GT: Wizards @ Sixers 02-05-08

[LyricalRico]

Without Jamison on the floor, the team struggles to score. Jamison's on/off differential is a mind-boggling +23.9. The offense is a whopping 15.3 points better with him on the floor, and the defense is 8.7 points better. Jamison LEADS THE LEAGUE in on/off differential. His importance to the team is huge. Benching Jamison might well be the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

That's why I suggested making Caron the 6th man. Of course you flamed that, too.

I just think it's clear that this team has hit a wall, which is understandable. But nothing says they have to keep doing the exact same things. A shake up could energize this team for another spurt while we wait for the second coming of Arenas.

Not only is Caron hurt but the team plays great with a Wood/Blatche/AJ frontcourt. Making Caron 6th man would give a definite boost to a putrid second unit. Does it limit his minutes? Yes, but apparently that's what he needs right now because he's hurting.

Sorry but I don't see a downside here. Since the All-Star break is upon us, we'd only have to roll with this lineup for 11 games. Then Gil comes back on March 2 and we go back to starting the Big Three.

It's not for the rest of the season and it's no disrespect to Caron's game. But this team needs to do something before they end up 10 games under .500 and out of the playoff picture, which is a distinct possibility at this point. Winning games is much more important that making sure Butler plays 40+ minutes on a bad hip and I think Caron would agree with that.

[TheKingOfVa360]

EJ has to go. The players are starting to tune him out. This was a major lost and now we are about to take a major slide, maybe even out the playoff picture. EJ is not the right coach for this team, he is a bonehead.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

EJ has to go. The players are starting to tune him out. This was a major lost and now we are about to take a major slide, maybe even out the playoff picture. EJ is not the right coach for this team, he is a bonehead.

The players are not tuning EJ out, the players love EJ as a coach and want him here. They play hard for him, just ask Caron.

What you are seeing is a team that is hurting..and without Caron or Gil, aren't going to look pretty or win many games.

[nate33]

It's not for the rest of the season and it's no disrespect to Caron's game. But this team needs to do something before they end up 10 games under .500 and out of the playoff picture, which is a distinct possibility at this point. Winning games is much more important that making sure Butler plays 40+ minutes on a bad hip and I think Caron would agree with that.

There's a big difference between doing something and doing something stupid.

Like I said before, it makes perfect sense to manipulate the lineup so that either Butler or Jamison is on the floor at all times. EJ actually does this now. It also makes sense to try to cut back their minutes a bit too. But it makes no sense at all to make Butler or Jamison a 6th man. If Butler is only capable of playing limited minutes, then I'd rather just sit him out and let him heal completely.

I've got no problems with featuring a Haywood/Blatche/Jamison lineup. But we can work our way into the lineup during the course of the game. Just have Blatche come in for Butler at the 6:00 mark in the 1st and 3rd quarter.

If EJ wants to try something different, then he should bench AD and start Mason. AD needs the rest anyhow and he's no better than Mason when he is playing on one leg. Also, teams rarely press to start the game so they'd be less likely to expose the poor ball-handling of the backcourt.

[gowiz999]

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I still don't understand this logic. Jamison has been our second-best player all season, and with Butler ailing, he's our best player. How could it possibly help matters to bench him?

The guy had ONE bad game. It happens.

Without Jamison on the floor, the team struggles to score. Jamison's on/off differential is a mind-boggling +23.9. The offense is a whopping 15.3 points better with him on the floor, and the defense is 8.7 points better. Jamison LEADS THE LEAGUE in on/off differential. His importance to the team is huge. Benching Jamison might well be the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

One bad game? Every game is a bad game for him. The sooner he goes to the bench and becomes a 6th man the better.

[nate33]

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One bad game? Every game is a bad game for him. The sooner he goes to the bench and becomes a 6th man the better.

Jamison is averaging 21 and 11 with a PER of 19.6. He is leading the team and the league in on/off differential. He ranks 22nd in scoring and 9th in rebounding. If every game of his is a bad game, then I hope he keeps having bad games.

I'll cede that his shooting percentage isn't very good. Out of 45 players averaging at least 18 points per game, Jamison ranks 41st in TS%. But that's gonna happen with Arenas out and Butler ailing. And it's worth noting that Jamison leads all 45 players in avoiding turnovers.

[TheKingOfVa360]

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The players are not tuning EJ out, the players love EJ as a coach and want him here. They play hard for him, just ask Caron.

What you are seeing is a team that is hurting..and without Caron or Gil, aren't going to look pretty or win many games.

Do you really think this team is going anywhere (besides first round playoff lost or second round lost) with EJ as the head coach? He isn't a championship caliber basketball coach. Being a middle of the road team is the worst thing. We will never get a high enough pick to get a young star. We don't get to play our young prospects enough minutes for them to turn into stars. And we aren't good enough to attract vets willing to take a pay cut to be on a contender. After this season EJ needs to go and we need to really think twice of resigning Jamison back. He will never be the starting PF on a championship team or even a true Eastern Conference contender. He is a good leader and solid player but is a poor defender and shrinks in the clutch.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

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Do you really think this team is going anywhere (besides first round playoff lost or second round lost) with EJ as the head coach? He isn't a championship caliber basketball coach. Being a middle of the road team is the worst thing. We will never get a high enough pick to get a young star. We don't get to play our young prospects enough minutes for them to turn into stars. And we aren't good enough to attract vets willing to take a pay cut to be on a contender. After this season EJ needs to go and we need to really think twice of resigning Jamison back. He will never be the starting PF on a championship team or even a true Eastern Conference contender. He is a good leader and solid player but is a poor defender and shrinks in the clutch.

The way this team was playing with a healthy butler, yes I think they have a chance of going deep once Arenas comes back.

and the word you are looking for is LOSS, as in a 1st round loss. Not the first round show LOST.

[TheKingOfVa360]

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The way this team was playing with a healthy butler, yes I think they have a chance of going deep once Arenas comes back.

and the word you are looking for is LOSS, as in a 1st round loss. Not the first round show LOST.

I never get why people correct peoples grammar on the internet when they clearly see what the person is stating. It's like a way to be a "smart ass" for no good reason. I know what a loss is, but I'm typing at work and the last thing I want to do is re-read everything I type. So I put the wrong word after being on this board for over a year, sue me.


I'm a Wizards supporter but I know we don't stack up with Boston and Detriot. Hell the Cavs or Toronto would beat us in 6 or 7 games if Arenas doesn't play better defense when he returns. Last year while we were healthy I honestly thought we would go to the Eastern Conference finals due to how we matched up with everyone. Now I think EJ's coaching is to sub par in the 4th quarter and even if we made it to the finals we don't stack up vs the Western powerhouses.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

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I never get why people correct peoples grammar on the internet when they clearly see what the person is stating. It's like a way to be a "smart ass" for no good reason. I know what a loss is, but I'm typing at work and the last thing I want to do is re-read everything I type. So I put the wrong word after being on this board for over a year, sue me.


I'm a Wizards supporter but I know we don't stack up with Boston and Detriot. Hell the Cavs or Toronto would beat us in 6 or 7 games if Arenas doesn't play better defense when he returns. Last year while we were healthy I honestly thought we would go to the Eastern Conference finals due to how we matched up with everyone. Now I think EJ's coaching is to sub par in the 4th quarter and even if we made it to the finals we don't stack up vs the Western powerhouses.

We stacked up well against everyone last year when healthy, and we probably stack up better this year (better bench).

[TheKingOfVa360]

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We stacked up well against everyone last year when healthy, and we probably stack up better this year (better bench).

You make some great points. I'm probably just panicking for no reason. The sky isn't falling it just feels like it. We need to get healthy and EJ needs to improve his coaching.

[miller31time]

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You make some great points. I'm probably just panicking for no reason. The sky isn't falling it just feels like it. We need to get healthy and EJ needs to improve his coaching.

EJ's actual coaching (X's and O's) seems to be fine, especially with the Ayers acquisition. It's his freaking substitution pattern and minute distribution that has this entire board baffled.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

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EJ's actual coaching (X's and O's) seems to be fine, especially with the Ayers acquisition. It's his freaking substitution pattern and minute distribution that has this entire board baffled.

Agreed, but it is something that can ironed out. He has been working with a short bench (injuries) the entire season.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

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You make some great points. I'm probably just panicking for no reason. The sky isn't falling it just feels like it. We need to get healthy and EJ needs to improve his coaching.

Yes, you are panicking...and sorry for jumping on you with the LOSS/LOST comment. That is my version of going crazy/hootin and hollarin. When people go crazy and say the wizards season is over ..fire and trade everyone, i just become an ass (donkey) and attack ..

[TheKingOfVa360]

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Yes, you are panicking...and sorry for jumping on you with the LOSS/LOST comment. That is my version of going crazy/hootin and hollarin. When people go crazy and say the wizards season is over ..fire and trade everyone, i just become an ass (donkey) and attack ..

I totally understand and yes Jordan is a good coach besides his substitution pattern. I never understand why he sits Haywood so much.

[Dat2U]

I don't you can take "substitution patterns" and just isolate it as a singular problem that can be easily rectified. Truth of the matter is since day one in DC, Eddie Jordan has continually struggled in terms of managing the flow of the game.

He seems to be a person of gut, intuitiveness and chance. His offensive persona permeates his game decisions when deciding to go small, spread the floor and look for more scoring options even when it might not be in the teams best interest.

He has shown no ability whatsoever to grasp when his players are truly not themselves or struggling. He'll play his "stars" come hell or highwater no matter how bad their hurt or struggling. No matter how questionable their shot-selection. No matter how bad they've defended. Even in meaningless blowouts, he'll leave his key guys out there to send a message, even if that message might backfire with long lasting complications due to guys being less than 100%.

The fact is EJ is a honorable human being. A smart offensive mind, a good leader and motivator. He prepares his teams very well offensively and with the additions to the coaching staff, this team is being coached alot better than it has in the past.

However EJ has and will continue to struggle mightly when it comes to managing the game itself. Whether is drawing up that key play at the end of the game or quarter, knowing when to make a lineup change to stir things up or even when chosing the right moment to call a timeout to stop an opponent's momentum, EJ consistently falls short in many of these aspects.

At this point you have to wonder if it will ever change. Or will this team and roster ever become good enough to overcome EJ's in-game failings. I seriously believe that what we've seen is what we'll continue to get from Eddie.

Is that good enough for the organzation? Maybe so. It it good enough for a fan that wants to see this team compete for a title at some point? I'm not so sure.