Will Stevenson Start?

[LiveStrongSkins]

That seems to be the big question. I personally think he should. Hayes just isnt dependable enough to put him in the starting 5. Plus, Stevenson will give us good hard defense on the teams best perimeter player. From reading the blogs on the Wizards site from other fans the general consensus is he is going to add to the bench. I, for one, would like to see him start.

[santanaistheman]

That seems to be the big question. I personally think he should. Hayes just isnt dependable enough to put him in the starting 5. Plus, Stevenson will give us good hard defense on the teams best perimeter player. From reading the blogs on the Wizards site from other fans the general consensus is he is going to add to the bench. I, for one, would like to see him start.

I too would love to see him start. And i think he will eventually. But we have to remember how tough it is to adjust to the Princeton offense and a new team. Remember how Caron and AD struggled the first half of the season last year. I think the 2 most likely lineups for the season opener are:

Gill
Hayes
Caron
Jamison
Haywood

Gill
Caron
Jamison
Songaila
Haywood

But don't get me wrong. I bet Stevenson will be starting by midseason. Even if hes not starting he'll be making a huge impact. I still can't believe how great this move was. It's the under the radar moves like this that will make us better.

[Kevin101]

Hayes will never start this year.

[twenty-eight]

I would love to Stevenson start...Hayes-Blatche-Daniels-Songaila off the bench...We're looking good!

[clathel]

See Antonio Daniels for reference...
Great defender and slow learner of Princeton offense...took most of the season.
It is hard to unlearn defense.

[tundey]

If Hayes is healthy, he'll probably start for the first few weeks. Just like Caron Butler did before cracking the starting lineup. In any case, I don't think it matters who starts but how many minutes each player gets and how he uses those minutes.

[XxSpearheadxX]

Let them fight it out, Deshawn is light years ahead of Jarvis in the ball handling department and in Eddie's offense, especially with a combo/point like Gil the 2 guard needs to be able to handle.


Deshawn has every And-1 move in the book. I really hope Jarvis finally breaks out a little bit next year though, but I'm still not convinced he can handle the 2.

[chronicdesi]

I agree with most of this. Stevenson will find himself on the bench for a while. I can see Hayes starting if he is completely healthy. Hayes did have so decent defense when I saw him play. EJ knows what he's doing, so I trust him. When Caron started, he brought a spark to the team, so hopefully Stevenson can do the same.

[arenasisgod]

yeah, its gonna be tough for DeShawn to become acclimated to the system, but I still see Eddie putting him in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season (see: Daniels starting in 05-06 for the first few games). He may struggle some, and I'm sure Eddie will have Jarvis and AD waiting with a quick hook, but he will still come out the gates at the beginning. He fits Jared's stopper mold more than the bumbling Jarvis Hayes. I hope the rotation isn't completely out of whack for large stages next year. The wizards are going to need the cohesiveness early if they really want to improve on 42-40

It will certainly be the story of training camp. (That and Blatche's development)

[Big C]

hayes will have his breakout year this season, he is finally healthy i think from what i have read

[Mooka]

Nope.

We can finally have Antwaan play at the 3 and start Songalia at the 4.

[RedskinPride27]

I don't think DeShawn will start beginning of the season. I think he'll get off to a bit of a slow start on offense, and then a month or so as he has learned the offense, he'll come on. Jarvis will prob be in that 2guard spot, should he stay healthy and find his shot quickly.

[Warhead36]

Nope.

We can finally have Antwaan play at the 3 and start Songalia at the 4.

Then where does Butler play? He can't play the 2.


I could see Stevenson being as good as 04-05 Hughes. They're both great athletes but low % jump shooters. Playing in the Princeton and playing with Gil=$$$ in FA(see: Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries).

[XxSpearheadxX]

Nope.

We can finally have Antwaan play at the 3 and start Songalia at the 4.

Antawn can't play the 3. He isn't even playing the 3 in the USA team, he is too slow for the 3. There isn't a 3 in the league that Antawn can guard. 6'9" and around 230 isn't that small for a power forward, Antawn will always be worth scheming our defense around because he brings so much to the team with rebounding and the mismatches on offense he brings.

Plus Caron is way more comfortable at the 3 than the 2. From what I've heard the only spot on the starting rotation open for grabs is Jared's old spot and the others are staying the same, but that is just what EG sounded like on the radio today who knows after training camp.

[chronicdesi]

Yeah AJ at the 3 is real wishful thinking. Maybe a few years ago, when he had his knees and his quickness, but now he's better at the 4. I don't think we had a major lapse at the 4 spot when AJ was in, but when he was out, we had no one to play for him. Ruffin does a good job on the defensive end, but Songalia now adds an offensive presence to the club. It is going to be fun watching the different line ups and match ups we can have. Can you imagine: Gil, AJ, Stevenson, CB and Songalia in a small lineup? Or throw in AD for Stevenson, Hayes or Blatche or Ruff in there... Also, IMO Etan is coming in with a chip on his shoulders. He will produce this year.. This is going to be exciting.

[XxSpearheadxX]

BTW since Tawn's first year here whatever surgery he had on his knees seems to be really successful, because I thought last year he had a spring in his step that he didn have his first year with the Wiz.


In the USA scrimmage he seemed even more bouncey, which is good. I like Antawn a lot - he really gives opposing head coaches nightmares when they are gameplanning.

[Big C]

whoever does better in pre-season, whether it is hayes or stevenson, will start

[Mooka]

Antwaan's natural position is the 3...

Caron can play the 2.

[XxSpearheadxX]

Antwaan's natural position is the 3...

Caron can play the 2.

Uhuh... 3 huh? Is that what he played at North Carolina? High School? What makes it his natural position?

Stupid me, I always figured he was a classic tweener.

Caron, btw, has never had success playing the 2 in his career. He may one day, maybe this will be the year, but to bank on it - or to declare it so strongly is quite a thing to do.