Wiz of Awes
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The State of the Washington Wizards

By Jen Julie Smith

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3, John Wall #2, Otto Porter #22 and Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards huddle up during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 10, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 10: Bradley Beal #3, John Wall #2, Otto Porter #22 and Marcin Gortat #13 of the Washington Wizards huddle up during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 10, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 15: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 15: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards goes to the basket against the Boston Celtics during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

John Wall

John Wall you don’t get the same treatment. You are the fastest player in this league on the ball. I had to call up my cable provider, and have them show me how to put in slow motion just to catch you. But at the same time, you’re the fastest person to lose the ball. Un-accept-able. Those 50-50 balls hurt us badly last season.

Unless you have full practices, where the only drills are you whipping the ball to your teammates, you can’t be whipping it during the game. You literally knocked Gortat down one game. I know you have a run-and-gun style, but you can’t play it if your teammates are not up to speed, literally and figuratively.

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For example, I was so happy that you finally got an alley-oop partner with Markieff Morris. That’s Keef’s game, no practice required. But your no-look passes and whipping it, that’s not your team’s game. You can teach it to them, but until then, you’re going to have to hold off come game time.

Those 50-50 and loose balls, really hurt us in the postseason. Although, there’s never a time to give up points, the playoffs definitely weren’t the time.

You did a good job behind the arc last year, and definitely came up clutch. But let’s talk about the regular season. There were times when you couldn’t get inside, and that’s when you should go for those spot-up jumpers. Can’t be missing those.

You have no problem during fast breaks, getting the layups, but around defenders, it’s those short jumpers that have been your downfall. And please don’t come for me John, just writing what I observed. During pressure moments, not because time is winding down, nor even clutch, you have a problem with short jumpers, whether there’s a defender in your face or not.

Wall is one of the best point guards in the league. Please stop with the best point guard in the East, which waters down Wall’s achievement. But, he can be even better if he limits his turnovers, and is able to knockdown those jumpers. He should have been higher on the All-NBA team, but I believe those turnovers hurt him.

Obviously, next season Wall is going to improve, just like he does every season.

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