[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. 70, Washington Wizards vs Memphis Grizzlies; contributors: Adam McGinnis and Kyle Weidie from the Verizon Center and Conor Dirks via television broadcast.]

Go ahead and smile, John. Humbly Hungry.

Read more »

“Guys, you don’t really understand what he went through this year.”
—Randy Wittman on John Wall’s season-beginning injury.

[And now, The Reaction, a k a my submission to ESPN's Daily Dime.]

M.V.P.

John Wall. Even after Wall dropped 10 points on five jumpers in the first quarter, no one expected a career-high 47. Not against the defensive-minded Grizzlies. Not with Tony Allen on the case. But the points continued, 17 coming in the fourth quarter as the Wiz outscored the Griz by 11 to take the win. Also impressive: Wall’s eight assists and seven rebounds to just two turnovers.

X-Factor

Read more »

The main pregame, whiteboard key for the Wizards against the Grizzlies on Monday night? Pace. According to NBA.com, Memphis is the third slowest team in the NBA (91.31 possessions per 48 minutes). The Wizards play at the NBA’s 14th fastest pace (94.37); with John Wall on the court, that pace number jumps to 96.75.

So, the Wizards want to run and take Memphis out of their comfort zone. But to run, you need horses. The Wizards only have nine healthy horses tonight. Who you gonna be without, coach?

To recap: No Nene (weak knee), A.J. Price (groin), Martell Webster (abdomen strain, which is better than the previously reported sports hernia), Bradley Beal (ankle), and Trevor Ariza (flu).

Read more »

[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. 69, Washington Wizards at Golden State Warriors; contributors: Rashad Mobley, Adam Rubin and Kyle Weidie via television broadcast.]

“Go to the basket?” [John Wall kindly requests that Klay Thompson make his way toward the basket.]

Read more »

[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. 68, Washington Wizards at Los Angeles Lakers; contributors: Conor Dirks, Rashad Mobley and Kyle Weidie via television broadcast.]

A3IZA [It was a head-shaker for Kobe Bryant once Trevor Ariza started raining 3s.] [Ariza game face?] [Randy, relieved.]

Read more »

[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. 67, Washington Wizards at Phoenix Suns; contributors: Conor Dirks and Kyle Weidie via television broadcast.]

A smile from #WittmanFace? (sort of)

Read more »

Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 67th game of the season against the Suns in Phoenix are TAI’s Conor Dirks (@ConorDDirks) and guest Ryan Weisert (@Spectavius), who contributes to the ESPN True Hoop Blog Valley of the Suns.

Wizards Starters (23-43):

John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Jason Collins (Okafor has the flu!)

Suns Starters (23-45):

Read more »

[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. 66, Washington Wizards at Charlotte Bobcats; contributors: Conor Dirks, Adam Rubin and Kyle Weidie via television broadcast.]

Faux Pas. [Happy Pappy Michael Jordan finds a smile amidst the glow of his outfit.]

Read more »

You’ve got this whole Wizards rebuilding project. Talk about angst. Are we in year three? Who knows. Has the can been kicked down a road of hope? Ted Leonsis has kept his kicking, and blogging, shoes on. In any case, the Wizards, clearly another lottery team, aren’t “rebuilt” just yet. Still on the schedule: another summer of, ‘Hey, we really mean it this time… playoffs.’

What about that draft lottery? An abundance of perpetual angst exists in Wizards Nation. And the Wizards and the draft lottery will tango once again; mark your calendars: Tuesday, May 21, 2013. In a supposed weak draft with somewhat of a core in place already, Ernie Grunfeld can probably leave his trusty gold coin at home. Winning the lottery is less relevant for the Wizards, especially considering how on Friday morning they had the third-worst record in the NBA. Now, they are eighth-worst and are less than 2.5 games out from 11th-worst (or 19th-best, depending on how you look at it). Nevertheless, there will be plenty of anxiety, perhaps some good, when the lottery balls drop in May while other teams are experiencing the post-season. [Worth mentioning: the Wizards currently have a 4.9% chance of winning the lottery.]

But what currently causes the most angst amongst Wizards fans? Martell Webster and the forthcoming decision — Webster’s free agency. The Wizards took a chance this summer by signing Webster to a one-year contract at the rate of $1.75 million. At the time, they had no clue it would end up like this. Now, Webster is one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA. And so much more, especially to his teammates, as evidenced by the above video. On Saturday night, Webster tossed in 7-of-10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 34 points, also becoming the first Wizard with a 30-point game this season.

The question at hand: What will Webster be worth on the open market? And, as he continues to play up his value, can the Wizards afford to keep him?

Read more »

[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

Read more »