DeShawn StevensonWith Gil and Caron in the lineup, DeShawn plays like a role player for a championship team. He gets good looks, knocks down his shots, and plays solid man-to-man defense. Without them in the lineup, DeShawn in a way gets exposed of his offensive liabilities. He had a terrible playoff series against Cleveland; I don't even think that he scored in double-figures in one single game. His shot wasn't falling, he missed dunks, layups, and he was just stone cold. It reminded many of us Wizards fans that DeShawn isn't the kind of guy that can create offense for himself. He was not born to be a go-to-guy on offense. He simply just doesn't fit the role of a scorer. Now we all realize why he was attainable at such a cheap contract. Overall, DeShawn had a decent year (with exception of the last 12 or so games), and if he should be resigned, EG better give him the LLE.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C+</span>Etan ThomasEtan played so well at the beginning of year, especially in November, and EJ gave him the starting job over Brendan Haywood. Etan was playing so well, getting double-doubles across the board, and making us Wizards fans believe that he could keep it up all year. However, he got injured in the middle of December, ending his good streak of play. He was trying to find himself back into the starting lineup again, but Haywood had a great December (the time in which Etan was injured), getting himself the starting C spot. Etan had an ok year, once again injury-prone, but then again, we all want the guy traded because he drops balls, doesn't pass out of the post, and commits too many turnovers for a center.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: D+</span>Caron ButlerCaron "Tough Juice" Butler had a great year. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his NBA career and was the heart and soul of this Wizards team. Hey, he even had a game-winning dunk against the Knicks. http://youtube.com/watch?v=8bagGRcnVfAHe can do it all, scoring, rebounding, passing, etc. He also does a pretty good job of staying in front of his man on defense. Caron is my favorite player on the Wizards and in the NBA because he is always motivated and is the best teamate. <span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: A-</span> Antonio DanielsAD, once again, had a slow start to the season, but this time, he never picked up. In some games, AD barely played. When Gil went out, that's when AD really turned it on. In fact, in the game that Gil was injured, AD put up 18 points and 17 assists, and getting to the line 14 times. AD stepped up as the starting point guard for the Wizards in the playoffs, too, averaging 13 ppg, 12 apg, and 4.5 rpg. AD loves to get the guys involved and enjoys doing so. I'd love having him start at the PG spot and move Gil to the SG spot. Even though AD really had it going for a month plus the playoffs this year, he still did enough just to get a decent grade.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: B-</span>Darius SongailaDSong had a late start this year, playing in just 37 games. However, after a couple games, he started to get in the swing of things, making significant contributions on the offensive end (some of Darius' success should go to the Princeton Offense, which is what Darius played in Sacramento, as well). He has a smooth-looking jumper, sets good picks, and is a smart passer in the paint. He also has a back-to-the-basket game. However, his defensive liabilites also cancel out his offensive capabilities, defense being something that he must work on this offseason. Not to mention, he is foul-prone.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C+</span>Antawn JamisonBeing the remaining musketeer of the Big Three, Antawn stepped up HUGE in the playoffs. He instantly became the #1 option on offense with Gil and Caron out, and for the series he averaged 32 ppg and nearly 10 rpg! Yet again, Jamison is a matador on defense, letting his opponent getting right by him to the basket. However, when Jamison was paired up with LeBron James on defense, he gave more effort than he usually would, and would not let him get to the basket. LeBron had every physical advantage possible going up against Antawn, but Antawn wouldn't allow it, forcing him to take the jumpshot. I wanted to see that sort of thing all year from Antawn. The Wizards really went down the drain when Antawn went down with his injury. Suddenly, everything falls apart and we're back to a .500 team. Antawn provides a lot of leadership and is the glue of this team.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: B</span>Brendan HaywoodBrenda, Brenda, Brenda. Our best post defender, and EJ does not see that. EJ and Haywood never have had a good relationship, and Etan even started over Brendan at the beginning of the year and at the end. Hell, Brendan was like our 3rd string center in the playoffs. His confidence was crushed and never played with effort for EJ again. Brendan has had his good moments and his bad ones, too. He's very hard to grade, but his play at the end of the year (even given his limited playing time) made my decision. <span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C- / D+</span>Andray BlatcheThis year was really AB's rookie year. He got shot in September of last year and never got playing time. He found himself in the rotation for EJ and had some very good moments. Of course, he's young and he makes mistakes, but I saw more good things than bad things from Andray this year. He gets rebounds, he's able to hit the jumper, can catch the ball, throw it down, etc. Everything that Etan and Brendan can't do. I hope Blatche stays with us this year but I won't be suprised if he chooses to leave because of EJ giving him not enough minutes.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C+</span>Jarvis HayesBetter known as 'Arvis' on RealGM (because he has no 'J', jumpshot), Jarvis Hayes has had more downs than ups this year. The good thing about this year was that Jarvis wasn't injured for a long period of time, and he got his first playoff action this year, after missing the previous two Wizards' trips to the playoffs due to injury. Jarvis is a good shooter, but he struggled to find consistency with his shot this year. He can't create for himself, and he isn't known for his passing. He has a beautiful shot when it's going down and I hope Jarvis can found some consistency with it next year (that is, if he comes back). <span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C</span>Donell TaylorDonell was sporadically used this year, and was constantly outshined by Andray Blatche in his given minutes. Donell had some good moments, and the guy can fly, but his jumpshot and FT shooting is terrible for a PG. <span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C-</span> Gilbert ArenasHibachi. Agent Zero. Whatever you want to call him, Gilbert Arenas is Gilbert Arenas. In the 1st half of the year, he truly seemed to be one of the top five players in the NBA. With his game-winners and crazy antics, Gilbert quickly became a fan favorite. Some people started to get annoyed with him because of his 'cockiness and arrogance'. Love him or hate him, this was probably Gilbert's best year in the NBA so far. He took the team on his back, and beat the Lakers and Suns in two thrilling overtime games virtually by himself, scoring 60 and 54 points in those games, respectively. The 2nd half of the year is where people sort of forgot about him and got fed up with him. He dropped in the MVP rankings, going from no. 2 to "Honarable Mention". He had strings of games where he shot well below 40%, and when Gilbert doesn't play well, the team usually doesn't win. After a home blowout loss to Portland (Gilbert scoring 9 points, promising the NBA he'll drop 50) Gil gets annoyed with EJ's idea of 'defense', and calls him out for him. The relationship between EJ and Gil gets a little rocky there, but soon after, they make up (because EJ is a player's coach). Then he gets injured for the rest of the year in the beginning of April, diminshing the Wizards' playoff dream to get to the ECF. However, Gil needs to realize that defense is 1/2 of the game and it is important if the Wizards want to get somewhere. Anyways, this was Gilbert's best year and he gets a good grade.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: A</span>Calvin Booth'Silent Cal' is always ready when EJ calls on him. This guy blocks shots, and hustles down rebounds. Hell, he can also hit from the elbow. Booth is a keeper in my opinion, because he does the dirty work and can score, too. He should get more minutes; I'd probably put him over Etan and Brendan (non-motivated) in my depth chart.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: B-</span> Roger MasonRoger can shoot, he is a great 3pt shooter. He provided some necessary sparks for us in the playoffs. He can't be just a shooter, though. There were times when he was unbalanced and he jacked it up anyway. When you're in situations like that, and your man is playing up close to you, get by him and go to the basket. Roger gets a respectable grade of a player his caliber, however.<span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: C</span>Michael RuffinDo I really need to explain why? <span style="color:#0000FF">Grade: F</span>
Pretty nicely done, something I don't understand is why you gave Antawn a B. He was forced to carry a very weak squad into the playoffs and although was not able to win a game could score when he was called upon.
