Why the Eastern Conference Should Fear the Washington Wizards

[clint999]

It's more than just Gil who has to prove themselves as a defender.

[ixcuincle]

For the fifth time in the last six years, there's reason for optimism in Washington. The Wizards are amazingly deep in professional perimeter players. If Gilbert Arenas is 90 percent of the way back and is interested in leading his team, not just scoring a ton of points, the Wizards can be, as Sports Illustrated predicts, one of the four best teams in the Eastern Conference. Of course, the bigs really have to play big because the Wizards don't have enough of them. It's Brendan Haywood, Fabricio Oberto and second-year novice JaVale McGee and that's about it. Scouts around the league are hailing Flip Saunders's offense, but Eddie Jordan had every bit as good an offense as Saunders has run. The issue with the Wizards has been defense. The question is: What can Saunders do to improve that -- and with limited bigs?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102502046.html

[clint999]

Flip is known as an offensive coach but his teams have always been good defensively as well.

He's known throughout the league as being a master as far as using zone defenses.

[dockeryfan]

Deshawn Stevenson killed their chances at the free throw line last night.

[Gator Bait]

Originally Posted by dockeryfan

Deshawn Stevenson killed their chances at the free throw line last night.

yeah, I'm not seeing a reason to keep him in the rotation. Between Gil, Foye, Miller, Butler...we should have the 2 spot covered.

Stevenson isn't bringing anything special to the table....

in the past he has been a lock down defender and good 3 point shooter; he isn't showing any of that this year. I give him 5 more games...if he doesn't improve, he needs to be bounced from the rotation. This is how I see our rotation playing out this season:

haywood, Oberto
Jamison, Blatche
Butler, Miller
Miller, Foye
Arenas, Foye

8 man rotation.

we could play big:

Haywood
Oberto
Blatche/Jamison
Butler/Miller
Arenas

we can play small/fast

Blatche
Jamison
Butler
Foye
Arenas

[pjfootballer]

Again, at 2-3 we scare no one. We need to get Jamison back and then reset the rotation.

[Gator Bait]

bump for 2-6, Gil not playing like a point guard anymore...he is back to his 50,000 shots per game w/ a lousy shooting percentage.

I'm not too worried yet though. The team actually played excelent defense for about 4 minutes of the 4th quarter against the Suns....almost go back into that game.

I hope Flip points this out and demands that level of defense from his team 48 minutes each game!

We need to figure it out...I don't see this team getting too much better when Jamison returns...he plays no defense.

It is time to give Mr. Blatche the starting PF position he has earned in the first 8 games.

[pjfootballer]

I knew not to get my hopes up for this team. Keep playing like this and we won't reach 40 wins let alone 50.

[Gator Bait]

Originally Posted by pjfootballer

I knew not to get my hopes up for this team. Keep playing like this and we won't reach 40 wins let alone 50.

I'm not too worried...they will get it together. Once flip figures out Deshawn and Nick have no business being in the rotation...we will get better.

I'd like to see Foye, Miller, and Butler handle the 2 exclusively this year. Bring Nick in for spot duty and clean-up.

This team will start running an 8 man rotation once Jamison gets back:

Haywood, Oberto
Jamison, Blatche
Butler, Miller
Miller, Foye
Arenas, Foye

part of me believes Foye should be the starting 2, but he is the perfect guy to come off the bench and run the offense while Gil is resting.

I'd really like to see Blatche start at 4 and have Jamison come off the bench, but I don't see that happening.

Haywood
Blatche
Butler
Miller
Arenas

with Foye and Jamison off the bench would be deadly.

[hfmonk]

I still dont believe that Gil can last 40 games in any season.
I will believe it when I see it.
DSS gave up on defense when he came to DC...because of Gil.
I think it is strange how we only play defense when Gil is nowhere near the floor.

[Gator Bait]

Originally Posted by hfmonk

I still dont believe that Gil can last 40 games in any season.
I will believe it when I see it.
DSS gave up on defense when he came to DC...because of Gil.
I think it is strange how we only play defense when Gil is nowhere near the floor.

Gil's knee seems to be 100%...I don't remember him missing any time before the knee injuries came along. I'd be surprised if he misses any more than 5 games this season.

Deshawn has been a good defender ever since he got to washington...he just doesn't seem to be playing any defense this year

This team has played some great defense on occasion this year....played very good defense 6 out of 12 minutes in the 4th quarter against phoenix. Played a good defensive game the whole game against dallas.

[SkinsTight]

what is there to fear? Arenas is garbage! it is so frustrating watching agent zero plays. For every great play he makes two or three bad ones usually follow. 13 turns over in one game is unacceptable for some one getting that much $$$.

[SkinsTight]

make that 14 turn overs latest update against the heat.

[Gator Bait]

Originally Posted by SkinsTight

what is there to fear? Arenas is garbage! it is so frustrating watching agent zero plays. For every great play he makes two or three bad ones usually follow. 13 turns over in one game is unacceptable for some one getting that much $$$.

he had a terrible game tonight, but calling him Garbage shows how little you know.

Gil had a great game against Dallas and New Jersey and had pretty good games against Miami (first time) and Atlanta.

Luckily for us the NBA has a very long 82 game season. Flip will get it together...we must start protecting the ball better and we need to shoot better from the field and from the charity stripe.

[Warhead36]

Injuries injuries injuries. Good god we just can't catch a break. Jamison, Butler, Miller, now Randy Foye?? Jesus...