Grunfeld a Great GM. Proves Doubters Wrong

[hands11]

10 to 1 - posters want Witt and EG gone... Ted needs to make a change to get fans back on the Wizards side - and to begin to draw larger crowds at the Verizon Center.

It is good that there is still 10 percent that still believe in EG. 10 percent still believe the world is flat

Sold out crowd going crazy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju7AaKfxVLc[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRGsXxqsUF0[/youtube]

Fun to watch the highlights. I was sitting across from the scorers table and didn't see Phil or Buck. Where were they broadcasting from?

From what I hear. I think Mars. They got moved I believe up into the rafters.

[dobrojim]

Fun to watch the highlights. I was sitting across from the scorers table and didn't see Phil or Buck. Where were they broadcasting from?

The TV guys sit across from the bench...maybe section 109 +/- 1 section. Their little
table area is all the way at the back of that section.

[hands11]

We were already in the lottery for several years. Could have gotten more but we got Wall and Beal and we still have to see about Otto. Since Wall was drafted, he was projected as the franchise player. Beal was drafted to be the SG that complimented him.

Since then, there have been mistakes, but in the end, they did added the vets needed around Wall for him to grow. Gortat has allowed Wall to learn PnR. Now Miller is anchoring the 2nd unit and will help teach Wall to back down players. And now they have Gooden helping as an additional vet big and S4/S5. They have TA spacing the floor as one of the leagues best 3 pt shooter and top level perimeter defenders. AH while not hitting on all cylinders is helping by adding toughness, energy and post pts via his mid speed drives. Still waiting for him to get hot from 3.

And they still have Nene to add back. Nene is a legit force as a big man and fit perfectly as a missing piece to the pieces they have added.

Agree with how they got here or not, its looking more and more like they can be legit. Anchored by Wall their #1 pick who is just starting to get seasoned after his first AS appearance. He is learning to manage the game and how to close. And the 3 ball is looking WET all the sudden. Wall is still developing and the team is still gelling.

They will have Miller next year because he is signed. Gooden says he wants to stay and we can pay him the vet min while he makes 6.8M anyway. They have to figure out Gortat, TA and Webster sure, but they will have options and they will get Wall and Beal that valuable playoff experience they need this year. Which was the main goal.

Saying they are stuck is foolish. Same posters took that position when they picked up TA and Okafor and said they were stuck. It was always about Wall and Beal first and foremost and both will be here a long time. First goal was to get them to their peak so they can check those boxes off. TA and Okafor helped that process and so are the other vets they added... Miller, Gortat, Gooden, AH and Webster.

Pieces around them will get added and subtracted. They will keep an eye on adding a 3rd big piece when they can. Right now, its by committee. Nene, Gorat, TA, and its looking like Gooden. Nene and Gooden should be here next year. We will see about TA and Gortat. But adding Gooden is looking huge. Who knew he added a 3 ball while he wasn't playing.

I'm starting to feel like this might be some Bullets Fever going on here like a 1970s team

And it all starts with Wittman - you must be endorsing him for an extension now

Hey, if he learns to be a good game time coach, I have no problem with him. Not sure if he just stumbled into something last game or not but sticking with Gooden was the right move. I saw a lose coming if he didn't make some kind of adjustment. They keep them back 10 pts on average for 3 quarters. If he went back to his set play, they would have lost.

If it was me, I would have wanted to take a chance a little earlier by mixing it up some. Maybe try Otto for Webster for a spell. BRK was to big for them. I was saying either go longer and crank up the D with traps or go small and spread it. Well he road the small ball. Gortat didn't even play in the 4th. He took a chance and it worked. Wall, Beal, Webster, TA and Gooden. And with AH in there for a spell.

He needs to be able to know how to do that more consistently. He can't just do paint by numbers sticking to his set players and expect the players to over come match ups that aren't working or nights they don't have something. A coach needs to help the team with his rotations. Its not all on the players alone. They need help from the chief putting the ingredients together.

Would I rather have a coach that I know knows how to do this correctly 70-80% of the time over one that does it every blue moon. Yeep. Can Randy still learn ? I have my doubts but as they add more vets, it does make it easier for him to mess it up.

[TGW]

Gooden/Miller/Harrington. Three players that have contributed massively to this teams latest success. What defines a good GM? Sticking to the plan even if it defies popular opinion.

Great to have you back, genius. But, how come we see you after 2 wins in a row, but we don't see you after 2 losses in a row?

Please explain.

Edit: Oh, and "What defines a good GM?" Success is what defines a good GM -- as it does a good anything. There are 30 teams in the NBA, milellie111, as I'm hoping you know. How many teams are having more success this year than the Wizards? The answer is 14. How many teams are having less success than the Wizards? The answer is 15.

So, you tell me -- how "good", or as you used to say "great", is Ernie. Right now, at his peak in many a year, he has gotten himself to... average.

Do I have that right? Or what have I missed? I know... you are grading on a curve, right?

How many owners would fire a GM that has their team 2 games out of 3rd place in their conference? How many owners would fire their GM who has a sold out energized crowd at Verizon Center ? How many owners would fire their GM in the middle of or after a playoff run by a young talented team still reaching it's potential?

Easy for outsiders to want change and just say "fire" a guy without looking at job performance from both ends of the spectrum.

This is all subjective bunk, except for the "2 games out of 3rd place", which can change from week to week, depending on when you actually decide to troll (normally during a winning streak against subpar comp). By the way, they are also 2 games out of 7th place, so it's easy to adjust the wording of that statement to fit whatever narrative you want to sell.

Re "job performance": A smart owner (which I'm having doubts whether Ted is or not) would look at all the data, not bits and pieces that conveniently sell a certain POV or narrative he's trying to push to the masses. Looking at Grunfeld's winning % as GM of the Wizards, it's at a below .400 clip. Even if we just look at Grunfeld's tenor when Ted took over, his W-L % is below even that of bad GMs who have been fired or on their way out the door (Dumars).

Sample size matters, and there's way more objective data to show how terrible of a GM Grunfeld is than there is to show he's competent.

[TGW]

Hands--they are stuck. Whether you want to accept it or not is up to you, but they are STUCK. They have two choices this summer: either renounce their FAs, in which they'll have caproom but no one to sign to replace Ariza/Gortat, or resign their free agents and have no caproom, thus being stuck (if you also consider they have NO first round pick).

I mean, it's a nice "feel good" story but you're being just naive or plain ol dumb if you think this team as constructed is actually going to win anything significant in the postseason or in the future. They can't even beat the Raptors in a playoff series for christ sakes.

[DCZards]

Hands--they are stuck. Whether you want to accept it or not is up to you, but they are STUCK. They have two choices this summer: either renounce their FAs, in which they'll have caproom but no one to sign to replace Ariza/Gortat, or resign their free agents and have no caproom, thus being stuck (if you also consider they have NO first round pick).

I mean, it's a nice "feel good" story but you're being just naive or plain ol dumb if you think this team as constructed is actually going to win anything significant in the postseason or in the future. They can't even beat the Raptors in a playoff series for christ sakes.

Talk about "subjective bunk": You don't know that the Zards can't beat the Raptors in a playoff series.

[TGW]

Hands--they are stuck. Whether you want to accept it or not is up to you, but they are STUCK. They have two choices this summer: either renounce their FAs, in which they'll have caproom but no one to sign to replace Ariza/Gortat, or resign their free agents and have no caproom, thus being stuck (if you also consider they have NO first round pick).

I mean, it's a nice "feel good" story but you're being just naive or plain ol dumb if you think this team as constructed is actually going to win anything significant in the postseason or in the future. They can't even beat the Raptors in a playoff series for christ sakes.

Talk about "subjective bunk": You don't know that the Zards can't beat the Raptors in a playoff series.

So after seeing how the Raptors have totally owned the Wizards this year, are you confident in winning a playoff series against them? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't put your house up on that one.

I'm as confident in saying that as I'm confident in saying the Pacers and Heat would destroy the Wizards in the playoffs.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

Fun to watch the highlights. I was sitting across from the scorers table and didn't see Phil or Buck. Where were they broadcasting from?

The TV guys sit across from the bench...maybe section 109 +/- 1 section. Their little
table area is all the way at the back of that section.

Thanks Jim. I hadn't been there in a couple of years. Was this a recent thing?

Was it done to create more gazillion dollar floor seats adjacent to the benches?

[hands11]

Hands--they are stuck. Whether you want to accept it or not is up to you, but they are STUCK. They have two choices this summer: either renounce their FAs, in which they'll have caproom but no one to sign to replace Ariza/Gortat, or resign their free agents and have no caproom, thus being stuck (if you also consider they have NO first round pick).

I mean, it's a nice "feel good" story but you're being just naive or plain ol dumb if you think this team as constructed is actually going to win anything significant in the postseason or in the future. They can't even beat the Raptors in a playoff series for christ sakes.

How about this. You live in your hell that you choose to live in and keep posting garbage about how anyone that doesn't view things as completely lost 100% of the time is wrong and when you are ready to exchanging in some intelligent debate, I will respond. As long as you take the approach you are, I won't reply moving forward.

You have zero respect for anyone that finds anything positive in this team. Hell, I vent sometimes. That's natural. Everyone here does sometimes. But being negative all the time is a personal problem. As is attacking people who are fans of the same team you are said fan of just because they understand things 'might" work out. And who are you to call Milli a troll ? How about looking up the word troll. Milli is a fan, not a troll. If anything, you are the one acting like a troll.

Why do you think anyone would respect what you post when you act the way you do ?

[Kanyewest]

Hands--they are stuck. Whether you want to accept it or not is up to you, but they are STUCK. They have two choices this summer: either renounce their FAs, in which they'll have caproom but no one to sign to replace Ariza/Gortat, or resign their free agents and have no caproom, thus being stuck (if you also consider they have NO first round pick).

I mean, it's a nice "feel good" story but you're being just naive or plain ol dumb if you think this team as constructed is actually going to win anything significant in the postseason or in the future. They can't even beat the Raptors in a playoff series for christ sakes.

Talk about "subjective bunk": You don't know that the Zards can't beat the Raptors in a playoff series.

So after seeing how the Raptors have totally owned the Wizards this year, are you confident in winning a playoff series against them? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't put your house up on that one.

I'm as confident in saying that as I'm confident in saying the Pacers and Heat would destroy the Wizards in the playoffs.

I agree it will be tough but I'm not 100% certain that the Raptors would beat the Wizards in a playoff series either. It will probably go 6 or 7 games. Toronto would be the favorite at this point though especially because they would have homecourt advantage- but then again the Wizards are an excellent road team.

[closg00]

What's next - holding hands and singing Kumbaya?

Seriously, I am all for giving credit when credit is due. However, Ernie has proven over the past decade of his reign of terror that he is incapable of building a championship caliber franchise. Heck, most of us would welcome winning a series or two, let alone a run at the ECF.

I don't think we are setting the bar too high here.

http://www.fireerniegrunfeld.com/p/blog-page_27.html

Mohammed, every time I read one of your posts, I hear it in Peter's voice from the Family Guy because of your Avi. LOL!

[montestewart]

What's next - holding hands and singing Kumbaya?
http://www.fireerniegrunfeld.com/p/blog-page_27.html

hands doesn't need holding. He's a big boy.

milellie111, you do come off as something of a troll to me, as I can't recall a post from you that wasn't a variation of this subject. But my memory is not infallible, so maybe it's just this thread leading me to that conclusion.

Regardless, I like this thread. I would love EG to be gone, but I can't deny that Miller and Gooden were good pick ups so far. If I want my EG hate to be pure, I have to base it on pure bad. And if the Wizards on this path somehow create a legitimate contender, I have to be ready to say, "Damn, EGhead did it!" I more want my team to win than I want EG to be gone.

[LyricalRico]

Regardless, I like this thread. I would love EG to be gone, but I can't deny that Miller and Gooden were good pick ups so far. If I want my EG hate to be pure, I have to base it on pure bad. And if the Wizards on this path somehow create a legitimate contender, I have to be ready to say, "Damn, EGhead did it!" I more want my team to win than I want EG to be gone.

Well said.

Go Wiz!

[milellie111]

Why do i have to be trolling and what is the definition of a troll? A fan who posts something positive about the team and appreciates the way the team is playing? Again, who gets credit for where this team is today? Grunfeld and Wittman. Also Ted who stuck to the course. Everyone knew there would be growing pains through a rebuild. Attacking a fellow fan who supports his own team is asinine, especially when the team has had the success it has this year. You may hate Grunfeld personally all you want, but there is no disputing the fact that we have a solid core group of starters and a strengthened veteran bench that will aid us in the playoffs. The verizon center was absolutely nuts on Saturday against the Nets (you had to be there to experience) which is only a foregleam of the excitement that is returning to this city for DC basketball.

[montestewart]

Why do i have to be trolling and what is the definition of a troll? A fan who posts something positive about the team and appreciates the way the team is playing? Again, who gets credit for where this team is today? Grunfeld and Wittman. Also Ted who stuck to the course. Everyone knew there would be growing pains through a rebuild. Attacking a fellow fan who supports his own team is asinine, especially when the team has had the success it has this year. You may hate Grunfeld personally all you want, but there is no disputing the fact that we have a solid core group of starters and a strengthened veteran bench that will aid us in the playoffs. The verizon center was absolutely nuts on Saturday against the Nets (you had to be there to experience) which is only a foregleam of the excitement that is returning to this city for DC basketball.

Leonsis' sales staff ripped me off of a Heat game (two tickets) so I may never be able to hand over cash to him again, because he runs a cheap little clip joint canary operation. Is looking a little more exciting though.

PS: As a slang term, "troll" has a variety of related meanings. There's no denying that, based on the team's record while EG has been in DC, he is one of the worst GMs in the league, while also being one of the longest tenured. Stop. Wait. There's no denying that, because you are not free to leave those parameters to look for a get-out-of-jail-free card. Hold it. Can't deny the record, can't deny his tenure. It's true. It's true. In light of that, saying something that means the exact opposite on a board consisting of people that had to experience it, well, that could be taken as trolling.

But maybe you really believe he's that good. You could make an argument that some of his moves are coming together. As fishercob would say, winning is better than losing, but as Bush would say about evolution, jury's still out. I feel like I've seen this before, and being a Wizards fan since Leonsis was in high school (whenever that was, he probably didn't even like basketball), I've accustomed myself to prepare for the worst.

[MikeTheKid]

Why do i have to be trolling and what is the definition of a troll? A fan who posts something positive about the team and appreciates the way the team is playing? Again, who gets credit for where this team is today? Grunfeld and Wittman. Also Ted who stuck to the course. Everyone knew there would be growing pains through a rebuild. Attacking a fellow fan who supports his own team is asinine, especially when the team has had the success it has this year. You may hate Grunfeld personally all you want, but there is no disputing the fact that we have a solid core group of starters and a strengthened veteran bench that will aid us in the playoffs. The verizon center was absolutely nuts on Saturday against the Nets (you had to be there to experience) which is only a foregleam of the excitement that is returning to this city for DC basketball.

Oh your back and when the team is winning again you return. Nice to see you. While I would love to bash you and call you on your trolling I'm not. I think there's a consensus from everyone that we know what you are. And while I will continually call for Ernie's firing I'm a realist and I realize that Ted won't do it and the only way Ernie will leave is his own resignation and that won't happen because he'll never get another GM job.

The play this year has been good but 3 weeks of getting lucky with Gooden and trading your top 2011 pick for Miller still doesn't sway away from the fact that Ernie is a moron,

I only hope now the Wiz finish the year off strong, Being at the Nets game awakened a sleeping excitement from me that hasn't been there since the end of the 08-09 season and I want this team to do well, but they are only 4.5 games ahead of 8th place. We still haven't locked anything yet and if we slump into a bottom seed let alone out of the playoffs that will really suck. There's still plenty of work to be done. Calming down some of my negativity has really made me feel better.

PS: But please milellie111 just admit to us your Ted or Ernie's kid or you work for Monumental or something. Seeing how Ted uses the media and social media I would feel better about what you post because you work for them lol

[Benjammin]

One playoff series win in ten years. Not two, not three, not four, one. Singular.

Sent from my XT1080 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Dat2U]

Why do i have to be trolling and what is the definition of a troll? A fan who posts something positive about the team and appreciates the way the team is playing? Again, who gets credit for where this team is today? Grunfeld and Wittman. Also Ted who stuck to the course. Everyone knew there would be growing pains through a rebuild. Attacking a fellow fan who supports his own team is asinine, especially when the team has had the success it has this year. You may hate Grunfeld personally all you want, but there is no disputing the fact that we have a solid core group of starters and a strengthened veteran bench that will aid us in the playoffs. The verizon center was absolutely nuts on Saturday against the Nets (you had to be there to experience) which is only a foregleam of the excitement that is returning to this city for DC basketball.

What makes you a troll is that you only have one subject you ever discuss. To praise & worship Ernie Grunfeld. Your presence here is to create discourse with your inflammatory statements. Nothing else really seems to matter to you unless its in the course of hailing Grunfeld for a job well done. You talk about nothing else.

This makes you no different than Jonathanjoseph whose sole desire was to bash John Wall at every opportunity. He would only show up when Wall struggled, as far as this season and the end of last season, he's no where to be found.

I assume when Ernie does inevitably f*ck up again as he's destined to, you'll be no where to be found too.

[MikeTheKid]

Why do i have to be trolling and what is the definition of a troll? A fan who posts something positive about the team and appreciates the way the team is playing? Again, who gets credit for where this team is today? Grunfeld and Wittman. Also Ted who stuck to the course. Everyone knew there would be growing pains through a rebuild. Attacking a fellow fan who supports his own team is asinine, especially when the team has had the success it has this year. You may hate Grunfeld personally all you want, but there is no disputing the fact that we have a solid core group of starters and a strengthened veteran bench that will aid us in the playoffs. The verizon center was absolutely nuts on Saturday against the Nets (you had to be there to experience) which is only a foregleam of the excitement that is returning to this city for DC basketball.

What makes you a troll is that you only have one subject you ever discuss. To praise & worship Ernie Grunfeld. Your presence here is to create discourse with your inflammatory statements. Nothing else really seems to matter to you unless its in the course of hailing Grunfeld for a job well done. You talk about nothing else.

This makes you no different than Jonathanjoseph whose sole desire was to bash John Wall at every opportunity. He would only show up when Wall struggled, as far as this season and the end of last season, he's no where to be found.

I assume when Ernie does inevitably f*ck up again as he's destined to, you'll be no where to be found too.

[lastemp3ror]

Yeah, it might have been nice to have had that "huge amount of cap room" that you refer to. But I see two problems with that: having money doesn't guarantee that a quality free agent will give your franchise serious consideration, especially when you're a lousy team that can't even smell the playoffs. (On top of that, I can't think of many recent free agent signees who have been as productive as Trevor Ariza.)

If you have a problem with "huge amount of cap room" then you better hope that Ariza and Gortat don't leave us. Because if they do, then not only do we lose out on them, but we will lose a 2014 1st rounder, and any assets we could of had if we did trade them at the deadline. Then according to you, we will also lose out on any franchise FA's.