F The Starters, I Like The Bench

dlts20 · Post #1 » by **dlts20** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:25 pm

1st off let me say that I think our starting group will be very good and will be able to hold its own. However, I tend to think that Howard will atleast start out on the bench. I think he will be just coming back and they like his energy there anyways. They will probably bring him along slowly. Also, I think we would have enough scoring in the 1st unit anyways if Dray is right by then so you dont really need Josh.

The fact is that I cant remember the time we had a good consistent bench. We either always have a ton of young guys who dont know nothing or play like crap because they are scared they will be bench after every little mistake, or we have old washed up vetrans who were barely good in the 1st place. I have always a nice mix of vetran & young guys on the bench who have a style that you can count on and play with energy.

Its been forever and the same thing, where the starters go to the bench and we get outscored by 10. Now we will be coming off the bench possibly with a great vetrean 3sum of Hinrich, Howard, & Yi sprinkled in with some NY who I think would play well between 2 guys like Kirk & Howard. Even if you just stay with the 1st 3, its still great if youre going to keep in Gil & Dray or whoever. I just think it keeps us consistent all game long. I wouldnt trust Al off the bench as much as Howard but that would still be alot better than the past. For some reason, I think Seraphin & Booker can give you some solid minutes without the thought of them overstepping there boundaries

dobrojim · Post #2 » by **dobrojim** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:42 pm

it's really hard to predict with any certainty how well
the bench may do. We can be redskins/hopeful (as borrowed
from another thread).

I like our starters - Wall and Arenas have the potential to
be an outstanding backcourt.

I expect AB once healthy, to pick up where he left off
last year when he was taking it right to the best PFs in
the league. No reason to think that can't continue even
as he relinquishes the role of first option.

McGee will have moments of spectacular success and failure probably
as well.

Howard/Thornton should be decent/service-able.

The bench has some known and some unknown quantities.
Hinrich is somewhat known but will be on a new team etc.
We'll have to wait to see if his offensive decline continues
or not. N1 is nothing if not inconsistent. Yi is an unknown
given he's on his 3rd team and expectations for him are
now lower than they've ever been. Seraphin is another
unknown. He's yet to play a minute in the league.
Armstrong? Who knows? The main thing with most
of the bench is that we're not necessarily counting
on them for much.

Post #3 » by **nate33** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:43 pm

The frontcourt depth is a bit murky right now. Thornton is a solid backup SF who can slide over to PF for stretches, but It's tough to predict who will emerge at PF and C among Seraphin, Booker, Yi and Armstrong. If one of those guys steps up and becomes a borderline starting-caliber player, we'll be in really good shape.

The best case scenario is that Seraphin is the next Okafor and Booker becomes Mbah Moute with a jumper. It's generally ill-advised to count on a rookie though.

no D in Hibachi · Post #4 » by **no D in Hibachi** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:58 pm

I do think Yi will be solid in a reduced role playing back ups. Up to this point he's been counted on as being one of the key players for his team. In Milwaukee he was the 3 option behind Bogut and Redd. In NJ he was projected to be the second/third option behind Harris and Lopez. Right now he's going to be the 3rd option amongst the bench players behind Young Thornton and maybe Hinrich. He's not complete garbage. He did have some really impressive showings last season so against lesser competition he should at least provide something and potentially be a borderline starter.

That said, it's Seraphin, not Yi, who is the key bench big man. The Wiz need him to be a good defensive player off the bench, ala Ben Wallace in his Wizard days. If he provides nothing more than rebounding, solid defense, and the occational slamma jamma I think he'll be more useful than Yi.

no D in Hibachi · Post #5 » by **no D in Hibachi** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:05 pm

I forgot, it seems like every year around this time we get all excited about our bench. Spanning back to the Jarvis Hayes/Steve Blake/JJ days. Then AD/Young/McGuire/Blatche/Thomas. Then Foye/Young/Blatche/McGuire. I don't remember the Wizards ever having a 'good' bench. Maybe things will change, but I'm not holding my breath. Seems to me that a good bench requires a team to have at least player who would be a starter nearly everywhere else. Such as Manu, Odom, or Crawford. You've got to have one player off the bench who you know will give you at least double digit points if they get 15-20 minutes. Young might...Thornton might....Hinrich probably won't....Yi, probably not... Not to be a debby downer, but I predict the Wiz will have a maybe okay bench this season.

Possibly when Howard returns Thronton has entrenched himself as the starter and Howard can come off the bench. He'd really help the bench in my opinion.

Post #6 » by **Ruzious** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:09 pm

Yeah, I get the impression from watching Yi that he doesn't react well to presure. A lot was expected of him on the China national team, at Milwaukee, and even at NJ. Basically, he never looked relaxed. And now that he's got significant NBA experience, and he'll be coming off the bench, I expect he'll be wiser and more relaxed, and his productivity and efficiency stats will significantly improve. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he and Seraphin do off the bench.

dlts20 · Post #7 » by **dlts20** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:01 pm

Yi has been average at best but he obviously has some talent. Before the AJ trade, you couldve said bad things about Dray. I think Yi could do good on our team with other scorers around him to leave him open and a guy like Wall who pushes the rock. He's been on teams that moreso want to bang and stay halfcourt while not having other scorers. On the flip side, if it doesnt work then he's gone at the end of the season so I think its good and he could do well. Its not like he was 27 and still playing that way. However, I am very interested in seeing if Seraphin can be a strong defensive player & rebounder right off the bat. That would be great

hands11 · Post #8 » by **hands11** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:49 am

Did we really need another thread for this. This could easily go under predict the starters.

dangermouse · Post #9 » by **dangermouse** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:03 am

bench players im excited about = Seraphin, Booker T, Kermit

I am looking forward to seeing if Booker gets some good minutes. With his toughness and speed I think he could come in for stretches against, say, Miami Heat, and really disrupt LeBum's game. Hes got the speed to keep up with him and the strength to really push him around and get under his skin. Then we have Nick Young, Kermit Hinrich and John Wall to slow down Wade. Blatche could stop Bosh, but hes the only one with a chance really, until we see what we got in Sera. Wiz = Heat killers.

If i was doing the rotations though, i would make it so that McGee and Booker were never on the court together as they are both below average defensive rebounders.

Wall
Hinrich
Booker
Blatche
????? (maybe Seraphin)

that would be our best defensive lineup and it features 3 players who you could argue are decent 2-way players. we still have scoring in blatche and wall and hiney spotting up.

Kanyewest · Post #10 » by **Kanyewest** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:52 am

The bench was supposed to be good last year but it wasn't (even though someone like Blatche has flourished as a starter). Have to wait and see to believe because after all I'm a Wizards fan.