I haven't been following the Wizards as closely as I should... which is to say, I just watch the games and don't bother with the media surrounding them.
Does anyone know why JaVale's been getting less run recently?
Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
JaVale McGee on understanding message Wittman is sending with benching: "I can’t say I do, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out sooner or later."
I haven't been following the Wizards as closely as I should... which is to say, I just watch the games and don't bother with the media surrounding them.
Does anyone know why JaVale's been getting less run recently?
I've been. He's been decent when it comes to the 3 knuckleheads (him, Young, Blache). JaVale brings a lot to the table. I'd be fine with keeping if hopefully they bring in more veterans next season. He tends to do one bone headed thing a game which tends to get overblown by the negative nature of the bloggers/beat writers which, IMO, is a bit of a snow ball effect the last couple of years. Definitely Washington's best value trade asset.
Basically who I'd keep: Wall (of course), Booker, Singleton, Vesely, Mack, and Seraphin (still developing). Hopefully win Turiaf comes back will be good to see how he does.
Everyone else is open to trade or dumping, IMHO. They'll get rid of Lewis this off season. Have one decent high pick for the draft and a lot of cap space. Don't think they will be able to get any marque free agent but hell fill the roster with more veterans.
Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
JaVale McGee on understanding message Wittman is sending with benching: "I can’t say I do, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out sooner or later."
This is sort of the thing that's confusing me, too. McGee hasn't been awful. I don't even think he's been bad. In the game against the Bucks, they needed someone on the floor in the waning moments that could box out and get a rebound and he wasn't on the floor.
It surprised me. I could understand changing up the lineup to see what you have now that the season is clearly not going anywhere .. but sacrificing a chance to win the game to prove a point seems to be bad coaching. McGee's the team's best rebounder and his not being on for a moment like that (in which the Bucks eventually ended up with a tip-in that won the game) has me scratching my head a bit.
Dumb moments aside (the coaching staff has complete faith in Wall .. who has a lot of dumb moments), McGee may have been the most consistent player on the team recently. I guess these things happen when the entire organization is terrible, though.
Nick Young should have been benched a long time ago, though. Although Crawford doesn't look like he's bringing anything different to the table. Those shots he took with under five minutes left in a close game were ... bad bad bad.
This is sort of the thing that's confusing me, too. McGee hasn't been awful. I don't even think he's been bad. In the game against the Bucks, they needed someone on the floor in the waning moments that could box out and get a rebound and he wasn't on the floor.
It surprised me. I could understand changing up the lineup to see what you have now that the season is clearly not going anywhere .. but sacrificing a chance to win the game to prove a point seems to be bad coaching. McGee's the team's best rebounder and his not being on for a moment like that (in which the Bucks eventually ended up with a tip-in that won the game) has me scratching my head a bit.
Dumb moments aside (the coaching staff has complete faith in Wall .. who has a lot of dumb moments), McGee may have been the most consistent player on the team recently. I guess these things happen when the entire organization is terrible, though.
Nick Young should have been benched a long time ago, though. Although Crawford doesn't look like he's bringing anything different to the table. Those shots he took with under five minutes left in a close game were ... bad bad bad.
Saying McGee is the team's best rebounder doesn't mean squat when the team as a whole is and has been terrible at rebounding. For his size and athleticism he doesn't rebound the ball nearly as well as he should either.
Also, for as tall and athletic as he is, it amazes me how much of his game is below the rim. Yes you see the highlight reel dunks but he takes unnecessary jumpshots and he only has finesse moves. He also lacks awareness/basketball IQ and can't set a pick to save his life. Never mind the ego/maturity issues.
He's not the cancer of the team, but he embodies elements that are bad for the team. He has all the talent in the world, but he needs to become a player of substance rather than highlights and I don't see him putting it all together.
Nick Young...whatever one year deal.
Blatche...still to this day, don't understand the logic in extending him as Ernie did.
The difference between Wall and McGee is Wall has problems he needs to work through. Getting better shot selection. Making the pass more. Playing more defense. Putting up the open shot. Running the half court set. Making the right pass on the break. They're things he needs to work on in the game, at game speed.
For McGee, he's just a bonehead. They're things he will grow out of, but he needs to see them from the sideline and in practice as much as in the game. He needs a veteran front court mentor in my mind. An Oakley or Ewing type that has been through things and can help him grow. His talent is off the charts, he's just a bit lost when he starts thinking show time and me time instead of pound it out time. It's typical of young players who are used to doing what they want when they want and not having to hustle for the rebounds and body position.
As for Blatche, his stat line makes him an interesting player. More so two years ago, when it looked like he could be an 18-8 guy each night, and with a bit more work in the weight room, potentially a 20-10 guy without much help. He's big, he can shoot a bit, and if he worked on defense and hustle, would be a very solid player. He's just a malcontent and a loser. It's hard to gamble, because they have to pay someone. But while I think Ernie must go, I can't fault him for Blatche, as it's tough to stomach the idea that the Wizards spent 3-4 seasons with the gunshot and the partying and putting in countless hours to make him better, only to see him wind up in LA or San Antonio being the player they developed with no return.
20-14-6 on 7/10 shooting and only a -1 in a game where the team loses by 20.
Everyone else on this team is terrible. That stretch where the bench came in during the 1st quarter was awful. McGee's come back from his benching worse than ever.
Oh, the life of a DC sports fan. Absolutely no legitimate bragging rights in the world of sports.
“I think we've been doing this long enough that [the fan base will] understand if there was something to do, we would have done it. ... Sometimes no deal is better than a bad deal.”
“I think we've been doing this long enough that [the fan base will] understand if there was something to do, we would have done it. ... Sometimes no deal is better than a bad deal.”
McGee was supposedly coveted around the league...but the money cant be worked out, especially since no one in their right mind would take Blatche and his stupid contract. I have no clue why Young is still around.
Wizards get: Nene, Brian Cook, Clippers 2nd round pick
Clippers get: Young
Nuggets get: McGee and Turiaf
McGee got some upside, but I'm very happy with the deal. Nene is a huge upgrade. Also happy to see Nick Young go. When he isn't shooting well, he's a poor shot selector that literally provides nothing other than some decent on-ball defense. Cook's just filler with an expiring contract.
Nick's going to stay a knucklehead, but I'm going to be pissed at JaVale becoming pretty good somewhere else. I guess it was too hard to convince anyone to take a Young/Blatche deal.
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