The REAL Reason Behind Bilal Coulibaly’s Offensive Rise! Tank Bowl of the Century vs Jazz Preview

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On today's show, Belal Kula Bolly has played some of his most encouraging basketball over

the last couple of weeks, however, something it's just more hoops.

That's not the case here.

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On today's show, we discussed why Blockful, the Bolly's offensive rise isn't just March

hoops.

The massive tank bowl that will get underway tonight between the Wizards and Jazz at 9

PM.

Then we update you on the lottery standings and detail why the Wizards are in such a

great spot.

Alongside the DC Sports content, creating a Vant Emtula UB.

I'm Ben Strober, and I cover the Washington Wizards for Round Table I.O.

Maybe those insights from inside the locker room there.

A.B.

How's it going?

It's going good, Ben.

March.

Tonight, the biggest game.

Probably the season.

I know we mentioned Wizards Pacers at two game stretch, but it's Wizards Jazz tonight.

A lot of implications.

I know.

I mean, we lost to them last time.

So why can't we do it again?

I mean, we'll test your hand the line this time.

But we'll detail that in the second segment.

I think it's about time we do a full episode here on this offensive rise that we've seen

from the 21-year-old Ballol Koola Ballol, who has been polarizing at times because of

missing games and struggles that he's had offensively.

Just to give you a baseline, the season stats for Ballol this year through 49 games played.

11.3.4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 41 percent from the field, 31 from 3.75

from the line, 26.8 minutes per game, which is a career low here in year number three in

an 18.5 percent usage rate.

However, in the last couple of games, Ballol has played here in the month of March since

Trey Young was introduced to the line up, although we're not going to see that probably

for the rest of the year if we had to guess.

Ballol has looked a hell of a lot better.

He's looked a hell of a lot more aggressive.

And a lot of people are out there saying that this is just March Hoops.

You can't buy stock into a player's having these type of encouraging performances.

I think it's a lot more than that, AB.

It's the way he's doing it.

Yeah, and just a side note, recently, Ballol Coolabale has hit the YouTube space and he's

been posting vlogs.

And I like to see that personality from him and his boys speaking in French.

And he told his boys that once I get that ring, people are not going to be laughing at me anymore.

And a lot of people obviously trolled him about it.

And even to start off the season, I was a little down on him considering the fact that it

was just different types of injuries.

But as of recently, playing alongside Trey Young, Ballol Coolabale's game just has gone

to a whole different level and the kid is still so young and that magic game just taking

over at the end.

I know they ultimately lost an overtime with a bank shot.

Those are things that you can build off on.

And if this is this is the year where he has to go out there and prove that he can be a

really good piece for his franchise because of the extension talks and that number is still

up in the air.

I'm excited for this kid's future here, considering the fact that what he offers you defensively

and knowing that this wizard's team just needs any defensive help and that you just have

to make sure and understand the process that this season, it didn't go away for many reasons.

And we knew that going into the season, but next season knowing that it's going to be

different, I think he's going to be a big impact when healthy, but that's the biggest

thing.

And then we're hoping that he's that guy and just watch those laws.

It's hilarious.

Even his boys were trolling him in French saying that man, the wizard's won two games in

a row.

And it just goes to show that they under they belong understands what's happening right

now.

The process next season, it's a whole different story, at least we're hoping.

Yeah, and a lot of people have argued that the wizards have sacrifice player development

for this tank over the course of this 16 game losing streak and I can understand the argument,

but I won't say that's a season long thing like I totally can agree that this would be

a good time now to continue having your young guys play some pretty significant minutes

continue to get better.

The way Belal has not really seen that as much first saw as of recent, he's missed some

time.

Tray Johnson's going to miss another game tonight.

We'll give you the injury report and all that stuff later.

But over the course of the season, there have been that stride or we've seen those strides

of player development from different players.

Right now it's kind of just become more Belal's time to shine a little bit.

I think we've had throughout different stretches of the season, different players that have

made strides at different points like early on of the season was all about Kishon and

Alex Sarp because those dudes were playing otherworldly to begin the season, taking those

dramatic jumps you wanted to see.

Then he got to the midpoint of the year after the Tray Johnson injury where he's playing

some of his best basketball.

He looks like the number 6 overall pick and looks like a guy that's going to be a real

buildable piece of the future.

Now that it's kind of the will Riley show at this point in the season, Belal has kind

of taken the reins of being in that spot where Kishon was earlier in the season on this

meteoric rise.

And the reason for that because now he's starting to see some confidence in this game.

He's starting to get healthy and the last five games play just the numbers alone will indicate

that 19.2 points 48.5% from the field 50% from downtown, which is incredible for him.

1.4 steals 1.4 blocks 89% from the line.

What I like is he looks more aggressive getting downhill.

It's not just the numbers for me, it's the way he's doing it.

He's actively making an effort to get to the rim and finish when he has the basketball

on his hands, something that he's had to work on a lot throughout his career.

He's looked good in doing it.

He's playing with real passion, real energy in terms of being an offensive force and a

guy that can initiate an offense.

It's really the most important thing we've looked for throughout the entirety of these

three years with Belal's.

We want to see him aggressive.

We want to see him assertive because when he plays kind of in this passive state that

we've seen at times throughout the first three years at times this year or when he's

struggling to get back from injury, he doesn't look as effective offensively and sometimes

he's a milk carton guy offensively in those situations because he just don't get a whole

lot out of him.

But now that he's putting real pressure on the rim and using his athleticism, which is

freaky to be quite honest to his advantage, he looks so much better while doing it.

I'm really encouraged by it.

Yeah, I don't think this is a big nugget bend, but the past two seasons Belal correct

me if I'm wrong, we'll shut down due to an injury and this season, this season we're

hoping that he plays into the end and I think the coaching staff in the front office need

to see that development from him.

Like I always allude to when Trey Young I introduced here in DC, Belal Kulbali was one of the first

teammates that he mentioned that he's excited to play alongside with because he gave him

fits when Trey was in Atlanta and this is a Belal Kulbali who's part of that crowded

wing group.

I mean, how many times have we raved about Will Riley and the fact that you might add

A.J. to bonds of Booz or Wilson to this group alongside James Dustin, Champagne, Kishon

George next season, it's going to be tough to distribute those minutes because the guard

rotation, we already know how that's going to go.

Maybe you add Peterson, however, the lottery goes and then AD, but it's that three and

four room where it's just like, how do we figure out who's going to play the most

since probably going to be like this past season, at least in a competitive stance, where

in one night, this guy gets so many minutes and next night he doesn't play at all.

It's going to be interesting.

If you're a Belal Kulbali, you want to make sure that you're getting as many minutes

as you can because it's front office believes in you.

I know a lot of Wizards fans are still down on him, but the ones that are genuine and

were there from the jump know that this kid has a lot to work with.

It's just being patient and knowing that when he came out, he was a project.

Remember when he came out of the draft, everyone called him Wembe's teammate.

People didn't even call him Belal Kulbali, which in my eyes, it's pretty disrespectful.

But now that he's playing better, that when he had that steel and game winning dunk on

the opposite of Kumpel for an N1, that he's locking up guys, Belal Kutra, seeing things

like that, taking those strides, it's only going to make him become eventually a really

good NBA player, and then eventually he's going to compete at such a high level when this

team goes out there and starts winning games.

One thing with him that I've noticed in terms of his development, like I've said, getting

to the rim has been great to see, but the numbers would indicate as well that getting

to the rim is so important for Belal Kulbali.

62.8% field goal percentage when he gets to the restricted area, slash the rim.

However, his percentage drops to 25 in the paint when he's not in the restricted area,

21 of 84 on those attempts.

So when he's got to the paint, but not all the way to the rim, he has struggled a little

bit with his efficiency in terms of doing it down there.

But one thing with him is that the three ball is going to open things up.

We mentioned the three point shot has looked so much better over the last couple of weeks

for Belal.

It looks a lot more fluid, his mechanics look a lot better.

But he's shooting really well from the corner.

The corner has become his spot, and I think he needs to start focusing on making that

his bright and butter going forward.

From the right corner this year, his numbers are actually pretty incredible, 15 of 29 from

the right corner, 351.7% the left corner, three, also pretty good at 38%.

He just needs to keep his focus there as above the break three numbers are not good, 24.6%

28 of 114 on those looks.

But when you're able to knock down your threes from the corner and space the floor a little

bit, you create a, you know, you create this rotation where defensively guys are going

to have to respect you a little bit because we've seen defenses at times on the scouting

report, sag off below and say, hey, we're going to let you shoot that all day.

He stayed aggressive.

And once he started to knock those down like he has recently, the defenders come up and

say, OK, I got to respect this guy's jumper.

Belal's quick.

Belal has a great first step.

He can get into the paint.

He can get to the rim.

When guys have to respect his jumper, it opens everything else up for him.

Little Dawkins yesterday on the sports junkies.

They asked him about it.

He said, it's just confidence in being healthy.

Like, Belal has missed 22 games this year.

So it's been hard for him to get into a rhythm offensively, which we've talked about at

nauseam on this podcast, seen a real difference with the guys since the all start break because

he has a rhythm going.

And then here's a quote that really stuck out to me is that Dawkins said, when we drafted

him, we knew he was going to take a lot of figure everything out longer than most his

age because he didn't have the same background and high level basketball like some of the

other guys.

The front office has said time and time again that they want to give him plenty of time.

They feel like his best basketball won't be until he's around 23 or 24 years old.

He's 21 right now.

And we're starting to see some of the puzzle pieces being put together of his game sharpening

up a little bit.

He's not complete yet by any stretch of the imagination, but he's getting there.

Yeah.

I mean, that quick first step, like you mentioned, it's hard to keep up with him.

And if you add a consistent jump shot with that, it's very deadly.

And we're only talking about his offensive game guys because defensively, there is nothing

to really harp on.

The kid is really, really good and he's only going to get better from here with his athleticism.

It's going to be exciting when Belal eventually takes that jump.

And it's just another young guy on this squad that just has so much potential in his versatile

has the ability to go out there and play on both ends.

And that's what this wizard team needs because next season offensively, I think they're

going to be top 10, a lot of categories, but defensively, they need to be a just a,

I'm asking for below average, can't be bottom five again.

Absolutely.

I think next year we'll look much, much different in terms of defensive metrics, offensive

metrics.

I'm really looking forward to next year, but we'll see what happens May 10th because that

will probably change the way a lot of people feel about the whole rebuild, whether or not

it really will matter too much at the end of the day.

I know a lot of people are set on that.

All right.

We talk all about ball cool ball today, but he might not even play tonight.

To take full the century tips off at 9 p.m. tonight, we break down wizards and jazz

next year on Lockdown Wizards.

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Wizards and jazz tonight, best game of the season, everybody will be watching it.

Lots included.

We'll have post game coverage for you.

Of course, after right here in the lockdown, Wizards podcast, it's a big one.

It's like the Super Bowl.

I think Greg Finberg tweeted out like this feels like a playoff game and it kind of does

in a way in terms of draft pick potential, whatever it may be, but this is really interesting

because the jazz have separated themselves from the Wizards a little bit over the last

couple of weeks.

A loss would probably still keep the Wizards .5 back of Indiana for the league's worst record

because the Pacers do play the Lakers tonight who've been right hot.

So the Pacers are not going to win again, everybody.

Okay.

I'm going to tell you right now.

Don't count on it.

Don't count another 35 point game from Pascal Siaka.

Who knows if he's in playing at this point.

The jazz enter 21 and 51, the Wizards are 16 and 55.

So AB, it's really the tank bowl game of the year.

I feel like we kind of have the same situation last year where the Wizards and jazz were

duking it out for the worst record in the league and the Wizards ended up losing to

him, but then the Wizards won on a buzzer beater the last day of the season.

So ended up having the second worst record and stand.

But tonight there's a little bit more of a cushion between Utah and DC before this

one.

Yeah.

I think ultimately I do want to see the young guys still go out there and ball out because

like you said, you want to make sure you're balancing keeping or ability to land a high

draft pick by also developing your young guys and will Riley.

And is it confirmed that the law is out then?

I know you hinted.

No, he's questionable.

He's questionable.

I mean, probably last second.

Let's take ball out.

I think tonight, like you mentioned, jazz at 21 wins, Wizards at 16.

For me, as long as you finish bottom three, that's the goal.

And I think you have that cushion.

So it wouldn't be a big deal if the Wizards won tonight.

And if you're the jazz, I generally wonder, I mean, jazz fans, I've seen so many of them

just thinking about the idea and salivating over the idea of AJ coming.

The bonds are coming to Utah because he wants Utah prep and that whole connection you

can make what you want of that.

But I wouldn't mind if his team wants it.

I've been, but again, it's just about being going out there and making sure that at least

the young guys go out there and who, because you just don't want to see a blowout, I'm tired

of it, man.

Well, a loss would be franchise history for the Wizards with a 17 floss in a row.

I don't really care if they break the franchise record.

They've already tied it four times during this rebuild.

So it almost feels like a wider passage that they actually break it because it's a historic

losing that this Wizards team has done over the last couple of seasons.

And at this point, getting to the league's worst record, I know everybody will work up

saying, oh, the league's worst record team never wins the lottery, whatever, like, it's

just numbers.

It's just statistics.

It just hasn't fallen in that favor.

So I don't think that matters.

But what does matter is having five be the worst place you can pick in the draft.

So honestly, if I'm the Wizards, they're probably still all in.

I'm trying to get that bottom record in the league.

So I'm completely cool at this point and even better.

If the Wizards lose out, they would only have 27 losses in a row to end the season.

Not 28.

So they can't even tie that he already jumped ahead to look at that, huh?

Oh, yeah.

So no, the Wizards can't reach the NBA record losing streak, even if they do, so don't

worry about that.

Like, it'll be pretty embarrassing, but it won't be as embarrassing as having the NBA

record.

Yeah.

That's a good nugget.

But when did you notice that?

I think it took a look yesterday just that schedule is like, oh, wait.

If we lose, it'd be 17 losses in a row and the big 10 games left.

So by that math, that means we can't lose 28.

You can't lose 28 games in a row unless you have to play an extra game, which you can't

do.

Chestnut checkers.

Yeah.

I think Ben, ultimately giving, allowing Ben at about a score eight or three points, then

you, a couple weeks later, you have the longest losing streak in franchise history.

There just been a lot of lows this season and all Wizards fans, including you and I, are

just ready to move on and get ready for the off season because May 10th is genuinely

circle it, guys, on that calendar, yours.

That's when this Wizards team turned it around.

We're praying.

Let's go.

I want to give you the injury reports for tonight, because they're honestly hilarious when

you look at it from both sides.

And just as I go through it, it gets funnier.

I promise.

All right.

Let's start with the Wizards.

A ball, cool ball.

He is questionable with Wright, Red Show, Cal, Keniel, Versailles.

I don't even know if I said that right, but it's something to do with his heel.

He was out a couple of days ago with that and then he came back, but now he's questionable.

All right.

Whatever.

Anthony Davis.

He's out.

We know that Kishan George.

He's been out for the last couple weeks.

Trey Johnson is out again with a Wright foot sprain.

DeAngelo Russell.

I don't even know why they even bother putting him on the injury reports out with Dean.

Alex Sars out with lift, big toe, capsule, lightest, Tristan Vouchovich.

It's questionable.

If low back tightness, he came out of the game against the Knicks with that, Ken Whitmore's

out for the year.

Trey Young is out right now.

Might be out for the year.

We don't know yet.

Let's move on to the jazz, though.

Isaiah Collier, who actually cooked the wizards last time they played and that's, he's a big reason

why the jazz won in the Trey Young debut.

He's out with left hamstring injury management, management keyword there.

Kyle Filipowski is doubtful with illness.

Kianta George is out with the Wright hamstring strain.

Jaron Jackson Jr. is out for the year.

Walker Kessler is out for the year.

I don't even know at this point, but he's really good.

Larry Markman, Wright hip and pinchman.

He's out.

He was sent to their catches out with injury recovery for his nose.

Didn't he get like a nose?

I don't know.

He got like, there's levels to this bend.

This is Bryce Sensible, who is 22 years old, is out for a rest day.

Like, is this like, is this a commander's practice Bobby Wagner and Zachary's get a rest

day?

This guy.

Frank Sensible has a rest day today, but he's barely is playing.

So you know, he's going for 40.

Oh, he will.

Ace, Ace Bailey is going to have a, his last time in Capitol one, he was cooking.

I think he had 30, right?

Yeah, I think he had the career high.

Then I think he scored 32 a couple of nights ago.

So let me, let me see why I'm looking up why Sensible is resting.

If there's any context, so I don't trash the kid too much.

Battle the illness last week, but returned from the two game absence on Monday,

finishing with 24 points.

He scored at least 20 points and six straight out.

And he's averaging 21.4 points per game.

But up, he's got chill.

He's got a chill for just a night.

Maybe we'll see Kevin Love tonight, Ben.

Yeah, I don't know.

Maybe he actually will check into the game.

Everybody was cheering for him at Capitol one.

If the Wizards lose this game, it pretty much guarantees their bottom four record.

So as it stands right now, I'll detail it in more in the last segment when we talk about the lottery.

The Wizards would have, I think, five of their last 11 games.

Greg did a good job detailing all of this on his last pod.

He also tweeted a couple things about it in order for the Wizards to even have a chance to lose that pick.

So the pick is very much safe at this point.

It's just a matter of like where they're going to end up.

This game tonight is everything that the NBA hates so much about tanking.

And I don't blame people for being upset about it.

But I also don't blame these teams for being interested in losing all these games.

We see how low did this draft class is, A.B.

Yeah, it's just tough.

And you're hoping that these changes of tanking that they talked about in the off season will be implemented.

The Wizards won't be affected by it because we're no longer tanking.

Hey, hey, but you wonder that the future of tanking the NBA will it change?

We'll just have to see what they implement.

It's going to be interesting.

I just I have no idea solutions could be at this point.

But while we're still talking about it, we only have a couple more weeks where we really have to talk about this stuff before the lottery.

Let's give you a lottery update.

The Wizards are in a great spot right now.

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The tournament is here at one of the best times of the year brackets buzzer beaters upsets non stop action from tip to final cut down.

Duke and St. John's at Capitol one arena.

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I will be on the booze crews as they say at Capitol one on Friday.

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What they do we get to talk about tanking tanking tanking that's all we do is I feel like it's all we talk about sometimes but look at the look at the bottom of the tankathon standings wizards second right now.

They are in a phenomenal spot because of where Utah is Utah remember they have a top a protected pick so they'd probably like to finish bottom four.

But it seems kind of unlikely they do at this point as they are two and a half games back of Sacramento who randomly decided to win some games over the last couple of weeks.

So that's nice for I thought Sacramento is going to take that bottom spot but they've been winning they've been winning ever since Russell us popped off on the media they decided that they were going to start winning games.

I guess the media doesn't trash him as much but now the media is probably just going to get mad at them for winning the game so I don't see what you can't win man you can't win in Sacramento.

It's just it's a tough place to to be at this point whether you're playing or covering it so I feel for those guys a little bit.

But anyways as I mentioned before the wizards would have to go five and six over their last 11 games that includes tonight in order to even have a chance of falling out of the bottom four and that would mean Utah loses out the rest of their they've lost two in a row so Utah end up finishing on a 14 or 13 or 14 game losing streak or something like that.

And this but Utah has some talent on that team like they're set up pretty well to be kind of like the wizards next year hopefully in a much more complete.

It's just a matter of how much they're going to play those guys how much will they let Ace Bay League cook will they let any of the other guys even play at this point it's wild they're already a team that's been find but Dallas is creeping up on Utah it's a two game cushion right now that Utah holds.

And if Utah drops to the six spot their chances of losing that pick become a little bit scarier than where they are right now I think they'll have like a point six percent chance of losing it with the fifth worst record but if they do fall to six and let Dallas creep in over there and God forbid Dallas gets another top three pick in this draft or whatever happens Utah might be a little bit where I feel like Utah is going to do whatever possible to lose tonight to Washington that's just kind of how I see it would you be upset then if Dallas got the fit overall pick.

Yeah, just in general. I mean it is what it is like there's like what's the pick that's like obviously if they get one or two but I feel like if they even get three I'll be I'll be angry because how do you like Cooper fight in the next year get three come on man.

So I guess the incompetence of Niko Harrison is somehow going to like set them up to be good again long term even though they lost Luca forever I guess but I don't know where's trade of all time it's just getting it like it's just getting kind of washed away because they got flag and if they get another top guy then I mean it's another GM though so it's not like he's getting to reap the benefits of it he's just going to sit there home be like I did that that was me that was me the caprio me.

Yeah, no, oh my god, it's ridiculous but the wizard's in a really good spot lottery wise it'd be good for them to get to that bottom worst record so they could fall to five the lowest because if you fall or if you get the first if you're if you have the worst record in the NBA you're guaranteed to get either

monster Peterson Booser Wilson or take your pick of a cuff Flemmings or one of the other guys you're guaranteed to get one of the guys that you really like in this draft it might not be one of the top three guys that you really like but it's possible that you

either get Wilson or a cuff or one of the other guards like it's just the reality falling to six in this draft or falling to the seventh pick like the options are a little bit less it's still really good it's such a loaded class that I don't see anybody trying to move out of the lottery

this year because of how good it is but the wizard's on a good spot right now that's all I got really for it. Yeah, as much as we love talking about how great this class is going to be I still want them to get the number one overall pick and trust me I'm at the only one it's just knowing that the fact that you can land a guy like the bonza with his talent in DC

that's just something we haven't had here in so long probably since John and the hope that he'll bring the fan base that he's had I think he's almost that a million followers on Instagram then compared to the other guys I think Darren has like 200 or 300 K but AJ is just on a whole different level.

So you just want you want a superstar with the new guy.

Heck yeah man I just I want some I want what is it AD's you call it Ben on the fan yeah I want I want people to come and watch us obviously for good basketball

but also because the names the stars that we have we are star deprived that's true I mean you see when somebody with like a massive fan base has one of these locked on channels

they their views explode because you have people that are still that's like basketball culture I feel like people are barely fans of teams except for all of you guys listening

that's what I'm saying it's a player centric man it's so player centric people are just fans of players I don't really get it like I would never operate that way

but I mean I like LeBron I like following him but like I'd never be concern myself with LeBron stand or like go be interested like I don't want the lakers to win just because of LeBron like people root for teams just based on the players that are there I root for teams I know everybody listening roots and watches this podcast because they're a wizard's fan and that's the most important thing to me.

How many how many subs been if there would be on a channel if it was locked on LeBron.

Oh my god but I don't know how that doesn't exist.

So if locked on started 10 years ago but I don't think it expanded till like to every team until probably a few years back or something like that.

Yep.

Man David Locke I mean it's funny because David Locke the creator of the lock down network is the jazz radio voice he'll be calling this disasters tank bowl game to the jazz on the radio.

If I had a time machine I would go back in time I'd say David Locke I know you're like I already know that you already got the drawing board up here with your lock down podcast network be sure you make a lock down LeBron channel.

Dude I'm telling you it would do numbers dude.

I don't make so much money off a lock down the branch channel I promise.

Who I get basketball is like the always like who in the NFL would do those kind of numbers.

That's the thing the NFL is more team centric.

Yeah everybody's all in on their teams because like everybody's either a cowboys fan or they're just loyal to their team that breaks their heart every year.

I don't know that's a good question maybe I maybe my homes.

I don't know maybe Shredor Sanders I mean like that's what I'm saying the name the names.

I know name but it's I know Ben but the names that's that's where the tension is and.

I don't know to be honest a good question locked on brownie that would be a good one to go baseball go locked on.

Show Hayotani and then you get all the people in Japan watching it that but they would even understand it.

No real quick speaking of baseball Dylan Cruz not playing opening day Ben.

What are we doing?

It might have been necessary.

I'm wearing my James Wood City Connect Jersey record.

I'm hyped up for opening day even though we're going to lose a hundred games.

I'm still hyped up man this is this me.

I'm a DC sports mark no matter what.

Let's go opening day soon.

Wizards Jazz tonight.

We have the coverage here in the locked on podcast.

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You be a bench trover. Talk to you later DC family.