Open thread: Ernie Grunfeld's presser

by Pradamaster on May 8, 2008 10:52 AM EDT in Game Threads

As Jake mentioned, Ernie Grunfeld is finally going to address the media today about this year's offseason. I don't know if he's going to say anything remotely insightful, seeing as he's a close-to-the-vest kind of guy, but I'm curious to hear what he says nonetheless.

The press conference is at 2. I have a final from 1:30 to 4:30, so I won't be around. If anyone wants to try their hat at transcribing his quotes, I'd really appreciate it.

For everyone else, comment about it here.

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really good wizards insider chat from yesterday -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/05/02/DI2008050202404.html

not sure if I can listen to EG press conference but I’ll try.

by ooba on May 8, 2008 11:46 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

video of Ernie is up

Doesn’t seem like he’s saying much. (Surprise) http://www.washingtonwizardsblog.com/

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 8, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Here's the "highlight:"

From the first video at about 2:15:

Q: Any reason why it would be advantageous at all to break this team up and start over?
Ernie: Not from my standpoint. Long silence. Then Ernie waxes rhapsodic about the team’s chances with the improved bench and 3 healthy All Stars.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 8, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Is it just me?

Or is that video quality terrible?

by Truth About It on May 8, 2008 4:47 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Here's some highlights (in text form) from today's conference

Right here.

No real bombshells, but I don’t think we expected anything different. I did find that interesting that he said he said he’d be willing to trade the #18 pick, but it would make sense since we’ve already got a few young guys as it is.

Oh, and based on this quote I’m thinking that it’s extremely likely Roger Mason won’t be back next season:

We’d love to have Roger back. I don’t know yet. We’ll have to wait and see how everything develops from a financial standpoint. ... But we are pretty loaded at that 2-guard position.

Bullets Forever: Where fancy numbers and YouTube come together.

by JakeTheSnake on May 8, 2008 7:59 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Trade the 18th Pick?

A lot of mock drafts have Roy Hibbert going at around the 18th pick. I know that we have a loaded roster right now and that Hibbert had a disappointing senior season, but wouldn’t it make sense to take a chance on a guy who’s 7’2” 278 lbs., works hard, and who’s familiar with the Princeton?

Then again, it’s not like we need a backup center or anything like that, since we can always let Songaila play center.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on May 9, 2008 8:54 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Heavens No!

Hibbert is a complete stiff!!

I don’t care what offense he knows…..all he is going to do in the NBA is commit fouls and get caught out of position.

by Truth About It on May 9, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I would be careful

What I say about Songaila – remember he is a known

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 9, 2008 12:19 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

No Disrespect to Songaila

He does an admirable job – as a power forward. The problem is that he can’t guard guys who are 3-4 inches taller than him and weigh 20-40 more pounds, go figure. If the Cleveland series taught us anything, it’s that Ernie needs guys who are tall and can box out. This team is too undersized to go far in the playoffs.

I’m not sure about Hibbert, but his size makes me willing to take a chance on him. HoopsHype compares him to another stiff, Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Funny, Ilgauskas didn’t look so stiff against the Wizards in their series when he was consistently grabbing rebounds over the backs of Jamison and Songaila in the paint.

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on May 9, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Obviously

I need to be taught how to insert links.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on May 9, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

There's a link button

Fifth one from the left.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Pradamaster on May 9, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

hey ernie read this

“They have athletic bigs that do a good job on rotation,” James said. “They don’t allow me to crack the second line of defense.”

Whether it is Garnett or Kendrick Perkins or Leon Powe, Boston’s big men are approaching LeBron with their arms stretched outward, not upward, to attempt to remove passing lanes. It is part of the reason he’s got 17 turnovers in the two games.

As a result, James is feeling crowded and his options seem limited. Not helping is the Cavs’ apparent refusal to make major adjustments. Possession after possession, the Cavs ran pick-and-rolls from the same spot on the floor with James, and time and time again the Celtics executed their defense.

“We didn’t make a defensive adjustment, we just got to places, quicker, faster, better,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “This is how we want to try to force him to play. We’re not recreating the wheel, but we have great focus at what we’re doing.”

by DarrellWalkerFan on May 9, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs