<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas is not among those anointing the rebuilt Boston Celtics as the team to beat in the East. <p class="inside-copy">"That made them better," Arenas said. "But at the end of the day, they still have to play basketball."</p> <p class="inside-copy">Arenas' pick to win the East? The Wizards, of course.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"When we were healthy, we were the best team (last season)," he said, pointing out that the Wizards were never completely healthy most of last season. </p> <p class="inside-copy">Arenas said the addition of free agent James Posey is the real key for Boston.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"Adding Posey made them a playoff team," Arenas said. "They got three players (Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce) who can dominate in their own way. They need somebody to do the dirty work."</p> <p class="inside-copy">Arenas said defense will be the key to the Wizards' success. "We already have the offense," he said. Arenas (28.4 points), Caron Butler (19.1) and Antawn Jamison (19.8) formed the league's highest-scoring trio of teammates.</p> <p class="inside-copy">Arenas, along with adidas, this week announced the launch of the GIL II Zero collection, says he has completely recovered from the knee surgery that ended his season, other than "a little normal soreness." He is predicting an MVP- caliber season.</p> <p class="inside-copy">"If we can get to 50-55 wins, I'm a heavy (MVP) candidate," he said. "I'm going to do what I do."</p> <p class="inside-copy">Arenas doesn't expect Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood, who shared playing time at center, to come to blows again this season. He looks for Haywood to start with Thomas backing him up.</div></p><p class="inside-copy">[link]</p><p class="inside-copy"> Although the Wizards aren't likely to come out of the Eastern Conference this up-coming season, I like the mind set this team has going in. Arenas thinks the Wizards will come out of the East while Caron thinks the Wizards will win an NBA championship. His comments about Brendan Haywood are refreshing, through the winter last season Haywood played solid basketball bringing post defense to the table. </p><p class="inside-copy"></p><p class="inside-copy">As for what he says about Boston, in my opinion they were a playoff team with the addition of Ray Allen rather than after Garnett/Posey. I'm going to stand by my prediction of the Celtics snagging a top 3 seed. What really caught my eye was his comment about us finally starting to play a little something called 'defense'. If Ayers brings to the table what he brought to Orlando or Philadelphia, this team's defense could defnitiley improve. I'm excited for this up-coming season. </p>
It's obviously going to be the Wizards' defense we'll have to worry about, but bringing in Randy Ayers to help out the defense and Arenas publicily talking about improving his defense, we have to expect something better this season.</p> The battle for the starting center seems to be the same situation as last season. Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas will go at it and don't be surprised if Haywood bitches about being benched again.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Asian Zero)</div><div class='quotemain'> It's obviously going to be the Wizards' defense we'll have to worry about, but bringing in Randy Ayers to help out the defense and Arenas publicily talking about improving his defense, we have to expect something better this season.</p> The battle for the starting center seems to be the same situation as last season. Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas will go at it and don't be surprised if Haywood bitches about being benched again.</p></div> I wouldn't be surprised if one of their centers gets dished for the sake of team harmony, but we'll see. If the Wiz can get another guard to play off of GA, they'll be that much more dangerous.</p>
"Adding Posey made them a playoff team,"</p> Really? So they weren't a playoff team without him? </p> Couple of teams that I see ahead of the Wizards are: pistons, bulls, celtics, nets, magic, cavs and heat.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'> "Adding Posey made them a playoff team,"</p> Really? So they weren't a playoff team without him? </p> Couple of teams that I see ahead of the Wizards are: pistons, bulls, celtics, nets, magic, cavs and heat. </p> </div></p> </p> I agree, the Celtics were easily a playoff team once they got Garnett. However, I can't see the Nets, Magic, or Heat being better than the Wizards. The Magic brought in Stan Van Gundy who runs an up-tempo playing style, how will Dwight Howard react to that? It will take time to get used to the system and their roster isn't anything to rave about after Lewis/Howard. The Heat are missing Wade for the first month of the season and by that time Shaq will be out. As for the Nets, you never know with that team but I see them under-achieving for another season.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'> "Adding Posey made them a playoff team,"</p> Really? So they weren't a playoff team without him? </p> Couple of teams that I see ahead of the Wizards are: pistons, bulls, celtics, nets, magic, cavs and heat. </p> </div></p> </p> I agree, the Celtics were easily a playoff team once they got Garnett. However, I can't see the Nets, Magic, or Heat being better than the Wizards. The Magic brought in Stan Van Gundy who runs an up-tempo playing style, how will Dwight Howard react to that? It will take time to get used to the system and their roster isn't anything to rave about after Lewis/Howard. The Heat are missing Wade for the first month of the season and by that time Shaq will be out. As for the Nets, you never know with that team but I see them under-achieving for another season. </p> </p> </div></p> You're right about those three teams. The Heat, if they have injuries, won't even make the playoffs. The Magic will be interesting to see how Lewis helps them, and we know Howard will be a monster. The Nets, its hard not to choose them over the Wizards because of Kidd, he is the best player at making other players better. (nash comes second at that) </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'> You're right about those three teams. The Heat, if they have injuries, won't even make the playoffs. The Magic will be interesting to see how Lewis helps them, and we know Howard will be a monster. The Nets, its hard not to choose them over the Wizards because of Kidd, he is the best player at making other players better. (nash comes second at that)</div></p> Howard will continue to be a terrific basketball player but it will take him time to learn to run the floor effectively which will slow this team down when the season begins. Also, Kidd is not better at creating shots for his teammates than Nash right now, when Nash was injured back before the all-star break the Suns struggled. Kidd would have a similar effect but not to the extent of Nash. As for the Nets being better than the Wizards, we would easily have had a higher seed than them last season had injuries not struck after January. </p> </p>
You know you can't take Miami out of the equation at any point of the season. How long were Wade and Shaq out last season? I believe Miami were out as many as 10+ games behind the Wizards at one point of the season last year and they came back to clinch the division. I know the Wizards has had their shares of injuries, but you can't make that automatic judgment and say the Wizards will win the division this year.</p> For Orlando, it can take as long as a year or short as a month to learn a system, I don't know when it will all gel. In Stan's first year with the Heat back in 2003-04, they broke a record of 42-40, improving from 25-57 from the season before. They also had their share of injuries and you know what happen to them the season after. The Southeast division also got a lot stronger with the Bobcats really finding that missing piece in Gerald Wallace. You know they're going to be finding a lot more open 3 pointers with Sam Vincent trying to utilize Raymond Felton's ability to penetrate. </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'> You're right about those three teams. The Heat, if they have injuries, won't even make the playoffs. The Magic will be interesting to see how Lewis helps them, and we know Howard will be a monster. The Nets, its hard not to choose them over the Wizards because of Kidd, he is the best player at making other players better. (nash comes second at that)</div></p> Howard will continue to be a terrific basketball player but it will take him time to learn to run the floor effectively which will slow this team down when the season begins. Also, Kidd is not better at creating shots for his teammates than Nash right now, when Nash was injured back before the all-star break the Suns struggled. Kidd would have a similar effect but not to the extent of Nash. As for the Nets being better than the Wizards, we would easily have had a higher seed than them last season had injuries not struck after January. </p> </p> </div> </p> The Nets didn't have Krstic (played 26 games) or RJ (played 55 games) for most of last season and they will both be 100% for this season, plus we added Magloire. What makes the Wiz better then us this upcoming season?
I think they'll be a top 5 team, possibly top 3 record wise. I just don't see them being better than Boston.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ZÆ</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'> You're right about those three teams. The Heat, if they have injuries, won't even make the playoffs. The Magic will be interesting to see how Lewis helps them, and we know Howard will be a monster. The Nets, its hard not to choose them over the Wizards because of Kidd, he is the best player at making other players better. (nash comes second at that)</div></p> Howard will continue to be a terrific basketball player but it will take him time to learn to run the floor effectively which will slow this team down when the season begins. Also, Kidd is not better at creating shots for his teammates than Nash right now, when Nash was injured back before the all-star break the Suns struggled. Kidd would have a similar effect but not to the extent of Nash. As for the Nets being better than the Wizards, we would easily have had a higher seed than them last season had injuries not struck after January. </p> </p></div> </p> The Nets didn't have Krstic (played 26 games) or RJ (played 55 games) for most of last season and they will both be 100% for this season, plus we added Magloire. What makes the Wiz better then us this upcoming season?</div> </p> </p> Magloire doesn't bring any sort of offensive post prescence which is what you need. Also, Washington's big three scores about 70% of their team's points so when Antawn Jamison (70 games), Caron Butler (63 games), and Gilbert Arenas (74 games) went down we would pretty much lose all of those games. Those three must stay healthy if the Wizards want to win and we were the best team in the Eastern Conference when they were healthy. Richard Jefferson does provide alot of the scoring for the Nets but I'd much rather have Jefferson go down in the Nets system for a long period of time rather than any of these three guys for a short period of time. The Wizards have proven that without all of their big three healthy, we're a 20-30 win team. </p> </p> </p> </p>
[quote name='GArenas'][quote name='ZÆ'][quote name='GArenas'][quote name='CelticKing'] You're right about those three teams. The Heat, if they have injuries, won't even make the playoffs. The Magic will be interesting to see how Lewis helps them, and we know Howard will be a monster. The Nets, its hard not to choose them over the Wizards because of Kidd, he is the best player at making other players better. (nash comes second at that)[/QUOTE]</p> Howard will continue to be a terrific basketball player but it will take him time to learn to run the floor effectively which will slow this team down when the season begins. Also, Kidd is not better at creating shots for his teammates than Nash right now, when Nash was injured back before the all-star break the Suns struggled. Kidd would have a similar effect but not to the extent of Nash. As for the Nets being better than the Wizards, we would easily have had a higher seed than them last season had injuries not struck after January. </p> </p>[/QUOTE] </p> The Nets didn't have Krstic (played 26 games) or RJ (played 55 games) for most of last season and they will both be 100% for this season, plus we added Magloire. What makes the Wiz better then us this upcoming season?[/QUOTE] </p> </p> Magloire doesn't bring any sort of offensive post prescence which is what you need. Also, Washington's big three scores about 70% of their team's points so when Antawn Jamison (70 games), Caron Butler (63 games), and Gilbert Arenas (74 games) went down we would pretty much lose all of those games. Those three must stay healthy if the Wizards want to win and we were the best team in the Eastern Conference when they were healthy. Richard Jefferson does provide alot of the scoring for the Nets but I'd much rather have Jefferson go down in the Nets system for a long period of time rather than any of these three guys for a short period of time. The Wizards have proven that without all of their big three healthy, we're a 20-30 win team. </p> </p> </p> </p>[/QUOTE] And what if they're not all healthy?</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mynetsfanforlife)</div><div class='quotemain'> And what if they're not all healthy?</p> </div></p> </p> Before this season, health has not been a big issue. I do expect us to stay healthy but if injuries do strike again I expect a season very much like the last one.</p> </p> </p>
[quote name='mynetsforlife'][quote name='GArenas'][quote name='ZÆ'][quote name='GArenas'][quote name='CelticKing'] You're right about those three teams. The Heat, if they have injuries, won't even make the playoffs. The Magic will be interesting to see how Lewis helps them, and we know Howard will be a monster. The Nets, its hard not to choose them over the Wizards because of Kidd, he is the best player at making other players better. (nash comes second at that)[/QUOTE]</p> Howard will continue to be a terrific basketball player but it will take him time to learn to run the floor effectively which will slow this team down when the season begins. Also, Kidd is not better at creating shots for his teammates than Nash right now, when Nash was injured back before the all-star break the Suns struggled. Kidd would have a similar effect but not to the extent of Nash. As for the Nets being better than the Wizards, we would easily have had a higher seed than them last season had injuries not struck after January. </p> </p>[/QUOTE] </p> The Nets didn't have Krstic (played 26 games) or RJ (played 55 games) for most of last season and they will both be 100% for this season, plus we added Magloire. What makes the Wiz better then us this upcoming season?[/QUOTE] </p> </p> Magloire doesn't bring any sort of offensive post prescence which is what you need. Also, Washington's big three scores about 70% of their team's points so when Antawn Jamison (70 games), Caron Butler (63 games), and Gilbert Arenas (74 games) went down we would pretty much lose all of those games. Those three must stay healthy if the Wizards want to win and we were the best team in the Eastern Conference when they were healthy. Richard Jefferson does provide alot of the scoring for the Nets but I'd much rather have Jefferson go down in the Nets system for a long period of time rather than any of these three guys for a short period of time. The Wizards have proven that without all of their big three healthy, we're a 20-30 win team. </p> </p> </p> </p>[/QUOTE] And what if they're not all healthy?</p> [/QUOTE] </p> Those injuries Gilbert, Caron, Antawn suffered were all isolated injuries. Caron hustled after a turnover to try to block a Patterson dunk which he almost had no chance of blocking but he ended up paying the price, the highflying Gerald Wallace fell on Gilbert Arenas' knee who was trying to gain position for a rebound and Antawn Jamison accidently collided with Deshawn Stevenson(or AD, forgot).</p> Our big 3 isn't known to be injury proned so health is not an issue we have to worry about going into the season.</p>
Still, if you're going to take every team being at 100%, I'd take the Nets over the Wizards. The Wizards still have a lot more to prove to show they're an elite team in the East. I think any of the top 9 teams in the Eastern Conference have a shot at the Finals, but there's a difference between having a shot and being likely to win it.
I think the Wizards are a number of teams in the East that have a shot at coming out of the East. A trio of Areans, Jamison, and Butler is outstanding. </p> Look out in a few years too if theycan develop Oleksiy Pecherov. Combine that with Nick Young, who I think is as much of a sure thing as anyone else in this draft, and the Wizards look even more scary then they are currently.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (starman85)</div><div class='quotemain'>Still, if you're going to take every team being at 100%, I'd take the Nets over the Wizards. The Wizards still have a lot more to prove to show they're an elite team in the East. I think any of the top 9 teams in the Eastern Conference have a shot at the Finals, but there's a difference between having a shot and being likely to win it.</div> </p> I completely disagree with this post. By no means can 9 teams in the East get to the finals, that's an exxageration only 4-5 teams have that ability at this point. Also, I doubt you watched the Wizards when we were healthy last season. Our big three was virtually un-stopable, we lead the East and beat teams like Dallas, Phoenix, Utah, Detroit, and Chicago. </p>
