Grunfeld a Great GM. Proves Doubters Wrong

[tontoz]

The season is almost over and the Wizards have the 15th best record in the league in spite of an easy, LEastern Conference schedule.

[MikeTheKid]

I just wanna know if Im a real fan with all the money Ive spent on the team

[tontoz]

I just wanna know if Im a real fan with all the money Ive spent on the team

No

[tontoz]

Over the last 10 games;

Wizards 5 wins, 5 losses
Bobcats 6 wins, 4 losses
Nets 7 wins, 3 losses

[milellie111]

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.

I am not disregarding the emotions of the fans who have supported this team for years and invested much time and money. They had a right to be dissapointed when things looked bleak. Management knew that this would be a difficult process and sometimes the fans can't realize the bigger picture in the long run. I have been there emotionally with this team as well. However, many times as fans we don't want to accept the fact of a rebuilding process, we want instant gratification. This team has shown that it can beat anyone throughout the season so the future isn't as bleak as you make it seem when we reach the playoffs.

[milellie111]

I just wanna know if Im a real fan with all the money Ive spent on the team

Money doesn't determine how true of a fan someone. Someone who doesn't go to the games or buy merchandise can be a diehard fan while other corporate guys who buy tickets to the game frequently may not even know who's on the team currently.

[milellie111]

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.

Of course anyone can be criticized from the Owner, GM, coach and players. As fans we do have to look at the positive and the negative. But even the best coaches/GM's and players have been criticized down to the most minute detail. You can criticize every single move and you may not like them, but look at the big picture from the body of work that Grunfeld has created. Okay, so yeah, Maynor didn't work out? So what? What impact is that having on our wins/losses now? The guy is gone! Did he stop us from getting to the playoffs? Did Maynor stop us from competing? Again, i fully believe based on how i've seen this team play that we can beat anyone in the East when we get in the playoffs. Young hungry teams are the teams you have to watch out for which is what we have. Do not pay attention to projections or power rankings or listen to the so called "experts" who may think that Miami and Indiana are shoe ins to come out of the East. It is time to start noticing the progression and maturation of the players we've seen all season even through the tough losses and good wins. Having faith in your guys and the coach and change your attitude as a fan for the positive going into the playoffs. We don't want to be the fans who say "oh wow, well this squad surprised me", we want to be those fans who said "hey, i knew we could do this all along". If you've watched this team all season, there's no denying the chemistry has grown tremendously and guys are excited for what lies ahead. We as fans want to feed into that hunger, not diminish it.

[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.

I am not disregarding the emotions of the fans who have supported this team for years and invested much time and money. They had a right to be dissapointed when things looked bleak. Management knew that this would be a difficult process and sometimes the fans can't realize the bigger picture in the long run. I have been there emotionally with this team as well. However, many times as fans we don't want to accept the fact of a rebuilding process, we want instant gratification. This team has shown that it can beat anyone throughout the season so the future isn't as bleak as you make it seem when we reach the playoffs.

Can't realize the bigger picture? Want instant gratification? Sounds like you reading directly from Ted's playbook. Unfortunately, none of this applies to how folks on here really feel. No one has been expecting instant gratification from one of the longest tenured GMs in the entire NBA. We wanted a rebuild done the right way. As much as folks wanted to hold Arenas accountable for what happened a few years back, fans wanted Ernie held accountable as well. Instead, Ernie gets excuses, self-congratulatory pats on the back and continually gets to clean up his own messes under the lazy eye of Ted who seems blinded to how many assets Ernie has burned through in such a short period of time, just so we can celebrate being average again.

[Nivek]

I just wanna know if Im a real fan with all the money Ive spent on the team

Money doesn't determine how true of a fan someone. Someone who doesn't go to the games or buy merchandise can be a diehard fan while other corporate guys who buy tickets to the game frequently may not even know who's on the team currently.

Somebody tapping away on the Internet doesn't get to decide how "true" a fan another person is any more than some schmuck running for Vice President can declare some people "real Americans" and others as...fake?...Americans. By definition, everyone who posts even semi-regularly on a Wizards message board like this one is a fan of the Wizards -- whether they're emotional or analytic, whether they cheer like crazy at every glimmer of hope or gripe at every perceived misfortune. We're fans whether or not we're season ticket holders, whether we have lucky underwear that makes the team win, or whether we're busily crunching numbers and looking up data like it was a job.

We're fans because of our interest, period.

Anyone who says different is full of ****.

[milellie111]

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.

I am not disregarding the emotions of the fans who have supported this team for years and invested much time and money. They had a right to be dissapointed when things looked bleak. Management knew that this would be a difficult process and sometimes the fans can't realize the bigger picture in the long run. I have been there emotionally with this team as well. However, many times as fans we don't want to accept the fact of a rebuilding process, we want instant gratification. This team has shown that it can beat anyone throughout the season so the future isn't as bleak as you make it seem when we reach the playoffs.

Can't realize the bigger picture? Want instant gratification? Sounds like you reading directly from Ted's playbook. Unfortunately, none of this applies to how folks on here really feel. No one has been expecting instant gratification from one of the longest tenured GMs in the entire NBA. [b]We wanted a rebuild done the right way.[/b] As much as folks wanted to hold Arenas accountable for what happened a few years back, fans wanted Ernie held accountable as well. Instead, Ernie gets excuses, self-congratulatory pats on the back and continually gets to clean up his own messes under the lazy eye of Ted who seems blinded to how many assets Ernie has burned through in such a short period of time, just so we can celebrate being average again.

Please sir, tell me how Grunfeld has not rebuilt the current team the right way? Is Grunfeld perfect? NO!!

But..... Didn't he draft a star player whom we can build around for the future? Yes!

Has he had patience with that star player and allowed him to develop while many fans screamed that he was a bust? Yes!

Has he brought in a coaching staff to assist that star player with developing into the superstar he is now? Yes!

Did he give that star player a financially sound contract that looks to be a bargain for us? Yes!

Has he drafted a complimentary 2 guard that will grow with that star player into potentially one of the best backcourts in the NBA? Yes!

Has he added smart trouble free veterans to the team to assist with the maturation process of young draft picks? Yes!

Has he avoided signing ridiculous max deal free agents that would cripple the teams cap? Yes!

Has he ensured a measure of depth that will prove valuable in the playoffs? Yes!

Sorry, but I see more positives than negatives.

[milellie111]

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.

I am not disregarding the emotions of the fans who have supported this team for years and invested much time and money. They had a right to be dissapointed when things looked bleak. Management knew that this would be a difficult process and sometimes the fans can't realize the bigger picture in the long run. I have been there emotionally with this team as well. However, many times as fans we don't want to accept the fact of a rebuilding process, we want instant gratification. This team has shown that it can beat anyone throughout the season so the future isn't as bleak as you make it seem when we reach the playoffs.

Can't realize the bigger picture? Want instant gratification? Sounds like you reading directly from Ted's playbook. Unfortunately, none of this applies to how folks on here really feel. No one has been expecting instant gratification from one of the longest tenured GMs in the entire NBA. We wanted a rebuild done the right way. As much as folks wanted to hold Arenas accountable for what happened a few years back, fans wanted Ernie held accountable as well. Instead, Ernie gets excuses, self-congratulatory pats on the back and continually gets to clean up his own messes under the lazy eye of Ted who seems blinded to how many assets Ernie has burned through in such a short period of time, just so we can celebrate being average again.

Exactly as you said "what happened a few years back". Many folks are still hanging on to what Grunfeld has done a few years back and ignore what he's done recently. If a player sucked his first few years in the league but then started producing say 5 years later, would a team say "hey, you're doing good now, but the previous 5 years you sucked so we're going to let you go and let another team benefit from what you have to offer now"?

There is no such thing as a perfect GM.

[Dat2U]

Please sir, tell me how Grunfeld has not rebuilt the current team the right way? Is Grunfeld perfect? NO!!

But..... Didn't he draft a star player whom we can build around for the future? Yes!

You mean the brain-dead lock for the #1 pick of the 2010 draft? The draft where Evan Turner refused to even meet with Wizards brass because Wall to DC was a forgone conclusion? The draft where Ted Leonsis started doing the "John Wall dance" once he learned the Wizards had secured the 1st pick?

Yeah, Ernie deserves a ton of credit for that.

Has he had patience with that star player and allowed him to develop while many fans screamed that he was a bust? Yes!

You mean he had patience with the #1 pick of the draft? Well duh, you think Ted, the same guy doing the John Wall dance earlier, would co-sign a trade of the supposed franchise player? I guess he deserves some credit because Wall is still on the team, huh?

Has he brought in a coaching staff to assist that star player with developing into the superstar he is now? Yes!

Wow, so Ernie hired assistants to assist the current staff? So were now listing items on Ernie's job description to give him credit for? Really? Do we also give Ernie credit for hiring an extra ball boy to clean up Wall's sweat so no one slips on the court?

Did he give that star player a financially sound contract that looks to be a bargain for us? Yes!

Bargain? Financially sound? He gave Wall the max!!!??? The only difference b/w doing so last season and after this season is absolutely nothing b/c the Wizards could have matched any offer for Wall since he would have been a restricted free agent.

Has he drafted a complimentary 2 guard that will grow with that star player into potentially one of the best backcourts in the NBA? Yes!

That will grow or that you hope will grow? Right now Beal is a long ways away from being a useful player, not much separates Beal from Dion Waiters, MKG or Harrison Barnes at this point

Has he added smart trouble free veterans to the team to assist with the maturation process of young draft picks? Yes!

Yes, congrats, he's added vets who haven't been in trouble with the law. This may also apply to the 30 other teams as well.

Has he avoided signing ridiculous max deal free agents that would cripple the teams cap? Yes!

Your right, Instead he's been waiting for THIS off-season to overpay the free agents he's desperate to keep and thus cripple this franchise going forward

Has he ensured a measure of depth that will prove valuable in the playoffs? Yes!

Yes, congrats. He has a full 15-man roster, much like many other teams in the league.

Sorry, but I see more positives than negatives.

Of course you do, your a shill with no real thought or opinion.

[milellie111]

The season is almost over and the Wizards have the 15th best record in the league in spite of an easy, LEastern Conference schedule.

Hey, i'm sorry that i don't feel downhearted like some of the guys in here. I'm the fan of a team who i've followed for years through the ups and down. I'm the fan of a team with one of the best young pgs in the NBA playing amazing ball right now. I'm the fan of a team with a competitive roster who's fun to watch. I'm the fan of a team who's going to the playoffs. I'm the fan of a team who's marginally better than Milaukee, Philly, Boston, Orlando, Detroit, Cleavland, New York Knicks, Atlanta and Charlotte. I'm the fan of team who even though they are behind Brooklyn, Chicago, Toronto, Miami and Indiana, they have beaten all of those teams! (Except for Toronto). I'm the fan of a team who feels confident that even if we meet up against a top western conference opponent in the playoffs such as Oklahoma, Golden State or Portland, we can beat them because we HAVE beat them this season.
Hey, I'm sorry for being a fan

[Dat2U]

I am not disregarding the emotions of the fans who have supported this team for years and invested much time and money. They had a right to be dissapointed when things looked bleak. Management knew that this would be a difficult process and sometimes the fans can't realize the bigger picture in the long run. I have been there emotionally with this team as well. However, many times as fans we don't want to accept the fact of a rebuilding process, we want instant gratification. This team has shown that it can beat anyone throughout the season so the future isn't as bleak as you make it seem when we reach the playoffs.

Can't realize the bigger picture? Want instant gratification? Sounds like you reading directly from Ted's playbook. Unfortunately, none of this applies to how folks on here really feel. No one has been expecting instant gratification from one of the longest tenured GMs in the entire NBA. We wanted a rebuild done the right way. As much as folks wanted to hold Arenas accountable for what happened a few years back, fans wanted Ernie held accountable as well. Instead, Ernie gets excuses, self-congratulatory pats on the back and continually gets to clean up his own messes under the lazy eye of Ted who seems blinded to how many assets Ernie has burned through in such a short period of time, just so we can celebrate being average again.

Exactly as you said "what happened a few years back". Many folks are still hanging on to what Grunfeld has done a few years back and ignore what he's done recently. If a player sucked his first few years in the league but then started producing say 5 years later, would a team say "hey, you're doing good now, but the previous 5 years you sucked so we're going to let you go and let another team benefit from what you have to offer now"?

There is no such thing as a perfect GM.

Ignore what's he's done recently?

1. The Blatche extension
2. The Nene trade (were now stuck with part time player making big time money in a steep decline)
3. He's clearly blown 3 out of 5 "top 6 draft picks" (all in the last 5 years)

Not many GMs survive these type of mistakes. Notice I didn't include the Maynor deal or poor asset management with respect to resigning Webster or even the Okafor/Ariza deal. All of those are valid issues but I simply focused on his biggest mistakes.

No one expects a perfect GM. Folks just want better than one of the worst GMs of our generation.

[milellie111]

Please sir, tell me how Grunfeld has not rebuilt the current team the right way? Is Grunfeld perfect? NO!!

But..... Didn't he draft a star player whom we can build around for the future? Yes!

You mean the brain-dead lock for the #1 pick of the 2010 draft? The draft where Evan Turner refused to even meet with Wizards brass because Wall to DC was a forgone conclusion? The draft where Ted Leonsis started doing the "John Wall dance" once he learned the Wizards had secured the 1st pick?

Yeah, Ernie deserves a ton of credit for that.

Has he had patience with that star player and allowed him to develop while many fans screamed that he was a bust? Yes!

You mean he had patience with the #1 pick of the draft? Well duh, you think Ted, the same guy doing the John Wall dance earlier, would co-sign a trade of the supposed franchise player? I guess he deserves some credit because Wall is still on the team, huh?

Has he brought in a coaching staff to assist that star player with developing into the superstar he is now? Yes!

Wow, so Ernie hired assistants to assist the current staff? So were now listing items on Ernie's job description to give him credit for? Really? Do we also give Ernie credit for hiring an extra ball boy to clean up Wall's sweat so no one slips on the court?

Did he give that star player a financially sound contract that looks to be a bargain for us? Yes!

Bargain? Financially sound? He gave Wall the max!!!??? The only difference b/w doing so last season and after this season is absolutely nothing b/c the Wizards could have matched any offer for Wall since he would have been a restricted free agent.

Has he drafted a complimentary 2 guard that will grow with that star player into potentially one of the best backcourts in the NBA? Yes!

That will grow or that you hope will grow? Right now Beal is a long ways away from being a useful player, not much separates Beal from Dion Waiters, MKG or Harrison Barnes at this point

Has he added smart trouble free veterans to the team to assist with the maturation process of young draft picks? Yes!

Yes, congrats, he's added vets who haven't been in trouble with the law. This may also apply to the 30 other teams as well.

Has he avoided signing ridiculous max deal free agents that would cripple the teams cap? Yes!

Your right, Instead he's been waiting for THIS off-season to overpay the free agents he's desperate to keep and thus cripple this franchise going forward

Has he ensured a measure of depth that will prove valuable in the playoffs? Yes!

Yes, congrats. He has a full 15-man roster, much like many other teams in the league.

Sorry, but I see more positives than negatives.

Of course you do, your a shill with no real thought or opinion.

Great sarcastic way of answering a question without actually answering the question. Crucify the man for his bad mistakes but yet when he drafts Wall, don't give him any credit because it was the obvious choice? Does it make a difference based on what we see on the court now? Sad, that you have to resort to personal name calling and take your anger out on me by calling me a "shill with no real thought or opinion".

[AFM]

Someoone look up Ernie's personal details. I need to know if he's married to an "Ellie Grunfeld".

[mohammed10]

Someoone look up Ernie's personal details. I need to know if he's married to an "Ellie Grunfeld".

...and for those keeping score at home, this thread leads the 'Fire Grunfeld' thread, 28 pages to 25

[dckingsfan]

Someoone look up Ernie's personal details. I need to know if he's married to an "Ellie Grunfeld".

...and for those keeping score at home, this thread leads the 'Fire Grunfeld' thread, 28 pages to 25

Ah, but the other thread is part II



Millie has a long way to go... and I don't think he is picking up any supporters

[dckingsfan]

Also, in order to help Millie grow this thread. Please us know if he has changed your mind. Are you now if favor of keeping EG? Or has this thread helped you reinforce your opinions on the EG tenure?

[Nivek]

Umm, Wall isn't a superstar, except in hype and (starting next season) salary. He's a good player, and he might be a star someday if he continues improving. But a) he's not there yet, and b) he still has considerable distance to cover to reach "superstar" status.