Washington Wizards Blog

Comment from Rook
Time October 6, 2007 at 3:50 PM

Hey Glen,

Nice to have you here today..

Will you be doing analysis this season for Comcast?

Comment from FantasticWiz
Time October 6, 2007 at 4:11 PM

Hey Rook,
I’ll tell you I will be doing analysis!

Comment from Rook
Time October 6, 2007 at 4:35 PM

Everything I heard about Pecherov from last year said he was a very good shooter with 3-point range, and a decent rebounder.

From what I saw in Summer League, and what I’ve seen and heard so far in camp, it’s apparent that he can defend a little; and somewhat surprisingly has some post moves.
At the beginning of camp, I think that Eddie Jordan thought of Pech as a SF, but I heard an interview where he said he was happy to find out he has some post moves and a pretty good inside game.

It might be interesting to see what happens when the Center AND Power Forward (Jamison) can both hit the 3-ball.

Do you think Eddie now thinks of Pech as a Center?

Comment from r55
Time October 6, 2007 at 4:40 PM

Are Arenas and Jamison expected to play today?

Comment from FantasticWiz
Time October 6, 2007 at 4:55 PM

Rook and R55
Pech and Blatche can play center, and doesn’t look like Twan and Gil wil play…just resting

Comment from LilGil
Time October 6, 2007 at 5:03 PM

Thank’s for keeping us on track Glen!

Comment from neal
Time October 6, 2007 at 8:51 PM

Sounds to me like Pecherov is the better PF, because of his outside shooting and Blatche is the better center because of his rebounding and interior D. But both can play either.

I am SO glad (and surprised) Blatche decided to take conditioning seriously.

Minutes are going to be hard to come by for some very good players. Here’s how the rotation seems to stack up at present:

PG Arenas, Daniels
SG Stevenson, Mason
SF Butler, McGuire
PF Jamison, Songaila
C Haywood, Blatche

That’s a 10 man rotation, which is more than Jordan has ever had, and leaves nothing for Young or Pecherov. And Pecherov is reportedly playing the best of the rookies. Jordan is going to have some tough decisions to make.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 6, 2007 at 9:34 PM

The nice part of this team is that Eddie may have more than a 10 man rotation with no drop off at all. It will be nice, for a change, not having our first team going into the playoffs tired. My question these days is at PG. If someone, God forbid, gets hurt…. who steps in? Roger Mason Jr?

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 7, 2007 at 8:30 AM

Antonio is behind Gil at the point. Taylor is 3d.

I’m glad to hear all the good comments about Mason; I’ll be *happy* to have been wrong about him. But… still haven’t seen any productive NBA minutes from the guy, so lets not canonize him yet. The rumor that San Antonio offered him a 3-year guaranteed contract was shocking — and even more shocking if he turned that down! (why would you do that — a ring probably comes with that!).

If Pecherov, Blatche and McGuire contribute, that is a *big plus.*

Comment from neal
Time October 7, 2007 at 9:43 AM

Although Taylor is supposedly the 3rd PG, I don’t think it’s a sure thing that he makes the team. Massenburg and/or Hall may get his spot if the team goes with only 13 or 14 players at first. Moreover, Mason has said he’s been asked to learn both guard positions.

Tom, where did you see that SA offered Mason a 3-year guaranteed contract? I also can’t understand why he would turn that down.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 7, 2007 at 12:03 PM

Neal… it’s in a washington post article that LilGil posted about Mr. Jamison’s tweaked ankle.

I too don’t see Mr. Taylor making the team, thus, my concerns. Mr. Mason can shoot, but, can he run the team?

Comment from BruceO
Time October 7, 2007 at 12:14 PM

I don’t know if he was offered that but they had made it completely clear to mason at the end of last year that they want him back. He’s competitive with deshawn defensively and he does some things better. So in my mind he is a good deal, he can get on the floor with no drop off, plus i’ve seen him shoot well in NBA games, if he’s missing its only slightly off it doesn’t take much adjustment to get it right (he has hopla now who’ll figure out whats different) Hopla improved toronto’s shooting percentages from the field and free throw and apparently has aleady figured out how to improve haywood’s free throw.

My basic thing I’m saying is for a third gaurds salary he’s a good deal, a local kid who grew up loving the team. Why go anywhere else when this is the team that gave you a chance and you love the current players.

On other matters I’m glad Dmac has emerged and will be playing against caron day in day out, that should spead up his progress the way danny granger did against artest or ZEBO against rasheed. He still can’t shoot yet in my book. Who do you think shoots better him or blatche? and between nick young and pech who do you think is a better three point shooter? I’m also glad blatche is doing well. He’ll be good within the next two year window. And by now I mean he can be good tommorow. Overall I think he can potentially have a better career than jamison or be a better player atleast. He’ll get his twenty minutes or even more that he was getting by end of last season. He’s no longer a three/ four. he’s definately a power forward/ center. Blatche has potential to be very good defensively.

When I think of the future with BLatche and pech in the lineup when they are fully developed I love how much they can give us. Not that they’ll be the only talent in the NBA, the leagues big men will be Bynum who was beasting blatche and is still 20 pounds heavier, taller and younger. Theres Oden, Bosh, Darko, Bargnani, aldridge etc

Comment from neal
Time October 7, 2007 at 3:12 PM

Well, Bruce, I’m back to “wait and see” regarding Blatche. I got turned off when I read about his blase approach to training, but he seems to be taking it seriously now.

Pecherov, because of his perimeter shooting, is definitely a 4. The presumption was that Blatche was also, but he’s added some weight and can apparently rebound and defend against bigger guys. I think it’s terrific if he turns out to be a good center. Maybe our problem at that position is solved.

Jordan definitely has a problem getting minutes for the three back-ups to Jamison (Songaila, Blatche, Pecherov), not to mention Veremeenko coming next year.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 7, 2007 at 4:34 PM

I love the “Mason can shoot” thing I keep reading over and over. Take a look at his numbers; no, he can’t shoot — at least not in an NBA game, at least he hasn’t shown that he can.

Will Hopla make a difference? I don’t know and neither do you. Is he going to raise the whole team’s shooting %? Come on.

Fine, Mason is our guy; he is a Wizard. I hope he lights things up. But, if he had a 3-year guaranteed offer from the Spurs, and he didn’t take it… I still don’t get it.

Comment from neal
Time October 7, 2007 at 5:44 PM

The three years guaranteed must have been at the minimum. And he must have had at least a verbal guarantee of a year with the Wiz. And he must have figured he could do better than the minimum after this year.

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 7, 2007 at 6:15 PM

->Tom Mandel, re RMjr:

Pretty simple really. Roger got offered a three year deal at minimal cash on a team he’d likely sit the bench, vs a one year deal on a team where he’s the likely back-up 2-guard.

And no Jarvis Hayes to take those ‘low-percentage outside shot jacker’ minutes in small ball. On a team that likes to run small ball, and often dumps the starters for the entire bench.

In a guard oriented system that made large dollars for Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, and in a way, Deshawn Stevenson.

It’s a gamble, but the reward to risk ratio is pretty high. And he gets to stick with a team that has good chemsitry , where he enjoys the company of the players and coaches, as distinct from Chicago and Toronto.

In this system I expect Masonjr will improve a skootch this year, just out of familiarity and chemistry. That he’s worked on his handling is key, but mostly experience in the system and with the personnel will help in the read-react aspect of the sets.

But think how few mistakes San Antonio’s front office makes. They are definitely a ‘buy-low’ sorta team who develops undernoticed guys into serviceable players. That they wanted Mason for 3 years reaffirms to me hey maybe the one-year rental will be a decent deal, better than expected.

Comment from elysia
Time October 7, 2007 at 6:18 PM

i know this is really off topic but i was wondering….. has anyone with season tickets gotten their tickets in the mail yet? n if not does anyone know when they’ll be coming in?

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 7, 2007 at 6:19 PM

(Chicago, Toronto, and… where else has Masonjr played? OH yeah, Isreal. Point being, from his perspective this team is a good situation to a guy whose seen some locker rooms with worse chemistry and worse fit for his sort of game)

Comment from newposter
Time October 7, 2007 at 7:11 PM

doclinkin, don’t try to win this argument with Tom. He says some sort of vendetta against Mason and will likely continue to have one until Mason proves him wrong.

Comment from neal
Time October 7, 2007 at 7:40 PM

Does anyone know when Thomas’s “further tests” are happening?

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time October 7, 2007 at 9:28 PM

elysia thanks for making me feel bad about not having season tickets and i always printed them off so i cant help you there and i am with you guys on the mason thing i think he wants to be in a place were he stands a chance of geting some playing time and i have to say he can shoot but not in the NBA like tom said so its a toss up but if he turned down 3 mil to get with the wizards for one year then he is the man to me )

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 7, 2007 at 10:27 PM

I like Roger Mason Jr. , and, hope that if we don’t sign another PG he can run the team as well as shoot the light out. I know, Tom, he hasn’t yet. I think that if he feels comfortable enough to turn down a 3 year guaranteed contract to play for us for 1 he will feel comfortable enough to let his talent shine a little more this season. After all, he is already the 4th guard ahead of Mr. Young. I talk a lot about his shooting, but, the kid can also play some pretty good D.

I think we are going to see Haywood, Blatche, Pesh, and Songalia all at the 5 at times this season. And, except for Haywood, the 4 too. This is the most versatile team the Wizards have had in many a moon.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 7, 2007 at 10:29 PM

From what I’m reading Neal, and there is prescious little of it, the tests on Mr. Thomas are ongoing. From the little I’m reading, they aren’t specifying but are saying it is potentially career ending.

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 7, 2007 at 10:34 PM

I know what I forgot lol. Neal, you mentioned Mr. Veremeenko coming over next year? Is that a done deal? It would be cool to have another 7″+ guy that can play.

Comment from BruceO
Time October 8, 2007 at 1:09 AM

I don’t know where I saw something about veremeenko not coming over next year. Not sure if its legit info. Tom my saying hopla will improve the team/ individual shooting is based on the work he did with Toronto raptors. Everyone but one or two guys fg% went up. He’s also done work with gil, arenas, michael redd or ray allen and kobe. So far he’s picked up nuances in haywoods free throw shooting. The fact he finishes on his heels that made haywood shoot better percent during scrimage. He’s one of the best shooting coaches in the world. I’m sure he can turn a guy who according to eddie is doing really well in camp, a guy who gil says is the best shooter on the team, a guy other teams wanted to get but who came in on a promise we made to him before seasons end that we are going to keep him no matter what and followed through.
At the minimum salary I don’t see how we can do better. The only other pick ups we can get are people who might be thrown away because theres no space on the teams e.g nichols in New york, telfair in minnesota etc. None of those guys know our system yet.

Comment from neal
Time October 8, 2007 at 7:51 AM

Maybe whether Veremeenko comes will depend on:
Whether Blatche turns into a center
Whether Jamison leaves after this year
Whether Veremeenko develops well in Europe

I’ve been assuming Veremeenko is coming. Actually, unless the answer to all three of the above questions is “yes”, he’s better off staying in Europe and continuing to develop. Does anyone know who he’s playing for? How good his league is? How well he’s developing? What position he’s playing (I presume PF)? What I read when we drafted him was that he’s much like Pecherov. About the same height, skinny, good ball handling for his height, and plays from the perimeter mostly.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 8, 2007 at 9:00 AM

Doc — time will tell if Roger made a good decision.

Bruce — I’m not saying there are any potential stars out there that we can get for what Mason cost. Although I do like Demetrius Nichols potential, we have 3 rookies to integrate already, and that’s a lot.

Turning down $3m guaranteed — if that is really what it was — to play for an NBA championship-level team… that’s a lot of $$ guys! I hope it works out for Roger. He is clearly the first backup behind DeShawn, so he should get his minutes until or unless he blows the opportunity. So… go Roger.

Comment from wizfan4u
Time October 8, 2007 at 9:18 AM

Tom Mandel–

I did check out JH’s and RM’s stats. I compared them to GA’s. Now in NO way are these two Gil but JH’s shooting percentage was .410, Gil’s .418 and Rogers .33. I am no rocket scientist but JH and Gil shooting % was very close for the 2006 season. Considering JH only took about 5 shots per game compared to the 12+ Gil took. Roger may have only take 1-2 shots per game. Seems to me Gil should be shooting a higher percentage. At least was Caron and Deshawn shoot. Gil had 2, 105 points, JH 585, Roger 165 total points. Gil takes the MOST shots, clearly and has one of the lowest shooting percentages on the team. I am no math major either, but that’s not that good……

And in Roger’s defense the guys might have only taken 2 shots a game… if he went in. Now if he goes 0-2 he ends up with a 0% for that night. If Gil starts off 0-2 he has 40+ minutes to raise his shooting %. That has a lot to do with things. YOu have a better chance having a better shooting percentage when you take MORE shots.

On another note JH isn’t here this season. But he seems to be fitting in pretty good in Detroit. I’ve kept up with him by visiting their website and blogs. I’ve read nothing but positive and encouraging things. I think Detroit is a better fit for him. There are no bad feelings towards him. I wish him the best, he is a good kid.

Just a thought

Comment from AUNDRA
Time October 8, 2007 at 11:00 AM

I was just crunching some numbers the other day and just off the top of my head it appears my Wizards starting five of Arenas,Stevenson,Butler,Jamison & Haywood had a ok year in 2006/2007 in regards to steals versus turnover ratio .63%. However I looked at the World Champions San Antonio Spurs and it appears there turnover versus steals ratio of .43 was alot lower. So of course I had to do my due diligence to solve this capper.It appears to me that the San Antonio Spurs are one of the most disciplined teams in basketball because there starting five only had 431 turnovers for the year. While my beloved Wizards starting 5 were not disciplined with the ball with a grand total of 746 or so. I know our game is opposite from the Spurs but we must curb this trend to a respectable 550 to 600 which is a 20% reduction in bonehead plays and more chances to score.Eventhough Wizards are one of the top steal leaders, this rarely covers the loss from turnovers. My suggestion is lets concentrate on not turning the ball over and concentrate on defense and scoring and steals when needed! We must be disciplined with the ball and explosive in our Princeton Offense\Defense sets all four quarters!

Comment from BruceO
Time October 8, 2007 at 12:22 PM

I agree aundra we should have less turnovers than san antonio, but I think we are in a faster offense and play more possesions per game so theres more chances to cause things like steals on both ends. But what you gave was a ratio which still raises concern. I think our offense is efficient and we are running it ok. I think it can be better in the half court, use more pick and roll games when needed, utilize our new big guys and have the offense more spread out among the players when necessary.
yeah wizfan4U I always think its hard to gauge how good a players offense is when they are in for a few minutes so don’t get time to get into a rhythm and only put up 4 shots total. So its game situation that might be effecting his efficiency as opposed to his lack of ability to shoot which we know he has by all accounts. I honestly don’t know what san antonio offered. Unless it was significant I don’t see him leaving a team thats taken him in. His dream is the nba, even if he had to go to israel first in order to achieve it

Comment from neal
Time October 8, 2007 at 12:30 PM

I’m not alone in thinking that Arenas’s shooting % is low because he tries to do too much. That tendency has improved a little since he came but needs to improve more if he is to be the team-leading all star PG that he can be. If he takes fewer low percentage shots, or works at making his teammates better, his shooting % should improve.

Arenas also sometimes tries to make low percentage passes and thus ends up with too many T/Os.

On the other hand, wizfan4u may be right in that if Mason plays more and takes more shots, he may get more comfortable and get in a groove shooting. Maybe. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up like Hayes, whom Jordan played all last year waiting for him to get comfortable. It never happened.

I’m torn between wishing Jarvis well and hoping he doesn’t finally find himself there and come back to bite us in the ass.

Good point aundra. Thanks for the research.

Comment from ricklevinenyc
Time October 8, 2007 at 3:16 PM

it really doesn’t matter how deep we are at the 1 and 3 spots because Gilbert and Caron like to play 40 minutes a game, and we love for them to do that!

Even though I think Blatche is a natural 3-man, if he needs to play the 5-spot in order to get real playing time, so be it. He is a better defender, shot blocker, rebounder, ball handler, shooter, and passer (and catcher) then Haywood, so why isn’t he starting at center?

I see a nice rotation between DeShawn, Antonio, and Nick to share time on the floor with Gilbert in the backcourt.

McGuire can come in and play some defense at the 3 and 4 spots, but with Caron taking up most of the playing time at 3 and all of the power forwards on the roster, I think he will have to really shine to see significant time in the rotation.

Who settles in at the 4 spot behind Jamison will be interesting. Assuming Antawn is healthy, I think it will be mostly Songalia.

In general, I haven’t been this excited about an upcoming season — ever. Boston fans may be giddy about their offseason moves, but they’ve got aging stars and no depth. I really see no reason why we aren’t sitting atop of the East this year.

Comment from elysia
Time October 8, 2007 at 4:34 PM

sry Wizards4Life but thank you anyways

Comment from neal
Time October 8, 2007 at 4:44 PM

I had hoped, ricklevinenyc, that Blatche could play the 3 position. You say that’s his natural position, but I’m not convinced he can shoot and drive from that position. And that’s presuming he can keep opposing 3’s from driving around him.

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 8, 2007 at 4:58 PM

VEREMEENKO is 6′8″-ish not seven foot. He’s a semi-slow small forward, occasionally plays PF in Russia-league euroball, but no he’s nothing like seven foot. Just clearing that up.

Comment from neal
Time October 8, 2007 at 5:34 PM

Good grief, doclinkin, are you sure? That’s certainly not what was reported when he was drafted. Where did you see that?

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 8, 2007 at 7:34 PM

Well 6′9″ ish. He’s listed at 2.08 meters, but same as the US they list themselves a little taller than true height. He’s nowhere near the 6′11″ that the draft sites list him at. And yeah his game is as a dribble drive power forward with hustle on the boards and a little bit of a face-up shot.

In the NBA: Walter Hermann, only not quite as good.

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 8, 2007 at 7:40 PM

Here’s his stats in the ULEB cup playing for BC Khimki

http://www.ulebcup.com/ulebcup/competition/teams/showteamstats?clubcode=KHI&seasoncode=U2006

and in euroball

http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=U2006&gamecode=31&clubcode=sie&pcode=LLM

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 8, 2007 at 7:45 PM

To read game reports and find obscure video you can hunt for info by looking with the cyrillic writing and google translations or atltavista’s babelfish translation engine. In russian his name is:

Владимир ВЕРЕМЕЕНКО

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 8, 2007 at 9:55 PM

Doc, you’re awesome.

Roger shot enough that his average reflects… his average — what else?

Gil is a star, and he has a *superstar personality*. But, he is not a *basketball superstar*, and the reason is just what you guys noticed — his low fg %. He is the least efficient among the league’s leading scorers. I love the guy, but we’d be better off if Caron took some of his shot attempts!

Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 8, 2007 at 9:59 PM

We were Duped! lol…. he was supposed to be 7′2″ on draft night?

Comment from neal
Time October 9, 2007 at 8:05 AM

THANK YOU DOC.

He’s listed at 2.08 meters. At 39.37 inches to the meter, that comes to 6′ 9 3/4″. I think he was supposed to be 6′11″. So we’re only about an inch off if 2.08 is correct. The league owes us an inch next draft.

In any event, I hope he’s quick enough to compete at SF, rather than PF.

The good news is he shot 55% from 2 pt. range, 37% from 3 pt. range (combined 50%) and 87% from the FT line. He’s only 23. He’s a starter for his team, averaged 23 minutes.

Comment from doclinkin
Time October 9, 2007 at 10:21 AM

neal:

Yeh, sure if you credit the listed height. All’s I’m saying is standing next to former Tarheel Ademola Okulaja, he’s about the same height (~6′9″). And he’s shorter than teammate (Knick draft pick) Maciej Lampe (listed at 6′11″). Here on the Wiz he’d be a hustling SF/PF with a little bit of a dribble (for a frontcourt guy). Not a terrible fit, but not a center.