closg00 wrote:TGW wrote:I think that's just a copout closgoo. I'm sure Gilbert would have said exactly the opposite if the FO was micro-managing his injury. Gilbert was good at deflecting blame on others when the finger was being pointed at him (no pun intended).
Don't get me wrong, Gilbert is not blameless, but he needed an adult to reign him in. Gilbert was also not responsible for managing his minutes after returning from rehab.
Everyone remembers watching in-horror last-year as RGIII tried to continue playing on his injured knee. Eventually management stepped-in and yanked him from the game. Management has a responsibility to protect their multimillion dollar investment. We see how a hands-off approach worked with Gilbert, other teams have taken note.
I agree with you that management was part to blame, closg.
Gilbert rushed back from injury to be in the Wizard's lineup at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season. At the time I posted he needs to take his time. I posted that players who had successfully returned from micro fracture surgery took their time. Jason Kidd was one I mentioned in warning that Gilbert should do likewise, and take his time. So was Zach Randolph. Here's a link to how Randolph rehabbed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/magaz ... .html?_r=0The thing I objected to was the first 5 games of the season. Gilbert averaged over 40 minutes a game. I haven't used a search engine--I remember. I complained that if Eddie Jordan wasn't wise enough to use a "pitch count" approach, or in more straightforward terms; if he wasn't smart enough to limit Gilbert's minutes and ease him in to the rotation, then Ernie Grunfeld should overrule and step in. I kept posting that Gilbert's future was being compromised. He played (poorly) those 5 games, and came back worse as the Wizards were closing in on the playoffs. He never was the same.
I cannot say if Gilbert had already ruined his game by rehabbing incorrectly the first time out. His new contract was probably a motivator for him to come back. I think management was stupid to give him that contract. Said so at the time. Said he opted out knowing he was hurt. Not to say I was right --(
I'll let DANNYLANDOVER criticize me for an emotional rant. FWIW his criticism reminds me of those telling me back then Gilbert was fine.) -- but to me it made a lot more sense to wait and see Arenas healthy before awarding him a huge deal.
In hindsight, the smartest thing would have been to tell him they wouldn't negotiate a deal but for him to come back healthy, and not before, so Arenas could be the player he already had shown to be.
To me,
Wizards management didn't take a proactive stance in helping make sure their own players' health came first. EG was a part of of the problem and so was Eddie Jordan IMO. Foremost, the medical staff and Arenas were the culprits, but I think management could have made things better.
Tre Johnson is the future of the Wizards.
