Wizardspride wrote:http://www.bulletsforever.com/
Within minutes of Kirk Hinrich's press conference introducing him as a member of the Wizards, it became clear why team president Ernie Grunfeld decided to acquire him in a trade last month.
For one, Grunfeld has, quite literally, coveted Hinrich since Hinrich entered the league. The Wizards president admitted that he scouted Hinrich extensively prior to the 2003 draft, when Grunfeld was still with the Bucks, and had him on his radar for his team's eighth pick. The Bulls ultimately selected Hinrich one pick before Milwaukee, but Grunfeld said today that if Hinrich had slipped, "it's safe to say" that the Bucks would have picked him.
For another, though, there's something about the way Hinrich seems to carry himself that could be a real asset to this team. Obviously, I'm getting this sense merely from a press conference, and it remains to be seen what happens once actual basketball is played. But I was very impressed with the way Hinrich answered questions. He seemed pretty shy, and does not seem like the kind of guy who likes hearing himself talk. In other words, he seemed like a guy who just wanted to play basketball. A professional, if you will.
"He's had an outstanding career. He brings it every night, he's a pro, he works very hard, he competes and he's very versatile," Grunfeld said. "Those are the kind of players we're looking for."
Hinrich's demeanor reminded me of something I wrote back during the year. When Antawn Jamison left for Cleveland, I wrote this post discussing what I felt was the difference between being a leader and being a pro. Jamison was a pro, but he was miscast as a leader because he tended to get frustrated when people didn't listen to him. The Wizards, at the time, had pros (Caron Butler, Jamison, Darius Songaila, Mike Miller, Randy Foye, etc.), but needed a leader, and Jamison wasn't the right guy.
But now, the tables have been turned. The Wizards have a leader, and his name is John Wall. It's pros that they need who will set a good example and shun the spotlight. Kirk Hinrich provides that.
9 is not a small rotation. You only have 12 players so that 75% of the team. You're only not playing 3 players. But it does matter now many minutes those 9 get. Flip did a good job spreading the minutes to end the year last year. He would go 10 deep which was pretty much everyone who was healthy even giving minutes to players like Ross. Well, we don't have any dead weight players this year like Ross, Fabio, and Boykins. Closest we have is Armstrong and I wouldn't consider him in that category. I'm talking about less min for more players to start the year. As the year progresses, you obviously tighten things up.
I just don't want to see EFJ style playing CB, GIL and AJ 42 minutes a game until they break. Best record at all star break trophy. He has it sitting on his mantel.
We have players we need to develop and evaluate in different line ups. I want to win while doing that but I do want to grow our talent also. I want to see him change things up here and there because he can, not because he has to. I want to see him start Nick over Gil one game so Gil can rest a little more if we are playing back to backs instead of needing to do it because he is injured and has no choice.
But all of this I'm talking about in the first half of the season leading up to the trade dead line. We need to evaluate, develop and raise the value of as many players as possible so we are in the strongest position we can be come the trade deadline. Most of the back up players on this team you would feel comfortable starting a game. Kirk, Nick, AT, Yi for sure and we have hopes for Seraphine and Booker. Then you have Armstrong. I don't see getting him minutes as a priority but he does need some minutes. We have a lot of players who I can easily see will get minutes.
Wall, Gil, Kirk, AT, Dray, Yi, McGee, and Seraphin.
And a list of players I think you want to make sure they see some minutes
Nick, Booker so that 10. I can see Booker not getting consistent minutes to start the season but I want him to get some. Then you have Armstrong and whoever else we add who are not a priority but since we are thin at defensive center, I can see Armstrong used in spot situations as we evaluate McGees defense and if Seraphin is as good I hope. So that only leaves a player like Singleton or Martin on the bench.
I think and I hope we at least play 9 to start the season. With Wall, Kirk, Gil and Nick, Gil doesn't need to play 38 minutes a game. But this should be interesting. Nick better really step it up because Wall, Gil and Kirk are going to get minutes. But Wall will be adjusting to the style and the long season so we can take our time with him and not over play him. Specially with a vet like Kirk behind him. If Wall goes 25 min and Gil 30 that leaves 40 minutes between Kirk and Nick. Then you have 20 and 20 for both. Something like that is fine to start the year with some fluctuation from game to game. As Wall gets comfortable he can creep up to 30 then more but again, it's a long season. Ultimately, we are going to probably more some pieces so this will make more sense down the road.
I want us to win, but I want us to develop and pace ourselves.
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