My dear reader,
Ever since August of 2010, you have made it a point to take a few precious minutes out of your day to stop here and see what is the latest and greatest in all things Washington D.C. sports. And some of you have even gone out of your way to share what you read on here on your Twitter and/or Facebook pages and for that, I thank you.
But, there will be a somewhat major change hitting The Skinny On Sports blog from here until forevermore.
Late in the month of October, I was contacted by Beyond Sports Network and was offered the position of Director of Media Relations. Let me back track a quick second...
Recall if you will, this blog post I did this past spring regarding the Beyond Sports Network Collegiate Showcase in Akron, Ohio. I kept in touch with powers that be at BSN and they offered me this position.
Due to the workload that I have happily taken on, I will not be able to post up-to-the-minute updates on your favorite D.C. sports teams. It pains me to say this, but The Skinny On Sports will only be updated 2-3 times per week.
When will it be updated? you may ask. This blog will now be used to recap the latest sporting event, be it Redskins, Wizards, Capitals, or Nationals, and give my personal take on what happened during the game.
I sincerely hope that you continue to check in on this blog on read my latest and greatest take on what exactly happened on the ice, diamond, field, and hard wood. I promise to bring you my unbiased (mostly) opinion on what went down during the game.
Thank you to my readers that check in day after day to see the latest and greatest sports news. You keep me motivated to continue my work and perfect my craft. For now, keep this blog on your list and check in every now and then to see what is going on in the world of The Skinny.
Sincerely,
Brian "The Skinny On Sports" Skinnell
Showing posts with label Wizards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wizards. Show all posts
Monday, November 5, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Wizards Fall to Cavs 94-84
For the first few weeks of the season, or from now until John Wall comes back, don't look too deeply at what the Wizards are doing on the court. Once they get their two key players back, things will improve.
Last night against the Cavaliers was a bit of a let down for Wizards fans alike. Bradley Beal scored all eight of his points in the first half and Cavaliers big man Anderson Varejao dominated the paint collecting 23 rebounds and scoring nine points and dishing out nine assists.
The front court of Beal, Jordan Crawford, and AJ Price had their moments of glory and their moments we'd all rather forget. Overall, I thought that AJ Price did a decent job of directing the offense. However, he is no John Wall and that is something that needs to be kept in mind.
Crawford came off the bench and scored a team high 11 points for the Wizards as well as dishing out five assists. Having Bradley Beal and AJ Price on the floor took some of the focus off of Crawford and allowed him to make some plays.
The Wizards were out-rebounded 54-39 by the Cavaliers and that can be attributed to the absence of Nene. The Wizards top two rebounders, Emeka Okafor (7) and Earl Barron (8) combined didn't add up to the same number of rebounds that Anderson Varejao (23) had. With Nene on the floor, the Wizards would have a bit more fight under the basket and could have come away with more rebounds and more second-chance points.
The biggest problem for the Wizards was shooting the three-point shot. The Wizards shot just 25 percent (8-32) from behind the arc. Only three players, Price, Ariza, and Beal, made multiple three points (two each).
So before you put the Wizards down as one of the worst teams in the league, remember that they are missing their best big man presence, Nene, and the leader of their offense and team, John Wall. When those two return, the level of play should get better and they might be able to keep up with teams down the stretch (instead of blowing it at the end like last night).
Question: After watching last nights game, how do you think the Wizards will fare this season?
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Last night against the Cavaliers was a bit of a let down for Wizards fans alike. Bradley Beal scored all eight of his points in the first half and Cavaliers big man Anderson Varejao dominated the paint collecting 23 rebounds and scoring nine points and dishing out nine assists.
The front court of Beal, Jordan Crawford, and AJ Price had their moments of glory and their moments we'd all rather forget. Overall, I thought that AJ Price did a decent job of directing the offense. However, he is no John Wall and that is something that needs to be kept in mind.
Crawford came off the bench and scored a team high 11 points for the Wizards as well as dishing out five assists. Having Bradley Beal and AJ Price on the floor took some of the focus off of Crawford and allowed him to make some plays.
The Wizards were out-rebounded 54-39 by the Cavaliers and that can be attributed to the absence of Nene. The Wizards top two rebounders, Emeka Okafor (7) and Earl Barron (8) combined didn't add up to the same number of rebounds that Anderson Varejao (23) had. With Nene on the floor, the Wizards would have a bit more fight under the basket and could have come away with more rebounds and more second-chance points.
The biggest problem for the Wizards was shooting the three-point shot. The Wizards shot just 25 percent (8-32) from behind the arc. Only three players, Price, Ariza, and Beal, made multiple three points (two each).
So before you put the Wizards down as one of the worst teams in the league, remember that they are missing their best big man presence, Nene, and the leader of their offense and team, John Wall. When those two return, the level of play should get better and they might be able to keep up with teams down the stretch (instead of blowing it at the end like last night).
Question: After watching last nights game, how do you think the Wizards will fare this season?
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Monday, October 29, 2012
Wizards Waive Two
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| Shelvin Mack, 22, was waived yesterday. (Photo: Keith Allison) |
The first player that the Wizards waived was 2011 draft pick Shelvin Mack. Mack was drafted out of Butler University and played minimally behind John Wall and Jordan Crawford. With the newest addition of Bradley Beal and the quality of play from AJ Price this pre-season, it was expected that Mack would be the odd-man out.
The next player released by the Wizards was big man Brian Cook. Cook was given a chance this pre-season when the Wizards signed him to a preseason contract. He was up against the likes of Trevor Ariza, Trevor Booker, Emeka Okafor, and also the anticipated return of star big-man Nene did not help his cause.
With the release of these two players, the Wizards are now down to their league-required 15 player roster. For the complete list of players, click on this link.
Question: What do you think of the Wizards roster this year? Do they have a chance to make some noise in the NBA this season? Or are they still early in the rebuilding stages?
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Beal Twists Ankle
It sounds worse than it was and it also happened in practice earlier this week. But, Wizards top draft pick and shooting guard Bradley Beal twisted his ankle in practice earlier this week and he was limited in practice today.
According to the team and reports, it's not as bad as it sounds. Beal simply came down funny on his ankle it rolled a little bit. He was taken off the court by the trainers and they treated him for an ankle injury (obviously). Beal then tried to walk on it, but limped off the court as practice came to an end.
The Wizards have already lost star point guard John Wall and star post-player Nene for a few more weeks due to a knee injury (Wall) and plantar facitis (Nene). At this point, the last thing they need is their top draft pick to go down with a nagging ankle injury.
It is safe to expect the Wizards to be careful with Beal. While the injury may not be that serious now, ankles take a serious beating in the NBA with all the lateral movement and cutting that players do. Any little bit of swelling left in that ankle could seriously limit his range of motion and will hurt his ability to play.
So far this preseason, Beal is averaging just over 13 points per game and about three assists per game. When he is on the floor, the Wizards score an average of 12.83 more points that there opponents. He is becoming the difference maker that the Wizards had hoped and when you combine him with John Wall, the Wizards have a pretty stout set of one and two guards.
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Source: Inside Hoops
According to the team and reports, it's not as bad as it sounds. Beal simply came down funny on his ankle it rolled a little bit. He was taken off the court by the trainers and they treated him for an ankle injury (obviously). Beal then tried to walk on it, but limped off the court as practice came to an end.
The Wizards have already lost star point guard John Wall and star post-player Nene for a few more weeks due to a knee injury (Wall) and plantar facitis (Nene). At this point, the last thing they need is their top draft pick to go down with a nagging ankle injury.
It is safe to expect the Wizards to be careful with Beal. While the injury may not be that serious now, ankles take a serious beating in the NBA with all the lateral movement and cutting that players do. Any little bit of swelling left in that ankle could seriously limit his range of motion and will hurt his ability to play.
So far this preseason, Beal is averaging just over 13 points per game and about three assists per game. When he is on the floor, the Wizards score an average of 12.83 more points that there opponents. He is becoming the difference maker that the Wizards had hoped and when you combine him with John Wall, the Wizards have a pretty stout set of one and two guards.
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Source: Inside Hoops
Monday, October 15, 2012
Wizards Lose To Nets
It may only be preseason, but the Wizards left me wanting more after tonight's 98-88 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
They weren't awful...the entire game. As a team, they showed signs of improvement over last season's joke of a team. Honestly, they just need a little more time to gel and get better.
On offense, it seemed to me as though they were confused and organized when it came to actually running an offense. That's fine, at times, especially when you have a player as electric as John Wall that can create with ease. Unfortunately, tonight and for the next eight weeks they will not have John Wall.
They don't have a player that can create like Wall can. Jordan Crawford, Bradley Beal, Shelvin Mack, AJ Price, and Jannero Pargo all tried their hand at running the offense and all five had troubles. Beal and Mack had the most success, but even their success isn't going to be good enough in this league.
Crawford, Price, and Pargo all looked lost at some during this game. Crawford was too inconsistent to have a positive impact on the game. He would show signs of brilliance, such as a beautiful spin move and hitting the open jumper, and then he would make you scratch your head in confusion after a play he attempted.
The front court of Emeka Okafor, Shavlik Rudolph, Trevor Ariza, and Jan Vesely were solid. That position is definitely improving from last season. Okafor had a very productive game for the Wizards. In 28 minutes, he had 12 points and eight rebounds.
The top scorer for the Wizards was Martell Webster. Webster had 18 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Webster's performance was certainly a surprise.
All in all, the teams biggest issue to start the season will be at the point guard position (DUH!). It doesn't appear that they have a bonafide guard to run point. They have a good supporting cast, but nobody consistent enough to run such a crucial position.
The Wizards are certainly improving. They know that they are still in the rebuilding process, but they are handling that process well. There is talent there. Now, they need to find a way to bring that talent out and make it more consistent.
What do you think of the Wizards performance tonight against the Nets? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and start the discussion!
Follow the blog on Twitter @SkinnyOnSports and on Facebook by searching The Skinny On Sports!!
They weren't awful...the entire game. As a team, they showed signs of improvement over last season's joke of a team. Honestly, they just need a little more time to gel and get better.
On offense, it seemed to me as though they were confused and organized when it came to actually running an offense. That's fine, at times, especially when you have a player as electric as John Wall that can create with ease. Unfortunately, tonight and for the next eight weeks they will not have John Wall.
They don't have a player that can create like Wall can. Jordan Crawford, Bradley Beal, Shelvin Mack, AJ Price, and Jannero Pargo all tried their hand at running the offense and all five had troubles. Beal and Mack had the most success, but even their success isn't going to be good enough in this league.
Crawford, Price, and Pargo all looked lost at some during this game. Crawford was too inconsistent to have a positive impact on the game. He would show signs of brilliance, such as a beautiful spin move and hitting the open jumper, and then he would make you scratch your head in confusion after a play he attempted.
The front court of Emeka Okafor, Shavlik Rudolph, Trevor Ariza, and Jan Vesely were solid. That position is definitely improving from last season. Okafor had a very productive game for the Wizards. In 28 minutes, he had 12 points and eight rebounds.
The top scorer for the Wizards was Martell Webster. Webster had 18 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Webster's performance was certainly a surprise.
All in all, the teams biggest issue to start the season will be at the point guard position (DUH!). It doesn't appear that they have a bonafide guard to run point. They have a good supporting cast, but nobody consistent enough to run such a crucial position.
The Wizards are certainly improving. They know that they are still in the rebuilding process, but they are handling that process well. There is talent there. Now, they need to find a way to bring that talent out and make it more consistent.
What do you think of the Wizards performance tonight against the Nets? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and start the discussion!
Follow the blog on Twitter @SkinnyOnSports and on Facebook by searching The Skinny On Sports!!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Beal Shines In DC Debut
Last night, Wizards first round draft pick Bradley Beal gave Wizards their first glimpse at home of what he is capable of. However, it ended in a 108-101 loss the New York Knicks. But, it's preseason.
Beal was one of four players that scored in double figures for the Wizards. Jordan Crawford (17), Beal (15), Martell Webster (12), and Kevin Seraphin (10) were the four leading scorers for the Wizards.
The off-season acquisitions of Jannero Pargo, AJ Price, and Trevor Ariza combined for 25 points. Webster lead the way on the boards for the Wizards with 10 rebounds and Beal and Pargo both had 5 assists each.
Jordan Crawford, Cartier Martin, and Brian Cook all were 2/3 from behind the arc. Bradley Beal led the team from the free-throw line shooting 6/7. Trevor Ariza was a perfect 4/4 from the charity stripe.
Martell Webster spent the most time on the floor for the Wizards with 27 minutes. Beal had 26 minutes and Singleton and Seraphin both had 25 minutes a piece.
As a team, the Wizards shot 42.3% from the floor and and 85.7% from the free throw line. They collected 45 rebounds including 30 defensive rebounds. They dished out 22 assists, but, turned the ball over 15 times.
There were a few key Wizards that sat out last night's game. Trevor Booker, Nene, John Wall, Emeka Okafor, Shavlik Randolph, and Steven Gray all did not play for various reasons.
Were you impressed with the Wizards performance last night? Start the discussion below and leave a comment with your thoughts!
Follow the blog on Twitter @SkinnyOnSports and on Facebook by searching The Skinny On Sports!!
Stat Source: ESPN
Beal was one of four players that scored in double figures for the Wizards. Jordan Crawford (17), Beal (15), Martell Webster (12), and Kevin Seraphin (10) were the four leading scorers for the Wizards.
The off-season acquisitions of Jannero Pargo, AJ Price, and Trevor Ariza combined for 25 points. Webster lead the way on the boards for the Wizards with 10 rebounds and Beal and Pargo both had 5 assists each.
Jordan Crawford, Cartier Martin, and Brian Cook all were 2/3 from behind the arc. Bradley Beal led the team from the free-throw line shooting 6/7. Trevor Ariza was a perfect 4/4 from the charity stripe.
Martell Webster spent the most time on the floor for the Wizards with 27 minutes. Beal had 26 minutes and Singleton and Seraphin both had 25 minutes a piece.
As a team, the Wizards shot 42.3% from the floor and and 85.7% from the free throw line. They collected 45 rebounds including 30 defensive rebounds. They dished out 22 assists, but, turned the ball over 15 times.
There were a few key Wizards that sat out last night's game. Trevor Booker, Nene, John Wall, Emeka Okafor, Shavlik Randolph, and Steven Gray all did not play for various reasons.
Were you impressed with the Wizards performance last night? Start the discussion below and leave a comment with your thoughts!
Follow the blog on Twitter @SkinnyOnSports and on Facebook by searching The Skinny On Sports!!
Stat Source: ESPN
Monday, October 1, 2012
Wizards Sign Point Guard
In lieu of John Wall missing the next 8 weeks due to a knee injury, the Washington Wizards signed point guard Jannero Pargo to a one-year deal. Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors has the full report here.
This is simply a depth signing. The Wizards have Shelvin Mack and AJ Price as their primary point guards through preseason and into the regular season. Signing Pargo gives them another option at the position.
Pargo entered the league eight years ago as a member of the Lakers for the 2002-2003 season. He appeared in 34 games in his inaugural season and averaged 2.5 points per game in 10.5 minutes per game.
His best season came in 2006-2007 when he appeared in 82 games for the New Orleans Hornets and started seven games for them. He averaged just over 20 minutes per game and just under ten points per game that season.
Last season, Pargo played in 50 games for the Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 5.6 points in 13.4 minutes per game. In four post season appearances, he scored 16 points and with five rebounds and six assists.
Mack, Price, and Pargo will all be getting reps at point guard. While there is a steep drop-off from Wall, all three do have the skills to be a temporary replacement at the point guard position.
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Source: Hoops Rumors
This is simply a depth signing. The Wizards have Shelvin Mack and AJ Price as their primary point guards through preseason and into the regular season. Signing Pargo gives them another option at the position.
Pargo entered the league eight years ago as a member of the Lakers for the 2002-2003 season. He appeared in 34 games in his inaugural season and averaged 2.5 points per game in 10.5 minutes per game.
His best season came in 2006-2007 when he appeared in 82 games for the New Orleans Hornets and started seven games for them. He averaged just over 20 minutes per game and just under ten points per game that season.
Last season, Pargo played in 50 games for the Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 5.6 points in 13.4 minutes per game. In four post season appearances, he scored 16 points and with five rebounds and six assists.
Mack, Price, and Pargo will all be getting reps at point guard. While there is a steep drop-off from Wall, all three do have the skills to be a temporary replacement at the point guard position.
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Source: Hoops Rumors
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wizards Trade For Ariza, Okafor
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| (Photo: cbsimg.net) |
In my opinion, the Wizards got a great deal with this trade.
They acquired two solid (not great) players in Okafor and Ariza and all they had to give up was a late draft pick and a player that didn't really make a difference last season.
This trade also makes a huge difference when you look at the draft picture.
A week ago, I wrote a post stating that the Wizards will likely select Thomas Robinson from Kansas or Andre Drummond from UConn with the third pick. Following this trade, however, I would like to make an adjustment to that prediction.
With acquisition of Okafor, the Wizards now have to starting low post men Okafor and Nene. The Wizards also filled their need for a small forward with acquiring Trevor Ariza. Now, all they need is a shooting guard to compliment John Wall.
That's where the draft comes into play...
The Wizards will now have the option to pick between two quality shooting guards: Harrison Barnes from UNC and Bradley Beal from Florida. In my post last week, I stated that Bradley Beal would be the best option for the Wizards if they were to take a shooting guard with the third pick...I still stand by that.
Beal is a great shooter off the screen and does well when he puts the ball on the floor. I think that he and John Wall will compliment each other very well. Also, since Beal was not the point guard through college, he will already be used to his role on the floor.
Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor were two great pickups by the Wizards. Ariza, an NBA champion back in 2009, has been bouncing around the league his entire career. Still, however, he manages to make a difference no matter what team he is on.
Okafor, the second overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft, has been a solid player throughout his career, as well. In 2005, he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was also the Rookie of the Year that year. Okafor can give the Wizards at least 12 points night in and night out.
I like the direction that Ernie Grunfeld and Co. are taking the Wizards. While they haven't made any major moves, they have still added some quality players to the roster.
When the season tips off, I wouldn't be surprised to see this starting line-up on the floor: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor, and Nene.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Who Should The Wizards Take At Three?
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| Thomas Robinson, above, would compliment Nene down low. (Photo: hoopsworld.com) |
There are three players in particular that I think the Wizards can't go wrong with if they selected them.
Obviously, Anthony Davis is going to go first overall. New Orleans would be insane not to pass up a player with as much upside as him. Following that, however, it gets a little fuzzy.
Some experts think that power forward/center Andre Drummond from the University of Connecticut will go second overall to the Bobcats. Other people think that power forward Thomas Robinson from Kansas will go second overall.
It's simple, really, the Wizards just take whichever one doesn't get picked...right? Wrong!!
In my opinion, the Wizards will have a choice between two players: one of which will compliment John Wall and one will compliment Nene.
The compliment to Nene would obviously be either Drummond or Robinson. I think that the Bobcats will go with the physical freak that is Andre Drummond. He is a stronger big man that can get very long in the paint.
That would then leave Thomas Robinson. The 6'9" 244 pound junior hails from the Washington D.C. area. He's very strong in the paint and is tough to beat defensively. When you take his wingspan into account, he can stretch out to be 7'1". Robinson can also put the ball on the floor and finishes well at the rim.
The other player that the Wizards would be wise to select would be an excellent compliment to John Wall. Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal is a guy that remind many of Eric Gordon and Marcus Thornton.
Beal is a solid shooter that is great at shooting off a screen. He's got a quick, high release that stays consistent throughout the course of a game. If he needs to, he has no problems with putting the ball on the ground and finishing at the rim.
The Wizards can't go wrong with picking either Robinson, Drummond, or Beal. Either one of them will score points and can compliment another player on the roster. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from Kentucky could help fill out the small forward position, but I think that the Wizards could do much better by selecting one of the other three.
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