"The locker room is policed by the superstar, never the coach."

by antawnjameson on Jul 3, 2009 5:27 PM EDT

Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski writes that Kobe, not Phil Jackson, will keep Artest in line: "The locker room is policed by the superstar, never the coach." (I don't agree. Although they are an increasingly endangered species, coaches like Avery Johnson with the Mavs and Larry Brown with the Sixers did lay down the law.)

The Wizards don't have to worry about a hothead like Artest, but the team has suffered at times from a lack of focus. Last season's young team would have really benefited from someone setting a more serious tone, but we saw that Caron and Antawn lack the authority or the temperament to do it.

With next season's veteran team, do the Wiz need someone to "police the locker room"? I've been a big defender of the young guys, but I think they probably would benefit from some tough love. Can Gil be a more vocal leader? If not him, what about Flip? Cassell?

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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I say Cassell

will be that type of voice in the locker room.

by lj15 on Jul 3, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

And a hilarious one at that

by pantslessyoda1 on Jul 3, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

i think brendan can police the knuckle heads like blatche

by wizchamp on Jul 3, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

The thing is

I think Gil has been the one policing the locker room. He’s just hasn’t accepted the fact that he’s the cop. He’s tried to deflect the leadership responsibilities to Antawn and Caron because they were older but as much as he has tried to deny it, it’s his team. That’s why the locker room is full of goofy kids (like Arenas) rather than gritty guys who just go to work every day like (like Butler and Jamison).

Hopefully Flip can make him realize that the team follows his lead and he needs to be more cognizant of that as he go about his business with the team.

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by Jake Whitacre on Jul 3, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

He hasn't accepted the leadership role

But to say he isn’t setting an example is kinda harsh. When healthy, no one works harder than Arenas. Yeah, he goofs around but there is nothing wrong with a goofy locker room – some might say that’s a good thing. You can be good, take the NBA seriously without being serious.

by zeke5123 on Jul 4, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree to an extent

I think Gil’s tried to be too much like the “lead by example” type at times, when he’s practically the only one who can pull off the “work hard and be goofy” thing so masterfully. Something as simple as having him lead more with his words could make a major difference.

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

by Mike Prada on Jul 4, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

covered ground?

The head coach makes less money, is more likely to be fired and doesn’t have the same sway he does in college.

This was covered by Gilbert after the season ended when he said he had to step and lead. Caron said it was about time, Blatche was taken aback at the mere thought of not acting like a child. If the superstar is a goof ball then there can’t be any order beyond that. The only chance this franchise has is if Gilbert takes things more seriously and holds people accountable. Cassell can be the staff’s voice of discipline, he can bring the whip because he has the rings to back it up. He can also help Gilbert become a better leader. He cannot police the locker room by himself though.

by Jheiser3 on Jul 4, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions