Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 13, 2010 at 11:47 AM

Also shoutout to Javale for starting a trend?:

http://www.sbnation.com/2010/8/9/1613321/javale-mcgee-introduces-the-anti-shoutout

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 13, 2010 at 11:54 AM

One thing that stood out to me as I watched the first half….Chris Webber stated “if you’re not going to take that shot when you’re on your NBA team, you shouldn’t be taking it here”….he was talking about Love at the time, but it applies to all.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 13, 2010 at 3:15 PM

1st owner to do this:

http://dc.sbnation.com/2010/8/13/1621791/free-wifi-verizon-center-ted-leonsis

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 13, 2010 at 3:17 PM

oh, not the first owner, but it doesn’t negate the good gesture

Comment from gray16
Time August 13, 2010 at 3:18 PM

javale seems like a center with a shoot first mentality. he looks like he gets bored trying to just rebound and defend, and it just flattens out his game and he doesn’t play to his full potential.

when his shots are falling and he’s getting looks, his whole game improves, but this doesn’t happen that often.

he just doesn’t seem to have the mentality to be an nba player, he’s worse than nick young (decision making wise) at times. of course he’s still young, but he’s gonna have to learn this now, this can’t keep continuing. and if he doesn’t learn soon, we will be watching him sit just as much as he did last night, because flip’s not gonna play a center (or any young player) who’s not gonna do what he says.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 13, 2010 at 3:31 PM

I’m just waiting for this season to get underway…..whomever can’t walk the walk will be out of dc soon.

Ok, so now that we will have wifi in the phone booth, there will be a blogger’s night for sure…lol

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 13, 2010 at 4:49 PM

magic johnson part of a group trying to buy the pistons. that city needs a jumpstart

Comment from JWALL
Time August 13, 2010 at 4:59 PM

IMO all the Wizards games are must see games. To actually be a part of a rebuild is exciting. As much as we know there will be growing pains in this rebuild. It is still awesome to have a great point guard of the future leading the way.
I believe that the Wizards players will have a lot of support from the fan base. The fact that Ted and Monumental are doing their part to make this season a great experience.
How can I say that ten game will be the must see games. It could be one of those games that JWall goes for 20 points and 20 assists. it could be one those games that Gil scorches for 45. It could be anyone of those games that Kirk Hinrich comes off the bench and hits a three from a pass from Gil to win the game.
So I want to maximize my fan experience by looking at each home played as a great experience.
Believe it or not it is up to the fans of the Wizards to finally stop cheering for the opposing team than they do their own.
To see that kind of shift of giving the opposing team the blues for being in our phone booth is what I am looking forward to being a part of.
Dance with the one who brought you. You either are going to support or you are not.
Maybe I am fannatical about the Skins and the Wiz.
That’s just the way it is when you support your home teams. Win or Lose.
So when success begins to come our way I won’t come out of the closet to claim to be a fan of the Wiz or the Skins. It will feel real good that we are finally back in the playoffs in the seasons to come.

Comment from JWALL
Time August 13, 2010 at 5:02 PM

I meant to say it could be one of the other games than the top most wanted games to see that something special could happen. So I don’t want to miss any of it.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 14, 2010 at 8:21 AM

gray16 – JaVale does not shoot a lot for a Center — he’s about average. And he has about an average FG% for a Center too.

If he wants to be really good, however, he has to take *better* shots — which in his case does mean *fewer* shots, since we don’t run a lot of plays for him. Better shots will go in more often and raise his FG%. I hope that, as in SL, Wall will provide those much better scoring opportunities for him — he shot 70% in Summer League!

His real problem is not shooting or scoring, however — although he needs to get to the line more.

His biggest problem is below average rebounding. He fouls too much — because he’s out of position on defense, which helps explain why he grabs a low number of boards — and he gets a low number of steals and assists.

Right now, JaVale is not a particularly good NBA Center.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 14, 2010 at 9:14 AM

Guys on Team USA are marvelling over JaVale’s athletic feats. Read about it here:

But Lamar Odom’s comment puts it in perspective:

‘”He’s one of the most athletic players I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Odom, an 11-year NBA veteran who went over some individual low post drills with McGee during practice on Friday. “He’s 7-1, got like a David Robinson build, springs off the floor real quick, goes over the rim. If he can just get his feel for the game together, he can have an impact on a team. Because the game is called basketball, not run and jump.”‘ (my emphasis)

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 14, 2010 at 9:15 AM

Ooops, here’s the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081306114_2.html

Comment from gray16
Time August 14, 2010 at 9:47 AM

tom, javale may take the average amount of shots, but you have to consider how many times he touches the ball… not often in flip’s offense.

why don’t we compare brendan haywood’s usg% vs mcgee’s:

brendans: 13.2% on the wizards last season
mcgee’s: 19.1% last season

now brendan was playing with gil, butler, and tawn, but mcgee was definitely not any more part of the offense than brendan. the wiz ran the ball through blatche and the wing players, mcgee didn’t see the ball any more than brendan. before the trades mcgee rarely saw any time so i won’t consider that, but his dumb shooting then kept him on the bench, so no need to even argue that out.

so in the end, javale might only be average in fgs attempted, but on the wizards he was shooting much more than the previous starting center. (and his shooting percentage was 6% less).

so in the end, i still believe he has a shoot first mentality, as opposed to a block/rebound first mentality, something brendan displayed pretty well last season imo.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 14, 2010 at 11:53 AM

“McGee said he was disappointed about getting cut last month, but viewed it is a “stepping stone.” He planned to continue his own workouts in Los Angeles, which included weightlifting, boxing for conditioning, and playing open gym.”–Article by Michael Lee in post

OPEN GYM??? He needs to be in a big man’s camp or I hope OPEN GYM means he is learning the low post. AND he shouldn’t be doing his OWN workouts, unless they consist of an established big man coach or established low post player teaching him. Where is the direction here? We shall see, come October…

Comment from neal
Time August 14, 2010 at 10:42 PM

What’s a usg% and why do we care?

Comment from JWALL
Time August 14, 2010 at 11:30 PM

Kudos for Flip having Javale go check himself out in regards why he got winded so quickly on the court. Javale was diagnosed as having ashtma. Now he is being treated and it has contributed to him now having better stamina on the court.
I believe Javale McGee is going to surprise a lot of folks this coming season. He predicts that this will actually be his breakout season. that is good news if it happens. When he get’s that 5 spot figured like i believe he will the Wiz will be a dangerous team to play on any given night.
In spite of what he has to learn he wants to be better and is making those strides to.
The fact that he is getting great support from his USA teammates should let us know how special he can be.

Comment from JWALL
Time August 14, 2010 at 11:38 PM

The Wiz should be making sure that Javale get’s to a big man’s camp or get’s the necessary mentorship he needs. The fact that his ashtma has been diagnosed should help further his development.

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 15, 2010 at 8:27 AM

usg% = Usage percentage.

Lets you know how much the team relies on a player for offense during his minutes. But I don’t know where gray16 is getting these numbers.

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 11:22 AM

Gray got it from Steve Harvey’s book, “Act Like a Blogger, think like Dave Berri”….lol….

In other news:
Tweet from @OGOchoCinco@jimmywa11 im doing the John Wall dance when i catch the ball for a first down tonight….it’s catching on!!

The punt returner for the redskins did it the other night….

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Oh, Javale got cut again….

Comment from gray16
Time August 15, 2010 at 11:56 AM

tom, i’m getting the numbers from basketballreference.com

Comment from Tom Mandel
Time August 15, 2010 at 11:58 AM

I haven’t seen that news, dcb — but it was inevitable.

Comment from Phemy
Time August 15, 2010 at 11:59 AM

The Bad new is….. I got cut from the USA team … But i get to go back and work out again and get better for the wizards vor 43 Minuten via web

via http://twitter.com/bigdaddywookie

… no surprise there.

Man why can’t the seasons start already!

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 12:20 PM

“The Bad new is….. I got cut from the USA team … But i get to go back and work out again and get better for the wizards”

I guess he’s trying to be positive, but what better place/people to learn from than a team USA training environment….

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Jeff Green Cut also….both were DNPs vs china

Comment from gray16
Time August 15, 2010 at 12:46 PM

as good of a place usa is to learn… i’m happy he’s back here to learn

i just feel that usa at this point isn’t about teaching those guys anything, they just want to play and win. everything is getting rushed over there now, and i doubt they would be able to give javale the attention that he needs to get better.

off of the team he will be able to go to trainers whose main focus is most likely him, so more attention will be placed on him i think. this is better, and i hope it pays off. of course all of this is just my guess, i really have no idea, but i do hope the wizards staff and other personal trainers can get him into the right mindset going into this season. he’s still young and immature, let’s see if this season he can mature more, along with other wiz kids like nick young, dray, and others.

Comment from HardCoreFan
Time August 15, 2010 at 1:05 PM

McGee cut from the USA team. I guess it not really a surprise. I hope the experience helps him for the upcoming season. Best of luck to the USA team!

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 1:21 PM

In other important news Yi had 13 pts, 7 rebounds, 1/2 3pointers, 4 fouls vs the usa team (the usa jr allstar team)

Curry is a good point

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 1:24 PM

btw-yi played 26 minutes

Comment from dcbutler357
Time August 15, 2010 at 2:53 PM

china plays puerto rico on nbatv if anyone wants to see an extended look at yi…