Putting the mental in judgmental. You're only young once, but you can be immature forever.
The seventh planet
Joined April 2014
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I know the Wizards need a backup PG like Tre Jones, but I have to keep reminding myself that med-long term (i.e. next season) it could easily be AJD or Willy. Long term, there's a decent chance AJ is the primary ball handler.
Wiz improve to 2-1. Both wins against bad team. Wiz aren't good yet, but they are talented, deep, and big. Oh, and AJ hasn't even played yet.
The pass to Bilal for the 3 that was reviewed (and disallowed due to shot clock violation) was BONKERS. I couldn't believe he even saw it. That he got it there was beyond ridiculous.
Last night's Wiz game confirmed everything for me. It's not that they're a nec playoff team or will blow past their O/U or anything. But they'll compete -- which is so developmentally valuable and FUN. There was a mass transfer of communal human energy at Cap One. Been a while!
All of this.
Overall thoughts on Wizards-Bucks, which was fun.
-AD was the best player on the court and looks like he's totally back right now. Dominated on both ends. MIL had zero answer for him inside.
-Kyshawn George is gonna be a winning basketball player for a long time in the NBA. His 4th quarter on both ends was sick.
-Thought Ayton gave WAS big minutes, too, especially at the start of the 4th. Had a few huge defensive stops on the interior then Bucks had no answer for the Trae/Ayton ball-screen game.
-Bub Carrington's game was awesome. Still needs to consistently get rim pressure but I thought his defensive intensity was way better at the point of attack even if he can still get pushed around a bit. Made some big shots to keep WAS in it in that middle stretch of the game.
-Thought Trae was much, much better after the disaster start in the attached tweet. The passing was massive. Do think he's gonna have to find the shot again, but he was a positive presence.
-Thought Coulibaly's presence defensively was unmistakable. His length to get deflections and cover ground was super helpful. On the other side, did not think Middleton looked like he was moving great.
-Jaquez was a great energy/mismatch scorer in this game.
-Hated everything about Ware on defense. Getting demolished by AD is whatever, but the moment at 10:30 in the 4th where he shows at the level on a ball-screen then just jogs back into the play afterward leaving Burries in no-man's land in a one-on-two at the rim and corner was unacceptable.
-Thought Burries was quite good for a rookie in 15 minutes with his 12 points. Gonna do a video on him for tomorrow maybe over on the Substack.
-Also liked the Jakucionis minutes. Thought he moved the ball well.
-Herro was awesome in the first half, particularly the second quarter. Obviously not a real NBA No. 1 option but I do think he would help someone in a trade in the right role if they go that route. Was really good in ball-screens tonight even if he slowed down later.
Feel very badly for KP.
Potential trade partners = MIL, DAL, NOP, LAC, ORL
This was a great in-depth and nuanced discussion. Congrats and great job @GregFinberg. Big time.
Dunc'd On Prime: WAS Season Outlook 2026-27 with @GregFinberg
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How can that be? Givony screamed into the camera post draft that 16 GMs were going to rue letting him slide. And he's an expert!
Ben retweeted
I think the emotions of Wizards Twitter needed this because it’s been nothing but a victory lap echo chamber since the draft and the road to actual success was always going to be a winding one.
Ben retweeted
Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villagers on Friday, setting olive groves on fire and slinging rocks.
Caught in the attack was Post photographer Heidi Levine. “They just kept kicking me and kicking me, like probably 50 times,” Levine said. wapo.st/4yt6dHY
Ben retweeted
Here at the Wizards “Meet The Team” preseason party at the National Museum of African American History in DC
Just like the open practice, there is a MASSIVE line down and around the block