Comment from dlts20
Time October 22, 2009 at 1:42 PM

If Flip said that about Dray then that must mean they think AJ is really doing well and will be back pretty soon

Comment from dlts20
Time October 22, 2009 at 1:43 PM

I want to see Oberto start anyways just to see how that lineup would look. Wood & Oberto for D with Caron, Gil, and MM for the O. Could they really D up on guys and still score points at the same time. I want to see how that works

Comment from dlts20
Time October 22, 2009 at 1:54 PM

I also like it because Im a little worried that Gil may come out passive again like he did at the start of the Preseason after sitting out those 2 games but with this lineup it will force him to be aggressive which is what we need to beat Dallas & Atlanta on the road

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 22, 2009 at 2:55 PM

dlts20 — that would be a *very* interesting lineup, yes.

But, season-long, we have to keep Oberto’s minutes down — < 15m. At least that's the idea, so we can have him for the playoffs.

He could start all the same, and we set a defensive tone for the game. Then after 8 minutes, AJ comes in. Oberto could get more minutes in the 2d half for the same reason. Antawn still gets his 33 minutes/game.

Comment from M2
Time October 22, 2009 at 3:01 PM

So Flips not interested in starting Dom at the two?

hahahahaha… Just playing with you a bit Tom M… just playing with you a bit

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 22, 2009 at 3:40 PM

M2 — Oh, he is… he’s just keeping it a secret from you!

If we don’t start Mike Miller — and there might be reasons not to, even though he’s by far the best player at that position — then Dom is the best choice: by which I mean that will win us the most games.

But I do think Flip pretty much intends to start Mike Miller. Per my posts all Summer, that’s what I expected.

Comment from Rick
Time October 22, 2009 at 4:43 PM

I think it’s interesting that Elton Brand is scoring less than 10pts a game so far this preseason. I wonder if it’s Eddie Jordan’s offense which has never had a real low post threat.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time October 22, 2009 at 5:00 PM

flip also mentioned that he would not want to rotate the starting 2 guard based on matchups. he did however say that some bench players will play based on matchups but not the starting unit. So whoever wins the 2 spot will most likely stay at that spot.

He also said he hasnt decided on a starter yet.

Comment from SportzWiz
Time October 22, 2009 at 5:01 PM

one more thing….if you look to the right you can become a fan of the official wizards facebook page… next week on Tuesday we will run a contest on the facebook page with the winner getting 2 tix to opening night….

Comment from dlts20
Time October 22, 2009 at 5:48 PM

Tom, I just mean for certain spots. I was on another Wiz site where they said that they would rather start Oberto after what they saw against Philly but I said no way. Gil is more of a passer now so you dont want to go into the season with him having just CB & MM as real passing options. I also told him just what you said about Flip wanting to keep his minutes down and save him for the playoffs. I think he will be big for us in the playoffs though because he shut down Brand and he’s the 1st guy weve ever had to shut down Bosh. I think we can throw him up against Z, Bass, Gortat, KG, and Sheed in the playoffs when needed and feel very comfortable.

Comment from AUNDRA
Time October 22, 2009 at 7:55 PM

DTS20
I really like that Core 1 lineup with Fab in there initially and having the Core 2 team of Pg: Foye Sg: James/Young Sf: Jamison/D-Mac Pf: Blatche C: Mcgee/P.Davis coming in there tearing it up! We have to start looking for a strong backup squad with vets,scoring,fastbreaking and block shot capability and I see all that in this Core 2 squad! The Core 1 squad would have Pg:Arenas Sg: Miller/Stevenson Sf: Butler
Pf:Oberto C: B-Woods.

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time October 22, 2009 at 10:13 PM

@Tom M. – you can not truly believe that Coach Saunders would keep a healthy AJ on the bench to start Oberto even for 2 seconds.

The starting lineup is just like 99% of the bloggers have predicted:
1 – Gil
2 – ? (probably Miller, unless Saunders has been messing with opposing coaches)
3 – Caron
4 – AJ
5 – Brendan

Foye relieves Gil
? relieves Miller (depends upon situation – usually Slick)
? relieves CB (depends upon situation)
‘Dray relieves AJ
Oberto relieves Haywood

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time October 22, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Brand will whither like a summer flower in the dead of winter in EJ’s college-level Princeton offense. EJ has no idea how to make a big man productive. Message to 76′r players – if you don’t like pretending that everyone on the team is a small guard, you’re not going to be successful…ask for a trade NOW!

Comment from M2
Time October 22, 2009 at 10:29 PM

Brand should move to center in that offense… EJ likes his power forward to be able to step out (even knock down 3′s) & run the floor. Brand will get lost in that unless he moves to center. It can be done. It would be interesting…

Comment from dlts20
Time October 22, 2009 at 10:33 PM

M2, I wrote the same exact thing on the Sixers board. I told them that he’s a 5 in EJ’s system and at the 4 he will be a nobody. They should just go small and try to play like the Suns use to. They always said that they liked Thad better when he was at the 4 anyways and they seem to be really down on Dalembert so you might as well go small and just run. It would be easier to do that if they still had Miller though

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time October 22, 2009 at 10:40 PM

@M2 and dltsw20 – In EJ’s offense, if the 4 wants to be offensively productive he has to be able to hit the long 2 and the 3 (think AJ). Brand can’t do that. He either has to get the offensive scheme changed or he has to get traded if he wants to be productive on the offensive end. Otherwise Brand will be a 10/10 guy this year.

Comment from Phemy
Time October 23, 2009 at 1:03 AM

Pecherov went 20 – 10 yesterday! wow!

Comment from Babakism
Time October 23, 2009 at 2:24 AM

Brand does not have 3 point range. However, he does have Karl Malone Chris Webber type range. If you remember when he was healthy you will rememeber when he almost single handedly took down the spurs putting up shooting lines like 18-21. But that might have been yesteryear.

Comment from Babakism
Time October 23, 2009 at 2:28 AM

We all keep talking about how Blatche has never really had a chance to reap the benefits of playing alongside Wood. But we haven’t talked at all about how Dom Mcguire has never had a chance to play alongside Gil. His ability to cut into the lanes and finish at the rim could pay dividends as guys like Jamison like to spot up behind the 3 point line when Gil takes it to the hole.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time October 23, 2009 at 8:04 AM

Babakism — good point. That will be interesting to see.

Gabbo — you’re right of course. AJ will certainly start!!

*Great* to hear that Pech did well yesterday — I think we all wish him very very well, isn’t that so?