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This is a long 2 page read but I tried to point out some real facts.

Lets start by going back to the playoffs 2 years ago. They play that super tight series with the Cavs that they lose and the Cavs go on to lose to Detroit in the next round. That offseason all the talk is about how the Cavs will be the next big thing in the East. I understand that but I do think that you couldnt look at the Wiz as that far off when they got blown out in game 1 of that series but in the next 5 games they had the lead in every single one of them with less the 3 seconds left. Every game they led but Lebron hit those game winners, 2 of them on walks

Then the next season comes. Everyone forgets that the Wiz were the #1 team in the East last year. They were beating all the top teams in the leauge including the big dogs out West. Everyone was still giving all the props to the Pistons. They made the trade for Webb and seemed unbeatable at the time. Then the Wiz played them 2 times in 3 days and beat them both times to claim the #1 seed in the East. The bad part is in that same game, AJ got hurt and the Wiz were basically injuried the rest of the year. He misses a month and then when he comes back, both Caron and then Gil go down. Even with all the injuries they had before the big 2 went down, they were still the 3rd seed in the East and thought they definatly would win if they got healthy late. They did get healthy but then they got right back hurt again and went into the playoffs without there 2 best guys. They got swept in the playoffs and lost nearly every game down the stretch but they were close in basically all of them but couldnt finish without those 2 big guns.

Now this season comes and they start off 0-5. People overreacted because they start off bad every year but then get it right. They win the next 3 but again lose Gil. Even without Gil they win so many games that they are again tied in the loss column with the Magic for the 3 seed. They still win games but then they lose Caron. Just like last year they are without the big 2 and then cant win. However, also just like last year they play basically everyone tight and lose by 1 or 2 points. Now they have just won 4 out of 5 games and have a record of 29-30 despite an 0-5 start, missing Arenas for 51 games and Caron for 18 games. They also had Daniels miss 11 with no other PG and he's played hurt along with Deshawn in most of them. Still with all that this team is just 1 game under .500 and has beat Boston twice, NO twice, and Dallas twice. They just got some bad news in that Caron has a tear but there optimistic that he will come back to finish the year.

PART 2

My real question is do you guys really not consider this team a threat when they get there 2 best players back? It made me sick listening to Jon Barry & Mike Breen talk during the Cavs-Wiz game when the Cavs beat the Wiz with just 8 guys. The whole game all they did was talk about the Cavs and what they could do down the stretch. They talked about how its so sad that the Cavs have had some injuries because they couldve had a much better record but said nothing about the Wiz? They ripped us all game saying that we should definatly win this game and we suck if we dont. What? They were short but they still had there 2 best players in Lebron & Z and they had some good role players who have done some good things in this league. On top of that they were at home. Ask Cavs fans right now who they rather have? That team they had that day or they healthy Cavs squad minus Lebron & Z? That should definatly not be a guaranteed win for the Wiz without there 2 best guys.

The bottom line is that there have been 3 reasons why this team has not been better in the past. There D sucked, they had no bigs, and had no depth. This year they added Randy Ayers from Philly who has made there D much better, there bigs in AJ, Wood, Songaila, Blatche, and Pesh have all been good, and there depth is way better then ever with Blatche, Pesh, Songaila, AD, NY, Mason, and McGuire. Then you look at the 3 best teams in the East are Boston, Detroit, and Cleveland. The Wiz have always matched up better with those teams then anyone. They always battle with the Cavs, they beat Boston twice this year, and the last few years they have beat the Pistons more then a few times. Gil will be back in the next couple of weeks and Caron will be back to finish the year. This team will be really dangerous down the stretch and people are foolish who dont talk about them with a chance of coming out the East. There much better then people give them credit for. When healthy late in the year they will have that normal starting 5 which is very good and will come off the bench with AD, Mason, Blatche, and Songaila. Thats a very dangerous team and that lineup definatly would be a very high seed when healthy

OK. When's Gilbert coming back btw? Does anyone know? I recall him saying Mar. 1

Short answer: I don't consider the Wizards a threat to do anything other than make a quick exit this year even if Butler and Arenas return.

Next year could be a huge growth period / jump in team wins if the team can stay healthy though... I'm actually expecting a drop in Jamison's play next year but if Haywood and Blatche continue to improve then any drop in Jamison's play is irrelevant.

No, they aren't underrated.

I don't think the Wizards are necessarily underrated. What they are is unproven. We don't know if Arenas and Butler are going to come back 100% this season. And if they do, we don't know whether or not they'll have time to be fully reintegrated into the roster.

If those guys do come back, and the Wizards go on a solid streak to close out the season (say, winning 8 of their last 10 or so), then the Wizards are going to be the team nobody wants to see in the playoffs. And, yes, they will have as good of a shot as anybody to make it to the Finals.

i hope the wizards play well so raps can get the 6th seed

^^ Yup, it all depends on A) if Arenas and Butler can come back and B) how healthy they'll be when they do come back.

If both go as planned, then we'll be a formidable opponent to anyone in the East. If not, then expect an early exit.

I think several of their players are underrated by the masses... Butler is a legit star in my opinion, Jamison with is a legit 20/10 guy, Haywood is a very solid 10/8 big with excellent D,Blatche is the best big that no one talks about, and Daniels is every elite's teams ideal backup point guard. They just need a better defensive mindset and better coaching in my opinion.

Stevenson is underrated on their team. I wouldn't the Wizards team is underrated. They have been playing well though as of late.

They're playing better than they should be.

I wouldn't call them underrated at all.

In fact, when Arenas IS playing, they are overrated.

I don't think they are underrated, but they can sometimes sneak up on teams who take them too lightly. However, I do think Blatche has been overrated as of late.

here was their lineup that beat us

jamison 37 minutes
daniels 35
songaila 32
stevenson 31
haywood 28
blatche 22
mc guire 17
mason 16
young 13
pecherov 8

If the Wiz were in the West, they wouldn't make the playoffs, and even if they did, each of the top 9 could destroy them. I wouldn't say they're underrated.

W>E

TD is the MAN wrote:I think several of their players are underrated by the masses... Butler is a legit star in my opinion, Jamison with is a legit 20/10 guy, Haywood is a very solid 10/8 big with excellent D,Blatche is the best big that no one talks about, and Daniels is every elite's teams ideal backup point guard. They just need a better defensive mindset and better coaching in my opinion.

No mention of Stevenson? I love his game, the only thing i feel is that when Arenas comes back Stevenson won't be able to do the things that make him the player he is.

Wes_Wesley wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



No mention of Stevenson? I love his game, the only thing i feel is that when Arenas comes back Stevenson won't be able to do the things that make him the player he is.

I can't give props to a guy who is having a worse year than Micheal Finley.

TD is the MAN wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I can't give props to a guy who is having a worse year than Micheal Finley.

Stevenson is playing as a 2nd option right now with a knee the size of a cantaloupe. He refuses to have the knee drained, because he would have to miss a few games. We Wiz fans thought earlier that we overpaid for him, but seeing this warrior out on the floor every night with all his ailments and play good D and act as the 2nd option is what makes us love this team.

Once this team gets Caron and Gil back, we are going to be scary. Gil getting injured allowed Caron to improve his game. Caron getting injured have allowed guys like Stevenson, Mason, and Blatche to step up and get better as well. Gil realizes that he needs to be the one adjusting to the team, which is why he has said he wants to start off by coming off the bench. He knows he is not going to be at 100% this season so he is going to defer more.

No other team in the East other than Boston has a trio as good as Arenas, Butler, and Jamison. Right now, these three guys are close to matching KG, Pierce, and Jamison.

The Wizards' bench of Daniels, Blatche, Mason, Songaila, Young, Pecherov , and McGuire is one of the best in the East. In Daniels, you have the steady veteran point guard who can slash and take of the ball. In Blatche, you have a very talented big man who can shoot J's, grab rebounds, and block shots. Mason has had a few big games this season...he is a shooter who can get red hot. Songaila, in the past five games or so, has finally found his groove. Young is the most fun player to watch on this team...he is a guy who can create his own shot and be instant offense. Pesh and McGuire are younger guys who get spot minutes but are active in those minutes.

Haywood has become one of the best centers in the East this season. He puts up 10 and 8 on good percentages (improved his FT% by 20% this season) with some of the best post defense in the East.

The_Believer wrote:If the Wiz were in the West, they wouldn't make the playoffs, and even if they did, each of the top 9 could destroy them. I wouldn't say they're underrated.

I totally disagree. I think if there healthy then they easily make it in the West and are one of the best teams. Dont judge them now. Wait until they get healthy. Again, they have never played together healthy with the depth and D they have now. There talent easily matches up with any team in the West

Young_Star11 wrote:They're playing better than they should be.

I wouldn't call them underrated at all.

In fact, when Arenas IS playing, they are overrated.

I totally disagree and I think Gil gets an unfair break. He has never ever played healthy with "this" team. Our D is much better now under Randy Ayers. We never had a good D coach before and now we have one. Look at our roster now compared to the team that lost to the Cavs 2 years ago. This team is much better and deeper. Then look at how good our bigs are now when they use to get dominated by everyone