[D.C. Council: setting the scene, rating the starters, assessing the subs, providing the analysis, and catching anything that you may have missed. Unlike the real DC Council, everything here is on the table. Game No. 65, Washington Wizards vs Phoenix Suns; contributors: Kyle Weidie and Adam Rubin from the Verizon Center.]

#HunterFace

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Well, if it weren’t for the name “Wizards,” we would have never been exposed to the unveiling of Martell Webster “unveiling the Wizard.” But Ted Leonsis should still change the name of the team. Confused? Let me explain.

Early in the fourth quarter during Friday night’s win over the New Orleans Hornets, with the Wizards holding a 74-66 lead, Garrett Temple inbounded the ball and the team went through their offensive set. New Orleans, at times over the course of the night, ran trick double teams and traps against Washington. On this possession, they double-teamed Temple on the sideline coming off a high screen, then they doubled Kevin Seraphin with the ball in the post. No big surprise, except for who doubled him. As part of the scheme, Roger Mason Jr. left Martell Webster at the top of the key to go double Seraphin. Another Hornet was supposed to rotate faster, but still, it’s Martell Webster. Why leave him in the first place? Sure, it’s still Kevin Seraphin, but to everyone’s surprise–a theme on the night–Seraphin was a willing passer, was aware of the double, and kicked it out to Webster.

Webster missed the wide open shot. But Seraphin, using that big body of his, inched the smaller Lance Thomas (6-foot-8, 225) out the way, and Seraphin, along with Trevor Booker, kept the rebound alive. Seraphin’s tip-out ended right back in Webster’s hands.

He crashed, jumped and fought for the loose ball, and in a fluid motion, Webster spun in the lane, took one dribble, and threw down a two-handed dunk. He then beat on his chest like Tarzan, let out a yell, crossed his arms, and mimed ripping something off of his chest. After the game, Webster called the move “Unveiling the Wizard.”

Whatever/In any case… let’s first see what the DC Sports Nexus has to offer, and then hear Webster ham for the cam about his move after the game:

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[D.C. Council: setting the scene, rating the starters, assessing the subs, providing the analysis, and catching anything that you may have missed. Unlike the real DC Council, everything here is on the table. Game No. 64, Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Hornets; contributors: Kyle Weidie from the Verizon Center and Sean Fagan and John Converse Townsend via eyes on a television screen.]

Randy on John’s J:

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Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 63rd game of the season against the New Orleans Hornets in D.C. are TAI’s Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) and guest Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg), who contributes to the ESPN True Hoop Blog Hornets 24/7.

Wizards Starters (21-42):

John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor

Hornets Starters (22-43):

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[D.C. Council: setting the scene, rating the starters, assessing the subs, providing the analysis, and catching anything that you may have missed. Unlike the real DC Council, everything here is on the table. Game No. 63, Washington Wizards vs Milwaukee Bucks; contributors: Rashad Mobley and John Converse Townsend from the Verizon Center and Kyle Weidie via eyes on a television screen.]

All Thumbs. [Larry Sanders is all thumbs -- via @wiz_spurtin] [Anxious Ernie]

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[D.C. Council: setting the scene, rating the starters, assessing the subs, providing the analysis, and catching anything that you may have missed. Unlike the real DC Council, everything here is on the table. Game No. 62, Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers; contributors: Adam McGinnis, Rashad Mobley and Kyle Weidie via eyes on television screens.]

Calling All Young Players! [Randy Wittman is in search of draft picks who can play.]

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[#WittmanFace set to Twilight Zone music]

Friday was a day off from regular work (and the Wizards, sort of). Future wifey and I made an afternoon of grabbing lunch at a previously unvisited spot, and then we painted some ceramics (shout out to All Fired Up! in Cleveland Park—there’s a D.C. flag-themed oven spoon holder in my future).

Then naps, then drinks/dinner with the future wifey’s cousin and the cousin’s fiancé. The idea was to have the game on somewhere; the cousin’s fiancé is also a dedicated D.C. sports fan. By the time the four of us walked into a pre-dinner bar option—some place inexplicably called the Blue Banana on Georgia Avenue, which, to its credit, had the Wizards game on three of its several well-placed televisions—the game was over. Brooklyn was up 25 and it was early in the second quarter. We were the only people in the place who cared or paid attention for the rest of the game; I was just happy that no one changed the channel. Later on, I would get to explain to the future wifey—and show to her on YouTube—that Reggie Evans is most famous for grabbing a tall blond man’s nuts from behind during a playoff game. Thanks, Internets.

What had happened? Deron Williams happened. The Nets took a 38-14 lead after one quarter in which Williams went 7-for-7 from the 3-point line. At half, Brooklyn was up 59-33. The Wizards made a half-hearted attempt to once almost get within 10 points with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, but A.J. Price was called for travelling as he made a 3-pointer (inducing the above #WittmanFace).

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[D.C. Council: setting the scene, rating the starters, assessing the subs, providing the analysis, and catching anything that you may have missed. Unlike the real DC Council, everything here is on the table. Game No. 59, Washington Wizards at Minnesota Timberwolves; contributors: Adam Rubin and Kyle Weidie from behind the television screen.]

Benched Mobbed?

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[D.C. Council: setting the scene, rating the starters, assessing the subs, providing the analysis, and catching anything that you may have missed. Unlike the real DC Council, everything here is on the table. Game No. 58, Washington Wizards vs Philadelphia; contributors: Rashad Mobley and Kyle Weidie from the Verizon Center and Conor Dirks from Georgia.]

John’s Big J. Wall talks about hitting a 20-foot pull-up jumper to put the Wizards up three points with 4.4 seconds left. This is after he hit two clutch free throws to put the Wizards up one point with 1:04 left, and after he hit an 18-foot jumper with 1:33 left to get the Wizards within one point of Philadelphia. 360° Wall.

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Taft Rec. Center, NE DC – photo: K. Weidie

Most everyone, ever, is taught to focus on the rim when aiming for a jump shot (obviously). Most are also taught to keep focusing on the rim while the ball is in flight. But not everyone. Some watch the rim, but as soon as the ball leaves their hands, they observe the arcing sphere. Dirk Nowitzki famously looks at the ball.

It’s a question that’s intrigued me. I recall during the 2012 NBA All-Star game, Andre Iguodala, mic’d up, asked Luol Deng if he looked at the ball or the rim. Deng said rim. Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller later discussed the topic on Inside The NBA. Both said they look at the ball in flight once it leaves their fingers. Internet searches—with mostly message board discussions providing the results—confirm memory of this Miller-Kerr conversation. (Miller even went so far as to claim that answers amongst NBA players would be dispersed 50/50—rim vs. ball in flight; a very Miller-like, outlandish claim.) Other good shooters said to look at the ball in flight: Steve Nash and Kevin Love.

I personally keep my eye on the rim. Some coaches will tell you that switching focus to flight can add unnecessary motion, as you would tend to raise your chin to follow the path of the ball. My shot was never consistent enough to be affected by such nuance (or, rather, there can be dozen of other inconsistent ticks in motion for the average shooter). I just figured that it’s best to provide the highest amount of concentration possible on the ultimate destination. Plus, that’s how I was taught.

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