The Official Washington Wizards Thread

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

That's just the burrito you ate.

Maybe so.

[No Excuses]

Wall is expected to play tonight. Wonder if we can hang with the C's. We gave them real trouble last year with our athleticism.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

That's the rub though. While I think the future for the Nats is very bright, do you feel the same sense of optimism about the Redskins as you do for the Wizards? Everything Leonsis touches turns to gold, he gives me confidence that the future will not resemble the past when it comes to the Wizards. Add to that we've got an immensely talented young center growing with an immensely talented young pure point guard and it's a formula that instills hope. Plus we've got young role players who have flashed ability and we're also probably going to finish with a very high draft pick this year. The plan for improvement the Wizards are using is coherent. It makes sense, is transparent, and it's one that has worked for other organizations in the past.

I don't think you're going to see the same level of success between each franchise over the course of the next decade. If the Redskins are improving at all, it's going to come extremely slowly since last year was an entirely wasted offseason. We made no positive gains in the draft. We replaced a former perennial All Star left tackle with one who looks like he can be one too. But that's pretty much a status quo move. We traded our other high pick for a shaky QB and then basically threw the rest of our draft picks away... during one of the two or three strongest classes of the decade.

Well, I would agree that if the Wizards become a perennial contender and no other local team does, then they will attract more fans. I don't see that as an automatic though. I think they'd have to be significantly better than the Redskins for an extended period of time. Let's not forget that we're talking about a franchise that has been just as bad for much longer.

But, my point still remains, that DC will not turn into a basketball town unless the other sports fall by the wayside. If that's your argument too, I guess we agree.

[DjTj]

Well, I would agree that if the Wizards become a perennial contender and no other local team does, then they will attract more fans. I don't see that as an automatic though. I think they'd have to be significantly better than the Redskins for an extended period of time. Let's not forget that we're talking about a franchise that has been just as bad for much longer.

But, my point still remains, that DC will not turn into a basketball town unless the other sports fall by the wayside. If that's your argument too, I guess we agree.

I don't think any team will ever really unseat the Redskins, but it really doesn't take that much for a winning team to get significantly more popular.

When Arenas led the Wizards to the playoffs year after year, they started drawing very good attendance numbers. When the Caps started making the playoffs, their attendance numbers grew very quickly. The Nats haven't yet had that breakout season, but the same opportunity is there. A little bit of success can go a long way. Here are some numbers:

Redskins attendance:
2006: 87,631 (109.4%)
2007: 88,090 (110.0%)
2008: 88,604 (110.6%)
2009: 84,794 (92.5%)
2010: 87,893 (95.8%)

Wizards attendance:
2005-06: 17,196 (85.3%)
2006-07: 18,372 (91.1%)
2007-08: 17,962 (89.1%)
2008-09: 16,612 (82.4%)
2009-10: 16,204 (80.3%)

Capitals attendance:
2005-06: 13,905 (74.5%)
2006-07: 13,929 (74.6%)
2007-08: 15,472 (82.9%)
2008-09: 18,097 (96.9%)
2009-10: 18,277 (100.0%)

Nationals attendance:
2006: 26,580 (58.7%)
2007: 24,217 (53.5%)
2008: 29,005 (69.2%)
2009: 22,715 (54.2%)
2010: 22,568 (53.9%)

http://espn.go.com/nfl/attendance/
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance/
http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

[TD_washingtonredskins]

DjTj,

Attendance is a tough way to gauge if a town is truly engaging with a pro sport. So there are 100K people interested. I would think that media coverage, general fans, people buying gear, etc. is more accurate. People can be fans and not show up for games (which would help your point). However, a team can gain enough fans to sell out games while not making DC a basketball town.

Professional sports-wise...this will always go football, baseball, basketball/hockey in my opinion.

[DjTj]

DjTj,

Attendance is a tough way to gauge if a town is truly engaging with a pro sport. So there are 100K people interested. I would think that media coverage, general fans, people buying gear, etc. is more accurate. People can be fans and not show up for games (which would help your point). However, a team can gain enough fans to sell out games while not making DC a basketball town.

I think the percentages are significant. All of these things are highly correlated, and attendance is a simple number that can be isolated. When there is more media coverage and more people buying gear, there are more people going to games. It all goes hand-in-hand.

In any case, my real point in showing the numbers is to demonstrate how they go up and down based on the team's success. The Wizards had a lot more fans when they were winning, and the Caps have that now. The Nats got a boost from the new stadium, but don't really have that strong of a base.

Professional sports-wise...this will always go football, baseball, basketball/hockey in my opinion.

I only disagree with you on baseball. Baseball monopolizes the summer, but the Nats are certainly less popular than the Caps right now and probably less popular than the Wizards. If you asked people on the street to name a player on the Nationals, Caps, or Wizards, I think Ovechkin wins that poll right now. Gilbert Arenas might contend, but maybe for some of the wrong reasons.

The Caps, Wizards, and Nationals are only as popular as their records ... it will take something really special ( like a mini-dynasty with multiple championships) for any one of those teams to challenge the Redskins.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I think the percentages are significant. All of these things are highly correlated, and attendance is a simple number that can be isolated. When there is more media coverage and more people buying gear, there are more people going to games. It all goes hand-in-hand.

In any case, my real point in showing the numbers is to demonstrate how they go up and down based on the team's success. The Wizards had a lot more fans when they were winning, and the Caps have that now. The Nats got a boost from the new stadium, but don't really have that strong of a base.

I only disagree with you on baseball. Baseball monopolizes the summer, but the Nats are certainly less popular than the Caps right now and probably less popular than the Wizards. If you asked people on the street to name a player on the Nationals, Caps, or Wizards, I think Ovechkin wins that poll right now. Gilbert Arenas might contend, but maybe for some of the wrong reasons.

The Caps, Wizards, and Nationals are only as popular as their records ... it will take something really special ( like a mini-dynasty with multiple championships) for any one of those teams to challenge the Redskins.

Fair enough...that all makes sense. I see what you mean.

[stevemcqueen1]

McGee's a fantasy beast. He got my team 10 rebounds (6 offensive) and 2 more blocks in only 26 minutes. Damn I wish he got more time. Come on Flip, Free McGee. He'd have five blocks a game if they played him for 10 more minutes or so and that'd probably be enough for me to win that category with just him. Aside from that, WTF Arenas? You got me two 3s but that was the only positive about your performance. Crap scoring, crap shooting percentages from the floor and line, and no semblance of help in the assist or rebounding categories. Back to the bench with you.

[Warhead36]

McGee's a fantasy beast. He got my team 10 rebounds (6 offensive) and 2 more blocks in only 26 minutes. Damn I wish he got more time. Come on Flip, Free McGee. He'd have five blocks a game if they played him for 10 more minutes or so and that'd probably be enough for me to win that category with just him. Aside from that, WTF Arenas? You got me two 3s but that was the only positive about your performance. Crap scoring, crap shooting percentages from the floor and line, and no semblance of help in the assist or rebounding categories. Back to the bench with you.

IIRC McGee has asthma so his conditioning is an issue. I don't see him ever playing more tahn ~26-28 minutes a game. I think in the long run he'll best be used as an energetic big off the bench.

[Hubbs]

DC is not a professional basketball town. DC is an amateur basketball town. The Bullets/Wizards will never be as popular as successful DC football or baseball, though it should easily eclipse hockey if/when the basketball team becomes contenders.

Dude, the Caps have built up an insanely loyal fanbase. I'm not too sure the Wiz would surpass them even if the team was good.

[Hubbs]

Oh, and here's a completely random thought: I was thinking about the team name the other day, and suddenly "Washington Minutemen" came to my head. For those of you who don't know, the minutemen were a type of rapid-response colonial militia (hence the name) who fought in the Revolutionary War and helped repel unexpected British attacks. If Leonsis doesn't want to go back to Bullets, then I think Minutemen at least sounds better than both Wizards and those other stupid suggestions like Generals (the jokes will never cease), Justice, Diplomats, and Agents (one of the worst suggestions I've heard, which, of course, means LaVar and Dukes loved it). Any thoughts?

[Burgold]

I like the Washington Taxmen or the Washington Revenuers... a name sure to strike fear into the heart of any modern professional athlete.

For some reason, Minutemen in my mind belongs to Boston or at least New England. I do like the idea of a name that celebrates the United States though.

[stevemcqueen1]

I like the Washington Taxmen or the Washington Revenuers... a name sure to strike fear into the heart of any modern professional athlete.

For some reason, Minutemen in my mind belongs to Boston or at least New England. I do like the idea of a name that celebrates the United States though.

Yeah Minutemen has a New England association. UMass' mascot is the Minutemen. I'd want something a little more specific to the Virginia colony or to the Potomac region.

[stevemcqueen1]

IIRC McGee has asthma so his conditioning is an issue. I don't see him ever playing more tahn ~26-28 minutes a game. I think in the long run he'll best be used as an energetic big off the bench.

Can't we get him some effective steroids or something? I don't have anyone else that can reliably get me blocks and now that David Lee is hurt, my rebounding is taking a hit.

BTW, this fantasy team is mostly incredible. I'm not even sure exactly how it came together so well, but it involved some trade devilry. Here's the roster if anyone cares:

PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Al Horford
G: Joe Johnson
F: David Lee
UTIL: Michael Beasley
UTIL: Jason Terry
UTIL: Javale McGee
Bench: Gilbert Arenas
Bench: Richard Jefferson
Bench: Ben Gordon

Richard Jefferson was the only guy I picked up on waivers. I did this in an auction league and got lucky there was a moron in the league who basically ended up trading me Durant and Nowitzki for a final total of Blake Griffin and Tim Duncan. (He traded me those two for Wade and Joe Johnson, then traded me those two back for Duncan and Griffin). Lee and Nowitzki and Curry have underachieved so far, but they'll come around eventually... I hope. But it's a H2H league so I've still been able to win matchups from scoring so many points, shooting so well, and eking out enough steals, blocks, and threes to come out on top. Unfortunately, I'm getting creamed in rebounds and assists every week.

[Duckus]

Oh, and here's a completely random thought: I was thinking about the team name the other day, and suddenly "Washington Minutemen" came to my head. For those of you who don't know, the minutemen were a type of rapid-response colonial militia (hence the name) who fought in the Revolutionary War and helped repel unexpected British attacks. If Leonsis doesn't want to go back to Bullets, then I think Minutemen at least sounds better than both Wizards and those other stupid suggestions like Generals (the jokes will never cease), Justice, Diplomats, and Agents (one of the worst suggestions I've heard, which, of course, means LaVar and Dukes loved it). Any thoughts?

One problem is the jokes about the other meaning of Minutemen.