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Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:21 pm**

Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas has been in Bradenton at the IMG Academy working out in advance of a return to basketball. In October, Etan was diagnosed with a leak of the aortic valve. He had successful heart surgery to fix the issue, and was granted his clearance for "full contact" work last week. NBA veteran Tony Massenburg worked out with Etan virtually every day, under the watchful eye of Mike Moreau and his staff as well as Wizards' strength and conditioning personnel. Etan is expected to rejoin the team soon, but as you can imagine still has some work to do on his conditioning.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=6891

Ernie also mentioned Etan's progress recently. It will be interesting to see how Etan will used by EJ. EJ seems to coach better with fewer players.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:29 pm**

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm**

If Etan ends up taking any of Blatche's or Haywood's minutes his return is bad. If he can be a bench player who provides energy at C or PF for 10-15 minutes a game I am waiting for his return.

If I had the option of choosing I'd choose the safe one - No Etan. The pros of him are being outweighed by the cons that could result from being misused or from bad chemistry in the locker room.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:41 pm**

Glad to see that Etan is making a speedy recovery.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:51 pm**

Good to here he's healthy.

And for the Wis, since they only have 2 centers on their roster, it's good news - as you can't expect both Haywood and Blatche to be healthy all 82 games.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:03 pm**

Anyone with Nate's e-mail should send this to him immediately. You know, just to see how he takes it.

:wink:

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:15 pm**

For Etan, this is good to hear - sounds like he's doing well.

For the Wizards, blech. I mean, in a perfect world this would be great news: Etan could cover the 6-8 minutes each night where we are playing Songaila at center (yes, I know, in a perfect world Haywood would be playing the 30-32 MPG he deserves and we wouldn't have to play Songaila at center at all, but shush). In reality, he'll probably start out taking minutes from Blatche rather than Songaila, and in time, likely take some from Haywood as well. What a downer.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:07 pm**

Pecherov got into a game a week or two after being cleared for full contact work, didn't he? Of course a hairline ankle fracture is very different from open heart surgery but I'd have to imagine we'll see Etan by the end of the month.

That, of course, gives the team about two weeks before the trade deadline to show the rest of the league that he's healthy. So I would fully expect him to get minutes right away. Maybe they'll get lucky and attract a trade from a desperate team.

If they can't trade him and Etan is at least somewhat decent upon his return, his minutes will probably come from Haywood. EJ likes Songaila, seems to also like Pecherov, and has shown increased trust on Blatche of late. That leaves Haywood, the guy he's never liked, as the odd man out.

If Etan stinks up the joint then he'll probably sit but if he's even remotely effective he's going to take minutes from Haywood. Guaranteed.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:10 pm**

I can only hope that Randy Ayers has enough input to persuade EJ to keeping using Haywood. Etan is garbage and should not get more than 5-10 minutes a night.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:43 pm**

MJG wrote:For Etan, this is good to hear - sounds like he's doing well.

For the Wizards, blech. I mean, in a perfect world this would be great news: Etan could cover the 6-8 minutes each night where we are playing Songaila at center (yes, I know, in a perfect world Haywood would be playing the 30-32 MPG he deserves and we wouldn't have to play Songaila at center at all, but shush). In reality, he'll probably start out taking minutes from Blatche rather than Songaila, and in time, likely take some from Haywood as well. What a downer.

I agree with everything in this post.

Etan would be nice to have if EJ would only play him a small period of time each game, but we all know that this won't be the case.

Good to see he's recovering, nonetheless.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:18 pm**

Hurray for Etan!

Sux for fans. At least if EJ uses Etan the same way as he did before.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:28 pm**

Good for Etan. Why has this been such a mystery? I'm guessing he won't talk to Ivan Carter, but has he just been keeping a low profile because he hates the media?

Just weird that he hasn't shown up at the Verizon Center. You would think you'd want to support your team and get some adulation from the fans just for showing up.

As for playing, all depends on whether he's ready to play some minutes physically and basketball-wise. Songaila has been brutal lately and Blatche is still playing out of position, though defenisvely he can hang in there as a center depending on matchup. I don't think it's a bad thing necessarily for the chemistry, because we're not exactly talking about the best bench in the league or at team with a lot of physical players. Songaila is really the only one so I'd welcome Etan back in the rotation as long as he's ready to go. Haywood is going to get his minutes as long as he continues to play well. Hope he doesn't go back into the tank with Etan back.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:33 pm**

If this was the NFL I'd advocate putting him on the practice squad. Still, happy for him personally that he appears to be recovering. Will be good to have another live body to practice against and be available in those emergency situations where Haywood and Blatche has fouled out. But I really don't want him taking any of BH or AB's minutes. Still as a third center, its good to have him around, since Songalia and Pech are better playing the 4 (or even the 3 for Pech?).

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:35 pm**

Ship his ass out of here with DSONG.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:46 pm**

As long as he continues to play well, BH will get his minutes with or without a healthy Etan. I don't believe EJ has had as much of a problem with BH's play as he has had with his attitude...at times.

I could see some situations/matchups where Etan might get more PT than AB.

As for DSong, he's actually played better in the last week or two...his outside shooting touch seems to be returning. I see DSong competing more for minutes with AB than either BH or Etan.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:25 pm**

What I'm hoping is that more depth up front from Etan and Pecherov will allow some reduction in Jamison's and Butler's minutes (e.g. Blatche playing more minutes with Haywood, etc.).

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:21 pm**

This is the biggest blow to the franchise since Arenas' injury.

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:54 pm**

now we can put out a true big line up...

c-haywood
pf-etan
sf- Blache
sg- jamison
pg- butler

no way this works...

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:00 pm**

80sballboy wrote:[snip]
As for playing, all depends on whether he's ready to play some minutes physically and basketball-wise. Songaila has been brutal lately and Blatche is still playing out of position, though defenisvely he can hang in there as a center depending on matchup. I don't think it's a bad thing necessarily for the chemistry, because we're not exactly talking about the best bench in the league or at team with a lot of physical players. Songaila is really the only one so I'd welcome Etan back in the rotation as long as he's ready to go. Haywood is going to get his minutes as long as he continues to play well. Hope he doesn't go back into the tank with Etan back.

I think AB at the 5 works pretty well in the same way that Bargs
for TOR does. Helps spread the floor, adds a shooter. AB hit a couple
of outside shots that BH probably shouldn't take vs BOS. And BH has
really shot w/ range of late. And with his size, he's a much better
force inside than Bargs but of course Bargs has Bosh to cover up for him.
BTW- one thing that has been somewhat overlooked is some of the
great passes that AB has made this year. Him and Song do
provide for decent ball movement which has helped guys like
(each other first of all) Nick and Mason.

edit to add - as for Etan, great to hear he is convalescing well.
Hopefully if/when he becomes available, EJ will use him properly
which probably means sparingly. Just like getting Gil back
...don't mess up a good thing (great song, check out the Ry Cooder
version on Hop 'til you drop).

Posted: **Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:30 pm**

nate33 wrote:This is the biggest blow to the franchise since Arenas' injury.

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Etan Returning Soon

Etan Returning Soon