When the Wizards made the late addition of Martell Webster to the 2012-13 roster, there was no big press conference, no fanfare, and to be quite honest, the reception amongst media and bloggers was fairly subdued. The good news is that Martell has shown to be more than just a one dimensional player as some alluded to.
Seven months later, the Wizards now find themselves with a new fan favorite and a player who has gradually improved and exceeded expectations that only his own family could have had for him.
John Wall had blogger's row in a frenzy last night as he relentlessly knocked down 12 jumpers from just about every spot on the floor against the New Orleans Hornets. 15,000-plus bulging eyes witnessed one of the more memorable night's of John's career, which began with three first half 3-pointers en route to a season-high 29 points. John discussed his surging improvement shooting the ball and also briefed us on the 2nd half adjustments that enabled the Wizards to pull away for the 96-87 victory. He also expressed the displeasure of his Kentucky Wildcats getting blown out by Vanderbilt in the SEC tourney.
And there was no surprise in Martell Webster's friendly post-game antics. Not caught on tape, but Webster was fairly animated about his love for classic Nickelodeon. As he was getting dressed, he started naming several cartoons and shows most of us watched growing up and was particularly displeased after learning some folks hadn't watched or even heard of "Fraggle Rock." At the end of his interview, Web blessed us with a quick snippet from the theme song of "DuckTales."
"If [John] can keep [his shooting] consistent, it's going to make him a very versatile point guard. Very dangerous." -- Martell Webster
"When you play with a lot of confidence, you play at a high level. -- John Wall
With Ric Bucher reporting earlier this week that the NBA Summer League will adopt a March Madness-style tournament format, the league’s bottom feeders have begun bolstering their coaching and scouting staffs for a chance at legitimacy.
Summer League play, rivaling only high school varsity games in terms of atmosphere, is largely unknown outside of basketball purist circles. It’s a time for rookies, second year players, and rehabbing veterans to showcase their talents and inevitably dodge a spectator who nearly ran onto the floor after watching a spectacular dunk. The gyms are hot, the television coverage is spotty, and the uniforms are baggy.
The Wizards had plenty to address after last night's win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Randy Wittman and John Wall both talked about their animated exchange during a timeout late in the 3rd quarter and how it gave the Wizards the spark they needed to upend the Bucks. Wittman, along with Trevor Booker and Martell Webster, also gloated aplenty about Wall's spectacular performance.
And as usual, Martell didn't fail to trigger an eruption of laughter in the locker room while explaining the importance of players needing to do whatever it takes to prepare for game-time, even if it means getting a massage by two midgets before a game.
Only you, Martell...
Have a look for yourself...
"Whatever it takes you to get ready, you know..have two midgets come in here to massage you if need be." -- Martell Webster
"I'm proud of the guys tonight. The effort that they gave for 48 minutes was astounding." -- Randy Wittman
"I'm just being more aggressive than I was and taking better shots." -- John Wall
"We really didn't panic. In the past, we would panic, but we actually stayed calm this time." -- Trevor Booker
With 2:45 to play in the game, the Milwaukee Bucks’ frustration level had reached the high for the game. Larry Sanders had been called for a charge in a game that had been very erratically refereed. Before leaving the court, he turned, smiled and gave a thumbs up to each of the referees on the court. The Wizards had just regained a 16-point lead behind the efforts of John Wall, Trevor Booker and Garrett Temple and the Bucks were about to become the latest of the many playoff-bound opponents the Wizards have taken down this season.
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