DeShawn Stevenson

[vct33]

I have an honest question for Wizards fans. Do any of you have a hard time rooting for DeShawn Stevenson? He's such a punk that I'm not sure that I could like him even if he was on my team. How do you guys feel about him?

[nate33]

I understand that his "punk" attitude can rub guys the wrong way. But along with his attitude comes a certain toughness and bravado that the team needs. Deshawn isn't afraid of anybody and you know he's going to bring it every night (even if he doesn't bring his shot every night). He provides some toughness and a little "street thuggery" that the team needs.

I wouldn't want 3 or 4 Deshawns on the team, but I love having one.

[vct33]

"Street Thuggery" is a very nice descriptive for what I think of when I watch him play. The reason I ask the question is because I think of how irritated I used to get with Antoine Walker's wiggles and celebrations when they became excessive or untimely. Walker didn't spout off like Stevenson and I really never got the "thug" vibe from him but the celebrations could be flat out annoying. I don't mind pumping up the crowd after a very big basket in a very close game but how lame is the celebration after a meaningless basket in a game your getting spanked in or in a game your winning big in?

[dandridge 10]

"Street Thuggery" is a very nice descriptive for what I think of when I watch him play. The reason I ask the question is because I think of how irritated I used to get with Antoine Walker's wiggles and celebrations when they became excessive or untimely. Walker didn't spout off like Stevenson and I really never got the "thug" vibe from him but the celebrations could be flat out annoying. I don't mind pumping up the crowd after a very big basket in a very close game but how lame is the celebration after a meaningless basket in a game your getting spanked in or in a game your winning big in?

As a Wiz fan, I didn't like Stevenson waving his hand in front of his face when we were getting blown out. Obviously, it was a stupid thing to do. However, I agree with Nate. We got too many "nice guys" on our team...its nice to have someone that brings a little nastiness every now and then.

[jmrosenth]

He's yet another underdog story on a Wizards team filled with them. Nobody, including me, thought he'd be in the league this long. He's making the most of his young professional athletic career...having fun, getting paid, and most importantly working hard. I'll take the antics, as with Arenas, as long as he works hard. It's the guys who don't work hard and don't punch the clock that don't have my respect.

[doclinkin]

Second longest consecutive games streak in the league, playing on knees and ankles that will probably need offseason surgery, but still taking on the opponent's best perimeter player game after game. Shutdown games and 4th quarters on Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, among others.

Coming into last year he played on a two-dollar contract after losing his starting spot to Keith Bogans, he joined the Wiz as an overrated 'defensive specialist' then somehow managed to raise his game and find a role as outside shooter (never had much of an outside shot before) and found success as a role-player next to three 20 ppg game scorers-- not always an easy task. Management said look: contract year, whatever, you just play defense and hit open shots we'll take care of you. That's what he did.

In the offseason they over-paid --according to the market, since NOBODY else offered him a contract-- and in turn he gives the Wiz the usual post contract-year slump.... NOPE he does not. He actually raises his game and starts hitting threes at an unrealistic clip. I think he now holds the Wiz record for most threes in a game (eight right?). And in addition, his defense which was pretty fair already, improves significantly-- again, despite knees swollen to the size of a melon. He's one of the only players on the team who brings the 'swag' to defense, and his toughness has helped change the culture of the team. You may hear league-wide 'bout how the Wiz don't play defense, but don't you believe it, some part of that is lazy broadcasters paying attention to their old reputation, not checking the facts.

Me I respect hard work and full effort to the limit of your talent and beyond. You give me that, and contribute to wins playing your role, you can show me any antics you want. Especially if it pisses off a Cavs fan, or whatnot.

[MJG]

I think most of us here do like him, ranging from those who are content with him to those that love having him on the squad. He always puts in a full-out effort, has played through several minor injuries to help keep the team afloat while other players were out with more serious injuries, is our best defender, gets along great with his teammates, etc etc.

In general, role players that play hard and within the confines of their role, have fair contracts, and aren't a cancer in the locker room - they are well-liked by their fans (or, at the very least, not actively disliked). Stevenson fits right into this category.

That said, I fully understand how someone who isn't a fan of the Wizards could find the guy to be a total dipwad. He talks trash like he's more than some random role player, and has one of the two or three most annoying celebration gestures in the league. Anyone who finds the guy irritating to watch, I can't argue. If things were reversed and he was on the Cavs doing what he's doing right now, I'd hate the guy.

[Zerocious]

regardless of stats, i'll take DS over Da.jones any day....god i despise him.....but then again most cavs fans think he's hilarious.

Besides Stevenson's celebrations after his big shots in game three were merely him shaking of some of his playoff rust. Because of his verbal antics he's had a lot of criticism and he is now showing he can live up to his own hype.

[WizStorm]

At least DS actually works hard on both ends of the floor before acting like a jackass, unlike a role playing fool like Damon Jones. All Jones does is sit back on both offense and defense and bide his time until he gets a wide open 3, drains it and then starts acting like a fool.

If the guy at least makes an concerted effort on the floor, I can overlook the antics (ala Kevin Garnett). But the antics are much harder to take for other guys that I view as dogging it like Antoine Walker, who just jacks up shots left and right and then act all smug with his little shimmy after hitting one to make him 3/12 from the field.

[queridiculo]

The guy hasn't missed a game in three years despite sustaining multiple injuries. His game might not always be pretty and his antics annoying, but he's a defensive presence and brings it hard every night.

I wish he'd add some more dimension to his game, but when his outside shot is on he's a beauty to watch offensively.

Can't ask much more from the guy than he's already delivering for the team.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

This is how i showed up to work this morning...



...does that answer your question?

But honestly, he and Butler have both added a toughness and swagger (i hate the term thug, when's the last time he actually jumped somebody?) to a team that before their arrival often played defense like a bunch of primadonnas. And then reread Doc's post because he- as usual- put it better than most of us could.

And WizStorm took the words out of my mouth while I was goofin makin this post... you have Damon Jones on your team. And he doesn't even contribute. So, to put it politely, give me a break.[/url]

[Ruzious]

Second longest consecutive games streak in the league, playing on knees and ankles that will probably need offseason surgery, but still taking on the opponent's best perimeter player game after game. Shutdown games and 4th quarters on Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, among others.

Coming into last year he played on a two-dollar contract after losing his starting spot to Keith Bogans, he joined the Wiz as an overrated 'defensive specialist' then somehow managed to raise his game and find a role as outside shooter (never had much of an outside shot before) and found success as a role-player next to three 20 ppg game scorers-- not always an easy task. Management said look: contract year, whatever, you just play defense and hit open shots we'll take care of you. That's what he did.

In the offseason they over-paid --according to the market, since NOBODY else offered him a contract-- and in turn he gives the Wiz the usual post contract-year slump.... NOPE he does not. He actually raises his game and starts hitting threes at an unrealistic clip. I think he now holds the Wiz record for most threes in a game (eight right?). And in addition, his defense which was pretty fair already, improves significantly-- again, despite knees swollen to the size of a melon. He's one of the only players on the team who brings the 'swag' to defense, and his toughness has helped change the culture of the team. You may hear league-wide 'bout how the Wiz don't play defense, but don't you believe it, some part of that is lazy broadcasters paying attention to their old reputation, not checking the facts.

Me I respect hard work and full effort to the limit of your talent and beyond. You give me that, and contribute to wins playing your role, you can show me any antics you want. Especially if it pisses off a Cavs fan, or whatnot.

Amen. For as hard as he works while hurt - doing the heavy lifting - and as selfless as he usually is on the court (though there have been some games where he's strayed), I'll accept the occasional stupid comment and the stupid "You can't seem me" hand gesture. Those may be "punkish" actions, but he clearly is not a punk, imo.

[TheKingOfVa360]

I love him, he is far from a thug (not why you would even think that Lebron is more of a street thug than Deshawn). He plays defense every night, plays injured, doesn't take plays off.

[vct33]

And WizStorm took the words out of my mouth while I was goofin makin this post... you have Damon Jones on your team. And he doesn't even contribute. So, to put it politely, give me a break.

I assume you're talking to me. I don't have Damon Jones on my team, thankfully. DJ is a complete jackass that doesn't even deserve an NBA contract.

[carlos1223]

He spoke the truth. Lebrin is overrated. Therefore he is not a punk.

[vct33]

He spoke the truth. Lebrin is overrated. Therefore he is not a punk.

LOL, that's not why I started the thread but that's just ridiculous. If I was a coach and one of my players said "LeBron is overrated" right before a playoff series, I'd write LeBron a letter saying:

Dear King James,

I'm sorry about that. This guy is not right in the head. In fact he's on several prescription medications. We've been thinking about sending him to the D-league but we're afraid he might go postal if we do. Please understand the delicacy of this situation.

Thanks and good luck your Highness,

Coach

[keynote]

-= original quote snipped =-
If I was a coach and one of my players said "LeBron is overrated" right before a playoff series, I'd write LeBron a letter saying:

Dear King James,

I'm sorry about that. This guy is not right in the head. In fact he's on several prescription medications. We've been thinking about sending him to the D-league but we're afraid he might go postal if we do. Please understand the delicacy of this situation.

Thanks and good luck your Highness,

Coach

If you were a coach, your name would be Gar Heard.

[doclinkin]

LOL, that's not why I started the thread but that's just ridiculous. If I was a coach and one of my players said "LeBron is overrated" right before a playoff series, I'd write LeBron a letter saying:

Dear King James,

I'm sorry about that. This guy is not right in the head. In fact he's on several prescription medications. We've been thinking about sending him to the D-league but we're afraid he might go postal if we do. Please understand the delicacy of this situation.

Thanks and good luck your Highness,

Coach

Then you'd lose.

Diplomatic as you want to be, you can't play scared. You notice, no matter how many times LeBron went to the line the first couple games, this game he notched a grand total of 4 FT's, timid and afraid to drive the lane. The groundwork was laid by hard fouls in the first couple games.

He's 6'9" 260 like he claims, but LeBron has never been tested his whole life; he's more talented than any other player in the league, but it's not like he ever had to fight and scrap to collect his accolades. He's been the chosen one since junior high school. How many of y'all had a Hummer in highschool? He's been handed everythign he's got, based on the genetic lottery he won at birth, or the HGH someone slipped him at an early age or whatever.

Sometimes if you got a guy who thinks he's King Shxt BMOC thug you got to crack him in the mug just to let him know ain't nobody skeered of him. If he wants to make it a fight, so be it. I expect more likely it will make him look around at his teammates pissed that they won't give him more support. DeShawn's just the right kind of crazy, and frankly it sets the right tone for the rest of the team. Scared of nobody, we'll take whomever's next. We win, good, we lose, oh well, but might as well go down scrapping.

[ZonkertheBrainless]

You're tripping. DeShawn is awesome. I wish our other guys worked as hard as he did.

[JWizmentality]

If the zards win I'll put "I AM A STINKIN' QUITTER" in my sig, how's that?

If they lose I'll put "I TOLD YOU SO SUCKAS"

I have never seen a team quit so utterly like the zards did last night. If that isn't equivalent to peeing yourself and running home to momma I don't know what is.

Pony up brother.