Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing

[nate33]

Our problem isn't offense or defense. It's talent.

I don't agree with this. We have no depth, and that's on Ernie, but our top 6 players are legitimately solid NBA players, all of whom could start on at least 1/4th of the teams in the league. And Booker is a legit rotation player who would get regular minutes almost anywhere. We also have a superstar who is probably among the top 15-20 players in the game.

The talent is here. When healthy, this team should be winning well more than half their games, particularly in the East. The problem is chemistry, effort, and the system. Wittman needs to be better. Teams have adjusted to our offense by chasing Beal and Webster off the 3-point line. Wittman needs to counter. If nothing else, he needs to try Ariza at the 4 to get better spacing.

I'm not letting EG off the hook though. He is responsible for the fact that our team collapses if any of the top 6 players get hurt. And he is also responsible for building a team based on a 30-year-old front court. We have no real reason for future optimism other than Wall - a player he acquired by being lucky enough to land the #1 overall pick.

[dckingsfan]

Hmmm, not to many in EGs corner at this point...

Although if Ted is, it doesn't matter what the fans think

Someone should send him a link to this thread...

[verbal8]

I'm not letting EG off the hook though. He is responsible for the fact that our team collapses if any of the top 6 players get hurt. And he is also responsible for building a team based on a 30-year-old front court. We have no real reason for future optimism other than Wall - a player he acquired by being lucky enough to land the #1 overall pick.

If we had Evan Turner or I would argue even Derrick Favors instead of Wall, things would look a lot worse.

[Nivek]

Our problem isn't offense or defense. It's talent.

I don't agree with this. We have no depth, and that's on Ernie, but our top 6 players are legitimately solid NBA players, all of whom could start on at least 1/4th of the teams in the league. And Booker is a legit rotation player who would get regular minutes almost anywhere. We also have a superstar who is probably among the top 15-20 players in the game.

The talent is here. When healthy, this team should be winning well more than half their games, particularly in the East. The problem is chemistry, effort, and the system. Wittman needs to be better. Teams have adjusted to our offense by chasing Beal and Webster off the 3-point line. Wittman needs to counter. If nothing else, he needs to try Ariza at the 4 to get better spacing.

I'm not letting EG off the hook though. He is responsible for the fact that our team collapses if any of the top 6 players get hurt. And he is also responsible for building a team based on a 30-year-old front court. We have no real reason for future optimism other than Wall - a player he acquired by being lucky enough to land the #1 overall pick.

I agree that the top 6 is NBA quality -- that 6 being Wall, Ariza, Gortat, Nene, Booker and Webster. Beal isn't there yet.

In terms of ABILITY, I'd agree that Wall is a top 15-20 player in the game. In terms of production -- no. Not consistently. At least not yet.

Grunfeld has handcuffed Wittman with a 6-deep roster -- maybe 7 if they can get Beal producing like he did in the 2nd half of last season. And with guys on minute restrictions...Wittman has very few options.

What's frustrating is how predictable this was.

[nate33]

I'm not giving EG any credit for Wall. He was the clear consensus #1 pick. Everybody, and I mean everybody, knew Wall was going 1st. There may have been some mention of Turner going #1 by reporters trying to add intrigue to the draft, but nobody believed it.

[dckingsfan]

Our problem isn't offense or defense. It's talent.

I don't agree with this. We have no depth, and that's on Ernie, but our top 6 players are legitimately solid NBA players, all of whom could start on at least 1/4th of the teams in the league. And Booker is a legit rotation player who would get regular minutes almost anywhere. We also have a superstar who is probably among the top 15-20 players in the game.

The talent is here. When healthy, this team should be winning well more than half their games, particularly in the East. The problem is chemistry, effort, and the system. Wittman needs to be better. Teams have adjusted to our offense by chasing Beal and Webster off the 3-point line. Wittman needs to counter. If nothing else, he needs to try Ariza at the 4 to get better spacing.

I'm not letting EG off the hook though. He is responsible for the fact that our team collapses if any of the top 6 players get hurt. And he is also responsible for building a team based on a 30-year-old front court. We have no real reason for future optimism other than Wall - a player he acquired by being lucky enough to land the #1 overall pick.

I agree that the top 6 is NBA quality -- that 6 being Wall, Ariza, Gortat, Nene, Booker and Webster. Beal isn't there yet.

In terms of ABILITY, I'd agree that Wall is a top 15-20 player in the game. In terms of production -- no. Not consistently. At least not yet.

Grunfeld has handcuffed Wittman with a 6-deep roster -- maybe 7 if they can get Beal producing like he did in the 2nd half of last season. And with guys on minute restrictions...Wittman has very few options.

What's frustrating is how predictable this was.

Dead-on - Cosign this most powerful post. This should go into the GM101 handbook of how a GM can put a coach out to dry.

[Zonkerbl]

Yeah, our defense has deteriorated because we traded Okafor for Gortat. We can wish to be as good defensively as we were last year but it's just not going to happen.

[DCZards]

Yeah, our defense has deteriorated because we traded Okafor for Gortat. We can wish to be as good defensively as we were last year but it's just not going to happen.

Okafor's contributon to last year's team was underrated---because the team's W-L record was so bad.

[Ruzious]

I think Randy's going to get the axe soon, but EG is going to be around at least till the end of the season. It's the bed Ted's made. Firing EG would be like firing an extension of himself.

[Zonkerbl]

It's NBA talent but it is it home court advantage in the playoffs talent? Is it championship level talent?

If you were to put Wall, Beal, Ariza, Nene, and Gortat, with Webster and Porter, through the various statistical meatgrinders I think you'd find they have a maximum achievable output of 50 wins.

Which would be great. Maybe I'm greedy but I think we should be getting 50 wins now instead of lingering south of .500.

[Dat2U]

Yeah, our defense has deteriorated because we traded Okafor for Gortat. We can wish to be as good defensively as we were last year but it's just not going to happen.

Okafor's contributon to last year's team was underrated---because the team's W-L record was so bad.

Maybe that's why you don't trade cap room away to pay Okafor & Ariza $20 mil per... So you can have enough cap room to fill out an actual roster instead of being 6 deep with a lousy record because we have 9 **** guys on the roster that can't play.

[TGW]

Nate--I disagree that talent is not an issue...it absolutely is. Talent is the reason why the top 7 players on the team are gassed from too many minutes and are on minutes restriction. Talent is why we had to move Nene to the bench, and Beal missed games. Talent is why we can't defend anyone.

More than half the roster stinks. That's a talent issue.

[JonathanJoseph]

I'm really starting to hate this team. Well, not the players specifically, but the way the Washington Wizards are run. There really is no hope in sight. We suck. We have always sucked. We always will suck.

A fish always rots at the head. EG is still calling the shots, and Ted continues to let EG call the shots.

[DCZards]

Okafor's contributon to last year's team was underrated---because the team's W-L record was so bad.

Maybe that's why you don't trade cap room away to pay Okafor & Ariza $20 mil per... So you can have enough cap room to fill out an actual roster instead of being 6 deep with a lousy record because we have 9 **** guys on the roster that can't play.

I see we still disagree on the merits of the Okafor/Ariza trade. I'm shocked!

[Dat2U]

Okafor's contributon to last year's team was underrated---because the team's W-L record was so bad.

Maybe that's why you don't trade cap room away to pay Okafor & Ariza $20 mil per... So you can have enough cap room to fill out an actual roster instead of being 6 deep with a lousy record because we have 9 **** guys on the roster that can't play.

I see we still disagree on the merits of the Okafor/Ariza trade. I'm shocked!

Wow, you don't have an argument to stand on, I'm shocked!

[DCZards]

Wow, you don't have an argument to stand on, I'm shocked!

Now, what makes you think I would waste my time arguing with you about the Okafor/Ariza trade. Been there, done that.

[TGW]

I'm still waiting to see the benefits of the Okariza trade. I want to see all the "professionalism" they brought actually translate into you know....wins. From what I'm seeing, I still see no development from the players that were supposed to improve and benefit from said "professionalism."

How about getting good players instead of "professional" players. Maybe that might help a little more than the influx of broken down unwanted veterans.

[jivelikenice]

Nate--I disagree that talent is not an issue...it absolutely is. Talent is the reason why the top 7 players on the team are gassed from too many minutes and are on minutes restriction. Talent is why we had to move Nene to the bench, and Beal missed games. Talent is why we can't defend anyone.

More than half the roster stinks. That's a talent issue.

Talent behind the top 6 is an issue but Wittman is definitely not maximizing the talent he has. We have nothing reesembling a halfcourt offense, we ball watch & constantly let good shooters get uncontested shots, we trap unecessarily, and we come out with energy & focus maybe 50% of the time. Wittman's only answer seems to be gamble to create turnovers and run. We're flawed but it doesn't help when you're playing from behind nightly based on coaching incompetence.

[TGW]

Nate--I disagree that talent is not an issue...it absolutely is. Talent is the reason why the top 7 players on the team are gassed from too many minutes and are on minutes restriction. Talent is why we had to move Nene to the bench, and Beal missed games. Talent is why we can't defend anyone.

More than half the roster stinks. That's a talent issue.

Talent behind the top 6 is an issue but Wittman is definitely not maximizing the talent he has. We have nothing reesembling a halfcourt offense, we ball watch & constantly let good shooters get uncontested shots, we trap unecessarily, and we come out with energy & focus maybe 50% of the time. Wittman's only answer seems to be gamble to create turnovers and run. We're flawed but it doesn't help when you're playing from behind nightly based on coaching incompetence.

I don't disagree with you, but I think they current cast doesn't fit Whitman's style of play. He wants more of a defensive, half-court oriented team. What he has is a fast-break point guard and no rim protectors. The coaching style and the roster don't fit each other at all.

[Dat2U]

Wow, you don't have an argument to stand on, I'm shocked!

Now, what makes you think I would waste my time arguing with you about the Okafor/Ariza trade. Been there, done that.

You don't have an argument to stand on. Simple as that.