RealGM

Assuming a season of course.

Who do you see stepping up? Who might be stepping down? Anyone look to be ready to bust out?

I'm so basketball starved that I'll take a stab at this. I think Booker will surprise -- that he'll outplay Blatche who will be benched and traded.

Shelvin Mack, IMO. He might be the best rookie.

Also, I think Javale McGee is maturing as a player and as a man. His PER has been around 17 every season, and he's limited in some things he can do. I just believe he's a winner who might put it together and who would excel if he can contribute more on offense. His body isn't that big but I believe he will have his best season by far if they play this year.

Perhaps this guy *Fingers crossed*
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEknAe1sxLo[/youtube]

fishercob wrote:I'm so basketball starved that I'll take a stab at this. I think Booker will surprise -- that he'll outplay Blatche who will be benched and traded.

Blatche traded? My dream come true!

I think Jordan Crawford will show a lot of improvement. The guy just seems hungry to me. I also think Singleton and Mack will surprise some people.

McGee will be the same...will make you say "wow" one play and make you laugh on another.

fishercob wrote:I'm so basketball starved that I'll take a stab at this. I think Booker will surprise -- that he'll outplay Blatche who will be benched and traded.

Well the Wizards have ALOT of guys who COULD surprise... If I had to bet on a breakout player I'd have to go with Nick Young. He's really shown signs of steady improvement and taken steps to becoming a consistant and reliable scorer. I could see McGee making major strides also.

I agree Singleton and Mack could surprise due to low expectations, Booker or Seraphin as well. Vesely could be a surprise.

Blatche would be my guess for further disapointment.

But as far as looking for stepping up the Wizards have a lot of players with nowhere to go but up.

Andray Blatche. We've heard all the stories of him training in the offseason and getting rid of the negative influences in his life. The injury last year might have even been a good thing because now he has to face adversity, and is motivated to prove his doubters wrong. The foot injury really set him back. I'm telling you guys, if he has really stayed true to his word and is fully healthy and in-shape, he will be an All-Star next season. Dude has all the talent in the world. (Runs away and hides).

I'll say Booker. Towards the end of last year he was a man possessed. Really explosive, fast, and burly. If he improved his jumper during the offseason Blatche should seriously be concerned about his minutes.

If you expect a guy will surprise, then how is it a surprise?

Ruzious wrote:If you expect a guy will surprise, then how is it a surprise?

It's everyone else surprised by a dramatic progression that each poster in this thread boldly predicted. Since he hsn't been asked to dance yet, I'm staking my claim to N'Diaye beginning to put up Harvey Catchings type numbers by year's end, having at least one double-double, and at least one game where he starts or otherwise gets major minutes against a much more established center and surprises everyone, including me. To preserve that last surprise, I better not predict it.

Booker seems primed for a leap forward, so not so much a surprise to me. Possibly McGee too. A nice surprise would be Vesely proving to be a valuable attack weapon while improving his FT and jump shooting and showing he can at least fit in adequately to team defensive schemes.

I'm thinking Herman Cain....whoops, wrong thread.

fishercob wrote:I'm so basketball starved that I'll take a stab at this. I think Booker will surprise -- that he'll outplay Blatche who will be benched and traded.

I'd be surprised if this DIDN'T happen.

I think Blatche will surprise 7-Day Dray.

Nivek wrote:I think Blatche will surprise 7-Day Dray.

And play BETTER than he expects him to.

Don't forget that Dray's shoulder is a mess, he'll probably need surgery I predict.

closg00 wrote:Don't forget that Dray's shoulder is a mess, he'll probably need surgery I predict.

At some point he'll probably need gastric bypass too.

The late Tiny will come back reincarnated as Steve Colter.

Now that would be a surprise.

Tell the truth, I think the most likely guy to really take it to a new level will be John Wall who could step up and be the best PG statistically in the NBA over the likes of Paul and Deron Williams . . . I say statistically because I don't really see the rest of the team stepping up with him.

I see Howard coming back and being solid . . . just probably not for us; I think if Blatche is healthy, he'll be playing WITH Booker, not behind him as I just am not feeling Vesely at all, I'd be very surprised if he has any real value this year other than showing some spectacular highlights during garbage time. He and Seraphin don't look that impressive from the little I've seen whereas Booker looks like he can at least play although he's got that "not quite big enough for PF, not athletic enough for SF" vibe -- ceiling is maybe Clarence Weatherspoon. Chris Singleton looks a lot like James Singleton . . . who I liked but still, not a breakout guy.

As for Mack, I see him having a year like Crawford did last year -- high energy gets coaches to give him a look but really inefficient. Crawford hopefully will get more control and become a solid rotation player . . . and Young will hopefully be resigned so we don't have to rely on Crawford to do so.

Any wiz that comes after a drunken night at 3:00 am or later always surprises me. For me, aiming drunk is like Shaq at the line....hit or miss.

Nick Young. We'll have one of the best backcourts in the NBA.