Grunfeld a Great GM. Proves Doubters Wrong

[montestewart]

I bit my tongue a ton.

Oh God.

[montestewart]

As someone who likes Wall, thinks Beal has a ton of potential, thinks Porter is a long way from being declared a bust, and thinks Booker has been a great value pick, I still don't really trust EG's ability to restock the team through the draft. If he proves otherwise, hopefully I'll recognize that and change my view. He could start by not reflexively selling this year's 2nd. Take a flyer on some unsung big. That's the place to swing for the fences.

I think the immediate future for the Zards will not depend on restocking through the draft but on trading for a quality young big man or signing a top free agent in the next 2-3 years. It's possible that they get that kind of talent in the middle of the first round where they'll be drafting in 2015--assuming they continue to make the playoffs--but not likely. And they might find a good player in the second round, as you suggest, but second round players are rarely major contributors on playoff teams.

I'm not discounting the importance of drafting well…just pointing out that you can't depend on the draft as the primary source for improving your team, especially if you're not in the lottery or close to it.

You're probably right with the bolded above, and I'm largely thinking Wall/Beal/Porter and a trade/FA acquisition (possibly a trade involving Porter) to get the core of the future. With the draft I'm thinking more of depth. The 2011 draft, Seraphin (apparently), Maynor have not worked out, and it's time to move on, looking for depth and maybe a (with a little luck) a significant rotation player. The addition of Gooden and Miller saved them this year, but their ages tell me to not get too comfortable/with them. A better Wizards may be a deciding factor in attracting decent veteran minimum-type deals in the future.

[queridiculo]

So Oates fired and McPhee won't return.

Is there hope for a similar outcome for the Wizards after all?

[MikeTheKid]

So Oates fired and McPhee won't return.

Is there hope for a similar outcome for the Wizards after all?

Miracles do happen and Leonsis can grow a set

[montestewart]

So Oates fired and McPhee won't return.

Is there hope for a similar outcome for the Wizards after all?

Not this year, I'm betting.

[WallToWall]

http://nhl.si.com/2014/04/26/washington ... ?eref=sihp

To me, it means that we have an owner who has no qualms about getting rid of the GM and coach...for not making the playoffs (the goal for the franchise).

[milellie111]

Fans who are giddy and celebrate a team on the brink of advancing to the second round of the playoffs, yet want to fire the GM who is responsible for all of the success? Pretty delusional.

[verbal8]

Fans who are giddy and celebrate a team on the brink of advancing to the second round of the playoffs, yet want to fire the GM who is responsible for all of the success? Pretty delusional.

I wasn't aware the EG had an Offensive rating of 112 and an eFG% of .492 against the Bulls this series, had a FT rate of .236 or TOV% of 9.4 while forcing 12.6% from the Bulls. It is mainly the players on the court.

What is EG's responsibility for the level of success for previous seasons?

[TGW]

I think millie might be doing a kind of performance art where he's playing the role of an earnest Grunfeld supporter to elicit facts, evidence and arguments showing just how bad Grunfeld has been. Biggest clue so far: he used the word "respected" to describe Mike Wise's opinion.

Nope. Not performance art Nivek.

Why do people try to come up with this kind of take for other posters? I saw someone do it for Lyrical.

How about ... he is just posting as a fan about how he see things and he doesn't agree with the negative spin some here put on almost everything.

Nothing more. Nothing less. Not a troll. Not performance art. Just a fan that isn't as jaded as most of us here.

Oh really?

milellie111 wrote:
Ted is cheap. He wont even get us a legitimate coach. Theres plenty of qualified coaches out there but of course he doesnt want to pay. Randy Whittman is a reject and a loser and has no business leading any NBA franchise (except for the Wizards). Randy Whittman WOULD NOT be coaching or considered as a coach for any other team EXCEPT for the Wizards. From wikipedia "Wittman then served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons, (1999–2001), compiling a record of 62-102.On December 8, 2008, club owner Glen Taylor fired Wittman after a 4-19 start, asking Kevin McHale to step in." Just because Whitman is a so called "tough guy disciplinarian" doesnt make him a coach. I guarantee you a good legitimate NBA coach can get more and develop vessely, booker and singleton better than someone who is not qualified. But of course, all of this starts from the top and it doesnt seem as if Ted really cares about this team being serious. Seems to me he's just another fat rich guy who was bored and wanted a hobby so he decided to buy a basketball team to play around with.

milellie111 wrote:
Not to sound negative, but this team is owned by an arrogant cheapskate, managed by a moron and coached by an idiot. Recipe for disaster. Not to mention our "elite" franchise savior point guard who we will most likely give a max deal to, cant shoot outside of 15 feet while other teams pgs are knocking down threes.

[DCZards]

Fans who are giddy and celebrate a team on the brink of advancing to the second round of the playoffs, yet want to fire the GM who is responsible for all of the success? Pretty delusional.

I wasn't aware the EG had an Offensive rating of 112 and an eFG% of .492 against the Bulls this series, had a FT rate of .236 or TOV% of 9.4 while forcing 12.6% from the Bulls. It is mainly the players on the court.

What is EG's responsibility for the level of success for previous seasons?

Just as EG deserves all of the blame and criticism he's received for his personnel mistakes and for putting together lousy teams for most of the past decade, he also deserves full credit for putting together the team that is winning and putting up the #s you cite.

[tontoz]

Let's not forget that we were a game away from being sacrificial lambs for the Heat. We were fighting the Cats for playoff position and they beat us twice in the last 10 games. Luckily they managed to lose to a tanking Boston team.

Over the short term luck can have a big effect on a teams results. Over the long term luck evens out and over the long term EG has been garbage.

[verbal8]

Fans who are giddy and celebrate a team on the brink of advancing to the second round of the playoffs, yet want to fire the GM who is responsible for all of the success? Pretty delusional.

I wasn't aware the EG had an Offensive rating of 112 and an eFG% of .492 against the Bulls this series, had a FT rate of .236 or TOV% of 9.4 while forcing 12.6% from the Bulls. It is mainly the players on the court.

What is EG's responsibility for the level of success for previous seasons?

Just as EG deserves all of the blame and criticism he's received for his personnel mistakes and for putting together lousy teams for most of the past decade, he also deserves full credit for putting together the team that is winning and putting up the #s you cite.

Then why should he still be the GM?

[Brenice]

Then why should he still be the GM?

Because you are about to watch the wizards in a competitive 2nd round of playoffs and possibly watch the wizards in the ECF, whether you like it or not.

[TGW]

If they do make it to the ECF, this may be the easiest road to a conference finals in NBA history.

Beating a 4th seeded team that can't score, and is missing their best player, and then beating a Cinderella 8th seed missing their best player. Only to get beaten [badly] by the eventual champs. Seriously, is that something we should be making banners and t-shirts for?

[DCZards]

If they do make it to the ECF, this may be the easiest road to a conference finals in NBA history.

Beating a 4th seeded team that can't score, and is missing their best player, and then beating a Cinderella 8th seed missing their best player. Only to get beaten [badly] by the eventual champs. Seriously, is that something we should be making banners and t-shirts for?

You hang banners for "winning." At the end of the day, it doesn't matter (and no one asks) who you beat or how much you won by.

[Kanyewest]

Let's not forget that we were a game away from being sacrificial lambs for the Heat. We were fighting the Cats for playoff position and they beat us twice in the last 10 games. Luckily they managed to lose to a tanking Boston team.

Over the short term luck can have a big effect on a teams results. Over the long term luck evens out and over the long term EG has been garbage.

Wizards have been unlucky enough to play LeBron 3 times in the playoffs in the first round- so not playing LeBron this year in the first round balances out.

[montestewart]

If EG's as bad as I still think he probably is, there will be plenty of time to complain, because he's not going anywhere. High draft picks (including blown picks) aside, this playoff run, wherever it goes, owes a lot to players EG brought in through trades or signings. I'm taking a sabbatical from EG bashing and rooting for my team to take full advantage of their "easy path."

[tontoz]

Then why should he still be the GM?

Because you are about to watch the wizards in a competitive 2nd round of playoffs and possibly watch the wizards in the ECF, whether you like it or not.

And if that happens it will be the crowning achievment after a decade on the job. Sorry but that isn't very impressive.

-missing the Heat in the first round by a game
-beating a team that is missing it's top 2 scorers from it's opening day roster
- possibly beating the 8th seeded Hawks (also missing their best player) who weren't even trying to make the playoffs or beating the Pacers who are getting trashed by their fans and media for their collapse over the last couple of months.

Granted beating these teams is better than losing to them. All you can do is beat who is in front of you. But these teams isn't a reason to keep a GM with a decade long track record of failure.

[tontoz]

Let's not forget that we were a game away from being sacrificial lambs for the Heat. We were fighting the Cats for playoff position and they beat us twice in the last 10 games. Luckily they managed to lose to a tanking Boston team.

Over the short term luck can have a big effect on a teams results. Over the long term luck evens out and over the long term EG has been garbage.

Wizards have been unlucky enough to play LeBron 3 times in the playoffs in the first round- so not playing LeBron this year in the first round balances out.

Lebron's Cavs teams were not as imposing as his Heat teams. And aging Big Z and Daniel Gibson aren't as tough as Wade/Bosh. That is why the Cavs were the 4th seed in 2 of those seasons.

[Jay81]

i think we can take Miami to 4 if we play them