Europe Here We Come
8:10 AM… Dave Johnson checking in on this Saturday AM…my thanks to everyone for another fun night on the BLOG..spread the word that it is the place to be on game nights as we BLOG during the radio broadcast and will be doing it from Europe.…getting set to get packed –have to remember socks– The games will be interesting….two against the Hornets..one in Berlin and one in Barcelona. Both will be on the radio and online and we will BLOG live during the broadcasts. In Washington 570 AM and 1260 AM and in Baltimore 1370 AM and online.
Forget the result last night against the Pistons as both coaches were trying to different combinations. Basically an even game with the Wizards losing because of too many turnovers. Some of the things we talked about on the radio broadcast included….. the better night for Pecherov….Blatche was involved even though he had a tough shooting night…..Dee Brown continued to excite and even skied to put back a missed shot by McGee….. McGee while not as strong as the Memphis game gave the home fans a glimpse of what he can do;…..I also thought Etan Thomas showed another step forward…check back later….
Posted: October 11th, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from dmac
Time October 11, 2008 at 11:31 AM
It really hurts us that we have all these guranteed contracts. Reason why I say this is because we need some more help. There needs to be some adjustments made before the season. I don’t like what I am reading about in regards to the performance of our team for the first three pre-season games.
With Haywood and Gill out of the starting lineup we could be in for a slow start. I hope not but it seems that way. After a very competitive camp something is out of sync.
I know that we need AJ to rest and Nick and Juan not playing does not help.
Last year we could have won even more games with more consistent scoring.
If we are to win and get off to a good start we need consistency in the offensive numbers from certain players. I know our defense has to be steady but we need to shoot the ball better.
I will keep saying it until someone convince me that Deshawn needs to be more offensive minded. Antonio is not going to score that many points. If we can get 15 to 18 points from Javale and Etan every night that would help. Dray has got to play smarter.
What could help is to tweak this roster a little. We need a proven low post scorer and rebounder. Maybe I am jumping the gun. Maybe I am just venting but we can be more competitive than we have been som far. Dray stop fouling. Juan get well, Nick show us what you got. Dee be a breath of fresh air. Dermarr prove me wrong.
Say what you want to say I am not sold on Darius Songalia for the money we are paying him.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 11, 2008 at 12:57 PM
dmac — *every team* needs a “proven low post scorer and rebounder.” Someone like Elton Brand would be good, but we don’t have $95m to pay him. I feel sort of the same way about your request that DeShawn be “more offensive-minded.” DS doesn’t have that in him. Full stop. For his salary level, he is very productive.
Darius Songaila is a below-average PF in the league, and he makes below average $$. But, he is a steady veteran, and you have to wonder whether you can get someone to average up to 20 minutes a night for any less. I’d like to see his minutes drop, but they won’t given Brendan’s injury.
Andray’s fouling is definitely his Achilles heel; you are right about that. As to Juan and DerMarr, we can’t keep both of them.
Comment from Wizfan4life
Time October 11, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Sorry I haven’t been on in a couple days guys. Been real busy with school and stuff….I have been keeping up with the team though and I must say, I’m really surprised in how McGee has been doing so far. Hes been explosive offensively and has been blocking shots. I still think Blatche can do a little better, but he’s getting there. It’s sad what happened to Haywood….We will miss him until he returns, but luckily Jamison’s injury isnt serious. We just need our young guys to step up until Haywood and Arenas return. Also, Etan needs to be a bit more productive if he wants to go back to that starting role he had 2 years ago.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 11, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Looking at last night’s line, again Dee played well. He can’t get the shot to fall, but he figures out other things to do, and for a guy his size he continues to rebound well. He also had 4 steals to 1 turnover.
Comment from Bridge
Time October 11, 2008 at 1:25 PM
“Darius Songaila is a below-average PF in the league” – - – Tom
Yeah, media-wise; I’m not really the type of person who’s about cherishing players that the media cherishes because they certainly leave A LOT of great players out while compiling their “top lists” and “analyzing” plays and such, but I totally disagree with this. D-Song, in my opinion, is a solid player – not ‘below average’…
Don’t people ever get tired of hearing about people like Lebron and/or Wade – maybe that’s just me…If that’s the case, then, shouldn’t you be saying that someone like Caronimo is ‘below average’? He isn’t AT ALL, but people who ride the media might think so; same with Tawn – he was the ONLY player last season (I believe) who was consistent with double-doubles, but he didn’t get the recognition he deserved…
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 11, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Caron and Antawn are among the top players in the league based on the same kind of analysis that tells us Songaila is below average.
Remember, *everyone* in the association can ball — they don’t let you in if you can’t play! But as with any other activity some guys are better than others, and fully half the players in the league are average or below (by definition — think about it!). It’s not a ding on them, and I’m definitely not a Darius-hater.
Comment from Bridge
Time October 11, 2008 at 1:56 PM
And what “analysis” is this – personal opinion; numbers?? I guess that I just see things differently.
That’s all I’ll say…
Comment from neal
Time October 11, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Blatche has been fouling like crazy ever since he got here. Isn’t this something that the coaches can stop?
I like Songaila a lot, and I take Tom’s word for it that he’s paid about right. I love to watch him hustle. But he’s never been the shooter he was the year before he got here. I think he’s a valuable team member, but he’s in a big competition for minutes with Blatche and Pecherov. He better get it together if he wants to keep playing.
Wasn’t yesterday the day that the teams were supposed to get down to 15? Has Taj McCullough been cut?
Thomas will be about as good as Haywood was, except for FT shooting. And Blatche will be OK as his backup. What worries me is the probability (in my mind) that Thomas will get hurt. He’s been out a major part of every season he’s been in the league. McGee better get ready fast.
I’m really anxious to see more of Dee Brown.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 11, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Bridge — feel free to see things whatever way you want! That’s why we play the game. 
Thomas is a better backup center than Blatche, alas — that’s where the problem lies.
Taj was cut a couple of days ago, but we still have the rest of preseason, I think, to get down to 15. One guy has to go.
Btw, Bill Walker, the 2d rounder we gave to the Celtics for cash, has had a good camp and preseason, but Boston is still at 17 players, and it is not clear who will get the axe. They lost Posey and P.J. over the summer, but they have added 4 guys (Walker, Darius Miles, J.R. Giddens and Patrick O’Bryant). Richard Hendrix, whom I was so high on for us in the 2d round, is on the bubble in Golden State, having been injured.
Comment from neal
Time October 11, 2008 at 4:59 PM
I hope Boston cuts Walker and we pick him up. That would be worth a laugh.
Comment from Reuben
Time October 11, 2008 at 5:02 PM
neal i would like to have that happen i think Walker is better than Mcgee. Mcgee doesnt relly do much and hes to skinny
Comment from neal
Time October 11, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Tom, I think two more have to go. Between Demarr Johnson, Linton Johnson and Juan Dixon, only one can stay.
Comment from windy city
Time October 11, 2008 at 5:35 PM
just out of curiosity, do you know if the Barcelona game will be televised in Spain? I have a friend who’s there next week.
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 11, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Darius is consistent and professional. I’m not saying he’s entitled to a significant amount of minutes or pay but he comes in and does his job. Last year he was reliable in his 20mpg. Eddie knows who he is and what he does and knows how to use him and I feel he has faith in Darius.
I’m not digging the apprehension that people have because of our injuries. And one thing we can’t do is put too much stock in preseason. Remember people Caron and AJ play nearly 40mpg in regular season. Be worried about them getting injured. Things looked bad last season and look what we did. Have faith.
Reuben, I’ve watched the Celtics preseason games, Walker does have skill but more than McGee, I doubt. I think they both have favorable futures in the league. They are both fairly raw. As for not taking him, does it matter now? I doubt even if the Celts drop him that the Wiz would pick him up over Juan/DerMarr/Linton.
Tom, I think Patrick O’Bryant has a pretty good chance from the way he’s talked about.
In this season look for even higher numbers from Caron Butler (and maybe AJ) and hope that Gilbert comes back as soon as possible. As for the preseason: try to enjoy the highlights, brush off the mistakes.
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 11, 2008 at 5:55 PM
windy city you can check here, http://www.nba.com/schedules/international_nba_tv_schedule.html
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 11, 2008 at 5:59 PM
What do you guys think about the new layout at NBA.com, I think it’s very nice.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 11, 2008 at 6:46 PM
If Walker can play, someone will pick him up. In the meantime, we have enough to worry about figuring wch 1 of 3 (as neal reminds me) we will keep.
I don’t think Linton is much in the running; looks like it’s between Juan and DerMarr.
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 11, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Glenn Consor seems to think Linton still has a chance (I mean he is going to Europe, while Taj was cut). I think he’s showing some impartiality but still.
Comment from tyrone20000
Time October 11, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Bridge, I am with you. NBA players are all above average otherwise they likely would not have anything to offer the teams they play for. Songaila is a very good player in my opinion. Not flashy or animated like a Rasheed Wallace but basically they offer the same thing. Of course Wallace is better!
Comment from GlingGling
Time October 11, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Bill Walker has a bit of a temper. I saw a bit of his energy in the Boston vs Philadelphia game, he looked like he was playing angry. Now vs. Houston a well placed Ron Artest easily set him off. Ron Ron knows what he’s doing and can easily get these guys thrown out of games (and sometimes himself if he’s not careful).
I prefer McGee for his cool temperament. If this is what Walker is about he has no place with the Wizards (if it were even a possibility to begin with). In other words, I’m sure the Wizards knew what they were doing when they traded him for cash, it’s not like they don’t scout or anything. Saying all that, a guy like KG could teach him how to control his energy and channel it.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 12, 2008 at 8:17 AM
All NBA players can’t be above-average NBA players — duh.
Walker was chosen in the middle of the 2d round. McGee was chosen number 18 in the draft. Why are they being compared as if they were alternatives to one another? I don’t think there is any rap on Walker for his temper, btw. Never heard or read that before.
The Wizards didn’t trade *Walker* for cash — they traded the pick; the Celtics told them who to pick for them, and I’m sure the Celtics scout too. Before a knee injury, from wch he seems to be recovered, Bill Walker was talked about as a lottery pick.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time October 12, 2008 at 11:25 PM
I’ve seen a little “attitude” from JaVale too. He got his first technical in the very first pre season game. I like his spirit along with everything else he brings to the table. I’m curious to see where he ranks within Tom’s numbers at the end of the year. He will have to get minutes now due to Brendan’s wrist. For him it will beat sitting on the bench until garbage time.
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Comment from TAG FLIP
Time October 11, 2008 at 10:39 AM
wooohoo!!! first comment on this page!
sorry i missed the blog last night, had a last-minute thing come up. missed out on all the fun =(. not sure how many or which europe games i’ll be able to catch on the blog because of classes and the time difference but i will do my best!