Washington Wizards Blog

Comment from Mohammad Bashshiti
Time November 26, 2006 at 12:58 AM

If I had to pick an all-star team for this season, Gilbert Arenas wouldn’t be on it. Other than his three 40-point outbursts, he has been very inconsistent. He is shooting way to much, and not at an acceptable percentage. Teams have held him to 2-12,8-26,9-25, 1-12,6-23, and 5-19 shooting nights so far. His shooting percentage for the year is 39%, but it would be 26%-27% without those 14-20,14-22 and 14-25 shooting nights. I know Gilbert is very talented, but I think a major reason the Wizards are a flop this season is because he is shooting WAY too much. I mean, an average of 7 3point attempts a game? Come on. That hurts your team more than it helps. He is evolving from a very talented scorer to a point guard who overlooks teammates and takes 23-25 shots a night. I can’t even call him a less talented Kobe anymore, because Bryant is taking around 14 shots a game while shooting 50%. And no one can say anything about the Lakers, who are now 8-4. On the whole, my point is that Gilbert should stop jacking it up every night and should start running the team the way a veteran would. He is still very immature and needs some development if he ever wants his team to be taken seriously. By the way, tonight’s game against Detroit will be misleading to a lot of y’all. True, Gil did shoot 9-20(45%)overall and 4-9 (44%) threes, but that was due to his very hot start, when he shot 5-6 overall, including 3-3 threes. After that, he was a paltry 4-14 overall with 1-6 threes. True, he did have 10 assists, but he also had 7 turnovers. If this problem continues, then I have serious doubt as to whether the Wizards will be able to make the playoffs, let alone the Eastern Conference Finals that the team talked about during the preseason.

Comment from kencfalls
Time November 26, 2006 at 7:04 AM

I agree with mohammad .. Gilbert’s had far more off nights than good ..I got slammed on a previous article stating they should bring Gil off the bench for scoring (until he can run a offense). There’s a reason coach K. and the other Olympic staff didn’t think Gilbert was good enough for the team .. Stats don’t lie, and the blame rests on the coaching staff for not finding the right people to do the job. Eddie doesn’t seem to develop/use any of his bench, and everyone knows the current rotation ISN’T WORKING! We’ve got one of the most talented teams (personnel-wise) in the NBA and we STINK! We got beat by a BAD Memphis team. The other playoff teams that started out badly have adjusted (see Dallas, Phoenix, Detroit, etc.). The Wiz seem to be getting worse with every game they play.

Comment from Anonymous
Time November 26, 2006 at 12:19 PM

EJ is either scared to check egos,or he just has no idea how to run a team and position it for wins. He seems content with the idea of the wiz trying to outscore everyone with no defense,and falling short.Gilbert needs to either learn how to run a team and involve his teammates,or sit down. Gil is talented,but still immature. I always believed that the wiz needed a true point guard in free agency this summer.I don’t think EJ has the nerve needed to check players egos at the door and focus them on winning and playing as a team.TOO MUCH OF A PLAYER’S COACH.
The wiz have all the talent in the world,but no guidance,and no discipline. Gil is shooting too much,and it’s only because he and his coach believe that the team as a whole can’t pull out wins otherwise.You can’t fully blame the team for these outcomes.EJ doesn’t know what he is doing.This team has no identity or direction.It’s soft because the coach isn’t stern enough,and he has no vision for this team.The wiz will continue to lose.Good coaches know how to work with what they have.The Princeton offense is overrated.Get back to the basics of basketball and make these work together win or lose.

Comment from Wizards4life
Time November 26, 2006 at 1:12 PM

first i would like to say that Gil is off his game we know that! but you can brake down the stats all you want. he was the 4th leading scorer the last season! and brought this team back from a spot that even the grate MJ could not! so you can stop with that he shoots the ball too much BS! he is trying to win games and if everyone is missing! (Witch they have been) he is going to try to score that’s his job to score and run the off. ! and he gets guys the ball! if AJ has has 20 point games and Caron has a few 20 point games lets see we know they don’t shoot 50% so that means they take more than 10 shots so lets call it 30-40 shots a game! not counting the time other people shoot the ball like AD who gets about 10 ppg! and lets see Hayes who is trying to get his shot back so to say he is a ball hog is BS and the reason why he got kicked off the USA team is because he did what he was told to pass the ball to the “better players” and they still lost so who cares about a team that is made buy the shoe they ware! and don’t even talk about coach K because that bum could not even take super stars and win a few games. and here we go with EJ again he made all the right choices and that’s that till you can see the big picture and what he dose at practice Court and on the side line to make the team better then you cant say nothing! and if they don’t listen to what he is saying they lose! so there for he dose not have to Bench the best players on the team to get a response!
if you lose over and over then he can say OK you tried it your way now try it mine! & not be stupid and get people mad at him because if you know Basketball you know that pissed players drag the whole team down so that would be a stupid move to bench a player and drag this team to the ground!

Comment from Anonymous
Time November 26, 2006 at 5:54 PM

Wow. First of all, I hope you all follow Wizard team seriously. No one say a thing when Gil is having the good game and Wizs are winning. Now, too many people think Arenas is shooting way too much and should be benched because we are losing games? Stop blaming. That’s just pathetic.( Forget you guys, I’m ready for next game That’s all)

Comment from mohammad bashshiti
Time November 26, 2006 at 7:11 PM

Let me make one thing clear. I NEVER was for the idea of benching Gilbert Arenas. I consider him a potential top 5 NBA player. I was just expressing my concern over the number of shots he’s putting up each night and the great number of shots missing for him. It’s 13 games into the season, and it seems like we’re often left saying that Gilbert is having a bad night. I know he’ll turn it around, especially with atlanta coming to town.

Comment from Anonymous
Time November 26, 2006 at 9:15 PM

Wizards need more inside game and get the big men involved, but again their big men aint got no moves inside. I think the organization doesn’t know how to breed players who could potentially be very good. Good examples…. Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Chris Weber, I’m prolly missing other names. I see some players in the bench that could contribute. Wizards need height or else all these tall opponent players will just have good shooting nights against AJ, Caron, AD, Gil. Poor Etan, he has a lot of shots to try and block. Players that are 3 or more inches taller and are athletic are so hard to defend these days.

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time November 26, 2006 at 9:45 PM

Anonymous posting about the past - big men who fit the description you’re looking for aren’t exactly floating around the FA market. Otherwise the Wizards and 29 other teams would be fighting for their services.

As for the past…

Ben Wallace - became a great player with Detroit, but wasn’t that player in DC or Orlando, who traded him to the Pistons. And based on the early season in CHI, maybe there was something about DET and Big Ben…

Webber - given ample chances to do things here, and fell into what would become a good situation in SAC.

Sheed - traded for a point guard that averaged 17 and 10 while he was in DC that was also known for not being able to hold his lunch, but that’s another story.

Rip - traded for Stackhouse, a trade 9 out of 10 execs would have made at the time. Good for Rip for developing into the player he is now.

Comment from Wizards4life
Time November 26, 2006 at 10:27 PM

hey i am not here to yell at people i am just thinking out loud. some people look at the game diff ways.

do you think this new ball has any thing to do with the slump?
looks as if it takes good bounces and other teams are not having the same problems with it. but to be the 4th leading scorer in the league to 40points then 7 Points and so on… is a big diff…

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time November 26, 2006 at 11:43 PM

W4L - funny thing is he actually likes the ball. Well, at least last week he did…

Comment from Scott Decker
Time November 27, 2006 at 12:18 AM

Well this is going to a long season unless the Wizards can learn to defend and find a floor leader - unfortunately your 2 best defensive players from the last 2 years are with other teams - Larry Hughes and Jarrod Jefferies. Gilbert Arenas has to learn how to manage the game better and be more vocal during the game — on both ends of the floor - his weak side awareness and defense is unacceptable as a pro player this year. Gilbert has to realize that he needs to have at least 7 assist and 7 rebounds a game along with 18 to 24 quality points with a 47% or better from the floor. Gilbert needs to go look at film and learn when and where to get people the ball and where he is getting burned with his defense especially on the weak side — teams are taking advantage of this as they did last year — I know I cannot be the only one who sees this. HE HAS TO LEARN THE GAME ( this is also coaching issue as well). There is tremendous confusion on defense this year - especially on the perimeter -again - this more about coaching once again.

There has to be a focus on defense the rest of the season or the team will not win 40 games - let alone 50 — Eddie Jordan has to start getting in Arenas ear — the are millionaires because of their talent - Gilbert - it is time to be humble and listen.

Comment from Scott Decker
Time November 27, 2006 at 12:36 AM

The Wizards are in for a long season unless they can find a floor leader and stop the confusion on defense - especially the perimeter defense. Gilbert Arenas has to realize that he needs to have 7 rebounds 7 assist and 2 or less turnovers a game along with 22 to 24 quality points with 47% or better from the field. In addition - Gilbert has to be more vocal on both ends of the floor during the game and also realize he and his teammates are getting beat on the weak side way too much this year - Cleveland exposed this last year especially with Arenas on the weakside. There is not enough ball movement or people moving on offense and the rotation on defense would be hard press to stop a high school team. I think this mostly due to confusion - Maybe rethinking the point guard position should be done — Gilbert is a scorer but not a true floor leader yet - -he does not know the game well enough. Defensively - The Wizards have to put more pressure on the passer and use their quickness more wisely to get into defensive position. I know I am sounding critical of Gilbert here — but he has to learn or go. I am a basketball pureest and Wizards fan and do not like seeing this talent go to waste this year which is exactly where it is headed. We do miss Jefferies and Hughes and Caron gets the most out of his size — his effort seems to be there most of the time — get him the ball a little more … I stop taking all those jumpers!!!!!!! We need more attempts going to the basket - period!

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time November 27, 2006 at 8:26 AM

Just as every game has runs, the season has them too. You never look good during a bad run, and the Wizards definitely don’t look good right now.

The critiques of Gilbert are on the money. He is at an inflection point in his career. The *only* way for him to continue to get better is to change his game somewhat. But, even if he doesn’t do that — he is still a wonderful basketball player.

So, other than Gilbert getting back into his normal flow percentage-wise and starting also to be more effective on defense — what do we think is necessary for the Wizards to improve? Here is my list of what’s working and not:

1. rotation at Center is working better than I thought it would.

2. AD is having a terrific season so far.

3. Jarvis has to step up — otherwise, there is no scoring off the bench.

4. Jamison needs to get his legs back; but, will he be able to? His USA team summer may be a big factor in our problems right now.

5. *Someone* else has to be a positive surprise. We need contributions from one of the young players.

One last note: to me it looks like the decision to send Pecherov back to Kiev, on the theory that Blatche was improving and would demand minutes, is not looking like it’s working out.

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time November 27, 2006 at 9:41 AM

Tom - Pecherov was sent to play the season in France for his own development, rather than anything to do with Blatche.

Comment from Andrew
Time November 27, 2006 at 11:37 AM

I generally agree with comments made in this thread, however, everyone has to keep things in prospective. It is still early, and there is time to turn it around. I am going to have faith in EJ, Gil and the rest because they are pros. If we are still talking like this at the All Star break, I will call for heads. But for now, I get frustrated, get over it and move on.

I have not been able to watch a lot of games lately, but the ones I have seen I have not noticed Gil jacking up as many shots as he used to last year. For the most part, I think he is taking decent shots that just do not fall. What makes it so bad is that we never have enough guys in there to grab rebounds and give us more opportunities. Rebounds continue to be a problem.

One more thing I have noticed is that lack of a “team” effort. Sure they start out playing as a team, but the second things start to go wrong it turns into several one-on-one competitions. It is either Gil trying to beat his man or Caron trying to beat his, and so on. The cuts, the passing, the screens all virtually disappear. This was plainly obvious against the Pistons the other night. If you are playing that way against a TEAM like the Pistons, you are going to lose every time. Each time down the court Detroit passes the ball 5 times, and they pass is all over the floor. That way they catch the defense lagging off of Tayshaun, Rip and/or Sheed. The Wiz do not come close to that. The best they do is have Gil try to take it one-on-one, and if that fails he passes it off for Caron to go one-on-one with his man. The Wiz need to move the ball around. Get it in the key and then kick it out. If Gil or Tawn can get an unchallenged three-pointer, they will make it make it more often than not.

Just my thoughts. In no way should Gil be out of the starting lineup. That is insane. Give these guys a break and let’s see if they can get this thing turned around.

Comment from SUPERBALLMAN
Time November 27, 2006 at 11:50 AM

Team shouldn’t get down. They are just in a rough stretch. They’ll get it together.

Hayes is off to a slow start, but that’s to be expected with all he’s overcome. Once he gets flowing the bench scoring will make a big difference for us.

The centers are playing well. Antonio is playing well. Caron has become the perfect compliment to Arenas, they’re playing styles and what they bring mesh perfectly. I can see these two developing as the next MJ/Pippen or Bird/McHale.

Antawn has been playing better D lately, but he is a major weak link and he’s gotta stop standing at the 3pt line the whole game. He’s gotta work it down low and get in the lane first, and then go outside if that’s not there for him. The 3 point line will always be there, it isn’t going anywhere.

Stevenson is playing better, and seems he’s finding his comfort level.

Overall I’m encouraged. It’s a long season. We’re gonna start rolling here soon. They’re getting it together.

Oh yeah… bench Gilbert? That’s a funny one!

Comment from FUTANG
Time November 27, 2006 at 11:59 AM

Alot of negative people on here.

The talk about KG trade I think is unrealistic. I would trade Haywood or Etan for Stromile Swift. I think he would be a great fit for our team and system. He can come off bench at C/PF and that would be a good trade filling needs for both teams. I would prefer to deal Haywood, but either on works salary wise. I like both players, but I’d say Haywood for Swift is a good trade. We’d still have Etan, backed up by Booth, Lang and Ruffin.

This way we can give Jamison more rest, and a chance to evaluate his game.

Memphis would make this deal, and we should look into it.

Comment from Andrew
Time November 27, 2006 at 12:11 PM

Excellent insight Superballman! There is no reason to panic yet. The Wiz need to make changes. As I said before, I am content to give the professionals time tp do their jobs. I agree that once Hayes gets his shot back, we will much more from our bench. Also, keep in mind that we get Songaila month and a half. He might be a little rusty, but he will still give us looks that we have not had before. Things are just fine. We have important games coming up against Southeast Divison opponents and other teams looking to challenge in the east. Time to turn it around is now.

I know one thing, I certainly do not want to be the Hawks. Catching the Wiz on a 4 game losing streak, with two days to concentrate on that streak? Man, I expect to see a different team on Tuesday night.

Comment from Anonymous
Time November 27, 2006 at 12:11 PM

I liked the way wizards4life stood up for Gil. I have faith in the whole team and the coaching staff. It’s still early in the season. They’ll get it together. I predict Gil will have one of his All-Star seasons. Go Wizards!

Comment from Anonymous
Time November 27, 2006 at 2:22 PM

yeah right, you think Songaila will play this year? Don’t hold your breath pal.

Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time November 27, 2006 at 3:00 PM

Anonymous - I’m holding my breath.

Comment from smchawk
Time November 27, 2006 at 4:00 PM

A lot of solid points in this conversation.

When Gilbert has gone cold, he needs to work more to get others involved, but if there’s an open shot - he has to shoot it. Shooters get out of slumps by hitting open shots and by getting to the line. Doesn’t appear to me that Gil is getting as many calls in his bad nights going to the bucket, so he’s been shooting. Too much? Probably.

I think offensively the problem is not enough easy buckets in the half court. The vaunted Princeton Offense was supposed to be movement and cuts and passing. The offense currently being run doesn’t look very Princeton like to me. Jamison looks slow and worn down (Someone made a good point about his summer wearing on him)and that’s a good reason why he’s hanging out on the perimeter. Jump shooting teams have to have a lot of motion and set a lot of screens and work tirelessly to get good shots off. They are lacking there.

The Wizards didn’t acquire the post player they needed in the off season, and Blatche isn’t morphing into that player as far as I can see, so they are going to remain a jump shooting team. Now they have to figure out how to win with those shots. Tirelessly moving on offense and defense is the only way that’s going to happen. The Wizards on paper look deep enough that they can keep a lot of guys in the rotation and keep up that energy level. Haywood and Thomas are doing a good job at center (which is why it’s perplexing that Ruffin seemed to be the second half guy, but he’s hurt now, so EJ can’t botch that).

They have had a hard stretch of basketball, but if they want to be one of the top teams in the East, they have to be able to beat the top teams, and they aren’t even taking care of the lousy teams. Its tough to watch.

Comment from Anonymous
Time November 27, 2006 at 7:21 PM

I think this season is a wash. I see Wiz players in the news saying that “we’ve been here before we’re a veteran team,we’ll turn things around.” Not this time. Jamison should be traded now while he has some value.The big three concept isn’t gonna work ,and balance would better suit this squad.I always thought Jamison was a sf anyway.If he is worn out it’s probably a combination of him playing true PFs night 4night,and the summer games. His reluctance to go to the whole is a sign of age.Trying to preserve his body.As far as the wiz’s woes it’s all coaching related. If Larry Brown had this kind of talent to work with,he’d have this team organized,disiplined,and working together. EJ doesn’t know how to put use his talent properly,and he doesn’t have faith in his team as a whole. Hence the reason why Gil and Tawn can jack up jumpers all game. A true coach would think about the fairness to other players having to play along side gunners,and bring the entire team along.No playoffs mark my word.

Comment from Mille Mill
Time November 28, 2006 at 9:55 AM

Don’t bench Arenas. A shooter has to shoot to get back into rhythm. We might take a couple losses but they will get it together. Just wait and see. I didn’t here anyone complaining last season when he was scoring.