14 players in a new system: Dominic McGuire

by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2009 12:09 PM EDT in Coaching Comment 18 comments

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Injuries and improved play allowed Dominic McGuire to start 57 games last year, but early indications are that he won't come close to approaching that this time around. The Wizards have been using McGuire as an all-purpose reserve throughout training camp and haven't given him a ton of repetitions on the wing. McGuire's also been used relatively sparingly in preseason games.

It's a shame, because McGuire fits the mold of the long, athletic wing defender Saunders has historically liked. McGuire certainly isn't as skilled as Tayshaun Prince, but what exactly separates him from Trenton Hassell? Moreover, McGuire seemingly has had an excellent training camp, flashing an improved jumper and defensive versatility. So why isn't he playing in preseason games much?

Is it just a numbers game with McGuire? Make the jump to discuss.

Why he will play: Not only is he versatile enough to fill in at many spots (though I hope to not see him at power forward very much), McGuire is one of the only guys on the team to take defense seriously. It might send a message to the other players on the team that you will play by playing defense, not by scoring.

Why he won't play: There are too many bodies in front of him, and McGuire is still a guy without a defined position or a refined offensive game.

My best guess: McGuire gets spot minutes here and there, but will not be a part of the regular rotation. Had you asked me before training camp started, I would have given McGuire a pretty good chance to impress Saunders and leap ahead of guys who he probably started behind. Now that I've seen that IFlip hasn't played him more in preseason games thus far, I'm going to change my guess and say he ends up being one of those +2 guys in the 8 + 2 rotation.

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Turnovers

Are what separate him from Trenton Hassell. Dom gives it away far too much. Of course, on the other hand he contributes on the boards, which Hassell did not do.

I’d really like to see him at PF some this preseason. Maybe as the backup 4 in whichever game Jamison sits. He has been somewhat disappointing on the offensive boards. I’m inclined to attribute some of this to too much time out at the top of the key running the princeton weave. He adds nothing out there, given his 3 pt shooting, so why not put him in position to spend some time closer to the basket and see if he can hold his own against quick PFs who give Jamison/Blatche trouble?

by bwoodsxyz on Oct 13, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He played PF down the stretch against Toronto

It didn’t go so well.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's too bad

What was the problem?

by bwoodsxyz on Oct 13, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They couldn't rebound

Or defend the lane.

I mean, the proof is in the results.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, didn’t see/follow the game. Who was playing center with him? I should have qualified my earlier comment with only wanting to see him there with Haywood among the team’s centers. I admit I don’t see how Dom at PF could work with Oberto (too small) or McGee (too much to learn) at center, and I doubt whether it would work with Blatche either.

by bwoodsxyz on Oct 13, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, I see

He was playing with Blatche, I believe, so that would prove your theory.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right -

i would hesitate to take much of anything out of that 4th quarter. i think mcguire will be effective in spots.

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

by little stevie colter on Oct 13, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my guess

I think as the season goes on, he will earn more playing time. When Flip finally sees what he has in Taser he will realize what an asset he is.

by Unkle Wheez on Oct 13, 2009 12:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Great non-rotation player

McGuire is exactly what I want from a third-stringer. He plays multiple positions, works hard, plays defense and plays within himself (so he’s not going to hurt you on the court the way that Mike James could). So, when (not if) something happens and you need to fill in at the 2, 3, or 4, he’s there and ready. In the meantime, he gives you a hard worker in practice who doesn’t louse up team chemistry or culture. As of the end of last year, he just wasn’t good enough to be valuable as a rotation player on a contender, but he’s the perfect guy to have to fill in the inevitable gaps over the course of a season (this could come in many forms, including someone needing to be benched for not playing defense).

I think he’s going to continue to improve, so this isn’t my final take on him. But for now he’s right where he belongs (pretty good for a guy who looked comically out of his league the first few times I saw him). I’m glad to hear he’s been working on his jumper. A reliable jumper would make a big difference in how (and how much) the team could use him.

by steadyhand on Oct 13, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Astute analysis....

I think if Dom can be a stopgap at three positions he will more than justify his place on the roster. I also agree with the assessment that he is a team player who will not pout or whine over what should prove to be vastly reduced PT this year, and that matters a lot,

by khrabb on Oct 13, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you put it that way, it sounds great

Nice analysis.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 14, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would certainly like to see Taser traded sometime down the line but for now we need to utlilize his defensive skills and especially his ability to rebound AND somehow develop a decent jumper or offensive play. However, I certainly believe he should be traded when possible.

by Unxpekted on Oct 13, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But they have to wait until just the right moment to trade him....

Like they did with Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, etc….. Just BEFORE he is ready to have a breakout season, but also before he’s worth much…. So the Wizards can trade him for an old, broken down veteran to fill the end of the bench with….

Good plan. I like it.

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

by Rook6980 on Oct 13, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why trade him?

I don’t think teams are beating down the door for McGuire. I don’t think he’d net us much. And it seems like he’s the kind of guy we need. What we need to do is resign him cheaply.

by MR on Oct 13, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's a free agent next year anyway, so why trade him?

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because he isnt very talented, maybe you need some of those though.

by Unxpekted on Oct 13, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just because he’s not a great shooter doesn’t mean he’s not talented.

I think he fits our team well. I hope they resign him.

by MR on Oct 13, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At the very least I would like to see McGuire used . . .

as a defense for offense substitution late in games. One of the most frustrating things about Eddie Jordan as a coach was his unwillingness to take Jamison and/or Arenas off the floor when this team needed a stop at the end. I hope we see McGuire in at the end of games playing the kind of defense we know he is capable of and helping the Wizards get key stops at the end.

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

by George Templeton on Oct 14, 2009 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs