Darius Songaila Update
Head Coach Eddie Jordan spoke after practice and gave a quick update on Darius Songaila’s sprainked ankle. Coach Jordan called it a “mild” sprain and said he would be a game-time decision tomorrow night.
Posted: December 10th, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 10, 2007 at 4:15 PM
What’s the minimum you have to be able to dress? Is it eight?
It’d be interesting to see whether a Songaila injury led to more minutes for McGuire.
Comment from twotees
Time December 10, 2007 at 8:26 PM
hey i just heard that darryl watkins was let go from the kings any chance we can snag him. he is a young center we can use with our backups being hurt he came down for a tryout do anyone remember he was very athletic,quick and lable as a good rebounder and shot blocker. pass the word
Comment from neal
Time December 10, 2007 at 8:31 PM
It would seem that now Blatche will back up Jamison and Haywood, rather than Butler and Haywood. So now McGuire will back up Butler. But it’s probably more complicated than that. The rotations get more involved than I can keep track of.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 10, 2007 at 8:44 PM
If it gives PT to McGuire, that’s a good thing. I think he really needs it. Of course, I’m not watching practice.
Dominic may be one of those kids who has to learn that athleticism won’t do it in the NBA; it’s not enough. Like Blatche, he seems to have to learn to concentrate on execution of a role, rather than showing what *he* is good at — which Blatche too used to want to do as well.
It’ll be fun watching these talented kids develop.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time December 10, 2007 at 11:46 PM
Great news on Songaila!
Right now McGuire is the odd man out. If he gets some court time and gets in synch with the rest of the team he will be able to do more than grab a rebound or try to block the occasional shot. Right now he looks almost out of step with the other players when he is on the floor. That is why it is so very important to get him court time “now” rather than later in the season. We may need him then more than we do now.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time December 11, 2007 at 12:18 AM
yeah i don’t know what happened to Dmac the kid had what seemed to be more skill than N1 but he just dropped off the scope i think he need to take some of that swag that N1 had where he just goes in and kills one game i mean just go in an wind mill dunk on shaq all in his face
Comment from BruceO
Time December 11, 2007 at 3:33 AM
I like Dmac but I have issues with his speed. Maybe its confidence but his defense hasnt been as good as advertized. So far I have issues with his reaction time. people blow past him (turkoglu etc) and they make it look easy. I’m beginning to be concerned. Also at this point his offense looks worse than summer league..and In summer league I thought his offense was an issue. He always used that spin move to get to the basket. beyond that I didnt think there was that much variety as far as skilled moves that he had vs athletic moves. Everyone was more high on him than nick young.. I thought it was what it was nick young is a 1st rounder and Dmac a 2nd and their play reflects that. I’m not saying he will never be good. I would be really concerned if his reaction time remains the same. I also pictured his length and athleticism bothering people more. I wish him well. Everyone please watch for this things I mentioned cause I’d love to be wrong. I really wish him the best
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 11, 2007 at 8:03 AM
Of course, his offense looks worse than in the summer league! This is the nba not the summer league.
I’m not worried about him long-term. He looks like a smart, grounded kid; learning the nba game will take some time. I’m certainly not surprised that veterans can “blow past him”; they eat raw rookies for lunch.
It wasn’t that long ago that Blatche was jumping at every head fake, etc. Give Dominic some time.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time December 11, 2007 at 2:51 PM
All McGuire needs is court time to get himself and his game in synch with the rest of the team.
Blatche jumping at every head fake. I remember that! It was against the Nets (and the Suns, and the 76′ers…………). He is getting better but is still quite the sucker for the block attempt.
Comment from neal
Time December 11, 2007 at 3:02 PM
Yes, I think you have to dress eight.
Well, tonight should be the night for playing McGuire. Let Songaila skip a game and come back against Miami or Sacramento. We should be able to beat the T’wolves at home with McGuire and four popcorn vendors.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time December 11, 2007 at 3:15 PM
lol Neal this is still a NBA team i dont think the popcorn venders are going to cut it but that was funny but i am with you on the fact that we will need Songaila more with miami than the wolves and he needs the time i am sure he could show us all a little some thing
Comment from BruceO
Time December 12, 2007 at 12:40 AM
Tom some peoples offense depends on spacing and who else gets attention. SOme peoples offense improves in the NBA because in summer league they might be the focal point of other teams defenses. Also you have scrappier players that may bother you. What you did is zero in on one part of my statement. Tell me what go to moves Mcguire has that he does well. You could probably list them really easily. If its in traffic its always an up and under or reverses. He also does the spin move, has trouble with the mid range jumper and won’t shoot the long range jumper at this point even if unguarded. NOt that I don’t like him as a player. More than the shooting I feel his reaction time has to improve.. and the head fakes you guys are talking , that is separate from lateral speed which is important defensively, and that is supposed to be his strong suit.. you say also the falling for headfakes which are unrelated to the ability to keep up with your man is because he’s a rookie? realize its something that also happened alot in his college career cause he was always trying to Block shots. I’m sure alot of it is fixable cause peoples game evolves. But I want to point out that its an issue and I wouldn’t sugar coat it. I always root for him.
It’s just like you mentioned that Roger Mason had issues offensively. He was shooting at a low percentage and you thought he wasnt any good. My take on it was he wasn’t getting a chance to get a rhythm and in practice games he gets enough time in to shoot well within a rhythm hence his success there. Also thought he, deshawn and nick young could handle the point. But I did respect your oppinion and talked to some guys who knew him about whether he could shoot or not. Thier answer was he’s the best shooter they know. He’s a better player than dooling of orlando who they also know. They said his defense is questionable though. He stunk it up a few more games and I didn’t know what to believe, but with time he’s begun to produce offensively. Defensively he’s solid but I think they are masking it by playing team defense and having him gaurd smaller guys who are playing the point.
so about mcguire my stance right now is I’d run him a little more to get him more time on the floor to examine whether these are his weaknesses or if its about confidence and rhythm. I’d evaluate his speed and ability to keep up with his man, I’d evaluate his offensive moves and ways to give him offensive opportunities. It’s not his role but he should be a threat as far as garbage buckets and open jumpers. I’d try and figure out ways to make him as effective as summer league in terms of being able to do what he likes to do. I finished my previous post by asking you guys to watch out for the same thing. The function of it was honest evaluation of the player
Comment from millie mill
Time December 12, 2007 at 4:23 PM
Man, you guys sure know a lot about basketball. All and all I would much rather have Mcguire on this team as a back-up forward than Ruffin. I guy who some how got alot of playing time.
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Comment from neal
Time December 10, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Hooray.