We're not as far along as we'd like to be, and we're probably right between where we might be and...

We're not as far along as we'd like to be, and we're probably right between where we might be and where we thought we might be.

Flip Saunders via Wizards Insider

Nothing like starting out the season with a "Huh?" and a "Gaa?" ... I mean, this kinda makes sense, but it's sorta like saying, "It is what it is because at the end of the day, we could be better and we could be worse."

Well great, that doesn't make me sleep better or worse tonight.

Coach Saunders also elected not to name a starting shooting guard for opening night.

What do you guys think?

Should he get it over with and name one so everyone can get used to their role?

Should he say something to the effect of "It's going to be a platoon situation and I'll go with whomever is playing well"?

Or should Flip play it like he's playing it?

3 months ago Truth About It 11 comments 0 recs |

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All have valid arguments

Etched in Stone: players know their roles, but may become too comfortable when the Unforeseen Injury occurs.

Rotation Roulette: You’ll get grumbles about playingtime, but so far it’s made the SG Spot Battle one for the ages. Whoever’s playing at the 2 will be, more often then not, the most intense player on the team.

I say let’s give it about 15 games and let the record determine whether or not a change is in order.

by Pryme on Oct 26, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if Flip would have already named Stevenson the starter if Jamison hadn’t gone down. Somebody in the last couple days wrote that there would be too much pressure on Arenas and Butler to score, and that makes an awful lot of sense to me.

I’d think hard about starting Young at the 2 and Oberto at the 4 until Jamison gets back. I’d be fine with Foye at the 2 as well. It would probably put Blatche in behind Haywood and Miller behind Oberto, but losing Jamison will do that to you.

I don’t really have a problem with Flip playing it coy. I think all these guys (except Young) have started in the past and will be able to roll with it when it’s time.

by bronco6778 on Oct 26, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t start Oberto at the 4. I feel like he’d be completely over-matched by opposing starting power forwards. I’m thinking starting Blatche for Jamison. See if he can step up as a starter and start Miller at the 2 for rebounding purposes.

by Dreezy on Oct 26, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only thing Flip has said about his rotation so far is that Andray will be the backup power forward from day 1, in an effort to get him acclimated to the role. So while I agree, it probably won’t happen.

by bronco6778 on Oct 26, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coy?

I think it is pretty straight stuff

by khrabb on Oct 26, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree

wiz will likely start slow. they aren’t as far along as he would have optimally hoped for. he’s saying it clearly. i have no problem with it.

he hasn’t made up his mind yet about the starting SG. i don’t think he will until he sees how it plays out for a bit.

by DarrellWalkerFan on Oct 27, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Start Oberto and Foye

Blatche is too foul prone to start. Let Oberto play the first 6 minutes and lean on the other team’s starting PF a bit before bringing Blatche in. Blatche can still get 24-32 minutes, but not as a starter. The other advantage is that we would always have one of Blatche or Haywood on the floor at all times. Neither is what I would call a go to post scorer, but both of them are at least reasonably effective in the post against single coverage. If you put Oberto and McGee on the court together, there would be no low post option whatsoever. The offense would become that much more predictable.

Our best SG is Mike Miller, but I really like having him come off the bench to shore up the second unit. His passing really helps when Arenas is out of the game. Nick Young has stunk it up in the preseason and doesn’t deserve to start. Stevenson can’t start because a lineup with all 3 of Stevenson, Oberto and Haywood would be dreadful on offense. By process of elimination, that leaves Foye as the starter. He’s a pure SG anyhow. When he plays “point guard”, he plays exactly like a SG so we may as well play him at his natural position. Indeed, the best backup PG on the roster right now is Mike James. I’d bring James off the bench for 12 minutes a night when Arenas sits.

So in summary, Foye and Oberto start. James gets 12 minutes at backup PG. Miller gets 24-28 minutes at SG and SF. Blatche gets 24-28 minutes off the bench at PF. McGee gets about 10 minutes at backup C (with Oberto manning C when both Haywood and McGee are out)

by nate33 on Oct 26, 2009 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Most people who have commented on this issue seem...

to agree that Foye would play well alongside Gilbert, and his comparative success playing off the ball argues pretty strongly for starting him at the 2 with Oberto as the starting 4… Bringing Miller and Blatche in as the first subs of the bench would represent a potentially significant offensive injection, as well. This option has my vote under the present circumstances.

If Miller and Oberto start, then the first two players off the bench probably should be Blatche and Stevenson, with Foye coming in when Gilbert sits down and Foye and Stevenson sharing the ball handling duties (I prefer this to using Mike James, he is just too much of a ball stopper). This works if Blatche comes in prepared to be aggressive at the offensive end.

Of course, a lot depends on who the opponents are and at least this Wizard team offers a lot of fairly decent options in the search for optimal matchups.

by khrabb on Oct 27, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs