VIDEO: EXPECT “MAXIMUM EFFORT” TONIGHT

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11 Responses to “VIDEO: EXPECT “MAXIMUM EFFORT” TONIGHT”

1. Wizards_Fusion Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 12:07 PM

   There are a couple of blogger comments that I want to respond to about DeShawn Stevenson. Before that, I want to post his statistics on 3 categories that I feel are extremely important being the 4th or 5th wheel in the current DC offense:

   (a) Stevenson played in 82 of 82 regular season games for the Wizards
   (b) Stevenson shot 46.1% from the field in regular season.
   (c) Stevenson shot 40.4% from 3 point line in regular season.

   To Tom M. - Looking back at the last 3 seasons for the Wizards, the talk of fans has more or less centered on defense. My question is - how can we, as fans, keep saying we need better defensive players when all the team does is lose them to free agency? Losing Larry Hughes 2 years ago was a blow to team defense. Losing Jared Jefferies last year was another blow to team defense. Fans are saying contradictory stuff if they want to dump Stevenson in hopes of getting better on team defense. Didn’t Eddie Jordan say that Stevenson is very good as a man-to-man defender before the start of this season? Also, I’ve heard numerous times from Phil Chenier on Comcast that Stevenson knows how to position himself to defend. I think a 4 year, 15 million dollar contract is very fair for Stevenson (in addition to stats a, b, and c, he’s only 25 years old). But the other fans think DeShawn needs to leave. I can’t think of another COMPLIMENTARY player than Stevenson that can make this Wizards team from losing any more defensive talent at the price he’s looking for. If Stevenson does leave, who are you going to stick at the 2 spot? Jarvis Hayes (if his expensive option is picked up)? Move Arenas to the 2 and have Daniels start at PG (then what about the Wizard’s bench)? DeShawn works in Eddie Jordan’s system and I think it’ll be foolish to let him go.

   To mbezi23 - I disagree with you completely on Stevenson coming to Washington for the sole purpose of building up his stats so that he can make more money afterwards. Looking at what Stevenson did his last year in Orlando and what he did this year in Washington, the stats are basically the same. Stevenson didn’t make a monumental leap, like what Monta Ellis or Kevin Martin did, for example; thus the stat building didn’t really happen. Stevenson was offered a 3 year, 10 million dollar extension from Orlando and he turned that down. Although Stevenson didn’t say it to the media, maybe he didn’t like Orlando no matter what the money offer was. Also, Stevenson and his agent know about the range of his worth. 3.3 million per year sounds about right to most GMs in the league. Getting significantly more for him was going to be a stretch anyways. Stevenson said he was willing to take 2 steps back so that he can move 5 steps forward in Washington. Knowing the Wizards are dominated by the Big 3 on offense, Stevenson’s opportunities would have been less in Washington than in Orlando. So, I think Stevenson came to the Wizards for 2 reasons - (a) he gets better exposure as the Wizards are on the rise faster than Orlando and (b) he knows the Wizards need his services and thus creating a stronger value for himself with only 1 team. I feel if the Wizards offer him slightly more than what Orlando did offer him, he’ll take it. The Wizards don’t need to break the bank for him, but they do need to retain him.

2. WizFANatic Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 1:19 PM

   WizFusion,

   I totally agree with your assement of the situation with Deshawn. I think he had done exactly what they brought him here for which is defense. That he has a shot was actually an added bonuse that they could utilize when needed. Unfortunately, his shot has not been there as of late. But, it could very well be because he is not used to having to perform offensively like he is being expected to do. He wasn’t brought here as an offensive weapon but yet he finds himself in that predicament and I think that the pressure is affecting his shot. Bottom line, I really think he is just trying too hard to force his game rather then letting his game come to him as he has in the past.

   With that being said, I agree, they definitely SHOULD bring him back. He fits well into the Wizards schemes and has done pretty much EVERYTHING they has asked of him. And the salary you quoted for him is legit and I hope the Wizards do the right thing this time. Because frankly, Gil is getting tired of good defensive minded players/starters going to other teams.

3. WizFANatic Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 1:21 PM

   By the way, forgive the spelling (no edits before print) and I think Jarvis is a nice person but in no way do I see them offering him a contract. He just cannot shoot. Period. I don’t know what else to say.

4. dcbutler357 Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 1:41 PM

   Well said. It seems that the defense in the big men are lagging quite a bit. Thomas has energy, but he doesn’t seem to be a center. There was GREAT spirit Saturday night in the second half. It just seems like Gooden and other big men that we face look like all-stars against us. Haywood and Thomas should be fighting over a 7 or 8 position rather than a starting position.

5. Wizards4Life Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 1:41 PM

   well i am with you i like DS but at what price do you pay for him that’s the ? we need a better Big so we need the cash so we can get some other parts that we are lacking i want him to come back as well but i don’t think its fair to ask him to take less pay because we like him i think he should get what he feels is the best deal for him!

6. aznzero Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 3:47 PM

   ill be at the game tonight. lets go wizards!

7. LilGil Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 4:00 PM

   I’ll be in front of my tv tonight (still no wizards’ fans special plane) and guys I won’t do any special thing, you know some things you’d like to do on the last game, CUZ THIS AIN’T NO LAST GAME! GO ALL IN WIZZZZZZZZZZZ

8. wmines Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 4:47 PM

   Lets get MARCUS CAMBY for next year, Antwan cant get us to the promise land but Marcus can, our big men SUCK…

9. WizDom Says:
   April 30th, 2007 at 7:04 PM

   not a bad first quarter.. wizards up 1

10. tommandel Says:
    May 1st, 2007 at 8:25 AM

    Fusion — your analysis is right on. DeShawn had an excellent season, confirming the level he can play at. His shooting stats, esp. his 3 point stats, are great, and if Phil Chenier says he defends, then he does that too — but we’d have to look at #s to be sure.

    As far as whether we keep him, the question is what kind of offers he gets, what else we can do (we need some size and athleticism inside, obviously), and so many other factors that it’s hard to predict.

    But, one key factor is that DeShawn plays the easiest position to fill in the league; however good he is, he isn’t much more than average for a shooting guard. It’s a position you can fill for fewer dollars than any other. That’s *not* a ding on DeShawn; it’s just that there are more good 6′4″ players than 6′10″ players for obvious reasons!

11. Rod27PR Says:
    May 1st, 2007 at 11:30 PM

    I just want to ask one questions? Is Stevenson still in the team? Come on, 0 points on a need to win game? whats up with that? Even Mason scored more than he did and Im talking through the series.
    Game 1 Stev. 35:30 9 points Mason. 9:02 6 points.
    Game 2 Stev. 30:41 8 Pts. Mas. 21:13 10 pts.
    Game 3 Stev. 33:39 7 Pts. Mas. 6: 37 3 Pts.
    Game 4 stev. 22:16 (O) Pts. Mas. 18:55 3 PTS.
    Come on He needs to go. No wonder Utah and Orlando let him go.
    I’m not mad because he did not performed well but i am disappointed because a starter should score a lot more than that.
    It is true that because of free agency, salary cap and all of that, we lost Hughes and Jeffreis, but what happened to Storey and B. Thomas ? the are better players,
    and centers where is Ramos ( a young kid 7′3” tall with skills? He would have made a difference . No bad feeling for Etan or Ruff. they did there job, but a 7′3″ young kid againts a 7′3″ older man will help a little more. P.S. Booth you should pack too.
    Jamison,Daniels,Hayes,Thomas and Ruff. job well done.

    Rod.

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