Hollinger's chat today
Akim (washington DC): Did the Wizards improve at all this offseason? The resigning of core players is nice, but the teams above them (with the exception of maybe Cleveland, but they cant beat Cleveland anyway) have improved. What do the Wiz need to do to improve??SportsNation John Hollinger: That's why I didn't like the Wizards' moves -- it was like they were perfectly content to go 44-38 for the next five years.SportsNation John Hollinger: In response to the second question, they still have to improve the D, and they need to get more out of the kids (Blatche, Young, etc.)
over 3 years ago
Mike Prada
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Interestingly
He also fesses up to being a diehard ‘Skins fan in the same chat – he couldn’t be a closet Bullets lover could he?
Getting buckets since 2003.
he also believes that Ricky Davis will be "helpfu"
I think John has gone off the reservation
Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!
IIRC
He’s a NOVA resident. I know he went to UVA.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
That's just Hollinger being Hollinger dog
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net
Truth hurts
I hate to say it, but I kind of agree with him. I’m not saying the Wiz had much of an alternative to the offseason they had, but they didn’t do anything to get better. That’s a fact. It’s just too much of a gamble to hope that Arenas, Jamison and Butler will stay healthy. Some would argue, although I disagree, that they can’t go to the Finals with the big three healthy anyway. It’s been a long and uneventful summer.
What am I missing?
Did any of the East playoff teams from last year make any moves to get better besides Phili? Toronto I suppose, but again big injury history. Rose will help the Bulls, but maybe not a lot this year. Boston lost Posey. Bucks added Jefferson. Am I forgetting anything? Why is our lack of big moves more of a big deal than the rest of the conference’s?
Mark my words:
Hollinger won’t look at injury history for any other teams…
I guarantee he’ll move Toronto up, based on their off season moves to get O’Neal… regardless of the fact that he’s been injured and hasn’t played 70 or more games since 2003. He’s already said he “expect(s) the Raptors to be significantly better next season”.
He’ll find a way to jump Philly over the Wiz because of the acquisition of Brand – even though Brand was injured all last year. He’s already called them “instant East challengers”.
He loves Dwayne Wade – and will almost certainly move the Miami Heat into the playoff picture since he’s already said “Wade looks FANTASTIC, yes, he’s been the U.S. team’s best player in the tune-up games. If he plays like this, playoffs are a very realistic goal for the Heaters.” – again, even though Wade was injured most of last year… he’s assuming that Dwayne Wade will just pop the Heat back into playoff contention.
He’ll say that Indiana got better because of their Draft day deals…. and move them above the Wizards… (He’s already called the Toronto/Indiana trade a win-win deal – and that both teams are in a “far better position than they were before”).
He’ll find ways to pump up the other teams in the East (Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and New Jersey) – While at the same time denegrating anything about the Wizards; and excluding the fact that a 44 win team is adding an All-Star player (Arenas), and a very competent Back-up Center (Thomas)... He’ll say the Wizards are 12th or 13th in the East…
I don't think he has it in for us
While I disagree with Hollinger’s analysis, I don’t think he will go out of his way to overlook the dangers of signing O’Neal or Brand. In the case of O’Neal, the trade was great from the perspective that it cleared the PG logjam. Brand supposedly gives Philly the low post player that they need.
What all ESPN columnists and talking heads have agreed on for years (fairly or not) is that the Wiz don’t play defense. I think you would see the opinion of Hollinger et al. change if we brought someone in who was a known stopper or had a sea change in the way we approach defending the ball. Brand and O’Neal change their teams fundamentally in the style of basketball that Philly and Toronto respectively can play. Adding Gilbert is great, but it doesn’t really change us as a team in terms of style of play ect..
Its always Roger Mason (Jr.) time!
Well, I don't think JO changes Toronto that much
Seeing as how he’s a perimeter-oriented big on a team full of perimeter-oriented players, but I agree that Hollinger doesn’t have it out for us.
He did have high hopes for the 04/05 team, after all.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
He's paid to be a critic
Other than last year’s slightly gloomy prognostication, I don’t have a lot of problems with what he says. His analysis is usually okay; it’s the conclusions that we (predictably) disagree with. Everyone, including Hollinger, who says we need to play better defense is correct – what champion this decade has won with subpar defense?
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Aug 8, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
Right. I knew there was one obvious one I was missing. But how much better will he really make that team next year? I think the point still stands.
It does
Miami won 15 games last year. Beasley isn’t making up 28 games.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
Look - I agree with you
I think Miami WILL be better, but not a playoff team…
But Hollinger will point at Wade, and say that with him being healthy, and the acquisition of Beasley, Miami is a playoff team.
My point is that he won’t say the same thing about the Wizards….
The Wizards, a 44 win team last year, should be markedly better with the addition of Arenas – but Hollinger won’t see it that way…essentially saying the Wizards are WORSE by adding Arenas (and Thomas) ...
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