Tapscott conflict of interest?

[Josh]

Tapscott has eliminated McGee's minutes and cut Young's and given almost none to Crittenton. This season is gone. Or if it's not gone, it ain't coming back without Arena. Ergo, the most important goal now is to assess and develop the young guys. But this is ET's first NBA coaching stint, and he may feel a strong desire to win now. Yes, it would have been thrilling to beat Cleveland on Christmas, and we would not have been close if Young and Crittenton had gotten James's minutes. But James is not part of this team's or any other's future. Are we in a situation analogous to the MJ era with the Wiz in which ET's interests are not the team's interests?

[LyricalRico]

Well, I can't imagine this is what Grunfeld had in mind. I continue to be shocked that he's allowing Tapscott to bench the guys who need PT the most. And if they really are considering holding Gil out all year then trying to win makes absolutely no sense at all.

This team can't even tank right. Figures.

[Wizards2Lottery]

I don't understand why the draft picks don't get PT. You should know that non lottery draft picks could take time to contribute and experience is a good way to speed up the process especially in a season that is a lost cause.

I don't understand Ernie at all.

[mhd]

I do like the fact that Taps has made Blatche tougher by playing him at center exclusively. I also like the handling of DMac. DMac against the Cavs is the type of glue-defensive-rebounding wing player we have been searching for years. I think Young, McGee, and Critt are not getting as much PT as they should because we are trying to raise the trade value of the vets.

[fishercob]

1) Taps isn't trying to audition for the Wiz or other coaching jobs. He was asked to do this by Grunfeld. He'll be back in the front office/player development role next year.

2) There's a ton of the season left. The kids will get plenty of minutes, and those minutes will help. But no amount of minutes are going to take the place of the summertime work that the kids need to develop their own games. McGee needs to gain weight. Critt and McGuire need to build their jumpers, etc.

[MJG]

I don't think Tap is worrying about next year. He's not returning as coach, regardless of how he performs. I mean, he didn't even really want the job to begin with; the stories around hiring time made it sound like he did it as a favor to EG more so than any other reason.

As much as it annoys me as a fan who used to like watching the games, I'm assuming that the reason the kids aren't really playing is because we want to drive up trade value for some of the veterans. It wouldn't surprise me at all if come all-star break, we start seeing good minutes for McGee and Young and Crittenton, trades or no. Is this the right strategy? I'm not a huge fan, though I suppose I'll be happy if we pawn off James or Stevenson or Songaila on someone for anything marginally useful.

[Kanyewest]

Maybe EJ got fired for playing McGee too much.

[hands11]

First, Tapps isn't doing anything that EG doesn't approve of. Take it as a given that they are on the same page and meet regularly about this kind of stuff..

2nd, We have made tons of changes this season that have improved this team now and for the longer run. We are starting Blatche, and DMAC. They are young players.

3rd. You don't want to just have a bunch of young players out there with no structure. They aren't going to develop well like that. Hopefully DS will continue to fade to the bench and NY and Dixon get some more burn. Critt isn't getting much until he learns the basics then he can get some of Dixons minutes.

4th - I wouldn't conclude that James doesn't have a future here just yet. Sure it would be easy to see us trading him but right now he is ours and he is playing well which is helping to stabilize the team making it easier for other player to develop.

5th - They are trying to win. They aren't tanking. Winning is the best way to grow young players. If the day comes that we are in full tank mode, you may see different players getting different minutes but that is not what they are doing. They are actually playing their best players. 2 happen to be young.

I think Tapps is doing a great job considering what he jumped into. There was a lot to change and it couldn't get done all at once. You don't want just a bunch of young players out there running around like chickens with their heads cut off. You want to grow them in a structure that helps them develop and in a style of play that will work when you have all your players back.

[hands11]

Maybe EJ got fired for playing McGee too much.

Is this a joke ?