SB Nation User Blog: Pryme

Maybe I'm Not Loooking At The Same Team Here...

Pryme — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:20:16 -0000

I have to admit, I like to read Charley Rosen's work as he occasionally has some good insights. But his latest assessment of the Wizards has me scratching my head:

Washington Wizards

Strengths: Gilbert Arenas' genius for scoring.

The steady point-making skills of Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison.

Mike Miller is a spot shooter deluxe.

Randy Foye is a solid all-around performer on offense.

In Nick Young, a blossoming star.

The continued potential of Andray Blatche.

Flip Saunder's zone defenses that look like man-to-man alignments, as well as his multiple offenses.

Weaknesses: Arenas, Butler, Miller, Foye, Young and Blatche all need lots of ball time to be effective.

Not enough defense.

Not enough willing role players.

Brendan Haywood and Blatche are career underachievers.

I'm pretty much on board with his take on the team's strengths, even though I'm surprised that Haywood isn't mentioned at all (it's universally known that his absence last season contributed to the 19-win season).

As for the weaknesses, his analysis just comes off as, well, lazy. "Scorers need the ball?" Really? How unique an issue for a basketball team! Then there's the "defense" comment, as if the franchise hasn't heard this the 90's. Calling Blatche and underachiever is arguable, but Haywood? How so?

But the thing that gets me is Rosen's comment of the team "not [having] enough willing role players." So does this mean the team has role players who don't want to be role players? How does this explain Oberto, or McGuire or Stevenson? Team-decimating injuries aside, those guys have done nothing but "play roles." Oberto is set to be the front-court muscle. McGuire is the defensive stopper. Stevenson is also a defensive player who can hit an open-shot.

Perhaps I've missed something, but I haven't read anything hinting that these guys (or any guys on the roster, for that matter) has any objection to playing a role (we've all seen how Arenas has adapted to being more of a PG).

But this type of "analysis" tells another story: that the Wizards are not just fighting against 29 other teams, but against the public perception that a few new players, a new coach and a return of their star player does not equate to post-season success. While I don't see them as world-beaters yet, I know this squad is bringing more to the table than, "We'll just outscore them, then we'll win!"

Poll

Which or Rosen's Weaknesses Does You Agree With?

Not Enough Basketballs To Go Around

8 votes

Defense

57 votes

"Not enough willing role players"

1 votes

Haywood/Blatche are underachievers

6 votes

72 votes | Poll has closed

Michael Lee: Wizards Get Hypnotized

Pryme — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:16:12 -0000

Michael Lee: Wizards Get Hypnotized

[insert jokes regarding defense here].

...if I had to list the top eight teams in the East, I'd have to go (in order) with Cleveland,...

Pryme — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:38:28 -0000

...if I had to list the top eight teams in the East, I'd have to go (in order) with Cleveland, Orlando, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and Miami.

Michael Lee With a shot of optimism. I'd would also argue that, aside from Boston, we're the only team on his list who made a made in anticipation of having a key player injured.

Rubio Not Playing In NBA Until 2011

Pryme — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:37:55 -0000

Rubio Not Playing In NBA Until 2011

Would things have gone down differently if the Wizards had drafted him? Hard to say. Personally, I'm glad we have guys who can play now.

I asked Saunders if he still plans on using an eight-man rotation with this roster. Saunders didn't...

Pryme — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:19:57 -0000

I asked Saunders if he still plans on using an eight-man rotation with this roster. Saunders didn't close the door on giving several players the opportunity to contribute. "I'll be honest," he said. "In the past, we played eight, nine man rotation because that's the players that were able to play at the level that we needed them to do it ... When you look at our roster right now, we're solid at every spot. Some people say, 'How are you going to play them all?' That's up for me to decide, actually up to them to decide how we play."

Thank you, Michael Lee. Those who were concerned that we'd only be playing nine guys a night can rest easy.

Editor's Note, by Mike: I like hearing Flip say he'll be flexible here. Could just be smoke, but there are a lot of other ways he could have answered this question that would have affirmed the "eight man primarily" position.

Randy Hill: Veteran signings could pose problems for elite teams

Pryme — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:31:19 -0000

Randy Hill: Veteran signings could pose problems for elite teams

Shorter Hill: 'Sheed's stubborness, Shaq's ego, Artest's overrated image and Carter's lack of defense may overshadow the positives they bring to their repsective new teams.

As a NBA fan, I doubt it. As a Wizards fan, I can only hope.

According to several league sources, the Cavs are attempting to land Houston Rockets free-agent...

Pryme — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:30:34 -0000

According to several league sources, the Cavs are attempting to land Houston Rockets free-agent forward Ron Artest, and the pitch included a meeting with LeBron James on Tuesday night in Los Angeles as both were in Southern California for various events.

Gotta Catch 'Em All.

But seriously, this would be a smart move for Cleveland. Although Artest is getting up there, he's still one of the few players with the skills and guts to guard James one-on-one. So why not add a potential roadblock to the team and make him an asset?

Ernie? Flip? You guys paying attention here?

All that Glitters...

Pryme — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:16:38 -0000

Shorter BF reaction to 2009 NBA Draft:

I come not to bury the Washington Wizards, but to praise them; for if we've learned anything about our current group it's that anything is possible. Quite simply, we have the most unorthadox, surreal, outside-the-box team in the NBA right now.

It's not a curse. The Clippers are cursed. With us, it's more "organized chaos."

First things first: the chances of Rubio coming here were slim. If anyone needed to draft an exciting player, it was Memphis. If any team needed to draft a game-changing PG, it was Oklahoma or Sacramento. Don't believe the after-hype: everybody and their grandmother had Rubio going no later than fourth. Oh, and check this out: Rubio's dad and Kevin Love both say Rubio's staying in Spain; so we essentially got two decent backcourt players for some European postcards.

And that leads me to our roster: no matter what anyone says, this team runs with an engine named Gilbert Arenas. Players imitate their leader; do people really think things like this were inspired by hanging around Caron Butler or Antawn Jamison? That being said, we needed insurance in case Arenas couldn't make it through a full season and the team of Mike James & Javaris Crittenton wasn't going to cut it. So why not acquire a combo guard and a player who can play (and score) from the wing to keep teams honest?

Yes we're guard-heavy. But honestly, those who have a problem with that either (a) didn't realize what we gave up or (b) really don't like our current options. What we gave up was a passionate poet who's undersized for the center position, a tough-minded PF who "couldn't jump over a newspaper," and a 7'0" shooting guard who, over time, decided that rebounding and passing were cutting into his shooting drills. Our current options include the team's best defensive player (and arguably one of the franchises best ten centers), an undersize PF who can literally score from every spot on the floor, an immature PF who (under proper guidence) could be the next Theo Ratcliff, and a lanky, court running, slam-dunking center who is just starting to bulk up.

Personally, I was looking to shore up our SF spot (it was looking rather sickly). With the Minnesota trade, we are four deep there (Last Man Standing, Taser, Tough Juice and 2XM).

So go ahead and argue that we should trade Stevenson (or James) and one of the kids for a flagpole Power Forward; in April you'll be wondering why Howard and Shaq are dropping 25-and-12 on us while Haywood always seems to be on the bench in the third quarter with his fifth foul. Me? If we can't get a bruiser ala Boozer, it's ain't worth it.

Speaking of "worth it," wouldn't it be cool if Ernie Grunfeld used some of that cash to help parlay an actual PF? I mean a guy who's at least 6'8" & a half, 245 lbs, and likes to benchpress VWs? Someone around the basket who would allow a Brendan Haywood patented "Hey, every North Carolina Player can do a fadeaway...watch!" jumper or McGee to contest every shot without us screaming, "WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING?"

As for our division...Orlando's too busy with their NBA arms race with Cleveland to be bothered with us...the Hawks aren't scary at all...Dwayne Wade aside, the Heat seem more preoccupied with being in a Boyz II Men video...and as for the 'Cats: MJ's trying to buy them. 'Nuff said.

Now if the sour reaction is a way to get everyone else to have low expectations about the Wizards, ignore everything I just wrote.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns have come to an agreement on a blockbuster trade that...

Pryme — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:40:43 -0000

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns have come to an agreement on a blockbuster trade that sends Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland to team with LeBron James, according to sources.

The deal has been agreed to in principle and is expected to be finalized Thursday, according to sources.

Cleveland will send Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic to Phoenix for the future Hall of Famer. Sources said the Suns will also receive the 46th pick in Thursday's NBA draft and $500,000.

Can we say, "Panic Move?"

Ernie Grunfeld Live Press Conference

Pryme — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:10:46 -0000

Ernie Grunfeld Live Press Conference

In progress (as of 2:09pm)

UPDATE, by Mike: Truth About It has a nice recap here.