Are we stuck at mediocrity in the future?

SizzlinSimms · Post #1 » by **SizzlinSimms** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:46 am

I'll go far more in depth tomorrow.

Curious to see thoughts though.

mohammed10 · Post #2 » by **mohammed10** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:52 am

SizzlinSimms wrote:I'll go far more in depth tomorrow.

Curious to see thoughts though.

Waiting to see the rest of your post, but unless Turd fires Ernie and Witless, then my kneejerk answer would be - yes

SizzlinSimms · Post #3 » by **SizzlinSimms** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:11 am

Oh I agree about Wittman and Ernie. There is a couple moves that I think can slight save us this season, but right now we are not looking promising. The whole Wizards should be 3rd seed is overrated.

MikeTheKid · Post #4 » by **MikeTheKid** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:18 am

If Ted runs the team like he runs the Caps of course!!! No accountability and standing pat on everything, Ernie and Wittdummy will get extended and we'll re-sign Gortat to an albatross contract.

SizzlinSimms · Post #5 » by **SizzlinSimms** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:21 am

That's a worst case scenario. That is a true nightmare. That might be worse than Freddy coming in my dreams tonight.

MikeTheKid · Post #6 » by **MikeTheKid** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:49 am

SizzlinSimms wrote:That's a worst case scenario. That is a true nightmare. That might be worse than Freddy coming in my dreams tonight.

Looks like you and Freddy are gonna have some fun times in your dreams then more than likely that'll happen. Ted hasn't proven otherwise yet as an owner!!!

hands11 · Post #7 » by **hands11** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:40 am

So what is this thread. a combined...

Official "Raisins" Randy (Wittless) Wittman Thread
Countdown to Ernie Grunfeld Firing (Part 2)
The Amazingly Sucky Theodore Leonsis Thread

Thread.

Post #8 » by **Ruzious** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:19 pm

Yes, because Ted Leonsis is nothing more than a modernized high-tech version of Abe Pollin. I don't see change happening unless the fans let him know that they aren't going to settle for mediocrity - which likely won't happen because fans are somewhat satisfied with mediocrity - as he has successfully managed fan expectations, so far.

Dark Faze · Post #9 » by **Dark Faze** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:37 pm

We can certainly turn things around with good management. We have some great core pieces. Just a matter of our GM doing things that actually make sense.

AFM · Post #10 » by **AFM** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:33 pm

Until a major FA actually wants to come here, yes. We are missing at least one major piece. Watching Howard manhandle Nene and Gortat last night didn't help. I think we need a young, tough big.

queridiculo · Post #11 » by **queridiculo** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:42 pm

Going from straight up awful to mediocre has its appeal. At least that way the Wizards go from home town patsies to actually being able to put up a fight against everybody's favorite visiting team.

Keeping the Wizards somewhat competitive is going to make for repeat business from those transplanted fans from other NBA cities.

MJG · Post #12 » by **MJG** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:45 pm

Of course not. Medicority is only the peak in the path that the Washington Wizards walk; there are still many valleys to come.

Dat2U · Post #13 » by **Dat2U** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:54 pm

MJG wrote:Of course not. Medicority is only the peak in the path that the Washington Wizards walk; there are still many valleys to come.

Yep. We may be mediocre right now. But maintaining mediocrity is going to be very expensive (heck were already limited by the luxury tax right now!). Ted is going to have to fork over that checkbook this summer. It's going to likely take anywhere from $70-100 million (Gortat, Ariza, MLE, etc) just to keep the good times rolling. :lol:

20MexicanosIn1Van · Post #14 » by **20MexicanosIn1Van** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:07 pm

Unfortunately, I think so. I'm worried management is going to be pressured into giving both Gortat and Ariza long term deals. Everyone on the roster is going to decline except Wall, Beal, and Porter. I worry that the only room for growth is the development of those 3.

Nivek · Post #15 » by **Nivek** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:50 pm

SizzlinSimms wrote:I'll go far more in depth tomorrow.

Curious to see thoughts though.

Yes.

Here's why -- from November 1.

Post #16 » by **montestewart** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:08 pm

Nivek wrote:
SizzlinSimms wrote:I'll go far more in depth tomorrow.

Curious to see thoughts though.

Yes.

Here's why -- from November 1.

That summary is as valid today as ever.

Ariza's having his best year since 2006-2009. Gortat's year is a big improvement over last year, but otherwise seems to reflect a decline compared to his overall career (granted much of that career was as a backup). Even with those contributions, the team is playing .500 ball in a weak conference, and whether they stay or go, it's a good bet that those two won't produce at the same level next year.

Further, 2nd tier free agents often are 2nd tier because they have the name and the volume numbers without the efficiency that contributes to winning. The replacement could be a step down from Ariza and Gortat, and Terd and Ernie are just the duo to take that step.

PS: Mediocrity (or barely above it) has been the Wizards ceiling for 35 years. They've been stuck in mediocrity for a long time.

Illmatic21 · Post #17 » by **Illmatic21** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:16 pm

If Wittman and/or Grunfeld are retained after this season, I don't know if I'll be able to continue following the team.

AFM · Post #18 » by **AFM** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:28 pm

I think Hands touched on this before and i agree with him, but I'm not sure a team with a max PG has a good chance of competing. I'd much rather have a good cheap PG and a max SG/SF who can score from anywhere on the court.
So much of the NBA involves luck. A Durant or a TMac are once in a generation type players.

mhd · Post #19 » by **mhd** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:42 pm

We'd be in MUCH better shape had we drafted Noel, or even Len.

daSwami · Post #20 » by **daSwami** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:47 pm

Ruzious wrote:Yes, because Ted Leonsis is nothing more than a modernized high-tech version of Abe Pollin. I don't see change happening unless the fans let him know that they aren't going to settle for mediocrity - which likely won't happen because fans are somewhat satisfied with mediocrity - as he has successfully managed fan expectations, so far.

Whoever said that the "DC" in Washington DC stands for "Displaced Citizens" was right. This franchise's fan base probably has more churn than almost any other in the league. "Transients" generally fall into the demographic that sports franchises count on to buy tickets (young professionals with expendable income). It's really hard to build a loyal core fan base given that dynamic. (which probably explains the thinking behind Susan O'Mally's "market the other team's star" strategy, which doomed this franchise. With that mentality, all an owner has to do to is put a serviceable team on the court. What incentive do you have to field a winning team, if your business model requires making the other teams' players look good? I'm hoping Ted will wake up and realize that the teams he owns has hovered between awful and mediocre for 35 years and the natives are restless.