Comments from last night at the half.

[CoachD]

I heard an interview at halftime last night on the Raptor's broadcast with the Wizards play by play man (didn't catch his name).

When asked bluntly "What's the difference between last year's team and this year's team? Why do the Wizards appear to be struggling so much?"

He came up with

"Well, we've had injuries, and can't get our rotations in and guys can't get used to each other - and we have a lot of guys that weren't here last season. When we are healthy though, we are the deepest and most talented roster in the NBA".

Listen guys, I love the Wizards fanbase - and I've been to the Verizon like 6 times in the last 2 years for games (also to see the Caps) ... but I'm wondering if that kind of myopic homer-ism bugs anyone in your market?

The Toronto interviewer then said "It seems like a lock that John will be voted in as a reserve - I'm assuming you think he should be there?"

His response was a little less than gracious - especially considering the Toronto-based audience.

"No. I don't. I think he should be starting. I think it's ridiculous that he's not". He then paused and notice the look on the face of the interviewer and said "Don't get me wrong. I love Kyle. It was a lot of fun for me personally last year when John and Kyle both started, but John deserves to be there as a starter. They need to change the rules".

Any thoughts?

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I heard an interview at halftime last night on the Raptor's broadcast with the Wizards play by play man (didn't catch his name).

When asked bluntly "What's the difference between last year's team and this year's team? Why do the Wizards appear to be struggling so much?"

He came up with

"Well, we've had injuries, and can't get our rotations in and guys can't get used to each other - and we have a lot of guys that weren't here last season. When we are healthy though, we are the deepest and most talented roster in the NBA".

Listen guys, I love the Wizards fanbase - and I've been to the Verizon like 6 times in the last 2 years for games (also to see the Caps) ... but I'm wondering if that kind of myopic homer-ism bugs anyone in your market?

The Toronto interviewer then said "It seems like a lock that John will be voted in as a reserve - I'm assuming you think he should be there?"

His response was a little less than gracious - especially considering the Toronto-based audience.

"No. I don't. I think he should be starting. I think it's ridiculous that he's not". He then paused and notice the look on the face of the interviewer and said "Don't get me wrong. I love Kyle. It was a lot of fun for me personally last year when John and Kyle both started, but John deserves to be there as a starter. They need to change the rules".

Any thoughts?

I think Lowry over Wall is justifiable. Wade isn't.

As for homerism, absolutely. It's probably a big reason why our Turgid owner hasn't felt pressure to jettison the most inept GM in the NBA.

[CoachD]

I mean, the Raptors broadcasters aren't great either ... but even on this 9 game win streak, and 2 games out of first - they constantly talk about what the team needs to improve on.

This guy from the Wizards actually called WASH the deepest in the NBA and said "Ya sure, Cleveland has LeBron - but the rest of the Cavaliers aren't as deep as us".

Maybe it's the Canadian side of me ... but whenever broadcasters say "us" and "we" and sound like a bunch of fanboys ... I find it painfully unprofessional.

[CoachD]

And I agree ... Wade shouldn't be there ahead of Wall... not under the current format where all guards are lumped together.

IF it was like it was back in the day, and fans were voting by position - I'd have no issue with Lowry / Wade as the starting backcourt. Not because I don't like Jimmy Butler - but, he doesn't have the brand name or household recognition of a D Wade... and all star games appeal to casual fans as much as anything.

[nate33]

Yeah. Wall deserves to make the All Star game, but it doesn't bother me that he didn't make it as a starter. Lowry clearly has an argument over him. It's a bit annoying that Irving had more votes than Wall, so in that respect, there's an argument that the process should be changed.

The Wizards play-by-play guy, Steve Buckhantz, isn't really all that knowledgeable about the NBA. He's a homer not out of bias, but out of ignorance of other teams. All he knows is what he sees in Wizards games. If a player plays well against the Wizards, he'll assume that player is great, even if he sucks on most nights.

[CoachD]

Yeah. Wall deserves to make the All Star game, but it doesn't bother me that he didn't make it as a starter. Lowry clearly has an argument over him. It's a bit annoying that Irving had more votes than Wall, so in that respect, there's an argument that the process should be changed.

The Wizards play-by-play guy, Steve Buckhantz, isn't really all that knowledgeable about the NBA. He's a homer not out of bias, but out of ignorance of other teams. All he knows is what he sees in Wizards games. If a player plays well against the Wizards, he'll assume that player is great, even if he sucks on most nights.

That's interesting.

I actually know Steve Buckhantz's work ... didn't realize it was him in the interview.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't he been around a long time?
How does a guy who's no longer an NFL guy, and dedicated to one sport - not learn the sport inside out?

How can you be so myopic and only have eyes for your own team.

As a broadcaster and a coach, that just dumbfounds me.

[AFM]

Are you sure it was Buckhantz and not his partner Phil Chenier? Chenier is kind of an idiot as well.

[nate33]

Yeah. Wall deserves to make the All Star game, but it doesn't bother me that he didn't make it as a starter. Lowry clearly has an argument over him. It's a bit annoying that Irving had more votes than Wall, so in that respect, there's an argument that the process should be changed.

The Wizards play-by-play guy, Steve Buckhantz, isn't really all that knowledgeable about the NBA. He's a homer not out of bias, but out of ignorance of other teams. All he knows is what he sees in Wizards games. If a player plays well against the Wizards, he'll assume that player is great, even if he sucks on most nights.

That's interesting.

I actually know Steve Buckhantz's work ... didn't realize it was him in the interview.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't he been around a long time?
How does a guy who's no longer an NFL guy, and dedicated to one sport - not learn the sport inside out?

How can you be so myopic and only have eyes for your own team.

As a broadcaster and a coach, that just dumbfounds me.

I don't get it either. But it's true. He has the knowledge of the game equivalent to your Joe Six Pack neighbor who maybe watches a game or two on a Sunday afternoon, but mostly doesn't pay attention until the playoffs. He's the kind of person who still thinks Kobe is a really good player, or that Melo is better than Paul George.

[Ruzious]

If Buck really said "When we are healthy though, we are the deepest and most talented roster in the NBA", he's a bigger fool than I thought he was. For a guy who's not stupid and has been in the business for as long as he has to be that clueless about the sport is almost unbelievable. It makes me think that maybe Buck thinks his job depends on making comments like that.

Buck, please buddy-up with Blake Griffin, have some drinks with him, and insult him.

[CoachD]

If Buck really said "When we are healthy though, we are the deepest and most talented roster in the NBA", he's a bigger fool than I thought he was. For a guy who's not stupid and has been in the business for as long as he has to be that clueless about the sport is almost unbelievable. It makes me think that maybe Buck thinks his job depends on making comments like that.

Buck, please buddy-up with Blake Griffin, have some drinks with him, and insult him.

Haha.

That's why I posted this.

I was so blown away by the comment. You're sitting in 11th, and while talking to a broadcaster from the 2nd place team - you state with total sincerity you have the deepest team in the NBA.

LOL.

And with all that depth - he stated they have struggled cuz of injuries to a couple role players and Beal

[Ruzious]

If Buck really said "When we are healthy though, we are the deepest and most talented roster in the NBA", he's a bigger fool than I thought he was. For a guy who's not stupid and has been in the business for as long as he has to be that clueless about the sport is almost unbelievable. It makes me think that maybe Buck thinks his job depends on making comments like that.

Buck, please buddy-up with Blake Griffin, have some drinks with him, and insult him.

Haha.

That's why I posted this.

I was so blown away by the comment. You're sitting in 11th, and while talking to a broadcaster from the 2nd place team - you state with total sincerity you have the deepest team in the NBA.

LOL.

And with all that depth - he stated they have struggled cuz of injuries to a couple role players and Beal

Yeah, they've had several injuries, but aside from Beal - they've been to ordinary journeymen types. And seeing that Beal has gotten the same type injury in all 4 of his NBA seasons, that's an injury they should plan on and not something you can use as a valid excuse. Same with Nene's - he should never play on consecutive days, and that showed last night. The Wiz bench is just average even when everyone is healthy. There's not even one guy on their bench who would start on other teams.

[CoachD]

So asied from Buck's ridiculous comments .....

What's the biggest difference in the minds of Wizard fans as to why the team seems to have taken a step back?

Has the coach just totally lost the room? Time for a change? (I personally thought it was time for a change 2 years ago, but what do I know)

Did the loss of specific role players in the off season end up hurting much more than projected?

[nate33]

If Buck really said "When we are healthy though, we are the deepest and most talented roster in the NBA", he's a bigger fool than I thought he was. For a guy who's not stupid and has been in the business for as long as he has to be that clueless about the sport is almost unbelievable. It makes me think that maybe Buck thinks his job depends on making comments like that.

Buck, please buddy-up with Blake Griffin, have some drinks with him, and insult him.

Haha.

That's why I posted this.

I was so blown away by the comment. You're sitting in 11th, and while talking to a broadcaster from the 2nd place team - you state with total sincerity you have the deepest team in the NBA.

LOL.

And with all that depth - he stated they have struggled cuz of injuries to a couple role players and Beal

Yeah, they've had several injuries, but aside from Beal - they've been to ordinary journeymen types. And seeing that Beal has gotten the same type injury in all 4 of his NBA seasons, that's an injury they should plan on and not something you can use as a valid excuse. Same with Nene's - he should never play on consecutive days, and that showed last night. The Wiz bench is just average even when everyone is healthy. There's not even one guy on their bench who would start on other teams.

Yeah. If everyone is healthy, the bench is real solid but not "best in the league" good. Sessions and Nene are better than most backups but they're still not starting caliber. Temple, Neal, Anderson and Humphries are average bench players but nothing to write home about.

[montestewart]

So asied from Buck's ridiculous comments .....

What's the biggest difference in the minds of Wizard fans as to why the team seems to have taken a step back?

Has the coach just totally lost the room? Time for a change? (I personally thought it was time for a change 2 years ago, but what do I know)

Did the loss of specific role players in the off season end up hurting much more than projected?

The longer you tread water, the more tired you become. This team is tired.

[Ruzious]

So asied from Buck's ridiculous comments .....

What's the biggest difference in the minds of Wizard fans as to why the team seems to have taken a step back?

Has the coach just totally lost the room? Time for a change? (I personally thought it was time for a change 2 years ago, but what do I know)

Did the loss of specific role players in the off season end up hurting much more than projected?

Staying the same often means you're declining while everyone else around you is improving. Even San Antonio didn't stay the same. They went out and got LMA. And remember, the last couple of years, the East has been historically bad. This season, the East has finally started improving.

And the Wiz aren't a young team that's going to improve with experience. They have 4 players under 30 that play - and one of them - Oubre - isn't ready, Wall and Beal really haven't improved much if any, and Otto Porter's really the only guy who's improved significantly - though he tends to hide in 4th quarters. In the meantime, Nene has rapidly deteriorated the last 2 seasons, and he was their top interior defender and a player they could run their offense through when Wall needed a break. 2 years ago, they had Ariza - one of the top wing defenders in the NBA who fit their offense perfectly, and last year they had Paul Pierce to play well and provide leadership.

[CoachD]

So is Wizard nation hoping this team unloads guys like Nene, Gortat .... maybe even Beal / Porter and go full bear after KD? Or is it time to start bringing in better players to maximize Wall's window?

[Wizardspride]

So is Wizard nation hoping this team unloads guys like Nene, Gortat .... maybe even Beal / Porter and go full bear after KD? Or is it time to start bringing in better players to maximize Wall's window?

The entire roster other than Wall, Oubre, Beal (Restricted FA), Gortat & Porter are FA's.

They'll have enough money to go after KD or whoever.


My preference is to move Beal rather than give him a max deal.

[CoachD]

So is Wizard nation hoping this team unloads guys like Nene, Gortat .... maybe even Beal / Porter and go full bear after KD? Or is it time to start bringing in better players to maximize Wall's window?

The entire roster other than Wall, Oubre, Beal (Restricted FA), Gortat, Porter are FA's.

They'll have enough money to go after KD or whoever.

So is that the general mood of your fanbase?

Don't trade to improve this year's chances .... let the FAs walk and swing for the fences to nab KD

That would be cool....
But man ... risky. Like, what's plan B if Durant doesn't want to go home?

[CoachD]

Also just to clarify ...

Looks like in addition to Wall, Oubre, Beal, Gortat and Porter ... You will still have Hump and Gooden on the books, as well as the stretch on Webster, and a TO on Blair.

If they hit the homerun and end up with KD

You're looking at:

Wall
Beal (assuming he is kept)
Porter
Durant
Gortat

That's not a bad lineup. I'm curious if KD feels ready to become a full time 4, if that may impact his decision to sign there.
If he is a 3, and Porter the super sub, then they'd have to go find a low-rent 4

[Wizardspride]

So is Wizard nation hoping this team unloads guys like Nene, Gortat .... maybe even Beal / Porter and go full bear after KD? Or is it time to start bringing in better players to maximize Wall's window?

The entire roster other than Wall, Oubre, Beal (Restricted FA), Gortat, Porter are FA's.

They'll have enough money to go after KD or whoever.

So is that the general mood of your fanbase?

Don't trade to improve this year's chances .... let the FAs walk and swing for the fences to nab KD

That would be cool....
But man ... risky. Like, what's plan B if Durant doesn't want to go home?

I'm not opposed to making a trade but I don't want to take on long term salary unless it's for a true game changer.

It's KD or bust and if that doesn't work I have my eye on Demarcus Cousins in 2017 (the Wall connection).


Personally, I think we'll end up making the playoffs once we're fully healthy (we've lost the most games to injury in the league so far).

Now what we do once/if we get to the playoffs is largely dependent on matchups.

Strangely enough, I actually think the Wiz are built for the playoffs. Gotta get there first.