Comment from Aj
Time December 11, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Wizards fans are very fickle. Go wizards no matter what but Im done with this blog. Im tired of the stupid comments.

Comment from neal
Time December 11, 2009 at 7:24 PM

I didn’t see the game last night but lack of knowledge never stops me from making comments.

Re. the unimpressive offense, I don’t think the team has yet fit into Saunders’s offense well, especially Butler. But then, I don’t think they made a big effort to fit into Jordan’s offense either, especially near the end. It may be that this group is just too set in its 1 on 1 ways to make the necessary changes. At some point (not yet) management will have to bite the bullet and break up the big three if the can’t, or won’t change. The answer is not to change coaches again.

Actually, it seems to me like Arenas is trying to adapt to the system and play team ball, though imperfectly. He deserves credit for that I think.

If we got no rebounds in a quarter we must still be shooting from the perimeter with no one under. And the shooter must not be following his shot. These things MUST be contrary to Saunders’s system.

Comment from dlts20
Time December 11, 2009 at 7:39 PM

AM I CRAZY FOR THINKING THIS?

Mike Lee has a column on the insider about how its 20 games so we can judge them now and see that they have a bunch of problems and arent a good team. I took the opposite side. I took it from that I think from here on is how you judge them. I think they needed 20 games to knock off all the dust and you can start to judge them from here on. Here is my repsonse and you tell me if you think Im wrong. I think alot of you will judging by the post I see on most Wiz boards:
=================

actually, I disagree with Mike Lee. I think everything you said is the case as of 20 games but to me, you can really start to tell from this point on. Tonight was the 1st game or atleast the first game since the 3rd game of the season that Gil pushed the tempo and we played with a bounce. If we had played the way weve been playing then the C’s wouldve blown us out. Even in our wins we have looked bad. I thought we looked pretty good tonight but still need a little fine tuning.

If the guys can keep there head up then I think we can blow out the Pacers and then start looking good. I dont think its fair to judge them after 20 games. I have always thought the opposite. I have always felt that after 20 games is when we should “start” to judge them. We should judge them starting now on and I think they are starting to get over the hump.

I think Gil is starting to turn it up, they are starting to finally get use to Flip’s system, and I think the rest will come. It sucks that weve dug ourselves a whole but I wouldnt be shocked at all if he went 15-5 or better over the next 20. I guarantee that if we dont get down and Gil comes out aggressive against Indy that the least we will have done is flipped our record in the next 20. We will atleast go 13-7 in that stretch but I think we will do better if Gil plays like he did tonight because he will only get better and more confident.

I loved the fact that this was the 1st game all year that we brought back our old pick & roll plays with Gil & Wood. Ive been upset all year how we never run the high screen where Gil comes around Wood real tight and is one on one with the big. We run alot of pick & rolls but most of them are loose and non aggressive. We ran a ton of the tight aggressive kind tonight and I thought Gil looked very good. Not old Gil yet but way better than he’s been looking and if he doesnt get down about losing it late with the FT’s then I think he will go off against Indy and we will start to play well because our team stil goes alot by how well he plays

Comment from dlts20
Time December 11, 2009 at 7:39 PM

Gil is losing his handles alot but I think that is just a combo of rust, timing, and his finger. I think that will come back to him espically as he gains more confidence. Even alot of his misses are due to him losing the handle right before he goes up.

Im also starting to notice something about AJ’s missing 3′s and jumpers. Its obvious but I dont think people pay much attention to him. When someone passes him the rock when he’s set or going forward then he’s money for that J. However, all his misses come from the plays where we are running like the pick & pop with Gil and AJ gets it back but the way he’s catching it makes him shoot off the back foot which always makes it come up short. Its like its a stand still fade away and it always comes up short just like a QB trying to throw off the backfoot. Its like he’s catching and shooting it at the same exact time his whole body is taking a big step back. I even see alot of his FT misses are because he’s fading back right before he releases, like he’s taking off too fast

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time December 11, 2009 at 8:34 PM

yeah its getting old quick i used to blog all game long every year for the past ever how many years this blog has been around now i start to blog then get fed up quick with what people say and just turn off the pc and watch the game with Dave and Glen on the radio..

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 11, 2009 at 9:43 PM

Most things — blogging here included — are more fun when you’re winning. That’s all… Keep the faith — esp. you Aj.

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 11, 2009 at 10:20 PM

@tyrone20000 – Are you awake and aware when you post some of these things? Do you actually see what is happening on the court? More importantly, do you understand what is happening on the court?

I don’t care if we are in man-to-man or a zone defense, our perimeter defenders have to start to learn how to contain the man with the ball and not depend upon B-Wood, McGee and ‘Dray to clean up after their constant mistakes. We have the worst perimeter defenders in the league and you seem intent upon blaming the big guys for the fact that the opposing guards get to the basket.

On a transition play CB escourted Ray Allen (who had the ball) the entire length of the court and then released him as he reached the foul line so that Ray could dunk over AB who was preventing the dump-off pass in anticipation that CB might stay with Ray. I’d cut AB’s picture from the poster and replace it with CB’s

Comment from dcbutler357
Time December 11, 2009 at 10:41 PM

lol @ Getabig

@dlts20, wasn’t mike lee interviewing ernie grunfeld in that article? Now if it’s ernie talking….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/09/AR2009120904161.html

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time December 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM

yeah your right its so easy for a SF to cut off a gard in open court who just happend to be super fast why not try and blame the Gards on the floor for not gettin back.. that would be like asking Haywood to keep up with Earl then saying why did you not cut him off

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 11, 2009 at 11:00 PM

@Wizards4Life – If you are suggesting that CB (3-spot)should not be be expected to be able to keep up with Ray Allen (2-spot) in the open court even though CB is running step-for-step with Ray until Ray gets to the foul line and Ray is dribbling the ball while CB is running free, we need more stamina and guts fdrom our 3-spot. Come on, CB needs to find another home. He is a total drag on the entire team.

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 11, 2009 at 11:01 PM

make fdrom from, sorry

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 11, 2009 at 11:06 PM

Just in case anyone might misunderstand, I believe that Caron Butler is a very good basketball player who has overcome a lot of adversity to become what he is.

I simply do not believe that Caron’s game fits the Wizard’s game. I also believe that there are MANY NBA teams that would trade significant talent to get Caron. I would like us to accommodate one of those teams.

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 11, 2009 at 11:16 PM

The future is Slick, ‘Dray and McGee. I would like to see Dom improve his offensive game so that he would be included in that group. What we need is a point guard to compliment them. Is Critt the guy, perhaps (he certainly deserves first crack at it). Because we are locked into gIl for another 8 (can you believe that) years, he might be the guy. AJ off the bench (stuck for another ? years); CB gone; B-Wood free agent…Wiz do not compete.

Let’s get back to fun. That’s what we pay to see!

Comment from dcbutler357
Time December 11, 2009 at 11:32 PM

Portland blew a perfect opportunity to beat Cleveland…oh well.

Comment from ChenierFan
Time December 11, 2009 at 11:50 PM

Some random thoughts…

1) Just saw the Sixer lose their 12th straight..this time to the tiny Rockets. The Sixers have our old friend Eddie Jordan coaching them. The way the Sixers lose (and they have all been close games) is the way the Wiz lose:
- Failure to grab lose balls
- Fumbling rebounds away
- Missed open shots
- Missed free throws
- Playing small ball

Conclusion: there is still a lot of Eddie Jordan that needs to be purged from this team.

2) Caron’s problem is not Flip’s system; the problem is that he just doesn’t make as many good plays as before. He used to be a dead-eye shooter, a good finsher in the paint and get breakaway steals. Not this year so far.

3) That pass from Andray to (Duke of) Earl was one of the most eye-popping bounce passes I ever saw.

4) Everytime I log on to the Wiz web site I expect to see a trade.

5) Too bad Eddie is forced to take (and start) an over-the-hill Iverson. He is ruining that team. He is best served as a 20 min/game guy.

6) Prediction: Wiz win the next 4 of 5. Count on it!

Comment from gray16
Time December 12, 2009 at 12:14 AM

anyone remember back when i said start having butler come off the bench? anyone starting to side with me now? lol

i still think him coming off the bench would be a good idea, he just doesn’t seem to play well with gil. and then you say who is the better player right now, and that should be clear as day to everyone, gilbert.

as far as the offense goes, it just has no ball movement at all period. one person brings the ball up, holds it until about 14 is left on the shot clock and passes to someone off of a screen, that person then holds the ball for about 4-7 seconds before passing into the post, going one on one, or turning the ball over. this happens what seems to be 50% of the time, and people wonder why this team does so much better when they running and not in a half court set.

so i think the offense needs to be changed, and the players need to change, not just one or the other. gilbert like someone mentioned before, looks to be changing, and listening to flip, so you have to give him credit for that. caron not so much. tawn doesn’t really need to change, just hit open shots more often than last night. and foye needs to change as well. foye is becoming like a mini butler, a black hole on offense. when he’s hitting shots he looks great, when he’s missing them he looks horrible.

so a lot needs to change, not just to start getting wins, but to start playing as a true competing team.

Comment from Wizards4Life
Time December 12, 2009 at 4:53 AM

Gabbo i am saying he was on Allen’s left side at full speed with no way to stop him no one step-ed over to help stop the ball.. but its not about that play i know for sure you are the one who calls him the “Ball stops here” well i see he had 8 asst yet you say nothing about that and point out he was 3-10 and all i can say is at least unlike Arenas and Jamison he stops shooting the ball after he found his shot was not falling… then you go on to say how Arenas changed his game and should get props but he only gets .6 more asst per game and is 8 ppg under what he used to do how is that changing your game.. but yet i don’t talk about him like he is nothing and try to trade him because he is a player and he is going to catch rhythm and win some games an Butler will too but it seems that your mind is set that he is no good any more

P.S. its 4am so sorry for any type-o

Comment from Jason C
Time December 12, 2009 at 5:17 AM

Did anyone hear during the Celtics game that Brendan turned down a 33 mill extension? Or was that just a rumor.

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 12, 2009 at 11:05 AM

@Wizards4Life – CB had 8 rebounds, not assists, against the Celts. He did, however, have 5 assists which is nothing to ignore.

You must have confused my blog with someone else regarding gIl. I have not posted a single positive line about gIl since the season began. I believe that he is a terrible point guard and I would suggest getting rid of him except no one would take that salary, so we’re stuck with him for the next several years. I hope he can get it back together.

All along I have said that CB is a very good player. His game, however, does not fit the Wizards at this point. I want to trade him now while he has value to some other team and we can get something of value in return. A trade for a good point guard so that we can move gIl to the 2-spot would be great.

Comment from Gotabigboyoffense
Time December 12, 2009 at 11:08 AM

@Wizards4Life – If CB was on Ray’s left side during that race for the dunk, he would have been between Ray and the basket, so why did he release?

Comment from neal
Time December 12, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Yes, Butler is a very good player who is not adapting to the system well. I keep hoping he will adjust, as I think Arenas is trying to do. I’m very afraid of receiving less than we give in a trade.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time December 12, 2009 at 4:16 PM

I disagree about Caron. The point guard on the team can make everyone else look like a million bucks. You take that player away from that point guard, and you may end up with an average joe. I have seen Caron excel when he was running with the second unit this season, we just don’t stay with any particular line-up, unless Gil, AJ, and Caron, and now Brendan are a part of that line-up. Heck, Caron aint the only one that hesitates before he shoots, its just that we focus on him. YES, he is doing what everyone is saying that he’s doing, and YES he needs to make adjustments, but I SERIOUSLY BELIEVE that if we get rid of this “eight man” rotation shizzznick, this team could and SHOULD excel, and SHOULD run up a ten game winning streak…..GOTTA use your resources properly, no matter who’s on the floor

Comment from dcbutler357
Time December 12, 2009 at 4:20 PM

Also, if Gil is a below average point guard, right now, and Boykins is looking good running the point, and you bring in a bonafide point that could produce both what Gil and Boykins is doing combined, this TEAM will definitely win. It’s just up to the powers that can make this happen, get on board with what everyone else in the league/world is seeing and do something about it.

Comment from tyrone20000
Time December 14, 2009 at 12:10 AM

Talk about bringing in another point guard? Good Grief! Gil is an excellent point and shooting guard. Don’t know why all the turnovers maybe lack of confidence is killing this club. I just think at the power forward position we need a faster, stronger, athletic, rebounder. Blatche is not the answer. sorry