Why the Eastern Conference Should Fear the Washington Wizards
Tue, Aug 18, 2009 by Adam Sedie
Gilbert Arenas is the key to unlocking many mysteries in the Eastern Conference. Having undergone 3 surgeries over the last 1.5 years, buzz is brewing that he healthy, and has not lost a step.
If this is true, every team in the East should fear the Wizards.
Agent Zero is the cog that will unleash fury against the Cavaliers and the Celtics. He is a massive presence on both ends of the floor and will make life far easier on Caron Butler Antawn Jamison.
We are going to be really really really good... (Credit: picapp.com)
Washington has a plethora of talented centers, forwards, and guards. Their depth is impressive everywhere.
Arenas should be paired with mercurial scoring threat Randy Foye in the backcourt starting games. Foye will experience a rebirth having escaped the drudges of Minnesota. The game will come easier for Foye with the surrounding talent pool. Expect great numbers.
I'm gong to Washington and playing with Agent Zero! (Credit: picapp.com)
When Foye and Arenas fatigue, the Wizards can choose Mike Miller or Nick Young for instant shooting. Veteran Mike James provides leadership and poise. Javaris Crittenton, still only 21, will not be forced to accelerate his maturity and development. At 6′5″, Crittenton is also a athletic gritty defender who can defend taller guards.
At the forward positions Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are stalwarts at their positions. Backing them up are multidimensional Andray Blatche and defensive nuisance Dominic McGuire.
There will be no loss of size, intensity with either reserve for short stints.
The only liability is the inconsistency of play by both reserves.
Can't wait to do this in the Easter Conference Finals! (Crdit: picapp.com)
At center Washington has Brandon Haywood, Fabricio Oberto, and young phenom JaVale McGee. Haywood is coming back healthy after having wrist issues last year, and Oberto’s his heart ailments could cost him his season/career as well.
If either have recurring health issues, McGee will be expected to to fill the shoes. Although not naturally a center, Andray Blatche is big enough to absorb minutes in the middle.
Washington has 18-plus hard fouls (Including Blatche) they can throw at Shaq during the playoffs.
What this constitutes is that the Wizards have depth. They will be fresh and capable of logging long playoff minutes if they can remain healthy.
The triple headed snake of Arenas, Butler, and Jamison will be venomous and lethal, ready to strike.
Again this all hinges on Arenas, but teams in the Eastern Conference should fear the Wizards.
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Um, yeah. We’ve seen all three of these guys together before, when they were getting beat by a Cleveland team much worse than the team they had last year or this year.
Randy Foye after getting out of the drudges of Minnesota…will find himself in the drudges of Washington. Expecting a player to suddenly explode because he’s surrounded by questionable ‘talent’…keep dreaming.
Let’s look at this for a moment…
Rajon Rondo vs. Gilbert Arenas
Ray Allen vs. Randy Foye
Paul Pierce vs. Caron Butler
Kevin Garnett vs. Antawn Jamison
Rasheed Wallace vs. Brandon Haywood
5 guys going to the Hall of Fame vs. 5 guys who’ll have to buy tickets. This is a massacre. Having, oh two, three guys as depth is essential. When you start talking about guys 10 and 11 like they’re going to get used in a playoff game, forget it.
And that’s just Boston.
Do they have anybody who can beat Howard? No. Is Washington going to beat Orlando? No. Next.
http://www.nba.com/games/20060505/CLEWAS/boxscore.html
I see Arenas, I see Jamison, I see Butler, I see Haywood. Four out of the five starters you had when you couldn’t get out of the first round are still there.
But take a look at Cleveland….
Eric Snow vs. Mo Williams
Larry Hughes vs. Delonte West & Anthony Parker
Drew Gooden vs. Varejao & Powe
2006 Lebron James vs. 2009 Lebron James
Ilgauskas vs. Shaq and Z
Fairly significant improvement there, wouldn’t you say?
Washington might have done well in the East with this lineup…in 2006. It’s not 2006 any more. Teams like Detroit and Washington, which had a shot back then, can’t come back with teams ‘just as good’ and have a shot any more. Boston’s got the best 1-5 while Cleveland and Orlando have the two most dangerous players in the NBA. If Washington or Detroit made the 2nd round it would be a serious upset. There’s no chance of either of them making the Eastern Finals short of a plane crash or major Earthquake.
Sorry.
Is this guy smoking something?
Rajon Rondo is not a hall of fame candidate. NO chance. HE can’t shoot outside.
Matthew H is comparing stats from 2006 to 2009-10.
Using playoff statistics that will be 4 years old is one of the more retarded arguments I have heard in a long time.
Arenas will destroy Rondo, make no mistake.
Allen is old, and has been showing his wear and tear and loss of step for sometime. In a good system, Foye should take Allen, CURRENTLY speaking.
Butler and Pierce are a toss up, as Pierce is older and slowing as well. Statistically, Butler is better than Pierce across the board, minus 3 point %, and a fraction of a FG %. Check your current stats.
Vince Carter in Orlando will be a franchise killer.
Not to go back in time, but in the game 7 of 2001 against Philly dude bricked with the game on the line, after going 6-18 from the field.
What has he ever done in the post season?
Turkoglu was the sole reason they got there. Remove him from the equation, and they are destined to fall back this year.
Dwight Howard is a one trick pony in needs of a second move.Until he learns it he will remain ring-less. you need a decent center to win a championship, as in Kendrick Perkins was for the Celtics in 2008. Washington vs Cleveland seems realistic, as Boston has too many issue with old age to get it done.
The author said “if” Arenas is healthy, so you should put tha tin your pipe and smoke it!
ROger, I agree with you. I think MAtthew H might be smoking crack…
JK
He is entitled to his opinion, but citing old data in a new year is always taboo.
thanks for the comments!
A remarkably uninformed post by Matthew H.
You have not seen these guys together before because they’ve been injured in the playoffs. The last time the Big 4 were healthy in the playoffs was four seasons ago. They took Cleveland to 6 games in which Cleveland won 3 1-point games (one of which involved Lebron taking 4 steps on his buzzer beating shot). Washington actually outscored Cleveland in the series. That series was essentially a draw.
Three seasons ago, Butler and Arenas missed the playoffs and Haywood barely played. They were swept.
Two seasons ago, Arenas was hurt and the Wizards still took Cleveland to 6 games.
Last year, Arenas and Haywood were out and they missed the playoffs.
Oh yeah, and the Wizards swept the regular season series against the championship Celtics team in 2007/08 without Arenas. The Wizards will be better now. The Celtics will be worse with Garnett and Allen now on the decline.
Gents,
great responses to Matthew H.
The Wizards should be in a far better place this season than last.
Great input nate33!
Thanks for the reply.
Did you check out the NBA player morphing?
Quite ridiculous!
Thanks again, and please come back and visit protect the paint anytime!
Adam
Great article. From everything I’ve read/heard Gil will be indeed be a factor this year. But the author forgot the second biggest reason why teams should fear Washington…they finally have a quality head coach in Flip Saunders.
How Eddie Jordan got so much love in this town is beyond me. The guy couldn’t develop young players, would bench guys just because he didn’t like them (primarily Haywood), and could be the worst defensive coach of this era. The guy is a clown who rode 3 talented players to mediocre records and first round exits. It’s going to be hilarious when he fails in Philly.
On the other hand, Flip is already working with guys like Blatche and Young in ways that EJ never did. Flip also understands the principles of the matchup zone and the Wiz should be markedly better (not elite but still much improved). And he’s going to scrap the “small ball” that Eddie was so fond of and actually use our big men. Also look for the Big Three to stay healthy because they won’t be run into the ground for 40+ mpg anymore.
Arenas + Flip = 50 wins and at least the second round, maybe more. Go Wiz!
LyricalRico,
Great point. Honestly, just based on the roster shake up alone I found the WIzards are going to be lethal.
Flip is like the icing on the cake.
HE is great with young talent. WIth that in consideration, I could easily see them moving past more teams.
Also, on another note. Look out for the Bulls.
They are stacked as well, especially if Luol Deng gets back to healthy form, and Tyrus Thomas ever gets his act straight.
Great comments, thanks a million!
A