The Etan injury basketball-related discussion thread

by Mike Prada on Oct 11, 2007 6:30 PM EDT in Team Analysis

I'm still gathering my thoughts about Etan's heart problems, and a part of me still feels bad talking about the basketball implications when a player on my favorite team is having heart surgery. But while I'm still not sure how to react, I figure we should have a place for all of you to react.

As a disclaimer, it's okay to discuss the basketball implications only here. If you feel that this is a good thing for the Wizards because it means more time for Haywood and Blatche, don't feel bad about saying it. I trust everyone here is hoping for the best about Etan the person.

Let's assume that Etan Thomas is out for, if not the entire season, then a significant portion of it. How does this affect the team? What do we lose by not having Etan there? Should we sign another big man? Was it a mistake, in hindsight, to get rid of Calvin Booth? Is this a good thing or a bad thing for Haywood? Could this be a blessing in disguise for the team (obviously, not for Etan)?

Discuss. I'll have more later.

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Dude...

Did you really have to run that picture? Ouch.

All the best to Etan, by the way.

by Evan Dunlap on Oct 11, 2007 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Injury waiver

In one of the early stories, something was mentioned about the wizards getting an injury waiver or something. The main question I have for the community is how does that work? I don't think letting Booth go was too huge of a mistake, and think playing time at the 5 will be better than no playing time at all for OPec and Blatche.

If the injury waiver means the Wizards suddenly have a few mil to throw at a center, I think we have to look around the league and try to pick someone up. Chris Webber still hasn't signed with anyone, right? I know he's lost a step, but he's still a tremendous passer with a capable post-up game, I could see him giving 15-20 minutes to the team, being a huge upgrade, and being a 1-year contract that wouldn't put us in a bind when/if Etan comes back next season.

And yeah, of course, my hopes and wishes to Etan in the upcoming surgery.

by sierradave on Oct 11, 2007 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

I think the injury waiver works

If Etan's injury was career-ending. It's not, so I don't think we're going to get anything.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 11, 2007 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish...

Etan would be healthy and Brenda would have a career threatening vagina condition.

by Romans12 on Oct 11, 2007 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

thomas

it will be golden opportunity for blatche and maybe pech to get a chance to play and improve their skills, no more headache between haywood and thomas;however, i have a feeling that the wiz might terminate etan's contract 'cause he earns lots of money and his health may be unstable..hope he's gonna be fine 'cause he certainly one of the good guys....i wish haywood would come out and say something good about his rivalry but he hasn't yet..

by nvannasa on Oct 12, 2007 12:08 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome

And I do hope Blatche and Pech capitalize on the opportunity they've been presented.

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

by Mike Prada on Oct 13, 2007 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

The biggest loss is the hair

Kidding.

(I'm pretty sure none of this makes sense but I don't feel like re-typing it when I'm more coherent.)

Obviously losing Etan means that the Wizards lose their best offensive option at center. Haywood and Blatche will obviously be able to hold their own defensively but it will be interesting to see if the bigs can put up points. They don't have to be Tim Duncan out there but they need to be able to keep at least a little pressure off of the perimeter threats or else utilize Jamison more in the low post like they did after Arenas and Butler went out last season.

As far as emotional lift, I'm sure it will be there for a little while but it won't be as dramatic as if it happened mid-season. Of course, it also give EJ and the coaching staff more time to game plan with only one center on the roster (two if they sign Massenburg or someone else).

You can't really blame the Wizards for not re-signing Booth, its not like they knew that there was a problem with Etan when they let him go. It's just one of things, like when the Falcons let go of Schaub only to get screwed over by Michael Vick. Sometimes things just happen, there's not really anything you can do about it.

But as has been reiterated before, let's hope the best for Etan. Even though he's one of the few athletes who could still have a successful career outside of sports, I'd hate to see that part of his life start this soon.

Bullets Forever: Your place for the very latest in Wizards news and PhD-level analysis.

by Jake Whitacre on Oct 12, 2007 12:21 AM EDT reply actions

Blessing in Disguise

Of course, I hope that Etan has a speedy recovery and he is able to resume playing basketball in a timely manner. In the meantime, this will mean more minutes for Blatche at Center and in the eastern conference, that's not going to kill us. There are not many centers in the east that Blatche won't be able to match up with (at least defensively) other than Shaq, Illguaskus (sp), and possibly Dalembert in philly. O-Pec should be able to see increased minutes as well. It is not like Etan was putting up all-star numbers in previous seasons so it should not be hard for Blatche and O-Pec to at least match his production.

On the flip side though, Thomas is one of the most popular guys in the locker room. I am more worried about this aspect with losing Etan than about the basketball aspect. If things in the locker room go sour and the team starts to lose a couple games, the season could be shot and more importantly, Gil could be gone at the end of the season.

by finkad01 on Oct 12, 2007 2:11 AM EDT reply actions