The Boston Celtics @ the Washington Wizards - April 9, 2008

[Soup's Uncle]

btw i don't dig it like I like to get peed on...I like that attitude...yeah

[Joe_Wiz]

Here's what makes me nervous, both about this game and the possibility of facing Boston in the playoffs. In a previous game -- I think it was our first game against them this season -- when Antawn(?) went up for a shot, Garnett lept up and elbowed him in the head. It was a brutal shot that knocked him to the floor. I don't think it was an intentional cheap shot, but it was dangerous and I thought it probably should have been called a flagrant foul. They didn't call anything; it went into the books as a block.

Now I don't believe that the refs or the league conspire to help certain teams win, but I do believe "superstars" get calls more than other players, even All Stars like Jamison. If Garnett got a free pass on a play like that early in the season, what's gonna happen this late, when the refs are starting to swallow their whistles, and in the playoffs when they really let them play? I don't want to see any more injuries to our team, and I don't want any part of Boston in the playoffs, unless and until we reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

[dobrojim]

the OP predicted an easy DET win over PHL

I wouldn't be so sure about that. PHL beat them last
time they faced. In DET IIRC.

I wonder what the line is....

[bruno sundov]

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Hopefully some of those folks have already switched to the Lakers since the Pau trade. Have to stay ahead of the curve.

What about on your board?? LOL. I want to see wash and bos in the playoffs. I think that would be pretty good.

[Soup's Uncle]

We're talking about fairweather fans, Ricky. Everyone here digs the Wiz. What are you implying?

[DallasShalDune]

btw i don't dig it like I like to get peed on...I like that attitude...yeah

lol i think your comment here is funnier than my additions for everyone on the starting roster lol.

I agree with what others are saying. The big three aren't playing max minutes, so we better not take this team lightly. They're the best team in the League.

Which means we will likely play our best ball, because we play up to people just as often as we play down to them.

[hands11]

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He hasn't said anything to reporters since his return. Maybe this is the new, "serious" Gil.

I'm hoping that is the case.

Shut down the blog unless it's a team blog. I wouldn't be surprised if franchises don't do something to get their arms around this.

Corporate communication is something corporations like to manage.

If a player wants to talk about their kids birthday party, I see no problem with a blog but they shouldn't be talking about who is healthy, how much they want to get paid, win or pt predictions. As a coach, GM or owner, I would have a problem with that. I just not sure they know how to deal with it yet.

[Wizards2Lottery]

You're absolutely crazy. Why would the Wizards want to shut down Gils blog? He can do whatever he wants, he can say whatever he wants. I don't know why you're so hell bent upon suggesting ridiculous ideas about changing the way Gilbert is.

You want him to to be Chris Paul, you want him to shut down his blog, the only thing left is you wanting him to get a sex change so he can ball in you're favorite WNBA team.

[hands11]

You're absolutely crazy. Why would the Wizards want to shut down Gils blog? He can do whatever he wants, he can say whatever he wants. I don't know why you're so hell bent upon suggesting ridiculous ideas about changing the way Gilbert is.

You want him to to be Chris Paul, you want him to shut down his blog, the only thing left is you wanting him to get a sex change so he can ball in you're favorite WNBA team.

If you don't get it, you don't get it. The Washington Post.

Do you attach with reckless abandon everything you don't understand?

You have a child's view of the NBA and corporations if you think players can do whatever they want. They sign contract for big bucks and in those contracts they are told what they can and can't do. There are fines and suspensions written into the contracts as well as rules NBA corporate makes.

I was only pointing out my view and what I believe is something that will be addressed by the owners at some point. This blogging thing is new so they haven't addressed it yet. If they do, you can remember you read a post saying that was likely to happen.

Look, until the internet the teams had much more control over who was in
front of a mic and what the team wanted to communicate. Don't think they will just let go so easy. This is their product and they have team goals. That's what I'm saying.

The blogging can be a good thing but I doubt anyone in corporate including the coaches are happy to read about information being effectively leaked that they don't want out there. Or, their players are blogging about how they are going to put down 50 on some team.

I couldn't imagine letting people that work for my company blogging about what is going on inside. That would be nuts. Corporations have corporation communications people. Information is either gold or it public relations. Either way, you don't want it to flow without some oversight or guild lines about what is acceptable and what isn't.

As my football coach used to drill into us.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM

It's a team first. That should be the main focus.

As for what I want from GA, I'm less concerned with letting GA be GA and more concerned with us winning. I believe GA as a CP+ would get us there a lot quicker then him being the old Hibachi. GA isn't a finished product yet. I'm just suggesting the direction he needs to grow if we are going to make some noise. And happily, his last game was right on the mark. This PG skills were amazing and he was still able to score. I think he gets it even if you don't.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

F that, DO NOT SHUT DOWN THE BLOG!

Love him or hate him, that's GIL!

[miller31time]

Hands, I understand your point of view, but basketball is, first and foremost, entertainment. If Gilbert can be entertaining on the basketball court (as he is -- basically selling out VC every night when healthy, high jersey sales, etc) AND be the most eccentric, popular player off the court (recently won the award for best blog, IIRC), then it's not something to try and find faults with.

[JWizmentality]

Christ
Just can't please some people.

[doclinkin]

You have a child's view of the NBA and corporations if you think players can do whatever they want. They sign contract for big bucks and in those contracts they are told what they can and can't do. There are fines and suspensions written into the contracts as well as rules NBA corporate makes.

Misapprehension of the situation.

The NBA makes a ton of money selling players. It ain't the No Fun League, marketing the uniform and not the name on the back. Unlike the NFL, players aren't easily replaceable.

The Wizards benefit by marketing Gil's outsized personality, and the Player's association (and agents) wouldn't stand for anything that endangers player revenue, etc. Wear whatever shoe you want and all that. The league posts Gil's blog. With next to no censorship or interference. And Gil makes a ton of money off being accessible to the mouthbreathing internet fans like us.

So long as you aren't criticizing the refs directly you can make any statement you want.

[Soup's Uncle]

Hey, the NBA doesn't stand for No Blogs Allowed...let the man speak.

[hands11]

I never said take his blog down.

Your missing what I said.

I get the marketing part. Trust me. I live in that world.

Lets just let this die for now. If something happens down the road, we can remember it came up before. My focus was on GA maturing and being the player I believe we need him to be.

It's playoff time. The horse are in the barn and ready to go.

I'm pumped for what I see us able to accomplish.

These next few games should tell us a ton about what we will be. We have a tough schedule ahead.

TIME TO SHINE.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

Hands I get it. I worked at USTR where they are insanely paranoid about controlling information because it's a very public job that no one in the public really understands. So it's extremely important to control the information going out because it's so easy for stuff to be twisted by your political enemies. And I understand in corporations you really have to be c onscious of the flow of information in order to protect your brand image. And NBA is a business and yeah, Gil talking about contracts and so on would make me totally nervous if I ran the zards. I get you totally man. Tough decision, gil's a magic johnson type player where he's so damn important that you really have to bend over backwards to make him happy. That includes letting him get a little loosey goosey on his blog. But yeah, I hear ya.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

I never said take his blog down.

Your missing what I said.

I get the marketing part. Trust me. I live in that world.

The Doctor/Video taping world..

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Hey, the NBA doesn't stand for No Blogs Allowed...let the man speak.

Nothing But Africans

[hands11]

Hands, I understand your point of view, but basketball is, first and foremost, entertainment. If Gilbert can be entertaining on the basketball court (as he is -- basically selling out VC every night when healthy, high jersey sales, etc) AND be the most eccentric, popular player off the court (recently won the award for best blog, IIRC), then it's not something to try and find faults with.

Sure it is entertainment. But based on what?

In the short run, what we have gotten is fine. Some more wins and an entertaining personality.

But in the long run, the entertainment is based on success, wins and taking a team to the top bracket.

That is the cross roads of where we sit.

There in lies the debate. What does it take to get there. Can you have a player who is high priced, erratic, quirky, playing no D and who likes to show boat more then give the team what it needs on any given night such as CB does.

I'm still on Gils side. I think he will make the transition and mature. I disagree with those who don't think he needs to change at all though. I also disagree with those who don't think he can't be an amazing passing PG who scores. He showed a glimpse of what he can do against Miami. I expect to see more of that down the stretch.

I have been saying this for a long time now. It's about his mind set. He has to be the PG first and score as needed. Some nights that means you will see him with 10-12 assists and 15 pts other night 8-10 assists and 25-30 pts. But every night, he needs to get his teammates in involved first.

We can be an amazingly good passing team. It's contagious once the tone is set. With GA return, CBs shooting % should start to rise again.

I really like that we can run both games now. We have a walk it up slower pounding style with AD at the lead and a run you out of the park wit GA. You will need both come playoff time.

I still think we can make a lot of noise this year.

[hands11]

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The Doctor/Video taping world..

I know that was coming. LOL

But seriously, my current positions is as the Dir of Marketing for a video technology company that is focused on Gov/Law Enforcement and I did study formally and informally psychology. So you are actually on the mark.