Washington Wizards 2012-2013 Season Thread - Thanks for a great year!

[Methodical Management]

Washington Wizards 2012-2013
[h1]Current Record:  29  - 53[/h1][table][tr][td]Date[/td][td]Opponent[/td][td]Time[/td][td]Result[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/7/12[/td][td]@Charlotte (PS)[/td][td]1:00 PM[/td][td]L 88 - 100[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/11/12[/td][td]New York (PS)[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 108 - 101[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/13/12[/td][td]@Cleveland (PS)[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]W 99 - 95[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/15/12[/td][td]@Brooklyn (PS)[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L  88 - 98[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/17/12[/td][td]@Toronto (PS)[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 101 - 104[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/20/12[/td][td]@Milwaukee (PS)[/td][td]8:30 PM[/td][td]W 102 - 94[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/24/12[/td][td]@Miami (PS)[/td][td]8:30 PM[/td][td]W 101 - 94[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/26/12[/td][td]@San Antonio (PS)[/td][td]8:30 PM[/td][td]L 85 - 100[/td][/tr][tr][td]10/30/12[/td][td]@Cleveland[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 84 - 94[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/3/12[/td][td]Boston[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 89 - 86[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/7/12[/td][td]@Boston[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 94 - 100[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/9/12[/td][td]Milwaukee[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 91 - 101[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/10/12[/td][td]@Indiana[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 85 - 89[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/13/12[/td][td]@Charlotte[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 76 - 92[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/14/12[/td][td]@Dallas[/td][td]8:30 PM[/td][td]L 101 - 107[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/17/12[/td][td]Utah[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 83 - 76[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/19/12[/td][td]Indiana[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 96 - 89[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/21/12[/td][td]@Atlanta[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 100 - 101[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/24/12[/td][td]Charlotte[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 108 - 106[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/26/12[/td][td]San Antonio[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 118 - 92[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/28/12[/td][td]Portland[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 82 - 84[/td][/tr][tr][td]11/30/12[/td][td]@New York[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 87 - 108[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/4/12[/td][td]Miami[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 101 - 105[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/7/12[/td][td]@Atlanta[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 95 - 104[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/8/12[/td][td]Golden State[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 101 - 97[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/11/12[/td][td]@New Orleans[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]W 77 - 70[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/12/12[/td][td]@Houston[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]L 93 - 99[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/14/12[/td][td]L.A. Lakers[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 102 - 96[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/15/12[/td][td]@Miami[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 72 - 102[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/18/12[/td][td]Atlanta[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 100 - 95 [/td][/tr][tr][td]12/19/12[/td][td]@Orlando[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 83 - 90[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/21/12[/td][td]@Detroit[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 68 - 100[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/22/12[/td][td]Detroit[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 96 - 87[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/26/12[/td][td]Cleveland[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 87 - 84[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/28/12[/td][td]Orlando[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 97 - 105[/td][/tr][tr][td]12/29/12[/td][td]@Chicago[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]L 77 - 87[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/1/13[/td][td]Dallas[/td][td]6:00 PM[/td][td]L 103 - 94[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/2/13[/td][td]@Indiana[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 81 - 89[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/4/13[/td][td]Brooklyn[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 115 - 113[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/6/13[/td][td]@Miami[/td][td]6:00 PM[/td][td]L 71 - 99[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/7/13[/td][td]Oklahoma City[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 101 - 99[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/12/13[/td][td]Atlanta[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 83 - 93[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/14/13[/td][td]Orlando[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 91 - 120[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/16/13[/td][td]@Sacramento[/td][td]10:00 PM[/td][td]L 94 - 95[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/18/13[/td][td]@Denver[/td][td]9:00 PM[/td][td]W 112 - 108[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/19/13[/td][td]@L.A. Clippers[/td][td]10:30 PM[/td][td]L 87 - 94[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/21/13[/td][td]@Portland[/td][td]10:00 PM[/td][td]W 98 - 95[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/23/13[/td][td]@Utah[/td][td]9:00 PM[/td][td]L 88 - 92[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/25/13[/td][td]Minnesota[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 101 - 114[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/26/13[/td][td]Chicago[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 73 - 86[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/28/13[/td][td]Sacramento[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 96 - 94[/td][/tr][tr][td]1/30/13[/td][td]@Philadelphia[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 84 - 92[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/1/13[/td][td]@Memphis[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]L 76 - 82[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/2/13[/td][td]@San Antonio[/td][td]8:30 PM[/td][td]L 86 - 96[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/4/13[/td][td]L.A. Clippers[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 98 - 90[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/6/13[/td][td]New York[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 96 - 86[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/8/13[/td][td]Brooklyn[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 74 - 89[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/11/13[/td][td]@Milwaukee[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]W 102 - 90[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/13/13[/td][td]@Detroit[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 85 - 96[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/19/13[/td][td]Toronto[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 96 - 88[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/22/13[/td][td]Denver[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 113 - 116[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/23/13[/td][td]Houston[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 101 - 103[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/25/13[/td][td]@Toronto[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 90 - 84[/td][/tr][tr][td]2/27/13[/td][td]Detroit[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 96 - 95[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/1/13[/td][td]New York[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 89 - 87[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/3/13[/td][td]Philadelphia[/td][td]6:00 PM[/td][td]W 87 - 90[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/6/13[/td][td]@Minnesota[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]L 82 - 87[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/8/13[/td][td]@Brooklyn[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 78 - 95[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/9/13[/td][td]Charlotte[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]W 87 - 104[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/12/13[/td][td]@Cleveland[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 90 - 85[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/13/13[/td][td]Milwaukee[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 93 - 106[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/15/13[/td][td]New Orleans[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 87 - 96[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/16/13[/td][td]Phoenix[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 105 - 127[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/18/13[/td][td]@Charlotte[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 114 - 119[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/20/13[/td][td]@Phoenix[/td][td]10:00 PM[/td][td]W 88 - 79[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/22/13[/td][td]@L.A. Lakers[/td][td]10:30 PM[/td][td]W 103 - 100[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/23/13[/td][td]@Golden State[/td][td]10:30 PM[/td][td]L 92 - 101[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/25/13[/td][td]Memphis[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 94 - 107[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/27/13[/td][td]@Oklahoma City[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]L 80 - 103[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/29/13[/td][td]@Orlando[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 92 - 97[/td][/tr][tr][td]3/31/13[/td][td]Toronto[/td][td]6:00 PM[/td][td]W 92 - 109[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/2/13[/td][td]Chicago[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 86 - 90[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/3/13[/td][td]@Toronto[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 78 - 88 [/td][/tr][tr][td]4/6/13[/td][td]Indiana[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]W 85 - 104[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/7/13[/td][td]@Boston[/td][td]6:00 PM[/td][td]L 96 - 107[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/9/13[/td][td]@New York[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 99 - 120[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/10/13[/td][td]Miami[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 103 - 98[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/12/13[/td][td]Philadelphia[/td][td]7:00 PM[/td][td]L 97 - 86 [/td][/tr][tr][td]4/15/13[/td][td]@Brooklyn[/td][td]7:30 PM[/td][td]L 101 - 106[/td][/tr][tr][td]4/17/13[/td][td]@Chicago[/td][td]8:00 PM[/td][td]L 92 - 95[/td][/tr][/table]
The season's just about here, giving long-suffering Wizards fans an evanescent glimmer of hope.  Every team, it's said, begins with a clean slate.

Except ours.

It takes sixteen playoff wins to capture an NBA championship.  Since Michael Jordan was drafted in 1984, the Washington Bullets/Wizards have won a grand total of thirteen playoff games, advancing to the second round only once.  (For comparison, the Clippers have won fifteen playoff games in the same span, reaching the second round twice.)

Washington is a basketball city.  It's the sport we actually play, but not, thanks to the caliber of this franchise, the sport most associated with us.  Playing second fiddle to the NFL is no great shame.  This team, however, can't even seem to muster the same enthusiasm as their ice-skating co-tenants.  You'll see more people on the street in Nats caps than Wizards gear.  

According to ESPN, who've somehow managed to manufacture even more meaningless countdown lists than Complex, the Wizards rank dead last in "fan relations," below the outbound Sacramento Kings, the Toronto Maple Leafs(?) and the Cincinnati Bengals.  

Thus far, the Ted Leonsis era has only underscored just how difficult it truly is to bring change to Washington.  

Over the summer, the team finally completed its long-awaited knucklehead purge.  JaVale McGee will be "Shaqtin' a Fool" in Denver.  Andray Blatche is currently "conditioning" in Brooklyn.  Nick Young will be sharing the ball in the city of brotherly love.  

In their place, the Wiz added Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor, Martell Webster, and Jannero Pargo, among others.  Oh yes, Grunfeld & co. have learned from their mistakes.  Now we have a hardy crew of experienced underachievers to run alongside the young core of John Wall, Trevor Booker, Chris Singleton, Kevin Seraphin, Shelvin Mack, newcomer Bradley Beal, and Serbian foul machine Jan Vesely.

Management, you'll recall, spurned the likes of Jerry Sloan, Nate McMillan, the Van Gundys, Brian Shaw, and top-Pop assistant Mike Budenholzer in favor of the inexpensive Randy Wittman.  (This after an exhaustive coaching search consisting of... zero reported interviews.)

We'll be without both Wall (stress fracture) and Nene (plantar fasciitis) to start the preseason.  

If you're here, that means two things:

1)  You're a true fan.

2)  Misery really does love company.

Thanks for joining us!  

Being a Wizards fan is tough, and let's face it: Heat fans have become unbearable lately, so what better way to keep the trolls out than to have an admin managing our season thread?  

With that said, let's throw out some ground rules:  season threads are for that team's fans ONLY.  If you're here to throw salt, prepare to get yourself thrown right back.  Thanks to the platform change, I've got a new thread-ban feature at my disposal and I look forward to using it.  

 

 

[abovelegit1]

Spot on. I think if everything breaks right, they'll possibly challenge for the 8th seed - aka basketball purgatory.

A series of unfortunate events: Grunfeld getting extended, that ill advised trade, that coaching 'decision', and John Wall's stress injury diagnosis. Wizards gon' Wiz.

 

[mmg]

I have high hopes for you guys this season, Wall gonna Ball good luck fellas

 

[jjs07]

Hoping for 35 - 40 wins and a PUSH for the 8th seed. I don't think that's being too unrealistic. I understand the pessimism and it's warranted. This franchise has been middling for the past 30 years. And yes, the "Big 3" is included in there because their team ceiling was no more than what we've seen out of the Atlanta Hawks.

It's a "new" era in DC. Gone are the knuckleheads like Meth pointed out. Yes, we do have underachievers but, they are some high character/high b-ball IQ players. Which is EXACTLY what Wall needs (or needed 3 years ago).

Personally, I've got high hopes for this team as I hope they start trending upwards. At some point they're going to turn things around. It's got to start sometime, right?

Getting through the first month of the season sans Wall with a record around .500 is going to set the tone for the year. This team will be a competitive and hard-nosed defending squad, so they should be in most games they play.

Anyways...here's to the season

*let me ask yall....

We went out and signed Kevin Ollie - presumedly to start at the 1 over AJ Price and until Wall gets back. Would it have been a disaster to give Jordan Crawford starters minutes at PG? Two seasons ago he filled in for John Wall when he was out and I remember a game vs. the Heat when he went HAM and ended up w/ a triple-double.

Crawford
Beal
Ariza
Nene
Okafor

I know they wanted to bring Beal along slowly, but would this line up that I posted above be feasable as a starting unit?

 

[wavy bone]

We went out and signed Kevin Ollie

I think you meant Pargo

I was getting ready to have a heart attack.

Year off to a bad start already.

Going to be depressing watching Jordan ******g Crawford carry the load until Wall/Nene return

 

[jjs07]

I think you meant Pargo
I was getting ready to have a heart attack.
Year off to a bad start already.
Going to be depressing watching Jordan ******g Crawford carry the load until Wall/Nene return

LOL..yeah, my bad. Meant Pargo.

What's the timetable on Nene?

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

John Wall has been getting ripped all week on the radio here.

Comparison to Kwame Brown and knocking this man for the results of his first two pro seasons. Questioning why he is touting himself as the leader and they are one season away form labeling him a bust.





Welp, I am not expecting much from this squad at all. 8th seed in the East is like going to the NIT Tournament.

 

[wavy bone]

Nene uncertain about return to Wizards’ lineup
Posted by Michael Lee on October 2, 2012 at 1:14 am

The Wizards hope to have Nene back for the opener so they can lean on him while John Wall is out.

The Wizards expect to have John Wall back in roughly eight weeks, but while they anticipate having Nene before then, they are uncertain when the 6-foot-10 Brazilian big man will return from plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Nene declined to offer a timetable when asked about when he planned to come back from an injury that he aggravated during the London Olympics and cost him 10 games last season in Washington.
“I don’t give specific time,” Nene said on Monday during media day. “I come here every day take care of myself, see when I feel really good, when I feel strong to do all things I need to do on the court. That’s the time.”
With Wall sidelined, the Wizards plan to lean more on Nene, who averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 11 games after arriving from Denver in a trade deadline deal. Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said last week that he hopes to have Nene back in time for the season opener on Oct. 30 in Cleveland. When asked if he could return by then, Nene replied, “I hope too. We’ll be positive. We’ll work to be on that time.”
Coach Randy Wittman supported the front office’s decision to limit Nene during the preseason and hold him back from two-a-day practices as training camp begins on Tuesday at George Mason University in Fairfax. The Wizards are committing $52 million to Nene over the next four years.
Nene joked that since the Olympics ended in August that he has “been doing a lot of hard stuff – rest, do nothing, a couple of days.” But he also saw a foot specialist in Vail, Colo., while rehabilitating in both Denver and Washington. Taking it easy has done wonders for his foot.
“Right now — because I’m not jumping or doing nothing — it feels pretty good,” Nene said. “I’ve been working hard, doing physical therapy, taking care of myself. I understand because as a veteran, when you feel good, that’s one of the goals. You need to feel good, you need to be good and you need to be smart.
Though plantar fasciitis can be both painful and unpredictable, Nene said he doesn’t expect the problem to linger throughout the upcoming season. “I hope not,” Nene said. “The bad part I passed. Now is the good part. I’m going to do what I can control. Time is going to be my friend, I hope.”

John Wall has been getting ripped all week on the radio here.

Comparison to Kwame Brown and knocking this man for the results of his first two pro seasons. Questioning why he is touting himself as the leader and they are one season away form labeling him a bust.

 

[wavy bone]

Damn...first preseason game is on Sunday.

**** that came fast. Pause.

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

Let me know if any area folks are trying to hit up any games this season.

 

[jjs07]

John Wall has been getting ripped all week on the radio here.
Comparison to Kwame Brown and knocking this man for the results of his first two pro seasons. Questioning why he is touting himself as the leader and they are one season away form labeling him a bust.

Welp, I am not expecting much from this squad at all. 8th seed in the East is like going to the NIT Tournament.

What young PG could thrive in an environment where part of your core was Blatche, McGee, and Young?

I give Wall a pass for those first two seasons. Not many PGs in the NBA would have done anything with that roster. Whoever is comparing him to Brown is an absolute moron and doesn't know **** about basketball

 

[worldbeefreeg]

"what's stopping the Wiz from getting the 8th seed?"

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

What young PG could thrive in an environment where part of your core was Blatche, McGee, and Young?
I give Wall a pass for those first two seasons. Not many PGs in the NBA would have done anything with that roster. Whoever is comparing him to Brown is an absolute moron and doesn't know **** about basketball

I think it was Kevin Blackstone or someone on Kornheiser's show.

Hard to believe it took the front office that long to gut the team of all of the clowns on the roster.


I think Wall is on a similar potential trajectory as Rondo. Rondo didn't turn heads his first two years in the League as it used to be Boston's Big Three of KG, Paul and Ray.....once Rondo emerged it became his team to run.


The fact that Wall was still bringing it last season each and every night was a positive for me to see.



The Wizards ended the season on a nice little winning streak, sucks Wall is going to be out for 8 weeks or so.

 

[wavy bone]

"what's stopping the Wiz from getting the 8th seed?"

The Knicks

 

[vietster]

35 wins is definitely realistic, but playoffs hope is slim to none for Washington this season.

Making the playoffs might be tougher this year due to teams getting key additions. Locked in are Miami, Boston, Chicago, Indiana, and Brooklyn. Unfortunately, there are too many strong candidates that can get those final three spots such as New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Milwaukee. Can Washington have more wins than two of these teams? I'm not sure. But I'm definitely excited for the Wizards' season to start again with the new addition of players this summer.


NT summit at a home game this season?

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

What can the Wizards do to attract talented Free Agents (besides start winning)? I've never heard a quality free agent say they want to play in the Nation's Capital. It's not like this city is located in North Dakota. This is a large city with tons of things to do and attractions, but they don't ever appeal to other prospects or even local guys.



Who are some college guys the Wizards should have an eye on this NCAA season?



And if this was 2008 when I worked at Washington Sports Entertainment in managing the Executive Suites at the Verizon Center I could have hooked us up with one of the boxes for a NT summit to catch a game. Not sure if I still have any contacts over there and it will definitely appear desperate in seeking them out for one last favor, but it's worth a shot.


Regardless with ticket prices being incredibly low (lowers could be purchased for $10 at times last year), I'm down.

 

[pmatic]

Gilbert Arenas?

 

[wavy bone]

This is not a city players don't want to come to. It's just a bad front office / team success reputation. Gotta start winning games. It's not this is Cleveland or Milwaukee or something. Most out of town guys have a blast when they come here. Amare mentioned DC as a place he'd be interested in back during his FA period 2 years ago.

There just needs to be a foundation built. Most local guys don't want to play home in general. Even when Deron was considering the Mavs he mentioned one negative to playing home is being more accessible to all the "family and friends" who are looking for a handout. It's the reason why KD never wanted to stay local even in college.

The draft is going to be super weak this year. No real franchise players coming out.

All eyes are on Nerlens Noel but I doubt he'll have an Anthony Davis like impact like many are expecting from him. If we end up w/ a late lottery...I like Otto Porter from G'Town better than any of the SF's we have on our roster now.

 

[jjs07]

"what's stopping the Wiz from getting the 8th seed?"

The Knicks

Knicks fans mad

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

Gilbert Arenas?

I don't recall Gilbert necessarily wanting to go to DC or having the Wiz as a preference. I thought the Wizards took advantage of a loop hole and just out bid the Warriors on Gil since he was a second-round pick.


The Knicks are the one franchise I'm glad the Wizards are not. At least the Wizards recognize they finally need to change the culture and start fresh rather than trading away draft picks and trying to pair up superstars with no chemistry.

 

[extraordinary swag]

Funny i just noticed this thread at the same time I was looking up some Lakers vs Wizards tickets

Don't wanna be a negative person but Nene and Wall being hurt already just aggravates the hell out of me. We won't be able to see if Wall worked on his game (jumper) in the summer or develop some chemistry with Beal in hopes of phasing Crawford out of the starting lineup ASAP because of this injury. But I'll wait for the year to start before I jump completely overboard

I just want a playoff spot, that's all i ask.

 

[jjs07]

I don't recall Gilbert necessarily wanting to go to DC or having the Wiz as a preference. I thought the Wizards took advantage of a loop hole and just out bid the Warriors on Gil since he was a second-round pick.
The Knicks are the one franchise I'm glad the Wizards are not. At least the Wizards recognize they finally need to change the culture and start fresh rather than trading away draft picks and trying to pair up superstars with no chemistry.

According to Gilbert he flipped a coin to decide between LAC and DC.

Winning cures all. This team has 2 seasons to show they are a squad on the rise. 2014 is going to be huge because a lot of the vet deals that we have will expire and other young guys will be up for extensions. They'll have money to use, so hopefully they can show improvement so DC can become a legit FA destination.

 

[Methodical Management]

Spot on. I think if everything breaks right, they'll possibly challenge for the 8th seed - aka basketball purgatory.

A series of unfortunate events: Grunfeld getting extended, that ill advised trade, that coaching 'decision', and John Wall's stress injury diagnosis. Wizards gon' Wiz.

Agreed.  I expressed my disgust with the trades at some length last season, so I won't rehash that here.  However, I think IF injuries prevent the team from really contending for that 8th seed it could be a blessing in disguise.  Getting swept in round 1 is, at best, a Pyrrhic victory and locks us in to a mediocre draft pick. 

Under normal circumstances, one could argue that WINNING would help entice free agents to Washington - but let's face it:  money talks.  There are two types of free agents these days:  players willing to accept BELOW market value to win and players who just want as much money as they can possibly get.  Players in the former category go to the "haves."  Players in the latter category will either go to the "haves" via sign and trade (and that's truly killing the league's competitive balance right now) or to the "have nots" for way too much money. 

There's no reason why an All Star caliber player would sign in Washington simply because they're now a fringe playoff team.  That's not an enticing situation.  Making the playoffs, then, won't really make us better.  It'll just keep us marginal.  

You can either get an impact player through the draft (for which you generally need either great scouting or, in our case, picks so low that they're selected by consensus rather than Ernie Grunfeld), through a trade (for which you generally need attractive assets, not overpaid underachievers), or through free agency (for which you generally need ample cap space.)  We now have none of those things.  We're locked in.  Congratulations, we're the new Milwaukee Bucks. 

*let me ask yall....

We went out and signed Kevin Ollie - presumedly to start at the 1 over AJ Price and until Wall gets back. Would it have been a disaster to give Jordan Crawford starters minutes at PG? Two seasons ago he filled in for John Wall when he was out and I remember a game vs. the Heat when he went HAM and ended up w/ a triple-double.

Crawford
Beal
Ariza
Nene
Okafor

I know they wanted to bring Beal along slowly, but would this line up that I posted above be feasable as a starting unit?

You're suggesting we play Crawford as a point guard?  I don't think the backboard can take that kind of abuse.  He's the second coming of Nick Young. 

I don't care what Wittman's saying about Crawford's training camp performance, we need Beal to replace him as the starting 2 ASAP.  

I'd play Mack as the starting point guard until Wall returns.  Say what you will, he's handled his transition to the 1 as gracefully as any "combo" guard in recent memory and he's proven a steadying force on the floor.  He's measured, and we can't say the same about Jordan "I'm better than MJ" Crawford.

 

John Wall has been getting ripped all week on the radio here.

Comparison to Kwame Brown and knocking this man for the results of his first two pro seasons. Questioning why he is touting himself as the leader and they are one season away form labeling him a bust.

Welp, I am not expecting much from this squad at all. 8th seed in the East is like going to the NIT Tournament.

I still think it's completely unfair to blame John Wall for any of this.  He wasn't a scorer at Kentucky.  I don't know why everyone suddenly expected him to become Derrick Rose overnight.  That's not his game.  

John Wall will never be the leading scorer on a championship team.  He's not going to average 25 ppg.  What he can do, however, is be a great distributor, a lock down defender, and the engine of a championship team, if surrounded with sufficient talent. 

As meaningless as rookie/sophomore games are, the ease with which he racked up 30 assists demonstrates less his vision (because all roads lead to Rome in the rookie game) than his desire to accurately place the ball in scoring position.  That's his natural tendency.  It's what he WANTS to do on the floor.  

He's not really getting that chance in Washington, because he's been asked to serve as the focal point for the entire offense.  Until he can consistently knock down that 15 foot shot, he's not going to thrive in a pick and roll offense.  You'll just play under all day long.  And this is where the Rondo comparisons actually have some value, as Rondo has been in roughly the same predicament.  Rondo's overcome it less by shooting accurately than by KILLING anyone who gives him the space he needs to see the entire floor.  If you DON'T play him close, if you DON'T pressure the ball, it's like failing to rush a great quarterback.  If, on the other hand, you DO play him close, he's going to blow by you.  Thus, he doesn't NEED to be a deadly shooter to create match-up problems. 

If Doc Rivers just tried to get Rajon Rondo to play like Chris Paul or Steve Nash, the team wouldn't enjoy the same level of success.  He works, instead, off the strengths of his players.  He turned Avery Bradley into a cutter.  He routinely places each offensive player in the situations where they're MOST effective.  The difference is, the Celtics, despite their age, have MOBILE players at each position and can thus effectively run a motion offense.  We have a bunch of lumbering bigs and no reliable shooters to play off them.  Defenses can simply pack down and call it a day. 

Our sets don't work because they're generic sets designed for generic personnel.  It's the type of crap you run in an AAU game, before you ultimately just concede to a steady diet of isos.  

In Washington, we've just been expecting John Wall to salvage broken plays.  That's not going to work.  He's going to have an eight year career if he keeps hurling himself into the teeth of the defense every game.  The wear and tear from such forays is already evident.  To blame HIM for that is asinine.  

"what's stopping the Wiz from getting the 8th seed?"

Reality.

I know the talking heads out there see Orlando and Atlanta entering rebuilding mode, they see that Washington's made some significant upgrades (however myopic), and, based on that, they foresee the Wizards battling it out for the coveted eighth seed in the East.  It's not that simple. 

Brooklyn, by most accounts, leapfrogged us by acquiring Joe Johnson.  As thin and over-hyped as their roster may be, you still have to admit that Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Brook Lopez shows better on paper than Wall, Beal, Ariza, Okafor, and Nene.  (I'd like to think we have greater depth, but we'll also be in NEED of it as there's already a zero percent chance of making it through the year without relying heavily on our reserves.) 

That's one of the two "open" playoff spots.  I'm still not convinced that we're better any than Atlanta even WITHOUT Joe Johnson.  

Even though they've been a walking punchline in their own right, Toronto's improved.  They have Lowry and Terrence Ross coming in, Calderon could be moved at midseason for the right offer, and, though he struggled mightily in the Olympics, Valanciunas finally arrives this season as well.  

I'm not sold on the moves Milwaukee made in the short run (though I agree with their underlying rationale), but they're a solid club and will also be in contention for that last playoff berth.  

There are very few teams one could rank as definitively WORSE than Washington in the East.  Charlotte and Orlando spring to mind, but the waters become murky from there.  

It'll come down to health and player development, and, in those respects, I have very little faith in the competitiveness of Washington's coaches and trainers.  Let's be honest: we have AWFUL track records in both categories.  We don't have Phoenix's training staff.  We don't have San Antonio's coaching staff.  We've shown zero interest in making hires from programs of that caliber on order to replicate their success here in DC, as this organization has a long, sad history of miserly, nepotistic decision-making. 

ON PAPER, I'd like to think this roster should be battling it out for 7-8 in the Eastern conference.  In practice, I think we finish ninth or tenth.  

This is not a city players don't want to come to. It's just a bad front office / team success reputation. Gotta start winning games. It's not this is Cleveland or Milwaukee or something. Most out of town guys have a blast when they come here. Amare mentioned DC as a place he'd be interested in back during his FA period 2 years ago.

There just needs to be a foundation built. Most local guys don't want to play home in general. Even when Deron was considering the Mavs he mentioned one negative to playing home is being more accessible to all the "family and friends" who are looking for a handout. It's the reason why KD never wanted to stay local even in college.

The draft is going to be super weak this year. No real franchise players coming out.

All eyes are on Nerlens Noel but I doubt he'll have an Anthony Davis like impact like many are expecting from him. If we end up w/ a late lottery...I like Otto Porter from G'Town better than any of the SF's we have on our roster now.

That's an interesting point:  where DOES this team go from here if drafting for NEED?  You've invested HEAVILY in second tier frontcourt players.  (Okafor recently surpassed Nene as the team's highest-paid player.)  You just drafted a shooting guard.  You obviously have your point.  We have several 3's, but that does seem to be the one "growth opportunity" we haven't exhausted through bad investments.  Ariza comes off the books in two years, so IF you take a rookie 3 next season and you want to pay him starter money, you'll be able to afford it when his rookie deal expires.  

When your hand is FORCED like that, it makes drafting "best available" a far more difficult proposition.  Depending on where we land, I see this team trading OUT of the draft in favor of known quantities.  Some of these pieces will need to be moved in order for us to get better.  (That's exactly what New Orleans did when they dumped Okafor and Ariza off on us in exchange for Lewis, who they promptly waived since we were too damned cheap to do so ourselves.) 

Unless we absolutely luck out, I don't see much incentive to play the lottery again.  Use the pick as sweetener to unload one of these poison pills.  

But we're getting ahead of ourselves...

Leave it to Wizards fans to start talking about next summer's draft in the preseason.  

 

[joe cool23]

I'm strangely excited for this season (The Nats have filled my DC Sports Excitement quota for like the next two years) .

It'll be close, but they should make the playoffs.

 

[jjs07]

Agreed.  I expressed my disgust with the trades at some length last season, so I won't rehash that here.  However, I think IF injuries prevent the team from really contending for that 8th seed it could be a blessing in disguise.  Getting swept in round 1 is, at best, a Pyrrhic victory and locks us in to a mediocre draft pick. 

Under normal circumstances, one could argue that WINNING would help entice free agents to Washington - but let's face it:  money talks.  There are two types of free agents these days:  players willing to accept BELOW market value to win and players who just want as much money as they can possibly get.  Players in the former category go to the "haves."  Players in the latter category will either go to the "haves" via sign and trade (and that's truly killing the league's competitive balance right now) or to the "have nots" for way too much money. 

There's no reason why an All Star caliber player would sign in Washington simply because they're now a fringe playoff team.  That's not an enticing situation.  Making the playoffs, then, won't really make us better.  It'll just keep us marginal.  

You can either get an impact player through the draft (for which you generally need either great scouting or, in our case, picks so low that they're selected by consensus rather than Ernie Grunfeld), through a trade (for which you generally need attractive assets, not overpaid underachievers), or through free agency (for which you generally need ample cap space.)  We now have none of those things.  We're locked in.  Congratulations, we're the new Milwaukee Bucks. 


You're suggesting we play Crawford as a point guard?  I don't think the backboard can take that kind of abuse.  He's the second coming of Nick Young. 

I don't care what Wittman's saying about Crawford's training camp performance, we need Beal to replace him as the starting 2 ASAP.  

I'd play Mack as the starting point guard until Wall returns.  Say what you will, he's handled his transition to the 1 as gracefully as any "combo" guard in recent memory and he's proven a steadying force on the floor.  He's measured, and we can't say the same about Jordan "I'm better than MJ" Crawford.


 

I still think it's completely unfair to blame John Wall for any of this.  He wasn't a scorer at Kentucky.  I don't know why everyone suddenly expected him to become Derrick Rose overnight.  That's not his game.  

John Wall will never be the leading scorer on a championship team.  He's not going to average 25 ppg.  What he can do, however, is be a great distributor, a lock down defender, and the engine of a championship team, if surrounded with sufficient talent. 

As meaningless as rookie/sophomore games are, the ease with which he racked up 30 assists demonstrates less his vision (because all roads lead to Rome in the rookie game) than his desire to accurately place the ball in scoring position.  That's his natural tendency.  It's what he WANTS to do on the floor.  

He's not really getting that chance in Washington, because he's been asked to serve as the focal point for the entire offense.  Until he can consistently knock down that 15 foot shot, he's not going to thrive in a pick and roll offense.  You'll just play under all day long.  And this is where the Rondo comparisons actually have some value, as Rondo has been in roughly the same predicament.  Rondo's overcome it less by shooting accurately than by KILLING anyone who gives him the space he needs to see the entire floor.  If you DON'T play him close, if you DON'T pressure the ball, it's like failing to rush a great quarterback.  If, on the other hand, you DO play him close, he's going to blow by you.  Thus, he doesn't NEED to be a deadly shooter to create match-up problems. 

If Doc Rivers just tried to get Rajon Rondo to play like Chris Paul or Steve Nash, the team wouldn't enjoy the same level of success.  He works, instead, off the strengths of his players.  He turned Avery Bradley into a cutter.  He routinely places each offensive player in the situations where they're MOST effective.  The difference is, the Celtics, despite their age, have MOBILE players at each position and can thus effectively run a motion offense.  We have a bunch of lumbering bigs and no reliable shooters to play off them.  Defenses can simply pack down and call it a day. 

Our sets don't work because they're generic sets designed for generic personnel.  It's the type of crap you run in an AAU game, before you ultimately just concede to a steady diet of isos.  

In Washington, we've just been expecting John Wall to salvage broken plays.  That's not going to work.  He's going to have an eight year career if he keeps hurling himself into the teeth of the defense every game.  The wear and tear from such forays is already evident.  To blame HIM for that is asinine.  


Reality.

I know the talking heads out there see Orlando and Atlanta entering rebuilding mode, they see that Washington's made some significant upgrades (however myopic), and, based on that, they foresee the Wizards battling it out for the coveted eighth seed in the East.  It's not that simple. 

Brooklyn, by most accounts, leapfrogged us by acquiring Joe Johnson.  As thin and over-hyped as their roster may be, you still have to admit that Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Brook Lopez shows better on paper than Wall, Beal, Ariza, Okafor, and Nene.  (I'd like to think we have greater depth, but we'll also be in NEED of it as there's already a zero percent chance of making it through the year without relying heavily on our reserves.) 

That's one of the two "open" playoff spots.  I'm still not convinced that we're better any than Atlanta even WITHOUT Joe Johnson.  


Even though they've been a walking punchline in their own right, Toronto's improved.  They have Lowry and Terrence Ross coming in, Calderon could be moved at midseason for the right offer, and, though he struggled mightily in the Olympics, Valanciunas finally arrives this season as well.  

I'm not sold on the moves Milwaukee made in the short run (though I agree with their underlying rationale), but they're a solid club and will also be in contention for that last playoff berth.  

There are very few teams one could rank as definitively WORSE than Washington in the East.  Charlotte and Orlando spring to mind, but the waters become murky from there.  

It'll come down to health and player development, and, in those respects, I have very little faith in the competitiveness of Washington's coaches and trainers.  Let's be honest: we have AWFUL track records in both categories.  We don't have Phoenix's training staff.  We don't have San Antonio's coaching staff.  We've shown zero interest in making hires from programs of that caliber on order to replicate their success here in DC, as this organization has a long, sad history of miserly, nepotistic decision-making. 

ON PAPER, I'd like to think this roster should be battling it out for 7-8 in the Eastern conference.  In practice, I think we finish ninth or tenth.  



That's an interesting point:  where DOES this team go from here if drafting for NEED?  You've invested HEAVILY in second tier frontcourt players.  (Okafor recently surpassed Nene as the team's highest-paid player.)  You just drafted a shooting guard.  You obviously have your point.  We have several 3's, but that does seem to be the one "growth opportunity" we haven't exhausted through bad investments.  Ariza comes off the books in two years, so IF you take a rookie 3 next season and you want to pay him starter money, you'll be able to afford it when his rookie deal expires.  

When your hand is FORCED like that, it makes drafting "best available" a far more difficult proposition.  Depending on where we land, I see this team trading OUT of the draft in favor of known quantities.  Some of these pieces will need to be moved in order for us to get better.  (That's exactly what New Orleans did when they dumped Okafor and Ariza off on us in exchange for Lewis, who they promptly waived since we were too damned cheap to do so ourselves.) 

Unless we absolutely luck out, I don't see much incentive to play the lottery again.  Use the pick as sweetener to unload one of these poison pills.  

But we're getting ahead of ourselves...


Leave it to Wizards fans to start talking about next summer's draft in the preseason.  

I'll respectfully disagree w/ you, Meth. Shelvin Mack from day 1 has looked slow, confused, and generally out of place in being a PG in the NBA. I thought he would have shown some improvement by the time the Vegas summer league rolled around, but he was about the same as he was last season. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to say he's not even a lock to make the final roster when the season starts.

Now, I COMPLETELY understand why you'd be skeptical of JC getting some burn as our starting 1 until Wall returns. He hasn't exactly been the model of consistency since he came over from ATL. On the flip, we have seen flashes of good play from him. I'll go back two seasons ago when he had a great two game stretch (playing the 1) vs. the Heat (39 points/50% from the floor) and vs. the Cavs (triple-double). He CAN do it. It's just a matter of him realizing what it takes to facilitate the offense. IF he can prove this preseason that he can play with an improved shot selection, pace, and overall awareness, I think he'd be a good stop-gap until Wall gets back. Honestly, I'd feel more comfortable with him starting at the 1 with Pargo coming in after him. As long as AJ Price/Mack really don't see extended PT in Wall's absence, I'm good.

Crawford
Beal
Ariza
Nene
Okafor

Pargo
Crawford
Ariza
Nene
Okafor

I'd roll with the first group that I came up with. Just my .02

Only question is...is Beal ready to get 30+ mpg out of the gate? Like I was saying before, I thought the plan was to bring him along slowly. He was supposed to be in "competition" w. JC with the hopes that he'd beat him out sooner, rather than later. Wall's injury changes things up quite a bit.