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My (HOPEFULLY STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL) observation

I did not watch the entire Spurs game. Sadly, I predicted what would happen. I had a choice between watching this game or earning some extra money at work, and chose the latter. If I thought it would be a good game, I would have stayed home. But, given it was the Spurs we were playing, I envisioned a blow out.

 I simpy do not understand how this team seems to have a total lack of chemistry. I know we have 3 new players, but our old ones are playing like they don't even know each other.

Star-divide

 

Arenas gives it to the other team as much as his own. Maybe it's the offense, maybe he's not as good as he used to be. I don't know. But he's definitely not the boon we thought he would be.

Butler has somehow morphed into Reggie Miller, only his jumpers don't fall through. His continual insistence on proving that he can make the long jumper boggles my mind. This seems to be a team-wide theme, but Caron is guilty of it the most. For as long as I've been around organized basketball, hell even BACKYARD basketball, I've known that if your jumpers not falling, you take it to the hole. (I know, I know...I've said this before)

Jamison is Jamison, but he is not the type of player that can take a team on his back for an entire season. Nor should he be expected to at this stage of his career.

Boykins is a band aid. As much as I admire him for his talent-to-size-ratio, I also know the reality that this is a guy whose been all around the league, and world for that matter, because he is simply limited. He is a good spark plug off the bench as a nice change of pace to Arenas, but that's it. Frankly, at this opint I'd rather see a nice set up man in there to put the other "scorers" in the right position to make the play.

Foye is inadequate - it's beginning to look like he was a 15 point/night scorer because there was no one else to do it. His drives to the basket are encouraging, until he actually gets there and simply throws the ball as close to the center square of the backboard as possible.

Haywood and Blache seem to be the only players who have improved. Haywood seems to have more desire than the rest of the team combined (save for maybe AJ), but is still limited by his actual NATURAL talent (sorry Mike), and position/role. And Blache is easily our most improved player. Too bad he's going in the opposite direction of our "stars".

Miller WAS a bright spot. His shooting touch and grit are a huge departure from most of the rest of the team.

Oberto is not much of a change from Songalia. Sure he's a much better passer, but he's nowhere near the scorer Songalia was. Each are adequate bangers/role players.

Stevenson plays well in spurts. Spurts WITHIN games, every couple of games that is. I won't say anything more about him.

McGee seems to have taken a step back, but that doesn't mean much since he was deemed a "project" to begin with.

McGuire is the same as he's always been, though at this opint I don't see why you don't play him more (which he probably will now with Miller out.). Hell, I'd even consider starting him over Butler for a bit.

 

Now I'm left with Nick Young. Is this guy really THAT BAD, that he can't break the lineup of a 3-9 team? Tell me exactly what he would give you differently that, say, Butler? OK, he'd actually MAKE his shots. Or Foye? Well, there's his length. His ability to actually get CLOSE to the rim. So why not play him? Is the current rotation getting it done?

 

Anyway, that's what I see right now. I hope it changes, and SOON. But I have to admit, this is REALLY starting to feel like Groundhogs Day.

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.

0 recs  |  Comment 19 comments

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I agree

it’s a total lack of chemistry because I feel like the talent is there. Rarely do we start the second quarter with a lead. I think we need Boykins or Stevenson starting at the 1 and have Arenas play the 2. Arenas isn’t doing a good enough good running the offense.

by DaGribb on Nov 22, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Butler

If Blatche or Young were making some of the same turnovers that Butler has this year, they would be immediately yanked and never come back in. I’m not sure what’s going on, but Caron has committed a boatload of unforced turnovers including many at critical times. I know we would have lost anyway, but I still can’t get past his turnover against OKC when we had cut an 11 point lead to 1 and had a chance to take the lead. We never got close again.
I’ve been ok with the defense and the defensive effort this year. But the offense has been woeful. Thus far, we’re shooting 43.1% and if you take out the 61% game against New Jersey, its only 41%. Not going to win many with that, no matter how good the D is.

by hotplate on Nov 22, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I think the defensive effort and D has been up and down this year.

To be fair that’s a huge improvement from last year but we are still killed by our perimeter D.

by BayAreaBullet on Nov 23, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree with pretty much everything

I think Foye was pretty solid before the injury and he was playing pretty good defense against the Spurs even though his shot wasn’t there. I’m more interested in his defense and passing(which has been up and down) than him being a big scorer. I think he can be huge for us down the stretch because he might be the only person who can bring any defense against guys 6’4" and smaller. I gotta strongly disagree with the NY thing. His high usage volume shooting is the only thing this team has an abundance of. Even if he is solid offensively I don’t think that will fix what is ailing us cuz it will just mean him pounding the ball into the floor or jacking up shots instead of the people already doing that. We need better ball movement and for Arenas and Butler to start shooting better. The benchwarmer I’m pulling for is Critt, though I fear he has missed too much time to crack into the rotation. A guy like him who can get up and down the court and guard 2 positions could really help an Arenas team. He has missed a golden opportunity to show if he is that guy.

by BayAreaBullet on Nov 23, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'm not saying

you’re wrong, and I’m definitely not saying Nick Young is the answer to our problems. But…

it will just mean him pounding the ball into the floor or jacking up shots instead of the people already doing that

one of the people “already doing it” is Butler. So what’s the difference, except MAYBE Young will actually make his shots. Also, isn’t it about time to find out if this kid can play on a consistent basis?

Another thing to consider is, if things keep going down this road, Ernie is gonna have to make a move at the deadline. Wheter it be to dump salaries, or shake things up. So why not showcase him a bit?

As for Foye, I’m not sure about him. I liked him in the first few games. So maybe he’ll turn it up soon. My main problem is the fact that we made that trade for two veterans who could “help immediately.” I really never liked the trade, but I was hoping that Foye could be a cornerstone of the team for the future. But if things keep going like this, he will be out of here at seasons end, and, again, we will have squandered a draft pick.

by CJHutch on Nov 23, 2009 6:14 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I guess my point with NY

is that even if he does shoot better than those guys(a HUGE if) it would not make a huge difference. We need to fix the ball movement problems if we really wanna improve the O. NY shooting better than Butler or Boykins or whoever would maybe give us like an extra 4-6 points a game? Right now we are getting crushed. I feel like adding NY would be like swapping engine parts for a beat up old car. It might make a slight difference but the car still sucks and you still have to get a new one. I agree with you that if Foye doesn’t prove worthy of resigning this trade will be a huge bust. Also if we are still playing like this 15 games from now I agree that we might as well give NY/McGee/McGuire/Critt alot of run to see what we have.

by BayAreaBullet on Nov 23, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

In regards to this:

Now I’m left with Nick Young. Is this guy really THAT BAD, that he can’t break the lineup of a 3-9 team?

Flip said this:

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/11/22/wizards.changes/index.html

Wizards coach Flip Saunders said changes in the lineup can be expected when the team plays its next game at home Tuesday against Philadelphia. The team is off Sunday and has a practice scheduled Monday.

“We have guys that are frustrated that they’re not playing and I’m sure they are sitting there wanting opportunities,” Saunders said. “And guys will get opportunities starting Monday because we’re not getting it done as it is right now.”

by bigrm18 on Nov 23, 2009 12:30 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

He Probably Won't Do It

But I for one think it would be great if Flip benched one or two of our supposedly “Big 3” guys at the start of the next game to make a statement. Then again, considering how fragile Gil’s ego is, maybe not. I’m not sure about Butler’s ego.

"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 Nov 23, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I think it'd be easier to bring Caron off the bench

Gil would flip, but Caron might stay steady and see it as a new challenge.

The problem is that Miller’s out. I think it’d be easier to sit Caron if it was Miller taking his spot. Now, he’d lose minutes to Stevenson or McGuire, and that might piss him off.

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

by Mike Prada on Nov 23, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Not Necessarily
I think it’d be easier to sit Caron if it was Miller taking his spot. Now, he’d lose minutes to Stevenson or McGuire, and that might piss him off.

Go with a big lineup: C Haywood, PF Blatche, SF Jamison, SG Foye, PG Arenas (or Boykins if Flip wanted to make a HUGE statement). Problem solved, maybe. I’m still not sure how Caron would take it, though.

"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 Nov 23, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I Wouldn't Be Surprised

If Gilbert throws up over 25 shots in this game, also. Not sure yet whether they will go in, but I think they will be taken.

If they lose to Eddie Jordan’s 76ers, I think all hell might break loose.

"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 Nov 23, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Foye's not doing well this season.

However, I would be very happy if the Wolves got him back. “4th Quarter Foye” just doesn’t fit too well with Washington I don’t think. Randy is definitely playing worse than how good he actually is from what I’ve seen as a Timberwolves fan.

by KGMN on Nov 23, 2009 9:27 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I, For One, Don't Want to Give Him Back

For the record, I completely disagree with CJHutch’s analysis of Foye above. He’s barely played, and he’s had some bad games, but I’ve seen what he can do when he gets hot. If he can just get some consistent playing time, I think he’ll prove his worth. He’s a keeper, and I hope Ernie sees it that way this offseason.

"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 Nov 23, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Addition by subtraction

Arenas was once in a class with D Wade; now he is simply a quality player, and he is clearly not a leader. With a few young forwards on the bench, and Mike Miller performing well, I think that the Wizards should dump Caron Butler. Butler has declined in effectiveness each of the past 3 years, and he also has become a distraction. Maybe he is still worth something in a trade, but even if the Wizards got nothing, they would be better off without him.

Gerry

by Expatde on Nov 24, 2009 1:56 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

well Young just showed what he can do last night against Miami.

by tw10 on Nov 27, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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