DAVE’S BLOG DAY 1 PRACTICE 2
5:40….Hey gang Dave Johnson back for the second practice of the day..will be blogging in just a bit…team is here shooting around for the six o clock practice…..feel free to jump in
 5:45 pm Getting set for this second practice ..Eddie Jordan said they worked on the first practice for two weeks.. and he said the veterans took over.. and that’s what he expected…it was a practice that featured legendary coach Pete Carill…as Eddie noted..when he speaks everyone listens..the things he says are so simple yet mean so much..and you could tell it meant a lot for Eddie to have Carill help out.. Carill did a little of everything…and Gilbert said Carill worked with him on making a better entry pass to the big men. In case you missed this morning’s blog it was a practice that was all about defense with Randy Ayers providing a new voice.
5:54 PM Andray Blatche just complimented me on my laptop…as the team has to move on without Etan Thomas for now.. Blatche is backing up Brendan Haywood..with Tony Massenburg as the third center…. with Darius Songaila also rotated in…Practice has started…after 1:45 of defense in the first practice ..new assitant Dave Hopla opens up the second practice in charge of a shooting drill.
 6:04 PM…As they go through the shooting drill..Eddie Jordan reminding the players to make a game shot and not just a shot because it is a drill.
6:17…Variety of shooting drills have been completed..team divided up into threes at six different baskets..Roger Mason Jr. no surprise has been nailing his shots…I was on a radio show this afternoon in Richmond ..there is still a lot of interest in Mason from his time at UVA..lot of interest in the Wizards down here..without traffic Verizon Center is not even two hours…I know without traffic is a big if..we now have a radio affiliate down here as well..
 6:30…A shift from shooting..to transition defense….point and talk is the mantra on defense..on offense another reminder of what a smart passer Darius is.
6:36 PM…nifty reverse SLAM by Brendan Haywood.
6:46 pm…just watched Tony Massenburg at the age of 40..sky and snare a big rebound that then kick started the transition…he is in terrific condition..and is so eager to do more than just be a part of the training camp roster…on the subject of fitness..eddie jordan said he thought it was the fittest the team had come into camp and that is saying somthing because the days of using training camp to get in shape are long gone.
6:52 Pm.fasten your seat belts ..srimmage time….starting five is grouped together and wearing black jerseys..on the white team Taylor, Young, Hall, Blatche and Songailia
6:54 ..Pecherov replaced Haywood on the black team. and Mason for Stevenson…Caron Butler just hit buzzer beater for three.
7:03 …Black team won scrimmage easily 11-4…but finished with a nice Blatche steal that ended in a transition bucket for Songailia…Practice over basically now just shooting…Pecherov just received a good job from coaches Hubbard and Ayers…a good start for him..and not just making shots but active on defense…in morning practice watched him use his length to deflect passes…it will be fun to watch all these young players develop…McGuire also active. in the AM..did not practice in the PM because of a migraine. .and Nick Young confident…in fact Jordan reminded him once not to worry about the three..just hit a solid jumper in his range.
With all the talk about a healthy team it was sobering to get the news about Etan….but its a team that showed itwas eager to get back to work and improve on last year. One pratice tomorrow..a longer one and we will be blogging..spread the word…
Posted: October 2nd, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from mriggs6980
Time October 2, 2007 at 4:55 PM
Dave,
Thanks for the blog. As you can tell, some of us just can’t wait for this season to begin.
As for the defensive drills, you said they were working on the pick-and-roll defense. Last year, it seemed that the Wizards used the “hedge” against the PnR most of the time; where the Center steps out on the offensive player with the ball, forcing him to take at least one dribble away from the basket – the defending guard then has time to recover, and the center has to quickly sprint back to his man.
There are other ways of defending the pick-and-roll…. From what you’ve seen so far, are the Wizards practicing other defenses?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 4:58 PM
hey glad you could jump in..I know its the first day and as Pete Carill said that can change later..but this team is showing a lot of energy…
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:01 PM
We have heard all about it but as I watch Pecherov is a seven footer with a smooth outside shot
Comment from mriggs6980
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:06 PM
Hey Dave, Thanks for the blog… I’m hanging on every word.
From what I’ve read, EG thinks of Pecherov as a Center, but Eddie thinks of him as a forward… I’d like to see if that changes during camp.
Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:07 PM
Hope we can keep this same routine up they seem to be playing pretty good. My prayers are with Etan he’ll be back the devil can’t hold him down.
Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:09 PM
I see eddie on his JOB he dont want no playing around he about his work!
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:24 PM
Yeah Eddie ison the case….It is interesting how each camp is different..so much planning goes into making these practices effective..and with so much basketball…the variety of voices is a plus..tonight Dave Hopla has led one drill..Brian Winters more involved in another..this morning we had Randy Ayers and Pete Carill taking active roles..
Comment from LilGil
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:24 PM
Thank’s for all this Dave! I really hope the Wiz can get seriously into D, but obviously Etan not being there is not so much of a good step in that direction….
Comment from Terry Burns
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:29 PM
Dave,
How is Willie Deane looking ? I remember him from Purdue. I am a University of Michigan grad and I was there when he put 40 pts on us. I thought he was the best guard I have seen in the big 10 in a long time. I have followed him since and seen that he has dominated the Russian league the last two years (leading scorer, top 5 in assists, steals, etc). I’m not sure about roster spots and such but that was a great find by the Wizards. Incredibly athletic player who can shoot and great speed.
Comment from mriggs6980
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Hey Dave, thanks for the blog.
There was speculation that Ayers being hired by Ernie, might sit wrong with Eddie… it’s nice to find out that Eddie Jordan has apparently given Randy Ayers the biggest voice in the first practice of the year. I think that speaks volumes, both for Ayers involvement, and for Eddie’s commitment to defense this year.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:34 PM
LilGil..hearing about Etan ..is a blow..but we are all just thankful that he is in good care and hopefully we will get good news… the plus side…is just seeing how much this team really enjoys working together and as I said ..different voices giving the defensive instruction has also been effective
Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:55 PM
Hey Dave whats the statis on Gil , Caron , Jamison what hey doing.
Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Hey Dave what a team there.
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 5:59 PM
Gil Caron and Antawn all active.. Gilbert says he was even surprised at how well he felt after the first practice…as I said Butler just nailed a three…Gil had great drive and kick to the corner..shot didn’t go but compliments on the pass…the vets look sharp in general..as Eddie said the veternas just came in this morning and took over
Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:05 PM
Hey Dave thats what Iam talking about. They look like they ready 2 ball. Tell them lets keep up the good work. Tell Gil dont over do it we need him.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:07 PM
nice to hear! what about the D are there any more players besides AJ out there talking? i guess what i am asking is Are Gil and Caron starting to play the talking Game on D and getting more involved? i kinda caught last year that AJ was leading the team and all the other players we just doing what they do i was hoping that Gil an Caron would start to do the same so we can keep the floor loud
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:10 PM
wizards4life…good point.. a lot of talking going on..as I said I heard coach O’Koren remind players to point and talk…and from the AM pratice coach Ayers saud getting better defensively is something that is going to happen daily and by building trust
Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:10 PM
Hey Dave Iam about 2 leave work Iam hoping I can pick this up at home. You might be done by the time I get home. Are you on here for tommorow pratice?
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:11 PM
heard some of the younger players shouting instructions on D
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:14 PM
yes on the practice tomorrow
Comment from Terry Burns
Time October 2, 2007 at 6:38 PM
Dave,
how is Willie Deane from Purdue doing ? Great player in college and Europe.
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time October 3, 2007 at 7:29 AM
hey does anyone here have espn insider they have just released a bunch of info including srtregnth weaknesses offfesesason move…etc… for every team…but sadly i dont have insider but if someone who has it can u tell us wat it is about
Comment from joe
Time October 3, 2007 at 8:13 AM
Hollinger ripped the Wizards pretty good on the insider article. His “outlook” for the season states that the Wizards will be 5th in the southeast and only win 33 games. You wouldn’t want to read the article as a Wizards fan. It’s very disappointing. He has the bobcats making the playoffs. The article is full of crap and I think his reasoning is pathetic. He thinks Jamison and Gil will be selfish since they are in contract years (that is absurd). He also states that AD will hit the wall this year – which everybody has been saying for the past two years – not going to happen. If you have specific you want to know from the article, let me know and I’ll post it.
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time October 3, 2007 at 9:38 AM
oh man….the Wizards are going to shut this guy up he should be fired…we are going to win atleast 45-50 games…..aso we have improved much in scoring bench and some what defense…i see us at the 2 or 3rd seed in the east…we can beat the bulls, bocats,heat(getting to old), boston(3 players dont make a team and all of them are injury prone),sixers,pistons(for some reason we always sweep them in the season series),etc……I think we will be givin our biggest problem by the cavs….i wish we can get anderson varejao for like 1 mil that would be a big boost the cavs havent offered him a contract yet…or niether has any other team
Comment from DJ-WizardsRadio
Time October 3, 2007 at 10:27 AM
mriggs6980…sorry i missed your question earlier..indeed we practices some of what you described on the pick and roll..but more than just the center involved in trying to disrupt the ball handler
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Comment from Sexy Agent ZERO
Time October 2, 2007 at 4:51 PM
Thanks Dave I’m here with you!