Kool-Aid Drinking, Season Turnaround Thread

[hands11]

I have taken a small sip, but will consume gallons if we do well during this West Coast trip. While Nene is good, I think we lack length and strength in our front court.

They should consider bringing back Barron. We need a 7-0 player like that.

He would be perfect. But not a likely move right now.

Ves is getting those minutes and he is tall. He just isn't the rebounder Barron was. But he does need the positive experience. I think if we get another lead like that we will see Ves try a few outside shots. Right now he is just enjoying being more productive doing what he knows.

Another option is Cook who can shoot from outside.

I know neither is a good long term solution but both can live with being bench players and they know the team and organization.

Big game coming up against SAC. Gotta keep this thing rolling so they have momentum going into Denver.

If they get both, they will be set up nicely for the LAC game.

[leswizards]

Good one. Caution though, a return to 500 ball (potentially) should not be confused with a serious attempt to build for a championship, many on the board stated that at the beginning of the season. I don't think we should settle for anything less than that.

I agree. Right now a lot of fans are thinking if only the Wizards hadn't been injured to start the season, what might have been. I don't mind the fans having that attitude, but it irritates me that ownership has adopted that attitude as well.

I wish that the ownership's attitude was what might have been if only the Wizards had acquired a back up PG capable of giving the team quality minutes while Wall was out, if the team hadn't invested $20 million and a 2nd round draft pick in 2 players who are incapable of carrying the team through injuries, if the team had made sure that their 3 best young front court prospects would not regress all at the same time when the team needed them the most, and if they could have done more to help their new SG get off to a faster start.

[leswizards]

This season could go down in history as the worst season ever. The team starts 4-28 to virtually eliminate any chance of the playoffs, then goes 37-13 to finish the season at 41-41, and then misses the playoffs because there are 8 teams in the east with better records, meaning the Wizards end up getting the worst player in the lottery.

[Nivek]

This season could go down in history as the worst season ever. The team starts 4-28 to virtually eliminate any chance of the playoffs, then goes 37-13 to finish the season at 41-41, and then misses the playoffs because there are 8 teams in the east with better records, meaning the Wizards end up getting the worst player in the lottery.

This post could come only from a Wizards fan. It somehow combines delusional optimism with soul-crushing pessimism.

This belongs in the HoF.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

This season could go down in history as the worst season ever. The team starts 4-28 to virtually eliminate any chance of the playoffs, then goes 37-13 to finish the season at 41-41, and then misses the playoffs because there are 8 teams in the east with better records, meaning the Wizards end up getting the worst player in the lottery.

This post could come only from a Wizards fan. It somehow combines delusional optimism with soul-crushing pessimism.

This belongs in the HoF.

+1

It shows you really do know the Wizards, leswizards. The more I look at the roster with everyone healthy the more I see … wins coming, and at the worst time.

If Washington starts getting the points in the paint they've been missing; they're going to jump all the way up from scoring 90 a game to regularly scoring 95 to 100 a game. They only give up 96 a game now and that might go down with Ariza healthy, Beal improving, Temple providing solid defense off the bench, and Wall running the legs off of opponents. Meanwhile, as doclinkin pointed out Okafor seems to be rounding into form from having an injury last season himself. The Wizards are already 2nd in the NBA in giving up the fewest points in the paint. They've got young players with much energy and enthusiasm for defense.

I say those things to say that this west coast trip is going to unveil what to expect moving forward with the Wizards. If they string more wins than losses and look impressive playing tough teams then something ridiculous like finishing 39-43 (35-15 from start) and making the playoffs is possible. Revising and assuming they stay healthy, I really don't see them doing that, but I CAN see them getting near 30 wins plus or minus 3 games. The other day I said 30-52 was best case but I think that was conservative. (If they get Cousins, then yes, 37-13 is definitely possible!)

leswizards, if you think mediocrity and an eighth seed would be the worst thing, I think that might not be the case. The end game in that case is TRADE FOR PICKS with a team like Phoenix. There are some dynamic players in the picks #15-30. We miss out on the superstars for sure, but I think trading for stars and stockpiling good to great players is the way to go.

[nate33]

The biggest differences in this turnaround is that January Beal is a heck of a lot better than 2012 Beal, and Okafor has steadily improved as the season has progressed. With those two now playing like bonafide, NBA caliber starters alongside Nene and Webster (who have played quality ball most of the season), we actually have a credible lineup. Throw in a rusty Wall and a streaking A.J. Price and the PG position is in pretty good hands as well. Ariza adds quality depth. We still have to hold our breath whenever Seraphin and Vesely come in. They're consistently inconsistent. Hopefully, Wall can get the most out of them.

It's interesting that this 3-game win streak took place with Nene having his worst slump of the season. If Nene can rally, we should have the firepower to stay in the game against anybody.

[nate33]

Actually the [blank]-Beal-Webster-Nene-[blank] combo posts some of our only winning match-ups. Makes sense since B-Real and 'Tell both evince a bit of outside shooting and Nene is a solid passer, we get good spacing. Tough to say if this carries over with the addition of John to the line-up since an additional outside shooter really gives more room to operate underneath for whichever low-post Big shares the court with them. Suggests we look at stretch-capable 4/5's to allow John to drive and kick. Retaining 'Tell might not be a bad idea, but we should look at what he does well and seek those qualities in any replacement/supplemental we add SF at that spot: 3pt shooting and athleticism

I second both notions: find a stretch 4 and retain Webster. Ideally, our future lineup would look something like this:

PG Wall/Price
SG Beal/cheap vet
SF Webster/Ariza
PF long athletic PF who can hit from midrange/stretch 4
C Cousins/Nene

We draft the athletic PF in 2013. We use some combination of Okafor, Seraphin, Vesely, Booker, Singleton and Crawford to get Cousins and the stretch 4. Ariza comes off the books in time to free up cap to resign Wall and Cousins. Nene comes off the books in time to resign Beal.

[Upper Decker]

While the last few games have been refreshing I don't buy it. The real Wizards will show their true colors this weekend. They play at Denver and at LAC. If the Wiz can manage to split, or at least be competative in both, I'd be 1) surprised, 2) willing to take this team a bit more seriously going forward. Until then FIRE ERNIE!

[leswizards]

leswizards, if you think mediocrity and an eighth seed would be the worse thing, I think that might not be the case. The end game in that case is TRADE FOR PICKS with a team like Phoenix. There are some dynamic players in the picks #15-30. We miss out on the superstars for sure, but I think trading for stars and stockpiling good to great players is the way to go.

I would be thrilled if they made the playoffs. The point I was making is that even if by some miracle the Wizards were to win enough games to finish .500, it still might not be enough to make the playoffs.

The reason I say that is currently there are 8 teams in the east playing better than .500 basketball. I am confident that barring injuries 7 of those teams (New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Indiana, and Chicago) will finish the season at better than .500. Milwaukee is the lone team that might fall below .500. However even if they do fall below .500, there is the possibility that teams like Orlando, Philadelphia, Detroit, or Toronto might get hot and finish the season at better than .500.

So, even if the Wizards do some how miraculously finish the season at .500, I would put there chances of making the playoffs at best 50% (that is a conditional probability, I hope no one takes it out of context and says that I am claiming that the Wizards have a 50% chance of making the playoffs).

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

leswizards, you're right. Those seven teams will be over .500. I had not considered how solid those teams are.

Milwaukee is the team to walk down and catch in order to make the playoffs. I like their talent a lot but there is some potential slippage because they depend on perimeter scoring and young guys in the middle. The Bucks figure to stay an up-and-down team. They seem like a pretty good lock for the eighth seed, but time will tell.

If Doug Collins is still coaching, I believe Philly could make the playoffs. However, with Bynum not in the mix and with a roster that includes Kwame Brown, Nick Young, and Philly struggling right now there is a good chance Collins steps down under the pressure. Philly is 16-23 now but that is only 5 games in the loss column better than Washington. If they're 17-24 and the Wizards are something like 10-31 at the midway point in the season, I believe Washington could catch Philly. If Collins steps down Philly will plummet. They have lost 6 of 7 and I see Collins in serious trouble. Only him sticking around and Bynum returning puts them in the playoffs.

I think Detroit can finish with a better record than the Wizards. They are 14-24 but they're trending upward and they have a bunch of good, young talent. The Pistons are my darkhorse team to make the eighth spot in the east.

Orlando has the talent and the leadership with Nelson, Davis, Vucevic, Harkless, and Nicholson -- they also can get the eighth spot.

As of right now, those are the teams in the East I see ahead of the Wizards and it is not impossible to catch them IMO. IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, the Wizards will NOT contend for a playoff spot unless they continue on an extended win streak the next several games.

Thanks, leswizards, for educating me. It probably will take 41 wins to make the playoffs in the east.

[nate33]

I think Milwaukee is going to slip a bit. They fired Skiles and the replacement coach is likely to be worse. I figure they finish about 40-42.

I think Philly will play better in the 2nd half, but not significantly so. If they go 24-19, they'll finish with 40 wins too.

So 40 wins will be enough to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible for the Wizards to go 33-14 from here on out. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Wizards play slightly above .500 and maybe go 25-22, but not 33-14.

[Upper Decker]

This 3 game win streak equals the Skins win over the Eagles. At that point it was nice to get a win, but it meant they needed a million dominos to fall their way to make the playoffs. One of those dominos was that they couldn't lose for like 2 months. If the Wizards want to even consider the word I refuse to say, but starts with a "'p", they'll need to rip off 12 of their next 14, or something insane like that to just get within striking distance. I foresee this jubilation being crushed after the Clippers game, which will likely be the 2nd loss in 2 nights.

[AFM]

Wrong sir. We are going to crush LAC and you can bet your bottom dollar on that.

[Upper Decker]

Sweeping the Clippers and Nuggets = 2nd quarter vs. the Cowpukes on Thanksgiving.

[hands11]

First game where they had a full roster short of Martin

Randy now has for figure out which players work in what combination and when.

I thought the first half line ups were a little rough. Price was getting smoked and he needed come out and Crawford in. Randy stuck with that way to long. But he did at least understand that Denver was a bad match up for Ves so the Kevin and Ves combination wasn't put back in. In the 2nd half he went to Booker and Kevin which is what I wanted to see and he did it. Randy did an ok job. Could have done better but he did some smart thing and we got the win.

Best game I think I ever saw from Kevin S. He just school Faried in the post a couple times in the 2nd half by taking in right at him in the rim. That is what I have been waiting to see. He made Faried look like a child on a few plays.

Kevin S in beast mode. I loved it. If he plays like that every night, things are looking a lot better.

As for McGee. lol. Oh McGee. We took their lunch on that trade.

So this is where this team could have started the season. Good to see a full roster. They still have to learn how to play together but you can see the talent.

Beal is on fire. He has really found the 3 ball. Now we see the Ray Allen side of his game.
Trevor A was huge.

You can now see we have some 3 ball shooting options. That is going to open things up.

Betting Denver on the road when the refs sucked as bad as they big is no small thing. Had they refs called that better, that was a 10 pt win easy. Denver had only 2 loses at home. I can see why with refs like that.

I'll be right back. Off to take take a good long drink of that Kool-Aid.

Man, if they only could have pulled out that SAC game, this would be 5-0 heading into LAC.