What happened to the big plan?

by Rook6980 on Jan 10, 2009 3:23 PM EST Comment 12 comments

I always thought I had an inkling into Ernie Grunfeld's grand plan. Sign Arenas and Jamison to keep the big three together. Develop the wealth of young talent on the team. Find a backup PG for Arenas. And then in 2010, before the trading deadline, use Daniel's and Thomas' expiring contracts to obtain the final piece, or pieces needed to become contenders - not for a Playoff bearth, but for the Championship.

Ernie seems to have put together enough pieces, to get it done.
Assuming that the youngsters developed into what he drafted them to be:
A multi-skilled Offensive and Defensive forward (Blatche)
A high volume scorer (Nick Young)
A defense and rebounding specialist (McGuire)
A specialist 3-point shooter (Pecherov)
And a monster Defensive force in the middle to take over for Haywood (McGee)
Crittenton may be the backup PG they need.

Combined with one of the best scoring PG's in the League (Arenas), a perennial All-Star 20-10 guy (Jamison), and a versitile All-Star SF (Butler), and a Defensive anchor at Center (Haywood); the team would be lacking only a perimeter defender (a role Stevenson was supposed to play), a bruising physical force down low (a big PF) and perhaps a 3-point specialist.

The plan depends on continued development of the young players.

That plan seems to have been derailed this year, and I'm not sure why. Even with Arenas and Haywood healthy for the full year, it seems unlikely that the Wizards would have had enough to contend this year. This year should have been used to get the young players on the court to find out if they can improve and help the team. Without Blatche, Young and to a lesser extent McGee, the Wizards aren't going anywhere - even with the "Big-3". This year should have been used as an evaluation of the existing talent to see where tweaks might be needed.

Instead, this year has been mostly lost by playing "veterans" who have no long-term value to the team. Songaila, although a nice bench filler, is not going to be a major cog in the Wizards Championship plans. Neither are Mike James, Etan Thomas, or Juan Dixon. Yet these players are continuing to get minutes at the expense of playing time for McGee, Crittenton, Young and Pecherov.

So, now I'm confused.

What IS the plan Ernie?

This represents the view of the user who wrote the FanPost, and not the entire Bullets Forever community. We're a place of many opinions, not just one.

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I just complained about this on the Tapscott quote post

But again this brilliant and 100 percent dead on. If Ernie Grunfeld and Ed Tapscott are as tight as we are supposed to believe then why would Ernie sanction a plan like this. It makes no sense whatsoever and it makes me angry.

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Jan 10, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What everyone is forgetting

We are 35 games into the season. There are 47 games left.

The young guys are slowly getting more playing time.

There is PLENTY of time left to get them more experience.

by MR on Jan 10, 2009 4:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

There is time left

but what worries us is the apparent lack of a plan. What’s the point of giving Thomas, Songaila and James major minutes? Those guys can’t get us in the playoffs, so why play them rather than McGee and Crittenton? The more the young guys play, the better they’ll be next year.

by antawnjameson on Jan 10, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The plan

Is plain for anyone to see:

• 7 game blocks with different players getting a look in blocks.

• Play the players that will win games.

• Make players earn PT.

Why does nobody here understand that? You may disagree with the plan, but I think the plan has been pretty clear.

by MR on Jan 10, 2009 11:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's the plan? Then they're not following it very well.

• 7 game blocks with different players getting a look in blocks.

Ok, I’m not an NBA Head Coach… but OK… I’ll go along with this one; even though I’ve NEVER heard any other Coach of ANY OTHER TEAM (College, Pro, Football, Basketball, Baseball, etc…) say they want to break the season down into segments. Other coaches always say they are concentrated on the next game. But whatever…. OK

• Play the players that will win games.

Except that Tapscott seems to be doing just the opposite. Rewarding non-performing veterans (Thomas, Stevenson, Dixon); and punishing the performing “non-veterans” (Young, McGee)…

In limited playing time, McGee has shown that he can perform at this level.

Even in his best years, Thomas was a back-up Center at best.
Comparing this year’s stats:
Etan Thomas: PER= 10.4 Points per 40 minutes=10.6 Rebounds per 40 minutes=8.2
JaVale McGee: PER=16.1 Points per 40 minutes=16.1 Rebounds per 40 minutes=9.9

Or how about playing Stevenson for almost the entire year; and playing him 28 minutes per game…. while Nick Young was (before the last two games) struggling to get 19 minutes off the bench.

Stevenson: PER=7.22 (pitiful) P/40 = 9.8
Young: PER 13.0 P/40=18.5

Don’t just look at stats. The Wizards play better, with more energy and with more purpose when the young players (read: better players) are on the floor. They make more mistakes, but also make up for those mistakes with superior play. Nick Young is better than Stevenson. Nick Young is better than Juan Dixon. Nick Young is better than Mike James (as a Shooting Guard). JaVale McGee is better at Center than either Etan Thomas or Darius Songaila.

NO – it certainly does NOT look like the Wizards Management has decided to play the best players – It also looks suspiciously like the Wizards Management has decided to tank the season by playing the worse players; or at the very least, they’re showcasing guys like Stevenson, James, Songaila and Thomas. (and that’s fine…….. just let us in on it so we know that there IS a plan)

• Make players earn PT.

So what more does JaVale McGee have to do to “earn” playing time and get off the bench? How many more spectacular blocks? How many more incredible dunks? How many more impressive assists?

How many more 28 point games does Young have to have to “earn” more than 20 minutes per game?

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jan 11, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he has to play defense

if McGee is going to get playing time, then he needs to be able to stop opposing centers. He simply can’t be in the game against a big, quality center. first he needs to gain about twenty lbs of muscle, and then learn how to play. if he can do that, a big if, then i guess he’ll get all the time he wants.

by stevie on Jan 13, 2009 11:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The plan

Hey guys… first time commenter here. I’ve always lived in areas near the Wizards(outside of Baltimore and now in Richmond) but have resisted being a Wizards fan. Lately, even though the team is struggling, I’ve found myself showing some interest in the team. I have recently decided to be a fan of the local team so you should see more of me around. And I’m hopeful that someday we’ll have the Wizards D-League team here in Richmond.

Anyways… there does seem to be a lack of a plan. I’m torn between thinking the team should look for the last piece to go around the big 3 and thinking the team should blow it up and build entirely around the young guys. At this point I’m leaning towards blowing it up but that would take A LOT of changes. Regardless of what the team decides, it needs to decide sometime and communicate the plan and stick to it.

by danielfarrell on Jan 11, 2009 12:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Welcome

I’m not sure how anyone can BECOME a fan during these dark and dreary days, but at least we know you aren’t a bandwagon jumper! I think this team is closer to being good than their record indicates, but it’s hard to gain traction when your starting PG and C haven’t played a minute between them all year.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on Jan 11, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget

Not to mention the fact that the starting Shooting Guard has apparently been injured all year, but only mentioned it in the last two weeks…. took himself out of the starting line-up and has subsequently been on the injured list.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jan 11, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There might be a plan-

But I think things would probably be on hold until Gilbert and maybe Haywood come back. So EG can see what we have for this team

by ooba on Jan 11, 2009 2:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd agree with this

Ernie seems paralyzed by Gilbert.

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

by Mike Prada on Jan 11, 2009 10:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the team is stuck on their old plan from three years ago with this Big Three, still trying to find out if they’re good enough to contend for a title when healthy.

I think everything, all plans, are on hold until they get an answer. Then when they find out that answer, then decisions and a firmer direction will come.

http://nbaroundtable.wordpress.com/

by NBR on Jan 18, 2009 12:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs