Is this team a contender to make the finals?

[Dat2U]

We probably wouldn't make the playoffs in the West.

Ernie has done incredible things and Wittman has accomplished a lot .... to get this team to 45-win level it's at now. Since were in the East 45 may look like 48 or 49 wins. But an above .500 team in the East is nothing to sneeze at. We are definitely a better than average East team.

Milleee11 or whatever his name is should be a very happy guy.

[Ruzious]

Gasol and Butler are stars this season - at least they're playing like stars - and Noah has credentials.

Then so are Teague, Millsap and Horford.

Nope. They're playing great, but they don't put up the kind of per game stats that most would consider star quality. Millsap's probably the closest at 17 and 8. Gasol gets 18 and 12 - in addition to being one of the leading shot blockers and a great passer. Butler gets 20.5 in addition to being a top rebounding and defending guard.

[Ball4life32]

Gasol and Butler are stars this season - at least they're playing like stars - and Noah has credentials.

Then so are Teague, Millsap and Horford.

Nope. They're playing great, but they don't put up the kind of per game stats that most would consider star quality. Millsap's probably the closest at 17 and 8. Gasol gets 18 and 12 - in addition to being one of the leading shot blockers and a great passer. Butler gets 20.5 in addition to being a top rebounding and defending guard.

It's because Gasol and Butler play more minutes. Gasol gets a lot of blocks but he is an awful defender. Go check the PER on all 5 players. Millsap is the lowest at 39 but you can't say Gasol and Butler are stars and the 3 all stars from the Hawks arent.

[Ruzious]

Then so are Teague, Millsap and Horford.

Nope. They're playing great, but they don't put up the kind of per game stats that most would consider star quality. Millsap's probably the closest at 17 and 8. Gasol gets 18 and 12 - in addition to being one of the leading shot blockers and a great passer. Butler gets 20.5 in addition to being a top rebounding and defending guard.

It's because Gasol and Butler play more minutes. Gasol gets a lot of blocks but he is an awful defender. Go check the PER on all 5 players. Millsap is the lowest at 39 but you can't say Gasol and Butler are stars and the 3 all stars from the Hawks arent.

I know - I even agree - to an extent - though Gasol is certainly not an awful defender. That's why I said per game. Most people use per game stats for star players. Otherwise, Brandan Wright would be considered a perennial MVP candidate, and Speights would be in contention for an all-star spot (if they allowed 10 fouls a game).

[TheSecretWeapon]

Gasol and Butler are stars this season - at least they're playing like stars - and Noah has credentials.

Then so are Teague, Millsap and Horford.

Nope. They're playing great, but they don't put up the kind of per game stats that most would consider star quality. Millsap's probably the closest at 17 and 8. Gasol gets 18 and 12 - in addition to being one of the leading shot blockers and a great passer. Butler gets 20.5 in addition to being a top rebounding and defending guard.

Sorta highlights why per game stats aren't very useful. They have 5 guys who play 30+ minutes per game, but Millsap is tops at 33.4. In terms of quality of play, 4 Hawks are providing all-star quality production. In my last update, they had two guys (Teague and Horford) more productive per minute than anyone on the Wizards, including Wall, and Korver and Millsap were about as productive per minute as Wall.

The Hawks have guys who are playing like on-court stars this season, although they're not box office stars.

[Ruzious]

If they win the Eastern Conference playoffs, I'll change my tune.

[verbal8]

3/1 odds for the Bulls? Gotta bet against that one. That's easy money.

1 of 3, that is similar to Derrick Rose's FG%

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Is this team a contender to make the Finals?

NO WAY.

Wittman is no longer playing veteran leader Andre Miller. Gooden is taking up space on the bench. Butler is now behind Webster and neither are playing much. Dejuan Blair is inactive every game. Otto Porter is really not an impact player. Paul Pierce is old and the last four losses in a row show just how much his HOF talent puts the Wizards over the top. It doesn't.

Wittman loves him some Seraphin. I wish Blair signed somewhere else.

This team is starting to be a disappointment. No way will they make the NBA Finals. Chances are they'll be a fifth or sixth seed at the end of the season.

If the dumb management and coaching learned NOTHING from Gilbert Arenas just hold your breath for the inevitable John Wall injury. Keep playing him hurt until something MAJOR happens.

This team is losing it fast.

[closg00]

The recent Toronto game was a sell-out, this is exactly what Ted want's, butts in the seats. The Wizards will bumble along with the Ted & Ernie show.

[deneem4]

it all depends on pierce and gortat honestly

[verbal8]

Then so are Teague, Millsap and Horford.

Nope. They're playing great, but they don't put up the kind of per game stats that most would consider star quality. Millsap's probably the closest at 17 and 8. Gasol gets 18 and 12 - in addition to being one of the leading shot blockers and a great passer. Butler gets 20.5 in addition to being a top rebounding and defending guard.

Sorta highlights why per game stats aren't very useful. They have 5 guys who play 30+ minutes per game, but Millsap is tops at 33.4. In terms of quality of play, 4 Hawks are providing all-star quality production. In my last update, they had two guys (Teague and Horford) more productive per minute than anyone on the Wizards, including Wall, and Korver and Millsap were about as productive per minute as Wall.

The Hawks have guys who are playing like on-court stars this season, although they're not box office stars.

Interestingly all the Hawks are relatively low usage - Teague and Schroeder are the highest at 25%. I do think the Hawks All-Stars were picked correctly due to their efficiency and team success.

[cdouglas]

They need a SPARK so they need to make a trade.

[Higga]

I still think we're good enough to make the Finals but we definitely need to make a deal at the deadline to give us a spark.