We're gonna kick some tail from now on (Optimism thread)

[nate33]

Your numbers are wrong, in this thread and the other.

[bawizards]

I meant Ariza or Okafur let me edit that.

[doclinkin]

Back from a week in the mountains, what'd I miss?

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oh.

Hmmn. This may take a minute...

[doclinkin]

Um...

Okay. Still working on this. But here's the gist of it. Uh, forget about the future for a moment, and ramifications of any of this, understanding that everything on this team is in a stall pattern for the next two years when the contracts become due on GMEG and Coach Witt and John Wall and now for Oak and the RZA.

There is probably a reason we are non participants for the next couple years, a reason why we'll need to keep our heads down and allow the new CBA to begin to take full effect before we can ourselves take advantage. Never know. Something I'm not seeing, not being a billionaire with a business minded research squad working on my behalf. Some part of that may have to do with how many teams have actually already cleared cap space and will be bidding against each other over the next couple years, devaluing cap space for the short term, and earning old-style CBA contracts for the few non-mediocre free agents on the market.

Some part of it surely has to do with setting ourselves up to retain our #1#1 franchise player, both with a commitment to a changed culture and with money expiring at the right time, but without appearing cheap (the old reputation) by simply preserving cap-space, adding no one, and failing to spend to improve the team. Alienating a less savvy fanbase than those on here and potentially our star. Under a new CBA.

This kicks the capspace can down the road, while appearing plausibly competitive, tough, big, deep, with high BBIQ on court if not necessarily being visionary in the front office. Sets things up for the next GM, next coach, at a time when the ramifications of the new CBA will have focused somewhat. Until then, for now good enough is good enough.

So setting aside all of that, on court right now, what does it mean? Is it 'good enough'?

Well what it means is we're 'all in' on defense in the short term. Active, strong, smart, maybe not over-long on the interior, but athletic and tough. If you credit Ted's stated aims in building a team (no jerks, add smarts, add defense, add savvy vets at key positions when you have good talent to be tutored) they have checked a number of boxes.

Bitchy as we all are, with sand in our shorts right now, thing is, when the ball tips in the Fall it will be really easy to cheer for this team. Okay, offense right now looks like it may be a fiasco, but on defense we are set up for some really dynamic and surprisingly ferocious play. This is a never-give-up defensive squad. Ariza is an excellent defensive role-model for John Wall to shadow. And in the front court we add both shotblocking, rebounding and defensive positioning in Okafor. Do we suffer from redundancy? Maybe, or turned to an asset you can say we have added an arsenal of hard fouls or interchangeable muscle even when we inevitably take our usual run of injuries.

Personally I love the short term synergy between Nene, 'Meka. Both are smart, savvy, tough, good character team oriented guys. What is more their games may surprisingly supplement each other pretty well. Both have shown flashes of an underrated mid-range game, despite being known for their interior brawn. Developing this trend should allow either one a little more room on the inside, and allow each to set outside screens while leaving room on the inside for John Wall to rip down the lane. Left alone on the pick each ought to be able to shoot well to make an opponent pay if their man collapses to block the lane and leave them alone for JWall's kick out. Neither one has been given much freedom to explore this aspect of their game in the past, but we've seen Witt allow Nene whatever leeway he needs, encouraging this in Seraphin as well.

And when you think about it neither has played with another player as strong and athletic as the other here. There will probably be positive mismatches for one or the other on court at any given time.

In other complements, Nene is notable for raising the defensive rebounding percentage of his teammates, boxing out well and using his width to seal multiple opponents from snatching the board. 'Meka should see a lift in his already solid rebounding stats. This team has lacked the ability to secure a board after stopping an opponent shot. First requirement of a running team is to secure the ball. Both run the floor well and willingly, forcing opponent bigs to labor to keep up. And here is where redundancy adds a benefit. We can switch out and platoon interchangeably these two with the young and similar Kevin Seraphin, who now has two ideal tutors for his game (muscle, underheight, developing midrange game, current shortfall in rebounding prowess). Supplement with fresh legs in the uptempo fast break threats Jan Vesely and Trevor Booker and we can run 'em until their tongues hang out.

Yeah okay we need improved shooting from Wall, and at the 2-guard position, and the 3-spot. True. But what we may lack in offensive finesse, I suspect fans will cheer our effort at both ends of the court. Today you hate it, but again at least with this roster they won't embarrass you with oncourt slack or defensive idiocy, and you won't have to worry about offcourt shenanigans.

Really though we have some of the game's smartest players (especially when retaining Mason and Evans as assistant coaches for our summer squad). Meka finished at UConn in 3 years with a heavy academic course load graduating in the top of his class. He'll love being in the DC area with access to policy makers and political big brains. Consider too he grew up in Houston and has always counted Olajuwon as a role model, studying with him in past offseasons. I suspect he'll only be a positive influence on our developing front court talent in Vesely and Seraphin. Put it this way, you won't flinch in the offseason when you see the name of one of our players in the news. And after all, as a Wiz fan, what more can your really ask than that?

[montestewart]

Really though we have some of the game's smartest players (especially when retaining Mason and Evans as assistant coaches for our summer squad).

Is that the case? Hadn't heard. Really, I don't think anyone here has questioned either Okafor's or Ariza's intelligence or character, I think some are overstating or understating their worth at this point. Really, if Leonsis bought out Lewis and amnestied Blatche, the remainder looks like a hardworking, team-oriented squad (well Crawford's a little erratic, but he's not lazy).

OK, thanks for a realistic positive. Starting together, the Nene-Okafor rebounding synergy is a realistic counter to redundancy, in addition to the very real beef twins aspect as far as fouls, muscle, and (combined with Seraphin, Booker, and Vesely), true physical and defensive depth in the middle. I guess the next two years is an open-air "who's gonna shoot" workshop. I can't keep buying tickets to this farce, but at least there's a few reasons to watch fast-forwarded DVRs of non-blowout games in between rereading Finnegan's Wake and Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

[doclinkin]

I can't keep buying tickets to this farce, but at least there's a few reasons to watch fast-forwarded DVRs of non-blowout games in between rereading Finnegan's Wake and Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Oh then, in Joycean torrent let me explicate and try to onvince a doubting Tom'r'monte:

For there in the runaround shortpants we re-beefed the frontcourt, with man after mannigan strong and atlas flexing. Massive manbeef in front of any wee-dribbler in the lanes, rises to meet him roaring and foaming like Cerberus snapping his iron chain to chase them back and back and back from Hells gate to stop frozen and instead flinch a midrange fleaflick of getitawayfromme weak ass shot.

Then once shot, the arc of the parabola sailed to the jumbotron domey and desecending proper pinewards to the iron hoop, like Icarus lost his waxens in its plummet, it bounces unhappy with the resonant clang of haephestus shoeing the feet of pheobus or whatsuchrot. And in that hesitate-y mobble, the ball in it's tentative rebounce off the miss, is met by greedy grasping hands, then snug secure in the breast of a kindly beasty giant, and none with the temerity to dare to tickle it away from his bosom.

What's an Okafor? One might ask the gods of old what is in a name like this. Okafor. A man or mecha: made of both wood, a sturdy oak, or machine in form of man this mecha, this holy destination.

Next to him too another doughty stoutwise gentlegreat, a man whose name's itself a soft denial: gentle but sure as a mother who knows what's best. "Nay. Nay cry not, it is never good to try too hard when of a surety you have been refused for sartain. Nay. There there, you wee 'Bronny pamper wetter. Check yer puss for blood if you will but try not to enter my home again or again find a door slapped all face in face'. His very name is a wagging finger of Mutombo, meaning 'thou shalt not' and 'do not try this shzt you four-stepping fraud of a self fellating pantload...'

Who could deny the great glorious roar of laughter and vindication in victory, when minute after minute comes filled with huge god-natured giants, calling out switches and meeting cowardice with honest sweat, sinews like bosky forests, thews like sequioa, and chastising backswatting justice meted out to sour faced whiny children corrected in terms with stinging remonstrance and a sore rear from spanking: 'get that weakness gone'. And let fly for our side a fast break run:

Loose the fleet foot hounds! Our turn now, evoporate into offense like the shadows of clouds blown on hurricane stream-- upcourt gone as quick as shadow meeting light, in savage pursuit of two points sprinting. Exclamation rung! jammed home with clanging like churchbells: as regular, as sacred, each finish a fast break dunk and no mistake.

Let pundits wonder. 'Who will score?' Indeed. And while they wonder, the answer will ever be: never you. Never these Heat or Celtics, or Bulls or pickapponent. But instead the answer will be a high flying lob to a racing Czech or sudden Trevor of any Book'or'riza, Who will score? Will be: these wizards: fast in the freedom of an upcourt run --- and as fast to slam the door and say: 'Nay, Nay, sir, not you sir, and not today...'

Come the whistle and tweet, and fall the final buzz,
none will keep his seat, none will whinge and cuss
as we brothers in misery stand to roar away the years,
finally to a man we have a squad 'at's worth the cheers,
hard working to the last, earn your pennies every match,
never cheating you of effort...

unless we're keeping Andray Blatche.

[montestewart]

^
I just hope we're on the winning end of 67-63 games, but if I get bored, I can just reread that. Aloud. It was pretty damn entertaining. Maybe I can get through the next two years if we can collectively attach an oral tradition of epic saga, that we have to write, because...

[montestewart]

Okafenoko plagiarizations of manic Javalated negations, cannonizing an easy two into a home run swat not to me or thee but to the net down court, a really long three

[doclinkin]

Maybe I can get through the next two years if we can collectively attach an oral tradition of epic saga, that we have to write, because...

And so it willl be done, in chinks and bits of grout. The brick by brick of it. Wall off your doubts here in this thread, in this wise. Come here for comfort when you worry, we'll grave it off and make those bones a home in memory only. Like so:

And can a Wall be fast? How 'fast'? In what whence? 'Fast' like held unbroachable? Unembreachable? Sturdy? How can a Wall, a foundation, be both here and there in but a whisker of an instant-- 'lest he already be all places at once, as in the sages of physics suggest we superstring the lattice nets of possibility we each of us-- and so it must be so.

But can a fast wall be a foundation? That is sure and sure enough. For a Wall that isn't fast is sure to show a crack or two. And this wall seems to only ever grow. Wizards build a tower to be seen and strike an awe. We stand in it's shadow, this Wall, so worry not, my weary, worry nay at all. We yet have Wall.

[gesa2]

Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me a Wizard fan is that I couldn't let go of the pleasure I get reading this board. Thank you Doc.

[Ed Wood]

Thematically I think it's appropriate that Ernie be either Jörmungandr or Jay Gatsby. Thank you, that was my post, so chin up and what have you.

[doclinkin]

Thematically I think it's appropriate that Ernie be either Jörmungandr or Jay Gatsby. Thank you, that was my post, so chin up and what have you.

Should that not be rdnagnumröJ ?

For the midgard serpent swallows his own tail, thus he has his ass-end down his own throat, but reverse it and you have the state of our GM Ernie who in a similar hoop shape has his head up his own... ?

[DaRealHibachi]

Thematically I think it's appropriate that Ernie be either Jörmungandr or Jay Gatsby. Thank you, that was my post, so chin up and what have you.

Should that not be rdnagnumröJ ?

For the midgard serpent swallows his own tail, thus he has his ass-end down his own throat, but reverse it and you have the state of our GM Ernie who in a similar hoop shape has his head up his own... ?

Epic stuff Doc, great optimistic post also... Makes me feel a little less sad about the trade...

[doclinkin]

Speaking of mighty thews.


Kevin Seraphin is a Big Boy...

Kevin Seraphin, who now has two ideal tutors for his game (muscle, underheight, developing midrange game, current shortfall in rebounding prowess).

I love that Okafor has a connection with fellow Houston/Nigerian Olajuwon who is an idol of Seraphin. Seems to me KSera is set up to improve by mighty bounds banging with and shadowing these two. For years we talked about bringing in quality tutors for our Bigs and now we not only add a couple to the roster but strengthen connections to a HOF big boy as well. Seraphin is surprisingly nimble for a monster, good footwork, I have to attribute that to a soccer playing childhood much like the Dream's. Not too worried anyone'll steal the youngster's thunder. As an uptempo team we'll need fresh legs fresh lungs fresh muscle. The minutes will be there.

[montestewart]

hey, are you a real doc? This board needs some therapy

[W. Unseld]

So glad I clicked on this thread, be careful Doc the Wizznuts might try to riff off your epic prose.

[bawizards]

I am very excited for our future just looking at our young roster. I am being as optimistic as possible regarding the Okafor/Ariza trade even though we paid them 50 cents so we can wipe there ass. Im still shocked we couldnt get a 1st out of this deal and we gave up a 2nd for it. Anyway this is a positive post. I actually like how EG is setting up the team. Lets take a look at our young talent

Wall-Should be a top 3 PG if not potentially a top 10 player in the NBA
Bradley Beal- A legit 20+ ppg player who can be a elite shooter in the NBA. A perfect compliment to Wall.
Vesely-I think he can develop into a Joahkim Noah like big man with a better then JV scoring threat. He will bring D and hustle. Be able to get quick out let passes and run down on the fast break too. Wall has a legit running mate in the fast break now.
Seraphin-I see him being a potential low level all star center here. He ovbiosuly needs to improve rebounding but I Can see him being a 16+ ppg player, 8+ rebounds and 1.75+ blocks a game. These bigmen are also great teammates who will make Wall and Beal better from setting good picks and screens. Them sitting behind Okafor and Nene for the 2 upcoming years will be great because they will need to earn every minute in those two years that will be great for there work ethic and attitude through out their career.

Crawford- His ceiling is a microwave scorer 6th man. Which is good to have but he is anything but entitled and you know he wont sit there with his thumb up his ass and let Beal and Wall start over him. This will be good during practice and he can come off the bench and put down 30 out of nowhere.
Booker-He is the kind of player every coach dreams about. A hustle player to the max. Like Crawford he wont sit around and let Vesley start over him so that will raise the level of intensity during practice which will be good too.


That is a great young corp we have. Once we get Ariza and Okafor off the books it should give us the money to sign our big 3 (Wall,Beal,Seraphin) and most of the other corp. I just hope we can somehow sing a Small forward. I doubt we will have the cap to bring in a super star SF but a somewhat big name small forward and we should be set.

[closg00]

The Hands-writing is on the wall.

[mohammed10]

Don't normally post here, but here goes...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wiz ... #pagebreak

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

It is really early in the game, but the first practice and the relationship between Coach Wittman and Brad Beal couldn't be more positive.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/br ... sports_pop

Although the only portion of the workout open to reporters was a relaxed post-practice shoot-around, Wittman indicated he presented Beal with plenty of information to process and did not hesitate to demand the most out of him physically. The rugged practice featuring mostly drills and half-court sets left Beal smiling afterward and eager for more of the same the rest of the week and in summer league.

“We got after it a lot,” Beal said. “Coach expects us to just play hard every possession, never take any possessions off. The speed is very different [from college]. The physicality is different as well. I mean there’s a lot of things I have to adjust to, but I think I’ll be fine.”

Beal “plays with a lot of confidence,” Wittman said. “He’s a confident kid, and he should be. Players of his caliber, that’s why he’s good. He’s got great confidence in who he is, and he came out there today like he knew what he was doing, and he didn’t have a clue what he was doing, if that makes any sense.”