These have been the summations of each Wizards game so far, in succinct question format:
Game 1: So when we have bad games, we go to Twitter and basically throw our entire organization under the bus instead of finding fault in our own performances now?
Game 2: How in the *%#$ is Atlanta's whole starting lineup +22 or better and our whole starting lineup is -16 or worse?
Game 3: Did they really just sub in Roger Mason and he's not on the active roster?
Such is the life of a Wizards fan. This thing is a train wreck and every year I do the same thing: build up some form of faux-excitement about player improvement, thinking things like, "There's no way this guy can be this dumb FOUR years in a row, right?", or "If we trade these seven guys, we might actually have something going here!", or worse, "Big deal, the guy likes 14th Street hookers, that doesn't make him a knucklehead". I was legitimately excited about the thought that we may win 25 games this season! Beside the fact that through three games that already seems laughable, let's look at the fact that I was EXCITED about the Wizards potentially winning 25 of 66 games. I'm pretty sure I have the symptoms of Battered Fan Syndrome (I think I'll write an entry about the signs. Be on the lookout, Skins fans.). Anyway, I'm convinced that we need to make some serious adjustments. Below are a few early thoughts and observations.
* Fire Flip Saunders! My friends Donte' and Joe (check out Guido's Gripes! Yes that WAS a shameless plug! No I don't think this an overuse of exclamation points!!!) have been saying this for a while, and I've been non-committal. I know Flip was brought in to coach a veteran team, but a gun here and a gun there changed the dynamic. I didn't think though that he's been to blame for all of this. But he shouldn't be absolved either. I mean his player rotations are awful, and while he has definitely helped the careers of Nick Young and JaVale McGee, how much of that development would have naturally occurred anyway? I think the best thing for everybody is to put Flip, the players, the fans, everybody out of their misery and move in another direction. And who do you put in as a replacement? Funny you should ask...
* Hire Sam Cassell on an interim basis. With the chance to remove the interim tag. Look, I am not an Xs and Os guy. My opinions are based upon watching basketball my whole life, gathering observations and memories along the way. I don't know for certain that Sam Cassell is a good coach, but I have a feeling about him. I don't care that he looks like a martian. Hell, maybe that works to his advantage. He was practically a player/coach his last few seasons in the league. He always struck me as a very smart player that knew where everyone needed to be and generally made the right decision. And he was one of those guys that didn't clam up in crunch time. In fact, he even stole a celebration made SPECIFICALLY to highlight this skill set. What's the worst that could happen? He gets a bigger voice in what's going on, maybe instills some heart in these guys, which is sorely lacking, and we see some hard-nosed play on the court. Or we continue to spiral toward the top pick in the 2012 draft, which A.) we're headed towards anyway and B.) maybe isn't a bad thing. Can't lose by moving E.T. up. See what you've got with him.
* Trade Blatche. Listen Dray, we've been through a lot. All the arguments. Hookers. Fights at nightclubs. I hate you. You hate me. I think you could be great. You want to spend your entire career here. Who are we fooling? We're not going anywhere together. The stress in this relationship is just too much. You know what? It's not you. It's me. Let's keep in touch though.
* Bench Rashard Lewis. PLEEASE!!!! What does everyone see in this guy? He has the worst contract in the NBA, so you can't amnesty him when his awful contract is this close to being a valuable trade asset. But why do we have to start him? Don't give me the money thing. Did they start Gil before he was traded last year? I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Maybe it's a coincidence, but this guy hasn't been the same since he got suspended for allegedly doping. I don't see how he's earned a place in the starting lineup. Veteran schmeteran, we need to see results. And you want veteran presence on the court? Put Turiaf in the starting lineup.
* Start Turiaf and Singleton until you get something better. If we're gonna stink, can we at least stink and be good defensively? I like the way these two play, and I think Turiaf can help McGee's awareness. Maybe his energy rubs off on JaVale and good things can happen. The lineup of Wall, Young, Singleton, Turiaf, and McGee intrigues me.
I'm tired of writing about these guys for now. Don't worry, I'll have plenty more to complain about.
Game 1: So when we have bad games, we go to Twitter and basically throw our entire organization under the bus instead of finding fault in our own performances now?
Game 2: How in the *%#$ is Atlanta's whole starting lineup +22 or better and our whole starting lineup is -16 or worse?
Game 3: Did they really just sub in Roger Mason and he's not on the active roster?
Such is the life of a Wizards fan. This thing is a train wreck and every year I do the same thing: build up some form of faux-excitement about player improvement, thinking things like, "There's no way this guy can be this dumb FOUR years in a row, right?", or "If we trade these seven guys, we might actually have something going here!", or worse, "Big deal, the guy likes 14th Street hookers, that doesn't make him a knucklehead". I was legitimately excited about the thought that we may win 25 games this season! Beside the fact that through three games that already seems laughable, let's look at the fact that I was EXCITED about the Wizards potentially winning 25 of 66 games. I'm pretty sure I have the symptoms of Battered Fan Syndrome (I think I'll write an entry about the signs. Be on the lookout, Skins fans.). Anyway, I'm convinced that we need to make some serious adjustments. Below are a few early thoughts and observations.
* Fire Flip Saunders! My friends Donte' and Joe (check out Guido's Gripes! Yes that WAS a shameless plug! No I don't think this an overuse of exclamation points!!!) have been saying this for a while, and I've been non-committal. I know Flip was brought in to coach a veteran team, but a gun here and a gun there changed the dynamic. I didn't think though that he's been to blame for all of this. But he shouldn't be absolved either. I mean his player rotations are awful, and while he has definitely helped the careers of Nick Young and JaVale McGee, how much of that development would have naturally occurred anyway? I think the best thing for everybody is to put Flip, the players, the fans, everybody out of their misery and move in another direction. And who do you put in as a replacement? Funny you should ask...
* Hire Sam Cassell on an interim basis. With the chance to remove the interim tag. Look, I am not an Xs and Os guy. My opinions are based upon watching basketball my whole life, gathering observations and memories along the way. I don't know for certain that Sam Cassell is a good coach, but I have a feeling about him. I don't care that he looks like a martian. Hell, maybe that works to his advantage. He was practically a player/coach his last few seasons in the league. He always struck me as a very smart player that knew where everyone needed to be and generally made the right decision. And he was one of those guys that didn't clam up in crunch time. In fact, he even stole a celebration made SPECIFICALLY to highlight this skill set. What's the worst that could happen? He gets a bigger voice in what's going on, maybe instills some heart in these guys, which is sorely lacking, and we see some hard-nosed play on the court. Or we continue to spiral toward the top pick in the 2012 draft, which A.) we're headed towards anyway and B.) maybe isn't a bad thing. Can't lose by moving E.T. up. See what you've got with him.
* Trade Blatche. Listen Dray, we've been through a lot. All the arguments. Hookers. Fights at nightclubs. I hate you. You hate me. I think you could be great. You want to spend your entire career here. Who are we fooling? We're not going anywhere together. The stress in this relationship is just too much. You know what? It's not you. It's me. Let's keep in touch though.
* Bench Rashard Lewis. PLEEASE!!!! What does everyone see in this guy? He has the worst contract in the NBA, so you can't amnesty him when his awful contract is this close to being a valuable trade asset. But why do we have to start him? Don't give me the money thing. Did they start Gil before he was traded last year? I could be wrong, but I don't think so. Maybe it's a coincidence, but this guy hasn't been the same since he got suspended for allegedly doping. I don't see how he's earned a place in the starting lineup. Veteran schmeteran, we need to see results. And you want veteran presence on the court? Put Turiaf in the starting lineup.
* Start Turiaf and Singleton until you get something better. If we're gonna stink, can we at least stink and be good defensively? I like the way these two play, and I think Turiaf can help McGee's awareness. Maybe his energy rubs off on JaVale and good things can happen. The lineup of Wall, Young, Singleton, Turiaf, and McGee intrigues me.
I'm tired of writing about these guys for now. Don't worry, I'll have plenty more to complain about.
