John Wall Is Working With Gary Payton

John Wall is a tremendous talent and is clearly the face of the Washington Wizards franchise. Franchise players need to do whatever it takes to elevate themselves individually so they could in turn elevate that same team to new found greatness. Wall is taking the necessary steps to take the Wizards to the playoffs and beyond by working with Seattle Supersonics great and defensive stalwart Gary “The Glove” Payton. Wall has been working hard to improve his jump shot and stated the following about what he is doing to fine tune it “Footwork also, just like catching the ball and working on pivots and stuff”

All that is great but Wall wants to do something very similar to what Payton used to do in his playing days which is posting up. At 6’4 195 pounds Walls body is very similar to Payton’s 6’4 190 pounds. Wall like Payton isn’t the best shooter but his body for a point guard should allow him to post up and use his physicality to create higher percentage shots for both himself and his teammates on the Wizards. Wall unlike Payton though posses elite athleticism and explosion to the rim so a post game will open up a whole new dimension to his game that would greatly benefit the Wizards.

John Wall is adamant about building something in Washington and not jumping ship to go play somewhere else. “My main thing as a person, I’m not a follower. I like to be a leader”. This guy is a premier talent and if  he finds that defensive stopper mentality within himself then the Wizards have something very special to sell tickets around. Wall is the Wizards and after signing a max deal for the next 5 years getting paid 80 Million dollars. “I feel like I would have had the opportunity to go anywhere. Wall respects his peers but isn’t about fraternizing saying “I feel like I’d be a follower trying to build a legacy somewhere else. I feel like I’m a person who gives my word and my commitment to where I started and that’s where I’d like to finish”

So he isn’t going to take his talents to South Beach to play for the Heat nor is he interested in getting his jersey retired at the Staples Center. For John Wall it’s about hanging banners at the Verizon Center in Washington and building a legacy with his own footsteps. So Working with Payton is going to help Wall do what most Point guards are afraid to do and that’s play defense.

 

The Washington Wizards Are A Team to Watch Out For

Let me start off by saying the Wizards are a team to look out for, for the 2013-14 season. Why? A healthy John Wall, recently signed to a 5 year, $80 million extension, also coming off a great performance, trying out for Team USA, with his best highlight being insane put back slam off of a Klay Thompson miss.

24-25 and 5-28, records with and without John Wall last season. The Wizards were, at the time, an atrocious 5-28 before John Wall came back from a stress fracture in his right knee and ended up finishing the season on a strong point, with a record of 24-25, giving teams a warning for next season. During the 2012-13 season, John Wall averaged 18.5 PPG, 7.6 APG, 4.0 RPG and 1.3 SPG on 44.1% from the field, also finishing with a PER of 20.91, which was 6th amongst all PG's in the NBA, improving over his previous 2 seasons.

One game in particular, where John Wall's potential output in the future could look like was a 47 point game against the Memphis Grizzlies; a game in which John Wall utterly dominated the Grizzlies, who have one of the best, if not the best defense in the NBA, lead by Tony Allen and 2012-13 DPOY, Marc Gasol.

As well as improving his performance from previous seasons, John Wall improves his teammates play as well, particularly Bradley Beal. Beal shot 36.7% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range while Wall was injured and 46.8% from the floor and 46.6% from distance once he came back. Even though Bradley Beal didn't win ROY, Wall turned his whole season around, showcasing what the Wizards backcourt will look like for years ahead.

John Wall and Bradley Beal highlight a Wizards backcourt that also has PG Eric Maynor, SG Garrett Temple and swingmen, Martell Webster and Glen Rice Jr., that looks to make the playoffs in the 2013-14 season. Apart from their backcourt, the Wizards latest top draftee in Otto Porter Jr. adds exactly what the Wizards needed: a SF that can do a little bit of everything. Even though John Wall said he wanted Anthony Bennett, who got taken 1st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, I'm sure he'll "settle" for Otto Porter Jr. Porter Jr. is a player that teams like the Wizards covet because of his all-around skill

He may not have the best potential but he's a sure-fire, 14-4-3 player, at least for his rookie year, that is if he beats Martell Webster for the starting SF spot. Other than Porter Jr. and Webster, Trevor Ariza is also going to contribute. Depth at SF is one thing the Wizards do not lack. The Wizards front court is made up of veterans Emeka Okafor and Nene Hilario (that's his last name if y'all didn't know) that start,

and Trevor Booker, Chris Singleton, Kevin Seraphin and Jan Veseley comng off the bench. Booker, Singleton, Serpahin and Veseley all can develop into solid, if not great role players and potentially a starter for Jan Veseley, if he can keep on improving and show the Wizards why they entrusted him by drafting him 6th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. At this point in his career, he is more known for his infamous kiss with his girlfriend at the 2011 NBA Draft, following the Wizards selecting him.

The Wizards cap situation is looking great in the following years, with Okafor and Nene getting off the books in the next couple years. With that extra cap space, they can sign a marquee free agent, also with players wanting to play with a player like John Wall, who is a willing passer and amazing team player. From their startling line-up to their above average bench, the Washington Wizards are a team that are going to gain valuable playoff experience in the immediate future and contend for years to come in the long-term.

Beware NBA teams, the Wizards are here.

Throwback Thursday: Kwame Brown 2001

Tonight is one of the biggest nights of the year for me and many basketball fans across the country as the decisions will impact our franchises for years to come. Speaking as a Charlotte basketball fan I witnessed so many horrible draft picks over the year such as Adam Morrison, Sean May and D.J Augustein. I've also seen a few good ones like Baron Davis, Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist but when it comes to the draft I always expect the worst when it comes to my teams decision making. Today on throwback Thursday we reflect on arguably the worst 1^st overall pick in NBA history.

June 27 2001 was the date and with the first overall pick belonged to the Washington Wizards. The board had many guys that could have helped their team become better such as Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace even Shane Battier. All these guys went on to have a good NBA career making an all-star team, winning a championship,defensive player of the year or just helping a team out in the playoffs, but did the Wizards pick any one of them?? Well..........NO!!! They picked Kwame Brown the 6'11 290 pound blob of center. He was a beast coming out of High school but he is the living example of everything general manager doesn’t want out of its 1^st round draft pick which is someone who is lazy and doesn’t take his game seriously. You can sense that about Kwame Brown just by watching him on the court over the years and looking at the back of any of his cheap basketball cards at his stats. He never progressed or took any dramatic steps forward to ever become anything more then a serviceable NBA backup. That’s what strikes me about Kwame is that someone who is or was once talented at basketball gets to the highest level of basketball and decides to just collect a check. I feel like if you work that hard to get there you should work harder to deserve to stay.

The same guy who drafted Kwame in Washington has the final say for my beloved Charlotte Bobcats (Soon to be Hornets) in tonight’s draft. I'm Hoping Michael Jordan stays on the right track like he has the last few years drafting the right guys like Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-gilchrist and stays away from the Adam Morrison/Kwame Brown type draft picks that haunted his legacy as an owner.

With that said I hope tonight my Bobcats make the kind of move that impacts this franchise the same way drafting guys like Baron Davis, Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson did. Here is to better days in Charlotte for basketball and good luck to your teams tonight if you have a rooting interest in tonight’s draft.

GO BOBCATS GO!!!!!!!!!

When Will we let go of Michael Jordan (the player)

Recently Michael Jordan's 50^th Birthday was Celebrated and by celebrated I mean celebrated to the point where we started asking if he could play Shooting guard for the Charlotte Bobcats. This and countless retrospective segments documenting his Career from a variety of different perspectives led me to ask the Question “when will the fans let Go of Michael Jordan the player”?

MJ is one of the most important and in some cases the Most important figure in the game of basketball but as a player he is not coming back. He was the central figure in the branding of basketball, from a financial perspective there isn't a more significant player in the league. The reality is that it's over he isn't going to be Sticking his tounge out while gliding in the air towards an acrobatic shot. He won't be dunking over the likes of Ewing, Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning. If this comes as news to you then I will assume that you are a very delusional person and probably a huge MJ lover.

Michael gave you his comeback already with the Washington Wizards let's leave it at that. 50 is a benchmark age for anybody and I hope Michael had a Happy 50^th birthday and i'm glad the Media took a great amount of time to acknowledge what he did for the game but Let him go the only way your going to see that man in a Bulls Jersey is playing NBA 2K13. Do I doubt that he is in better shape then most 50 year old retired NBA Players? Not at all Mike is still Mike and still posses the better basketball IQ then easily 90% of the league today but Jordan isn't god even though we put him on the pedestal Father time will catch up to him on the court if it hasn't caught up already.

Did he Beat Michael Kidd-Gilchrist one one? Yes obviously if MKG admitted it but that in no way validates that Jordan can still play at a high level in the NBA.

So enjoy his commercials,Collect his cards, Buy his new Retro's coming out and proudly rock any MJ throwbacks in your possesion but Jordan fans (ESPN included) Let Michael The player go.....IT'S OVER!!!!

on that note happy belated 50^th To Michael Jordan!

Vegas Summer league

Vegas summer league has wrapped up and there were some rookies and sophomores who impressed. With all the different teams competing in sin city there was more talent on display then in Orlando. So with out further ado lets get into the players who impressed.


1. Josh Selby G Memphis Grizzlies 2nd round pick 49th overall 2011 draft

@joshselby2

The former Kansas Jayhawk saw little time in the Grizzlie rotation with Tony Allen and O.J Mayo at shooting guard for the grind house gang. With the departure of Mayo to the Dallas Mavericks Selby may have an opportunity to get significant time in the Memphis rotation. Selby proved to be one of the most outstanding players in summer league dropping 30+ points in 2 of his 4 games. He shot lights out from the perimeter putting up numbers you usually see from me playing NBA 2k12 . In all seriousness though if Selby can come off the bench and give the Grizzlies some consistent shooting from the perimeter he will stick around for a long time. Memphis desperately need shooting from the perimeter ranking 25th in the NBA  last year shooting 32% a team from dowtown. If Selby can fill it up from 3 he will add a whole new dimension to the grindhouse offense.

Summer league stats: 4 Games 29 Minutes 27.5 PPG 2.8 Rebounds 2.5 Steals 59 FG%  70 % 3pt FG


2. Kemba Walker PG Charlotte Bobcats 1st round 9th overall 2011 draft

@KembaWalker

Kemba Walker is known as a winner capturing a national title at Uconn in early 2011 but his NBA experience was vastly different. He played on the worst team in league history going 7-59 with the Charlotte Bobcats. Talk about being brought down to earth from being on top of college basketball to worst team in NBA history. Kemba Walker individually struggled for most of the season and his numbers reflect that. Walker did show some flashes of brilliance posting a triple-double vs. Wizards on January 25th . With Walker being given the job,having his 1st real camp and a quicker more up tempo system by new coach Mike Dunlap Walker is looking to prove all the doubters wrong that say he can”t be a starting point guard in the NBA. He silenced all the critics (for now) with his impressive summer league play. He had games where he didn’t play his best basketball and still impacted winning. For example in the 2nd game vs. Cavaliers Walker shot 2-14 from the field but with the game on the line and the Bobcats down by 1 he hit a floater to give the Charlotte the win over Cleveland. Kemba may not be your prototype point guard but playing to his attributes in the Dunlap system will allow him to flourish and I expect the starting point guard to be in the running for the most improved player of the year award.

Summer league stats: 5 games 31 Minutes 15.8 points 3.6 Rebounds 5.8 Assists 1.8 Steals 35 FG%

Damian Lillard G Portland TrailBlazers 1st round 6th overall

@Dame_Lillard

Considerd a reach by many experts Damian Lillard has a chip on his shoulder to hopefully prove the critics wrong that he wasn’t a reach. He is a  little known point guard from the miniscule college of Weber State where he put up big time numbers his sophmore and senior seasons putting up 19.9 and 24.5 points respectably. Lillard is a guy who can flat out score and I saw a lot of things I liked out of the summer league scoring champ. He broke down defenses and penetrated the middle of the floor and set up team mates making it look effortlessly at times. Although he was inefficient at times Lillard was aggressive and you like too see that out of  your rookie point guards,especially if he is projected as your starter. This kid has All-star potential

Summer League Stats: 4 Games 32.8 Minutes 26.5 PPG 5.3 Assists  4.0 Rebounds 0.5 Steals 43.8 FG% 37 3PT FG%

Jeffery Taylor F Charlotte Bobcats 2nd round 32nd overall

This too me is considered a steal in the 2nd round because Taylor posses 1st round talent his game is versatile. He takes pride in his defense 1st but on offense Taylor can shoot lights out from the perimeter but still posses the athletic ability to get to the rim and finish. At 6’7 him and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist  will likely see some playing time with each other which could make for some exciting basketball in the queen city this season. Taylor no matter where he plays will be an effective NBA pro. His perimeter defense and long range shooting will make him an asset in Charlotte  this upcoming season and the native of Sweden  has looked solid so far even though its only summer league.

Summer League Stats: 27 Minutes 11.8 PPG 1.3 Assists 4.5 Rebounds 0.2 Steals  40 FG% 37 3pt FG%

Bradley Beal G Washington Wizards 1st round 3rd Overall

@RealDealBeal23

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The St.Louis native is considerd by many to be the most NBA ready player in the draft and will be John Wall”s backcourt partner in crime for the Wizards. Beal will compliment Wall’s raw atheletisicm very well with his ability too shoot the ball from the perimeter. For the 1st time maybe ever in DC the wizards have a backcourt they can build around for a long time. I like what I saw from Beal he played solid defense hustled  in the open court to block players and in close outs. The effort level was really high and for a franchise that has a trend of having guys who take play off Beal should make a differnce.

Summer League Stats: 5 Games 30.6 Minutes 17.6 PPG 1.8 Assists 4.6 Rebounds 1 Steal 41 FG%  30 3PT FG%