Mid-afternoon Wizards links

by Mike Prada on Aug 9, 2010 3:30 PM EDT in Links

I'm behind on my Wizards reading. Hopefully, I can catch up with you guys here. Here's what's out there on this Monday:

ESPN's Summer Forecast series began today with a look at the Eastern Conference. ESPN's panel of experts predicts the Wizards will finish 32-50 and be ninth in the East. Right now, that's about where I'm at too.
Here's a nice article on the team from Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Washburn talks to Ernie Grunfeld about the "instant excitement" the team has coming into next year.
Andray Blatche did an interview with Wizards.com, and says he thinks the Wizards "are going to shock a lot of people." I hope so too, Dray.
Truth About It talked to David Thorpe, who had Yi Jianlian for about five weeks this summer. Thorpe talks up Yi a lot, which is nice, but keep in mind that a) Thorpe, while one of the best trainers out there, does hype up his clients a bit, and b) Yi's issue has never been how he performs in the gym, it's how he performs in a game setting.
JaVale McGee makes this DIME Magazine list of top five big men poised to break out next season.
Mike James may be (sort of) long gone, but Wizznutzz is still giving him music advice on Twitter.
Former Wizard Etan Thomas found his way into Barack Obama's special pickup hoops game on Sunday. John Wall did not.
Trevor Booker got his degree in parks, recreation and tourism management this weekend. Hey, D.C. is a good place for that kind of degree, right?
Finally, I've expressed by distaste for ESPN's Future Power Rankings, but here's the full list for you to enjoy. The Wizards rank 20th, behind great up and coming teams teams like Indiana, New Jersey and the Clippers. Um, yeah.

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32-50 would be 9th place?

I mean, the Eastern Conference isn’t great, but it can’t possibly be THAT bad.

Part of Pech's Posse since 2007.

by OleksiyPecherovsHomeboy on Aug 9, 2010 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

They have everyone stacked up at the bottom with 27-32 outside the playoffs

Somehow the Knicks are picked 8th. Seems like everyone else is seeing something I don’t.
I think the Wiz will probably beat that 32 win estimate by a few. Probably Indiana or Detroit will surprise and snatch the last playoff spot from us with 40-ish wins.

by steadyhand on Aug 9, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

It's a safe guess

The way they have it they won’t be totally off on any team.

by MR on Aug 9, 2010 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Kind of like picking the Lakers to beat the Suns in 7 in the WCF

the coward’s bet…

We're from the city with the highest murder rate in the country. Why WOULDN'T they call us the Bullets?

by Bullet Nation in Exile on Aug 11, 2010 2:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the Wizards will have a 39-43 season.

by wizardsfan1 on Aug 9, 2010 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

.500

41-41 and a 7th seed to face Orlando in the first round of the playoffs. We lose 4-2, but give them a run for the money with John Wall destroying Jameer Nelson in the series. Sound about right???

by gilsix on Aug 9, 2010 6:08 PM EDT reply actions

Except for the run-for-the-money part

I think that would be Orlando in 5.

by MR on Aug 9, 2010 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

39-43 sounds about right

and I think we’ll do like 8th and match up with lebron again
hopefully an upset lol that’d be best thing in my life

by Young Wook Lee on Aug 9, 2010 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

yes

i would love for that to happen lol

by Ateneo on Aug 9, 2010 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

I mean, I’d have to consider my wedding and the birth of my kids…but that would be up there.

by MR on Aug 9, 2010 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

God, the thought of facing LeBron again

An upset would be the greatest thing to ever happen. Ever.

Part of Pech's Posse since 2007.

by OleksiyPecherovsHomeboy on Aug 10, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Playing Miami in the playoffs and win will be awesome.

by wizardsfan1 on Aug 10, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

35-47

I think Washington is better than all the teams under them: -Raptors, -Nets, -Cavs (in for hell), -Pistons, -Sixers, and -Pacers. And outside of the top 4 teams ( Miami, Boston, Orlando, Chicago), no other team is a lock for the playoffs. I honestly think the Wiz kids can make the playoffs

by qthaballa on Aug 9, 2010 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

agree

im prety sure we can beat the knicks

by Ateneo on Aug 10, 2010 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

So do I

I mean Wiz hung pretty tight last year without Pistol pete—- i mean Gilbert, throw in the Great Wall and assuming injuries don’t hit like last year, postseason is very much in play

by qthaballa on Aug 10, 2010 3:00 AM EDT reply actions

The Knicks?

I don’t understand the obsession with them. They don’t seem like they are going to be that much better than last year. I mean is Amare really that much better than David Lee. Amare – 23 and 9 while David Lee 20 and 11. Neither plays defense particularly well, so how does Amare make them that much better. Besides Gallinari and Azubuike, I don’t really see anybody on that roster that is going to make this a playoff team. I think Philly will have a better record than New York. No way New York is making the playoffs with that roster.

by ThePGPhenomenon on Aug 10, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions