Wizards in the Media Thread

[no D in Hibachi]

Wilbon is the worst local sports writer in DC history, yeah, worse than Sally Jenkins, oooooh snap! I disregard everything he says and take the exact opposit as complete truth. Part of me wishes they dumped the Wash Post sports section so we didn't have to deal with Tony K or Mike Wilbon in the paper.

[closg00]

I can't believe someone gave B Mitch another radio show, simply awful to listen to.

[montestewart]

"The Value Proposition in the NBA," in the Wages of Wins Journal, discusses why Ted Leonsis and Mikhail Prokhorov will likely be successful NBA owners, and Point to the Spurs and the Suns as models. Worth a look. Based on recent Wizards history, I especially like the following:

For Mikhail and Ted wholesale changes and new beginnings are not only desirable, but certainly possible (as this analysis suggests). The road to recovery may be long (or short) but the path has been travelled before. But patience and frugality — not panic and splurging — are the orders of the day.

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2010/05/23/ ... n-the-nba/

[closg00]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16950

[WizStorm]

Great article on just how over the top the punishment, media hype and rush to judgement was towards Gilbert Arenas:
http://reason.com/archives/2010/08/03/t ... ilbert-are

The judge got it about right—but only after three months of overkill from the other featured performers in the Arenas morality play: the overreaching prosecutors who pressed to lock him up, the tabloid heckler who mousetrapped the player with reckless smears, and the NBA commissioner who peremptorily wiped out Arenas’ season.

You don’t have to support gun control laws to see that Arenas committed a stupid act that could have ended far worse than it did. But you don’t have to support gun rights to see that he has paid a price grossly disproportionate to his mistake.

[Zonkerbl]

Great article on just how over the top the punishment, media hype and rush to judgement was towards Gilbert Arenas:
http://reason.com/archives/2010/08/03/t ... ilbert-are

The judge got it about right—but only after three months of overkill from the other featured performers in the Arenas morality play: the overreaching prosecutors who pressed to lock him up, the tabloid heckler who mousetrapped the player with reckless smears, and the NBA commissioner who peremptorily wiped out Arenas’ season.

You don’t have to support gun control laws to see that Arenas committed a stupid act that could have ended far worse than it did. But you don’t have to support gun rights to see that he has paid a price grossly disproportionate to his mistake.

Holy thread resurrection batman! Didn't somebody cite this article already? Like, six months ago?

[WizStorm]

Holy thread resurrection batman! Didn't somebody cite this article already? Like, six months ago?

Was it already posted? I guess it's possible that it's an old article but was refreshed because it's finally going in the next issue of the magazine.

I don't remember reading that article before that seems to tie up the whole fiasco so nicely. Of course, I've heard all the same facts about the case in many other publications. I just think it's a good article that clearly states what actually happened and presents facts that many posters frequently ignore when they pop off at the mouth about Gil.

[Zonkerbl]

Maybe I saw it on Bullets Forever and assumed I had seen it here. But I think this article made the rounds, I remember wholeheartedly agreeing with it.

GF doesn't agree, though. She was like "dude carries guns around, not funny! ra ra ra!"

[Wizardspride]

Holy thread resurrection batman! Didn't somebody cite this article already? Like, six months ago?

Was it already posted? I guess it's possible that it's an old article but was refreshed because it's finally going in the next issue of the magazine.

I don't remember reading that article before that seems to tie up the whole fiasco so nicely. Of course, I've heard all the same facts about the case in many other publications. I just think it's a good article that clearly states what actually happened and presents facts that many posters frequently ignore when they pop off at the mouth about Gil.

The rest of RealGm should read this. They're a lot of misconceptions about Gilbert.

[Hoopalotta]

So, the Zards were rated 20th in the ESPN Future Power Rankings, which I think is based on a 3-year window of competitiveness.

That's behind the Pacers.

But I seem to recall Chad Ford commenting that Yi would challenge Dray for the starting power forward slot, so I dare say the partisans here will take issue with the methodology and amp the rebukes.

This is the list with point ratings taken from the general board page (already posted and this is just the loose frame, so I don't think this would qualify as the nefarious and verboten "posting of insider material").

30. Bobcats (176)
29. Timberwolves (326)
28. Cavs (331)
27. Suns (399)
26. Raptors (402)
25. 76ers (404)
24. Grizzlies (428)
23. Hornets (434)
22. Pistons (444)
21. Warriors (450)
20. Wizards (452)
19. Hawks (484)
18. Bucks (494)
17. Pacers (497)
16. Clippers (513)
15. Nets (514)
14. Mavericks (515)
13. Celtics (517)
12. Kings (518)
11. Knicks (523)

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Holy thread resurrection batman! Didn't somebody cite this article already? Like, six months ago?

Was it already posted? I guess it's possible that it's an old article but was refreshed because it's finally going in the next issue of the magazine.

I don't remember reading that article before that seems to tie up the whole fiasco so nicely. Of course, I've heard all the same facts about the case in many other publications. I just think it's a good article that clearly states what actually happened and presents facts that many posters frequently ignore when they pop off at the mouth about Gil.

WS, I don't think it was posted on this board. First time I read the article, so I got something out of it. I agree wholeheartedly with the author. Gil's being persecuted. I went from Gil hater to really hoping he at least gets a chance to redeem himself on the court, mainly because I think he's being vilified.

I like these thoughts from the article:

Arenas’ crime was jurisdictionally specific. His acts would likely have been legal at his home in Virginia, where no license is required to own a handgun and concealed-carry permits are issued based on criteria that Arenas seems to have satisfied. Even in D.C., if Arenas had been found with guns in his home or “place of business,” it would have been only a misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or up to a year in jail.

What Gil did wasn't all that strange. I have known coworkers to bring guns or other weapons to their workplace.

I had a coworker who carried a pistol in the trunk of her car. One day she had a workplace disagreement with a physically intimidating woman. Both of them were having really bad days and both these women were in a word, volatile. Since I got along with both of them, I played peacemaker. I am sure one had no idea about the weapon the other had, but I did. I did not go to the police officer that worked in our building. No need to. It was squashed. I will never agree with the way the Wizards handled Gil's bad judgement.

Another time as a postal employee I had two coworkers, both clowning around, whip out knives one day and demonstrate their knife fighting skills. These guys were old school, both Vietnam vets. (It was hilarious and a bit frightening at the same time). At that same workplace, while searching a desk for supplies to my surprise I found .357 magnum shells and targets. Apparently, the most-harassed employee (A guy those other two hated and loved to mess with, also a Vietnam vet, and the only white guy at that station) loved to hunt. I just hoped that like Leonard in Full Metal Jacket he'd show me the same grace that Joker got before the DI got blasted. Where I used to work what amazed me was that nobody did get hurt.

What does any of that have to do with Gil? None of these people have criminal records. All of them earn a decent living and would be the furthest from being called a thug.

The judge did get it right because laws are laws and it was foolish what Gil did. However, folks taking the high moral ground on Gil IMO are taking it too far. Personally, I don't care if he and Javaris were within inches of turning the locker room into the OK Corral. That whole thing could have been squashed right then and right there. What came out about the card game and all that should have stayed in the locker room as far as I am concerned. I have heard of worst stuff than that. (Heck at another workplace guys went and fought while on break. One came back bloodied but both kept their jobs.

As for Gilbert, I hope he's been humbled and comes back from this a better man. I really hope he plays so well that he regains the respect he had before the injuries took there toll.

I so want a happy ending for Gil (even if it's with another team) because if the Wizards just wait and let him play well they will also come out the winners. Everybody wins if Gil comes back strong.

[dobrojim]

everybody wins except that piece of garbage Vescey

[Wizardspride]

everybody wins except that piece of garbage Vescey

Mike Wise agrees with you.

[Wizardspride]

This might have been posted before and if so...my apologies.


Click on the link to read the rest.

http://www.truthaboutit.net/2010/05/the ... renas.html

Now is not the time to trade Gilbert Arenas. Here are three reasons why:

1) How can Arenas and Wall play in the backcourt together?

Stop pigeon-holing multi-talented players into rigid positions. Wall and Arenas have different skill sets that could complement each other under the right circumstances. Wall can push in transition, create havoc in the half-court, and play pestering defense. Arenas can also create, is an outside threat, and can still get to the basket. His problems last year didn’t revolve around his knee or ability to get past defenders (aside from that one time against Tyreke Evans), they revolved around confidence, re-acquainted decision-making in a new offense, and re-gaining proper timing to ignore contact (and the referees) and finish at the rim.

Don’t worry, the desire for an Arenas/Wall backcourt to emulate the Chauncey Billups/Rip Hamilton backcourt on Flip Saunders’ Pistons teams is not under consideration. Apples and oranges in terms of player types. However, the idea is that both Chauncey and Rip were able to share responsibility in the offense*, and if there’s any coach who could massage a similar relationship between Arenas and Wall, it’s Saunders.

“I told our players when I came here that I didn’t want to get too many players labeled into one, two, three or four. You’re basketball players, the main thing you get labeled in is who you can guard,” said Saunders at Wednesday’s press conference when considering Wall (or Evan Turner) playing alongside Arenas.

Late in the season, Flip Saunders switched to a two-guard offense (which also helped get Andray Blatche better opportunities in the post — he’s a decent passer, you know) partially with Arenas in mind. I’m pretty sure a good chuck of the pages in Flip’s massive playbook can work with both Arenas and Wall in mind.

There’s also a widespread, misinformed stigma is that Arenas is a ‘me-first’ player with a huge ego. I won’t deny the ego part, but don’t confuse how it is applied. Gil’s ego derives from an attention-seeking personality, and much less, if at all, has anything to do with playing team basketball.

Arenas took a lot of shots in the past because that’s what he was asked to do, speaking in terms of Eddie Jordan’s souped-up pro-style Princeton offense. He had a high usage rate under Saunders because the coach stated that the ball would be in his hands 85% of the time before the season. Arenas has been painted as a gunner who jacks without conscience, but that has simply been blown out of proportion.

Case in point, among those who appeared in 30+ games and averaged more than 30 minutes per last season, Arenas ranks 10th in assist-percentage (an estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while he was on on the floor). His 36.3% is a hair behind the 36.4% of both Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade.

[* In Saunders' three seasons in Detroit, the USG% (an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor) of Billups and Hamilton respectively went as follows: 07-08: 23.0/24.5; 06-07: 21.5/25.9; 05-06: 22.9/27.4. In each season, Hamilton's UGS% was the higher of the two, but you wouldn't exactly count Chauncey as uninvolved. Both led those Pistons teams by sharing the scoring duties and by having great role players around them.]

[Rick45]

Don't know if you guys have seen this, but here it is

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grLvmEsV8sc[/youtube]

[closg00]

No breaking news in this article, but Ted restates his team-building strategy.

I asked Leonsis about the Wizards’ plan for winning long term, following the Boston/Miami/L.A. Lakers model or perhaps the Oklahoma City Thunder method in building towards the playoffs and beyond.

“I want to draft, develop, and retain, make astute trades and add free agents as the third tool. Boston is built through trades, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen was a trade. So you need to make astute trades and then you use free agency to fill in,” he answered.

“I’m skeptical and I have history to prove it- teams primarily built through free agency don’t win championships.”

So the emphasis is on homegrown, more organic talent development. I asked if Oklahoma City serves as their model?

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/ ... d-leonsis/

[closg00]

Ho-hum, but here's a read anyway.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4321 ... -offseason

[bullitz]

Read that, and saw yet another dart thrown at Gil (seriously can there be just one article that doesn't drag out the stale news of the gun incident. I'm gonna scan the court dockets for any instance of any type of mishap and drag it out in the comments section of every author that feels obligated to remind us how awful Gil treated our franchise last year) and it made me think of this piece by Dan Le Batard. It's message can apply to both the media and fans.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/08/1766393/being-real-just-isnt-worth-the.html

[Wizardspride]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 06093.html

The Wizards will begin training camp in about six weeks, and Wall has already started to settle into his new hometown. Wall said he took about two weeks off after summer league to rest his knees after developing some tendonitis. He arrived in Washington last week and worked with head athletic trainer Eric Waters to get his knees stronger, while assistant coach Sam Cassell helped him work on developing his game.

Wall said he also met with Gilbert Arenas, who was in town receiving treatment on his left knee. "I talked to him a little bit. He knows a lot about the game. You can tell he's a smart player. I can't wait to get on the court with him and get it going," Wall said. "He just says he's going to do as much as he can to change and play the way he knows how to play, helping us win. I feel like you got two guys who can attack the basket and also Gilbert can stretch the defense, it helps out a lot."

Before leaving Saturday for New York City - where he sat courtside for Team USA's win over France at Madison Square Garden and hung out with rapper Bow Wow - Wall finally settled on an apartment. He said he plans to move in this weekend once he completes the NBA's rookie transition program, which begins on Wednesday. "No more hotels in D.C.," Wall said with a smile. "It's good to have my own bed to lay in."

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/17/AR2010081706093.html

The Wizards will begin training camp in about six weeks, and Wall has already started to settle into his new hometown. Wall said he took about two weeks off after summer league to rest his knees after developing some tendonitis. He arrived in Washington last week and worked with head athletic trainer Eric Waters to get his knees stronger, while assistant coach Sam Cassell helped him work on developing his game.

Wall said he also met with Gilbert Arenas, who was in town receiving treatment on his left knee. "I talked to him a little bit. He knows a lot about the game. You can tell he's a smart player. I can't wait to get on the court with him and get it going," Wall said. "He just says he's going to do as much as he can to change and play the way he knows how to play, helping us win. I feel like you got two guys who can attack the basket and also Gilbert can stretch the defense, it helps out a lot."

Before leaving Saturday for New York City - where he sat courtside for Team USA's win over France at Madison Square Garden and hung out with rapper Bow Wow - Wall finally settled on an apartment. He said he plans to move in this weekend once he completes the NBA's rookie transition program, which begins on Wednesday. "No more hotels in D.C.," Wall said with a smile. "It's good to have my own bed to lay in."

This is important: Mutual respect.

Gil saying he's trying to change is something an overly proud guy wouldn't even admit.

The Wizards just need to wait and let the chemistry unfold on the court between Wall and Arenas.

(Gil's left knee? Wall's knee tendonitis ... hmmm.)