The Importance of John Wall

          4:56 left of the first quarter and John Wall was playing in an NBA game for the first time since April 26th of 2012, 8 months and 17 days before John Wall returned to a crazy Wizards crowd.  He dazzled with his limited minutes and the Wizards showed why they were so excited to have Wall and rookie Bradley Beal controlling the backcourt together.  John Wall had 4 assists, and 3 of them were to Beal.  Best of all, the Wizards won their 6th game of the season and 2nd in a row.  Tonight they take on the Orlando Magic while John Wall looks for his 2nd win.  

  

           John Wall was drafted 1st overall in the 2010 draft and there was suddenly hope in Washington.  We were all looking for someone to compliment Gilbert Arenas and become a superstar and lead Washington back to the playoffs.  In the 3rd game of the 2010-2011 season there was a game when everybody thought this would be true.  The Wizards were up against the 76ers and they pulled off a 116-115 overtime victory.  John Wall rocked DC with a 45 minute, 29 point, 13 assist, 9 steal performance.  He sported the swagger the DC hadn't seen since Hibachi was Hibachi and when Gilbert Arenas was having months where in 12 out of the 16 games he had 30+ points including one 40+, one 50+, and one 60+.  Yes that was 4 years before John Wall started rocking DC.

           Then injuries plagued the Wizards and John Wall was looking less and less like the next superstar like he promised.  John Wall has never had that incredible stat line that we have been looking for with his career high being 38 points.  He has continuously disappointed with his dismal 23.6% 3 point shooting including a 7% sophomore year.  He has never had a stat line like 60 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists which overshadowed Kobe Bryant's 45 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists.  Yes, Gilbert Arenas could do that and with one overtime could help his team score 147 points to beat the LA Lakers by 6.  Gilbert Arenas could shoot 27 free throws in a single game.  He has never had a stat line like 54 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists which overshadowed Steve Nash's 42 points, 3 rebounds, and 12 assists.  Yes, Gilbert Arenas could do that and with one overtime help his team score 144 points to beat the Phoenix Suns by 5.  Gilbert Arenas could dare to attempt 37 shots in a single game.  Because Gilbert Arenas was a superstar.  

Wall is not necessarily the next Arenas but he gives the Wizards a chance.

         Blame the Wizards woes all you want on John Wall, but it is not entirely his fault.  John Wall is not the same style of player that Arenas was and nothing can change that.  Wall is not a shooter.  He is a playmaker.   Everybody just has to give him a chance to develop his skills and take the Wizards far.  Additionally, where is Wall's support?  His best help has been Jordan Crawford who is as undeveloped as Wall is.  Let us look back at Gilbert Arenas.  That game vs the LA Lakers when he notched that stat line and 49 minutes, by his side was Antwan Jamison and Caron Butler who notched 43 and 46 minutes respectively.  They also scored a combined 52 points which always helps a man who is scoring 60.  That game vs the Suns when Gilbert played 48 minutes with that stat line?  His friendly sidekicks Jamison and Butler played 52 and 44 minutes respectively.  They combined to score 49 points and 22 rebounds to help out Arenas.  Now who is helping out Wall like this?  We are hoping it will be Bradley Beal, Jordan Crawford, and possibly a rookie in the future.  But all we can say is the future and that is why we have to keep hope in Wall.

          The Wizards are an extremely young team and have a bright future ahead of them with Wall at point.  Everybody needs to stay patient with this budding star and let him play his game.  With that and while keeping our current core, who knows what the Wizards can become.  I am not guaranteeing that Wall will ever score 60 in a game.  That doesn't mean however that we can be good.  Who knows? This season they were 5-28 without him and so far they are 1-0 with him.  We haven't lost a game with him and who knows what that means for the future, even if it is only one game.

The Hawks Fly Away With A Win

WASHINGTON REDSKINS:

       It was Saturday, January 8th.  The Redskins had won a playoff game for the first time since 1992.  The first home playoff game ever to be played in FedEx Field.  The Skins came out on top winners 27-13 over the Detroit Lions to take a trip to Tampa Bay in the divisional round.  This was in the 1999 season, the last time the Redskins had a home playoff game.  Until the 2012 season that is.  

     The Redskins were 3-6, down in the dumps, when Mike Shanahan, the head coach of the Washington Redskins said that he was already evaluating for next year's team.  That was when Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris the dynamic duo rookies for the Washington Redskins lit it up and led the squad to 7 straight wins and the NFC East crown.  Then it was Washington's first home playoff game since the '99 season with rookie QB Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks coming to town.  In the past decade this would be the Redskins' 4th playoff game and 3rd against the Seahawks.  

     The Skins were up 14-0 after the first quarter with RGIII throwing 2 touchdowns, one to Evan Royster, 2nd year running back out of Penn State,and Logan Paulsen the 3rd year tight end out of UCLA.  FedEx Field was rocking and it looked like the Skins were going to be playing the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome.  Then the Redskins offense collapsed and the defense started a collapse and RGIII didn't look like the pro bowler that he did in the Redskins first 16 and 1/4 games.  The Seahawks concluded the 2nd quarter with 32 yd FG for Steven Hauschka, a 4 yd TD pass by Russell Wilson and a 29 yd FG by Haushcka.  Slowly approached the 4th quarter when Marshawn Lynch broke out with a 27 yd TD run, and with a 2 pt conversion, the Seahwaks were on top by 7 and the Skins divisional round hopes were looking bleak.  Then after the kickoff, on the first play, RGIII was sacked.  Then the most devastating thing happened.  A low snap rolled in front of Robert Griffin III.  He reached for the ball but hurt his knee and was down.  The Seahawks recovered the ball inside the Redskins 10 yd line.    After that the Seahawks made a field goal, Kirk Cousins came in for Washington and this magical season was history.  The Redskins were eliminated.

      Many may ask the question, Why did Shanahan leave Griffin III in the game when he was injured after the first quarter?  I will give you an answer.  Because this is a playoff game.  No NFL coach who wants to win cares about ethics even when his star player says he is okay.  Your team's season is on the line and your quarterback wants to stay in the game, don't take him out!  Could Cousins do better than Griffin in the time when Griffin was hurt?  Yes, very possible although he didn't show it at the end with a 3/10, 31 yd outing.  This is ultimately nobody's fault as Griffin III wanted to put his all and Shanahan wanted to do what's best to win the game.  

      It was definitely a disappointing end to such a magical season but it was bound to end.  This is a team led by a rookie quarterback and running back without two of their best defensive players, Brian Orakpo and Adam  Carriker, out during this game.  What can you say? Of course we all wish we won and we couldn't believe it.  You just have to look at it positively and take it in stride as a learning lesson for this young team so they are ready to take this Washington Redskins team to Super Bowl 49.