http://teamrankings.com/nba/wdcpower.php3 This site even gives the Wizards more love in it's power rankings (#10 this week). It pretty much analyzes all statistics and doesn't give teams more love 'cos of a formerly hobbled superstar or marketable prima donnas (think Kobe here).... All in all, a probable 10-6 December would be great. Should leave us competing with the Florida teams for the division lead. FUTURE GAMES Date Site Win Probability Margin Opponent Opp. Rating (Opp. Specific Rating) 12/1/2004 Home 82.825% +10.995 #26 New Jersey 90.665 (93.188) 12/3/2004 Away 77.530% +8.4147 #28 Atlanta 89.057 (88.619) 12/4/2004 Home 84.131% +11.779 #29 Chicago 88.109 (91.726) 12/8/2004 Home 68.091% +4.8315 #17 Denver 100.29 (97.346) 12/10/2004 Home 62.884% +3.1692 #12 New York 101.44 (97.787) 12/12/2004 Home 80.189% +9.6910 #30 New Orleans 88.062 (93.015) 12/13/2004 Away 40.999% -2.133 #8 Miami 103.39 (102.13) 12/15/2004 Home 59.591% +2.2909 #8 Miami 103.39 (104.94) 12/17/2004 Away 47.472% -0.551 #19 LA Lakers 99.894 (102.16) 12/18/2004 Away 25.395% -7.241 #3 Phoenix 108.66 (102.23) 12/20/2004 Away 68.610% +5.0091 #27 Golden State 90.283 (87.478) 12/21/2004 Away 41.858% -1.904 #7 Sacramento 103.81 (104.22) 12/26/2004 Away 35.796% -3.520 #6 Minnesota 104.67 (103.59) 12/27/2004 Home 77.570% +8.4336 #25 Charlotte 91.941 (89.831) 12/29/2004 Home 71.282% +5.9253 #22 Detroit 98.625 (92.328) 12/31/2004 Away 38.905% -2.691 #13 Boston 101.18 (99.283)
Im think its possible, Kwame should be back sometime this month..early december is what I have last heard. It will take him sometime to get back into the flow of things, but I dont think it will take any longer than 3-5 games. Wizards staff has said that he is in pretty good shape and has been lifting, and last I heard he was up to about 260 something I think...and is an official 7 footer. That is crazy, he is finally getting serious I hope.
I hope when Kwame & Etan come back that they fit into the flow of our offense. I know they can help us defensively which is the one thing we really need help with. If we can just do alittle better on defense & avoid injuries we will definately lock up a playoff spot.
As long as the team keeps the healthy 'sharing' attitude everything should be fine. I think that Etan Thomas should be dangled as trade bait. He's too expensive for what he brings to the table now that Brendan is playing consistant basketball. This summer the money that Etan soaks up will be better served to keep Larry Hughes, Kwame Brown, and Steve Blake.
Honostly, if Kwame doesn't show a vast improvement offensively this year, I'd rather have Etan than Kwame. Etan is a better rebounder and defender, has a consistent baby hook, and is a spark off the bench. For the money Kwame would want, he hasn't shown me that he's more valuable than that. All his is, as of now, is the potential to bring a low post offensive game to the table. But potential doesn't win basketball games.
Etan is not a better defender. Kwame is our best post defender, it was been stated by Eddie Jordan on several occassions. I would much rather have Kwame start. Even if he doesnt up his game from last year he is still better than Etan Thomas. Etan is an offensive liability and not much of a better rebounder. Etan on offense is very selfish, he doesnt look to pass the ball at all, no matter how many defenders are on him. The only thing on defense that he has a major advantage on Kwame is blocked shots, other than that he is a better rebounder but not by much, he is better at nothing else. Kwame is the better Man on man defender, he can also guard a lot of 3's in the league. Etan is an overpaid role player. That is it.
Let's break down Etan vs. Kwame statistically, from last year: Offensive Rebounding: Etan (9.3% of all Wiz shots he rebounded while on the floor) beats Kwame (8.0%). Defensive Rebounding: Etan (18.5%) beats Kwame (16.8%). Blocks: Etan (3.9% of all opponent's shots blocked) beats Kwame (1.4%). Defense at the PF position: Etan (held opposing PFs to 41.7% FG%) beats Kwame (46.7%). Defense at the C position: Etan (49.8%) beats Kwame (53.4%). Scoring FG% (what percent of the time that they had the chance to score a point did they): Kwame (53.2%) beats Etan (52.3%). How often they shot they shot the ball: Kwame (shot only 35% of the time he got the ball) beats Etan (40%). The only really big victory for Kwame is that he averaged only 6.4 fouls per 100 minutes, compared to Etan's 11.5. And that he's 23 compared to Etan's 27. Like I said though, I don't want to keep Kwame just because he has potential. If he doesn't show some improvement this year, I'd rather have Etan than him.
Etan was up against second string PFs last year a lot, Kwame was up against the Duncan's, Garnett's, Oneal's and he played them pretty good. It is just my personal opinion but I would much rather have Kwame becuase he brings more offense than Etan does and I still think he is the better defender, even though he gets less rebounds.
Kwame is a much better one on one defender than Etan, Etan is too short against C's, and not quick enough against PF's, which hurts him, Kwame especially after bulking up is strong and quick. Kwame will definately help, and I can also see the team going 10-6 in December which will mean we'd really have to lose a might amount of games to fall out of the playoffs. Etan is a better help defender, but that's all he does defensively for the team, the stats are interesting, but matchups would also have to come in play, and I think Kwame had better +- numbers defensively than Etan.
