A Quick Funny Story
So I was talking with our team photographer Ned Dishman yesterday and we were discussing JaVale McGee and his dunks. Well Ned does a fantastic job shooting “remote” photos which look like this and this. Basically the camera is stationed up above the basket before the game and you can get great action shots on dunks and those types of things. It is personally my favorite type of photo.
Well the problem with JaVale when it comes to these pictures is he actually jumps too high. See most players dont have their entire head above the basket, and with his 7′6 wingspan you can’t see what he is doing on most of the dunks. Starting Wednesday night, Ned is working on installing a “JaVale cam” which will be an extra camera that will be put there exclusively for JaVale. Just thought you’d find that interesting.
Posted: November 10th, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
That is indeed awesome. I wanna see JaVale in those pictures, will he have clouds around his head?
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time November 10, 2008 at 11:17 PM
This is the NBA. Can you imagine having to reposition the camera above the basket because JaVale jumps too high? WOW. That is the first time I’ve ever heard of that having to be done.
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 10, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Another thing, Caron looks hilarious when he dunks.
Grifon, I’ve never seen a 7-footer jump like JaVale. His aerial prowess reminds me of Gerald Green, only JaVale is 4-inches and 40lbs bigger. I guess that’s what basketball genetics gets you.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time November 11, 2008 at 2:07 AM
Gerald Green? No… a 7′ Spud Webb?
Comment from TAG FLIP
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Nice shots!
On another note, did anyone else notice that the Jazz game has been dropped by ESPN? Yep, apparently they don’t want the nation to see how bad we’re playing… as if they don’t know that already.
Comment from dmac
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I really enjoyed reading the different posts from the last couple of days.
Wiz_Fusion great observations.
Neal I have felt the way you feel about the Wiz. What has helped me is focusing on my Skins and the new coach. At the same time I will not take my Wiz bumper sticker off of my truck. Folks be giving me a hard time about you are a Wizard fan? I don’t even debate it because just like the Skins the Wiz are my team to. From the days of Gus Johnson, Wes, Bellamy, the Pearl, Big E, Jack Marin, smooth shooting Phil Chenier, Kevin Porter, Bobby D, Mike Riordan, Mitch Kupchak, Moses Malone, Jeff Ruland, Rick Mahorn and a number of role players I have been a Bullets and Wizards fan.
It was diasappointing to see the potential of Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Rod Strickland not pan out.
Then when you see players leave the team and prosper in other cities. It’s tough being a fan sometimes. When we look back and know that Gil was not going to sign until a deal was made with AJ. Even though money was left on the table by Gil here we are still spinning our wheels with BH and Gil on the sideline.
Somehow even though it has been tough knowing that we are the only team that has not won a game yet. You still believe and have faith that we can start to put something together. I believe it is the comments that you all share that keeps hope alive for us and will one day have us be so appreciative for in the tough times we hung in there with our team. Now lets beat UTAH!
Comment from neal
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Thanks for the understanding from several of you. I’ll still be a fan. I have been since both the Bullets and I lived in Baltimore.
Comment from dmac
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:18 AM
How could I forget Gheorge Muresan and Manute Bol and the little time we had Muggsy Bogues before he went to the Charlotte Hornets.
Lets Go Wiz! Find a way to win a ball game!
Comment from SportzWiz
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Grifon that was my exact thought. 450 guys in the NBA and this camera has to be setup where only JaVale goes 
.
Comment from GrifonRacing | [e]
Time November 10, 2008 at 11:17 PM
This is the NBA. Can you imagine having to reposition the camera above the basket because JaVale jumps too high? WOW. That is the first time I’ve ever heard of that having to be done.
Comment from aznzero
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Gheorge Muresan goes fishing down here in southern MD. my mom meet him and shes like 4′10″
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 11, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Grifon, JaVale’s leaping ability may be comparable to Spud. In terms of style they can’t really be compared. I’ll make another analogy: the natural ooping ability of Tyson Chandler and the aerial aggressiveness of Gerald Green. Combine that with athleticism and leaping ability as good as any big man the NBA has seen. Not to take that too far, he’s not a god yet. But he’s got all the right tools and plenty of time. With Haywood out and Etan still recovering he also has the opportunity right now. This is the year to get the rookie mistakes out of his system. He might be able to tack on another 5-10 lbs of muscle/presence without compromising any part of his game.
The doctor said, “The prognosis is very positive, he’ll be better in no time.”
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 11, 2008 at 1:44 PM
aznzero, does Gheorghe Mure?an live in the area still?
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time November 11, 2008 at 1:48 PM
GlingGling…. reading that gave me goosebumps. We are going to be exciting to watch this year.
SportzWiz.. those cameras have been around for a long time. Just think they never had to alter those cameras for Dr. J. …. Dominique ….. MJ ….. Kareem …. nobody ever before. Very neat stuff.
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 11, 2008 at 2:12 PM
You guys check out the power rankings, they are HILARIOUS. The Wizards didn’t get last because they were 0-5 last year. Benefit of the doubt?
Comment from dmac
Time November 11, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Do you all think the NBA will invite Javale or Nick to the Slam Dunk contest this year?
I believe Javale would take it hands down.
Comment from slwiz
Time November 11, 2008 at 3:11 PM
dj/sportzwiz will you have any comments up later about practice? I’m curious to who plays against who in the black vs white scrimmages? Especially the point guards since AD is day to day. Was there any mixture of the veterns/rookies? Thanks.
If there is a contest for loudest dunk over the raido I believe JaVale would get that contest, too!!
Comment from SportzWiz
Time November 11, 2008 at 4:45 PM
basically every practice there is a sprinkle in of vets and young guys. During scrimmages its usually vets vs. rooks.
Today the rooks took on the vets and Caron Butler hit a game-winning jumper over dom mcguire with 2.5 seconds left.
the rooks through up an alley oop pass to dray from out of bounds and the shot rolled iin and out.
Juan is practicing with the starters and AD did not practice today.
Comment from jeffmalone1990
Time November 11, 2008 at 5:33 PM
dmac…How could you forget Jeff Malone?,lol….Anyway thank you SportzWiz for the update, Juan will have his time to shine in Utah, really do hope that Nick and Javelle or the first off the bench, love to see those 3 on the court together.
Comment from aznzero
Time November 11, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Hey SportWiz and Dave!
i was at the open practice today. i was the azn kid in the caron butler jersey in the second row in front of eddie tapscott the whole time. it was neat to actually have the opportunity to attend a practice. i noticed these bars on top of the shot clock. is that where javale’s cam is supposed to be???
must i say i was calling the rooks to win that game and was surprised the vets won. i actually have a video of caron hitting the game winning shot with 2.5 seconds left! im not sure if im allowed to post it anywhere.
i liked the idea the rooks had with the alley oop but i was hoping javale wouldve done it instead of blatche. or at least give it to nick who was on fire all day. eddie tapscott didnt say this to the crowd but he said nick young was 3rd in the league in scoring of the bench behind roger mason jr. so that really makes him 2nd since roger starts now!
juan dixon looked solid today. he couldnt miss a shot and played the point really well. in my opinion i think he deserves to start. i think hes the next roger mason 
things i noticed:
-the guys looked relaxed and not panicking despite our record which is good. you can hear them joke around.
-there was alot of communication on defense on both teams.
-nobody could miss a shot! i mean nobody! if we shoot like that im pretty sure we would be winning.
-caron was wearing googles throughout the whole practice. at one time he went to stretch out his legs in front of us and you can see how swollen his eye was. it was pretty bad. but being tough juice it didnt affect him at all.
-javale was a throwing down alot of jams. the crowd was loving him. he was also getting rebounds and had a nice block.
all in all it seems like the team is in high spirits and im looking forward to tomorrows game. i enjoyed the time watching the guys practice.
lets start our winning streak like last year!!!
Go wizards!
Comment from aznzero
Time November 11, 2008 at 6:40 PM
oh yea quote of the day
“get ready to run” by antawn to the rooks after caron hit the game winning shot.
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 11, 2008 at 7:15 PM
aznzero, by saying “I think [Juan] is the next Roger Mason Jr.” did you mean a player we develop, come to rely on, and subsequently let go?
…
…
…
That was a joke, I promise. I hope it’s funny.
BTW, thanks for the report, open practice sounds like it was a lot of fun. I’m totally going to have to get season tickets next year.
Comment from aznzero
Time November 11, 2008 at 7:22 PM
haha GilingGling. i hope we dont let juan go again. hes a hometown favorite and has really came back alot more mature and even better. despite that one bad game the rest of the games hes been a contributor.
Comment from GlingGling
Time November 11, 2008 at 7:50 PM
I’ve really warmed up to Juan. I have to say I was down on Juan before the season started but so far I’ve been nothing but pleased with him. The fact that he is the most willing player to throw lobs to McGee might have something to do with it (and he’s good at it too).
Comment from slwiz
Time November 11, 2008 at 9:21 PM
aznzero so glad you enjoyed the practice and took the time to write us about it. wouldn’t it be great if the “good times” followed throught to the game against Utah!! Go Wiz!!!
Comment from aznzero
Time November 11, 2008 at 10:04 PM
anytime slwiz. just thought it would be great to have a report from a fan
i actually had to extra tickets again! two of my friends backed out on me last minute again! maybe next time ill make sure they can go or else ill give true wizards fans the opportunity to go to such events
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time November 11, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Thanks Aznzero! Congratulations on getting to go to the practice and thanks very much for the great report. Be careful or SportsWiz will hire you
Dmac.. I sure hope Nick and JaVale get invited to the slam dunk contest this year. I thought Nick should have been invited last year. I hope at least one of them if not both get to go this year. lol… JaVale’s dunk can have the technitions repositioning the overhead camera before he dunks? Pumping up your Air Jordans first would pale in comparison
Comment from TAG FLIP
Time November 12, 2008 at 1:47 AM
I saw a comment up there about NY being 3rd in the league in bench scoring… 3 words for eddie. DON’T START NY!!! he’s your spark off the bench right now. juan is the man at the point with AD hurt, and nick is the backup and spark off the bench
Comment from aznzero
Time November 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Anytime GrifonRacing!
It would be a dream to work as anything on the Wizards even a ballboy! I actually know the kid Garrett that Gilbert got him the ballboy job few seasons ago. There was an article on the post bout him. I dream to own the wizards one day. dream…
TAGFLIP:
yea that was based on what eddie tapscott said yesterday at the practice. i havent seen it anywhere else. Nick young #1!
Comment from SportzWiz
Time November 12, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Nick is actually first in the league for non-starters (depending what you call ben gordon who has started but not consistently) and 11th in the league overall for points per 48 minutes at 30.3 a game.
Comment from aznzero
Time November 13, 2008 at 9:07 AM
thanks Sportwiz!
6th man of the year and most improved?
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Comment from John50
Time November 10, 2008 at 7:51 PM
That is funny. Pretty soon he’ll be dunking just like Dwight.