Wizards @ Charlotte (12/23)

[BanndNDC]

A good coach would have at-least tried to slow Okafor down with someone willing to bang, Etan is our only guy for that job....sometimes Song.

actually i thought Songaila (especially when he was paired with McGee) did a good job on okafor during his minutes. if aj was 6'11" he and song would have done very well. songaila seals people out and is good at holding position/swiping at the ball. to be effective defensively he needs a quick rebounder and weakside shot blocking.

etan just sucks. his whole faux toughness is utter bs. i question anybody who claims that etan is tougher then songaila. having james, young and etan on the floor at the sometime would be pure torture and cause me not to watch a single minute.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I can gladly say that once again I didn't watch one second of the Wizards.

My hope is others will do so until the GM, coaches and players all know that fans feel they're not worth watching.

I do have one comment about Blatche. His best game aside from one earlier this season was last year IIRC against Okafor. He destroyed Okafor and did the Dream Shake move on him. I remember thinking Andray thoroughly outplayed the number one overall pick.

That was then. Before the season of suckiness.

I take every players performance or lack there of in context. This is just a bad, bad season.

[hands11]

Ugh...Blatche sucks.

No he doesn't. Give the kid a post EJ chance. Besides, he isn't a center, he is a PF playing center because he is the best we have there right now until McGee adjusts to teams adjusting to him or Haywood comes back.

He is going to struggle against the bigger more powerful centers. Specially if his outside shot isn't falling. He was just a little strong on a few shots that were good shots. If they fall he is
4-10 8 rbs 9 pts in 23 mins. Not bad except the foul trouble against a much stronger player.

He needed help down there. AB and DSong would be the best combo to deal with someone like Okafur. He isnt tall, he is just strong as an ox. That or dare I saw, AB/Etan or Etan/DSONG.

Etan is 6-10 260 That is actually a little beefer then Okafur. You have to wonder what is going on with Etan that they didn't even try him when we were in so much foul trouble.

But since EJ has left Blatche has played well. Just look at the game log. He just isn't consistent every game in part because he hasn't really logged that many minutes in his career and because he is going to run into these bigger strong centers, Also this team isn't exactly a well oiled machine right now.

But his PER went up 2.3 last year and its up a little more so far this year. 15 5 isn't terrible

AB shouldn't be singled out. AJ played like ass. He is the one making 10M not AB. If AJ played his average we would have been in the game or won it. CB stepped it up. AJ didn't.

So if you want to hate, hate on AJ. Give AB is freakn break.

[P'Oed]

So now Taps should've played Etan? After all of the crying and whining that Etan was playing too much earlier this year and the happiness expressed when he was benched....



you really can't win with you guys can you?

[Wizards2Lottery]

DCZards aka Eddie Jordan, the only person who believes Etan provides rebounding and toughness.

Yes, compared to Blatche, McGee and DSong...Etan is tough. Big East tough. After watching 50 year old Devean George waltz to the baket with impunity on Sunday and Okafor have his way in the paint tonight, I think it's time for a little "enforcement."

So what explains the fact that Etan was basically our worst player for the season when he was getting minutes? Why do we suck even more on defense and rebounding when he is on the floor (we always have with him even discounting this season)?

Sorry bud, most of us (including the coaching staff) isn't fooled by Etans fake tough image. The guy is softer than Blatche and McGee.

[hands11]

I honestly think now that it really doesn't matter who coaches this team. They are too weak inside. You can put Javale, Andray, Pech, Jamison. It doesn't matter. They could pushed around like they are twigs. That's not Tap's fault. The only guy with a little strength is D-song and he can't jump to grab rebounds slightly above his head.

Where's Jahidi White these days?

Now thats the man. Only guy I ever saw hold Shaq in place. 6-9 290

To bad it didn't work out for him. I had high hopes for him.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... eja01.html

He was making progress until MJ and Kwame got here together.

Then it was knee problems wasn't it ?

The question is ... where is party John 7-3 275
I bet he and AB would be baked every night.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_John_Ramos

He was a member of the 2004 Puerto Rican National Team that defeated the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games. Ramos was selected as a NBDL All Star and earned All-NBA Development League Honorable Mention during the 2006-2007 season.

In 2007 Ramos returned to the Caguas Creoles of the National Superior Basketball after a two-year absence. He finished with an average of 17.5 points per game

Ramos played the 2008 BSN season with averages of 17.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He was selected as an starter in the 2008 BSN All-Star Game, where he was selected the game's most valuable player and scored twenty-two points and nine rebounds. Ramos claimed that he had matured since traveling to Spain, which helped him in his game

[nate33]

Ugh...Blatche sucks.

No he doesn't. Give the kid a post EJ chance. Besides, he isn't a center, he is a PF playing center because he is the best we have there right now until McGee adjusts to teams adjusting to him or Haywood comes back.

He is going to struggle against the bigger more powerful centers. Specially if his outside shot isn't falling. He was just a little strong on a few shots that were good shots. If they fall he is
4-10 8 rbs 9 pts in 23 mins. Not bad except the foul trouble against a much stronger player.

He needed help down there. AB and DSong would be the best combo to deal with someone like Okafur. He isnt tall, he is just strong as an ox. That or dare I saw, AB/Etan or Etan/DSONG.

Etan is 6-10 260 That is actually a little beefer then Okafur. You have to wonder what is going on with Etan that they didn't even try him when we were in so much foul trouble.

But since EJ has left Blatche has played well. Just look at the game log. He just isn't consistent every game in part because he hasn't really logged that many minutes in his career and because he is going to run into these bigger strong centers, Also this team isn't exactly a well oiled machine right now.

But his PER went up 2.3 last year and its up a little more so far this year. 15 5 isn't terrible

AB shouldn't be singled out. AJ played like ass. He is the one making 10M not AB. If AJ played his average we would have been in the game or won it. CB stepped it up. AJ didn't.

So if you want to hate, hate on AJ. Give AB is freakn break.

Thank you, Hands11. I agree completely.

People are so bipolar on this board. Two games ago, we were ready to trade Jamison and start Blatche as our PF of the future. Now he sucks and should be traded at the soonest opportunity.

Blatche had an off night. It wasn't a terrible night, just not a good one. Yeah, he couldn't handle Okafor's strength, but he still managed 8 boards, 1 steal and 1 block in 23 minutes. Mike James and Antawn Jamison, our two seasoned vets, shot 9-38 combined. Jamison had 6 boards in 40 minutes. There was plenty of blame to go around.

[mhd]

I think playing center will be a good expierence for Blatche. It will toughen him up.

[MJG]

I can gladly say that once again I didn't watch one second of the Wizards.

My hope is others will do so until the GM, coaches and players all know that fans feel they're not worth watching.

I decided to watch this game out of celebration at the Stevenson benching. Then, midway through the first quarter, Stevenson gets up as the first sub off the bench. I felt like a fool.

The lesson: assume nothing good about this team right now. Let the good things happen first, and only then reward them with viewership. Never the other way around.

[hands11]

So now Taps should've played Etan? After all of the crying and whining that Etan was playing too much earlier this year and the happiness expressed when he was benched....



you really can't win with you guys can you?

I know I never said anything about Etans being glued to the bench.

I may not have wanted him to start but play the guy if he is needed in a situation like this. Same with Dixon. No one on the team could score. Why not put Dixon in ?

Are these guys sitting there in dressed to play for a reason ?

I guess Tapps may be putting the pressure on the younger players to step up and get it done so he can see what they are made of. Basically saying, no one is here to bail you out so what do you have kid.

[hands11]

Ugh...Blatche sucks.

No he doesn't. Give the kid a post EJ chance. Besides, he isn't a center, he is a PF playing center because he is the best we have there right now until McGee adjusts to teams adjusting to him or Haywood comes back.

He is going to struggle against the bigger more powerful centers. Specially if his outside shot isn't falling. He was just a little strong on a few shots that were good shots. If they fall he is
4-10 8 rbs 9 pts in 23 mins. Not bad except the foul trouble against a much stronger player.

He needed help down there. AB and DSong would be the best combo to deal with someone like Okafur. He isnt tall, he is just strong as an ox. That or dare I saw, AB/Etan or Etan/DSONG.

Etan is 6-10 260 That is actually a little beefer then Okafur. You have to wonder what is going on with Etan that they didn't even try him when we were in so much foul trouble.

But since EJ has left Blatche has played well. Just look at the game log. He just isn't consistent every game in part because he hasn't really logged that many minutes in his career and because he is going to run into these bigger strong centers, Also this team isn't exactly a well oiled machine right now.

But his PER went up 2.3 last year and its up a little more so far this year. 15 5 isn't terrible

AB shouldn't be singled out. AJ played like ass. He is the one making 10M not AB. If AJ played his average we would have been in the game or won it. CB stepped it up. AJ didn't.

So if you want to hate, hate on AJ. Give AB is freakn break.

Thank you, Hands11. I agree completely.

People are so bipolar on this board. Two games ago, we were ready to trade Jamison and start Blatche as our PF of the future. Now he sucks and should be traded at the soonest opportunity.

Blatche had an off night. It wasn't a terrible night, just not a good one. Yeah, he couldn't handle Okafor's strength, but he still managed 8 boards, 1 steal and 1 block in 23 minutes. Mike James and Antawn Jamison, our two seasoned vets, shot 9-38 combined. Jamison had 6 boards in 40 minutes. There was plenty of blame to go around.

Thanks.

ya, Okafur is a machine.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/s ... yerId=2399

But last years Haywood is a good player also. If he got more shots, he could post amazing numbers. And he is tall enough to cover more NBA centers.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/ ... rId%3d1000

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/ ... rId%3d2399

It would be sweet to see Okafur as the PF with Haywood at center. I would love to have him on our team.

Haywood, Okafur, and McGee for our centers and main PF would be nasty. You could play Oak and McGee at center or PF.

But that isn't going to happen. Why would they let him go.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/charlotte.htm

Charlotte did a great job getting him signed at good value.

[hands11]

I can gladly say that once again I didn't watch one second of the Wizards.

My hope is others will do so until the GM, coaches and players all know that fans feel they're not worth watching.

I decided to watch this game out of celebration at the Stevenson benching. Then, midway through the first quarter, Stevenson gets up as the first sub off the bench. I felt like a fool.

The lesson: assume nothing good about this team right now. Let the good things happen first, and only then reward them with viewership. Never the other way around.

Did you really think it wasn't going to be that way ? Specially the first game they moved him to the bench. The guy had the second longest starting steak. They weren't going to move him to the bench and then just not play him. But NY still played 20 mins while DS played 26. But from here with him off the bench, you are that much closer to give NY more mins if he is hot. Or, play DS if he is. Problem was, neither was.

[spaceman_E]

I guess Tapps may be putting the pressure on the younger players to step up and get it done so he can see what they are made of. Basically saying, no one is here to bail you out so what do you have kid.

If by "younger players", you meant "James and Jamison," then sure. Mcgee plays 9 minutes on a night Blatche is in foul trouble? What does it take to get him in the game?

[toughjuice03]

Good win by the Cats. I didn't expect any less but another Wiz loss, if anyone thought we had a chance at winning this game your crazy. In the last 10 games the Bobcats are 3-7 nothing spectacular but in those 7 losses 2 were by more than 15 and the other 5 were under 7 point losses they've played good and very close games lately and I didn't expect a win there at all. But onto a game we may win against OKC hopefully we lose OKC did play the cavs pretty close the other day but somehow we will squeak out a win. Am I be very optimistic but I think DS will play pretty good against the Cavs on X-MAS.

[BruceO]

people are so bipolar when it comes to Blatche. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but most of those rebounds came when Songaila was on Okafor. I think emeka was 9pts 2 rbs in first half against Blatche until songaila came in and foul trouble kicked in. Plus Emeka is stronger. He missed a few jumpers that could have been easily been made. He just didn't get the roll and those shots are eventually going to be consistent.

Jamison struggled but he was getting fouled a lot in the first half. He didn't get a lot of calls he should have. Plus you guys need to consider who was guarding him. Diaw is a very good post defender.

Deshawn didn't start. The coach brought him on early. I suppose you guys wanted him to wait till Dmac caught a third foul? I think Dmac had caught one or two early fouls. I don't object to deshawn coming in. Plus Deshawn has been playing backup point. Allowing Mike James or Nick to run with him as SG, while he handles initiating the offense he knows better than them, and defends the SG which Mike James probably couldn't do.

Etan still not sniffing the floor and I wonder what decision has been reached on him. Somethings definately up. Either health wise, conditioning or they think he sucks so bad they refuse to play him.

Songaila I finally don't mind having on this team. It's very hard to get role players who are good fundamental defenders. Strong and are able to be automatic from just inside the three point line. Too bad he's not a good rebounder. Let's not be greedy, I'll take the automatic J and defense on a team that lacks it. He ought to slow down on the fouling. Hopefully that won't be an issue when we got more bigs and fouls to give, combined with Bigs not getting cheap fouls. Then he can foul at will.

Mike James is playing decent for a backup. He has a tendency to chuck but he does play decent D. Gets a few steals, rebounds well etc. I did notice though. When Nick young played against the Felton, Felton didn't get much, but when it came to mike james vs Felton, Felton was able to penetrate more. I still think James is closer to the form of the year when he averaged 20 ppg. I went out on a limb and said it having looked at his game logs and seen it wasn't possible for him to get a lot of minutes. Tapscott said it too, mike needs a lot of minutes to be consistent. I suspected an evaluation was made of his play and he was deemed more able than AD. So much so that a draft picked had to be directed NO's way.

Juan Dixon didn't get much time and perhaps I failed to pick up what he might have done to not see floor time. perhaps he's just considered a defensive liability. perhaps Mike James is considered a better option.

Dmac rebounded quite well. Out of the blue he'd come up with the ball. Looking forward to the possibility of an earl clark or the best big SF in the draft coming to us.

Caron although didn't distribute that much showed he's able to put up points as a SG. He appreciates being able to use his size. Even though he was quite focused and determined on scoring It;s a positive that he was able to do so. They had to put G wallace on him. Now Imagine if we had a big SF who could score. It would force their hand to find a defender for that person too. Also I understand carons frustration. Apparently he blew up after the Dallas game upset about the way we were losing. I think this game he just took it upon himself to do it himself. If these guys didn't want to work for it, he was going to.

I'm willing to chalk this season up to the development of our players, getting another key piece. Healthy return of Gil and Haywood. Additional trades to mold our lineup into a competitive team. We competed against Cleveland for three years straight. Now look they had pressure on them to build a team for Lebron and now they are considered top four team in the NBA.

I think the key for us is to get like Kobe said, bigger, stronger and tougher. More physical. We gotta play a PF who's able to play C just like gasol, Just like Garnett, Like Rasheed, like Duncan, like Ben wallace. Teams are being slick playing two C's. teams are being slick playing a SF who's capable of playing PF. Just like Prince, Radmanovic, Lebron. Automatically you are able to deal with switches well and all the defensive duties don't fall upon one person. Blatche can be that PF. The SF can be available in the draft in the form of Aminu, Earl clark, possibly patterson and Jordan hill. It has to be a person who's capable of playing on the perimeter great defense and not be a liability offensively. That's why i'm hoping earl clark is a great two way player and aggresive. In the mold of Granger. Right now they say best case scenario marvin williams ( who is another player I like even though he gets heat for being picked over other players in his draft) and worst case Tim thomas. They say he can be phenomenal defensively. I hope he is. I want to reduce the amount of times caron has to compete against a Lebron who's bigger and have Deshawn guard him. Then we can play Caron at SG or SF defending on who the SF is.

[lupin]

our "centers" played with 5 fouls in the 4th and neither Pech or Etan saw any floor time. surely one of them was on the active list? also, Juan went from decent starter straight back to the end of the bench. I wonder if they're trying to see if they can get along without him and then cut him before Jan. 10 so they don't have to pick up the rest of his salary? strange rotations.

speaking of which...I was following along with the boxscore, and when the Wiz pulled to 69-70, guess who was subbed in? DeBrick. I think it was Doc who posted one of his 'crazy like a fox' theories on tanking on purpose this season that was related to DeBrick seeing time whenever the Wiz tightened up a game. Maybe Tankscott is really a cunning old devil after all? Or maybe he's just dumb. *shrug*

[W. Unseld]

I'm also perplexed at Dixon's lack of pt. It's a cliche' but he really is a microwave type off the bench. He's going to struggle against some guys defensively but he also gets steals in the passing lanes, his assists have improved, he usually hits the open jumper and he never, ever gives up. If they're screwing around w/him over a minimal salary or b/c EJ wanted then that's just backwards thinking and no I did not go to Maryland.