Truth About It » JaVale McGee

Doc Rivers on the Wizards, Limiting JaVale McGee & The Booing of Andray Blatche

Kyle Weidie — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:15:59 +0000

[Andray Blatche takes a pre-game shot before facing the Celtics. - photo: K. Weidie]

Before today’s game, I asked Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers about what differences he’s seen in this Wizards team now from when they played the Celtics on New Year’s Day in Washington and the next day in Boston:

“The last three games they’ve play with a better spirit, quite honestly. You watch them and sometimes it just jumps off the screen. You can watch teams and their body language is better, they’re playing the right way, they’re running, they’re playing with a spirit, they’re playing with each other. It’s obvious over the last three games, watching them play. They’re moving the ball… They were the King of the Ball Stoppers.

“You know, this is the way Flip has always coached, and you can see it now. They’re actually listening and doing what probably — I know — he’s asked them to do since he’s been here. I don’t know what has prompted it, but they’re doing it.”

Doc was asked about handling the Wizards bigs, and specifically about saying last time in D.C. (for a game on New Year’s Day) that he hoped New Year’s Eve would take care of JaVale McGee:

“Yea, it didn’t… I was pissed by that. Tonight we’re hoping Saturday night took care of it [smiles], but I don’t know…

“JaVale’s just growing up as we see him. He still has a ways to go, but athletically… he was athletic before he came into the league, and now he’s putting things together. His defense is tremendous. He’s rebounding, he’s keeping balls alive. You know he’s playing right. That’s the way he should play, quite honestly. He shouldn’t get a cookie for that.. He’s doing what he should do, he’s great to watch though. I love it when young guys start to get it, and you can see he’s clearly getting it.”

[Side Note: Rivers was also overheard by TAI's John Converse Townsend before the game giving Comcast SportsNet this quote regarding JaVale: "Nick Young is playing well. Flip is going 3-guard offense which gives them more firepower. McGee, I'm scared to say anything about him." (Because of how his mother, Pamela, would react.)]

I asked Rivers about the treatment Andray Blatche has received from the home crowd in Washington — if he’s ever seen a similar experience, and what advice he would give:

“Go play. I mean, there’s no advice. I have had guys… Jon Koncak had a tough go in Atlanta, after we signed him. The contract was brutal. In his case, he played right every night, and he played hard every night. He just couldn’t justify his salary, and that wasn’t his fault, you know what I mean? So I felt awful for him, but at the end of the day, you just gotta go play, and you gotta go play hard. Listen, fans wanna see guys play for the right things. They want to see guys play hard, and they want to see guys play to win. They want to see guys play winning basketball, even if you’re not winning. And when that happens, the boos will go away.”

I also asked Flip Saunders if, with fan reaction toward Blatche, starting versus coming off the bench played a component:

“No, he’s a big boy. He can deal with it. That’s all part of it and we’ll get through it. You put the lineup on the floor that we feel is going to be the best to start the game.

“If we felt it was better for him to come off the bench, we would do that. But we’re not going to make a decision where he starts or not based on fan reaction.”

The Wizards Said WHAT? The JaVale McGee’s Mommy Edition

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:20:12 +0000

[Mike Wise and Pam McGee - photo: K. Weidie]

When the basis for an article is interviewing a mom about her son, you know what’s bound to happen: irrationality entrenched in unconditional love. No big deal, it’s to be expected. But when the Washington Post’s Mike Wise loads his pen with the ink of JaVale McGee’s mom, Pamela, talking about her son: a media firestorm fueled by irrationality. Oh what, if anything, will Ted Leonsis’ blogging fingers say about these maternally induced pixels, seeing that through the conduit of Wise, Pamela calls out his coach and his franchise? The Wizards may wind up miffed because of Wise’s article, but they certainly can’t be surprised. Difficulties with JaVale McGee’s mom — the “Little League parent,” Wise calls her — are well-known throughout the organization.

She calls out Flip Saunders for “throwing JaVale under the bus” in criticizing his recent backboard dunk, a feat she says was done to “break up to monotony” of losing. (Does she realize how much Saunders bites the bullet to defend McGee already?) We also know that Flip didn’t even take McGee out of the game because of that dunk against Houston. He played the next five minutes of the third quarter and about the first three minutes of the fourth… before getting the hook for completely losing track of Jordan Hill for a points and then subsequently shooting a bad jumper.

Pamela McGee also claims, “They aren’t running any plays for him. With a 7-footer with hands like that, the kid is averaging a double-double without plays run for him; he gets those points off garbage.”

False. And a clear indication that her basketball sense is blinded by self-interest, also perhaps a window into the overall flaws of McGee’s game (lack of awareness, inability to score “garbage point” free-throws). Let’s go to mySynergySports.com for the evidence:

Last season McGee played 2,175 minutes. During those minutes, he was involved in 184 Post-Up plays that ended in a field-goal attempt, a turnover or a trip to the free-throw line. Essentially, this means McGee got more than three post-up opportunities per 36 minutes of action. This season McGee has played 411 minutes and has been involved in 72 Post-Up plays according to Synergy. This amounts to 6.3 post-up opportunities per 36 minutes. The Wizards have more than doubled the looks they give McGee in the post this season… But Flip Saunders isn’t running plays for him?

[Side Stat: And on Spot-Up plays? [Read: Jumpers] — McGee is averaging 1.3 Spot-Up plays per 36 minutes this season. Last season he averaged 0.78 Spot-Ups per 36… So a 69-percent increase in those “opportunities” since last season.]

Pamela criticizes her son’s playing time as well, more specifically, sporatic minutes… As if Flip Saunders shouldn’t penalize McGee for making the same stupid mistakes or selfish play they’ve instructed him on before. What kind of example does that set? Is she aware that there are other players on the team aside from her son? Wise’s article notes: “The club cites the Elias Sports Bureau in saying McGee averages the ninth-most minutes among NBA centers with 10 starts.”

The one valid point Pam McGee makes is the lack of investment the team has put into his development. But it’s not just him, there seems to be an issue with player development system-wide. I’ve always been under the impression that Gene Banks was the Wizards assistant coach responsible for developing bigs. According to Wise’s article, it’s former WNBA head coach Don Zierden. Either way, neither coach has the pedigree. Still, McGee gets what he puts in. In the video below, shot by TAI’s John Converse Townsend at Wizards Training Camp this season, Andray Blatche and Kevin Seraphin get in extra post work against each other after practice, while McGee tools around, alone, shooting jumpers and lazy hook shots. Perhaps not a complete window, but a whiff of the air nonetheless.

He’s a quick learner, according to UCLA assistant coach Scott Garson, who worked with McGee over the summer, which was paid for by the McGees according to Wise’s article. If that’s the case — and I do believe it could be – wouldn’t McGee also be served by putting in more quality work within the Wizards system? It certainly couldn’t hurt, unless McGee’s camp is resigned to not using the tools at their behest, even if the resume regarding Washington’s development of big men is less than stellar. There aren’t any esoteric secrets to scoring on the low-block. Its instruction isn’t reserved for NBA legends. And Garson? His bio on UCLABruins.com reads: “Garson handles the development of the perimeter players, working on both the offensive and defensive ends. He worked with the post players in 2006-07.” It does mention that Garson helped develop Andrew Bogut at the University of Utah as a member of then-coach Rick Majerus’ staff. Still, Garson was a guard when he played at Washington University in St. Louis, and JaVale McGee is no Andrew Bogut.

There shouldn’t be much issue with McGee’s mom taking all credit for his development. It’s actually very telling. After all, Pam, a former college all-American and WNBA player, was JaVale’s AAU coach, Wise reports. And lest we forget a past Deadspin post titled, “JaVale McGee Has NBA Upside, Says Mommy” — Pam wrote a glowing draft profile for her baby boy on MyNBADraft.com. Touting her son up beyond reason is a natural, although creeping into conceited within this particular environment. Problem is, Pam’s son is supposed to be a paid professional, not a kiddo she drops off at daycare.

Pam McGee’s ulitmate contention: the Washington Wizards are keeping JaVale from growing. But exactly what does babying him do? Maybe the answer is for mom to shut her mouth and let the professionals do the work. But we all know that’s not going to happen, naturally.

What You Think: JaVale McGee’s Backboard Dunk, Kahunas & Cojones, and Chandler Parsons’s Balls

Kyle Weidie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:50:09 +0000

First of all, we know Houston’s Chandler Parsons got a put-back dunk on JaVale McGee, circling his crotch and balls around Epic ‘Vale’s head for good measure. McGee was more than posterized, he was GIF’d…

In video form, if you will…

Then, of course, in true JaVale fashion, there was this, a dunk off the backboard when down 64-60 early in the third quarter against Houston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXlo8AgpHAQ

And people reacted…

@CraigStouffer of the Washington Examiner:

McGee’s dunk was the equivalent of Peck shutting down the protection grid in Ghostbusters, unleashed #Wizards evils upon Verizon Center.

@JFrankHanrahan of Comcast SportsNet:

If 11-1 McGee can do that dunk not at 1-11.

Flip Saunders, John Wall and Mo Evans all thought the off-the-backboard part was a bad idea, reports SB Nation. Andray Blatche said, “I don’t really care for it.”

Royce Young on CBS Sports:

Remember last season how McGee basically sold his soul to try and get a triple-double? That’s the type of recurring issue you see within a troubled, dysfunctional team. Putting stats and self before team. At some point, you’ve just got to grow up. You can’t continue to waste talent and opportunity. Be a professional. An NBA game isn’t your own personal playground. It’s about the final score. It’s about winning and losing, the latter of which you know plenty about.

And McGee himself?

“Apparently, if you get a fast break in the third quarter and you’re 1-11, you’re not supposed to do stuff like that. I felt like I was trying to get the team hyped and trying to make a good play, so I felt like we did that, and we went on a run from there.”

Then there’s always Nick Young, via @MrMichaelLee of the Washington Post:

Nick Young’s reaction to JaVale McGee’s self-alley-oop dunk: “He had some big Kahunas.” #wizards

And @CraigStouffer:

Safe to say Young meant to say “cojones,” but “kahunas” works just fine.

Me? Via @Truth_About_It:

2 be honest, I didn’t even care abt JaVale’s backboard dunk, was marveling in Wall’s transition D comm. & Booker’s hustle reb that led 2 it.

…While I also recognize that it was ‘typical’ JaVale McGee, or rather, a reason why he doesn’t really get it. But, just as he said this quote after Saturday’s Sixers game via the Washington Examiner:

“Whenever you’re losing, it’s hard to get things of that nature: All-Star and players of the year, defensive, most improved, stuff like that. It just doesn’t come to players that are losing, but I mean, just whatever.”

Whatever…

McGee’s backboard dunk, what do YOU think?

Take Our Poll

Wizards Media Day: JaVale McGee, Uncut

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:33:22 +0000

There are many incomprehensible facets to JaVale McGee, but the talent and seeming potential is unquestionable.

How did he make that BLOCK!??! (Or was it a steal?)

Two balls, two baskets, one dunk. Enough said.

He’s dribbling full-court again. Oh boy.

Off the court, and perhaps on, the real JaVale McGee, via his Twitter account, claims to have an alter-ego. He calls him Pierre. Sometimes Pierre speaks in the first person. McGee, last April, described Pierre on Twitter:

“Pierre is the smooth operator. @JaValeMcGee34 is the monster you’ve grown to know on the court”

And JaVale on Pierre more recently:

“He’s arrogant, conceited, all the bad things that I shouldn’t be”

McGee is also a young man to whom team owner Ted Leonsis refers, via his blog, as, “erudite and well-read and highly relevant.” Leonsis also used “erudite” when referring to McGee on media day. Makes me want to brush up on my Wordly Wise from sixth grade.

No one is quite sure which JaVale McGee spoke at media day, but here that guy is…. Uncut.

Then there was Ted Leonsis on McGee:

“I think JaVale is erudite. He’s a very, very interesting next generation player. He’s a great person. His challenge is playing within himself. So far it looks like he can do that in practice, now let’s translate that into games. But he has x-factor kind of skills too, both defensively and the way he can move on the court. So it’s up to us to bring out the best in these players. It’s not just up to them. It’s up to us to develop them, and counsel them, and coach them, and create an environment where they can excel and meet their aspirations.” -T. Leonsis

In other news, this:

Somewhat related:

Chick-fil-A was served to the media at Media Day.

Thinking, Lonely Free-Throws and The Washington Wizards

Kyle Weidie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:29:54 +0000

[Washington, DC Ward 6 Anacostia Rec Center - photo: K. Weidie]

A free-throw, the most efficient shot in basketball. But the clear irony is that the easiest way to get buckets, son (shout out to Oleksiy Pecherov, who is tearing it up in the Ukrainian Superleague), is often the most ignored difference-maker in games, unless they come at the very end. Then everyone knows the implications, and everyone is watching. It can get pretty lonely at the free-throw line in one’s thoughts.

In a sport where so many flowing events occur at once, instances where observers can focus on one man with the ball are relatively nonexistent. A solo fast-break is one (imagine Dwyane Wade in the passing lane), but even he must watch his back for a futilely hustling defender. Free-throws are another instance. On the court, nothing else is happening, aside the mental and physical jostling along the lane’s hash marks. White noise ready to rebound. All basketball-curious eyes are on a single, methodical routine. The line can be even more of an island when it’s a technical free-throw.

In 2010-11, 11 out of 30 NBA teams attempted 2000 or more free-throws, including the likes of Chicago, Oklahoma City, Miami and Orlando. The cumulative winning percentage of those eleven teams was 0.542. Ten out of 30 teams attempted 1900 or less free-throws, including the likes of Golden State, Detroit and New Jersey. The cumulative winning percentage of those ten teams was 0.508. There are, of course, exceptions. The 19-win Cleveland Cavaliers attempted the eighth most free-throws in the NBA with 2,075. The 57-win, World Champion Dallas Mavericks finished 27th in attempts with 1850. The Washington Wizards finished one attempt above the league average with 1,999, tied with the Charlotte Bobcats for 12th most in the NBA.

Getting to the line in abundance is one thing, making them is another. Washington finished tied with that Cleveland team with a 0.745 free-throw percentage, good enough for 24th league-wide. Free-throws are part of the “Four Factors” of winning basketball (offensively and defensively), popularized by statistician Dean Oliver. Oliver estimates free-throws as 15-percent of success, compared to shooting (40%), turnovers (25%), and rebounding (20%). Free-throw success in this sense is measured by the ratio of free-throws made to field-goals attempted. In 2010-11, Washington finished with an offensive FT/FGA ratio of 0.216, ranked 23rd in the NBA.

But let’s get into some numbers that really drive home the point: free-throws in close games. The Wizards lost eight games by six points or less last season. Their cumulative free-throw percentage in those games was 0.686. They won 12 games by six points or less. In those games they shot 0.794 from the line. That 10.8-percent is significant.

It’s a stretch to assume that the Wizards would’ve won those eight games had they made more free-throws, putting their record at 31-51 and their lottery position back a couple spots to the later hindsight and chagrin of fans. But it sure would’ve been nice to beat the Miami Heat on December 18, 2010, the day of the Gilbert Arenas trade. The Wizards went 6-10 from the line in the fourth quarter of a 95-94 loss (they were 18-26 for the game). Kirk Hinrich, Hilton Armstrong and Josh Howard (twice) all had trips to the line making only one of two; Al Thornton sank both of his attempts midway through the period. Hinrich missed his with 12 seconds left. Dwyane Wade made both of his with seven seconds left. Miami took the one point victory.

It doesn’t matter now, but it will matter when Washington is trying to make the playoffs, and even further, when playoff seeding counts. That brings us to the culprits.

JaVale McGee attempted 230 free-throws last season, he made 134 for a percentage of 0.583. And he has gotten worse from the line over his young career. As a rookie McGee attempted 162 and made 0.660 of them. As an NBA soph he attempted 116 and sank them at a 0.638 clip. The Wizards cannot afford for their starting center to get worse from the line as his tenure continues. If he simply improved from his rookie campaign to his third year toward a rate of 0.691 last season (which means only making 25 more free-throws in 2010-11), the Wizards jump up four spots to be tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for 20th best free-throw percentage in the NBA.

But McGee clearly isn’t the only one. In fact, when it comes to the importance of free-throws the Wizards should look at their team leader first. In 69 games John Wall led the Wizards in free-throw attempts (393 — 5.7 attempts/game ) and makes (301); his attempts ranked 30th in the NBA. Out of the 31 players with 390 or more attempts in 2010-11, Wall’s 0.766 free-throw percentage ranks 24th; one spot ahead of LeBron James, one spot behind Brook Lopez (source: Basketball-Reference.com):

Chris Paul >> .847 (6.0)
Calvin Murphy >> .820 (5.3)
Russell Westbrook >> .815 (5.2)
Phil Ford >> .813 (5.1)
Mitch Richmond >> .810 (6.4)
Pete Maravich >> .800 (6.2)
Sarunas Marciulionis >> .787 (5.4)
Earl Monroe >> .781 (7.9)
Geoff Petrie >> .772 (7.3)
Travis Mays >> .770 (5.2)
John Wall >> .766 (5.7)
Tiny Archibald >> .757 (5.4)
Tyreke Evans >> .748 (6.5)
Dwyane Wade >> .747 (5.1)
Stephon Marbury >> .727 (5.0)
Isiah Thomas >> .704 (6.0)
Allen Iverson >> .702 (7.2)
Jerry West >> .666 (6.3)

Shooting coaches, scientists and roundball kinesiologists can help hone technique and functionality, but improvement in individuals can be wide-ranging. The consensus, however, that most experts might agree upon is A) technique can improve in consistency with consistent practice; B) focusing on a routine and the process can help tune-out external factors (such as nerves and crowd noise), and C) mental clarity helps — spend time practicing A and B, and when it comes to the game, just shoot the ball. Don’t think about anything else.

John Wall is filming commercials for Reebok in Paris with yellow sports cars. JaVale McGee is dunking in suits for GQ while being aggressive with his plaids. Both players have no doubt been working on their games, in addition to their personal brand. Have you seen the Wall lockout basketball highlights from HoopsMixTape.com? McGee has recently tweeted about pool workouts and going for runs around Runyon Canyon in Hollywood, CA. Even Andray Blatche is working hard with trainer Joe Connelly to become more consistent, as he can also improve upon his 0.777 free-throw percentage in 2010-11, which was a career best, aside from his rookie season when he made 10 of 12.

These Wizards are coming back ready and will be top shape. Because Wall already set the example and Flip Saunders makes the rules: be conditioned to get down the court with John or watch him do it from the sideline; and also, don’t get caught running up hill on defense.

There will be no ’98 lockout hangover in D.C.. Don’t be surprised if the city quickly embraces this young bunch. Hopefully they’ve been working on their cerebral basketball games as well. Wall undoubtedly has. And when it comes to free-throws, here’s to hoping that the Wiz Kids have been working so hard that they don’t have to think at all. The loneliness at the free-throw line need not be enduring, especially after big makes, but nobody wants to keep company with an arena full of groans.

>>> This is John Wall.

Summer Memories: JaVale McGee vs DeMarcus Cousins

Adam McGinnis — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:26:02 +0000

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, but the Lost NBA Season (now in full effect) leaves us with a bit less to be thankful for this year. On the bright side, it gives us an opportunity to remember what we can of the past. Shall we?

When the Goodman and Drew Leagues faced off in their inaugural summer league exhibition game back in August, one of most intriguing battles turned out to be the face-off between Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee and Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins. McGee showed off his athleticism and shot-blocking prowess, while Cousins countered with his strong power post-up game and rebounding dominance.

Although their physiques are obviously different, both players do have some similarities. No one can question their elite athletic ability, as they do things on the basketball court few at their size can pull off. Yet, both also sometimes think they’re guards; JaVale is famous for showcasing his dribbling “talents,” and deep down Cousins loves to launch threes.

Both have had fisticuffs with teammates that led to team-sanctioned suspensions. Goodman League commissioner Miles Rawls has nicknamed Cousins “Bad Attitude,” with good reason, and McGee constantly possesses an on-court scowl. Both love to raise the blood pressure of their coaches with mental lapses and by taking plays off. Most importantly to fans, both have potential to be solid performing anchors for their respective franchises for a long time.

The following video contains highlights of the duo from that D.C. summer evening at a packed Trinity University that I recorded with my Flip Cam, so bear with me on some of the grainy footage.

There are also interviews featuring John Wall, DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, Craig Smith of the Los Angeles Clippers, and event MC, ex-NBA star Marques Johnson.

Watch to find out who Wall opined to have a better game between his current pro teammate or former college teammate.

@AdamMcGinnis

Look Guys, JaVale McGee Doesn’t Want You To Believe Him (Says: ‘Layout of Food! Scrumptious!’)

Kyle Weidie — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:17:43 +0000

This may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back which then caused that camel to fall on the puppy holding a bouquet of flowers for his puppy girlfriend while they nuzzled wet puppy noses in a field of porcelain angels surrounded by butterflies and rainbows, and ice cream.

Did you hear what JaVale McGee did?

Maybe you read about it. Maybe somebody told you. Or, you can listen to JaVale McGee himself over a tape recorder, via the L.A. Times website, saying, “There’s definitely some guys in there saying that they’re ready to fold, but there are some guys, a majority of us, are ready to stand strong,” when asked by a reporter outside of a National Basketball Players Association meeting if players are standing strong against the NBA lockout, or if some are saying that they’re ready to go back to work.

Maybe McGee was earnest and right, but a negotiator with media concerns in mind he is not.

This, of course, happening after he ducked out of the NBPA meeting early. You know what else McGee enjoyed, aside from an early exit from long, tedious meetings (something we’ve all dreamed about)? He enjoyed the bountiful food spread provided by the hotel where players’ meeting was being held. On-location he Tweeted:

@JaValeMcGee34: “Good thing about NBPA meetings is the layout of food! Scrumptious!-P”

What hotel you say? Why, the Beverly Hilton… in Beverly Hills, California. Good one, NBA players. Millionaires versus billionaires here. Cue some old hack’s joke comparing McGee to Paris Hilton.

“The person who spent the least amount of time in the room can’t make that statement,” said NBPA rep Derek Fisher at the players’ post-meeting press conference. In the background, other players and union chief Billy Hunter snickered at mere mention of McGee by a reporter. Wanna watch the video? Sure you do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuuYo9lDBPY

At least JaVale, in his own curb-side media session while waiting for the valet to bring him his car, also said he was “very disappointed” that there weren’t more players at the meeting, saying there were only about 25-30 present. Guess they don’t all enjoy free food. He also indicated that “facts” were used to convince “ready to fold” players otherwise.

JaVale then took to Twitter to defend himself…

@JaValeMcGee34: “I never said anyone is ready to fold! Media always wanna turn it!”

To which ESPN Los Angeles reporter Dave McMenamin zinged…

RT @mcten: Only thing I “turned” was my recorder on when he said it RT@JaValeMcGee34 Never said anyone is ready to fold! Media always wanna turn it!

And then McGee re-Tweeted a re-Tweeted Tweet, essentially telling folks to not believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

@JaValeMcGee34: RT @stevekylerNBA: RT @WojYahooNBA: Player who attended NBPA meeting in Los Angeles texts: “Don’t believe (@JaValeMcGee34) McGee.”

Back to the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. This is where one might have a soft spot for McGee. I feel bad for the young guy, I really do. Perhaps mostly because the stupid comments for which he’s now being called out for by the NBA universe might be along the lines of what Wizards fans have been used to this whole time.

Neither side can risk anything in negotiations right now, especially not a hint of dissension. Why do you think David Stern has fined NBA owners for even mentioning the lockout? Ted Leonsis got a $100,000 fine in September. One can only hope that McGee is aware enough to feel as bad as the ice cold stares players are going to be giving him the next time they see him. But they probably understand, too. What player hasn’t been susceptible to ill-advised comments?

Lessons have been hard for JaVale over his NBA career. But it’s okay. He can only be better for it in the end, right?

And now, pictures to celebrate JaVale…

The #NBArank of JaVale McGee

Kyle Weidie — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:44:00 +0000

[JaVale McGee, backboard head - photo: K. Weidie]

You’ve likely heard about ESPN.com’s #NBArank project of ranking all NBA players. Yes, this isn’t the first of it’s kind — the idea of assigning numerical order in a rather arbitraty way even though it involes input from wide-ranging subjects — and it won’t be the last.

Ranked at No. 99 JaVale McGee was the first Washington Wizard to be ranked in the top 100; John Wall is the only unranked Wizard left as they continue to be unveiled. And while we would certainly hope to mention/cover the rankings of other Wizards, McGee’s gets its own post. Clearly he is of utmost importance to the team’s future, as a participant or an assest. McGee is also, clearly, at a stage of player development where he more interested in his own good, rather than the good of the team. Either way, he deserves the attention he craves and more. Thus, I’ve asked four contributors to the TrueHoop Network/Truth About It.net three questions about McGee and his #NBArank…

1) JaVale McGee’s #NBArank came in at #99, nestled between Wesley Matthews (#100) and Shane Battier (#99), among others — Was this about right, too high, or low, and why? If the entire league were re-drafted, about where would McGee fall?

John Converse Townsend – @JohnCTownsend – JaVale McGee’s rank is fair; moving this Guinness World Record holder a handful of spots in either direction wouldn’t bother me. If the league were to be re-drafted (parity, maybe!), McGee would be selected higher than the ninth pick in the fourth round (No. 99). Some team surely believes they could break this bronco, and would saddle up an early ride.

Rashad Mobley – @Rashad20 – McGee’s ranking was right on point, especially when you consider he’s basically the Rex Grossman of the NBA. When he’s on, he’s blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and dunking every ball in site. When he’s off, he’s walking with his head down with five minutes left in the first quarter because he’s just picked up foul number three. In a redraft, McGee would be taken around 60-70 by a Don Nelson clone who is amazed by his wingspan, his hops, his speed and his ability to dunk on two balls in a single bound.

Adam McGinnis – @adammcginnis – I have never been a fan of these type of subjective sports ranking lists and feel more like bored sports pundits trying to produce pixels loathing to discuss the latest BRI break down. I want to rank JaVale higher based on Dr. J embarrassing him on national TV by licking his mom’s face and his clever summer planking photos, but McGee’s horribly stale alter ego Pierre along with his boring tweets neutralize those so his ranking is about where it should be to me.

Beckley Mason – @BeckleyMason/HoopSpeak.com - It’s a fair, perhaps generous ranking. McGee isn’t much of a one-on-one scorer or defender, and he shows about as much restraint as a Keith Richards in a room full of booze and babes. In a redraft, he’d probably go higher than 99, just as he’ll likely be paid like a top 50 player when he becomes a free agent. The potential indicated by his combination of size and grace is just too tantalizing for teams to resist overvaluing.

2) If you’re talking other closely-ranked young big men, Indiana’s Roy Hibbert is ranked #96 (drafted 17th in 2008, turns 25 in December), and Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins is ranked #82 (drafted 5th in 2010, turned 21 in August). McGee was taken 18th in ’08 and will turn 24 in next January. If you’re the Wizards, would you trade McGee for either player? Explain your answer.

John Converse Townsend -I would trade the pigheaded JaVale McGee for DeMarcus Cousins’ bad attitude in a heartbeat. Based solely on ability, Cousins is a great fit for the Wizards roster, offering a powerful presence on the block with great instincts and underrated technique. As a total package, I’d still rather have Cousins’ production, potential and problems than McGee’s glass ceiling.

Rashad Mobley -I’d trade for Cousins. Unlike John Wall, who has shown marked improvement this summer in all facets of his game, McGee seems content to dunk, get dunked on, and ignore any semblance of a low post game. Hibbert is clearly skilled, but he picks up fouls in bunches and disappears for significant stretches. Cousins has more talent in his constantly furrowed brow than McGee and Hibbert have in their 7-foot 2-inch frames, and I’m convinced that any lingering maturity issues with Cousins would be erased by the presence of his old Kentucky teammate running the point.

Adam McGinnis -Roy Hibbert has improved his numbers over the past season and would provide the Wizards would a solid paint presence. However, his offensive skill set still does not force a double team on the block and Hibbert’s slow, slogging style seem to be an antithesis to John Wall’s mach-1 full court speed strength, where McGee excels as a running partner. I would trade McGee for DeMarcus Cousins in a heartbeat as Cousins is a franchise type of player with ability to be a top five rebounder for a decade. He also possesses brute force around the hoop that McGee will likely never gain. Cousins maturity questions are overblown and Wall would definitely enjoy bringing his former teammate on board. Making Wall happy should be the top priority for this franchise for years to come.

Beckley Mason -I would trade McGee for either. Hibbert has shown an ability to play effectively within a system and score in post isolations. Cousins is younger, stronger than both and, unlike McGee or Hibbert, has true franchise player talent. Hibbert vs. McGee is close, but if Hibbert really gained 20 pounds of muscle, his touch and hoops IQ could make him next Marc Gasol-lite. With McGee, you wonder if he’ll ever grow up.

3) Where should the Wizards expect McGee to improve the most next season? What are the odds of him succeeding?

John Converse Townsend -The Wizards should expect JaVale McGee to improve on the offensive end. He’s best known for his impact on defense (often found camping under the basket), but McGee absolutely loves to see the ball rip through the net and flashed fundamentally sound footwork on several occasions last year — kind of a beautiful thing.

Rashad Mobley -Unless Kareem-Abdul Jabbar or Hakeem Olajuwon can nail McGee down for an entire summer to enhance his game, I think we have seen the best of McGee. He’ll get more scoring chances since Wall is healthy, spry and ready to lead faster fast breaks, but he’ll still pick up fouls in bunches, take ill-advised shots that disrupt the offense and jump at the slightest hint of a head fake. The odds of him improving on that tried and true formula are extremely low.

Adam McGinnis -No other sports athlete simultaneously straddles the WTF to OMG line like JaVale McGee. To viewers, his entire game is a crazy high wire act of athletic awesomeness layered with remote throwing, four letter cursing. I could harp on the dribbling (Oh dear gawd the dribbling!), falling for head fakes, jacking up low percentage shots, his surly attitude or swatting balls out of bounds but honestly, JaVale has really improved under the tutelage of this Wizards coaching staff. You can see him applying their lessons on the court, and no one can ever question whether McGee will play hard. The team expectations are to have JaVale continue to build on this enhanced decision-making and keep focusing him to play to his strengths. I find this a feasible outcome as JaVale will have personal incentive due to him wanting a big pay day with his next contract.

Beckley Mason -McGee has to stop taking himself out of plays on defense. I would strap him to a chair Clockwork Orange style and force him to watch hours of Joel Anthony challenging at the rim by going absolutely straight up. If McGee can curb his instinct for over rotating to flail at unblockable shots and avoid fouling when contesting direct challenges to the rim, it will be more development than he’s shown in the last two seasons combined. I’d love him to succeed because pairing the McGee prototype in our (and probably his) minds with John Wall is an exhilarating prospect. I’m not prepared to predict a more discipline ‘Vale for next season, but boy, would it be awesome.

ShareBullets: John Wall Should Look Out Below

Kyle Weidie — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:43:44 +0000

Pictures, commentary, links, more pictures…

WE HAVE HERE: JaVale McGee dunking over Gary Neal at Capital Punishment, but John Wall should also look out below…

> I know many of us are unsure of what to make of this whole Javaris Crittenton mess — how can we? it’s too early — but the fact that he still is not in custody of police certainly is not good.
[ESPN.com]

> Michael Lee has a decent run-down on the Crittenton situation at hand.
[Wizards Insider]

> Again, it’s too early to judge much and know anything, even though the situation continues to not look good. Still, the lead for the initial Atlanta Journal-Constitution piece covering the story seems to be a tad irresponsible/sensational/presumptuous. Maybe, maybe not…

When he saw the person he believed robbed him, a former NBA player and Georgia Tech standout fired gunshots from a black SUV, striking a 23-year-old mother of four, Atlanta police said. Now, Javaris Crittenton, 23, faces a murder charge in the death of Jullian Jones, authorities said Friday night.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

> The Post‘s Mike Wise wrote a good column on stale NBA contracts and how they helped lead to the lockout, but one part struck me as curious. This one:

Nowhere was the impetus for a long labor stoppage more obvious than here in Washington, where what was once thought to be a blockbuster deal — Gilbert Arenas for Rashard Lewis this past December — was in reality one franchise’s lemon traded for another.

I know many Wizards fans were perturbed at how the trade went down, although its been since revealed that it was probably for the best. Nonetheless, it seems like a majority of folks were still making lemonade before the ink on the deal dried, and not necessarily touting ‘blockbuster’.
[Washington Post]

> TAI certainly mentioned how Gilbert Arenas’ Twitter account helped him lose his lawsuit against Basketball Wives, but what Trey Kerby did surrounding the whole affair was most well played. Basketball Wives will premier on VH1 at 8 pm est on Monday night.
[The Basketball Jones]

> Love that Steve Blake was proactive in this nine-year old footage of a fight between him and John Gilchrist at the University of Maryland.

[Mr. Irrelevant]

> Recently on ESPN’s 5-on-5 series I contributed some thoughts on the Detroit Pistons.
[ESPN.com]

> As one who often thinks about sports and why we watch them /how they are significantly relevant to society, if at all, Henry Abbott has a nice quick post asking why they are so great.
[TrueHoop]

> A classic picture of Albert Haynesworth:

[via 30 FPS]

> Local media on the lockout… Comcast’s Frank Hanrahan:

The lockout is not stopping the NBA from acting like there won’t be a season. The league has released their regular season schedule and even the pre-season schedule, not only because they have to in case a deal gets done, but also certainly as part of a ploy to get the public thinking that at least the NBA wants to start playing some ball. I even got my Wizards media credential application for the 2011-12 season. But I’m not counting on seeing pro basketball at Verizon Center anytime soon as the players and owners are far apart on reaching a new collective bargaining agreement.

[CSN Washington]

> Want a group sales internship with the Wizards? Well, you’re lucky day could be here, just without many games to actually sell.
[nbateamjobs]

> As a left-hander, I’m certainly interested in a post about the best left-handers in the NBA.
[Hoop Doctors]

> Nice read on Tribe’s Low End Theory.
[Bums Logic]

> I liked this photo taken by Colin A.J. Murphy at Capital Punishment… Wall wants pounds:

[via the Severna Park Voice]

> Murphy also recently covered a Goodman League featuring Kevin Durant and Byron Mouton, with pictures too.
[Severna Park Voice]

> Speaking of that Capital Punishment event, here’s another recommended read written from the perspective of someone who sat in the stands, Tim Adkins, who contributed his piece to TrueHoop Network Indiana Pacers blog, Eight Points, Nine Seconds for the game.
[Eight Points, Nine Seconds]

Summer of Wiz Kids: New Relaxing With Social Media

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:36:59 +0000

[Fort Stevens Rec Center - NW Washington, DC - photo: K. Weidie]

As I get ready to take an extended summer vacation off to a location across the ocean, I can’t help how different this NBA summer feels. Yes, the lockout… But I’m also thinking about NBA players — who they are, how they are, where they are. Oh yea, and they’re also jumping across the pond lately.

NBA players are… themselves, for better or worse. Real people. I’ve known this. Covering the Wizards closely over the past couple of seasons has enforced this. It’s not breaking news.

It’s the coverage and opt-in exposure surrounding professional athletes as a whole, much less NBA players, that is vastly different now. Although, delving through the late David Halberstam’s brilliant book The Breaks Of The Game — about the world of pro basketball and the 1979-80 Portland Trailblazers — has helped me realize that while the times change fast, many principles simply get updated and don’t change much.

Halberstam discusses many themes in a changing NBA from some 30-years ago that can apply to the league landscape today. But when it comes to drastic change, it involves media coverage operating in a world where players serve as their own branded media machines. Hence, much of the traditional media (and new media) is forced to practice a mechanical-like re-conveyance of what the players put out on the open market. Yes, very different indeed.

Consider this passage from pages 69-70 in Halberstam’s book:

During the off-season [Lionel] Hollins had give a long interview to Steve Kelly of the Oregonian in which he had been critical of Blazer management, and critical of some of Jack Ramsey’s coaching practices. That of itself was something relatively new in the sports generally, and particularly so in Portland. The tendency in the past had been for reporters on the one hand to glamorize the athletes and the sport, but on the other hand, on all economic and social issues to go automatically to management for any statement. Gradually during the new iconoclasm of the mid-sixties, journalism had become mire irreverent and more willing to challenge authority in the society in general, and finally, somewhat later, in sports as well, to hear athletes talk on a wide range of social, political and financial matters, some related to sports, some unrelated.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, goes the phrase. Now, we have mobile device dong shots and Twitter… a wide range of bad and good athlete exposure. Not exactly challenges to authority, but clearly just one path blooming from free speech and thought.

Gone are the days of not hearing from or seeing athletes during the off-season. They are now readily accessible, doing some new relaxing with social media. They now connect direct.

With that said, a summertime Wiz Kids pictorial is in order (don’t worry, no dong shots) — in all their social media, pictures through Twitter glory — followed by some must-read links, video, commentary, etc.

[note: most photos a linked to original source]

Links.

Some Wizard is going to organize un-official practices in D.C.? That’s what a report from YNN Sports in Syracuse is saying that Blatche had said while at this third annual camp for kids. That will be big news to the turn-key bloggers, I’m thinking. Oh, right… the Redskins are going on.
[YNN]

Bless Andray Blatche’s heart… looking very Andray Blatche, scooby-snacking around at his camp in Syracuse, talking the mature talk. Good for him. He can only do what he can before he gets a chance to show it, right?

[Syracuse.com]

These pranks are very Gilbert Arenas of Nick Young … like father like son. Birdman and Birdman, Jr.

Mike Prada’s story about the Goodman League at Barry Farms is a good read, here’s my favorite part in particular:

The Goodman League isn’t for everyone. Season Ticket likes to tell the story of Nick Young, the Washington Wizards’ guard who, ironically, is among those likely to suit up for the Drew League (Los Angeles) team in a showdown against the Goodman League stars on August 20. Young played in the Goodman League once as a rookie. He played well, but nobody gave him any calls and his opponents went right back at him. So he hasn’t been back since.

“He was in the 6 p.m. game and it was like 100 degrees, so I don’t blame him,” Season Ticket says. “But yeah, he hasn’t been back.”

[SB Nation]

Tracy Murray is a WNBA coach? Yes, Murray, who had one of the best shooting playoffs in franchise history, will be coach of the Tulsa Shock, replacing Nolan Richardson (whom I once interviewed for a story when the Shock played the Mystics). Yes, Murray who was purportedly once recorded over the phone calling Rod Strickland gay to a mutual lady-friend who was playing them both — as in, she went and told Strickland. Strickland then punched Murray at the team hotel in Charlotte before a December 1997 game against the Hornets, leaving Murray a black eye and stitches. Yes, the same Tracy Murray. But we all have embarrassing mistakes, especially NBA players, so best of luck to Murray.

[coaching hire via The Globe and Mail, H/T SLAM]

I certainly feel bad that Cartier Martin’s AAU coach swindled him out of $374,000 – as @adammcginnis points out on Twitter, thanks a big chunk of Cartier’s career NBA earnings.
[Sports Illustrated]

Worth the read… Top 8 hoops moments from ‘The Wire.
[The Basketball Jones]

Hey, look at that… Pam McGee has been elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
[KOLOTV.com]

Love the Page Three photo this week in the City Paper.
[WCP]

From a ‘The Best Team I Ever Covered’ feature on SI.com, this one about the Chicago Bulls:

On the court: I remember seeing Jordan, the league’s leading scorer and MVP, palming the ball in his right hand as Washington Bullets guard Brent Price gamely, but futilely tried to harass him. Price was crouched low, working furiously on defense, but every time he slapped at the ball, Jordan simply held it farther away, a Globetrotter toying with a General. At one point he faked a pass over Price’s head, pulling it back just as the Bullets’ guard turned to see where the ball had gone. It was the perfect symbol of how the Bulls treated the rest of the league as their plaything that season.

[via NBA Off-Season]

Caron Butler’s agent says the Dallas Mavericks intend on signing him to a long-term deal. But what will “long-term” be under a new CBA? Intuition tells me that 3-years, $18 million could be too much for a guy coming off knee surgery who will turn 32 next March.
[ESPN.com]

No surprise, Cavs TrueHoop Network blogger John Krolik is an un-fan of Antawn Jamison.
[Cavs: The Blog]

Anybody But JaVale McGee

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:54:43 +0000

Hi there Internet. Why yes, this here site has doled a lot of criticism toward JaVale McGee in the past X amount of time. While some of it has certainly been flagrant, it is not baseless.

However, one might counter that we have not given young McGee enough praise. This may be true and to that we will say this, he is a keeper… despite all the basketball disruption that his alter ego, I’m assuming his name is “Pierre,” has caused to the playpen of team functionality and trust. He’s not a bad kid. He is young, after all, but many times disappointingly young in comparison to some contemporaries. Still, no one said an investment in youth is easy, but it’s usually always worth it, especially given McGee’s athletic parameters.

Speaking of… let’s get back to that reported/tweeted rumor the other day from Jonathan Givony of Draft Express:

Sources say Washington & Phoenix have been the most active teams trying to trade up for Derrick Williams. T’Wolves want a “veteran big man.”

That got Wizards Nation frenzied at what they could offer. Unfortunately when they looked in the cupboard of veteran bigs, there was only Ramen noodles. People would gladly jettison Andray Blatche and the sixth pick to Minnesota for the second, but we all know Minnesota GM David Kahn, as foolhardy as he may be (via the same guy who called Darko Milicic “manna from heaven“), is not taking that low-grade bait.

Ok, so what about JaVale McGee? Talk of him and the sixth for Derrick Williams and people start thinking. Well, stop thinking. I wouldn’t even trade McGee for the second pick, straight up.

Why you ask? Because of David Stern. Well, not really… Because of international basketball rules. Let me explain, it’s simple.

In late April, Stern told Miami’s 790 The Ticket radio station the following (via Sports Radio Interviews):

Well I’m going to urge the owners — and it’s not very radical but we were talking about it for awhile — to adopt the international rule on basket interference. That is to say, once the ball hits the rim it’s in play. Because I think that it’s too hard to call. I think that we don’t want to stop the game every time to see if it’s the right call, but the camera that looks down on the basket can tell the story if the refs have gotten it right. And it’s just impossible to call to make whether the ball’s touching the rim, on the rim, off the rim or the like. And I think that would make the game faster, better, and less controversial.

Now, we’ve been hearing about this for a while, so it’s not that big of a surprise. Still, interesting that it’s at the top of Stern’s mind, meaning there’s a very high chance it happens. And if it does, JaVale McGee becomes exponentially more valuable.

Just think, instead of chasing in-flight blocks all the time, McGee can actually spend time playing straight up defense and then chase the ball off the rim after a shot. Then just imagine what he could do on offense (that is, if he is strong and willing enough to fight for position).

Trade anybody but JaVale McGee … well, and John Wall of course. Wall is an untouchable’s untouchable, and right now, McGee is the closest thing on the Wizards to that. And if the seemingly inevitable rule is in place in a new CBA environment, then that’s where McGee will be… untouchable (except for all those basketballs that hit the rim first).

Nonetheless, the Wizards still want Derrick Williams, right? As I suspect, it’s going to take more than two teams to tango. But at least Kahn and Grunfeld have dealt with each other in the past … via Mike Miller and Randy Foye for Ricky Rubio (essentially). Perhaps David owes Ernie a solid.

So… here’s my wild trade idea between the Wizards, Warriors and Wolves that surely many people will take issue with, but since it’s all in good fun, it’s all in good fun.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS GET:

2nd overall pick (from Minnesota)
Johnny Flynn (from Minnesota)
20th overall pick (from Golden State)
Michael Beasley or Nikola Pekovic (from Minnesota)
[Note: Surely many would prefer Beasley, but likely not me. Bringing him back to his home area sounds like a horrible idea, just as replacing Blatche with him does. Pekovic could be a decent big man, I don't know enough about him other than to say Google him, he's somewhat intriguing.]

MINNESOTA T-WOLVES GET:

David Lee (from Golden State)
6th overall pick (from Washington)
34th overall pick (from Washington)

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GET:

Andray Blatche (from Washington)
18th overall pick (from Washington)
Kevin Seraphin or Trevor Booker (from Washington)
[Note: I think I'd rather trade Seraphin in this instance, perhaps could go either way.]

The player-swap portion works in the ESPN Trade Machine — I know, none of this means much (and that Golden State probably never does this, even though Lee’s contract is absurd).

Still, Wizards fans, what do you think?

A Wizards Grand Send-Off or A Forward Look to the Future?

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:27:23 +0000

Tension arises from the final Washington Wizards game of the season. Many fans were content with the loss to Cleveland. The 100-93 defeat on Wednesday means they stand-alone with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, and not tied with two other teams (New Jersey and Sacramento) for the fifth worst record, which could have had major implications on the NBA Draft Lottery. Other the other hand, they lost to Cleveland and looked pretty terrible in doing so.

Here’s where the “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” conflict arises. During the game, Comcast’s television play-by-play man Steve Buckhantz mentioned multiple times how Flip Saunders instructed his players before the game that he wanted them to treat it like a playoff affair. But removing John Wall, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee from the fourth quarter equation (when Washington went into the final period with a 74-71 lead), and then later taking out Jordan Crawford three and a half minutes into the period (the Cavaliers having taken an 81-76 lead), clearly swings the philosophy from treating it like a playoff atmosphere to tanking for the lottery. Worth mentioning that Wall “tweaked” something or another during the game (didn’t look major, better to be safe than sorry), Blatche and McGee were playing like they didn’t deserve to stay on the floor (we’ll get to them), and Crawford was 2-14 from the field (the lackadaisical demeanor assumed by some on the team clearly having an effect on the unit as a whole).

Flip Saunders told the Washington Post:

“I thought our first, main group played really well. I probably would like to see them play the whole game, the way they were playing. We were moving the ball, we were really active and pretty much dominating in many aspects. But it was a good opportunity for us to see a lot of the young guys.”

This is all fine and good … a minor blip of purposed losing on a crappy season. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, Wizards fans. It was also clear, per the Post’s Michael Lee, that many of the Wizards just didn’t give damn about the loss afterward, which also served as an indication of apathetic play during the game. Trey Kerby of the Basketball Jones so eloquently captures the scene as described by Lee.

Again, this is all just fine and dandy in the world of conflicts. The same, “Hey, we’re tired of losing, and the end of the season is in sight, so we are now going to decide to play better, more carefree basketball” attitude which led to success in the Wizards winning six of nine games prior to their final match in Cleveland is the same attitude that led to that last loss against the Cavs – No. 59 on the season and No. 178 in the last three seasons.

Here lies the problem: All the back-patting the franchise is doing to themselves — ‘Look at us! We had such a great year of development! Everything went exactly as expected!’ — promotes an unfortunate ignorance toward reality.

In essence, someone has to put down the pom-poms and watch the video. This is where we get into the heart of the problem that you’ve been expecting: JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche.

I’ve clearly written a lion’s share of criticism in regard to these two during the year. And sure, some of that has been overly aggressive. However, none of it is rooted in baseless accusations, but rather visual evidence. Sure, both are “young”(ish) — McGee just having completed his third NBA season at age 23 and Blatche having completed his sixth NBA season at age 24 (he’ll turn 25 in August). But they are also being peddled as pillars of the franchise. Old, vocal and experienced guys like Rashard Lewis and Josh Howard are great to have around, but at this juncture, Blatche and McGee should be setting a good example, not the poor one that they’ve conveyed on the court (and sometimes off, via club fights) for most of the year.

It’s preposterous to think that Ted Leonsis, Ernie Grunfeld and the rest of the franchise is enamored with how McGee and Blatche developed this season, but that’s the propaganda they’re selling nonetheless. And we get it, they have to. Support your players externally … let’s just hope that doesn’t lend itself to a separation of reality internally.

Many basketball modernists love them some stats. And there’s a prevailing theme within the Wizards online community that the team needs to invest more in advanced statistical analysis. Under Leonsis, they surely already are. The owner recently blogged that he enjoyed a piece in the Washington Post that cited Blatche’s statistical improvement from year to year. “Facts are good,” he wrote.

I like statistics, but they can be manipulated to be deceptive. They tell just a part of a story. In themselves, they contain facts. But, statistics should not always be used to make factual conclusions. Because that can be dangerous, as stats can be an imperfect measurement in relation to the real world. Blatche and McGee have good, improved stats. Great. But does that mean they often give a winning effort? Hardly.

In reference to stats, Grunfeld once said:

“At the end of the day, I trust my eyes as much as I trust statistics. Not every player is a stat player. A lot of times, a guy does a lot of little things that don’t show up in stats … I think those stat things are great for fantasy leagues and things like that.”

It can work both ways. And while I wouldn’t exactly consider myself on Grunfeld’s “team” when it comes to statistical philosophy (I’m more toward the middle), I will completely side with him when it comes to parsing the developmental effectiveness of Blatche and McGee. So instead of numbers, let’s go to some video (which is also just a glimpse which doesn’t tell a full story, but a telling capture nonetheless).

And again, this is where you’d hope the team would give their cheerleading pom-poms a rest, at least internally, and make such concerns relevant to their operations. Because the ease at which things came for the Wizards’ starters in Cleveland was more indicative of the low-level competition, and an even greater display of poor habits at their worst. Not anything at all to be proud of.

Avoidance of Defensive Rebounding

JaVale’s Dribbles

Earnest confidence lies in the rebuilding plan set forth by Leonsis. And hope can be an auspicious, relaxing break from reality. But in terms of trust, do Wizards fans believe the display put forth by Blatche and McGee in the final game of the season is them getting it out of their system? Or was it an invitation to look forward to the status quo? (Especially scary when considering the implications of extra time off due to a lockout.)

Washington Wizards, the ball is in your court to prove that acts conducive to a culture of losing will be treated as unacceptable. Good luck with all of that.

Hello JaVale McGee. There You Are, Staring Dudes Down

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:01:29 +0000

First, JaVale McGee blocks.

We (I/you/us/them) have found cause to critique JaVale McGee to a high degree this season. It’s just when you combine immense talent and potential with a seeming unwillingness to learn and/or an inability to grow in basketball IQ, the way of the world is done an injustice without an honest assessment.

So, when McGee finally does “put it together,” also known as when he stops doing stupid things (like JaVale’s dribbles), you’ll appreciate how much he’s grown even more. All of this could be a bunch of bull to make myself feel better about my criticism. It also could be an “it is what it is” situation*.

The Wizards want JaVale McGee on that line, they need him on that line. They need him to get better because in totality, his improvement this season has been a slight disappointment. But rebuilding time is time afforded to go through these frustrations. So it’s all good … as long as McGee kicks butt this summer.

He’s done a lot better lately. One day he could be consistently amazing to watch. Oh the day dreams. Although, his mere five rebounds in 36 minutes against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night stands out from the 15.3 boards he averaged in the previous four games (on the road against the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz). The quality of the opponent should be considered, but McGee still made his presence felt against the Heat, in the form of sweet, sweet blocks.

He’s not going to back down from trying to swat any shot, most of the time. Great teams need that, intelligently. Let’s tell some stories about McGee versus Miami with the help of pictures.

Sam Cassell instructs on a failure in the defensive rotation.

Chris Bosh made this shot. Imagine trying to do that at your size.

My camera happened to be too zoomed in to capture McGee’s block of Chris Bosh, but I did catch the stare down.

McGee is about to block Dwyane Wade. Notice his off arm. He has honed his shot-blocking technique to not reach out with it and to establish the ground he’s holding. Kid is a damn good field-goal repellent.

Then the stare-down. Sam Cassell loves it.

Then Chris Bosh got smart the next time and pump faked. I got the picture of the dunk, but who cares about dunks like a Bosh?

At one point LeBron James was going to drive to the basket against McGee…

…but then he thought better of it.

Then LeBron said ‘I’m LeBron’ and beat McGee to the baseline, allowing himself to get bumped by the gangly JaVale. Yep, the ref legitimately blew the whistle.

We’re going to end on this (didn’t count).

*(via Mike Miller)

JaVale McGee Block of The Year: Remixed

Kyle Weidie — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:49:03 +0000

Blazers Beat The Future By 35 Points

Portland all-knowingly jumped the passing lanes, the young Wizards usually filling the prophecy as expected. The Trailblazers bumped as they pleased on the boards, hassled like bill collectors on defense, and made the game look very, very easy. They had the confidence.

“They’re just some young guys getting some experience on the floor,” Wizards television play-by-play man Steve Buckhantz would implore during the broadcast of Washington’s 111-76 loss in Portland on Tuesday night. Not in so many words, but in several pixels of prose, as if freshly picked from the algorithm tree and laid gently into his lap by the monster.

It’s like the fate (disclaimer: I don’t believe in fate) of the Washington franchise’s basketball path is trying to outdo itself in the absurdity of highly-stacked odds against. Three-rookie starting lineups featuring John Wall, Jordan Crawford and Trevor Booker, with JaVale McGee and Yi Jianlian serving as de facto rookies posing as starters … along with all veteran players past, present and future unavailable for contribution. (Andray Blatche, Nick Young, Josh Howard, Rashard Lewis, Rex Chapman, Chris Webber, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes and Mike Miller all sat out due to injury.) If the circumstance is unprecedented, you will hear about it.

Common mistakes and missed defensive assignments are accepted and approved as understandable. Lack of consistent hustle, selfish forays to the hoop and unfocused execution are ills seen too often, doctrine for some. The kids are swimming, but will 35 point losses in front of fervid Blazers fans help them build confidence? For some it will, for others it will not. Here’s to now searching for promise amidst those who won’t cut it in a promised future.

In other news: JaVale McGee had a stylized block, of the year.

PHOTOS: Kevin Durant vs. JaVale McGee Alley-Oops

Kyle Weidie — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:10:07 +0000

The Wizards were slaughtered by the Oklahoma City Thunder like lambs in the path of Zeus’ lightening bolts from Mount Olympus on Monday night. The rivers in the Verizon Center run red with the blood of losing. In addition to their 116-89 take down by the Thunder, Washington has lost their last two games by a combined 48 points. The statistics and numbers relating the common place of losing could go on; now the Wizards set their watching to those numbers.

Injuries, inefficiencies, youth, lack of heart and effort … the Verizon Center has become a dollar store for losing excuses. Or rather, reasons. But hey, the kids are in the pool. This is a good thing. Adult time and a dolt time is over with the forced hiatus of several injured veterans. There are still problem children, but without notables who enjoy night club potent potables, losing couldn’t be more comfortable. Not necessarily more comfortable for the fans and certainly not for the players and coaches, but for those who will endure.

The air about the team is all about getting this over with as fast as possible, which could be dangerous in the complacency of an apathetic mis-education and development. Seventeen games equating over a fifth of a season are left … gosh that’s a long time. If it continues to end horribly, upon whom will that reflect poorly?

In other news.

JaVale McGee did some very JaVale McGee things against the Thunder, just as he did versus the Clippers. A positive event came when he caught a down field pass from John Wall and forced the rock in the hole while brushing his head on the underside of the backboard. Let’s view.

Not to be outdone, Russell Westbook made an aero-connection with Kevin Durant, one of Durant’s nine made field-goals on 16 attempts en route to a business-like 32 points. What does this cliché “business-like” expression mean? It means that late in the game, when it was time for mercy to be shown (and after the yell you’ll soon see), Durant clearly got fouled hard by Trevor Booker on his way to the hoop. No call. Durant didn’t smirk, bitch, complain or even look in the referee’s direction. He simply went about his business … soundly securing an easy road win in the midst of a playoff chase. Here goes…

[photos: Kyle Weidie, Truth About It.net]

QUESTION: What Is JaVale McGee Doing Here?

Kyle Weidie — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:54:51 +0000

What is JaVale McGee doing here?

The video below will answer that question and more…

The Continued JaVale McGee Learning Experience

Kyle Weidie — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:02:53 +0000

On Sunday against the Detroit Pistons JaVale McGee had just two rebounds, both defensive, in over 30 minutes of play. He also contributed 12 points on 5-6 shooting (2-4 from the free-throw line), three blocks, a steal, an assist and a single foul to his stat line.

The rebounding? McGee lacked a lot of energy in the early going and simply wasn’t able to contribute past a couple flailing attempts at the ball. The Detroit big men – Greg Monroe, Chris Wilcox, Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva — also seemed intent (or instructed) to be as physical as possible with McGee at every opportunity. And so goes the scouting report for JaVale: run with him, dissuade his athleticism with physicality, and either pump fake him or go into his body rendering him unable to block a shot. His effort changed in the third quarter, but the Wizards still lost to the Pistons 113-102, and the goal with McGee, as it is with the inexperienced Wizards as a whole, is a complete work of gamesmanship art. NBA players don’t get paid part-time.

McGee’s grinding progress continues to provide frequent repetitive mistakes. It’s no secret how other teams, coaches and players treat him in their preparation (and how that affects his game), and it’s no secret that McGee will sometimes make plenty of his gaffes on his own. Will he learn through continued frustration from fans, teammates and coaches? That’s up to him, but there are two abundant factors working in his favor: his franchise’s presence in rebuilding mode and plenty of playing time chances. Taking advantage, however, seemingly hasn’t always been a prevalent function of McGee’s basketball thought process.

Nonetheless, we plod on. The below video breaks down instances of the 23-year old center against the Pistons on Sunday … The Continued JaVale McGee Learning Experience. As Flip Saunders and the Wizards coaching staff continues to pound the stubborn rock sheltering McGee’s cerebral willingness, the familiarity of the lessons remains consistent.

POLL: Should McGee and Blatche Still Start?

Kyle Weidie — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:34:26 +0000

Entitlement. It’s a word Flip Saunders has used before when referring to his “starters”, i.e., JaVale McGee and especially Andray Blatche (I’m assuming).

“Do some of our starters — and I don’t know that — do they feel right now that they’re entitled as far as to play 30 or 35 [minutes] no matter how they’re playing?,” said Saunders after his team embarrassingly lost to the Indiana Pacers at home in their first contest after the All-Star break. His inference was on minutes instead of starting versus coming off the bench, but does it make a difference?

Evidently not, as Saunders seemingly still hasn’t found the answer he’s been looking for from his team. And as McGee and Blatche are still trotted out on the floor night in and night out, pretty much no matter what they or the team do. Including the Indiana game, Washington has lost six in a row since the festivities in Los Angeles (seven overall); the only games in which the Wiz Kids were competitive? The matches against Dallas and Miami when Blatche didn’t play, supposedly due to a hip injury. (And no, trying to mount a furious comeback against a mediocre Golden State team at home doesn’t fully count as competitive.)

To the point at hand, why do Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee continue to have starting lineup security? Because their psyche is potentially so fragile that the team must handle them like trying to get a stick of butter to stay on a hot grill for more than 45 seconds? Hint: they are soft and their attention-span and/or effort usually lasts about as long as that stick can stay consistently solid under grill-like temperatures.

Or perhaps it’s because they have more experience. Because they are more heavily invested in by the franchise. Because while looking foolishly inept at applied learning that they will probably make less overall mistakes than rookies such as Trevor Booker or Kevin Seraphin.

The challenge for the Wizards, their coaching staff and management, is what have Blatche and McGee done to deserve an entrenched position in the starting lineup? Because it’s lost upon many why. You tell me.

The franchise, it’s evident, is baffled as to how to properly develop Blatche and McGee. The former, more and more, is becoming a lost cause while the latter, just seems lost.

I’ve said before, Wizards fans, you love you some JaVale McGee. You love his dunks, you love his blocked shots, you love his musk. When this thing gets sorted out, you and him might get an apartment together. But when it comes to basketball, JaVale is Brick Tamlin. He loves lamp. And by lamp, I mean, he loves jumping in the air at pump fakes more than a teenage boy virgin at a porn convention.

What are McGee’s consistent mistakes telling us? To excuse his youth? That he’s not really that dedicated to the game, and that the fables about his pedigree, with a WNBA mom and all, being off the charts is just false advertising? Or that he’d rather just play instead of learn?

What about Blatche? He’s been the same guy since … forever. Dumb luck, perhaps, to be where he is today. Maybe in a different world, a different environment, a different team, he could be special. But as the main guy with a ill-advised contract extension (hindsight being 20/20 here) on a bad team, he is worthless.

The same people who bitch about this year’s Wizards team being bad are likely the same people who would be calling for them to tank under the contingency of mediocre, non-playoff success. But the team’s inability to implicitly state that they are starting Blatche and McGee because they are helping conveys the same inability to say that they aren’t a de facto way of taking for increased lottery combinations, or that other options would neither help nor hurt.

What other choice does Flip Saunders have? Not much. Winning with this roster is like trying to fix a broken leg with a Band-Aid. He puts his best talent out there, he coaches his ass off … but to no avail.

“I know that losses don’t mean there is no progress,” Saunders once told the Washington Post’s Mike Wise. Unfortunately, he’s playing Blatche and McGee like the games matter.

But who am I to criticize and NBA-caliber athlete? Who am I to poke sticks at the judgement of those who are paid to judge? Past being cognizant of what seems to work and what doesn’t … past being able to easily compare the effort of one NBA player to another … I guess, no one. So be no one with me and give your opinion in the poll below.

Take Our Poll

Tyson Chandler: The Player JaVale McGee Has Yet To Be, Or Beat

Rashad Mobley — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:38:26 +0000

Cue the ESPN 30 for 30 voice

What if I told you that two seven-footers battled this summer for a chance to play center for Team USA at the FIBA World Basketball Championships in Turkey? That the older one coming off surgery made the team, while the younger, healthier one was cut? Those same two players met earlier this year, and the one who got cut from Team USA was again dominated by the older, wiser center. Would it be a surprise if I told you that these same two centers squared off Saturday night, and again the younger center came up short, partially because the older one beat him at his own game in running up and down the court, catching alley-oops and making highlight dunks?

This is the story of Tyson Chandler’s dominance over JaVale McGee.

Chandler came into Saturday’s game against the Wizards averaging 10.7 points an 9.5 rebounds and proceeded to score a season-high 23 points to go along with his 13 rebounds. He also had a key offensive rebound and put back over McGee with 1:36 left in the game that put a stop to a furious Wizards’ comeback run and gave the Mavericks the lead for good. In contrast, McGee, who had a monster game the night before against the Miami Heat with 18 points and 17 rebounds, had just six points to go with his 11 rebounds against Dallas. To make matters worse, most of Chandler’s dunks came as a result of McGee’s defensive negligence. McGee often got caught watching the ball while Chandler consistently and easily rolled to the basket.

The brilliance of Chandler’s performance did not just lie in his ability to dunk the deft passes he received from Jason Kidd, but he was able to do the little things that elude the ever-expanding box score. One of those duties was to keep a high defensive awareness and limit the ability of John Wall to get into the lane at will. Prior to the game, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle stressed the importance of slowing down Wall’s fast-breaking ability and how his team would go about doing that:

Chandler’s role in limiting of Wall was to stand on or near the foul line when the Wizards attempted a fast-break in order to thwart Wall’s penetration. This worked to perfection in first half, as the Mavericks limited the Wizards to just three fast-break points (Wall was not to be denied in the second half, however, as he scored 16 points and the Wizards tallied 10 fast-break points). In terms of offensive little things, Chandler also set several hard screens to free up both Kidd and Jason Terry on the perimeter.

Whether he was screening smaller players like Wall or Mike Bibby, or slightly larger players such as Nick Young or Josh Howard, his technique was the same. Chandler would put his hands in front of him and solidly stand in front of the person he was screening until his man was freed. This may sound a simple task, but if you observe any given NBA game with a close, watchful eye, you’ll see so many players go through the motions when it comes to setting a good, solid screen. Chandler did the exact opposite, and Carlisle made a point to mention after the game:

“All night long [Chandler] ran the floor well. He defended the basket well, he made his free throws, he’s just really important to us. Down the stretch he was big, and his screens will be something that is overlooked, but he set good screens and made a lot of good things happen.”

Kidd also took time to observe that Chandler was the Jerry Rice to his Joe Montana on offense:

“The big thing was he was running. We knew they were coming off a back-to-back, and we needed the tempo to get in our favor and Tyson was out running. He can run with the best of the bigs. He runs routes as a wide receiver, and he dips in, and the he goes to the rim. As a big, if you respond to him dipping in, then he has the advantage.”

The whole time I was listening to the Mavericks coaches and players rave about Chandler’s feats both big and small, I could not help but wonder why JaVale McGee could not assume that same type of role. Like Chandler, McGee is athletic, he runs the floor well, and also runs routes to the basket like Chandler does for Kidd, being the beneficiary of many Wall assists. Unfortunately, McGee, who is just 23 and in his third year (and first as a full-time starter) has not been consistently great — often more style over substance, as Flip Saunders likes to put it. And against the Mavericks, McGee struggled. As the Wizards coach told it afterward:

“Tyson’s killed JaVale both games, last game I think he had 18 and 18, tonight he ends up with 23. JaVale was really tired tonight. He had problems running tonight, and had problems just as … as soon as you get tired, you lose some of your mental quickness. But he tried to compete…”

McGee will have games like he did Friday night against the Heat, where he is a dominating force on both ends of the floor; however, he’ll also follow those games up with an inconsistent performance or two. These are usually highlighted when he dribbles incessantly, racks up goal-tending calls, misses defensive rotations, ultimately drawing the ire of Saunders and/or Randy Wittman and finding a spot on the bench.

Chandler weighed in on McGee’s game and was asked if he thinks their games are similar:

“Yeah, I hear that a lot. He’s more athletic than I was, he just has to understand how he can be effective, and it takes awhile. It takes him being around good players to understand that. Not saying that the [Wizards] players aren’t good, but it takes getting in a good system and understanding what you’re able to do out there.”

I followed up by asking Chandler how long it took him to have that understanding of what he could and could not do:

“I kind of started understanding and learning my latter years in Chicago, and then when I got to New Orleans, I really understood.”

During Chandler’s latter years in Chicago, where he spent his first five season in the NBA out of high school (2001-02 to 2005-06), his starting point guard was the recently traded Kirk Hinrich, and in New Orleans, All-Star Chris Paul was delivering him the ball. Considering McGee had the services of Hinrich briefly and Wall full time, perhaps he too will start to really understand. Until then, he can just study the tapes of Chandler, who has thoroughly dominated him in their eight head-to-head match-ups.

Chandler has averaged 11.1 points and 9.5 rebounds during that eight-game span, and McGee has averaged 4.6 points and 5.4 rebounds. This season alone, Chandler has averages of 20.5 points and 15.1 boards against Washington, while McGee has managed just four points and seven rebounds in return. But the most glaring disparity in the Chandler-McGee matchup lies in the victory column. Chandler’s teams (New Orleans, Charlotte and now Dallas) have eight victories, while McGee’s Wizards have none.

It’s the little things that Chandler does as a veteran center which help his team win. As soon as McGee starts playing more within his role and really works to limit his mistakes, the Wizards will be in a much better position to win.

Reactions To JaVale McGee’s LA Dunk Story

Kyle Weidie — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:01:32 +0000

The take away by most is that it was one of the most entertaining NBA All-Star weekends in a while, and JaVale McGee helped anchor it with his performance in the dunk contest on Saturday night. But just as some people are entertained by reality television that’s actually scripted, the show put forth by the NBA can follow the same narrative. Was Blake Griffin really ever going to lose the contest in Los Angeles? Maybe … if Griffin had failed to complete a dunk within the allotted time when it counted. But that wasn’t going to happen. The city of LA, the fan vote on the final and the made-for-SportsCenter player all but predetermined the deal, according to McGee’s teammate Rashard Lewis. There was no topping Griffin jumping over a car, an “officially sponsored by the NBA car,” with a choir in the background, the hype-man efforts of Kenny Smith bringing it all together, and the icing on the cake if you ask Nick Young, LA Clipper teammate Baron Davis popping out the sun roof to throw Griffin the oop.

What about Serge Ibaka’s role? His dunk where he grabbed a stuffed animal hanging from the rim with his teeth before dunking was very similar to a dunk McGee had in mind. McGee originally displayed a maneuver where he grabbed a piece of paper from the net before dunking; the video of him doing so after practice went viral back on January 6, perhaps an unfortunate consequence. Still, there’s no way to know the inception of Ibaka’s creation. McGee said that his version for the dunk contest involved grabbing a judge’s scorecard and showing it to everyone afterward. After Ibaka’s similar attempt (or, “exact same dunk” as JaVale says it), McGee was forced to move the three-ball dunk he was saving for the final higher in the program. Using that dunk as a last attempt might have kept him in the conversation, but again, with Griffin winning 65-percent of the fan vote in the end, it’s highly unlikely.

According to Flip Saunders, McGee would’ve had to pull of a 720-degree dunk from the free-throw line to top the pomp and circumstance surrounding Griffin. However, the Wizards coach also admitted that McGee probably should have won the contest because likely no one else could replicate two of his dunks — the two-ball, side-by-side basket dunk and the three-ball dunk (with help from John Wall). Also to note, as I’ve readily reminded people, some dude named Marko Milic has dunked over a car before … Griffin’s version was special, but not that special.

Whatever the case, it was a positive experience for JaVale … to succeed under big stage expose and through pressure that even had Nick Young nervous. Another take-away is watch out for McGee next year when the festivities will take place at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The contest could be his to lose.

Below, McGee, Saunders, Young and Rashard Lewis react to the contest:

[music via Kev Brown]

Truth About It » JaVale McGee

Doc Rivers on the Wizards, Limiting JaVale McGee & The Booing of Andray Blatche

Before today’s game, I asked Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers about what differences he’s seen in this Wizards team now from when they played the Celtics on New Year’s Day in Washington and the next day in Boston:

Doc was asked about handling the Wizards bigs, and specifically about saying last time in D.C. (for a game on New Year’s Day) that he hoped New Year’s Eve would take care of JaVale McGee:

I asked Rivers about the treatment Andray Blatche has received from the home crowd in Washington — if he’s ever seen a similar experience, and what advice he would give:

I also asked Flip Saunders if, with fan reaction toward Blatche, starting versus coming off the bench played a component:

Other reads from Truth About It:

The Wizards Said WHAT? The JaVale McGee’s Mommy Edition

Other reads from Truth About It:

What You Think: JaVale McGee’s Backboard Dunk, Kahunas & Cojones, and Chandler Parsons’s Balls

In video form, if you will…

Then, of course, in true JaVale fashion, there was this, a dunk off the backboard when down 64-60 early in the third quarter against Houston:

And people reacted…

Whatever…

Other reads from Truth About It:

Wizards Media Day: JaVale McGee, Uncut

How did he make that BLOCK!??! (Or was it a steal?)

Two balls, two baskets, one dunk. Enough said.

He’s dribbling full-court again. Oh boy.

Then there was Ted Leonsis on McGee:

In other news, this:

Somewhat related:

Other reads from Truth About It:

Thinking, Lonely Free-Throws and The Washington Wizards

>>> This is John Wall.

Other reads from Truth About It:

Summer Memories: JaVale McGee vs DeMarcus Cousins

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Look Guys, JaVale McGee Doesn’t Want You To Believe Him (Says: ‘Layout of Food! Scrumptious!’)

Other reads from Truth About It:

The #NBArank of JaVale McGee

1) JaVale McGee’s #NBArank came in at #99, nestled between Wesley Matthews (#100) and Shane Battier (#99), among others — Was this about right, too high, or low, and why? If the entire league were re-drafted, about where would McGee fall?

3) Where should the Wizards expect McGee to improve the most next season? What are the odds of him succeeding?

Other reads from Truth About It:

ShareBullets: John Wall Should Look Out Below

WE HAVE HERE: JaVale McGee dunking over Gary Neal at Capital Punishment, but John Wall should also look out below…

Other reads from Truth About It:

Summer of Wiz Kids: New Relaxing With Social Media

Links.

These pranks are very Gilbert Arenas of Nick Young … like father like son. Birdman and Birdman, Jr.

Other reads from Truth About It:

Anybody But JaVale McGee

WASHINGTON WIZARDS GET:

MINNESOTA T-WOLVES GET:

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GET:

Other reads from Truth About It:

A Wizards Grand Send-Off or A Forward Look to the Future?

Avoidance of Defensive Rebounding

JaVale’s Dribbles

Other reads from Truth About It:

Hello JaVale McGee. There You Are, Staring Dudes Down

Other reads from Truth About It:

JaVale McGee Block of The Year: Remixed

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PHOTOS: Kevin Durant vs. JaVale McGee Alley-Oops

In other news.

Other reads from Truth About It:

QUESTION: What Is JaVale McGee Doing Here?

What is JaVale McGee doing here?

Other reads from Truth About It:

The Continued JaVale McGee Learning Experience

Other reads from Truth About It:

POLL: Should McGee and Blatche Still Start?

Other reads from Truth About It:

Tyson Chandler: The Player JaVale McGee Has Yet To Be, Or Beat

**Cue the ESPN 30 for 30 voice**

Other reads from Truth About It:

Reactions To JaVale McGee’s LA Dunk Story

Below, McGee, Saunders, Young and Rashard Lewis react to the contest:

Super Slow Motion JaVale.

Other reads from Truth About It:

Cue the ESPN 30 for 30 voice