Top 7 Backcourt, Top 10 Frontcourt?

[pcbothwel]

Mods, please feel free to move.
But am I off by saying the Wizards are one of the most extremely well rounded teams in the League(I didn't say best/most talented). We have a Top 10 Front court with both Offensive Efficiency and Defense, Top 8 Back court with the same traits, and depth on the wing with defense and versatility. Injuries aside, how does a team like that not make the 5th/6th seed.

[nuposse04]

Nets, Memphis, Heat, INDY, HOU, Spurs all have clear cut better front courts I think.

[montestewart]

Nets, Memphis, Heat, INDY, HOU, Spurs all have clear cut better front courts I think.

So top-7 backcourt and frontcourt?

[deneem4]

Nets, Memphis, Heat, INDY, HOU, Spurs all have clear cut better front courts I think.

So top-7 backcourt and frontcourt?

Bulls
Warriors
Nets
Spurs
Indiana
Houston
Wizards
Hawks
Grizzlies (theyre backcourt defense)
Timberwolves (they're froncourt the best)
Pistons

Miami lacks pg/c
Timberwolves have best frontcourt
Warriors best backcourt
Bulls not far behind in both
Same with nets/spurs/grizzlies

Oh yea pelicans when ant davis get a damn center

[pcbothwel]

Sooo. Top 7 both with a great compliment of Wings. Seriously, Besides injury how does that not only get you into the playoffs but put us in serious discussion of the 5th seed that could easily upset in the 1st round....

[deneem4]

Sooo. Top 7 both with a great compliment of Wings. Seriously, Besides injury how does that not only get you into the playoffs but put us in serious discussion of the 5th seed that could easily upset in the 1st round....

The fact we're tooo balanced

[Illmatic21]

We will once again have a strong defense, but the fact remains that we were dead last in offensive efficiency last year. I would hesitate to call us well-rounded just yet, we need to see the supposedly improved "playoff caliber" product on the floor first.

We've yet to see Wittman manage a successful offensive team for any extended period of time, and it doesn't help that rotations are still up in the air as we go into the regular season.

[nate33]

"Top 7 backcourt" and "top 10 frontcourt" makes it sound like we are somewhere between 1 and 7 at guard and 1 and 10 up front. When you look at it that way, it seems like we are potentially a truly great team.

But that's not the case. In reality we are probably just 7th in the backcourt and 10th in the frontcourt. Factor that our small forward position is are probably around the 17-20 range, and it really means we have just a modestly above average starting 5 - perhaps about 11th best in the league. Then factor that we have no bench and history of injury problems, and we look more like the 15th best team in the league, which is about what we expected all along. We should be competing for the 6th-8th seed in the East.

[penbeast0]

We will once again have a strong defense, but the fact remains that we were dead last in offensive efficiency last year. I would hesitate to call us well-rounded just yet, we need to see the supposedly improved "playoff caliber" product on the floor first.

We've yet to see Wittman manage a successful offensive team for any extended period of time, and it doesn't help that rotations are still up in the air as we go into the regular season.

I hope you are right about the defense. Okafor was a big part of that and Gortat hasn't impressed me much with his mobility on that end. If Nene is healthy I agree that we'll be fine, but an interior defense of Gortat and Booker/Seraphin/Vesely isn't going to scare anyone.

Health for Nene is #1 on my wish list now (and of course continued health for Wall/Beal/Gortat) with development by Otto Porter #2.

[Illmatic21]

We will once again have a strong defense, but the fact remains that we were dead last in offensive efficiency last year. I would hesitate to call us well-rounded just yet, we need to see the supposedly improved "playoff caliber" product on the floor first.

We've yet to see Wittman manage a successful offensive team for any extended period of time, and it doesn't help that rotations are still up in the air as we go into the regular season.

I hope you are right about the defense. Okafor was a big part of that and Gortat hasn't impressed me much with his mobility on that end. If Nene is healthy I agree that we'll be fine, but an interior defense of Gortat and Booker/Seraphin/Vesely isn't going to scare anyone.

Health for Nene is #1 on my wish list now (and of course continued health for Wall/Beal/Gortat) with development by Otto Porter #2.

Gortat is a good defender. Not a huge drop off from Okafor. I think he just stopped giving effort with the Suns because no one else on the team seemed to give a damn.



I know it's a stretch to say that he just "stopped giving effort" without me being close to the situation but I think that's exactly what happened. This is a quote from when he first got traded from the Magic to the Suns:

“It’s just a little bit frustrating when you come in the locker room and people are talking about the offense,” Gortat began. “That’s not the way you’re going to win NBA games. I don’t know if it’s just me, or maybe I’m just different, but I came from a team where everybody’s competing and trying to do the stuff that coach is saying. We’re just totally changing our rotations, changing our stuff that we set before the game. We’re not playing hard enough and I’ve just got to tell you, there’s a lot, a lot of work in front of us. The positive thing is? It can’t be worse….”

“I just think we have to be at the gym every day for three hours,” Gortat continued. “Learn the rotations, learn everything from the beginning. I mean, there are so many things we’re doing bad, I just can’t find an explanation. I’m trying to get some rebounds and stops, but unfortunately there’s not too many opportunities for me to rebound because the team is scoring 120-something points.

“It’s just frustrating; frustrating as hell. I’m not going to lie.”

Honestly he sounds like somebody who will fit right in to the identity Wittman is trying to establish with this team. I think he will like the Wizards a lot and will play inspired ball.


Here's a nice vid showing his defensive abilities, the Suns wings were consistently letting opposing players drive by them like a swinging door and he is all over the place picking up their slack:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2zlWl24Wvg[/youtube]

[penbeast0]

Hope you are right; I remember his footwork/anticipation as being slow and seeing him not always aware/quick to pick up on switches and slashers . . . but he does look good there. Maybe it's just those racist expectations of white centers