All Wizards Talk
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All Wizards Talk
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SPEAKER_03Welcome back to All Wizards Talk a podcast on the All Sports Talk Network. I'm Bryce Nakins. Join alongside, as always, with Henry Brown. And ladies and gentlemen, you won't believe it. The Wizards won another basketball game. They're doing the thing. I don't know how they're doing it, but they're winning. Two at home in a row. Two at home in a row. Like they they lost one in between against the Pacers, which like I really thought that was a winnable one. A very winnable game. Like how you how you beat the Hawks and Bucks, I don't know, but lose to the Pacers this season. That's okay. Especially the Bucks that had Giannis, by the way. Giannis played this game and they still won. Uh little clutch uh moment by Bulal at the end. Um Bulalcatraz, as we like to call him. Yes. I'm I'm learning a little bit. I'm learning.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, Giannis had he had 26 points on 10 to 17 shooting, and I don't I don't know. You thought I don't think he had a great game. Like I feel like he just didn't do much for long periods. And if you yeah, Giannis, and they had a great set of defenders. I never would have guessed Marvin Bagley would be that good on Giannis coverage, but he was switching with Bilal and they both did a great job. It combined for only five fouls while Giannis fouled out.
SPEAKER_03Well, that steal by Balal at the end really solidified it. I was I was able to catch the second half of the game, which apparently was the half you wanted to catch from what I was seeing.
SPEAKER_04And that's usually not the case. I feel like they're usually even worse in the second half than usual. But they fell down like six points. You probably showed up right when they were falling down like 16 points or whatever it was.
SPEAKER_03I think so. I like I started watching this game. I started watching immediately starting third quarter because I had class and other stuff to do uh tonight, and so I missed that first half, which you know sucks. I missed the first half of the game, but I was able to catch that second half and really saw some impressive stuff from what I was seeing, especially like in you know, we started off the episode a little bit talking about him real quick, you know, Balka Chaz, but he didn't have a great offensive game. His defense, though, that it's something invaluable that you kind of need on this team.
SPEAKER_04It's it's an advertisement for why you wait, for why you're patient, because there's just aren't that many guys who and it's interesting that he did this on Giannis because like that was the easy sort of basic draft comparison to make out when he was picked and a few summers ago that he's like a young Giannis where Giannis showed up sort of undeveloped himself with this like long frame and great athleticism. Um Giannis, or I'm sorry, not Giannis, Bilal hasn't quite taken those you know, legendary steps forward that Giannis has. Um and you saw that on offense some. Um he he off the dribble, it wasn't great, couldn't knock down any threes of any kind, um, but the defense was awesome. He was just on Giannis like one-on-one for extended periods, and he held his own. It was really impressive.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, like you know, three of nine looks like an ugly number when you look at it. I I know it looks ugly ugly, 33. He has one more make each other. He did hit a three.
SPEAKER_04I didn't know it was like a three.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, like I'm I'm just looking at like his numbers. Like it looks ugly. Three of nine is looks like an ugly number, but four of nine looks like a good number, and so it's literally just it's a one more miss, and it's like, oh, he's shooting over 40. That's a pretty good night, then. So I don't want to harp on his offense too much. The three-point shooting, yeah, definitely has to be better looking at it.
SPEAKER_04He deserves us to talk about the defense tonight. Like, that was just a stand-up job.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, the I I meant the three-point shooting, not the defense needs to be better. Three-point shooting definitely needs to be better. One of four, not really gonna cut it. And like I you know mentioned with the three of nine, two of four looks really good, so it's just one more make. But he needs to be a reliable three-point shooter that we know he's gonna be like 35-36 percent on the season. That's what we need, yeah, from Bilal when you look at him. But his defense, like we mentioned, that's something where you you take the risk on letting him develop a little bit more, take another year or two with him, let him develop. And it's not like he's old, like for a prospect either. He's he's 21. Yeah, like he's he's he's younger than me.
unknownOh, that's and me.
SPEAKER_03Oh man, that's that's the crazy thing. Like, you look at some of these guys on this team, especially like Bilal, and he should he should be the one that we're talking a lot about tonight, you know, especially because his defense, without him, the Wizards do not win this game. 100%. Without him, they do not win.
SPEAKER_04No, and just I mean, the Wizards were begging to get that sixth foot foul call on Giannis. Um he the the officials thought he like stripped Keyshawn in the last like three minutes. Uh ball went out of bounds, he hit his wrist. They didn't call it, that would have been number six. And then he got like tripped up with Middleton like a minute later. That could have been called.
SPEAKER_03Keith didn't have a challenge, did he? If I don't if I remember correctly.
SPEAKER_04Well, I think he he used it, but it it worked. So I thought he had one, but like they just I don't know, maybe I'm wrong.
SPEAKER_03It might be one of those things where he doesn't want to risk it because of timeouts as well. Because if you lose it, you lose the timeout. Yeah, this isn't some bubble problem, let's be honest.
SPEAKER_04And they want to keep you in the game, and I understand that. Um, but credit to Balol for getting um Yeah, Bal, like he's he's been good when he has played.
SPEAKER_03I know, like, you know, if you look at the stats, it might not show it, but against a tough defense in his first game back, like he put up a good night, and he's had some where he looks solid against the Knicks, five of eleven, three of five from three. Against the Timberwolves, five of six, two of three from three. So it's it's been it's been streaky, is what it is. The loss against Indiana, four of nine, two of five from three. So it's just been really streaky. He hasn't been consistent, like, oh, we know he's gonna shoot, you know, at least 35% from three every game and at least 40% from the field. It's you know been a very streaky. Like, are we gonna get the balal who's shooting almost 50% from the field and you know, almost 40% from three, or are we gonna get the balal that's shooting, you know, only 30% from the field and only making one three if he makes any?
SPEAKER_04He definitely needs time. Um, but yeah, this was this was like the gate, like one of the best games he's ever played in in his in its own way.
SPEAKER_03Definitely, yeah, in his own way. He's been he looked really impressive, and it's mainly because that defense, and that's been the one constant this season for Bilal when he has played was that defense. That that's been the one constant thing where you're watching Bilal play and you're like, he's he's a good defensive player, and he you know has a bright future of being one of the better defenders in this league.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and uh they were definitely honing in on Giannis and just sort of, especially when he was uh in the game, or though of course he's in the game, we're talking about him. Um when he was in the game, they were just trying to make sure he wasn't doing all the work. Um and the plan wasn't working for a while. The Bucks shot 21 for 38 from three, that's 55%. Um, and it was really evenly distributed. It's not like they had like a hot five minutes, it was like they hit like 10 in the first half and like 11 in the second. I don't I don't know if that was a distribution, but it felt really equal.
SPEAKER_03Um and huge and huge announcement, huge, huge announcement, by the way. I just got this notification, and you're in the area, so you can redeem it. But because of that win, you can get a$2.50 Big Mac tomorrow.
SPEAKER_04That's right. Happened in the Atlanta game, too.
SPEAKER_03Hey, go get that Big Mac. Go go get that Big Mac.
SPEAKER_04Tell me how to go tomorrow if I go at midnight.
SPEAKER_03It might. Is that our talk? It might, it might. I'll tell my mom. Dude, speaking of talk about that's what I had for dinner. That's all that's been hitting. So that that goes for all the Wizards fans out there in the DMV area. Go get your Big Mac. Victory Big Mac, tell us how it tastes.
SPEAKER_04Yes. Um I'll add that to the back of my docket. Um, I was yeah, so for the shooting, um I noticed that Miles Turner was doing a lot of damage early on, and that was really irritating. Um, just because it was Miles Turner. Um and I took notice that he was the one who made the pass to Giannis that got picked by Balal. Great anticipation there.
SPEAKER_05Everyone just anticipation.
SPEAKER_04I think six guys on the buck shot like hit multiple threes. It was crazy.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'm looking at it. It's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
SPEAKER_04Don't do it. I'm not looking. I hope you didn't do it. I'm I'm doing it. Seven guys hit a three. Yeah, seven guys hit a three, six hit multiple. Yeah, like Kevin Pork hit five. Rollins hit six.
SPEAKER_03Um wait, yeah, no, you're saying it right. Yep.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so AJ hit four, and the one was like a buzzer beater. Um, Turner hit three, they're all in the first half. Porter hit five, those were irritating. Ryan Rollins hit three. I didn't really notice those as much. Gary Trent hit three, those felt big. And probably Portis hit a few. Yeah. All around attack. Giannis, I don't think Giannis didn't hit any, only shot one.
SPEAKER_03Only shot one, but he went 10-17. But like I said, Bilal was forcing a ton of turnovers on him. He had five turnovers.
SPEAKER_04Here's the thing, and that was just sort of an all-around weird Giannis game because he got his points. They weren't very loud.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, he got he got to his spots. He had a few dunks. He got he got his 11 free throws that he usually takes.
SPEAKER_04Here's the thing. Here's the thing. On those free throws, he shot six for eleven, and this game included not only a 10-second violation, which is hilarious because like haven't seen those in a few years, I feel like. Um, and that even made the crowd start doing the they started counting to 10 like old times. Um, there was also like an offensive foul that he got just going through a guy in the first few minutes, and there was a trap, it was it was sort of a sloppy Giannis game, even though he doesn't have a whole lot to work with on this roster.
SPEAKER_03And another thing that surprised me, he only had seven rebounds. I figured in a game like this without Alex Star when the Wizards don't have a ton of size helping out, he would have had like you know, close to 15.
SPEAKER_04Well, that leads me to talk about another guy, Marvin Bagley, had not just nine rebounds, seven objective rebounds. What a spark. I mean, the Wizards are the worst rebounding team in the league. And this was just so huge. I mean, he really held his own.
SPEAKER_03I have been thoroughly impressed with Marvin Bagley this season. I like I honestly have. And and we say this about you know, with a bunch of guys, the stats might not show you know, like a good season. This is his what season is this now?
SPEAKER_04It's in 2018, so this is eighth season.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, eighth season, and like he's not you know a start or night in, night out kind of guy. He's not quite better than thought he might be when he got drafted, all right. And so, but he is right now. I'm fine with him being a backup big to Sarr. I'd much rather him be the backup big than you know, Vuk right now.
SPEAKER_04Well it's funny because Vuk wasn't bad. He was he had a good game from what I saw.
SPEAKER_03He had a good game, but wasn't bad.
SPEAKER_04Definitely was the late season. Bagley was like an actual late game option to this one. Did you notice how key like I talked to Brian Keith? Keyshawn towards the end, he didn't quite have the shot tonight. Um, but he just kept dishing to to to Bagley on the roll and just and putting it right in his pocket on the in the post.
SPEAKER_03Well, like Bagley's not shooting a ton this season, five attempts per game, and 23% from the field. 16 minutes per game, but like what he's doing in 16 minutes is serviceable and can help out. And it's not like it's not like he's a bad player whatsoever. He's he's been solid. Okay, role player. For a backup big for that this kind of role player, getting seven points you know per game out of him along with almost five rebounds. You you you take that for a backup pick.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, per 36, he's get he's he's got a double double for himself because we know that he's a weirdly good scorer. I mean, not weirdly good. He was drafted pretty dang high. He can he can he can get these buckets where he can just go up as a big strong guy.
SPEAKER_03It's definitely it's definitely interesting. I'm on um ESPN, and so they're they have per 40 minutes up for him, but like per 40 he'd be averaging uh I'm looking at it. He's got 10 per 36. He he'd be averaging 10 per 36, you sure? Rebounds, rebounds, not points. Oh, point like right now per 40 he'd be averaging 20 and 11.
SPEAKER_04Which are which which is solid, but like well, let's also not forget he also had uh 22 points tonight. That's the thing.
SPEAKER_03That's yeah, 22 points. Like it's 22 points on eleven.
SPEAKER_04It felt like a weird game all around, though. Let's look at it. Bad teams don't have these kind of games. This was like they won by platoon. I mean, they CJ McCollum, one player of the game, could have gone to CJ, could have gone to Balal, could have gone to Bagley.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it could have gone, could have gone to anyone. Like CJ, the Vets really stepped it up this game. They turned back the clock a little bit. Even Middleton going against his former team. Yeah, it's some good. Six, like he dished the Rockwell as well, six assists.
SPEAKER_04Farming, yeah. So what did you see out of CJ today? Because like that, that three to to put him ahead, like that was an insane three.
SPEAKER_03That wasn't an insane three. That that was just a three I see from him. I'm super glad he made it. But that is a three where it's like, man, I just gotta get this up or it's a turnover. That that's the kind of three it looked like when you're looking at how the play was developing. It looked like Bagley almost turned it over for a second as well. Bagley or Middleton. Yeah, one of them almost turned it over. CJ came away with it. He was on the right wing, had to go all the way to left wing just to try to create some space, and then had to do a step back with the shot clock almost you know, winding like almost done. He just tosses it up and it's a dagger. Like that's that's all it was. It was it was a desperation shot of shot clocks winding down. I have to get it up, or else this is a turnover.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, the two shots I'm gonna think about uh late game are that one and Keyshawn got AJ Green to jump twice on the same three, and he made it. You remember that one? That was mature.
SPEAKER_03Keyshawn Keyshawn's been solid. When I say Keyshawn's been solid, his three has been the best weapon for him this this season offensively. Interior though, when he steps in a little bit, there's a clear decline, and I think some of that is because he had such a great start to the season. Everyone was like, man, we got to stop him somehow, so let's pack the box, especially when you had Alex Sarr there. And so it definitely hurt him, you know, trying to drive and get points there. But if he continues to shoot like this from three, he's almost almost half his shots are three-pointers right now. He's almost taking the same mount as last season, 5.2 to 5.4 now. Um, but I I honestly think I want to see him shoot more, but specifically shoot more from three. I'm fine with him. I want to be taking 15 attempts per game and like you know, jacking up eight threes because he is a good three-point shooter this year. Yeah, he's shooting almost 44% from three.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And I feel like that's what it's been for a lot of players this year when you look at their stats, where they've clearly they've clearly been better. And that's who I was going to bring up next, Bub Carrington. There's a lot of players, but specifically Bub who don't do well when they step inside that three-point line shooting-wise, but when they are you know shooting from outside, and they you know are knocking down a ton of shots like Bub this season. Sure, he's shooting 35% from the field, he's shooting 45% from three.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, and you only have one tonight. Um, but it felt big. Anytime he makes a shot, this feels important.
SPEAKER_03It feels important, and it's a little bit of a sophomore slump with him. He's definitely had some games where you can see, okay, he's starting to you know find himself a little bit more, calm down, step into his role. Some I think some of it is because he's not starting as much as he was last season. And I think he's you know one of like a few players to start or not start, play all his first 100 games without missing one. Impressive as well. Like he's healthy, yeah, he's hasn't missed a game. He's out on the court all the time, hasn't missed a game. It's just one of those things where it's a little bit of a sophomore slump. I think some of that is because he's no longer in that starting rotation a little bit, even though I think he should be starting because you need to figure out what your needs are in the draft this year, what you're gonna try to take in with your second, you know, first round draft pick. Because when we talked with Tyler the other day, when you're if you're the wizard, you're not drafting with your you know top three pick for fit. You're drafting based off of who is the best player available right now.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I don't care if he starts necessarily, but I do want the ball in his hands. That's what I want. I think he's just best as a pick and roll guy.
SPEAKER_03I just want to see him as a point guard out there with Sarr, Keyshawn, and Bilal specifically. Though I want to see him at the point guard spot with those three guys specifically for extended amounts of time. And I feel like we aren't seeing that because I feel like when he is coming into the game, it's usually he's either coming in for one of those guys, or he comes in with a big platoon switch where you also have Kispert and Cam Whitmore coming in. And that, you know, I just don't think that's helping him out because I want to see him pick and roll with SAR because SAR's gotten so much better on the pick.
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SPEAKER_04So it's it's wild that we we went against the Hawks uh without Keyshawn and then we beat the Bucks without Sar. I mean, I I thought he's got someone to defend Giannis, but that's where Bagley comes in, I guess.
SPEAKER_03Um it's just I like but Bob, I just want to I want to see the team give him more opportunity with the starters and maybe even start a few games here and there. And maybe we'll see that you know come January when either someone gets you know bought out or traded, because that is a thing that you know that's a good topic that's gonna be coming up here soon, especially I know December 15th is gonna be a big date for a ton of teams waiving players and um you know buying out contracts along with trades finally picking up around then. That's usually when they always do when you see action for roster changes in the NBA. And so maybe, maybe by January, maybe it's you know Middleton's bought out and CJ McCollum's traded. As we've talked this whole season going into this, you kind of figured, okay, you only got them for a year. Try to get something at least out of one person in a trade, get you know, maybe two seconds back for a CJ. You know, try to try to get two seconds back for him, and then you have Bub Carrington start, Chris Middleton get bought out. If you want to keep him on the team, so what? It's like the money's gonna be off the books anyways for that veteran leadership. It just kind of depends what route you want to go. But I do think come January we need to see Bub Carrington in that starting rotation just because we got to figure out hey, is this our point guard?
SPEAKER_04That's funny. Yeah, you talked about opportunity here because that's sort of what I was thinking about tonight, given that there was um no Saar, no Trey Johnson, no Kispert. Um I was wondering if we were gonna get a little Will Riley action after he had 36 in the G League the other day. Because if you're talking about Bub, it wouldn't make sense for Will Riley to get some of those ball handler minutes because he looked pretty good passing with Capitol City a few days ago.
SPEAKER_03I just I don't get why there are really two guys mainly. I'm like, why are they not getting any run, especially on a rebuilding team? And we're seeing it a lot. It's Will Riley and AJ Johnson. I know Johnson was injured for a little bit, but like he's healthy now from what we've seen. Why like why aren't they getting more run on this team? Because AJ, I really like AJ Johnson. I'm really high on AJ Johnson. I think he can be a good bench piece for this team going forward in the future, but you won't know any of this unless he plays.
SPEAKER_04You're right, he deserves a bit of run. Um the AJ stuff, I think you'll see a bit more of him as as the season goes on. I think it's they're just gonna take a while to ease him in. He's sort of in the way back of the rotation at the moment. Um I and the games don't mean a ton, a ton, a ton right now. They don't mean a ton. As they slip, you'll see AJ.
SPEAKER_03Some of these are teams where you're playing against good comps. See if they can develop a little bit against them, even against the teams that are also rebuilding. Like, how did he play at all against the Pacers? I can't remember.
SPEAKER_04Oh, that game was terrible.
SPEAKER_03I I like but like that's a game where like you could have used them for a little bit. He only got six minutes. Six minutes of garbage time. And like, I know you know you're trying to go out there and win NBA Cup game. It means more, especially after getting that first victory. It means more to win in the NBA cup, but like this is a rebuilding team you're playing against that's also trying to and you know, put it put it bluntly, lose as much as possible and develop young guys in this offseason that they're having without Tyrese Hallibur and the Wizards. They need a top three pick to really turn things around, but they also want to develop guys. Why not give AJ you know 10 plus minutes that game? Why not see what he can do along yeah, against Indiana? Why not see what he can do when he's out there with you know two guys in like Alex Sarr and Keyshawn? See what he can do besides them, see if he can really make a name for himself along with Will Riley. Will Riley got 10 minutes, and in his 10 minutes, he had four and four.
SPEAKER_04The Riley stuff, I my theory is they're just really being careful easing him in because he has looked a little physically overwhelmed when he's played.
SPEAKER_03As good as he looks like I can get that, but how are you like I don't want them to wait until there are 30 games left in the season, and then he has 10 games where he looks good, 15 games where he looks bad, and then five games where it's like, meh, I'm not impressed, but I'm not disappointed, and then you go in the draft not knowing what you're going to do, especially when you have the opportunity with some of this capital that you have to trade up into that 16 to 22 range to go get a legit player and like Darius Acuff at point guard, but you got to figure out hey, Will Riley can play the point guard, so can Bub Carrington. But are these guys we want to invest on in the future, or do we want to get someone to kind of I don't want to say replace, but play the same position, put pressure on them and see who develops better. But like I said, you won't know. That unless you give them more time, and they just they aren't getting a lot of time right now.
SPEAKER_04And that's fair. Um you do want to know what you're working with entering the draft. Um, I will say Will Riley's averaging 26 in three games down low.
SPEAKER_03He's like rapidly forcing uh the Wizards coaching staff hand to actually give him I'm I'm telling you, if he if he has five more games in the G League where he's doing these kinds of numbers, you are going to be forced to play him a substantial amount of time at the NBA level. When I say substantial, I mean not a you know 10 minutes like he had against the Pacers in garbage time. I'm talking 15 minutes of real rotation minutes when you're also running with the starters and playing against another team starting five. Yeah, because you got to see what he's going to do because we saw you know in the summer league and in preseason, we saw what he did. He looked really impressive. He looked like someone that could have been a steal in this draft, this past draft year. We won't know that unless they play him, though. And he had he just hasn't.
SPEAKER_04The Wizards played nine players tonight. The Bucs played more than that.
SPEAKER_03Like it's it just feels really strange what this rotation has looked like so far this season. Because, like I said, you have young guys that you need to develop. I'm and like the you know, like Corey Kisbert coming off the bench, even starting a few games. I'm fine with that because he's a veteran that I think is going to be on this team long term. So get him integrated with some of these other young guys, see what they can do beside each other. But it's like some of these other players I look at and it's just like, man, I don't know. Like, yeah, you know, Tristan Vukzevich, he had 16 points tonight. What else has he done though this season? What what warrants him getting some time and like you know, Anthony Gill, you know, we'll bring him up briefly because I know a lot of Wizards fans like him. I know you like him as well. He's a veteran guy, but like I understand we want size and and that kind of stuff, but Marvin Bagley's been significantly better than him. And when Alex Sarr is healthy, why is Vuk still getting you know more playing time than some of these other guys that I feel like we need to try to develop more?
SPEAKER_04Well, I mean, he plays a specific role. He and Bagley are like the two sides of Sarr's game. Um, you know, Vuksovich is more that floor spacer, um, willing to put up a few weird shots here and there. Well, Bagley's the rebounder. So I get it from a from a spacing perspective, um, even if he isn't gonna wow you with the defense.
SPEAKER_03He just he just really hasn't been impressive to me at all this season. He he just hasn't. Like, I I'm like I look at you know games he's played this year, and it's like I look at him and none of them scream like, yeah, this guy deserves ample playing time as a rotation player, like he has been getting as of late. I know this team has had some injuries that they've been dealing with, and these games he's gonna been getting ample playing time, but it's one of those things where it's like, man, did he did he really need seven minutes against the Nets? Could we have put that towards Will Riley? Like, I just I feel like you like listen, this is earlier.
SPEAKER_04I think that I think the focus will will continue shifting.
SPEAKER_03Maybe maybe we'll see. Like I said, it's just it's just frustrating because there are some players I see it's like I think they have more potential. Like Will Riley playing in the G League, he's been proving himself down there. Give him some time at the NBA level. Vuk has clearly been struggling. He had a good game finally after what felt like a you know millennium. But like it's like eight free throws. Yeah, which surprised me. But like, yeah, it's it's just I feel like their roles should reverse a little bit with like the time that they're getting. Like, well, Riley's proven himself, see what he can do with the NBA. Vuk clearly needs a little bit of an ego boost, see what he can do with the G-League, see if you can get him that ego boost, get him his you know, spirits back a little bit, get his groove back, get his vibe back, and bring him back up to the NBA level and see what he does. And if he continues to disappoint, just have him play those G-League games because he's on that two-way contract.
SPEAKER_04And it's funny that you brought up uh um just the guys who aren't getting enough burn because I actually liked Keith's rotations tonight. Um, the two other guys who I think deserve shout-outs for this are uh I think Whitmore and Champagne both played really valuable. Yes.
SPEAKER_03Champagne really played valuable. Whitmore, I I I saw Bijan Todd uh quit about uh tweet about him.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. They just he has he's already come a really long way. He just has a really he picks his spots more than you might look. You might just sort of assume he's improvising a lot of time out there, and maybe he is, but he certainly is looking more in control than he ever has before. There's like not nearly as much erratic shots. Um that step back three, you can feel the control. You can feel that that is what he wants to do in that moment. That was his plan. Um, and he's just getting these shots to fall, and he's just been really valuable on that end. And um Champagne is rebounding, it's just really inspiring. And there's this there's this one lineup that I'm gonna bookmark Bryson where um it's the two old guys, Middleton and CJ, um, as well as Champagne, Balal, and Bagley. That lineup is really interesting to me. It's got two scores, yeah. I get what you do. Um, and it's got a few rebounders and a big guy. Um I'm sorry, a few defenders and a big guy. If you're playing that with Sarr, that's a lineup that I think could could do some real damage on a it definitely could.
SPEAKER_03It definitely could. Um, I have the tweet by Bijan and said I've said it before, uh, but I will continue to buy Cam Whitmer's stock the way he's been playing over the last three weeks. Wizards haven't had a lob threat like this in a long time. And my response to him is like, you know, I really like what I've seen from Cam minus the first two weeks of the season, as I feel like he was, you know, figuring out his role a little bit and learning, like, man, I can do a lot more in Washington now than in Houston, where I felt very limited and just you know finding his groove again there. But I also just said like he can hit the three at times. He has shown that he can be a three-point threat. He's an insane, he's an insane lob threat, as we've seen this season. He has athleticism out the building, and that was my last point is the athleticism is so good where like he he, you know, he needs to be better on defense, but that athleticism is there to where he can become a you know a good defender, or at least a serviceable defender where you don't have a hole on that end of the floor.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, he was in and out of the doghouse for a while. Uh he's definitely getting more comfortable in in Washington's system.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, because like his athleticism building, his jumping ability, we see it on his you know, drives, his dunks, his lobs as well going up for him. That can like I that can translate to you know the you know interior. That that can translate to interior on help defense, someone driving in, especially against a guy like Giannis, who's big and physical as well. If Cam Whitmore can learn how to do that on help defense to come and contest those shots and maybe get a block or two doing that, easily do that. He has athleticism to be that kind of guy. It's just it's gonna take time. And this is what his third season.
SPEAKER_04Yes, that's right. He was in Bilal's draft class.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, third season, 21 years old as well. He's almost the same age as Bilal. They're like they're days apart from each other, which like it's just insane. We're talking about these guys that have this potential who are younger than us. Makes me feel old, even though I'm only 22.
SPEAKER_04I I see I see him as like he he can be a really strong body in the perimeter. I see the best version of him as like a really strong team defender who's just in the time and just turns these bad passes into dunks in like the matter of two seconds.
SPEAKER_03Like he's had some he's had some great games throughout the season. Like the overtime loss to Detroit, he got 29 minutes of run. He went six of eleven from the field. That game was a good one. Like he played well that game against the Mavericks. That one loss that they had. 7-13, he went three of six from three as well. Like he he's a scoring threat. It's just defensively, he definitely has to get better. Because you're not asking Cam Whitmore to be a facilitator. No, that's that's not his role. That's not what you'll ever need from Cam Whitmore. You need him to be this three-level kind of scorer and someone that can at least, you know, not be a hole defensively, because there have been times when he is a hole.
SPEAKER_04Yeah. And so it's like an attentiveness thing. I'm gonna keep reminding me, he's so dang young. So I'm just gonna look at it like he's just young, he's still learning.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's yeah, it's not in the right direction. Even in the games where like he's not getting a ton of time either, he's still impacted the team a little bit. Like his minutes, yeah. You know he's there. Like, you know he's there, you know he's a threat offensively, and that's been the biggest thing. It's like, man, you know he's there. Like 13 minutes against Philadelphia, you know, one of some of his lowest minutes this season so far, which I didn't even realize. He's been getting almost 20 minutes a game, I think. But 13 minutes he went 13 minutes, he had nine points and two steals. Like really solid four or seven right there. Like it's like he's put up solid numbers. It's just I feel like it took him a little bit to figure out what he needs to do on this team and gain the trust of this coaching staff. But of course, he's he's someone that I think will Dawkins and this front office are gonna want for a little bit because A, he's a DMV guy, always helps to have someone that knows what the team means to the city and the area. Like that always helps, but he's you know, he's also a good player. Offensively, he's a good player. He does have some stuff to learn, but like we said, he's just young, he's 21 years old.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, he remains a worthwhile bet. Um good for Whitmore.
SPEAKER_03So, but what anything else you got before we call this one good, wrap it up today?
SPEAKER_04Um these guys were down like 16 a few minutes into the third because they were down like eight at halftime, I think. And then they hit a three. The Bucks hit a three immediately when the second half starts. Wizards turns over instantly. The Bucks hit another three, and I was like, here we go, another bad third quarter, and then bounce back. And um I don't know, the atmosphere at the Tuesday game against the Hawks um was great. Um, they had the Bub Jammies, and there was a good crowd. Started Thanksgiving break. A lot of people were there.
SPEAKER_03I wanna I wanted a pair of those Bub Jammies so bad.
SPEAKER_04The people did too, they all loved them. Um they were pretty I got to touch them, they're pretty nice. Um, there wasn't the promotional giveaway today. Uh it was a Monday sort of a blih setup schedule. Um not nearly as many fans, but you felt them towards the end of that game. So another nice DC moment. I'm gonna crown.
SPEAKER_03But like there's a nice little crowd pop on that CJ3. I know, like, I know. I listen to the stuff. That stadium was not filled up. That's like let's be honest, that stadium did not have a lot a ton of people in there.
SPEAKER_04No, no, they didn't have it.
SPEAKER_03But the fact that the crowd pop was still there on that three, impressive. I'll take that.
SPEAKER_05No, that was an incredible three.
SPEAKER_03I understand. I like, and like this is what I'll wrap it up with is some words of encouragement for this fan base is you know, just like have have some faith. I know, I know it seems like this team's in the gutters right now. I I know it truly does, but there are brighter days ahead. Endure this season. See this team get a top three pick in the draft, see Will Dawkins work on draft night and trade up in the first round to get you know a pick in like at 19th overall, get a solid player there who can be a you know solid, you know, rotational guy on this team as well. You walk away, like let's say this team walks away with Cam Boozer and Darius Acuff in the draft. You uh you 100% take that. One of the better guard prospects, and arguably the best prospect in this draft right now, too.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03With you know, how whatever you value more, if you value you know, athletic point guard like Darren Peterson, or if you value someone who is a kind of do-it-all kind of guy at a really good rate, like Cam Boozer, or even a guy that gets to the free throw line a ton like AJ DeBon. So it kind of depends what you like. But get any of those guys and then someone else that's solid in the middle of the first round, you're gonna be set up nicely to, and I I don't say this lightly, but have a at the minimum a 31 season season the following season. I mean, that's yeah, because you then you know, because you gotta think you also have guys that'll develop. Keyshawn George will get better. Hopefully, Bub Carrington gets out of this sophomore slump and looks better. Bilal will develop, Alex Tsar will develop and get better still, no longer Cam Whitmore. You still have a veteran, Corey Kispert. Riley on his team, Will Riley. We don't know what he's like. Jameer Watkins is an X Factor that I'm trying to pay attention to to see what he does because he's a really good defensive player. I just want to see if that translates against NBA talent. But I'm telling you, I'm telling you, just endure the season. You can see from these games that they are winning or playing close, that there are bright spots on this team, especially in these young guys. Get you know, get a top three pick and then another first-round draft pick in that middle range there in this upcoming draft. Endure that, get to that point, watch summer league, see all the potential, watch next season. They'll win, you know, close to 30 games. I think it'll be fun. Uh, what is it, Capital One, right? Capital One Arena. We'll start start backing up a little bit more. Never know.
SPEAKER_04Great DC moment, though. Back-to-back home wins. How about yeah?
SPEAKER_03Great moment, great moment, but that's a podcast episode. That's a podcast.
SPEAKER_04Great win, everyone.
SPEAKER_03Great win. Thank you guys for listening in as always, and we'll see you in the next episode. Peace.
SPEAKER_00Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals that can keep up with you, and hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up. Spring's calling. Ross, work your magic.