colts18 wrote:I would they much rather win 25 games than limp into the playoffs with 38-40 wins. The team needs another piece for the future. If the team could team up John Wall with Harrison Barnes, the team will have an exciting backcourt. Then trade Gilbert for cap space that becomes a max guy (hopefully Howard) and the team finally has a chance at being a real contender.
It's just not possible to do at this point, unless the team suffers a string of the usual disasters. Teams do not deliberately start the year tanking. And even when the front office deliberately adds one-year stop-gap proven scrubs like Hilton, Morrison or Yi-- even when they re-sign injured players like Josh-- coaches like Flip working with pieces like Gilbert, Dray, Hinrich and Wall will find ways to win. And players like Yi may suddenly undergo a jump of improvement, or find a system that works well for them.
Coaches coach to win, to set themselves up for future jobs, to teach players the good habits required to succeed, to keep players motivated and dedicated, not accustomed to losing and finger pointing and bad chemistry, habits and attitudes that last long into the future. A clever tactician like Flip has had a long time to develop the systems and sets that will work well with this collection of players.
He's not stepping into a situation with the exact opposite roster needed for the system he wants to run, and an expectation that veterans will swiftly change the skillsets they've been running at an allstar level, in a system that's been in place for 6 years. The team is likely to improve, on his designs alone.
There are too many irreversibly crappy teams out there for the Wiz to honestly contend for the bottom of the barrel. And no real percentage in dishonestly un-contending. It almost never works. The best way to have a chance is to stockpile draftpicks and draft clever.
I've said it many times, and Dat reiterates above: the playoffs are the crucible that forges veterans out of raw talent. The earlier you start knocking on that door the quicker you develop, the quicker you devote yourself to the sacrifices required to get yourself back there. First you win, then you get good.
Miami will be tough, a favorite in any game they play when DWade is healthy. Dwight Howard gets better every year (though this year he'll be attempting his Hakeem Olajuwon moves, so who knows). Chicago should improve significantly with coaching and Boozer. There are plenty of roadblocks to success. But with Gilbert back and focused and that number one draft pick in the fold, the 'tank' transport has left the station a while back.
Understood you dislike and distrust Gilbert. We haven't won a championship with him here and you've decided he's the cause of your disaffection. But I suspect the anti-bandwagon will see a few riders fall off the cart and reluctantly grudgingly have to backtrack on whatever they've said. Reluctantly cheer for the team anyway.
That's okay. Remember only that you're a Bullets fan, Wizards fan, wherever you started, and allow yourself a few moments pleasure when the team actually wins their fair share of games this year. Or knocks off a few heavy favorites. We're on a different path now. Player development, experience, chemistry, and okay sure --opportunistic trades at the right time, whatever the player, or whatever talent or picks come back in the trade. Those are our best hopes for serious upgrades now. Not tanking for this years picks, who may or may not come out before a possible lost year. Who may or may not sign a deal in Europe or China if they do.
I for one hope not to crater and bottom out, but instead hope for our man Gilbert to do what he and the fans only ever wanted him to do: justify the rest of that 80 million dollar contract. Make it look like a bargain. If this year you find yourself suckered into hope, then don't be scared to commit to it all the way: imagine, Gilbert earning every penny of that contract, and then some. Dive in. Swim around awhile. Allow yourself to enjoy the warm water without fearing for sharks and dark tides. Never know, sometimes good things actually happen. We'll see.
