Flip Saunders Fired As Washington Wizards Head Coach
by Mike Prada on Jan 24, 2012 11:43 AM EST
in Wizards news
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PrintA day many expected would arrive has indeed arrive. The Washington Wizards, off to a 2-15 start, have fired coach Flip Saunders, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
After a 2-15 start to the season, the Washington Wizards have fired Flip Saunders as coach, a league source tells Y! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 24, 2012
Saunders departs after posting a 51-130 record in two-plus years as the Wizards' coach. He was brought in to lead a team built around Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison to contention, and instead stuck around for almost two calendar years once it was broken up. Saunders had one year and $4 million left on his deal after this year.
To be honest, as nice a man as Saunders is and as earnestly as he tried, it just wasn't working. This was the right move to make, so long as it's the first of many to turn this program around.
More to come as it happens.
UPDATE: Ken Berger reports that Randy Wittman will take over. Michael Lee confirms.
UPDATE: This explains Nick Young's benching.
Source says something happened between Nick Young and Flip Saunders at halftime of #Wizards #Sixers last night.
— Craig Stouffer (@CraigStouffer) January 24, 2012
UPDATE: Andray Blatche was just on 106.7 The Fan and said, among other things, that he wasn't aware of any altercation between Saunders and Young.
UPDATE: This from Ken Berger should all be blockquoted:
Tempers flared during the first half of that game, as players were "upset about being subbed out" when the Wizards were down by as many as 30 points, a person with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com.
"At that point," the person said, "no one had the right to complain about anything."
Berger also said that more changes are expected.
UPDATE: It's now official. Here's Ernie Grunfeld in the press release.
“We felt the team had become unresponsive and we will look to Randy to provide a different voice and a change in philosophy moving forward,” said Grunfeld. “We have been transparent in how we would evaluate our team this season and we were disappointed in the lack of development of our players at this point in our rebuilding plan.”
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So
Who’s willing to come aboard the sinking ship?
by HailEarlBorgans on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 AM EST reply actions
Best of luck to you flip
sorry you came into this trainwreck
by WAAAAALL-E on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 AM EST reply actions 6 recs
C'mon
He didn’t bring a gun into the locker room. He didn’t write the story that altered the perception of the whole incident. He didn’t draft Nick Young, AB, or McGee. He didn’t handle Gilbert’s rehab.
I’m not saying he did well here, but he’s probably no. 4 on the “who caused the trainwreck?” list.
by GJennings on Jan 24, 2012 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
no he did not cause the trainwreck...
but he did run the ship straight into an iceberg. I wish Flip well, though, he is a decent guy.
#1 Reason: How fundamentally sound are the Wizards players?
Pretty sucky for a high school team, much less an NBA Team.
Has John Wall gotten better under Flip? Nope. (we could say “worse”)
Why did Flip start Lewis and Blatche all those games and waited until the team was down 10-20 points to put in the young, fresh leg reserves? I cannot answer that.
When did Booker come in to last nights game?
It’s the Coaches fault. I totally blame Flip. I also blame Ernie #2.
maybe Flip was trying to get fired, that's why he started Dray and Lewis again
by DCrez on Jan 24, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
or...maybe he was trying to win because he was going to be fired
now that also shows the feel for the team…that didn’t improve our chances…
do you know anything about basketball...
by WAAAAALL-E on Jan 24, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
a little,
all I am saying is what is flip going to do with the players he has….it pick your poison with the rotations
by WAAAAALL-E on Jan 24, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
think like the 4th quarter...
again, as fans we have no idea what goes on behind the scenes…who am I going to believe a veteran coach or a bunch of young players who have not proven anything yet on a professional level…..
by WAAAAALL-E on Jan 24, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
4th Quarter. Enougjh Said. Maybe if Trevor would refuse to play in a game like Andray and Rashard then HE WOULD GET TO START.
And not wait until the 2nd half to play.
who cares if Flip is a veteran coach? He's been lousy here, no two ways about it
by DCrez on Jan 24, 2012 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
again look at the players he has....
not his fault imo….
by WAAAAALL-E on Jan 24, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
no matter which players he has they should make SOME progress
how often did Flip’s teams look utterly disorganized? He may have a great playbook, but he really isnt much of leader from the looks of it
by DCrez on Jan 24, 2012 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
the players are like my kids
sometimes you can tell them something 40 times.but doesnt mean they are going to do it…..never was the biggest saunders fan but if you truly look at this team and where they are maturity wise….im going to side with flip
by WAAAAALL-E on Jan 24, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Flip called them kids and children constantly
but then expected them to “do their homework” just because he asked them too. Other coaches could have gotten better results than Flip imo, which is why he has been fired. Not absolving the players at all, but Flip was part of this mess too
Why does when Booker come in matter?
Dude is ok by an 8th man at best. Is that your best argument?
by izaballa on Jan 24, 2012 7:22 PM EST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
seems to me
like everyday you’ve got a new person to blame, and have managed to never once be insightful, original, or interesting in the process. You are the absolute main reason I want an ignore feature on this site.
EG
Laid the track that headed the the edge of a cliff and Flip was the unhappy conductor going full speed ahead off it.
by blackdog3377 on Jan 24, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
Ever go to the Casey Jones Museum in Tennessee?
Casey told his loyal Fireman to jump from the train and save his life…. then he tried his best to stop the Engine and reduce the impact of the crash…
trouble ahead, trouble behind
and you know that notion just crossed my mind
The Wizards should go with a player/coach
Coach Andray Blatche!
by KD1 on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
haha nice.
Dear Passionate fan, I know you are passionate, but please reply with a logical answer or I will ignore you.
by TerpsAllTheWay on Jan 24, 2012 11:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not sure how I feel about this
It was clear that he wasn’t getting through to the players, but the argument can be made that he never had the right mix to get anything out of this team. On the other hand, it is really difficult to trail an NBA game by thirty points, much less mulitple times in the same season, and it just seemed like he lost this team. See ya Flip, you never really got a fair shot here, but it’s the NBA, that is the way the cookie crumbles.
by seewhite on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Great coach, just not a fit here.
Good luck to him somewhere else.
"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin
by sami426 on Jan 24, 2012 11:46 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Best Wishes to you Flip.
Who’s going to be interim coach?
No wonder they don’t have a practice today.
by isum on Jan 24, 2012 11:49 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
wittman, is what they said on 980,
or at least they are talking to him about it
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Jan 24, 2012 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
congrats Flip!
go take some time in a sunny, warm place and try to forget this ever happened. i’m getting older and my priorities have changed, but i felt so bad for the dude on a human level. he looked slightly ill and miserable.
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Jan 24, 2012 11:49 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Minnesota fan. Wittman is a fine guy, but he doesn't seem to be a head coach.
His term here….. Ugh. Again, like Flip, you can’t say the mess was his fault here. But as a head coach he failed badly. Lots of tough, disciplinarian talk, little resulting tough play on the court. The adjectives would be more like “listless” and “adrift.” As an assistant he’d seemed engaging and done some TV “Tips” spots, it’s not that he didn’t have that Head of State mojo. He surely lost the team, though.
Also, he and McHale inflicted this moment on us. I’ve never really recovered.
"First, I'd like to blame the Lord for causing us to lose today."
by feral on Jan 24, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I don't care about Wittman sitting in a girly way
but I expect more of the same since there is no change aside from flip.
He coached here when Al Jefferson was the cornerstone of the offense.
Had pretty marginal success with developing the inside out game. Mike Miller and Randy Foye were his outside talent…. Jeez, this is like a flashback, isn’t it? Usually his offense was seen as that of a Flip protege, vaguely, but when he was head man here McHale kept talking about “smash mouth basketball.”
He has had some success, at least, with point guards. Believe he was Andre Miller’s coach in Miller’s rookie year.
"First, I'd like to blame the Lord for causing us to lose today."
I am never happy to see a guy lose his job
But he’s gonna get paid anyway so I’m glad to see him go. For coaches who have coached more than 100 games with this franchise, he has by far the worst record in franchise history. It was time
by SkinsWizStangs on Jan 24, 2012 11:50 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
God I hope so
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
we can only hope
I do not want Ernie choosing the new guy.
Teams I support: Redskins, Wizards, Nationals. MMA & Boxing fanatic.
www.twitter.com/StillUnknown85
by StillUnknown on Jan 24, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Teams usually get up at least one game after their coach is fired
I was thinking about skipping this one, but it might turn out to be interesting.
Sounds like what this team needs is 82 coaches a year.
Oh good, only 66 this year.
by MR on Jan 24, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
About damned time
I’m not saying this maliciously, but I am not sorry to see him go, and I don’t feel the least bit bad for him. Truthfully, I don’t think his heart was into it anyway. I think he was biding his time, making sure he received his full pay. Ernie (who I hope is next) gets some blame for the initial Blatche debacle but, after that, Flip still continued to reward him ( and others) undeservingly with time.
Now, all that said…Randy Wittman? Meh. I woulda rather spent the rest of the year seeing what Sammy could do.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Who
Does Whittman like and not like on our team?Anyone know?
Great............
biggest reason I wanted Flip gone was because he never seemed to get along w/ JaVale and John… the two I think we should build around.
Really, there was no option but this one
2-15 with many losses in spectacular, facepalm-worthy fashion after two almost as futile years? Both Flip and the team need him to be elsewhere.
Representing the Wizards and Capitals in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
by mr. 91 on Jan 24, 2012 12:01 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The good news: Flip's gone
It just wasn’t working for him on this team. No ill feelings. He tried.
The bad news: Ernie Grunfeld gets to pick a new coach. And our next coach is really, really important in if the young guys stick around in Washington. Make a bad hire, you start a revolving door of new coaches and the instability that comes with it. Really important decisions about to be made.
I'm a Wizards fan. We've been trying to tell you about Lebron for years. Hated the man before it was cool.
Follow @Dylan___V
by returnofswagger on Jan 24, 2012 12:01 PM EST via Android app reply actions
In memory of flip
“Don’t think it can’t get any worse, because it can”, “I didn’t sign up for this”
by dhall88 on Jan 24, 2012 12:02 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Coaching here for three years
probably caused him to age ten years.
by Marine4Life51 on Jan 24, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Can we get some Canis Hoopus guys in here
to tell us how much Randy Wittman is NOT the answer?
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
He's not the answer, but getting rid of Flip is a good thing. Talking about Wittman will only be buzzkill.
600 N First Ave "like a Pirate's cove".
See what you did Mike!!!!
I blame you…
I don’t want to hear about how anyone is above this. I don’t want to hear about rebuilding and process. I don’t want to hear anything about “upside” or “assets.” I don’t want to hear about how John Wall is a tragic hero. I don’t want to hear about poor Flip Saunders having to coach players who won’t listen. I don’t want to hear howls about JaVale McGee needing post touches. I don’t want to hear Andray Blatche saying he wants to die for this. I don’t want to hear Nick Young saying he wants to prove the haters wrong. I don’t want to hear any excuses for anyone, really. Everything we just witnessed was unacceptable.
Flip is probably a happy man.
In all seriousness, what happened to the plan? Firing Flip isn’t going to change a thing about the talent on the team. We are still going to be bad.
Regardless, if you are going to do it, before the Bobcats game is the time to do it.
One has to wonder if that lineup change last night was fateful. I wonder if he was warned not to do it.
More questions….but it the players don’t react…well….then I don’t know what to say..
by DavidDunn on Jan 24, 2012 12:03 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Flip is a great coach...
Unfortunate the way the season is going, I take some of the blame for him not being able to keep his job…he was put in a tough position, and he is a great coach
I am not able to help the team as much as I did
It has been a tough road…
“Were the players tuning him out?” – Somewhat..maybe
I never went to ownership to complain about the coach and I don’t know if anyone did…
Randy Wittman is the same coach as Flip
I am pretty sure there won’t be much different…now players have to step up more, because no one can say it is the coaching…maybe it is the players..
We never thought about Flip being fired or traded
“Why so many disagreements between you and flip” – Most issues came from miscommunications..it was never personal…
“Was flip the right coach” – I don’t think he was wrong
“Did he get frustrated too much” – He stayed tough..he stayed the same because he wanted us to succeed. We haven’t had a day off yet.
I am having bad nights...can't eat...I love it in DC
hopefully I can turn things around and become the players that fans want us to be…
Wittman is a strict coach...won't take much slack
“How is Flip’s relation with Flip " – They got along great.
Did Flip lose the team – No
Is Ernie involved – I have no idea…thats upstairs I am downstairs..
Oops....that should say
what is John Wall’s relation with Flip…they get along great…great player and great coach
I should also add that here they asked if something happened
between player and coaches last night…anything between Flip and Nick Young…
Dray said nothing abnormal…and didn’t seem to be hedging…
when I got booed..my teammates held me up
we have to now stand together even more…
but the only way I will stop the boos by playing great…
Did the team get upset about Flip's reaction to Javale
No..I didn’t…you have to ask Javale
Did you ever feel like Flip threw you under the bus-No..he just wanted us to win…
Thanks for that
I’m in the library without headphones so I couldnt turn the radio on. Most of the responses seemed to be diplomatic company lines, but is it sad that such “professional” behavior comes as a welcome surprise from this franchise?
I don't know if this was the right move
I really really liked Flip Saunders, but i suppose it was clear that he wasn’t getting through to the team.
On the other hand, if Saunders can’t, can anyone answer “who can”?? You can’t coach effort and basketball IQ!!
by Marine4Life51 on Jan 24, 2012 12:06 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Randy Wittman is not really a "ship righting" type of dude
http://www.canishoopus.com/2008/12/7/684271/a-brief-review-of-recent-c
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
He's a band-aid.
Wittman isn’t going to be around after this season, that much is clear. Anyone looking for some kind of swift improvement is going to get a reality check.
by seewhite on Jan 24, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He's a cheap knock off of a generic band aid
I used to have super powers until my psychiatrist took them away.
Don't worry too much
He’s going to get around $8M to leave. That’s a lot of Subway sub sandwiches.
by dalek on Jan 24, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i hope flip finds a home soon
I honestly do but this wasn’t what he signed up for so its time. Good luck flipper
by no more kwame's in dc on Jan 24, 2012 12:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions 2 recs
He was bad at coaching the team he did sign up for!
Pre-guns
by SkinsWizStangs on Jan 24, 2012 12:09 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Any good assistant coaches the Wizards can
convince into becoming the Wizards Head Coach? Or GMs? Because Ernie is probably (possibly) next. I don’t see them attracting any notable former head coaches here.
With this move being made
Ernie needs to go in the next two weeks. Otherwise it was for nothing; the message will be that Flip was the main culprit and Ernie did nothing wrong.
No basketball coach is a fit here.
That’s my honest opinion.
Apparently there's more in the air than Wicked Pixels, right Ted?
Flip’s a good coach, but to change the culture in this organization, they need a transformative coach. I don’t think Wittman’s that guy, so I don’t understand his promotion.
Who else is there?
An honest question. Do we give Cassell a shot and see what happens?
thank you flip.
this is more of an indictment on your team rather than you. Best of luck.
by thewiz06 on Jan 24, 2012 12:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions 3 recs
Ed Tapscott time
baby!
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
by Sean Fagan on Jan 24, 2012 12:09 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Not going to happen but...
I’d love to see Gary Williams coach this team. We basically have college players on our team anyway, especially from a maturity standpoint. He would whip these guys into shape.
not the craziest idea....
not sure it would work…but it would make a splash…as would either John Thomspon…
NO and then YES
Gary Williams would fail….now John Thompson would get after our lazy big men.
by notimpressed on Jan 24, 2012 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
Flip can be a good coach
If he is put in the right situation and this obviously was not it. His lineup choices were just confusing at times, especially when he refused to play the young guys despite getting blown out (like last night).
Eff' Flip Saunders.
This guy was a mismatch for this franchise from the moment he was hired.
This should have happened months ago. Too bad we had to dig ourselves a 2-15 hole for Teddy to finally pull the trigger.
Wittman’s been a perpetual failure as head coach, so no reason to expect different this time. It’s called interim for a reason.
Ted’s replacement decision will tell you a LOT about how well a gauge he has on this franchise’s direction.
AverageBro.com - @AverageBro
by averagebro on Jan 24, 2012 12:13 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Ted isn't hiring the new coach the GM is
The big question is, is Ted going to fire Ernie too? if he doesn’t, firing Flip was more “Flash than substance”
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 24, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
Y not Sam Cassell?
Randy Wittman is a decent assistant coach at best, but he can’t lead a team. What else does Sam have to do to get the job?!
by Jr Mack on Jan 24, 2012 12:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Mike just tweeted
source said that something happened with Nick Young and Flip at halftime last night ….
That was a question asked on the dray interview
and he said he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary
But does "nothing out of the ordinary"
Mean something out of the ordinary for a functional, non-discordant team? THAT’S the follow-up question that needed to be asked
he didn't seem to flustered by the question...which is what I would
expect if something went down…but maybe he has a good poker face…
If something happened, it seems like Jordan Crawford was involved as well…why Mason instead of Crawford to start…
Is there tension between those two?
smh when he tries to say the right things its boring...
when he speaks his mind and says otherwise its… shut up and play… lol Blatche can’t win literally and figuratively.
by Wizkid4eva on Jan 24, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I was joking but I do hate when Dray says the "right things"
because more often than not it’s complete BS…. “imma a post player” “im 7 day Dray” “imma die for this, go hard on defense every single play” blah blah blah…
No patience Ted?
This had to be done. But I find it interesting that this comes on the heels (days?) of Ted last preaching patience and season ticket deals.
Ernie has to be next.
I would kill for Larry Brown
I don’t care if he only coached her for two or three years, it would be a breath of fresh air.
I wouldn't
He would just fall in and out of love with specific players on the roster and then demand a whole roster shakeup.
by Marine4Life51 on Jan 24, 2012 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And by "a breath of fresh air"
you’re referring to having a REAL basketball coach, right? I can smell the sweetness already… Although Wittman stink of failure almost as bad as Flip does…
Even this organization
should have enough sense not to fall into that hole.
Michael Lee...
…BTW, why does it seem like Michael Lee is always getting outscooped by out-of-town journalists. What does that say about the ability of the guy who covers this team more than anyone else.
AverageBro.com - @AverageBro
Mike Lee works really hard
its just right place, right time.
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
also mike Lee is one guy
Yahoo Sports and CBS sports are HUGE sports news conglomerates. Yahoo especially seems to break all the big stories.
by Ron Carlos Jeines on Jan 24, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
Coincidence?
5 minutes ago, Caron Butler tweeted this:
“Checkmate! Just woke up to some amazing news…..”
DON'T YOU DARE CRITICIZE MY JABSTEP
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
by Sean Fagan on Jan 24, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
95% sure this has to be about Flip
Which says a LOT about him if Caron, two teams later, is still happy about this firing
He woke up 5 mins ago?!
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 24, 2012 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
ah, my bad
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 24, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
he is on the west coast
three hours behind us.
by ccrun1800 on Jan 24, 2012 12:25 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Getting rid of Flip is best for all parties
Team was tuning him out, he was getting frustrated and feeling hopeless
I really hope Wittman plays JaVale more
I really hope JaVale responds well to this
I really hope Ernie/the next GM picks a coach who is young, hungry, and can develop and motivate his young players
I really hope this leads to Blatche getting moved
I really hope this works
by Ron Carlos Jeines on Jan 24, 2012 12:20 PM EST reply actions
Don't ever let Randy Wittman coach your team
Sam Cassell, too. Sam Cassell is the guy who would go into the locker rooms of opposing teams and demand a trade. There are still guys in the league who probably saw this and are still playing.
Witt + your collection of young players is a recipe for disaster.
There you are
Care to write a fanpost on this S’n’P? Or link to a better Canis article?
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
I don't think I could get to the needed word count.
Don’t. Hire. Randy. Wittman.
There, mission accomplished ;)
In all seriousness, he’s tight with Flip and he’s a disciplinarian. If Flip didn’t work, all you get with Witt is the same bit but with more yelling. He’s not a bad dude but a) he’s a bad NBA coach and b) he’s more suited for college than the pros. If McGee and Wall were juniors or seniors at Indiana or wherever, they’d listen to the guy and they’d beast on the Big Ten. Since they’re in the pros and they all know they’ll be around longer than the coach (with millions of dollars to boot), not so much.
In terms of watching bad teams rebuild with coach after coach after coach…well, at some point you have to look to the GM and owner. Your GM doesn’t seem to be very good but, as is the case with the Wolves, the fish rots from the head and if your orange owner really wants a change in culture, he needs to clean some house. The Wolves are rebuilding through a steady drip of half-assed house cleanings. It’s a recipe for disaster and it is the responsibility of the owner. This is your guys’ real long term issue. Coaches come and go, the orange guy will be around for much longer and he carries a heaver stick.
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 24, 2012 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
well then -
damn. there goes our season…
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Jan 24, 2012 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
Hahaha
yes, because the season wasn’t gone already. I had this same feeling about Wittman. It ultimately doesnt matter though. The season is a waste. So long as Wittman can do what Flip didn’t with respect go playing the kids, it’s a win. If Wittman keeps playing Rashard Lewis 30 minutes a night, he needs to be out on his ear as well.
You can look back at what he did with Randy Foye as a rookie and McCants as a 2nd year player
When he came in for Casey (when Casey was .500) there should be some good data as to how he changed the lineups. I don’t really remember how he handled that.
"Orange Owner!"
That’s the funniest thing I’ve read on this site in months!
Perhaps you would like to coach our humble squad, Stop-n’Pop?
Bullets fan stuck in CO.
I will deliver the most state-of-the-art YMCA men's league offense in the history of the league!
“Big guy, you stand in the lane and get rebounds and put-backs. Athletic wing guy, try not to ball hog—you can’t make your shots and you’re not that good. Short guy with a nice shot and a chip on his shoulder, shoot 3s…lots of them. Fat guy, you set picks and rebound. Other big guy, just don’t get in the way and try to rebound as much as possible. Hands in, let’s go!”
I actually wouldn't mind it
Maybe he’ll mellow out a la Doug Collins and help us learn how to defend.
Follow me on twitter -
http://twitter.com/TheRealTPruitt
by pantslessyoda1 on Jan 24, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions
Time to also part with all the other Assistants
Clean house and start all over.
Bye to Sam and the 5’8" big man coach.
Change the name back to the Washington Bullets...
Washington Wizards franchise history
• Washington Wizards: 1997-present, 1116 games, 446-670, .400 win pct., 4 playoff appearances
• Washington Bullets: 1974-97, 1886 games, 887-999, .470 win pct., 13 playoff appearances, 1 championship
• Capital Bullets: 1973-74, 82 games, 47-35, .573 win pct., 1 playoff appearance
• Baltimore Bullets: 1963-73, 813 games, 401-412, .493 win pct., 7 playoff appearances
• Chicago Zephyrs: 1962-63, 80 games, 25-55, .313 win pct.
• Chicago Packers: 1961-62, 80 games, 18-62, .225 win pct.
The Best Thing Randy Wittman can do is Show Wall a Proper Jump Shot
Randy Wittman was “MONEY” shooting the ball when he played in college and the pros
via Michael Lee
Source on firing Flip Saunders: “It’s like an episode of Hoarders. All you did was take out 1 item.” Basically, it’s still a mess #wizards
Skins, Bullets/Wizards, Nats, Caps.
All Washington Everything.
by BM22 on Jan 24, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
Oof
Stop trying to kill our buzz Michael Lee. We’re happy. Give us just an hour of bliss before returning to the carnage that is this team.
haha. yep.
every little optimism counts.
Skins, Bullets/Wizards, Nats, Caps.
All Washington Everything.
I don't think he was THE problem
Just A problem.
His questionable rotations, his handling of the players and media (mostly the passive/aggressive manner in which he spoke/criticized), the lack of development of the players, the lack of playing time for the young guys when the stated goal is to develop the young guys… I mean, how was he NOT part of the problem?
I hope we really get a fresh start with a new GM.
But I doubt it. Ted is too nice.
Skins, Bullets/Wizards, Nats, Caps.
All Washington Everything.
But then we wouldn't have a team
There would be maybe 5 guys left on the roster.
by blackdog3377 on Jan 24, 2012 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly...good way to kick things off
if it catalyzes a series of changes…
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 25, 2012 8:49 AM EST up reply actions
Sometimes I wonder
if these anonymous sources are Michael Lee’s brain…
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 AM EST up reply actions
Also...on Nick Young...
he didn’t seem to out of it during the post game interview…one would think that if something occurred, he may have decided to not speak to the media..
Best wishes Flip
He tried, but he was no miracle worker
by gilsix on Jan 24, 2012 12:28 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Hey folks...thoughts on last night's lineup and rotations
In retrospect…were they a rebellion against Ernie?
Think about limited time from Singleton, Booker, Vesely…could this have been a “I’ll show you” type battle between the two?
I was thinking about this
And it certainly has that flavor. Or a desperate cry to be fired. I really think he just wanted out but was too much of a baby to quit. The more I think about Flip and his passive-aggressive ways, the more the latter option seems valid to me.
Would you leave $4M+ on the table?
Not surprised that he wouldn’t quit outright.
Bullets fan stuck in CO.
Wittman's Starting Lineup: Wall-Young-Vesely-Booker-McGee
You might as well put the big #6 pick out there to learn under fire.
Tell Nick he needs to get 2 Rebounds and 2 Assists each game or he does not start the next game.
He won't start Vesely...
he isn’t ready….but that line up is basically the same line up that picked up our energy
everyone's on notice!
Bout Damn time, can’t keep your job while losing!
by Objdadon on Jan 24, 2012 12:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions
This season is one big nightmare for me
Just like the locker room gun debacle.
The only things that can make this year successful are the following:
EG is fired
Blatche is amnestied
Lewis is traded or bought out
Young walks
All of these things have to happen!!
Let’s roll with Wall, McGee our top draft pick and the remaining pieces!
this is nothing compared with gungate.
And I do not want randy wittman as head coach.
by thewiz06 on Jan 24, 2012 12:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
agreed. Wipe the slate clean.
You can’t change the culture without cutting out the entire old guard. Blatche needs to go. Lewis clearly does not want to be here. Get rid of him. Young is in “I’mma get mine” mode. Ernire has proven incapable of making the smart aggressive move necessary to turn the team around. you can’t hope to cure a cancer by leaving parts of the tumor still in the body. You gotta cut it all out.
by Ron Carlos Jeines on Jan 24, 2012 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And so it begins...
I heard that Wes Unseld is available
"Through your existence, become wealthy, knowledge is king"- Nasir Jones
"When you play for the Wizards, [Gilbert Arenas] is like Michael Jackson. He's playin with a lot of Tito Jacksons." - Charles Barkley
Leonard Hamilton is crushing it at FSU
we should look into hiring him
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Jan 24, 2012 12:39 PM EST reply actions
Ted has made 20 posts on his blog
without any about the Wizards…
I guess that was a sign. It will be interesting to hear his rationale.
The Wizards are the only winless team in the league following a 93-72 home loss to Minnesota on Sunday, leading to speculation about Saunders’ future. “No I don’t fear that,” Saunders said. “I think I know the process that we’re going through, and I know it’s a painful process.” Two sources told Washington Post that the team has no intention of dumping Saunders, who is in the third year of a four-year, $18 million contract.
I think there might be more to this story….Ted doesn’t seem like the type to make a rash decision…
Would Flip have just changed the line up like that? Was he told – One More Loss – and you are out….resulting in a panic move back to the vets last night?
David Thorpe's Chat on ESPN
Someone suggested the Wizards hiring Westphal……..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
You are under arrest
For an attempt to incite panic
by Bullet Nation in Exile on Jan 25, 2012 8:50 AM EST up reply actions
Well Flip tried to make it work but ultimately he couldn't
and you can’t fire the players. Not in the middle of the season anyway.
by MR on Jan 24, 2012 12:47 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
The Wizards decline began with Arenas injuring his knee in that bobcats game.
After that injury everything was downhill.
actually that might have been the best thing to happen
considering there was no way you were going to win a championship with those players. If we still had the big three, we’d be a really entertaining middle of the road team (think Atlanta or the Suns a few years ago)
My job is done
Now we need real solutions to these problems. I would have let Sam take the reigns this year. But here’s s name= Patrick Ewing. Local ties, up and coming coach. But first we need a GM to pick him….fire Ernie.
Vinny & Zorn....Boudreau....Riggleman....Addition By Subtraction.
by FireFLIP on Jan 24, 2012 12:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions
FireErnie!
"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin
Hire Danny Ferry!
But do not rehire Bob Ferry!
by Tbonebullets on Jan 24, 2012 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
I hope this means our young players see the court more.
I didn’t dislike Flip, but he never did player our young players as much as he should for as long as he has been here. This is going to be a long rebuilding process, and we need to develop our young players.
Skins rule
I wonder whether the timing is because the deadline to sign extensions is tomorrow
Is Ernie getting rid of Flip so it will be easier to resign McGee?
I didn’t think of that. Is McGee a sucker?
by Tbonebullets on Jan 24, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
i think the timing is because of that foul-smelling load
that was the sixers game last night
"hindsight is 50-50" - Steve Spurrier
by little stevie colter on Jan 24, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
In many cases when a coaching change happens, the underperforming players respond really well. Eventually they go back to their underperforming ways, but that’s not the point — hopefully Lewis, Baltche, Nick and JaVale go off for 30 points a piece and we win something like five of eight games. Then our “asset” problem will be solved and we can unload them for some decent stuff before the trade deadline.
Then: The “Bring Back Flip” movement is born!!
Coach fired, no replacement named
That doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season. Not that Wittman can’t coach (I don’t know — he seemed to do okay when Flip was out), but it implies we won’t be moving in some planned new direction for the rest of this season — just playing out he string while our young players develop in limbo…
Sam Cassel and Eric Waters are
but you can’t promote them
Who won? Who lost? Who cares?! The NBA is Back! - David Aldridge
What seems to be the officer, problem? - Randy Marsh
by Dutch Hoopfan on Jan 24, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
Fresh + culture change + big man coach + available =
Bill Laimbeer.
Won’t be a popular idea, but better than Randy.
How about Jeff Ruland
He’s coaching at UDC and also coached Iona for awhile. It would be very similar to the Dale Hunter selection for the Caps.
UDC, huh? I might rather have John Williams.
by Tbonebullets on Jan 24, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
He's coached in the D-League
our team looks like it belongs in the D-League…
Way too much sympathy for "poor" Flip
come on he was trying to get fired last night
actions last night smelled of something being amidst
it was just odd….could have been give a win or else ultimatum…
well...here is the quote...
Players were informed after the loss in Philadelphia that a coaching change was coming, a source said. But the writing had been on the wall since at least the eighth game of the season, Washington’s eighth consecutive loss to start the season. After the 93-72 loss to Minnesota, Andray Blatche stated that the players had begun to tune Saunders out
If they were told post-game, someone knew that this was game was likely the last chance. The only question is was Flip informed. No one will likely ever know, but crazier things have happened.
Just because it was decided that flip would be fired if the team lost
doesn’t mean they gave flip an ultimatum
what sucks is Sam wasnt made interim because Ernie already knows he would never hire Sam as HC
but Ernie may not be the guy picking the next head coach, so we just lost our chance to see what Sam could do
Sam hasn't paid his dues yet.
He ain’t ready. 2nd year Assistant. Not even #1 or #2 Assistant on the team.
He has a while to go.
by jmpalomo on Jan 24, 2012 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
What dues did Mark Jackson pay?
What was Flip doing that is beyond Sam’s comprehension? What is Randy going to do that Sam can’t understand?
Mark Jackson was a very iffy hire, in my book.
He’s not just a neophyte head coach, he’s also a colossal ego – and that appears to have been among the positive reasons for the hire. He talks a lot about how his religious background makes him a leader of young men…. Toss in the Warriors’ backcourt, and I’d never have made that decision in their shoes.
(Terry Porter’s another guy who got hired well before he’d really paid his dues.)
"First, I'd like to blame the Lord for causing us to lose today."
by feral on Jan 24, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hahahahahahah
not sure the Mark Jackson hire is a very compelling reason to promote Sam.
by BayAreaBullet on Jan 24, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
the reason to have Sam do it is to see what he can do
We know Wittman will NOT be the head coach just like Eddie Taps was never going to get the job that EG had already reserved for Flip.
good thing about GS though they look fully committed
willing to spend.. wouldn’t surprise me if they give JaVale a big offer this summer
And the next contestant....
to come on down to receive their pink slip and plane ticket out of town is Andray B……which suprisingly might generate more applause than an actual Wizards W
I suspect there will now be some trades....
Wittman will have his chance and probably without Blatche as a concern at the least.
So does anyone think
that if Blatche and Young played up to their potential (whatever level that is) that the team would be anywhere near .500? I don’t, which leads me to point the finger at Ernie as the problem.
Nope.
Blatche and Young do not have the talent and the skills to be the kind of players we need. Young is a gunner, and best used as an off the bench scorer a la J.R. Smith or Ben Gordon. Blatche is….argh….a stretch 4 with some skill but doesn’t play with any fire or aggressiveness.
by Ron Carlos Jeines on Jan 24, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not even close.
The roster really isn’t that good.
Anyone that complained about being subbed out
when you are down by 30….needs an immediate ticket out of town.
That being said…if this is about Nick…the +/- below 10 vs. the rest of the starters above 20 seem crazy…I am at a total loss on that one…
+/- for one guy in one game is a completely worthless "stat"
Barely better than a random number generator. Not sure why this amazes you.
by BayAreaBullet on Jan 24, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
not random..there is a reason it is now on stat sheets
and it demonstrates the value of a player on the floor over the course of time, and provides insight into lineup combinations…
while it may random..there is some value…
that shows a profound lack of understanding of basketball and statistics
But keep up the “Gee Whiz this number never seems to make any sense” It’s on stat sheets cuz most people don’t want to let their level of analysis extend beyond their brain stem. Much easier to point at a useless number and call it a “stat.” and never have to think about anything. Now looking over 5 man lineups over many games can be telling but one guy for one game is garbage.
by BayAreaBullet on Jan 24, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
First of all...there is no need for ad hominem attacks
that being said….even though I mentioned one game, it was in semi-jest…that stat I mentioned is consistent over the season for Nick Young..the lineups he is in, and is also supported by a low OppPER.
If you would like to have an adult discussion about it, I would be more than happy to. But I am not going to get into a juvenile pissing match about who understand basketball or statistics more. You can do that with other commenters.
The use of +/- for one player in one game does show a profound lack of understanding of basketball and statistics
If you want to take that as an ad hominem attack feel free. You can backpedal now and say you meant over a season if you want but even that has been proven, problematic, to say the least. This is what gave rise to adjusted plus/minus stat. It’s a pretty simple concept. This discussion started with a NYT article by an economist 7 freaking years ago. With such quotes as
“But interpreting what plus-minus statistics tell us about players requires care and knowledge. For example, the impact of Joe Johnson, a Phoenix Suns guard, is overstated because he shares the court with several All-Stars. So is the impact of players, like Marbury, who have poor substitutes.
These factors can be mitigated by further refining plus-minus statistics to account for the quality of a player’s teammates and opponents. Surprisingly, few teams use these adjusted plus-minus statistics."
Which he further refines by pointing out how exacerbated the problem is with small samples sizes(note how he is pointing out it is faulty when applied to samples way bigger than your one game sample) "Plus-minus statistics are especially difficult to interpret when the analysis is applied to a small number of games, a point not well understood by many proponents of the statistics. Stable results take more than half a season; stable box-score statistics require only about 10 games.
Small samples of plus-minus statistics are probably more distracting than useful."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/10/sports/basketball/10score.html
This was further expanded on when Steve Ilardi Ph.D developed adjusted plus/minus(note again he is criticizing plus/minus over a whole season not your one game sample that is even more problematic)
“Unfortunately, however, the plus-minus stat doesn’t always fare particularly well in the messy real world of NBA basketball. For one thing, some players spend most of their time on the court in the company of very good teammates, while others frequently play in tandem with much weaker players. The plus-minus stat doesn’t account for these inequities at all. Likewise, some guys always find themselves matched against the opponent’s best players, while others more often face the opposing team’s second unit. That’s another big problem as far as the plus-minus stat is concerned. What’s needed, of course, is some way of adjusting the plus-minus stat to account for all such potential confounds.”
http://82games.com/ilardi1.htm
There are so many articles on this I’m jsut gonna stop now. Pointing out +/- for one person over one game unfortunately shows a profound lack of understanding of the basic concepts of statistics and basketball. That is a simple fact which is why I stated it. Even over a season it is too crappy of a statistic hence why people who understand these concepts developed adjusted plus or minus. If you chose to personalize that as an attack or backpedal from your original argument that is fine it was not intended to insult you just to point out the ridiculousness of a belief that you may or may not share(tough to tell from your different posts.) So back to my original point. It is accepted that it is a garbage “stat” so I’m not sure why you are amazed when it doesn’t make sense.
by BayAreaBullet on Jan 24, 2012 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You can call it backtracking if you like...(it wasn't)
Suffice to say, I much prefer a reasoned discussion as you produced here, as opposed to your original response. Thank you.
I am aware of most of what you found in your search, specifically adjusted +/-. That being said, a better and more accurate stat, does not mean a stat has no value as a reference point at all (pts scored vs. PER, and no that isn’t a perfect example).
But to be clear, your are correct that +/- has limited value in a single game sample.
Are we even sure what adj +/- measures?
Even with gigantic sample sizes it seems to measure volatility rather than actual production that correlates to winning basketball.
by Stop-n-Pop on Jan 24, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I find it productive with five-man units
Unproductive with individuals. Too much noise
by Mike Prada on Jan 24, 2012 10:44 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Admittedly I might not have made this clear enough but I was savaging an academically and intellectually indefensible theory not you as person.
My point is not that adjusted +/- is a better stat(I’m not sure it has much value). My point is that for one player in one game it is almost useless. It is tough to find much academic refutation of it in a one game sample because it is considered near worthless in sample sizes bigger than 40 and above. It is not that it has no value because there is an improved version; but that it has no value because it has no value. You believe that the value is limited to which we can disagree.
The NYT article put it best when talking about a 40 game sample(which was deemed way too small but still way larger than yours) “Small samples of plus-minus statistics are probably more distracting than useful.” When applied to one game I would remove distracting and replace with worthless. There will always be a quest to find a magic number that measures the unmeasurable because it provides a shortcut to thinking. For one player and one game it is worthless.
by BayAreaBullet on Jan 24, 2012 9:29 PM EST up reply actions
by the way...Nick was the only starter subbed out late in the half down by close to 30 (for Mason)
so clearly that quote is about Nick…
FWIW
Campaining for Jerry Sloan!
He would Fit GREAT here. I hope he sees it the same way! Get Sloan!!!
by endos2000 on Jan 24, 2012 1:04 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I’d rather a young up and coming coach that can stick with the team a while. If we’re gonna get an old coach, I’d rather get Phil Jackson, anyways
"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin
Sloan is a PG's Coach, Thats what we need.
We can play P&R to the max w/the cast we have.
by endos2000 on Jan 24, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I can see that reasoning. Would still rather a young coach though
"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin
nah give me someone who is young and hungry.
A solid assistant would be great.
by Ron Carlos Jeines on Jan 24, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
We need someone with experience to handle our Outta control youth.
A young coach wouldn’t know how to handle the mess here. Sloan did coach the young Stockton and Deron williams, two future HOF PGs. the Players WILL respect Sloan AND his resume.
by endos2000 on Jan 24, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A young Coach may know better how to handle players then an older one.
imo it’s more about the Coach’s personality than their age
Great fit?
He’d either kill half the team or die himself.
by wjb1492 on Jan 24, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
one wonders if they actually knew this before the game
Players were informed after the loss in Philadelphia that a coaching change was coming, a source said. But the writing had been on the wall since at least the eighth game of the season, Washington’s eighth consecutive loss to start the season. After the 93-72 loss to Minnesota, Andray Blatche stated that the players had begun to tune Saunders out.
So if they were told after the game, that does mean Flip knew this was his last chance and explains the line up change and limited time for rookies.
But isn’t it kind of unfair to judge a coach on the team’s loss against the top team in the conference?
Looks like Flip panicked…and it cost him his job. It also doesn’t say a lot about Ernie…
ABOUT DAMN TIME FLIP WAS FIRED!
Flip was a decent coach, but it was just time for him to go. When a team doesn’t play hard on a regular basis, that falls on the coach.
In order for the Wiz to truly rebuild, Ernie needs to be fired as well.
I for one am going to give the guy some respect
Flip, if you read these boards, you’re by all accounts a good coach. You came here to coach a contender and Arenas handed you, the franchise and all us fans a huge bag of s**t. Cheers for sticking around and trying to make the best of a bad situation. All the best and I hope you’re next team is a bit older, wiser and able to make 12-18ft jumpshots.
by BballBrit on Jan 24, 2012 1:15 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
much deeper structural issues
need addressing if we are to even resemble an 8th seed in the east, let alone a franchise that is going to be competing for a championship in 4 years, give or take. hopefully eg is next, and lewis no longer earns minutes. tell the team they’re “0-0” and are beginning to lay the foundation for success, with totally new lineups and an emphasis on basics in practice. hopefully eg is next. hopefully eg is next. hopefully eg is next.
ernie gone tomorrow and blatche gone thurs
young and crawford on the bench until they can play team basketball on friday. we’d suck even worse but at least have some self-repect
Adding to the Gary Williams suggestion...
Williams is a great guard coach. If you look at what he did with with lesser players like Blake, Dixon, Nicholas, Hayes, Rhodes, Profit, Strawberry, Vasquez…
Just imagine what good he would do with Wall (and to a lesser extent Mack). A Non-diva hard working PG that is willing to do anything to get better.
I think he would at least make an amazing Assistant coach or in a role similar to the one Pete Carril had with those great Sacramento teams as a consultant/specialist.
by TremendousUpside on Jan 24, 2012 1:33 PM EST reply actions
Thank YOU FINALLY
I have been singing this tune going back 2 years. He was not the guy for the course change after Gungate.
Ernie should be next his moves are unexplainable his reach for Ves ridiculous this past draft.
Actually
I think Vesely will by a pretty good player eventually. He’s shown plenty of promise. I don’t think Ernie is a bad talent evaluator… I think he is a poor businessman and does bad deals.
by TremendousUpside on Jan 24, 2012 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
I think the concern is whether he will reach the potential of a #6 pick
as opposed to a pretty good player…but everyone has their own criteria there…
disagree I like Ves
I just think we drafted him to high he is not 6th player in the draft good. Real bad reach, I think he’ll be a solid player in time but he shouldn;t have been graded or reached for at the 6th spot and we were on him from the very beginning of the draft process.
Ernie brought us Blatche and Young, He thought it was smart to re-sign Arenas to 111 mill on a bad knee so now we get stuck with Lewis.
he thought the Big 3 could actually win something.
yeah I like Ves as a project...
but Morris is a better fit. Can rebound and SHOOT w/ range… We could of moved back a few spots too…
drafted mainly as a SF and has possibly not logged one minute at SF this season.
Flip probably got him into camp, took one look and said “Gee, thanks a lot Ernie.”
I wasn't too upset with the pick
but I also thought he was stronger and could play some PF… didn’t know he was super skinny…
Ves should be the last exhibit in the "case to fire Ernie" file.
What position did Ernie think he could play?
Yep again I ain't hating on Ves
But the man has zero offensive skills. I mean no shot to speak of. Singleton clearly a better prospect. I think in time ves could become a slasher of some sort. But thats a couple years off.
Ernie reached grabbed Seraphin, and then Stewie years back I mean what is he seeing.
we should have 3 nba ready players left.
I’m afraid he’s gonna reach again and grab another project in the next years draft.
SF
He can play SF and has defended the position well in the limited chances he’s gotten. He’s a bit of a project offensively, but if he can develop a decent mid-range J, he’ll be able to just shoot over opposing SF who he has a 3-5 inch advantage on.
I think Ves can become a real good player
but not quite sure he’s a good fit for this team. A team full of projects. We needed a more NBA-ready player
by Max Zamphirescu on Jan 24, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Welcome new head coach...
Bill Laimbeer…….just a thought
by GBurgNupe on Jan 24, 2012 1:38 PM EST via Android app reply actions
What a joke that press release was
That one made me laugh, Ernie Ted
"We felt the team had become unresponsive and we will look to Randy to provide a different voice and a change in philosophy moving forward," said Grunfeld. "We have been transparent in how we would evaluate our team this season and we were disappointed in the lack of development of our players at this point in our rebuilding plan."
First, “transparent” is Ted’s word, so don’t try to pass this off as Ernie’s release. Second, if you wanted to focus on player development, then maybe you shouldn’t have locked out the players for 5 months. Can’t blame Flip for the lack of development during those months when Flip wasn’t permitted to develop them during that time.
locking out the players isn't just Ted's doing
but still, Flip could have made better plans for his players in the offseason, etc. and the players could have policed themselves. it’s a mess
Still think We need SLoan..
Maybe Malone would like to come along as an assistant, help the bigs…
He was run out of Utah because he didn't connect well with his young team.
Lets pay attention to history a little.
Redskins @RGIII - 2012
by Copious 1 on Jan 24, 2012 1:47 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
I thought it was Deron that wanted him out?
He was fine with Deron and Crew for a while, even made it to the playoffs a few times, in the west.
Larry Brown would be a good choice.
Sloan ain’t coaching this bunch.
More defense and more running?
"We have struggled as a team at times this season, but we have also seen a great deal of potential from our young players and glimpses of what we can accomplish together as a team," said Wittman. "The coaching staff will look to build on that by utilizing the length, athleticism and versatility of our roster to improve our defense and create more opportunities in the open court."
hmmm….
makes sense you think. a team with a horrid half court offense not trapping and creating tempo
a team with athleticism and a shot blocker
I’ll be curious to see the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game. If Singleton and Booker are back in then it may suggest a fairly significant philosiphical divide existed between Flip and Ted/Ernie.
One good thing about the firing is that it creates a blank slate. I’m not sure the Wizards are will end up playing significantly better because of it, but at least now their head coach is no longer under the gun, struggling to prove his credibility.
by Johnnie Futbol on Jan 24, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
Ted
has fired both of his coaches in the same year.
New Question:
How long does this set the rebuild back? New system next year, new coach most likely, players getting the ax or traded
What do you guys think?
Don't think it sets it back at all
Think it’s actually a step forward. If Ted didn’t think Flip could guide this team through rebuild, then he had to fire him. Have to think Ernie is next, too. Start with a clean house (a little delayed but better than nothing)
"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin
"Start with a clean house (a little delayed but better than nothing)"
See, its set back because of that statement. Shouldve cleaned house earlier
Wouldn't it be more of a set back if he'd just stayed put with Flip then?
Yeah, it’s not the ideal way to have done it, in my opinion, but it’s still a step forward, right?
"I wear tinted visor not to trick other players, but so hot girls in stands don't see me looking at them" - Alex Ovechkin
The Only Player The Wizards Should Be Playing that's not in his rookie or 2nd year is:
JaVale McGee.
Everyone else should get a white towel to waive at the end of the bench.
Go Wizards!
I have grown to understand
that you prefer JaVale to all other players
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
by Sean Fagan on Jan 24, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Who else consistently impacts a game in a positive way more than a negative way?
Redskins @RGIII - 2012
by Copious 1 on Jan 24, 2012 2:22 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
+/-
Seems like the whenever I look like +/-, Javale has one of the lowest, even in wins. Either he sucks or other people suck when he’s around.
by TunedMassDamper on Jan 24, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions
Booker
Singleton
The artist formerly known as ledellforlife.
by Sean Fagan on Jan 24, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I disagree that Flip caused this mess
but he didn’t seem like he had it in him to clean it up. I think he did what he could and I wish him well though.
I really hope they bring in someone young and hungry. My ideal would be someone like Mike Budenholzer of the Spurs. Someone who’s spent serious time in a real organization but is still willing to come in and take on a project.
I do not want Gary Williams, Jerry Sloan or any coach that is the sort Dan Snyder would bring in.
by Elvin_is_my_Elvis on Jan 24, 2012 2:43 PM EST reply actions
Gary Williams couldn't handle the rigors of a 82 game season with a team built like the Wizards
I think it would literally kill the man.
randy sounds
Pretty damn good in this interview. Kind of convincing. My favorite thing he said was “i told the guys that if i didn’t believe that we could be better than we are, i wouldve left too”. Nice quote
by no more kwame's in dc on Jan 24, 2012 3:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions
from Lee's column
“. Late in the second quarter, Saunders pulled Nick Young for taking a questionable shot and benched him at the start of the third period. Saunders and Young didn’t have any dispute afterward, but according to sources, the move angered several players.”
that just shows what a bunch of idiots are on this team. How could anybody get angry when the coach benches the biggest “chucker” in the league (with the possible exception of Crawford) for chucking? Clean house……
by stevie on Jan 24, 2012 3:17 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
who are the several players?
that would be interesting…
It didn’t seem like Nick was too upset in the locker room interview?
Javale? Wall? Blatche said he didn’t care? I can’t see anyone else mattering in the discussion?
yea it would be interesting
I wish Lee would find out. Has to be Blatche, he’s always been a malcontent, and one of the original knuckleheads. McGee another likely suspect. Maybe Lewis, he seems to be enjoying losing, judging from his reaction to losses. hopefully not wall, but very well could be. of course this is just idle speculation of the worst kind. but fun….
Can we fire the rebuild plan?
If they want to clean house then they had better find a way to start with the roster. This team is going to lose no matter who coaches them.
Flip wasn't the problem
The biggest issue with the team is the talent and that falls directly on the G.M who picked the players. However if you look at the draft, Blatche has actually been good value for his pick, McGee was picked ahead of (J. J. Hickson · Alexis Ajinça · Ryan Anderson · Courtney Lee · Kosta Koufos · Serge Ibaka · Nicolas Batum · George Hill · Darrell Arthur · Donté Greene · D. J. White · J. R. Giddens) so he was probably the right pick though you could argue for hickson or Ibaka… and Nick Young the same… However his questionable trades, releases, and extensions for some players is why he needs to go.
And also i don’t think there is any coach out there for this team. I support the team and will defend most of the players, but we are not very good. and our attitude collectively is sucky. We get down too easy, and the body language from everyone sucks. We need a good veteran leader that won’t tolerate selfish, lazy, bad play on the court. The coach can only do so much but if a player that the others respect takes charge, i think it will mean more than any coach. If these players tuned the coach out and stopped playing hard, that reflects worse on him than it does on the coach.
Also the coach hands are tied when you
don’t get support from the front office. How can the players respect the coach when the GM undoes the punishment or discipline set by the coach? I don’t blame Flip but it was time to go. That was step 1, and now it’s time for step 2 – Ernie needs to go, then step 3 – all of the other cancerous staff leaders. Followed by step 4 – make some trades, and step 5 – new GM draft/trade well. And of course the new GM must search for a good solid coach that will have the support of the front office. Now that sounds like a rebuilding plan!
Long-Time Wizard Fan
by WizardFan on Jan 24, 2012 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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