50 or Bust?

by JakeTheSnake on Oct 1, 2007 10:26 AM EDT in Writers

Tom Knott of the Washington Times, has a column up about the Wizards today and he says this year is make or break for the Wizards.

The Wizards either win 50 games and go deep into the playoffs this season or the brain trust's devotion to continuity and chemistry is likely to succumb to a series of changes.

In a worst-case scenario, that could mean the departures of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and coach Eddie Jordan, either by choice in the case of Arenas and Jamison or by pink slip in the case of Jordan.

That is the reality before the Wizards, unsettling though it may be.

The franchise has evolved beyond the point of being satisfied with a playoff berth after three consecutive postseason appearances.

Gilbert has already gone out and said that anything less than a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals would be a "failure." Obviously, we all know that the Wizards have to improve on last year's record to keep Gilbert and to a lesser extent, the new fans that have come thanks to his popularity. In the latest poll, only 12% of you thought that the Wizards could put up more than 50 wins this season, so the big question are:

1. Where would you draw the line between good season and a disappointing one?
2. Will the Wizards have to make the ECF to ensure that they keep Gilbert?

Feel free to drop your two cents in the comments.

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My Lincolns

If the Wizards get more than 45 wins and get out the first round, I'll be happy. If the Wizards end up at .500 or worse, I'll be very disappointed. Anything in between I'll be O.K. with, not thrilled but not upset either.
I don't think so, if they can't make it out of the first round they might have problems but if they can make the conference semis and hold their own that should be enough.

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by JakeTheSnake on Oct 1, 2007 10:30 AM EDT 0 recs

2nd round

If the Wizards can make it to the second round and not get swept there, I think that shows enough improvement. I think +45 is a good mark to shoot for.

And come on, like Captain Quirky is going to make his decision on something that simple? Never, ever believe the Washington Times.

by sierradave on Oct 1, 2007 12:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Dave's right about the Washington Times

It's a rag.

I would love to see the Wiz at least 10 games above .500, so 46-36. Would much prefer 50+. I'll be pretty disappointed with less than a trip to the ECF.

"Now, obviously individual production does not unilaterally equal better team production, but there's a high level of causation."

by Vanilla Gorilla on Oct 1, 2007 2:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

45 wins for me

and making it to the second round.
I'm not sure what will factor in to Gilbert's decision to stay or go. It seems like Ernie and Eddie have given Gilbert the keys to the car, so the team's success is in Gilbert's hands. If December Gil shows up all year, then we'll have a 48 win year. If its January Gil, then we'll be 41 and 41 again. So its odd to me that the win total will determine whether or not he stays or goes. After all Gilbert's play is going to be the primary determinant.

by hotplate on Oct 1, 2007 6:24 PM EDT 0 recs