Grunfeld a Great GM. Proves Doubters Wrong

[milellie111]

2 wins in a row against Indiana and Atlanta. This team is built to compete with anyone in the East. Do not count this team out against anyone. I like the roster Grunfeld has built top to bottom and I am waiting to see what he adds to it next year. Eventually, positivity trumps negativity and the fanbase will turn.

[milellie111]

So what if Gooden only got signed a month ago and other teams passed over him. Their loss our gain. Look at his contributions. He's won games for us and is averaging over 12 ppg and 6rpg.

On Gooden -- absolutely, a good move is a good move, and signing him was a plus. And no one is doubting this.

Nor would anyone say that absolutely everything Ernie has done was a mistake -- just most of it. The result of which is that we are a mediocre team with almost no flexibility to escape that state.

As for Booker not getting in until Nene got injured, thats how the cards fall sometimes. Opportunity presents itself for the next man up.

Again, tho I'd argue that Nene wasn't very effective, this comment is perfectly logical. As with Ernie, not everything you say is a mistake, just most of it. For example:

We should be thankful that we have a legitimate backup power forward to step up. Grunfeld has ensured a measure of depth.

Why should we "be thankful?" Since he picked Trevor Booker, Ernie has had 10 draft picks, 3 of them very high lottery picks. Of those 9 guys we have one player -- 1 guy, no more! -- who plays any minutes for us. That's it. And, among them as well is one other guy who plays a meaningful, if limited role on another team -- and that guy we waived by the way!

Would you like a long list of the power forwards that people here called for us to pick w/ some of those wasted picks, and who have gone on to become big-time NBA players? Or, for that matter, other positions where we picked a non-entity and passed over guys that we here screamed for and who've shown why we liked them by their successes in the league?

Nor is Gooden -- who is signed only through the end of the year -- an example of "depth" in our squad. Our depth is who we can count on going forward. If we are going to say with truth that we count on John Wall going forward, by which we mean that a) he's good and b) he's under contract for several years going forward -- why then we have to also look at the opposite kinds of situations and say with truth that they represent damaging errors by our FO.

And that is where you won't go. Or, to put it a bit more straightforwardly, you have no analysis and no perspective. Two wins in a row and you're in here crowing. Two losses in a row and no one sees you. But the overall result of those putative 4 games is a .500 record -- not a good team at all but an average team.

If you were saying "look, Ernie is a terrific GM because he's built an average NBA team," then at least you'd be stating a fact, even if I might agree w/ your judgement. As it is, you are content to be wrong on both ends of the equation: no, this is not a particularly good NBA team, and no Ernie is not a good NBA GM.

Again, you like most focus on every single move that Grunfeld has made in the past that didn't work out. Hey, look at any other GM in the league and tell me if every transaction they have made is a sure thing? Focus on now, where we stand as a team and what Grunfeld has done to get this team to where it is. There is no time for negativity and reflecting on the past. Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM. You're either all in as a fan of the team or you're out. If your wife cheated on you years ago and you forgave her and took her back and she's been faithful since, will you continue to remind her years later of all the pain she caused you? Let it go and move on!!! Reflecting on "coulda, woulda, shoulda" is only going to stifle your excitement and support for the team NOW which is currently competitive.

[milellie111]

So what if Gooden only got signed a month ago and other teams passed over him. Their loss our gain. Look at his contributions. He's won games for us and is averaging over 12 ppg and 6rpg.

On Gooden -- absolutely, a good move is a good move, and signing him was a plus. And no one is doubting this.

Nor would anyone say that absolutely everything Ernie has done was a mistake -- just most of it. The result of which is that we are a mediocre team with almost no flexibility to escape that state.

And the Gooden thing may be the exception that proves the rule. It was a lazy signing, Gooden was in Bethesda was working out at the Verizon center, was amnestied and thus comes cheap willing to work for peanuts, and happened to be around when we had an injury, and after we had dropped JVes on a two-for-one deal. It was a no-brainer, if he looked good fine you can try him on a 10-day, if not, no big deal. Ernie has had a few reclamation projects that looked nice for a short time (Josh Howard played well for us, Shawn Livingston got his comeback start with us, a few others) he likes a bargain vet with something to prove, but Gooden was a freebie, can hardly count him in the credit column.

Lazy signing or not or however you want to look at it. The point is Grunfeld made the move to bring him in. And it was a low risk high reward at that. If it would have been any other GM, praises would have been sung. Now that it's Grunfeld, no one wants to give him credit.

[milellie111]

Do you really believe that ? The forum is FULL of fans celebrating the team. Come on.

If you do, I suggest you read this forum with fresh eyes. There is a ton of negativity in here where people post in a negative manner and in a trolling manner.

Saying you want EG fired is not negativity. Complaining about his failures is showing that the fans care about there team, and want more from it.

What do the fans have to complain about now though? We are winning and on our way to the playoffs.

[montestewart]

Lazy signing or not or however you want to look at it. The point is Grunfeld made the move to bring him in. And it was a low risk high reward at that. If it would have been any other GM, praises would have been sung. Now that it's Grunfeld, no one wants to give him credit.

Well, here you are either being dishonest to buttress an unsupportable screed, or you are too careless to read and accurately report the content of threads. You may be too lazy or fragile to go back through threads looking for evidence that you are wrong, but EG has gotten credit for the Gooden signing. There is no no one in "no one."

With some GMs, a good signing seems to be in keeping with standards and practices that frequently result in success. With others, a good signing seems to be a roll of the dice. If someone gets a bullseye blindfolded the first time he plays, it's a good throw, but that doesn't mean he's good at darts.

[montestewart]

Do you really believe that ? The forum is FULL of fans celebrating the team. Come on.

If you do, I suggest you read this forum with fresh eyes. There is a ton of negativity in here where people post in a negative manner and in a trolling manner.

Saying you want EG fired is not negativity. Complaining about his failures is showing that the fans care about there team, and want more from it.

What do the fans have to complain about now though? We are winning and on our way to the playoffs.

Again, you either don't read the threads or you willfully distort the content. I know you're only fifteen, but most of us have been fans too long to get too caught up in barely above .500 in a weak east, with no obvious path beyond the current level, which is pretty middling. I enjoy every victory more than you do, I will enjoy every playoff victory more than you will, and I will gloriously internalize any championship this team might (by some startling turn of events) win, much more than you ever could. And much more deeply than you, with your "venting" rants (that you subsequently disavow), ever possibly could, I will hate every loss and every stupid damn move made by EG, Leonsis, Pollin, Witt, and every other moron that ever pissed on my good time, by selling out the future for some half assed present. Because I am a fan and you are an also ran. We're in the worst part of town now, so it's time for you to get off the bus. See, on top of all that, I am joyous in my fandom, sucky or no. You need to get some joy boy.

PS: I loved tonights victory. I love the sloppy ones. They make the best wives.

[hands11]

So what if Gooden only got signed a month ago and other teams passed over him. Their loss our gain. Look at his contributions. He's won games for us and is averaging over 12 ppg and 6rpg.

On Gooden -- absolutely, a good move is a good move, and signing him was a plus. And no one is doubting this.

Nor would anyone say that absolutely everything Ernie has done was a mistake -- just most of it. The result of which is that we are a mediocre team with almost no flexibility to escape that state.

As for Booker not getting in until Nene got injured, thats how the cards fall sometimes. Opportunity presents itself for the next man up.

Again, tho I'd argue that Nene wasn't very effective, this comment is perfectly logical. As with Ernie, not everything you say is a mistake, just most of it. For example:

We should be thankful that we have a legitimate backup power forward to step up. Grunfeld has ensured a measure of depth.

Why should we "be thankful?" Since he picked Trevor Booker, Ernie has had 10 draft picks, 3 of them very high lottery picks. Of those 9 guys we have one player -- 1 guy, no more! -- who plays any minutes for us. That's it. And, among them as well is one other guy who plays a meaningful, if limited role on another team -- and that guy we waived by the way!

Would you like a long list of the power forwards that people here called for us to pick w/ some of those wasted picks, and who have gone on to become big-time NBA players? Or, for that matter, other positions where we picked a non-entity and passed over guys that we here screamed for and who've shown why we liked them by their successes in the league?

Nor is Gooden -- who is signed only through the end of the year -- an example of "depth" in our squad. Our depth is who we can count on going forward. If we are going to say with truth that we count on John Wall going forward, by which we mean that a) he's good and b) he's under contract for several years going forward -- why then we have to also look at the opposite kinds of situations and say with truth that they represent damaging errors by our FO.

And that is where you won't go. Or, to put it a bit more straightforwardly, you have no analysis and no perspective. Two wins in a row and you're in here crowing. Two losses in a row and no one sees you. But the overall result of those putative 4 games is a .500 record -- not a good team at all but an average team.

If you were saying "look, Ernie is a terrific GM because he's built an average NBA team," then at least you'd be stating a fact, even if I might agree w/ your judgement. As it is, you are content to be wrong on both ends of the equation: no, this is not a particularly good NBA team, and no Ernie is not a good NBA GM.

Again, you like most focus on every single move that Grunfeld has made in the past that didn't work out. Hey, look at any other GM in the league and tell me if every transaction they have made is a sure thing? Focus on now, where we stand as a team and what Grunfeld has done to get this team to where it is. There is no time for negativity and reflecting on the past. Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM. You're either all in as a fan of the team or you're out. If your wife cheated on you years ago and you forgave her and took her back and she's been faithful since, will you continue to remind her years later of all the pain she caused you? Let it go and move on!!! Reflecting on "coulda, woulda, shoulda" is only going to stifle your excitement and support for the team NOW which is currently competitive.

Actually fans can do that Milli and they will. Specially with a team that is rebuilding where the coach and GM's contracts expire after this season.

[hands11]

Saying you want EG fired is not negativity. Complaining about his failures is showing that the fans care about there team, and want more from it.

What do the fans have to complain about now though? We are winning and on our way to the playoffs.

Again, you either don't read the threads or you willfully distort the content. I know you're only fifteen, but most of us have been fans too long to get too caught up in barely above .500 in a weak east, with no obvious path beyond the current level, which is pretty middling. I enjoy every victory more than you do, I will enjoy every playoff victory more than you will, and I will gloriously internalize any championship this team might (by some startling turn of events) win, much more than you ever could. And much more deeply than you, with your "venting" rants (that you subsequently disavow), ever possibly could, I will hate every loss and every stupid damn move made by EG, Leonsis, Pollin, Witt, and every other moron that ever pissed on my good time, by selling out the future for some half assed present. Because I am a fan and you are an also ran. We're in the worst part of town now, so it's time for you to get off the bus. See, on top of all that, I am joyous in my fandom, sucky or no. You need to get some joy boy.

PS: I loved tonights victory. I love the sloppy ones. They make the best wives.

Drunk posting. Its the best.

[montestewart]

You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM.

I'm for the war but against the troops.

[Fred Chionkis]

Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM.

Absolutely! And you can't say that you support the GM but not the owner.

[milellie111]

Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM.

Absolutely! And you can't say that you support the GM but not the owner.

Exactly Fred.

[milellie111]

On Gooden -- absolutely, a good move is a good move, and signing him was a plus. And no one is doubting this.

Nor would anyone say that absolutely everything Ernie has done was a mistake -- just most of it. The result of which is that we are a mediocre team with almost no flexibility to escape that state.


Again, tho I'd argue that Nene wasn't very effective, this comment is perfectly logical. As with Ernie, not everything you say is a mistake, just most of it. For example:

Why should we "be thankful?" Since he picked Trevor Booker, Ernie has had 10 draft picks, 3 of them very high lottery picks. Of those 9 guys we have one player -- 1 guy, no more! -- who plays any minutes for us. That's it. And, among them as well is one other guy who plays a meaningful, if limited role on another team -- and that guy we waived by the way!

Would you like a long list of the power forwards that people here called for us to pick w/ some of those wasted picks, and who have gone on to become big-time NBA players? Or, for that matter, other positions where we picked a non-entity and passed over guys that we here screamed for and who've shown why we liked them by their successes in the league?

Nor is Gooden -- who is signed only through the end of the year -- an example of "depth" in our squad. Our depth is who we can count on going forward. If we are going to say with truth that we count on John Wall going forward, by which we mean that a) he's good and b) he's under contract for several years going forward -- why then we have to also look at the opposite kinds of situations and say with truth that they represent damaging errors by our FO.

And that is where you won't go. Or, to put it a bit more straightforwardly, you have no analysis and no perspective. Two wins in a row and you're in here crowing. Two losses in a row and no one sees you. But the overall result of those putative 4 games is a .500 record -- not a good team at all but an average team.

If you were saying "look, Ernie is a terrific GM because he's built an average NBA team," then at least you'd be stating a fact, even if I might agree w/ your judgement. As it is, you are content to be wrong on both ends of the equation: no, this is not a particularly good NBA team, and no Ernie is not a good NBA GM.

Again, you like most focus on every single move that Grunfeld has made in the past that didn't work out. Hey, look at any other GM in the league and tell me if every transaction they have made is a sure thing? Focus on now, where we stand as a team and what Grunfeld has done to get this team to where it is. There is no time for negativity and reflecting on the past. Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM. You're either all in as a fan of the team or you're out. If your wife cheated on you years ago and you forgave her and took her back and she's been faithful since, will you continue to remind her years later of all the pain she caused you? Let it go and move on!!! Reflecting on "coulda, woulda, shoulda" is only going to stifle your excitement and support for the team NOW which is currently competitive.

Actually fans can do that Milli and they will. Specially with a team that is rebuilding where the coach and GM's contracts expire after this season.

hands, I'm saying that everybody is all in this together, the owner, GM, coach and players. When the team is winning and doing well, you can't just give credit to the players, you have to give credit to everybody. The same goes for losing as well. When we support the Washington Wizards and a measure of success they are having, we are supporting everyone involved in the process, from the owner to the players.

[MikeTheKid]

Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM.

Absolutely! And you can't say that you support the GM but not the owner.

Exactly Fred.

So me and my dad combined have spent over 80k in season tickets over the past 30 years as fans and we both dislike the owner (only because he's a nervous wuss who can't make strong decisions), GM and coach. Does that mean were not full fledged fans???

[montestewart]

And how about all those fans that were in favor of moving Maynor? How is that supporting Maynor? How is that supporting the team? If you think any player needs to be replaced, played less, needs to change his game, gives a bad interview, etc., well, you are basically pulling the rug out from under him, and by extension, you have turned against the team. You're not a fan, you're a traitor. Don't like Phil and Buck? TRAITOR! Don't like the rise in ticket prices? TRAITOR! Don't like that cold hot dog? TRAITOR!

The Wizards are looking for true fans that will genuinely and uniformly support the team without criticism for any aspect of the team and its operations, ever. If you're a journalist that is published anywhere, all the better. Only with this can we win, and anyone that does not do this is the reason that we do not win. If you don't like the team's failures, look into the mirror. You are probably the reason this team has failed to reach its potential, because we have done everything we could do on this end.

[nate33]

The Wizards are looking for true fans that will genuinely and uniformly support the team without criticism for any aspect of the team and its operations, ever. If you're a journalist that is published anywhere, all the better. Only with this can we win, and anyone that does not do this is the reason that we do not win. If you don't like the team's failures, look into the mirror. You are probably the reason this team has failed to reach its potential, because we have done everything we could do on this end.

Clearly, this team needs more fans like Fred Chionkis. He is the role model. He is everything a guy like milellie111 wants in a fan. He's so much like milellie111 that, if I didn't know better, I would think they are one and the same!

[AFM]

IP check please

[Dat2U]

Again, you like most focus on every single move that Grunfeld has made in the past that didn't work out. Hey, look at any other GM in the league and tell me if every transaction they have made is a sure thing? Focus on now, where we stand as a team and what Grunfeld has done to get this team to where it is. There is no time for negativity and reflecting on the past. Look at the heart, the dedication, the wins and the sincere desire of this team to get in the playoffs (which they will) and support them along with the coach and the GM. You can't say that you support the players, but don't support the coach, or you support the coach but not the GM. You're either all in as a fan of the team or you're out. If your wife cheated on you years ago and you forgave her and took her back and she's been faithful since, will you continue to remind her years later of all the pain she caused you? Let it go and move on!!! Reflecting on "coulda, woulda, shoulda" is only going to stifle your excitement and support for the team NOW which is currently competitive.

Tell that to the people on here that spend $1000s of dollars a year on tickets, merchandise, etc...

You know, it's actually OK to demand a little more than mediocrity. Especially considering more than half of the teams in the NBA make the playoffs every year. Congrats to Ernie for finally getting us back here after a 5 year absence. After having a #1 pick, two #3 picks, a #5 pick, a #6 pick, numerous other picks, and oodles of cap room it's glad to know we have John Wall, a couple of free agents approaching 30 yrs old looking for big pay days in Gortat & Ariza and two guys signed off the street in Webster & Gooden leading the way.

We have so much to look forward to over the next few weeks. A first round exit. Extensions for Ernie & Witt. Big money for Gortat & Ariza. It really doesn't get any better than this.

[dobrojim]

3rd worst winning percentage during tenure
45 win - peak season

all this over a relatively large sample size.

[tontoz]

The Hawks started two players that we cut (Cartier and Mack). They lost their last 6 games. Beating a team like that isn't a sign of a turnaround.

[milellie111]

The Hawks started two players that we cut (Cartier and Mack). They lost their last 6 games. Beating a team like that isn't a sign of a turnaround.

So tell me, what do the Wizards have to do in order to prove themselves to you? I mean, they lose and the fans are negitive. And rightfully so in some case because losing sucks. Especially when the team plays sloppy and undisciplined. But when the team ends up going on a winning streak, the fans say "don't get too excited, this isn't the sign of a turnaround?" What is required of the team in order for their OWN fans to take them seriously? Beat Miami? Check. Indiana? Check. Portland, Golden State, OKC? Check, check, check. Of course this team loses against the worst and dominates against the best at times, but what professional team doesn't? Even some of the best teams in the NBA have gotten run out of the gym from some of the worst.