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Austin Rivers on his time in Houston vs. when he was playing in Washington

The best basketball is when you go in there to just win ... you don't have to worry about agendas

Start at :51
https://youtu.be/eOoqQMJ3egQ?t=51


Obviously, this isn't new news, but I'm convinced we will never have a sustained winning team as long as Beal/Wall are playing with each other. How many years will we keep hearing about "agendas", "selfish ball", and "players only meetings"?

zero2hero wrote:Austin Rivers on his time in Houston vs. when he was playing in Washington

The best basketball is when you go in there to just win ... you don't have to worry about agendas

Start at :51
https://youtu.be/eOoqQMJ3egQ?t=51


Obviously, this isn't new news, but I'm convinced we will never have a sustained winning team as long as Beal/Wall are playing with each other. How many years will we keep hearing about "agendas", "selfish ball", and "players only meetings"?

This is why I would trade Beal, Beal is certainly going to depart as-soon as he can.

closg00 wrote:

zero2hero wrote:Austin Rivers on his time in Houston vs. when he was playing in Washington

The best basketball is when you go in there to just win ... you don't have to worry about agendas

Start at :51
https://youtu.be/eOoqQMJ3egQ?t=51


Obviously, this isn't new news, but I'm convinced we will never have a sustained winning team as long as Beal/Wall are playing with each other. How many years will we keep hearing about "agendas", "selfish ball", and "players only meetings"?

This is why I would trade Beal, Beal is certainly going to depart as-soon as he can.

We just aren't in position to know this. Certainly, if there's a chance he'll depart, we should trade him by the Trade Deadline next year before his value starts to significantly decline.

If we think Beal will stay, then I maintain that it is unlikely we will ever get a trade package equivalent to Beal's value.

zero2hero wrote:Austin Rivers on his time in Houston vs. when he was playing in Washington

The best basketball is when you go in there to just win ... you don't have to worry about agendas

Start at :51
https://youtu.be/eOoqQMJ3egQ?t=51


Obviously, this isn't new news, but I'm convinced we will never have a sustained winning team as long as Beal/Wall are playing with each other. How many years will we keep hearing about "agendas", "selfish ball", and "players only meetings"?

Open your eyes my friend, it's not about Beal and Wall. Those are hallmarks of Ernie Grunfeld-led teams , and it's been happening in DC since well before those two even got here.

There's a reason why Brad directed his frustration specifically at Ernie in the infamous practice rant. When there's no culture of accountability from the top, it leaves the locker room to police itself and that's when players develop factions amongst each other. Gilbert Arenas said himself that's how it was when he was there, listen at the 9:30 mark



It's unbelievable to me that some of you guys have been following the Wizards for as long as you claim, and still think a basketball team's culture starts from the players. The problems came from Grunfeld and firing him was the biggest step towards getting the franchise back on track.

closg00 wrote:

Watch on YouTube

This is a pretty good interview. Howard is very articulate and comfortable in front of the camera.

It's interesting that he was told he would never play again after his initial back injury.

I get the sense that Howard has had to work really hard to get himself into playable shape and should be commended for it. Unfortunately, I also get the sense that there are so many problems with his back that it is unlikely that he'll ever stay healthy for any stretch of time.

Illmatic12 wrote:

zero2hero wrote:Austin Rivers on his time in Houston vs. when he was playing in Washington

The best basketball is when you go in there to just win ... you don't have to worry about agendas

Start at :51
https://youtu.be/eOoqQMJ3egQ?t=51


Obviously, this isn't new news, but I'm convinced we will never have a sustained winning team as long as Beal/Wall are playing with each other. How many years will we keep hearing about "agendas", "selfish ball", and "players only meetings"?

Open your eyes my friend, it's not about Beal and Wall. Those are hallmarks of Ernie Grunfeld-led teams , and it's been happening in DC since well before those two even got here.

There's a reason why Brad directed his frustration specifically at Ernie in the infamous practice rant. When there's no culture of accountability from the top, it leaves the locker room to police itself and that's when players develop factions amongst each other. Gilbert Arenas said himself that's how it was when he was there, listen at the 9:30 mark

Watch on YouTube

It's unbelievable to me that some of you guys have been following the Wizards for as long as you claim, and still think a basketball team's culture starts from the players. The problems came from Grunfeld and firing him was the biggest step towards getting the franchise back on track.

Never said it was fully on the players, but ok. At the end of the day, everyone shares blame. These aren't children. These are grown men. I think they'd find it offensive that you don't think these grown men can assert themselves.

So you think that now Ernie is gone, everything is water under the bridge? The genie in the bottle can simply be put back in - that the poison in the locker room that has been festering for 10+ years just disappears? That was my point - that the relationship between possibly Beal and Wall and maybe others within the locker room has soured and that one may have to be moved in order to really get a full reset. Not that it's solely and completely 100% their fault.

If you don't think that basketball culture in no way is part of the player's responsibility to foster and in part create as well, then I find that part unbelievable.

zero2hero wrote:

Illmatic12 wrote:

zero2hero wrote:Austin Rivers on his time in Houston vs. when he was playing in Washington



Start at :51
https://youtu.be/eOoqQMJ3egQ?t=51


Obviously, this isn't new news, but I'm convinced we will never have a sustained winning team as long as Beal/Wall are playing with each other. How many years will we keep hearing about "agendas", "selfish ball", and "players only meetings"?

Open your eyes my friend, it's not about Beal and Wall. Those are hallmarks of Ernie Grunfeld-led teams , and it's been happening in DC since well before those two even got here.

There's a reason why Brad directed his frustration specifically at Ernie in the infamous practice rant. When there's no culture of accountability from the top, it leaves the locker room to police itself and that's when players develop factions amongst each other. Gilbert Arenas said himself that's how it was when he was there, listen at the 9:30 mark

Watch on YouTube

It's unbelievable to me that some of you guys have been following the Wizards for as long as you claim, and still think a basketball team's culture starts from the players. The problems came from Grunfeld and firing him was the biggest step towards getting the franchise back on track.

Never said it was fully on the players, but ok. At the end of the day, everyone shares blame. These aren't children. These are grown men. I think they'd find it offensive that you don't think these grown men can assert themselves.

So you think that now Ernie is gone, everything is water under the bridge? The genie in the bottle can simply be put back in - that the poison in the locker room that has been festering for 10+ years just disappears? That was my point - that the relationship between possibly Beal and Wall and maybe others within the locker room has soured and that one may have to be moved in order to really get a full reset. Not that it's solely and completely 100% their fault.

If you don't think that basketball culture in no way is part of the player's responsibility to foster and in part create as well, then I find that part unbelievable.

Well by all reports Beal and Wall have been communicating with each other and with Ted as well, and they're in lockstep about turning around the team's culture. If anything they've grown closer during this whole ordeal. Both John and Brad mentioned in these interviews that they've been supporting each other and Brad adamantly believes that John can recover and they aren't done as a duo .





The most important thing is to get buy-in from your two franchise leaders, and they have that. As far as a full reset? That's going to happen anyways.. there are basically 8-10 open roster spots this summer. Most of the longtime holdovers from the Grunfeld era are gone , other than Ian Mahinmi and Sato , and as far as Sato I consider him someone who can be part of the solution moving forward.

Wizards have a strong opportunity ahead of them this offseason, with a new voice in charge they will be able to set a culture of accountability from the top and bring in the right collection of talent and high-character guys. I expect the vibe around next year's team should be completely different from any Wiz squad under Ernie.

But if I'm wrong and nothing changes over the next 12 months, then sure at that point you look at moving one of Wall/Beal . But I'd rather see them exhaust all options before making that kind of move. We likely can't trade Wall until he returns and shows his value, and if we trade Beal it could very well be years before we get a player with his ability. That's not a decision you make unless it's the absolute last resort. Because imo Bradley Beal is the exact type of young star teams would seek out to help them improve the culture, it's very difficult for me to see how you trade that kind of player and get better on & off the court.

Congratulations to Brad on winning the NBA Community Assist Award!

Hey Wash Post, I'd like to see a story on the lives of Wiz Go-Go players and how they live in the DMV on their meager salaries.

Zach Lowe with a quick tidbit on the Wiz:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27969493/ten-nba-things-like-including-karl-anthony-towns-superstar-push

Trevor Booker on his time in DC:
“It was the most terrible team that I’ve probably been on, but it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had in the NBA,” Booker said. “Because those guys didn’t care at all, you know?
“I would come into the locker room the day of a game and watch one player cut up the suit of another player. One guy took a s--- in another guy’s shoe. Oh my goodness, I have stories for days. We would go on the road and we would break into each other’s room and beat a player up, tie him up. There’s so many stories I got from those Washington days. It was so much fun, but looking back on it, oh my goodness. It was so unprofessional.”
“That’s all I knew. It was my first NBA team,” Booker said. “So I’m like, ‘Wow, the NBA really is a s---show.’ But, you know, as soon as I went to Utah, I was like, ‘Wow, this is way different. This is way more professional, and I really like this a lot more. There’s a lot more structure, and you know, it’s family-oriented.’ … I went to other organizations and I realized that what I had in Washington, it was not normal at all.” “I’m just glad I got out alive,” Booker said.

mhd wrote:Zach Lowe with a quick tidbit on the Wiz:


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27969493/ten-nba-things-like-including-karl-anthony-towns-superstar-push

I loved that # 11 on Thybulle. Kid leads the league in steals and deflections while playing about 20 minutes a game. Unfortunately, the rest of his stats are truly awful at this point.

trast66 wrote:Trevor Booker on his time in DC:
“It was the most terrible team that I’ve probably been on, but it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had in the NBA,” Booker said. “Because those guys didn’t care at all, you know?
“I would come into the locker room the day of a game and watch one player cut up the suit of another player. One guy took a s--- in another guy’s shoe. Oh my goodness, I have stories for days. We would go on the road and we would break into each other’s room and beat a player up, tie him up. There’s so many stories I got from those Washington days. It was so much fun, but looking back on it, oh my goodness. It was so unprofessional.”
“That’s all I knew. It was my first NBA team,” Booker said. “So I’m like, ‘Wow, the NBA really is a s---show.’ But, you know, as soon as I went to Utah, I was like, ‘Wow, this is way different. This is way more professional, and I really like this a lot more. There’s a lot more structure, and you know, it’s family-oriented.’ … I went to other organizations and I realized that what I had in Washington, it was not normal at all.” “I’m just glad I got out alive,” Booker said.

Ah, the Ernie Grunfeld era.

Here's something that's hard for me to understand, and that's still relevant.

Why didn't the W Post, local TV, and even national media have no interest in covering the Wizards' soap opera and mismanagement? Fights, taking dumps in people's shoes, cutting up uniforms- and nobody knew there were issues? Ted didn't know? Wow.

If this nonsense had been covered, it would have ended years sooner. Seems that would have been better for everyone involved- fans, players, Ted.

I think about the Redskins today.

Are reporters afraid they'll lose access to the team? Are they worried they'll lose future scoops? I would hate to be in a business where I couldn't do my job well for fear of losing my job!

Endless Loop wrote:Here's something that's hard for me to understand, and that's still relevant.

Why didn't the W Post, local TV, and even national media have no interest in covering the Wizards' soap opera and mismanagement? Fights, taking dumps in people's shoes, cutting up uniforms- and nobody knew there were issues? Ted didn't know? Wow.

If this nonsense had been covered, it would have ended years sooner. Seems that would have been better for everyone involved- fans, players, Ted.

I think about the Redskins today.

Are reporters afraid they'll lose access to the team? Are they worried they'll lose future scoops? I would hate to be in a business where I couldn't do my job well for fear of losing my job!

Kidding me? They covered all of it. Gilbert proudly discussed most of it in the Sports Bog. It was part of what made him a superstar, his frank and open access to his loopy mindset. He was one of the first e-media sports stars, the WPost built an online readership in part because of that team. At least for sports page readership.

In the Wizards' defense, that truly was the "peak knucklehead" era.

At that time, we had Arenas, Nick Young, Javale McGee, Andray Blatche and Jordan Crawford. Good God!

nate33 wrote:In the Wizards' defense, that truly was the "peak knucklehead" era.

At that time, we had Arenas, Nick Young, Javale McGee, Andray Blatche and Jordan Crawford. Good God!

You have to admit, Arenas and Blatche had a reverse inside-outside symbiosis, culminating In Gil picking Dray's shoe and passing a roll into it.

And speaking of "Good God!" glad you didn't forget Jordan "Good as God" Crawford.

Those were entertaining times, but it is not only hindsight that says for the purposes of winning basketball, the free rein approach was not the best way to develop and maximize the (to me) undeniable talent of these players.

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