You know people say that Jamison and Arenas don't like each other, I don't feel it's true, because of this quote from ESPN a while back when we acquired Jamison. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No surprise why Washington was so interested in acquiring Antawn Jamison from the Mavericks. The Wizards' frontcourt players combined to average just 27.6 points per game last season, lowest in the league. Golden State insiders, meanwhile, are downplaying the notion that Jamison and Gilbert Arenas had serious problems co-existing as Warriors. Dampier clashed with Jamison and Arenas far more than they squabbled, and Jamison was among those in Oakland trying to convince Arenas not to leave for D.C.</div> I also remember one reporter saying interviewing Arenas this season, and the interview was cut short because Jamison called Arenas. <u>Things that could lead to Success?</u> 1) Jamison and Arenas don't hate each other 2) No one hates Hughes, he's liked 3) Established roles, Hughes knows he's not the second guy anymore or posibble not even the 3rd option really, he's the secondary ball handler and other option (After Arenas, Jamison and Kwame). Arenas is the PG chucker that doesn't like to pass (you my boy Gil) , Jamison is the 2nd scorer, Kwame is the 3rd option, and Haywood plays defense and rebounds. 4) Jamison is more adept to playing his role due to being a 6th man in Dallas 5) Hughes is 10 times the shooter he was at GS 6) If EJ ca get all of these guys motivated to play defense? Everyone is a good athlete, and they're big and strong with the exception of Hughes, but he works on defense, so motivation will help (Jamison this might not help much but the rest). 7) Hopefully all these guys have matured, the hardest ones being Arenas and Kwame who are babies, but Kwame has been working hard for once this off-season, he's like a bigger, stronger Bosh with much less shot blocking, and less range on his shot. Now......the only problem the Wizards will face is defense, we'll be able to score 100 PPG, but Arenas who could be the teams best defender puts no effort, Hughes puts effort but is too weak and not that big for a SG, Jamison is not a good defender, and Kwame and Haywood (needs better awarness) are good, but if the Wizards go with the other lineup (Kwame C, Jamison PF, Hayes SF) Hayes is a good defender but will never reach his full potential playing the 3, and is too small for the 3 at the moment.
1- A Post presence, I think Kwame will be it this year... 2- Arenas/Kwame/Jamison connection...they need to clikc right away, Kwame and Arenas had differences last year...cant happen this eyar 3- EJ substitution patterns are the worst ever, we could be on the verge of a run and he takes out about 3 players on the court and puts in the reserves..we lost more than half of our games because of this.. 4- Role PLayers need to be consistent throughout the year, not just when they feel the team needs it... If we cando that we will be in the playoffs.
I agree.....EJ's sub patterns blew major chunks of da funky stuff. He needs to improve them like yesterday. How many times did it seem like Brendan was having a positive impact on the game just to disappear on EJ's bench? Besides that, as long as we don't get bit up by the injury bug this year , we should be right up there with Miami in our division.
I remember one game, Brendan was being very productive...great 1st quarter...he didnt play again until the 3rd..and he only played like 18 minutes taht game...Etan was having a horrible game and was left in..EJ needs to fix that problem if we want to win a lot of games.
The only guy I'm a little worried about personality-wise is Hughes. He's a natural scorer, but he's going to have to play a lesser option this year. I think he'll be okay with that as long as he likes his teammates. And, don't get me wrong, he's still going to score, but he'll need to get his points on fast breaks and off other guy's plays. I don't think EJ is a good coach for this team, not just because of the substitution patterns, but he's too lax and this young team needs a little discipline.
EJ's sub patterns do suck. Kobe8ball, I was at that game where Brendan was productive in the first quarter, he had like 8 or 10 points & was playing great defense, it made no sense why he took him out, I listen to sportstalk but I never heard them comment on it. EJ also subbed out Hughes, Arenas, & Stack after they dominated Memphis for 3 quarters, we lost our 14 point lead in 5 minutes. He took a timeout during that run but refused to sub anyone in. The first thing we need to do is still healthy, our season was ruined last year due to injuries, had we been healthy I dont see why last years team wouldnt have made the playoffs. If this years team is healthy, we will definately be in the post season, at least. The second thing we need to do is stop turning the damn ball over on every other play. A half court shot has a better chance of scoring than a turnover, thats how much of a waste it is. The third is our back court production. Hopefully the things people are saying about Kwame working hard to improve even more are true. We really need his help.
I really wanted to fire EJ this summer, but I knew it wouldnt happen...there were so many good coaches available...Rudy T, Doc, Byron Scot..all better than EJ
We need to limit turnovers big time this year so Gilbert needs to mature. Haywood and Kwame need to get a lot of rebounds and Kwame needs to be a good scorer down low. I'm pretty confident in everything else, except we need to stay focused too and avoid defensive lapses.
Now is definately not the time to fire EJ. We can not keep changing coaches every 1.5 years. We need some continuity. EJ will learn as he goes along how to sub better. You can't fault his intentions to put out a 'team' that shares the ball and plays team defense. Besides, what credibility does management have when they preach patience and keep firing the coach after 1 year?
Yea I agree, I was thinking we should fire him when I was really angry with his coaching choices and his inability to make right choices a lot...I thnk he needs a new offense style though.l
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting eYeKey:</div><div class="quote_post">Now is definately not the time to fire EJ. We can not keep changing coaches every 1.5 years. We need some continuity. EJ will learn as he goes along how to sub better. You can't fault his intentions to put out a 'team' that shares the ball and plays team defense. Besides, what credibility does management have when they preach patience and keep firing the coach after 1 year?</div> Thats true, I'm sure he'll do better with time. It was bad calls that killed us mostly last year, it was injuries. I just hope that everyone can stay healthy. Injuries are the only thing that will keep us from the playoffs this year.
