The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

Thanks for repeating what he stated at the top of his post.

you have a real odd way of posting...sometimes you come off like this

[pjfootballer]

Meh, same old Wizards. I realize this is only 1 game and it was on the road against a title contender, but to get beat by 30 points is a warning sign that we're in for another long season. Not that I didn't expect it already, but I was hoping for some improvement with Wall, Hinrich and others added to the roster. Another 30 win Wizards season. We'll still be the only teams other than the Clippers and Bobcats to not have a 50 win season since 1979. Yes, I SAID NINETEEN SEVENTY-NINE. Sad

[No Excuses]

Meh, same old Wizards. I realize this is only 1 game and it was on the road against a title contender, but to get beat by 30 points is a warning sign that we're in for another long season. Not that I didn't expect it already, but I was hoping for some improvement with Wall, Hinrich and others added to the roster. Another 30 win Wizards season. We'll still be the only teams other than the Clippers and Bobcats to not have a 50 win season since 1979. Yes, I SAID NINETEEN SEVENTY-NINE. Sad

What did you expect us to do without Howard and Arenas? Orlando is the worst possible match up for us because of how physical their big men are. We still would have lost with Gilbert and J-Ho but it would have been more competitive. Last night the team sorely missed a perimeter player capable of creating for himself in a half court set. That's the role Howard and Arenas are supposed to fill.

A newly constructed team still learning how to play with each other vs. A championship contender without much roster change that has been together in the same system for years now.

The development of this team is a 2-3 year process. I still think we are capable of hitting the 40 win mark, especially if Gilbert can play like he did last year before his suspension. At this point, I'm not too optimistic about his health considering he's seeing a foot specialist now. Without Gilbert, we will barely scratch 35 wins. I really dislike this because having Gil next to Wall would have made the transition for Wall really easy. Too much pressure on the rook now.

[Sticksboi05]

you have a real odd way of posting...sometimes you come off like this

Well, he was making it out as if that RonArtest guy was freaking out and as if he had to bring him to reason. The guy specifically said he wasn't worried and that it was only game one.

[No Excuses]

Last year a lot of people were really happy about the win over Dallas in the opener. We all know what happened after that.

I have faith.

Pretty much. I think if Arenas and Howard return with good health and play up to their caliber, we will compete hard on most nights. It's pretty much impossible to play in the modern NBA if you don't have guards and forwards capable of beating their men 1 vs. 1. Their presence will make things easier for Blatche as well.

People are reading way too much into one game. This team is not that good but it's not that bad either.

[Sticksboi05]

Meh, same old Wizards. I realize this is only 1 game and it was on the road against a title contender, but to get beat by 30 points is a warning sign that we're in for another long season. Not that I didn't expect it already, but I was hoping for some improvement with Wall, Hinrich and others added to the roster. Another 30 win Wizards season. We'll still be the only teams other than the Clippers and Bobcats to not have a 50 win season since 1979. Yes, I SAID NINETEEN SEVENTY-NINE. Sad

No Howard + No Arenas + against Orlando = blowout. Nothing to fret over. They are who we thought they were (Orlando).

[No Excuses]

The brilliance of the Wizards medical staff continues. Arenas will now be taking cortisone shots to suppress the pain.

Yup let's rush him back again. Obviously we've got a playoff spot that we're fighting for.

[RonArtest15]

Not coming in here to stir up crap, but I took a look at the Wizards roster and I think some of you have very unreal expectations for that team.

McGee and Blatche aren't even top 20 in the league at their positions. Same for Thornton.

Hinrich could be, but it depends on what Hinrich you get.

Wall will be a top ten point this year, maybe even slightly better.

Arenas is a question mark, but he'll be at worst okay.

Your bench isn't great. Yi Jianlian and Cartier Martin are your two best bench options at the moment.

I'd say the often hated on Cavaliers have a better overall roster, but you guys have a superstar in the making in Wall. I'd expect you guys to be better than last year due to that alone. It seems they're headed in the right direction, though. But this Wizards team is going to need patience.

Just for giggles, can you name 20 better PFs than Blatche? He's in that top-20 IMO....not a good showing last night, but he'll turn it around.

*Just so there's no confusion....I stated that we have 81 games to go, but I was only pointing out the negatives from last night. Some of those negatives were bad-habits from last season which obviously carried over to the game vs. Orlando

[KDawg]

Just for giggles, can you name 20 better PFs than Blatche? He's in that top-20 IMO....not a good showing last night, but he'll turn it around.

Easy.

Garnett, Bosh, Boozer, Lee, Gasol, Stoudemire, Nowitski, Horford, Randolph, Aldridge, West, Murphy, Green, Duncan, Love, Lewis, Scola, Josh Smith, Brand, Millsap, Griffin. Cousins will be, and Jamison is as well.

[RonArtest15]

Easy.

Garnett, Bosh, Boozer, Lee, Gasol, Stoudemire, Nowitski, Horford, Randolph, Aldridge, West, Murphy, Green, Duncan, Love, Lewis, Scola, Josh Smith, Brand, Millsap, Griffin. Cousins will be, and Jamison is as well.

I'll agree to disagree....because there's no way I'm taking Rashard Lewis, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison, or Zach Randolph over Blatche. I consider Duncan more of a C than a PF (same w. Amare & Horford), and Jeff Green more of a SF than a PF....

Honestly, I'd put Blatche in that 10-15 range.....and he still has an upside too.

[No Excuses]

Easy.

Garnett, Bosh, Boozer, Lee, Gasol, Stoudemire, Nowitski, Horford, Randolph, Aldridge, West, Murphy, Green, Duncan, Love, Lewis, Scola, Josh Smith, Brand, Millsap, Griffin. Cousins will be, and Jamison is as well.

Millsap, Brand and Jamison no way. DeMarcus Cousins is a C. Josh Smith is playing SF. Troy Murphy, absolutely no way. Good player, good rebounder, no where near as complete as Blatche. I'm not taking Rashard Lewis either. Lewis is a good player but him playing PF is more out of need than skill. His best days were at SF.

You are seriously underrating Blatche. He had a bad game where he consistently faced double teams with no options to kick out too. He's a highly skilled forward who needs spacing on the floor to operate. Dwight Howard clowns a lot of big men in this league. Blatche had exactly the game I'd expect him to have going against the DPOY with very little perimeter play help.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

The brilliance of the Wizards medical staff continues. Arenas will now be taking cortisone shots to suppress the pain.

Yup let's rush him back again. Obviously we've got a playoff spot that we're fighting for.

Let him sit out the year...does any Bullet fan really think he's a part of the next competitive team DC fields?

[Warhead36]

Pretty much. I think if Arenas and Howard return with good health and play up to their caliber, we will compete hard on most nights. It's pretty much impossible to play in the modern NBA if you don't have guards and forwards capable of beating their men 1 vs. 1. Their presence will make things easier for Blatche as well.

People are reading way too much into one game. This team is not that good but it's not that bad either.

I agree. We have a young team that will struggle on many nights(especially against powerhouses like Orlando)but we will improve as the year goes on. I guess some of the tendencies to panic have leaked from the Skins forum over to this one.

[Warhead36]

Let him sit out the year...does any Bullet fan really think he's a part of the next competitive team DC fields?

That would do nothing but kill any value he has(which is already an all-time low).

The best case scenario, long term, might be for Gil to come in and play well but for us to continue losing. That way we can trade him for some nice long term assets and salary relief.

[KDawg]

You are seriously underrating Blatche.

Agree to disagree, then. I happen to think Wizard fans overrate him, so the opinion that I underrate him certainly is plausible.