Magical

So after that terrible start, the Wizards are on something of a roll, winning three in a row as Gilbert Arenas starts playing much more like his own self. Meanwhile, the perennially disappointing Brendan Haywood has really been stepping up this season, offering 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in thirty minutes per game, plus pretty efficient scoring. Admittedly, small sample, but if Haywood can keep up this improved play (and the additional minutes opened up by Etan Thomas' injury; minutes that I think he should have been getting all along) there may be hope for this team yet.

Comments

I thought Bill Simmons had an interesting explanation this week for why the 'zards are going to take a step backwards this year.

With Gilly and Antawn both in contract years, the emphasis on stats is going to work against them.

You know what happens when two of the three best guys on a struggling team are in contract years? Everyone starts gunning for his own stats, and the situation turns nastier than the first 30 minutes of "Eddie" right before Whoopi Goldberg took over. And even then, you might be able to get away with some selfishness as long as everyone's playing defense, but the Wiz have been abysmal defensively for three years and counting. So what's left? Why does anyone think this is a playoff team?

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As far as Brendan goes, yes he is stepping up. But if I were the 'zards, I'd be playing Blatche lots of minutes to develop him, even at the cost of Brendan's minutes.

Posted by Petey | November 17, 2007 3:08 PM

"So after that terrible start, the Wizards are on something of a roll"

Also worth noting that while wins are wins, those three all came against likely lottery teams.

But you'd better keep it going. Your next five games are also against likely lottery teams. But your schedule gets much rougher after that.

Posted by Petey | November 17, 2007 3:29 PM

Antawn and Arenas are known quantities, and not in their declining years; assuming they don't get hurt, a few points one way or another won't come close to matching the halo effect of a winning team, winning record, even in terms of the hard world of NBA free agency.

Blatche should get some minutes, but pulling down Brendan's minutes for some ephemeral future benefit? These guys can actually have a playoff team now, why get into all that 'building' nonsense. Play the hand you got!

Posted by drinkof | November 17, 2007 4:01 PM

Now maybe you're a little more simpatico with Saints fans than you were during the playoffs.

Posted by Kiril | November 17, 2007 4:29 PM

Nick Fucking Young.

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"Blatche should get some minutes, but pulling down Brendan's minutes for some ephemeral future benefit?"

You don't get it.

Blatche is 21, played no college ball, and got shot.

He's got no NBA game at the moment, but he's got the body and bball IQ to be really fucking good. Plus the 'zards just signed him to a cheap contract.

You're not going to win a title this year. You play that kid real minutes and let him develop a game if you've got any sense whatsoever as a franchise.

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The 'zards should officially move Gilly to the '2' and let AD run the point. Fuck DeShawn.

Posted by Petey | November 17, 2007 9:10 PM

Hey Nick Young had 17 tonight, and the Wizards looked pretty darn good (even without Gilbert). Sure, Portland ain't great -- but wins are wins. A 4-5 team looks a hell of alot better than I thought they'd be after 0-5 to start the season.

I wish Haywood had shown this fire when Etan could still play though -- I know the two of them don't like each other, but the physical gifts have always been there for Haywood and it seems odd they'd show themselves now.

All in all, they're recovering from the horrific start and showing some of their form from the past 3 seasons. I don't get people like Petey who say we're on our way to step backward. They haven't taken one in the past 3 years, and I fail to see how Eddie Jordan's going to let it happen.

Finally, to get back to my first point: Nick Young looks like he might have been a pretty darn good pick. He's got alot of confidence and is pretty good on shot selection. Considering the kind of ball the Wizards play (no defense, plenty of scoring) he's a really good fit.

Sure, we're beating less than good teams. Nothing to be ashamed about in that. It's what you're supposed to do. If anything, it's an opportunity to get in a rhythm for when we play more dangerous teams.

Posted by James Hare | November 17, 2007 9:47 PM

"I don't get people like Petey who say we're on our way to step backward."

It's the CW at this point. The future is unwritten.

Beat and/or be competitive with a couple of playoff teams, and the outlook will shift.

Gilly is magic when healthy.

Posted by Petey | November 17, 2007 10:18 PM