RealGM

In light of our recent struggles I want to shed a narrow beam of postivity on our predicement. As god awful as we've looked at times we are only two games out of the playoffs with 62 games left, and four games out of fifth place. Our next ten opponents are: Indiana, @ LAC, @ Sacremento, @ Golden State, @ Phoenix, Philadelphia, @ Milwaukee, @ Minnesota, @ Memphis, OKC.

At worst we need to go 7-3, albeit thats 7 road games and only 3 home games.

Should win: Indiana, @ Sacremento, Philadelphia, @ Minnesota

Have a good chance of a win: @ G.S, @ Milwaukee, @ Memphis, OKC

Tough but possible: @ LAC

Hard to win: @ PHX

My prediction:

Indiana- W
@ LAC- L
@ Sacremento- W
@ G.S. - W
@ PHX- L
Philadephia- W
@ Milwaukee- W
@ Minnesota- W
@ Memphis- L
OKC- W

They'll go no better than 4-6, but I'd say 3-7 is the best bet.

I don't think there are ANY should wins except Philadelphia, but EJ's guys lost a close one before and could take the next.

I believe the Wizards, (reversing what I predicted a week or so ago), will be out of the race soon because Flip is going to rely on Gil, Caron, and Antawn. They'll go from 7-13 to something like 10-20 over the next few games IMO.

I see this team being fairly hopeless now.

They are not a defensive team. They are not a smart team. They're a bunch of chuckers. Flip hasn't impressed me, but I know it's not his fault that he inherited this bunch.

Simply put, Saunders won't sit Butler and Jamison enough for Blatche to get the majority of minutes at PF. Flip has no idea how to use McGee and Young. Flip keeps deferring to Gilbert, who's having a very, very bad effect of the team. Guys like Foye come in to shoot. Miller's been hurt too long.

I don't like this team at all.

L Indiana
L @ LAC
L @ Sacramento
W @ Golden State
L @ Phoenix
W Philadelphia
L @ Milwaukee
W @ Minnesota
L @ Memphis
L Oklahoma City

3-7.

I wrote this in another thread so Ill post it again here:


AM I WRONG FOR THINKING THIS?



Mike Lee has a column on the insider about how its 20 games so we can judge them now and see that they have a bunch of problems and arent a good team. I took the opposite side. I took it from that I think from here on is how you judge them. I think they needed 20 games to knock off all the dust and you can start to judge them from here on. Here is my repsonse and you tell me if you think Im wrong. I think alot of you will judging by the post I see on most Wiz boards:
=================



actually, I disagree with Mike Lee. I think everything you said is the case as of 20 games but to me, you can really start to tell from this point on. Tonight was the 1st game or atleast the first game since the 3rd game of the season that Gil pushed the tempo and we played with a bounce. If we had played the way weve been playing then the C's wouldve blown us out. Even in our wins we have looked bad. I thought we looked pretty good tonight but still need a little fine tuning.

If the guys can keep there head up then I think we can blow out the Pacers and then start looking good. I dont think its fair to judge them after 20 games. I have always thought the opposite. I have always felt that after 20 games is when we should "start" to judge them. We should judge them starting now on and I think they are starting to get over the hump.

I think Gil is starting to turn it up, they are starting to finally get use to Flip's system, and I think the rest will come. It sucks that weve dug ourselves a whole but I wouldnt be shocked at all if he went 15-5 or better over the next 20. I guarantee that if we dont get down and Gil comes out aggressive against Indy that the least we will have done is flipped our record in the next 20. We will atleast go 13-7 in that stretch but I think we will do better if Gil plays like he did tonight because he will only get better and more confident.

I loved the fact that this was the 1st game all year that we brought back our old pick & roll plays with Gil & Wood. Ive been upset all year how we never run the high screen where Gil comes around Wood real tight and is one on one with the big. We run alot of pick & rolls but most of them are loose and non aggressive. We ran a ton of the tight aggressive kind tonight and I thought Gil looked very good. Not old Gil yet but way better than he's been looking and if he doesnt get down about losing it late with the FT's then I think he will go off against Indy and we will start to play well because our team stil goes alot by how well he plays

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:They'll go no better than 4-6, but I'd say 3-7 is the best bet.

I don't think there are ANY should wins except Philadelphia, but EJ's guys lost a close one before and could take the next.

I believe the Wizards, (reversing what I predicted a week or so ago), will be out of the race soon because Flip is going to rely on Gil, Caron, and Antawn. They'll go from 7-13 to something like 10-20 over the next few games IMO.

I see this team being fairly hopeless now.

They are not a defensive team. They are not a smart team. They're a bunch of chuckers. Flip hasn't impressed me, but I know it's not his fault that he inherited this bunch.

Simply put, Saunders won't sit Butler and Jamison enough for Blatche to get the majority of minutes at PF. Flip has no idea how to use McGee and Young. Flip keeps deferring to Gilbert, who's having a very, very bad effect of the team. Guys like Foye come in to shoot. Miller's been hurt too long.

I don't like this team at all.

WHAT ARE YOU TAlKING ABOUT>>>

You complain that certain posts are emotional and this is your response?

I think the team has the talent to be much better than it is, but Flip won't sit the big three long enough to get wins.

The next 10 games I think they'll go 4-6 or 3-7.

If they're 10-20 after 30 games, it's still very possible for them to go 30-22 the rest of the way, but right now I think they won't do it.

This team is 7-13 when I think with a coach that would forget the salaries and history could easily have the team 11-9 or 12-8.

Flip is not doing a very good job with this team IMO. Jamison, Butler, and Arenas have shot this team out of a lot of games. Blatche hasn't played near enough minutes, especially with Haywood. Young and McGee haven't played enough minutes.

Flip's system has rendered Butler ineffective and caused Gil to be worse than he would be even coming off the injury.

I repeat exactly what I just said: I do not like this team.

Flip is part of what I don't like about it so far. I've seen him coach 2 or 3 great games, showing flexibility. However, I think he's coached at least 6-8 bad games.

My misstatement about Miller being hurt too long is that his absence is killing this group, because he played exceptionally well while healthy.

I thought the easy schedule for the rest of December might be a good chance for the Wizards to turn things around. Despite playing some good games(but falling short) against good opponents, the Wizards have blown some good chances by playing poorly against very beatable opponents.

The recent losses to Toronto(had lost 4 on the road) at home and Detroit(without Hamilton and Prince), make me less optimistic. I think they will improve somewhat, but I think they will end up right on the edge of making the play-offs.

I think the next 4 games are key. Indiana is missing Granger. Sacramento and the Clippers are 9-12. Golden State is 7-14 and a mess. If they can win 3 of those games I will be more optimistic. My expectations are they will split and continue their inconsistency.

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:They'll go no better than 4-6, but I'd say 3-7 is the best bet.

I don't think there are ANY should wins except Philadelphia, but EJ's guys lost a close one before and could take the next.

I believe the Wizards, (reversing what I predicted a week or so ago), will be out of the race soon because Flip is going to rely on Gil, Caron, and Antawn. They'll go from 7-13 to something like 10-20 over the next few games IMO.

I see this team being fairly hopeless now.

They are not a defensive team. They are not a smart team. They're a bunch of chuckers. Flip hasn't impressed me, but I know it's not his fault that he inherited this bunch.

Simply put, Saunders won't sit Butler and Jamison enough for Blatche to get the majority of minutes at PF. Flip has no idea how to use McGee and Young. Flip keeps deferring to Gilbert, who's having a very, very bad effect of the team. Guys like Foye come in to shoot. Miller's been hurt too long.

I don't like this team at all.

I agree, dare I call this type of coaching EJ lite?

dlts20 wrote:I wrote this in another thread so Ill post it again here:


AM I WRONG FOR THINKING THIS?



Mike Lee has a column on the insider about how its 20 games so we can judge them now and see that they have a bunch of problems and arent a good team. I took the opposite side. I took it from that I think from here on is how you judge them. I think they needed 20 games to knock off all the dust and you can start to judge them from here on. Here is my repsonse and you tell me if you think Im wrong. I think alot of you will judging by the post I see on most Wiz boards:
=================



actually, I disagree with Mike Lee. I think everything you said is the case as of 20 games but to me, you can really start to tell from this point on. Tonight was the 1st game or atleast the first game since the 3rd game of the season that Gil pushed the tempo and we played with a bounce. If we had played the way weve been playing then the C's wouldve blown us out. Even in our wins we have looked bad. I thought we looked pretty good tonight but still need a little fine tuning.

If the guys can keep there head up then I think we can blow out the Pacers and then start looking good. I dont think its fair to judge them after 20 games. I have always thought the opposite. I have always felt that after 20 games is when we should "start" to judge them. We should judge them starting now on and I think they are starting to get over the hump.

I think Gil is starting to turn it up, they are starting to finally get use to Flip's system, and I think the rest will come. It sucks that weve dug ourselves a whole but I wouldnt be shocked at all if he went 15-5 or better over the next 20. I guarantee that if we dont get down and Gil comes out aggressive against Indy that the least we will have done is flipped our record in the next 20. We will atleast go 13-7 in that stretch but I think we will do better if Gil plays like he did tonight because he will only get better and more confident.

I loved the fact that this was the 1st game all year that we brought back our old pick & roll plays with Gil & Wood. Ive been upset all year how we never run the high screen where Gil comes around Wood real tight and is one on one with the big. We run alot of pick & rolls but most of them are loose and non aggressive. We ran a ton of the tight aggressive kind tonight and I thought Gil looked very good. Not old Gil yet but way better than he's been looking and if he doesnt get down about losing it late with the FT's then I think he will go off against Indy and we will start to play well because our team stil goes alot by how well he plays

I do think you are wrong because you should not just be looking at the last 20 games to judge them. You should also be looking at how this team has played the last 5 years. As I have pointed out many times before, over the last 5 years with the Big 3 as the core, this team has always taken horrible quick shots on offense, have been below par on defense, have played up against good teams and played down to bad and mediocre teams, and have played mentally and phsically soft. That just is not a recipe for success.

Yes, it is entirely possible that the Wizards could have a winning record in December just because of the schedule and the talent they have on this team. However, do you really still have hope that this team can contend for a title or even make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I sure don't. And, everything less than making to the second round would be a complete and utter disappointment.

In short, I commend you for your optimism this year. However, I'm just not buying it anymore.

dandridge 10 wrote:

dlts20 wrote:I wrote this in another thread so Ill post it again here:


AM I WRONG FOR THINKING THIS?



Mike Lee has a column on the insider about how its 20 games so we can judge them now and see that they have a bunch of problems and arent a good team. I took the opposite side. I took it from that I think from here on is how you judge them. I think they needed 20 games to knock off all the dust and you can start to judge them from here on. Here is my repsonse and you tell me if you think Im wrong. I think alot of you will judging by the post I see on most Wiz boards:
=================



actually, I disagree with Mike Lee. I think everything you said is the case as of 20 games but to me, you can really start to tell from this point on. Tonight was the 1st game or atleast the first game since the 3rd game of the season that Gil pushed the tempo and we played with a bounce. If we had played the way weve been playing then the C's wouldve blown us out. Even in our wins we have looked bad. I thought we looked pretty good tonight but still need a little fine tuning.

If the guys can keep there head up then I think we can blow out the Pacers and then start looking good. I dont think its fair to judge them after 20 games. I have always thought the opposite. I have always felt that after 20 games is when we should "start" to judge them. We should judge them starting now on and I think they are starting to get over the hump.

I think Gil is starting to turn it up, they are starting to finally get use to Flip's system, and I think the rest will come. It sucks that weve dug ourselves a whole but I wouldnt be shocked at all if he went 15-5 or better over the next 20. I guarantee that if we dont get down and Gil comes out aggressive against Indy that the least we will have done is flipped our record in the next 20. We will atleast go 13-7 in that stretch but I think we will do better if Gil plays like he did tonight because he will only get better and more confident.

I loved the fact that this was the 1st game all year that we brought back our old pick & roll plays with Gil & Wood. Ive been upset all year how we never run the high screen where Gil comes around Wood real tight and is one on one with the big. We run alot of pick & rolls but most of them are loose and non aggressive. We ran a ton of the tight aggressive kind tonight and I thought Gil looked very good. Not old Gil yet but way better than he's been looking and if he doesnt get down about losing it late with the FT's then I think he will go off against Indy and we will start to play well because our team stil goes alot by how well he plays

I do think you are wrong because you should not just be looking at the last 20 games to judge them. You should also be looking at how this team has played the last 5 years. As I have pointed out many times before, over the last 5 years with the Big 3 as the core, this team has always taken horrible quick shots on offense, have been below par on defense, have played up against good teams and played down to bad and mediocre teams, and have played mentally and phsically soft. That just is not a recipe for success.

Yes, it is entirely possible that the Wizards could have a winning record in December just because of the schedule and the talent they have on this team. However, do you really still have hope that this team can contend for a title or even make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I sure don't. And, everything less than making to the second round would be a complete and utter disappointment.

In short, I commend you for your optimism this year. However, I'm just not buying it anymore.

I disagree. The fact is that the last time we were healthy we were on a 23-8 stretch. You cant really judge the rest when at that time we basically had the big 3 and nothing else. Even Wood sucked. Gil has been hurt for 2 years, we were a young new team for 1 year, and Caron was just coming into his own the other year. I dont think thats fair. We werent supposed to do great most of those times. We were supposed to do good that year we got to 1st and then we got hurt again so I dont think its totally fair to say those things

Ahhh, all the optimists keep pointing to that brief stretch, in December a few years ago, that we were leading the Eastern conference, as their grasp of hope. Yes, our record was what it was, but it was at the beginning of the season which basically means nothing...there have been plenty of teams that have started out well only to fade as the playoffs get closer. Morever, even then I did not think we were playing all that well. Gil had some monster games during that stretch, but if my memory serves me correctly, we were lucky to have won several of those games due to last game heroics by Gil. Moreover, even when the big 3 were completely healthy, we were still taking horrible shots, still playing no D, and losing to teams we should have beat. My problem with this team is that I see these same characteristics years later, despite a new coach, despite the fact that these players should have more maturity, and despite the fact that the same criticisms of this team (lack of D, horrible quick shots, lack of a killer mentality against lesser components) as been there for several years. I mean, how many times have we heard AJ say he needed to stop taking quick threes, and how many times does it continue to happen? How many times has Gil said that he needs to step up D, and how many times does he continue to get lost on defense? How many times has the big three said that they need to start taking lesser teams more seriously and yet they continue to play down to their level. At some point, you just can't ignore history.

Like I said, I respect your optimism regarding this team. I happen to not share it. I know I'm not going to convince you otherwise so we will just have to wait till the end of the season to see who is right and who is wrong.

For me its hard to make a call until I see the Indiana game. The team has a history of coming up with intense efforts against tough opponents, only to turn around and mail it in against beatable teams. I didn't see last nights game, but the reports indicated that we did some positive things against the top team in the east. Will the effort carry over against a depleted, beatable squad like Indiana? If so, I can see the team having a successful run over the rest of this month. My optimistic take (7-3):

Indiana- W
@ LAC- W
@ Sacremento- W
@ G.S. - W
@ PHX- L
Philadephia- W
@ Milwaukee- L
@ Minnesota- W
@ Memphis- W
OKC- L

dandridge 10 wrote:...

My problem with this team is that I see these same characteristics years later, despite a new coach, despite the fact that these players should have more maturity, and despite the fact that the same criticisms of this team (lack of D, horrible quick shots, lack of a killer mentality against lesser components) as been there for several years. I mean, how many times have we heard AJ say he needed to stop taking quick threes, and how many times does it continue to happen? How many times has Gil said that he needs to step up D, and how many times does he continue to get lost on defense? How many times has the big three said that they need to start taking lesser teams more seriously and yet they continue to play down to their level. At some point, you just can't ignore history.

...

I see where you are coming from, but the fact that we have a new coach is huge. If EJ were still coaching this team, making the same excuses, I would agree with you 100%. But he's gone, and Flip has only had one offseason, one training camp/pre-season, and 20 games to evaluate the players, install his system, and make adjustments. Changing the "culture" of a team takes time. I think we've seen positive signs already: more minutes for Haywood; going back to starting Nick Young; willingness to bench Gil when he has been struggling; fewer three point shots given up. I don't agree with every decision that he has made, but I think he is taking steps in mostly the right direction. Its still too early to tell. He may yet fail, but I'm willing to reserve judgement for at least another 20 games.

GilShammGil wrote:

dandridge 10 wrote:...

My problem with this team is that I see these same characteristics years later, despite a new coach, despite the fact that these players should have more maturity, and despite the fact that the same criticisms of this team (lack of D, horrible quick shots, lack of a killer mentality against lesser components) as been there for several years. I mean, how many times have we heard AJ say he needed to stop taking quick threes, and how many times does it continue to happen? How many times has Gil said that he needs to step up D, and how many times does he continue to get lost on defense? How many times has the big three said that they need to start taking lesser teams more seriously and yet they continue to play down to their level. At some point, you just can't ignore history.

...

I see where you are coming from, but the fact that we have a new coach is huge. If EJ were still coaching this team, making the same excuses, I would agree with you 100%. But he's gone, and Flip has only had one offseason, one training camp/pre-season, and 20 games to evaluate the players, install his system, and make adjustments. Changing the "culture" of a team takes time. I think we've seen positive signs already: more minutes for Haywood; going back to starting Nick Young; willingness to bench Gil when he has been struggling; fewer three point shots given up. I don't agree with every decision that he has made, but I think he is taking steps in mostly the right direction. Its still too early to tell. He may yet fail, but I'm willing to reserve judgement for at least another 20 games.

Unlike some on this board, I like Flip. I think Flip is doing everything possible to change the culture of this team. I think he is saying all the right things and I have belief he is teaching the team the right principles. But, I also know from representing a lot of companies that changing "corporate culture" is a very, very tough thing to do. You can preach, preach and preach, but unless the employees are willing to listen, its not going to change. Sometimes the only way to change the corporate culture is to get rid of some of the employees that are not willing to listen.

dlts20 wrote:I wrote this in another thread so Ill post it again here:


AM I WRONG FOR THINKING THIS?



Mike Lee has a column on the insider about how its 20 games so we can judge them now and see that they have a bunch of problems and arent a good team. I took the opposite side. I took it from that I think from here on is how you judge them. I think they needed 20 games to knock off all the dust and you can start to judge them from here on. Here is my repsonse and you tell me if you think Im wrong. I think alot of you will judging by the post I see on most Wiz boards:
=================



actually, I disagree with Mike Lee. I think everything you said is the case as of 20 games but to me, you can really start to tell from this point on. Tonight was the 1st game or atleast the first game since the 3rd game of the season that Gil pushed the tempo and we played with a bounce. If we had played the way weve been playing then the C's wouldve blown us out. Even in our wins we have looked bad. I thought we looked pretty good tonight but still need a little fine tuning.

If the guys can keep there head up then I think we can blow out the Pacers and then start looking good. I dont think its fair to judge them after 20 games. I have always thought the opposite. I have always felt that after 20 games is when we should "start" to judge them. We should judge them starting now on and I think they are starting to get over the hump.

I think Gil is starting to turn it up, they are starting to finally get use to Flip's system, and I think the rest will come. It sucks that weve dug ourselves a whole but I wouldnt be shocked at all if he went 15-5 or better over the next 20. I guarantee that if we dont get down and Gil comes out aggressive against Indy that the least we will have done is flipped our record in the next 20. We will atleast go 13-7 in that stretch but I think we will do better if Gil plays like he did tonight because he will only get better and more confident.

I loved the fact that this was the 1st game all year that we brought back our old pick & roll plays with Gil & Wood. Ive been upset all year how we never run the high screen where Gil comes around Wood real tight and is one on one with the big. We run alot of pick & rolls but most of them are loose and non aggressive. We ran a ton of the tight aggressive kind tonight and I thought Gil looked very good. Not old Gil yet but way better than he's been looking and if he doesnt get down about losing it late with the FT's then I think he will go off against Indy and we will start to play well because our team stil goes alot by how well he plays

yup, these first 20-25 can go with recycled trash. i was going to give the wiz 25 games to get their isht together, another 25 games to play 500 ball and then the last 32 to put the jets on for a play-off push. so i still have 5 games of grace for them. which makes it hard for me the post the following:

Indiana- W
@ LAC- W
@ Sacremento- L
@ G.S. - L
@ PHX- L
Philadephia- L
@ Milwaukee- L
@ Minnesota- W
@ Memphis- W
OKC- L

4-6 i hate the truth

imo they will start out their second stretch of 25 games with 2 losses.

this sucks. even still i am supposed to have 5 more games of grace, but i have been freaking out at the pisspoor performances anyhow. this team frustrates me, damn me for caring

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:You complain that certain posts are emotional and this is your response?

I think the team has the talent to be much better than it is, but Flip won't sit the big three long enough to get wins.

The next 10 games I think they'll go 4-6 or 3-7.

If they're 10-20 after 30 games, it's still very possible for them to go 30-22 the rest of the way, but right now I think they won't do it.

This team is 7-13 when I think with a coach that would forget the salaries and history could easily have the team 11-9 or 12-8.

Flip is not doing a very good job with this team IMO. Jamison, Butler, and Arenas have shot this team out of a lot of games. Blatche hasn't played near enough minutes, especially with Haywood. Young and McGee haven't played enough minutes.

Flip's system has rendered Butler ineffective and caused Gil to be worse than he would be even coming off the injury.

I repeat exactly what I just said: I do not like this team.

Flip is part of what I don't like about it so far. I've seen him coach 2 or 3 great games, showing flexibility. However, I think he's coached at least 6-8 bad games.

My misstatement about Miller being hurt too long is that his absence is killing this group, because he played exceptionally well while healthy.

I'll give you this CCJ, you don't go halfway in anything



they do need to have a very successful stretch against that schedule,
that's charmin soft.

Hard to predict how this team is going to perform and Flip is EJ-lite with his rotations. I am hoping that the return of Miller will spark a run. I'm going to go with 4-6

Indiana- W
@ LAC- L
@ Sacremento- W
@ G.S. - L
@ PHX- L
Philadephia- W
@ Milwaukee- L
@ Minnesota- W
@ Memphis- L
OKC- L

Okay. I'll play along:

Indiana- W (They're a bad team. We absolutely have to beat them)
@ LAC- W (Good bigs, bad outside shooting. We match up very well.)
@ Sacramento- W (in a tailspin. Have lost 4 in a row)
@ G.S. - L (They suck, but we'd be due for a loss after 3 wins)
@ PHX- L (No chance to win this one. They shoot too well.)
Philadephia- W (I'm nervous about this one, but I think we pull it out at home.)
@ Milwaukee- W (Again, we match up well. Haywood shuts down big men.)
@ Minnesota- W (They suck. What little offense they have runs through Al. Wood owns Al.)
@ Memphis- L (They're playing well lately. Haywood can't guard both Gasol and Randolph)
OKC- W (Just a feeling. No rational explanation.)

7-3

I'm in an optimistic mood today, I guess.

Indiana - L
@ LAC - W
@ SAC - L
@ G.S. - W
@ PHX - L
Philadelphia - W
@ MIL - W
@ MIN - L
@ MEM - W
OKC - L

5-5

Man o Man, what is going on with my wizards man,smh....this is how i see this going...

Indiana- W (at least i hope)
@ LAC- W
@ Sacremento- L
@ G.S. - L
@ PHX- W
Philadephia- W
@ Milwaukee- L
@ Minnesota- L
@ Memphis- W
OKC- L

i pray we win at least the home games. And whats up with Gilbert this year man, dude been folding like a laptop. i've never seen him this bad in the cluth.