-throw line to go with his seven assists, two turnovers and six rebounds.

Jordan Crawfordcouldn’t buy a bucket from deep, going 1-10 from three-point land, but the inefficient manner in which he scored his 25 points on 25 shots could be deemed more than acceptable on the night. When the Wizards were desperate for offense, Crawford was there. When Utah fans were propelled alive by their team’s attempt to steal the game back from Washington late in regulation, Crawford was pouring ice water down his veins and hitting a tough baseline jumper in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 85. When extra basketball came calling, Crawford was there for two steals that led to four points in the first minute of overtime.

Yi Jianlianfouled out with just six points and five rebounds in 23 minutes, but his presence as an option on offense was just as key as the two huge blocks he had on Utah penetrating the lane.Mo Evansalso dealt with foul trouble, but always made himself present for loose balls, key offensive rebounds and huge buckets, scoring seven of the Wizards’ 15 points in overtime. AndJaVale McGeefought late-game fatigue and once again secured long-armed rebounds, 17 of them total, five offensive, while playing within himself more than fans are used to seeing.

There are several team and individual factors one can point toward in talking about the Wizards’ win over Utah. Jazz fans are certainly licking their wounds over a 10-21 performance from the free-throw line. Or maybe they’re upset thatAl Jefferson is poutingand didn’t see action in the fourth quarter. Or their frustration might stem from the fact that when the Wizards were simply missing shots, opening the door for Corbin’s team, the Jazz were busy fumbling away opportunity by dribbling off their foot or turning the ball over in a number of exasperating ways— Utah had 18 team turnovers that relinquished 21 Wizards points while Washington had 13 turnovers that led to 14 Jazz points.

But most importantly, even more important than Washington limiting stupid, unforced mistakes (credit due to McGee again, who has really stepped up his game as of late), was that Flip Saunders’ Wizards played through their mistakes. They didn’t get down, they just kept pushing… with a bench crew named Mustafa, Othyus, Hamady, Kevin and Cartier and a starting crew named John, Jordan, Mo, Yi and JaVale. And that’s progress that the remaining faithful fans of the team can be proud of… at least for one road game on one night.

Source

Truth About It» Jordan Crawford as an oasis

Monday night the Wizards competed without Nick Young, Rashard Lewis, Josh Howard and Andray Blatche—roughly $32 million, 55-percent of the team’s payroll.  It felt great. I haven’t had this much fun watching a Wiz game in months.

Yes, John Wall was spectacular in the first half, asKyle points out in video form. But my excitement and interest can be traced to exactly one player, Jordan Crawford.

Crawford, a skinny combo-guard out of a mid major conference; the kid with the slightly hunched posture, a wide, loose handle and a perpetual look of %$@! the world on his face. You may know Crawford for banging on LeBron James or for his eye-popping pull-ups in the NCAA tournament.  He’s also the one who ditched Indiana after his freshman year when Kelvin Sampson was fired, deciding to rebuild his reputation in the A-10. The one who came with character questions—would he focus? was he mature enough?—but also an unquestioned hunger. The one who’s made a name for himself gambling on his own guts and repeatedly come up cash.

Crawford isn’t a very good player yet. He’s a streak shooter (the positive parlance for inconsistent) who turns the ball over too much and takes other foolish risks.

But oh, does he want it. He plays with a fire that also smolders in his rookie backcourt mate, John Wall. With an energy that borders on fury, the same emotion Wall has expressed inbarely veiled statementsabout his teammates’ lack of effort.

Perhaps it comes from always being a top Detroit prospect’s too short little brother. It’s the kind of enthusiasm so blatantly lacking in the play of Andray Blatche. It’s the kind of spark that gives a fan slogging through a hopeless season hope for next year, or even next game. The kind of reckless love of competition that one wishes would infect JaVale McGee’s body language like a reverse Monstar talent drain. Because Crawford, like Wall, is an irrepressible bundle of potential energy—his passion wills forth excitement, interest, and affection from the crowd.

Of course, those Wizards absent from Monday’s dysfunctional thriller will eventually all return. Jordan Crawford and his rookie brethren will see far less of the court, and the team will likely be no worse for their absence. After all, these youngsters really aren’t all that good, in the final analysis. In Monday’s heart-stopper, Crawford played 44 minutes, scored 25 points on 25 shots (1-10 on 3-pointers) and had a minus 3 plus/minus rating.

But he makes plays. Forget the cool as a sea cucumber baseline pull-up that forced overtime, when is the last time you saw someone make two clean steals on consecutive OT possessions to rescue a sickeningly stagnant offense?

I know they won’t win many games, but I’ll take my chances with Wall, Crawford, Booker, Seraphin and McGee.

Because you know what? Even with all the veterans healthy, what’s the Wizard’s ceiling? I certainly don’t see them in next year’s playoffs.

Stop talking about a soon to be realized bright future. Guys like Crawford give Wizards fans a reason to believe they should care about the Wizards right now.

Twitter:@BeckleyMason

Source

Truth About It» Who is Othyus Jeffers?

There were times last night when it seemed like the torso and arms of recent Wizards D-League call up Othyus Jeffers formed into a mouth to gobble up missed shots in mid-flight. I imagined the ball clenched by massive teeth, unable to be relinquished, but somehow spit out cleanly to continue play, Wizards possession. I wasn’t hallucinating.

My mind was curious about the perception. How exactly was the unassuming stature of Jeffers— listed at a very generous 6’5” and weighing in at a 200 lbs. that unfairly masks his strength— able to gulp down rebounds so commandingly against the juggernaut Miami Heat?

DVR has made me selfish against real-life action. I wished I was at home watching the Wizards play the Heat on television and not sitting baseline taking photographs. No, I wouldn’treallygive up one of the best seats in the house, but that didn’t keep me from wanting to quench instant gratification with a film study in the art of rebounding.

Jeffers finished with 15 points on 6-7 shooting and eight rebounds, both career highs, in 29 minutes off the bench against Miami. The bad guys, or bandwagon drivers, beat the Wizards 123-107, but the game was much more competitive than the score indicates.

“O. Jeffers,” Flip Saunders called him in his post-game media session. “Just by playing hard, the success that you can have,” the coach trailed off, likely thinking like a mad scientist with plans to transplant the heart and will of Jeffers to another player with more size and natural talent.

Saunders shed high praise on his stop-gap player, saying he possessed a similar trait that all great rebounders have. Dennis Rodman and Charles Barkley were cited by Saunders. He mentioned today’s great rebounders, but not great leapers, in Kevin Love and Zach Randolph as well.

“They’re guys that pursue the ball,” Saunders said, making the unifying connection. “That’s what ‘O’ does, ‘O’ really pursues the ball.”

Ask Othyus himself about rebounding and he’s rather nonchalant.

“It’s basketball. It’s nothing hard, I’ve been doing it my whole life,” Jeffers simply said after the game. “I’ve always played against taller people, that has nothing to do with it. Get in the right position, beat ‘em to the spot, jump and grab.”

It seems rather elementary.

Jeffers has appeared in eight games with the Wizards and has averaged 7.7 rebounds per 36 minutes while on the court. That rebound rate won’t put him on par with conventional big men, but it’s certainly better than the 5.3 rebounds per 36 minutes that the 6’8″ Al Thornton pulled when he was with the Wizards. Plus, often being assigned to guard LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, Jeffers is counted on as a much better defender, not a wild cowboy of unconventional shot attempts.

After receiving a couple 10-day contracts from the Utah Jazz last season, and one with the San Antonio Spurs earlier this season, Jeffers was called up from the Iowa Energy for a 10-day spell with the Wizards on March 17, and was then re-upped for 10 more days on the 27th. Now the D-League wants him back.

Saunders said that three days ago, Jeffers’ D-League coach was calling Washington, wondering if he was going to be released by the Wizards, wanting help for the Energy’s playoff run.

Sorry, D-League, the Wizards need him. As bad as they are, I think they’re the bigger deal, especially when they provide a chance to suit up and guard the all-stars of the Heat.

Jeffers isn’t just a warm body to fill in for the tired, poor, hungry and injured. Well, he is, but he’s bounding through a small, opportunistic window nonetheless. Othyus is getting rebounds. He’s doing the little things. He’s setting an example.

I asked Jeffers about his D-League coach calling, wanting him back from the playoffs.

“See, that’s the first time I’ve heard that,” he said with a big grin. “Now I gotta call him and ask, ‘What’cu doing coach?’”

Later, Jeffers was asked if he missed being on the team that clinched the top seed heading into the D-League playoffs (while the contrast of being on the Wizards goes without saying).

“Do I miss it?,” he rhetorically repeated the question. “I miss the faces,” he replied, followed by surrounding laughter from the media. “I’m in the best place in the world right now, they’ll forgive me.”

>>>

In the video below, the conversation with Jeffers continues as he talks about going from the D-League to the big time, about where he gets his rebounding prowess, and about just who is Othyus Jeffers.

Othyus and D-Wade, both Chicago boys who have trained together at Tim Grover’s famed gym, exchange a couple of post-game words.

Source

Truth About It» ShareBullets: LeBron’s Dunk On Jeffers& The Grunfeld Pot Stirs

Links, pictures and commentary… (Worth noting: I’m not into April Fools’ Day jokes, in case you were wondering.)

Sure, newmedia darling Othyus Jeffersgot dunked on by LeBron James on Wednesday, but…

…Othyus took it like a good sport, getting a good smile out of it before LeBron even landed on the ground. Ask Jeffers about it (I didn’t), and I bet he’d honestly say,“It’s just basketball.”

And in that, he is right. Getting dunked on is bound to happen, no biggie (if you’re comfortable with being immortalized on the Internets). Life needs good sports, and Jeffers is just that. Can’t say the same about the perpetually crying and bitching LeBron. Can’t believe Ted Leonsis let him endorse his book with a quote.

And watching the video, the dunk obviously came after LeBron fouled Jordan Crawford. Good one, refs.

LINKS.

The Wizards are like Ewoks? Check out Rashad Mobley’s column.
{DCist}

Unbeknownst to me until it was posted, my Twitter account,@Truth_About_Itis up for best“Washington journalist on Twitter” at TBD.com(shakes fist at Steinberg).
{TBD.com}

Peter Vecsey is back to popping Viagra and boners over Gilbert Arenas, saying he feels sorry for Arenas like he does for stray animals. Vecsey also says that Ted Leonsis“thought about changing leadership {Ernie Grunfeld} but couldn’t find an appealing replacement.”
{New York Post}

Rashad Mobley also took part in a“Who has the most to prove?” panel about the NBA playoffs on the ESPN website.
{ESPN.com}

Sean Fegan on Othyus Jeffers:

“During our time on BF, there have been many lunch pail heroes who have come and gone and briefly won the hearts of the community. Dominic McGuire, Alonzo Gee and James Singleton are some of the more recent examples, and while I have liked all of these players, none has perhaps captivated me as much as Othyus Jeffers. Some people just know how to go and get the basketball and Jeffers is one of those players. It would be a shame that if the Wizards didn’t at least explore giving Jeffers the minimum next year, because he is that glue guy that I think the Wizards have searching for all year. Plus, Jeffers is a really funny dude.”

{Bullets Forever}

John Wall threw a punch thing, Sam Cassell and Eddie House mock started a fight, and Verizon Center fans won free a Chik-Fil-A sandwich… a lot happened in the Wizards-Heat game on Wednesday.
{NBC Washington}

Gilbert Arenas:

“I feel like it’s like I’m scared to go in and jump off my left leg but I know I can. I can see whenever I go for a rebound, I’m at the rim but if I try to make a layup, I don’t even try to explode up for some reason.”

{SLAM Online}

A picture of Antawn Jamison and other NBAers as kids.
{NBA Hoot}

If anyone can tell a good story about Seattle SuperSonics history, it’s Beckley Mason.
{HoopSpeak}

Dan Snyder hates trees.
{Washington City Paper}

Juwan Howard needs to retroactively chill out for pretty much his whole career.
{The Basketball Jones}

Wale is sending some Foamposites back home to Nigeria.
{Nice Kicks}

Cool stuff done to Van Gogh paintings.
{Web Urbanist}

Source