1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?

The Wizards re-signed both Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison to big contracts……controversial among some, but I was more than happy to have them back at whatever the cost. I’d rather take my chances on hope with them than dealing with a greater uncertainty without them.

Gone is hometown hero, Roger Mason Junior, who played his way to a nice contract with the Spurs in filling in for an injured Gilbert Arenas last season. Many fans, myself included, wanted to keep him, but the Wizards just couldn’t afford 2-years and $7.3 million while staying out of luxury tax territory.

Added is Juan Dixon, who is supposed to fill in for an injured Arenas this year, quick PG Dee Brown all the way from Turkey, and young JaVale McGee, “The Choppa”, via the NBA draft. I’m hoping that Dixon and Brown, as a two-headed monster, will better replace what the Wizards lost in Mason. I’ll admit that I wasn’t exactly thrilled when Ernie Grunfeld took McGee on draft night (I wanted Mario Chalmers), but I’ve flipped a 180 due to McGee’s preseason play….another reason to trust Grunfeld, The Closer.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

Coaching
I wouldn’t say that Eddie Jordan is “much maligned,” but there certainly is a contingent of unsatisfied skeptics. My defense of Jordan has been relatively staunch, but at the same time, he needs to prove he’s capable of getting the Wizards to the next level. Of course, he’ll get somewhat of a pass this year because of injuries….essentially the reason why I believe that after Arenas had yet another knee surgery, the Wizards picked up the option on Jordan’s contract, extending him through ’09-10.

This I know about Eddie Jordan, he’s respected around the league. The Washington Post’s Ivan Carter seems to believe, according to his NBA sources, that if Jordan were on the open market, he wouldn’t be out of a job for long. A recent survey of NBA GM’s indicate that Jordan is seen as one of the better in-game adjusters in the NBA.

In the end, I refuse to discount the fact that Jordan has kept the team competitive through injuries, and has helped the franchise shed the “Clippers of the East” stigma by getting into the playoffs for four straight seasons.

Continuity
These players know each other, and seem to genuinely be friends in the locker room (aside from that Etan Thomas-Brendan Haywood thing a couple years ago….which they’ve since put behind them). But going into this season, there are 32 years of experience with the team among 11 players. Take away the three sophomores and you have 29 years among eight players. Sure, leadership is a very key factor in being a championship contender, but a team’s familiarity with each other provides the best chance to succeed as a cohesive unit.

Vets & Youngins
GM Ernie Grunfeld has done well to combine veteran leaders, such as Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, and Antonio Daniels, with talented and promising youth in Andray Blatche (although I’m beginning to waiver on him…somewhat), Nick Young, Dominic McGuire, and JaVale McGee. Gilbert Arenas is a wildcard, and Brendan Haywood used to be known as ‘Brenda’ (not anymore), but both are aspiring leaders as I’ve seen the maturity level rise in different ways for each. The veterans provide the Wizards a chance to compete, and the youngins provide a bright outlook for the future……is there a better way to build continuity for a franchise?

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

Defense
As evident from preseason performances, the Wizards are still struggling with fundamentals and running the defensive system of assistant coach Randy Ayers like a well-oiled machine. Part of the problem is lack of a defensive stopper who is guaranteed to make trouble for the opposition’s best player. The ‘Big Three’ of Jamison, Butler, and Arenas are all what I would consider to be below average defenders. Antonio Daniels is too old and lacking the agility to keep up with quicker point guards. The best paint protector, Brendan Haywood, is out for 4-6 months. And the youth is obviously a work in progress on D.

DeShawn Stevenson is considered the best defender on the Wizards, but even he is susceptible to lapses in judgement. Ayers is in his second season of implementing his match-up zone, Wizards fans can only hope that the team will continue to learn on the job. For success on any level to be a reality, the Wizards don’t have a choice but to learn quickly.

Creator/Penetrator
Without someone like Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards will have to focus on team offense (something they should be doing with Arenas anyway). The team is set up well to deal with this issue because of Eddie Jordan’s pro-style Princeton offense. However, this is the NBA….to win games, a sniper is a must.

Maybe Jamison and Stevenson will continue to hit open threes. And maybe Caron Butler diversifies his offensive game. And maybe Nick Young and Juan Dixon can provide a needed spark off the bench. But all those ‘maybes’ won’t cut it for the duration of the season. If Arenas doesn’t come back some time in December, as is currently, tentatively, scheduled, then it’s not looking good for the Wizards to win more than 35 games.

4. What are the goals for this team?

All things considered, the goal is to make the playoffs. The team is a proven injury survivor. Knowing you can do it is a huge part of the needed mentality to take on such a challenge.

Of course the “ifs” are big….but if the team proves they can stay above water, it will most likely indicate that the inexperienced players have made vast strides. If the team can gain confidence, and if Gilbert comes back at full strength, and if Haywood’s time out falls on the shorter end of 4-6 months, and if the team can sneak into the 7th or 8th playoff spot….then maybe, just maybe, the Wizards can surprise in the playoffs and get to the Eastern Conference finals. I know, I know….a huge IF.

5. Can Andray Blatche Step Up?

His summer league play and added strength at one time pointed to yes. His foul rate and preseason play points to a resounding nope.

There’s been a lot of talk from Andray Blatche this off-season about being serious and gaining maturity. To Antawn Jamison, all that talk doesn’t matter, Andray has to prove he can be about it. To “be about it,” Blatche must display a consistent, hustling effort night in and night out.

With his dismal performance against the Cavaliers last night, where all Eddie Jordan needed to see was 3:49 of Blatche’s piss-poor effort in the first half before benching him for the rest of the game, I’m beginning the question if the kid will ever want
it.

I’m not giving up on the guy, but the potential success of the Wizards in the early going really rests on Andray’s shoulders. It may be a lot for a 22-year old, but considering that this is Blatche’s fourth year in the league, the time is now.

Predicted Record:

A week ago, before hearing that Arenas might be ahead of schedule, I would’ve guessed 34 wins. Today, I was all set to predict a 40-42 record, but that’s what the Pradamaster said in his preview on Bullets Forever. So, my inner optimist is going to one-up Prada with a prediction of .500 ball and the 8th seed in the East.

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Why am I pumped (or seised) about a preseason game tonight? Yea, well, got my DVR set up….and we’ve got the season’s starting lineup (Etan, DeShawn, Antonio, Caron and Antawn) ready to show….something.

What about Pop’s beard? Something he’s been needing to do for a while. The guy doesn’t exactly have the best…..complexion. And our buddy Haywoode Workman is refereeing again.

Q1

Possession #1: Tim Duncan gets an offensive board with both Antawn Jamison and DeShawn Stevenson right in front of him…nobody puts a body on somebody. 2nd chances are a killer, Spurs don’t take advantage…two Kurt Thomas misses.

11:11: Jamison confidently hits a college three corner J on Thomas, who gave AJ just a bit too much space.

C’mon AD, you’re better than that…Duncan easily jumps the passing lane to intercept a lazy one-handed pass.

9:40: Wiz try to run some things for Caron Butler, but you can see the Spurs D is really focused on him…..I have a feeling that will be the case with D against Tuff Juice all year.

9:22: Tony Parker gets exactly where he wants…Duncan dunks.

Etan Thomas takes up space right under the rim, gets an offensive board, and a dunk of his own. 4-4 Tie.

AD with another one handed pass (no problem with the one hand here), but it’s a timing issue as it’s slightly behind Caron…turnover.

7:42: Alternately, the Wizards are focusing a lot of attention on Tony Parker, but he still finds a way to kill them with quickness…Thomas gets an open J created for him. 8-7 Spurs.

The Wizards are hitting their jumpers…as Stevenson just did….a high FG% is a must if they expect to be in contention of any game this year.

6:01: AJ plays great D on Duncan….moving his feet and making Timmy get too far under the backboard….when he goes under for the layup, Etan is there with a great help-side block.

It feels weird looking up and seeing the Wizards up 20-8.

5:01: Jamison has been playing very smart D on Duncan (with Etan on Kurt), but Duncan gets the favorable call this time. 2 FTs = 20-10….and Roger Mason Junior checks in.

4:48: I had to watch this play five times….couple of hand-offs, court width criss-cross exchanges at the top of the key…Stevenson to Daniels to Butler….Jamison makes a great back cut to basket, forcing Duncan to turn his back on the ball, and Caron whips a perfectly timed pass to AJ for the lay-in. 22-10 Wizards. Beautiful offense.

3:45: Timmy turnaround jumper with 1 second on the shot clock…can’t do much about that. But so far, I like what I see from the Wizards D….the defensive stances are focused and as Phil Chenier and Steve Buckhantz point out, the switching is crisp.

2:46: In transition, Salim Stoudamire and Ime Udoka exchange the ball coming down the right side. Butler communicates to AD that he should pick up Udoka in the corner, but Caron leaves too much space between himself and the shooter, Stoudamire, who gets the ball back and nails a trey. 24-17 Wizards. Eddie Jordan does not like this and calls a timeout.

Stevenson sees Mason guarding him and tries to take advantage…pounds the ball, throws himself into Roger, and draws two FTs…makes one. 25-17 Wizards.

1:00: Errant pass by Mason….in the air….Caron goes up against Fabricio Oberto and snags the rock with one hand…looking like a mean strong safety.

The first quarter ends and the Wizards are up on the Spurs 30-22. I know the starters played the whole time for Washington, compared to a decent bit of subbing for the Spurs….but this is the best the Wiz have looked all preseason. They are playing together. (11-20 from the field doesn’t hurt either)

Q2

Mass subs: ‘Dray, JaVale, Dee, McGuire and Young to start the 2nd. And right off the bat, Oberto goes to immediately double Dominic McGuire on a wing dribble-drive….JaVale McGee makes himself available right under the hoop and receives the lob for a dunk.

Nick Young dribblin’, bumblin’, and stumblin’ trying to do too much….Wiz luckily get the ball back.

10:30: Gotta SQUEEZE it….even though McGee secured the board with two hands, Udoka is able to easily knock it away….Spurs get a made look under the basket. 32-22 Wiz.

9:37: Nick Young nails his first shot…..a long two over Roger Mason. He seemed to rise much quicker into his jumper than he did last year….liking it.

The Wizards 2nd unit is really doing a good job at pressuring the Spurs 2nd unit….and now Parker and Bowen check back in for Stoudamire and Mason.

7:25: Young gets free outside the arc on a McGee pick….dribbles down the middle of the lane…..gets as far as he can get, and nails a smooth jumper. Yep, still liking it. 38-26 Wiz.

On at least two possessions, the difference between Dee Brown and Daniels in being able to contain Tony Parker is more than noticeable.

6:40: Old Man Duncan appears to travel….but young kids Blatche and McGee bother him with the latter getting the block….Blatche turns the ball over trying to push it up the floor.

ANDRAY BLATCHE FOUL ALERT: Duncan picks up a loose ball (poked away from a driving Parker by Dee Brown)….Blatche is on him, holding his ground, arms in air….and Duncan does that double pump thing where he kinda goes into the defender and draws a foul. Andray’s arms went ever so slightly forward making contact…so it was a good call.

6:07: Blatche tries to split two defenders for some reason…..aaaaand a turnover, obviously.

5:35: Young with another smooth fade-away jumper….he can’t feel his entire body. 43-34 Wiz.

4:21: Welcome rookie….Kurt Thomas will a casual pump fake, McGee goes flying….dribble and jumper off the glass.

3:57: Young gets doubled on one side…ball is worked around the horn to the other side and McGuire hits a long deuce. 45-38 Wiz.

2:58: McGee gets the ball in the post…short corner, going against Kurt Thomas….Stoudamire comes over to double….McGee turns away from the double towards the baseline and hits a very soft jumper. Ahhhh….Sweetness.

2:19: Just shaking my head with a wink (not sure to whom) and a smile. Nick Young calmly hits a trey ball. 50-43 Wiz.

1:28: Andray misses a three….nothing he’s done has indicated that he’s “in” the game…and you can tell he’s down on himself.

0:51: Fools? Kil
lin’ em….Nick Young is 5-5 from the field. 11 points.

The half ends with the Wiz kids playing the entire 2nd quarter. They really impressed, held their own and are up 52-43. As a team, the Wiz are shooting 54% from the field.

Q3

11:22: Caron hits a trey (yep, still got it) dead in Bruce Bowen’s grill….who proceeds to look like a dejected lil’ kid who’s leaving Toys-R-Us with nothing….and Butler goes back up the court smiling and laughing. Tuff Juice has 13 points and 4 assists. Delicious.

10:27: Poor Antonio Daniels just can’t keep up with Tony Parker….Dee Brown even fights through screens better than AD…Parker gets penetration and sets up Kurt Thomas for an easy bucket. 55-47 Wizards.

How smart is Butler to keep getting these steals? Pick #3 comes easy and is converted into dunk points.

Juan Dixon and Darius Songaila check in to go with Butler, Jamison and Stevenson. Small lineup.

Side Note: I’m disappointed that Stevenson got rid of the flat-top.

Stevenson and Jamison have hit a flurry of buckets are the Wiz have gone on a 10-0 run. Score is 69-54 Wiz. DeShawn has been kinda hiding in the weeds….but steps up and makes the Spurs pay for forgetting about him.

5:56: Parker gets a very easy step on Juan Dixon….who wasn’t playing Tony straight up. Lay-in and it’s 69-56 Wizards.

That shooting thing: Wiz are 8-13 from three point land so far.

4:02: Darius Songaila plays nice, patient defense on Finley…forcing him into a bad shot. The Spurs may hit a couple jumpers, but for the most part, the Wizards are keeping them from getting looks inside….that is, when Tony Parker is not in the game.

3:16: Oleksiy Pecherov in the game and immediately misses an open three. He hesitated….if he’s going to shoot, I don’t want him doing that.

2:17: D-Song shows what he’s about….nails a jumper from the top of the key. 73-65 Wizards.

1:50: Sweet step-back baseline jumper from Juan Dixon. He’s giving Salim Stoudamire the business on both ends.

Blatche comes in to join Juan, Oily, Nick and Darius.

1:15: Damn….Nick Young is looking too nice. Jab step that had Anthony Tolliver all crossed up….Young hits another smooth J.

I tell you, the Spurs 2nd team doesn’t even look like they’re in the same league as the Wizards 2nd team.

MONUMENTAL AIR ALERT: Knee looks okay…Young sees a lane…skies….turns his shoulder towards basket….and makes Finley and Oberto part of a nice lil’ poster.

Young has the ball with the seconds in the third ticking down….the entire Wizards bench stands in anticipation….somebody is over there shaking their hand as if in a heated dice game…..Young with his signature cross….fade-away J….NAILS IT! Aaaaand they call him for a carry. Watching it in slow motion….not a good call.

Q4

The same guys stay in to start the 4th…..I’ve been feenin’ for some more JaVale McGee. Put in the Choppa! (instead of ‘get to’). Hey…maybe instead of Lemon Head, JaVale McGee’s nickname should be The Choppa. Kid’s got helicopter arms, and he can fly. I’m going with it….stay tuned for the Photoshop.

11:03: D-Song with another jumper….how am I giddy about this team again? Oh yea, depth. Deep. You Wanna Go Deep? I’ll Take Ya Deep. 81-66 Wiz.

10:36: Blatche hits a jumper…first FG of the game….it’s about time he looked confident.

At least Blatche kept his flat-top…although, it does look mini.

9:22: D-Song pokes a steal away….San Antonio crowd moans….and Juan Dixon hits a transition jumper. 87-69 Wiz.

8:32: Eddie Jordan timeout…..just to give the team a blow, and perhaps make some changes. But who is first off the bench to greet his teammates? The Choppa!

Good ol’ Pecherov….bless his heart….misses a three, but follows his shot (maybe that’s what Eddie Jordan has been trying to get him to do)….get the ball and drives hard….tries to dunk on Malik Hairston….who swats Pech’s arm. Free-throws earned….along with respect from the bench. 89-72 Wiz.

Eddie just put in…..The Choppa! Take a rest Songaila.

6:50: Choppa with an easy FT-line jumper….it’s elementary. McGee has 11 points….don’t give him space to take off.

5:16: Blatche knocks down a jumper…and I suppose his confidence needs it….but c’mon! The Choppa was posting up right there….selfish. 93-78 Wiz.

3:39: ‘Dray Blatche tries to dribble juke for no reason…yep, loses the ball out of bounds.

A little game slippage on D for this current squad (‘Dray, Taser, Oily, McGee and Dee)…Buckhantz says that Eddie Jordan et al. do not look very happy. Spurs cut the Wizards lead to 9….timeout.

Uhh….okay. Desmon Farmer three…..Jacque Vaughn three….pressure bust pipes? Wiz only up 94-90 with two minutes left.

1:35: Crunch Time Moments: Dee Brown pushed the ball up the court hard….pass to McGuire….slight dribble drive….back to Dee….Nails a trey! Exactly what we need that guy to do. 97-90 Wiz.

“Oleksiy Pecherov with a three point dagger.” I’m pretty sure you will never hear Steve Buckhantz utter those words again.

Game. Set. Match.

48.1 FG% was nice….along with 10-19 from long distance….but the defense was nicer.

NBA.com Box Score

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I suppose people, myself included, can’t exactly help themselves when a team jettisons two guys named ‘Johnson’ from its roster. The official Washington Wizards blog treated the happening as if naming a law firm (or health care products/pharmaceuticals company) with the title, “Wiz Waive Johnson and Johnson.” Wizards Insider, usually run by the Washington Post’s Ivan Carter and Michael Lee, went the safe route with, “Wizards Release Two.” Someone named Alexa Steele filled in for Carter and Lee on this specific post….I guess when you have what sounds like a porn name already, you might want to avoid sexual innuendos by spitting out Johnson, the word. But alas, Mike Jones of the Washington Times ‘went there’ with his title, “Wizards Cut Johnsons.” C’mon Mike….don’t you know that Johnsons would rather be released than cut?

Ok…enough of that, back to the point at hand. Two positions of need assumed by Wizards fans this past offseason, before Gilbert Arenas went down, were a small forward to backup Caron Butler, and a third string point guard. After Dee Brown was signed, along with the summer league developments of Dominic McGuire’s mid-range jumper, the school of thought was that the former player would fill the latter position of need and vice versa. Working off these assumptions, Ernie Grunfeld would hold the 15th roster spot in a glass encased box to be broken in case of emergency.

Then Gilbert Arenas happened…..then Brendan Haywood happened….Haywood’s wrist surgery not having a greater influence over roster moves, as the Wizards seemingly had a logjam at the post position (Etan, Oily, ‘Dray, JaVale and Jamison — hey, that sounds like a MotheringHut t-shirt…..just remember where you heard it first).

Personally, even with Arenas in the lineup, I was worried about perimeter scoring off the bench, specifically wanting a three-point threat considering the loss of Roger Mason, Jr. to the Spurs. Sure, I was concerned with the ability to spell and save Caron Butler from playing too many minutes….but if The Cleaner could swing down there, all would be kosher.

With Arenas out of the picture for an indeterminate amount of time, the need for point guard assistance became glaring. Steps in Ernie Grunfeld, The Closer, to sign Juan Dixon, who not only has the capability/potential to supplant a 32-year old achy-wristed Antonio Daniels, and a young, inexperienced quickie in Dee Brown, but also the ability to wet the net from long distance. Not to mention that Dixon is already familiar with Eddie Jordan’s system, having played for the Wizards before.

For some, there were concerns about Dixon’s ability to be an efficient contributor, and for others, thoughts that Juanny might be the ticket. And so began the debate, Juan Dixon v. DerMarr Johnson, in the form of a smackdown, some madness, and a wackout…the outcome of which certainly wasn’t helped by strong DerMarr training camp and preseason performances pitted against a sidelined Dixon due to a calf injury.

But even before this was able to be hashed out on the court, MSM outlets “in the know” were reporting that Dixon was “all but guaranteed” and a “safe bet” to make the Wizards, leaving Boss Slim with neither straight pockets, nor a manager to his boss.

When Dixon finally saw action in the last preseason game, we were only left with a brief sample of what the latest version of him can do: 0-4 from the field….but five assists to only one turnover. I’ll easily give Juan a pass on the missed shots….it was his first game of the year. But the assist-to-turnover ratio certainly sparks a glimmer of hope in my eye. I wasn’t able to watch the game (just got the DVR up and running), so I’ll be paying close attention to what Juan can do, among many other team activities, in the final two preseason games.

I liked what DerMarr Johnson was showing, and really wish that there was a way to keep him on the squad….but the cliché dictates that it’s a numbers game. Hopefully he can catch on somewhere else and make a career for himself. In the end, I resigned myself that Grunfeld and Jordan best know the needs of the team and have made a decision accordingly. Stay tuned to see what the Wiz dribble out next.

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I certainly have my thoughts about John Hollinger’s latest outlook for the Wizards, they’ll come later. For a good read on fairly assessing Hollinger from the perspective of a Wizards fan, check out Pradamaster’s post, “Half-baked Hollinger thoughts,” on Bullets Forever.

One good point Hollinger made was in regard to the Wizards three-point defense:

Washington’s D still had some severe problems, though — most notably in defending the 3-point line. Washington was last in the league in both 3-point percentage (38.6) and in conceding 3-point attempts (.270)……

If you’re looking for reasons why the Wizards gave up so many threes, they’re not hard to find. For starters, Eddie Jordan has always been fond of traps and zones, which tend to create openings for weakside shooters. Second, Washington often had no choice but to double-team post players given the mismatches that presented themselves when the likes of Blatche and Darius Songaila were guarding the post. Finally, dribble penetration on the perimeter was another problem, creating easy kick-outs for triples.

Between those causes, there were lots of opportunities for teams to swing the ball around to an open shooter, and that can be seen most easily in the huge assist totals Washington opponents racked up — 64.9 percent of their baskets were assisted, the highest rate in the league by a wide margin.

In The Zone
I don’t mind playing a trapping zone so much. The Wizards are better operating at a faster pace on offense. Trapping contributes to speeding up the overall pace of the game. However, that being said, the Wizards played at a much slower pace last year without Arenas. Henceforth, new assistant Randy Ayers implemented more of a ‘match-up’ zone for 07-08. On the other side of the coin, methinks with the emergence of Dee Brown, we’ll see the pace of the Wizards fall somewhere between the 92.9 (5th in the NBA) with a healthy Arenas in 06-0, and last year’s 88.3 (26th) without Gilbert (my gut tells me it will be closer to the latter……still an improvement).

Match-up zone is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a zone with man principles (i.e, more ‘help side’). In contrast to regular zone, players do not have to cover as much ground when making the proper rotations. You still have to haul ass on skip passes, but the protocol of coverage is more defined when players can concentrate more on a man, rather than an area of the floor. Also, the match-up zone helps defenders better see cutters, allowing switches or hand-offs in many instances. The principle is that it should be more difficult for the offense to find gaps, or weak areas such as the short corner, in match-up versus regular zone. Players still must keep their head on a swivel (seeing ball and man)…fundamentals.

So, one benefit of match-up zone (in addition to masking the inefficiencies of individual defenders….well, maybe not “masking” rather having a better contingency plan for supporting coverage), is that it allows individual defenders to pressure the ball. Pressure bursts pipes, and also causes turnovers which can spawn easy buckets. A second benefit of match-up zone is better ability to efficiently close out on shooters when there is dribble penetration or ball movement…..and as mentioned, this easier to do this when there is less space to cover and the assignments are more clear. Naturally, these two key aspects have been discussed in Wizards training camp.

How The Wizards Are Working Towards Improvement
A quote from Antawn Jamison that was mentioned in this post, “Washington Wizards Training Camp Spawns Questions”:

“The key was not to getting beaten off the dribble so quickly…when that happens he said we are relying too much on our second line of defense….and then in the scramble guys gets left open on the perimeter..in fact as they work on this defensive spacing Randy Ayers just said ..better spacing will help in the ability to recover and get out to the shooters….”

Also, for a good overview, you can read, “Wizards Showing Defensive Growth,” Washington Post.

So, I posed a question to the guys at the official WashingtonWizardsBlog.com who have been front and center at training camp, blogging their butts off, and being gracious enough to answer all the questions that come their way:

[Referencing the Jamison Quote] To me, the onus is completely the player in this situation. You gotta have the desire to stop your man. That being said, you also need some quickness to do so.

What specific drills have the Wizards been running, as a team, to develop foot speed? Do the players have any methods in the area when training by themselves, or with their personal trainers? What is Drew Cleary’s philosophy/tactics used to increase quickness and lateral movement?

The response:

you are right it is up to the player….help defense is a part of the nba and you need to use it…guys are just too good…but as Eddie Jordan said you don’t always want to use it…as i have watched camp….i have noticed the various slide drills…or Randy Ayers leading the team through half-court situations….and as you noted drew cleary has had them doing footwork drills including ladders…

[later]…..let me clarify something…the slide drills are for the help defense….on individual defending we have seen a lot of one on one drills in this camp…one thing that is being emphasized is that a player has to go straight back on the fake ( i hope can describe this well enough ..I just had a coach show me)..in other words the defender can not going in the direction of the initial ball fake or foot fake or head fake…he needs to pull back so he is in a position to adjust…..another thing in general that is being stressed..if the ball is moving all defenders should moving if not…there could be trouble

This is an excellent point on keeping position and going straight back on perimeter ball fakes and jab steps. What I know about closing out on shooters is that you go with your hands high (making the opponent think you are playing the shot, but also ready to contest if he does), but your feet and hips are in the crouch position, prepared to defend the dribble drive. Of course, you must also be a student of the scouting report, and accordingly to certain players. At the end of the day, each player needs to look himself in the mirror and ask if he has the heart and desire to play individual defense.

Communication Is Key
The key to any type of zone, or man defense for that matter, is communication. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t paying attention before, but last season, I really noticed a more concentrated effort to communicate via talking, and pointing, on the part of the
Wizards.

Communication is only one part. To further their development, the Wizards must enhance their instincts as individuals, and as a team. Another year of constancy will only go towards this enhancement. Improvement is already evidenced in the fact that Eddie Jordan has had to stop training camp practice less to instruct. The Wizards have been able to concentrate on refining their cohesiveness in real-time action.

Handling the Screens
One specific problem the Wizards had when playing a match-up zone last year is handling screens. But historically, when run well, a lot of teams have trouble with pick and rolls (specifically), regardless of the type of defense. The match-up zone calls for a lot of switching on screens. So, teams try to take advantage of this by creating mismatches.

Who knows if playing Andray Blatche at the three spot would work, but he better be ready to defend small forwards regardless because of the switching. Keep in mind, handling screens is situation specific. Teams must practice, practice, and practice how to treat all the various scenarios until it becomes habitual. It requires a lot of concentration, and being aware of the offensive personnel involved.

Flip Saunders
There was a slight spike among the internets in speculation over the presence of Flip Saunders being some pseudo writing on the wall, or random scribbling in the least, in terms of Eddie Jordan’s coaching stability…..and perhaps I contributed to that.

Well, at face value, Saunders is an excellent instructor on zone defense, especially match-up zone. In fact, Flip wrote the a book on it. More realistically, Eddie Jordan and Randy Ayers have checked their egos at the door, are open to learn from a colleague, and more than welcome an additional teacher in training camp. I’d also speculate that Saunders is receiving a nice chunk of change for his consultation.

The Wrap
Overall, the match-up zone accomplished its goal for the Wizards last year. It forced opponents to take more shots from the exterior, as well as making shots from the interior more difficult (the ratio of close attempts by opponents went down 2%, while the ratio of jumpers when up 2%). The Wizards held opponents to the second lowest FG% on 2-point jumpers in the NBA (.367). On the other hand, the Wiz were a league worst in opponent FG% on inside shots (.658)…this eludes to Hollinger’s point on post-player mis-matches. Will Etan Thomas help? I’m not banking on it. Will Andray Blatche’s added strength keep him from fouling less? That’s something I’d rather get my hopes up for.

To take that next step, more perimeter shots must be contested. This all gets back to moving your feet, stopping dribble drives, leaving less space to recover between the defender and the shooter, and communicating on skip passes. The Wizards were tied for worst in the NBA in opponent assist percentage on 2-point jumpers (59%), and fourth worst on inside shots (56%). I will go ahead and predict betterment of these stats because of assumed improvement in the aforementioned areas.

[*Note: The above stats were taken from 82games.com and were covered in this post, "Washington Wizards Defense: is there any good news?"]

This team has the depth and athletes to put it together. Now, it’s all a matter of if the players are on the same page as the coaching staff, and if the coaching staff is turned to the right page. Wizards fans certainly have something to look out for. I’m sure the stats, and the win column, will tell the tale.

Random Posts

• May 13, 2011 -- The Washington Wizards New Look & Feel Unveiled
• January 7, 2009 -- Wizards Game 33 Blog at Orlando Magic: A Six Point 2nd Quarter
• February 1, 2009 -- Hey Caron, Want Some Turnovers With That Tuff Juice?

Ok, so Jamison isn’t exactly chewing on a straw a la Tuff Juice in the photo above….it appears to be a mouth piece. But it’s safe to say, the team better be following the actions and listening to the words of the guy with a teeth-marked plastic straw in his mouth.

The Pradamaster already did a Wizards link dump over at Bullets Forever. Now, I’d like to get in on the action with some linkage diarrhea…..gotta give good content across the world wide web its proper due…..not that the below links are bad like the collywobbles, but they sure are juicy.

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Speaking of Tuff Juice, Tom Knott has a column about the guy, “Wizards getting more than they bargained,” at The Washington Times.

Jordan took an immediate liking to Butler because of his fearlessness and combativeness, two qualities found lacking in the Wizards in the 2005-06 season. Jordan nicknamed Butler “Tough Juice,” and it stuck.

Many thanks to Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie for recognizing this very blog in his ‘Blog Association’ series saluting the most outstanding blogs for each NBA team:

“One of the best writers on the ‘net, one of the best Photoshoppers, it’s hard to believe a site like this can come in second. A tremendous daily read, especially during the season.”

I guess this is what Jay-Z meant when he said, “Real recognize real.” Truth About It placed second and Bullets Forever deservedly came in first.

Ivan Carter breaks down the Wizards bigs at The Washington Post, “Wizards Size Up An Oversize Roster.”

1. Brendan Haywood on JaVale McGee: “To me, he’s probably one of the top two or three centers in terms of athleticism, in the league, hands down.”
2. Eddie Jordan on JaVale McGee: “Get JaVale out of there, please…….Run the floor, JaVale!”

The Pradamaster at Bullets Forever gets curious about the possibility of Andray Blatche logging some time at the small forward position:

In the summer league, he was playing the four spot in the offense. He’s bulked up over the summer too, and now you’re going to tell him to play on the wing? That would really stunt his development, and giving Etan Thomas more playing time is not an acceptable excuse.

Highlights from a Washington Post chat session with Ivan Carter and Michael Lee:

Ivan: I’ll say this based on conversations I’ve had with scouts and gms from around the league, Eddie will have another gig almost right after he’s done with Wizards. He’s that respected around the league.

Ivan: As men, [Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas] were embarrassed by the attention given their spats and wanted to end that stuff. They’re still banging away and competing like heck out there in camp but it’s pretty clear that neither of them wants to be known for getting into juvenile fights.

Ivan: The main thing that is different this year from my last three camps covering this team is that Eddie has them doing a lot more scrimmaging. The reason is that guys are so familiar now with one another and the schemes, they can have crisp scrimmage situations without having to constantly stop and instruct. They just look smoother.

Ivan Carter at Wizards Insider wonders Who Fills (Roger) Mason’s Shoes?

Good post that essentially compares Mason and Juan Dixon on defense and offense…..I say the two-headed monster named JuanDee will be more than a suitable replacement.

Dan Steinberg at the DC Sports Bog reminds us of Dee Brown’s rap CD, and how he’s performed in Europe.

I’ve listened to Dee Brown’s entire CD, Unwritten, and learned exactly 14 things…..those things are posted at Bullets Forever.

Like fantasy basketball? I do. Check out the guys at The Fantasy Lounge for a preview of the Wizards, among other teams.

Stet Sports wonders: Where is the Wizards Bandwagon?

Ivan Carter has a piece on DerMarr Johnson on The Washington Post, “Hoping to Find a Home Where His Heart Is.”

“I never thought about playing here earlier in my career because every time my team came to town, I had to buy like 60 tickets because I have so much family and friends out here,” said Johnson, who played one season of college basketball at Cincinnati. “I was like: ‘If I played here every game, I’ll go broke just trying to get tickets.’ But now that I’m a l
ittle older in my career, I have wanted to play here. I love my city.”

[Previous Post: Washington Wizards Player Personnel: The Point Guard Factor]

Random Posts

• April 22, 2011 -- Ode To Wizard Kirk Hinrich
• April 21, 2008 -- Wizards React Quotes/Game 2 Preview: It's gonna be a tear-jerker
• September 29, 2008 -- Why Does Everyone Talk About Integrity and Fairness When Sports Is A Business?

photo from washingtonwizards.com

The Candidates: Antonio Daniels, Dee Brown, Juan Dixon, DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young

Antonio Daniels: Hey, did you guys know that Antonio Daniels is getting older? Ok…so the fact that he turns 33 in March should go without saying. Last season, AD averaged the most minutes in his career, 30.4, because he had to step in as the starter for an absent Gilbert Arenas. This simply cannot continue. Not that Antonio isn’t up to the task. I’ll say it time and time again, the guy is a gamer. However, the fact that he puts his body on this line so much compounds the issue and highlights that he should receive less time on the court, if anything, to keep him healthy for the season. Antonio can’t help the way he plays. We know he’s not a shooter, he knows he’s not a shooter….but he’s got to make the defense aware of him offensively in some manner, and he does that with kamikaze drives to the hoop.

The problem for Eddie Jordan is that Antonio Daniels is his security blanket. He doesn’t turn the ball over much and is a game manager. At this point, how much AD sees the court depends on the other candidates. We must remember that health is key for the Wizards, especially in the backcourt. We’d all like the team to get out of the gates quickly in Gilbert’s absence, but the season is also a marathon, not a sprint.

Dee Brown: With the injury to Arenas, Brown has fallen into a chance that he wouldn’t have found anywhere else in the NBA, or even perhaps Europe. Even if he’s just a one-year rental for the Wizards (I’ve got my fingers crossed that the Wiz will select a PG of the future in the next draft), Brown can parlay his shot into a decent contract after 08-09.

The knock on Brown is that he’s not a shooter. However, when it comes to jumpers from beyond the arc, it’s not like he’s worse than Antonio Daniels. Last year, per 36 minutes, Daniels attempted 1.2 threes, making 0.3. I know it’s a limited (and perhaps skewed) sample size, but in 06-07 with Utah, Brown attempted 2.2 threes, making 0.5, per 36 minutes. Accounts from training camp indicate that Brown significantly improved his shot while playing in Turkey last year…..we will see. Regardless, teams are still going to make Brown beat them from the outside. The Wizards won’t be looking to Daniels or Brown to be a long distance threat, but at least the chances they get will most likely be open looks, optimal for taking advantage of.

Reports indicate that Brown is acting like he wants it. He’s being vocal in camp. He’s picking up the ball full court on defense. I’d suggest reading a piece Mike Jones wrote about Brown in the Washington Times, “Brown reaching comfort zone.” What I like most about Brown is his ability to push the ball up the court with this 24-year old legs, as opposed to AD’s 32-year old legs. It remains to be seen if Brown can play under control, I suppose that will develop with his understanding of the offense. In my post, Pace, Shot Clock Usage, and the Value of Gilbert Arenas, I highlighted that historically, during Jordan’s tenure, the Wizards shoot a better FG% the earlier in the shot clock they take an attempt. Of course, most of that can be attributed to the offensive Wizardry of Gilbert Arenas. However, it would benefit the Wizards to do one of two things sooner rather than later: 1) get into the Pro-Princeton offense, or 2) get an easy look at the hoop (in transition or early offense). Dee Brown might be the spark needed to make such a push.

Juan Dixon: With so many concerned about the loss of Roger Mason (now that Arenas is out), Ivan Carter might have cited the most important factor in the Juan vs. Roger debate, “….another major difference is that Roger pulled $7.3 million from the Spurs while the Wizards got Juan on the cheap late in free agency. Gotta stay under that luxury tax you know?”

But consider this, last year with Arenas injured, Eddie Jordan only had Daniels, Mason, and Stevenson as options to initiate the offense. Sure, Mike Wilks was around, for all of 44 minutes. Might Dixon and Brown be a two-headed monster option for Eddie Jordan which is a step above a solo Roger Mason? I think the chances are good. Brown can handle and push the ball better than Mason. Dixon has more of an offensive game….maybe. As Eddie Jordan put it when posed the question about the differences between Juan and Roger on offense: “High risk. High risk. And a lot of rewards [referring to Dixon]. Roger was a lot more steady and low risk and stayed in a small package but a very effective package. Juan is sort of all over the place but that is ok.”

[Update] Recommended Reading: In Defense of Juan Dixon by cuppettcj on Bullets Forever

DeShawn Stevenson: I like to think of DeShawn as a stop-gap solution at the point. And this scenario really only happens when he and Young are together in the backcourt (Butler will not see time at the two). In the top 20 Five-Man Floor Units from 82games.com, only one lineup did not involve Daniels, Mason, or Arenas at a guard position. The 9th ranked lineup in minutes (72) featured Stevenson, Young, Butler, Jamison, and Haywood. That lineup also led all other lineups in the sample with a +33 plus/minus. Stevenson is clearly a diverse enough player to be a capable fill-in. And perhaps Nick and DeShawn will be a go-to combo when Jordan wants some size and scoring punch out of the backcourt. All and all, just another option on Eddie Jordan’s plate that he, nor Wizards fans, should mind using.

Nick Young: I don’t even want to consider living in a world where Nick “Bean Burrito” Young might be a factor at point guard for the Wizards.

Random Posts

• April 4, 2010 -- Jogging to spots and selfishness a problem for Wizards offense, Flip Saunders and Shaun Livingston talk about the issues
• January 21, 2008 -- Live Game 39 Blog: Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks
• January 8, 2011 -- From The Other Side: Winning On The Road Easier Said Than Done

Silly, zany, wacky…..all terms used to describe Washington Wizards media day. Laptops are even blowing up because of it.

>> DeShawn Stevenson is swagger jacking Lil’ Wayne and claiming originality…..Lemme guess, Stevenson’s next wrist band will say, “Misunderstood ain’t gotta be explained,” or perhaps “Bling, Bling.” (Just go listen to ‘DontGetIt’ (some call it ‘Misunderstood’) on Lil’ Wayne’s Tha Carter III – or just check the lyrics here.)

>> The key part of the body is the wrist:

• DeShawn Stevenson is debuting his ‘Wristbands That Don’t Make Sense’ line (above link from the DC Sports Bog).
• Dee Brown has a superman wristband.
• Antonio Daniels did not have surgery on his troubled wrist, but it’s feeling okay….even though he will wear a light brace.

>> Caron Butler is making bold claims: “If healthy, we’re the best team in the Eastern Conference,” Caron Butler said. “That’s how I feel. Hands down, we’re the best team in the Eastern Conference if healthy.”

I’ve suggested that the team slogan be changed from ‘Character, Commitment, Connection’ to just a big ‘IF’ on a billboard.

>> Oh yea, Gilbert Arenas ducked out a side door and didn’t speak with any members of the media on Media Day.

>> But the most important part….how much maturity has Andray Blatche gained over the summer? I have my reasons (basically, we’ve been waiting the longest for him) for voting Blatche (over Nick Young) as the Wizard who needs to step it up the most in Gilbert’s absence on Bullets Forever.

Let me just put the excerpt from Ivan Carter’s Media Day Entry on Wizards Insider:

When we chatted with Andray, he swore that he’s “more mature” this year and hungry to break out and really tap into his potential.

When this was related to Antawn Jamison, he responded by shooting me with a look that effectively said “We’ll see.”

Jamison then talked about Andray: “He says he’s a veteran. He says he’s matured. He says he’s ready for the task. He has to show us. I mean, like you guys, the excuses and hearing the same thing at the start of every season, it goes in one ear and out the other. It’s time to show it.”

In Mike Jones’ version, both Haywood and Jamison snicker at Andray’s talk. We will see indeed.

photo from nba.com/wizards

Random Posts

• December 12, 2009 -- For Wizards, Each Opportunity To Step Forward More Important Than The Last
• August 31, 2009 -- 2009-10 Wizards 82 Game Preview
• March 5, 2009 -- Apathy Over Losing Mounts: Wizards Game 61 Blog at OKC Thunder

Whether you agree with it or not, the Wizards GM made an assessment based on the team’s past, his cognizance of the game, and his awareness of personnel (with some assistance from his staff of course). Grunfeld then formed a plan, made his plan public, and enacted that plan with swift intuitiveness.

Charting the future path of an NBA team involves knowledge, luck and chance. Ernie limited risk by using his knowledge. Part one of the plan was to lock up Antawn Jamison immediately. Sure, if you are purely considering market value, four-years and $5o million may be slightly overpaying for the 32-year old forward. One only has to factor in Gentlemen Jamison’s leadership, much less his many other intangibles, to understand that AJ was more than deserving of the amount and time.

And part 1b was locking up Gilbert Arenas. Ernie has seen, heard, and experienced plenty of free agent summers. He knows that anything can happen. Sure Ernie may have been surprised about Brand-Gate, but that doesn’t mean he neglects to consider such events a possibility, especially with our friend, Captain Quirk.

Locking up Gilbert Arenas, even for $111 million over six (a price which some, including myself, have wished was even less) was the right thing to do. I’m no longer contentious on the price. To wait longer to get a deal with Arenas done is to open the door wider on the chance that something crazy might happen. Grunfeld slammed the door and moved on to dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on the summer. He used tact to get Arenas to take less money, still allowing for Agent Zero to safe face, while providing for maneuverability down the road.

Part one and beyond has so far involved the signing of Dee Brown, he of rap and Sports Illustrated fame. I’d been curious as to who might fill the needed third string PG position, one with the quicks to push (as the Wizards 2nd unit, with it’s youth, needs to run), and hopefully one in possession of a knock-down jumper as well. With Brown, we obviously have more confidence in his ability to be an example of the former, rather than the latter. But there’s always Turkey and Dave Hopla, and when you consider that Grunfeld signed Brown on the cheap, I’d give the move an A minus.

So with between $1 million and $1.5 million left to possibly fill out the roster, Ernie Grunfeld has effectively taken the Wizards off the big name free agent market, unless the Wiz make a move. But if they don’t, that’s okay. I have full confidence in Grunfeld’s ability either to sign another potential steal free agent on the cheap with the veteran’s minimum or to make a trade that benefits the team.

Ernie Grunfeld is the closer with the foresight to maintain flexibility in his attempts to simultaneously improve the present and the future of the franchise. Move over Kyra Sedgwick, someone get this guy his own T.V. show.

Random Posts

• March 12, 2010 -- Best Wizards Links – Blatche on Turnovers: “It’s not like I’m just giving the ball away.”
• July 13, 2010 -- Nick Young Passes His First Summer School Test
• December 20, 2010 -- The Second Rebirth of Gilbert Arenas