Etan Thomas torn MCL

by igetbucketsson on Jan 13, 2009 3:06 PM EST

Looks like Pech and JaVale might get some more minutes. it's time to get buckets son!!

Tests performed today on Washington Wizards Center Etan Thomas revealed that Thomas has a torn MCL in his left knee. The injury occurred in the first quarter of last night’s game versus Milwaukee. Thomas will be listed as out indefinitely, and will be reevaluated in two weeks.

http://www.washingtonwizardsblog.com/2009/01/13/etan-thomas-injury-update/

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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Wonderful

Will teams want his expiring contract even if he can’t play? Or does this hurt his trade value even more?

"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 Jan 13, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Maybe in the mid of next season when they can cut him or something...

I don’t know….

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by Kyle Weidie on Jan 13, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

But really, before we get into all of that...

Poor Etan….he was actually playing fairly well…considering he missed a whole season due to open heart surgery.

I feel for the guy.

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by Kyle Weidie on Jan 13, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions

agreed 100%

not the time to bash or discuss what good news it is for the young’uns.
although, etan is an athelete who you figure doesn’t need the game to have a good life.

"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler

by little stevie colter on Jan 13, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

YAY YAY

today is a good day!!

by ak47 on Jan 13, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

yeah that's why i don't watch lebron james play

and why i quit playing fantasy sports.
rooting for/celebrating injuries is bad juju.

"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler

by little stevie colter on Jan 13, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

here here

by Aldo on Jan 13, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

hear hear

I mean. I hate homophones

by Aldo on Jan 13, 2009 5:38 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, You're Right

I did not mean to be insensitive to Etan, it must be tough for him.

"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 Jan 13, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

i have to confess to always rooting for him

i thought it was cool to a have a smart, politically active player for a D.C. team.

"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler

by little stevie colter on Jan 13, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

Definitely

Open heart surgery and a torn MCL in a 1.5 year span? That’s rough.

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by Jake Whitacre on Jan 13, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know...

Is it ghoulish to say I’m ecstatic? Not about Etan’s injury, of course. It’s hard not to feel for the guy, and I hope he recovers fully. But now McGee will have to get minutes, and I predict we’ll see him more often with a seat at the dinner table in the Palace…

by YellaFella on Jan 13, 2009 3:50 PM EST reply actions

Schadenfreude

but not quite, nothing personal but Javale needs the minutes. I hope Etan plays again soon (as long as it’s for another team).

by Fundefined on Jan 13, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions

I could do the standard and wish Etan a quick recovery (which I do) but all I have to say is

GET BUCKETS SON

rockin' the crab dribble since 2009

by hibachi on Jan 13, 2009 8:37 PM EST reply actions

I'm not sure this necessarily means more minutes for Pecherov

After all, apparently Randy Ayers had to remind Tap that the guy was on the roster, and there’s a good chance he’s forgotten again.

by Jon L on Jan 13, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions

Who else do you give the minutes to?

Tap will eventually figure out playing Songaila at center isn’t working out. At least Pech can grab a gimme rebound.

rockin' the crab dribble since 2009

by hibachi on Jan 14, 2009 1:14 AM EST up reply actions

You have more faith in Tapscott than I do

Tap will eventually figure out playing Songaila at center isn’t working out.

Really? The guy who had to be told not to keep starting an injured player by that very player? The guy who said he’s not going to give the young players minutes “just for the sake of playing them?” I want to see Pecherov out there learning and growing too (and getting buckets, son), and I was even the one who argued earlier in the season that Pech could help the team out with his rebounding, I just have that little faith in Tapscott at this point.

by Jon L on Jan 14, 2009 1:27 AM EST up reply actions

Wha?

To see Pech inside the 3 point line is a rarity. To see him in the paint…going for offensive rebound….I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.

by MR on Jan 14, 2009 5:58 AM EST up reply actions

Actually

Jon L never said anything about “Offensive” rebounding…

AND – Pecherov has the highest rebound rate of anyone on the Wizards at 16.7%
Rebound Rate is the percentage of missed shots that a player rebounds.

You can complain about his shooting percentage… or denigrate his propensity for hanging around outside and shooting 3-pointers…. or the fact that he seems to get lost on defense occasionally….

But, the one thing he has done well this year is rebound. I’ve watched all the games… including all 7 that Pecherov has participated in… and he’s actually a very sound positional rebounder; similar to Songaila, except that (unlike Songaila) athletic guys can’t just jump over him to get the rebound because he’s 7-ft. He’s also one of the few Wizards that I see that puts a body on the opponent and blocks them out.

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by Rook6980 on Jan 14, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions

Oh, you're right

for some reason I thought we were looking at O-rebounds.

I think you may be leaning on the numbers a little hard here. The guy has a total of 15 rebounds this year (6 offensive to my surprise) in 53 minutes. I think saying he’s got a good rebound rate when he is playing mop up duty (lots of missed shots on breaks and non-set/sloppy offense) seems like a stretch.

I haven’t watched the guy as closely as you, obv. But my impression is that he’s not a rebounding force. My image of him on offense is purely sitting outside the 3.

by MR on Jan 14, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

It's not just this year

Pecherov posted the 4th best rebound rate on the team last year (in 35 games), behind Jamison, Haywood and Blatche and ahead of Taser and Songaila. The fact that it’s a rate stat that looks at how many rebounds a player gets out of those available controls for his playing time a little bit. He’s not a guy who rips down a board and flails his elbows around like Etan, but he’s shown that he can contribute in that area. I wouldn’t expect 9-points-in-5 minutes efficiency from him every time out, but with Etan out now I think it’s worth seeing what he can do, especially since they picked up his option at the beginning of the year. I just have serious doubts that Tapscott will do it.

by Jon L on Jan 14, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

Also

I’m not one of those “stat” only guys – that relies only on the stat lines….. I do watch the games…

Those games that I’ve seen that Pech played in, he did very well holding his position, and boxing out on the Defensive rebounds. He’s moderately aggressive (more so than Blatche) – and even gets called for the occasional foul while rebounding.

On Offense, on those rare occasions that he is not camped at the 3-point line, he does not mind mixing it up inside for rebounds.

He’s not gonna be the next coming of Dwight Howard, but I think he’s definitely better than Songaila; slightly better than Thomas; and at least as good as Blatche on the boards…

He needs to show that he understands the Defensive system…. he keeps getting lost out there. He is slow to react, especially on rotations. Not sure if that’s due to inactivity, rust, lack of understanding, etc… that may be helped with more playing time – - – - or if he’s just a defensive liability.

Of course, it would help if he actually made a few of those 3-pointers as well.

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by Rook6980 on Jan 14, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

I'll have to watch him more closely

You guys seem to have some faith. I’ve pretty much given up on him being a contributer.

by MR on Jan 14, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Don't get me wrong

Being better than Songaila; slightly better than Thomas; and at least as good as Blatche on the boards… is still not that good….

And, more importantly, he seems deficient on Defense… at least from what I’ve been able to glean from the limited minutes he’s been allowed on the court.

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

by Rook6980 on Jan 14, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

Rebounding seems like his one skill

He can shoot, but puts them up too often and gets completely lost on defense.

I’m not sure why we picked up his option, to be honest.

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

by Mike Prada on Jan 14, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

To be fair

He hasn’t exactly had a fair evaluation yet either. Even though he’s been here 2 years, he’s only been in 42 games totaling 373 minutes….

As a comparison, JaVale McGee has been in 31 games, but has over 440 minutes of playing time already. And JaVale has been sitting recently.

So, even though we’ve been complaining that McGee should bet getting more time on the court, so he can develop – the same thing could be said about Pecherov.

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

by Rook6980 on Jan 14, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions

I don't either

This team complains (yes, I know that’s not the right word) complains about bumping up against the salary cap and having limited flexibility then picks up the option for a guy who never plays. Bah.

by Jon L on Jan 14, 2009 11:17 PM EST up reply actions