Notes from the last couple days of training camp

by Mike Prada on Oct 2, 2009 3:15 PM EDT in Coaching

Real quick, before I listen through the tape.

Gilbert Arenas' knee looked fine today in the brief time we were able to see him. Flip Saunders says he's progressing well there and that part of the motivation for sitting him in previous scrimmages is to protect Arenas from overworking himself. Saunders noted that Arenas is usually the first one in the gym shooting for a long time. So it appears yesterday's limping thing was a false alarm. I'm curious to hear feedback on whether I and the other Mikes handled the situation correctly.
The finger, however, is still bugging Arenas and might be bugging him for a while. Saunders said the finger is going to be "a whole year situation." He added: "When you dislocate a finger and it's considerably swollen, you can work on it, tape it, and it'll feel great for five days, but if you hit it, it's going to jar it a little and it's going to get sore. So it's going to be a constant factor. We'll try to monitor it."
Saunders says the shooting guard position is far from settled, and that everyone is making their case pretty well for minutes. Personally, I think Randy Foye has had the strongest camp, but he's been playing on the ball a lot.
Javaris Crittenton had to sit out the end of practice and emerged later with a boot on his left foot. He said he's getting an MRI on it this afternoon. The injury dates back to when he played in a pro-am league earlier this summer. He's been playing through pain all throughout camp, which should tell you something about his determination. We'll see.
Fabricio Oberto sat out the end of practice as well, but Saunders said he merely tweaked his hamstring and he'll be fine.
Yesterday, we discussed just how familiar Foye was with this offense. Foye confirmed that he ran a lot of similar sets in Minnesota under Randy Wittman. "I've been through it before with coach Randy Wittman," Foye said yesterday. "He was running a lot of the same sets. Some of the terminology may be different, but all of the concepts and the plays are the same."
More stuff later, including an update on JaVale McGee's situation and some words you all will probably like hearing from Caron Butler.

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Good Stuff

as for Arenas: considering his (health) history with the team, I think you covered it as well as could be expected.

by Pryme on Oct 2, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

I think all the Mikes covered the story properly

We expect journalists to report facts, not hold back information. You reported that Arenas didn’t scrimmage (a fact), was limping during sprints (a fact), seemed to be moving well when shooting against Foye (a fact), you reported what people said when you asked them about Gil’s knee (facts). I didn’t read any wild conjecture, and I definitely don’t support holding back information. All three of you did fine, in my view.

by disgrunted on Oct 2, 2009 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

All 3 handled it exactly as it should have been handled.

Hope your having a good time down here in Richmond Mike. Need any restaurant recommendations?

by ReboundingLs on Oct 2, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly ....

Part of the point of reporting is to relay observances that anyone else would have noticed with the same access.

If Gil doesn’t want to send mixed messages, then he talks to the media instead of being ‘cute’ by saying “I’ll see you guys next media day.”

In the (at times) tumultuous relationship between media and players, both can be at fault when mixed messages are conveyed to the world.

Somewhat similar to how Danny Snyder just doesn’t realize that err of his ways, Arenas doesn’t realize that his very own actions are partially, if not mostly, responsible for the past mixed signals … so, his “jaded” new attitude to the media is not the most mature thing in the world.

The issues start with his mouth … and that’s something he just can’t understand.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.

by Kyle Weidie on Oct 2, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

pretty much

by DarrellWalkerFan on Oct 3, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions

You guys handled it right

Is it me or does this team have more bogus talking points than other teams. It seems like we’re always hearing conflicting things about Arenas and his knee. We’ve heard the “we’re gonna be better on D” thing a thousand times and ditto for “Blatche and Young maturing” stories. It’s probably really tough to report on this team when the same talking points come out from the team every year and are rarely fufilled. Good Job Prada.

by BayAreaBullet on Oct 2, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

yeah i get tired of hearing the same things every year too

but what else are they going to say? they’ve got a lot of time to fill…

i think BTH has become the best quote on the team

by DarrellWalkerFan on Oct 3, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Good lord

Everyone is getting injured or is banged up on this team. I already know Foye is going to contibute though and its nice to know Agent zero is straight

by qthaballa on Oct 2, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

I wouldn't panic too much

These things are natural.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.

by Kyle Weidie on Oct 2, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

And it’s not like these are major injuries…. simple bruises and muscle aches….

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

by Rook6980 on Oct 2, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, Critt's might be major

He certainly didn’t look good.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 2, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions

via Mike Jones twitter

The Wizards called it a strained tendon in his left foot before sending him to get an MRI .. still waiting for the results.

http://twitter.com/sptswrtrjones/statuses/4564915403

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.

by Kyle Weidie on Oct 2, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

good to hear

>>Personally, I think Randy Foye has had the strongest camp

doesn’t mean much at this point, but still good to hear that he’s off to a strong start.

of course, it probably helps a lot that it sounds like he knows the plays already.

i continue to hope that ernie is on to something here.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Oct 3, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

Foye's a hard worker

Get used to things like “He’s doing great, but then that’s when he’s on the ball….” but Randy Foye will do stuff like learn the plays.

He’s just always been caught between positions, plain and simple. I’m a Wolves fan, and when I hop over here it’s uncanny how similar the conversation is about Randy now. It’s like someone hit ‘reset’ for the kid.

Nicest player ever, though Polite as can be, just a good guy.

by feral on Oct 3, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

"Mikes" Coverage

I’m in agreement with everyone here. FWIW, I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (and editor for the last 10), and I think you handled it exactly right. Report what you see, and don’t worry about the fallout or the organization trying to spin you. If they think you’re susceptible to that, they’ll push it even harder. Hold fast, and know you did it correctly.

by YellaFella on Oct 3, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions