Official Randy Wittman Thread - It's Playoff Randy Time LOL

[dlts20]

great article and I said all along that if you dont think he's the guy to lead us to a title (and no one in their right mind does), then what is the point on him being our coach? The way we ended last year, I changed on him some. I didnt think he would lead us to a title but I felt that maybe he earned the right to start the next season.

I was however ripped on here for saying we should sign him to a 1 year deal. I understood the stance that no one signs one year deals but my argument is that no one is knocking down the door to sign Randy Wittman and he would definitely take that over nothign. I dont agree with giving a guy 2 years just because and now people are using that same excuse as to why they dont want to fire him.

That was my point from the jump. Give him a chance to make good on his playoff run but if we are underachieving then you give him the axe and I would still do it even with 2 years. You are just losing money now that you didnt have to

[TheSecretWeapon]

I've never been convinced that Wittman was the right guy -- either as a "development" coach or as a "promised land" coach. He was fine as the interim guy, but I thought then they'd end up better served if they hired someone else -- Joerger was my preference at the time. The Wizards, of course, awarded the full-time job to Wittman without interviewing anyone else.

[Rafael122]

You would think Wittman would be more level headed and open minded on things considering this is more likely his last head coaching gig. I'm sure he'll pop up on Flip's staff as an assistant, but head coaching gigs are so few and far between. Just seems like him being a hard ass ultimately led to his downfall. And I say led b/c he's not signed long term and his contract is cheap enough that Ted might eat it and hire someone else.

[Dat2U]

Randy may loosen up next year when the heat is really on but I would literally be floored if anything happened this season. Short of another 3-4 blowouts in a row or a team mutiny I'm hard pressed to see Leonsis co-sign any move as adverse as he is to making emotional decisions nowadays. Ernie may want it but I could see Leonsis holding off unless it's collapse of epic proportions.

[Higga]

Randy may loosen up next year when the heat is really on but I would literally be floored if anything happened this season. Short of another 3-4 blowouts in a row or a team mutiny I'm hard pressed to see Leonsis co-sign any move as adverse as he is to making emotional decisions nowadays. Ernie may want it but I could see Leonsis holding off unless it's collapse of epic proportions.

Agreed. If Ted is one thing, it's loyal. Too loyal to a fault.

NEXT year is the year we get rid of Witless IMO and try to make a splash head coaching hire to help persuade Durant.

[Rafael122]

The 2 year contract is by design, minimal contracts on the books, potential for a new head coach in a new era. I think if the Wiz get swept this year in the playoffs, I think you have to take a long look at whether or not it's worth keeping Witt around tho. You go from a 6 game series vs. Indiana in the 2nd round to getting swept isn't exactly my idea of progress.

[LyricalRico]

The 2 year contract is by design, minimal contracts on the books, potential for a new head coach in a new era. I think if the Wiz get swept this year in the playoffs, I think you have to take a long look at whether or not it's worth keeping Witt around tho. You go from a 6 game series vs. Indiana in the 2nd round to getting swept isn't exactly my idea of progress.

[gtn130]

Agreed. If Ted is one thing, it's loyal. Too loyal to a fault.

I don't think Ted is particularly loyal -- he's just deeply afraid of change and covets continuity. Establishing continuity is essentially his entire strategy as an owner.

[Mel Proctor]

Randy may loosen up next year when the heat is really on but I would literally be floored if anything happened this season. Short of another 3-4 blowouts in a row or a team mutiny I'm hard pressed to see Leonsis co-sign any move as adverse as he is to making emotional decisions nowadays. Ernie may want it but I could see Leonsis holding off unless it's collapse of epic proportions.

But what if the collapse (losses to Minny and Philly) DOES come? As someone in the solidly anti-Wittman camp, should I be rooting for such things?

[nuposse04]

Randy may loosen up next year when the heat is really on but I would literally be floored if anything happened this season. Short of another 3-4 blowouts in a row or a team mutiny I'm hard pressed to see Leonsis co-sign any move as adverse as he is to making emotional decisions nowadays. Ernie may want it but I could see Leonsis holding off unless it's collapse of epic proportions.

But what if the collapse (losses to Minny and Philly) DOES come? As someone in the solidly anti-Wittman camp, should I be rooting for such things?

Minny is playing better as of late, losing to them wouldn't be surprising given our current slump. Losing to Philly, I'd be for it if it meant Randy is gone.

[hands11]

Randy may loosen up next year when the heat is really on but I would literally be floored if anything happened this season. Short of another 3-4 blowouts in a row or a team mutiny I'm hard pressed to see Leonsis co-sign any move as adverse as he is to making emotional decisions nowadays. Ernie may want it but I could see Leonsis holding off unless it's collapse of epic proportions.

But what if the collapse (losses to Minny and Philly) DOES come? As someone in the solidly anti-Wittman camp, should I be rooting for such things?

I did coming down the stretch last year. If you want to get really frustrated, go for it. LOL

I held out hope that during that losing run down the stretch, just one or two more loses would get him canned. But it never happened. Then he got the match up of his dreams and took out a short handed CHI. He was as good as resigned after that series.

At least it was only a two year deal with 3rd year option and it was only for what .. 3M a year ?

Dray comes off the books this year. Thats $8,471,339 Ted won't be pissing away. 3M of that to buy out Randy would still leaving him 5.4M more next year than this year. If your going to clean up mistakes, do it quickly while its still warm.

[Kanyewest]

I still think it will take a lot more to get Wittman fired. The last 3 games have been against relatively tough opponents- @ Toronto, home against Cleveland (who has been close to the best team in the league since LeBron came back), and the Detroit Pistons who probably have a better record than the Wizards since the departure of Josh Smith.

Now if the Wizards manage to come up with losses against the 76ers and the Timberwolves, then Wittman might be packing his bags.

[dckingsfan]

The 2 year contract is by design, minimal contracts on the books, potential for a new head coach in a new era. I think if the Wiz get swept this year in the playoffs, I think you have to take a long look at whether or not it's worth keeping Witt around tho. You go from a 6 game series vs. Indiana in the 2nd round to getting swept isn't exactly my idea of progress.

If we end up as the 5th seed again, with an increase in wins say 46 or 47 over 44 last year - Ted could claim victory or he could clean house. He could really go either way.

I am all for dumping Checkers and Wittman - but I have a feeling we have one more year to suffer through.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I've never been convinced that Wittman was the right guy -- either as a "development" coach or as a "promised land" coach. He was fine as the interim guy, but I thought then they'd end up better served if they hired someone else -- Joerger was my preference at the time. The Wizards, of course, awarded the full-time job to Wittman without interviewing anyone else.

We agreed on Joerger.

I thought Randy Wittman was great compared to Flip Saunders. I said Wittman never coached a talented roster before and I think he's earned head coach. I wanted Joerger so badly I posted stuff where Ted Leonsis used to encourage fan input. But Randy Wittman impressed me as a good father figure type who guys liked. He IS a decent coach as far as I am concerned.

However, he's swimming in deep water now. Riptide and killer waves are about to overtake him; if he doesn't figure out what to do.

Coaches get fired.

I lost custody of sons.

Life is not always easy. Sometimes we get in over our heads. Or it could be when one door closes another door opens.

Wittman IMO might as well get to see if he can win two playoff series. He kicked Thibodeau in the bud last playoffs.

Perspective. ..

[dlts20]

I've never been convinced that Wittman was the right guy -- either as a "development" coach or as a "promised land" coach. He was fine as the interim guy, but I thought then they'd end up better served if they hired someone else -- Joerger was my preference at the time. The Wizards, of course, awarded the full-time job to Wittman without interviewing anyone else.

We agreed on Joerger.

I thought Randy Wittman was great compared to Flip Saunders. I said Wittman never coached a talented roster before and I think he's earned head coach. I wanted Joerger so badly I posted stuff where Ted Leonsis used to encourage fan input. But Randy Wittman impressed me as a good father figure type who guys liked. He IS a decent coach as far as I am concerned.

However, he's swimming in deep water now. Riptide and killer waves are about to overtake him; if he doesn't figure out what to do.

Coaches get fired.

I lost custody of sons.

Life is not always easy. Sometimes we get in over our heads. Or it could be when one door closes another door opens.

Wittman IMO might as well get to see if he can win two playoff series. He kicked Thibodeau in the bud last playoffs.

Perspective. ..

He did kick Things in the bud last playoffs and maybe could've beaten Indy also if John didn't hit the Wall but those are also the only 2 elite teams in the East who play 2 low post bigs like we do. Anytime we play teams who are either smaller or quicker or who spread the floor or who have a lot of motion to their offense then we suck.

Things is superior but still too old school and stubborn to do something different. If we get them again then we probably win. The sad part is we have the talent to beat the others but Witt won't allow it because he's not open to adjusting

[Ruzious]

Agreed. If Ted is one thing, it's loyal. Too loyal to a fault.

I don't think Ted is particularly loyal -- he's just deeply afraid of change and covets continuity. Establishing continuity is essentially his entire strategy as an owner.

Maybe, but I think it's that he refuses to admit he's made a mistake. He chose Wittman. Therefore, Wittman is the best man for the job, and he'll show the doubters that he's right - no matter how long it takes... just like he did with Grunfeld... arggggggggggggg

[FAH1223]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BlueShortsLIFE/status/570325897842028544[/tweet]

[Dat2U]

Wall isn't calling for anyone to get fired. He's a class act and not that type of guy. If anything he's going to be overly loyal to Witt for believing in him.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Testing

[AFM]

The whole "wrap his arm around him while he sits on the arm rest aka basically sitting on his lap" thing sounds awfully sexual to me.