washingtonwizard
07-14-2010, 01:11 PM
Through Two Games, Wall Shines in the Desert
LAS VEGAS, NV. – So far so good for the building block in the Capitol City’s basketball team rebuilding program. Point guard John Wall has wowed coaches, opponents and onlookers with his end-to-end speed, lethal first step, and knack for finding the basket, a teammate or, when all else fails, the free throw line. And while that healthy gulp of hope should be washed down with at least a dash of reality – it is, after all, the summer league and many of the opposing guards Wall is abusing on a daily basis aren’t likely to even make an NBA roster next season – the early returns are still very positive.
In two games in his role as leader of the Wizards contingent in Vegas, Wall has combined for 42 points, 18 assists and seven steals. He notched his first double-double as a professional in Monday night’s blowout over (clearly) overmatched Clippers squad featuring Wall’s college backcourt mate Eric Bledsoe.
Wall has shown flashes of an intense and relentless competitive spirit and a natural feel for the game that, combined with his cache of athletic blessings, will make him an instant hit in DC and likely a superstar shortly into his NBA career.
It hasn’t all been marshmallows and fruity pebbles though. Wall’s 16 turnovers (eight in each contest) diminish ever-so-slightly his remarkable assist numbers. Point guards don’t last long in the NBA with 1:1 assist to turnover ratios, and head coach Flip Saunders is notoriously tough on point guards who often bear the brunt of the heavy lifting in Saunders’ point-friendly system. In Wall’s defense though, many of his turnovers came at full speed while the heady point guard was aggressively looking to make a play. On a few occasions the play was not there to be made. Generally though, the fault could easily have fallen on the shoulders of a teammate who couldn’t handle Wall’s passes once they got there or couldn’t believe he found a way to get it there in the first place.
For Wall’s part he is at least cognizant of the fact that he has to be much better at protecting the ball, recognizing each turnover has robbed him of an opportunity to help make a positive impact on the game – something he obviously loves, as his biggest reactions to anything that has happened on the court have come when he has earned assists.
“Too many turnovers,” Wall told The Post’s Mike Lee following Monday’s win. “I don't really care about the points. I care about taking care of the ball. You have to be able to take care of the ball or you'll get blown out. I just have to keep working on it and getting better at it.”
There’s no question that Wall will indeed get better at it. During timeouts and breaks in the action Wall is never out of earshot of Summer League Coach Sam Cassell’s voice and during his time on the court he’s always under Head Coach Flip Saunders’ watchful eyes. Cassell and Saunders have a lot they can teach the young guard with loads of potential about becoming an NBA point guard who leads his team to championship games. Wall wants to learn and Saunders and Sam-I-Am want to teach.
It’s already easy to see how much better Wall can make the players around him. Third year center JaVale McGee has benefitted greatly from Wall’s presence and precision passing. In the past, McGee has displayed a tendency to allow early offensive success to go a long way in determining the amount of effort he puts in on both ends. When he’s been able to get touches early, McGee has thrived. When he’s overlooked on the offensive end and can’t find a rhythm early, he’s been largely ineffective. Apparently Wall has already seen enough of McGee to recognize the pattern and through the two contests in Vegas, Wall has been sure to involve the 7-foot-1 (yes, McGee has grown over the summer) center early and often. The duo has teamed for multiple Jam-of-the-Night worthy alley-oops, and Wall has looked for McGee frequently around the rim to provide him with easy looks. McGee has been the second best player on the floor because of Wall, and the chemistry they are developing now should help both players when the lights go on and the games start to count.
McGee obviously hasn’t been the only player to benefit from Wall’s passing and presence. Wall has found ways to put the ball in nearly every teammates hands in a good spot from which they can initiate their offense. He’s kicked out after penetrating moves to the rim, lobbed passes that led them to the hoop, and generally made life much easier on the players around him.
While no one can say for sure that the Wizards have a superstar on their hands yet, it’s plain to see – even after just two games – that they do, in fact, have a very talented true point guard on the roster. The rest will fall into place.
LAS VEGAS, NV. – So far so good for the building block in the Capitol City’s basketball team rebuilding program. Point guard John Wall has wowed coaches, opponents and onlookers with his end-to-end speed, lethal first step, and knack for finding the basket, a teammate or, when all else fails, the free throw line. And while that healthy gulp of hope should be washed down with at least a dash of reality – it is, after all, the summer league and many of the opposing guards Wall is abusing on a daily basis aren’t likely to even make an NBA roster next season – the early returns are still very positive.
In two games in his role as leader of the Wizards contingent in Vegas, Wall has combined for 42 points, 18 assists and seven steals. He notched his first double-double as a professional in Monday night’s blowout over (clearly) overmatched Clippers squad featuring Wall’s college backcourt mate Eric Bledsoe.
Wall has shown flashes of an intense and relentless competitive spirit and a natural feel for the game that, combined with his cache of athletic blessings, will make him an instant hit in DC and likely a superstar shortly into his NBA career.
It hasn’t all been marshmallows and fruity pebbles though. Wall’s 16 turnovers (eight in each contest) diminish ever-so-slightly his remarkable assist numbers. Point guards don’t last long in the NBA with 1:1 assist to turnover ratios, and head coach Flip Saunders is notoriously tough on point guards who often bear the brunt of the heavy lifting in Saunders’ point-friendly system. In Wall’s defense though, many of his turnovers came at full speed while the heady point guard was aggressively looking to make a play. On a few occasions the play was not there to be made. Generally though, the fault could easily have fallen on the shoulders of a teammate who couldn’t handle Wall’s passes once they got there or couldn’t believe he found a way to get it there in the first place.
For Wall’s part he is at least cognizant of the fact that he has to be much better at protecting the ball, recognizing each turnover has robbed him of an opportunity to help make a positive impact on the game – something he obviously loves, as his biggest reactions to anything that has happened on the court have come when he has earned assists.
“Too many turnovers,” Wall told The Post’s Mike Lee following Monday’s win. “I don't really care about the points. I care about taking care of the ball. You have to be able to take care of the ball or you'll get blown out. I just have to keep working on it and getting better at it.”
There’s no question that Wall will indeed get better at it. During timeouts and breaks in the action Wall is never out of earshot of Summer League Coach Sam Cassell’s voice and during his time on the court he’s always under Head Coach Flip Saunders’ watchful eyes. Cassell and Saunders have a lot they can teach the young guard with loads of potential about becoming an NBA point guard who leads his team to championship games. Wall wants to learn and Saunders and Sam-I-Am want to teach.
It’s already easy to see how much better Wall can make the players around him. Third year center JaVale McGee has benefitted greatly from Wall’s presence and precision passing. In the past, McGee has displayed a tendency to allow early offensive success to go a long way in determining the amount of effort he puts in on both ends. When he’s been able to get touches early, McGee has thrived. When he’s overlooked on the offensive end and can’t find a rhythm early, he’s been largely ineffective. Apparently Wall has already seen enough of McGee to recognize the pattern and through the two contests in Vegas, Wall has been sure to involve the 7-foot-1 (yes, McGee has grown over the summer) center early and often. The duo has teamed for multiple Jam-of-the-Night worthy alley-oops, and Wall has looked for McGee frequently around the rim to provide him with easy looks. McGee has been the second best player on the floor because of Wall, and the chemistry they are developing now should help both players when the lights go on and the games start to count.
McGee obviously hasn’t been the only player to benefit from Wall’s passing and presence. Wall has found ways to put the ball in nearly every teammates hands in a good spot from which they can initiate their offense. He’s kicked out after penetrating moves to the rim, lobbed passes that led them to the hoop, and generally made life much easier on the players around him.
While no one can say for sure that the Wizards have a superstar on their hands yet, it’s plain to see – even after just two games – that they do, in fact, have a very talented true point guard on the roster. The rest will fall into place.