NBA preseason has begun

[Cartman 0]

TheCeltics are most likely going to look like this:

 

C Battie/Baker

PF Walker

SF Jones

SG Pierce

PG Banks

 

Bench:

 

PG James

SG Delk

SF Williams

PF Mcarty

SG/SF Brown

C Blount

 

Other good possibilities to make the team:

 

Cleaves

Hunter

Perkins

Larue

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Wizards will definitely make the playoffs this year.

[Ripper 0]

The Wizards will definitely make the playoffs this year.

Are they joining the WNBA?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Wizards will definitely make the playoffs this year.

Are they joining the WNBA?

No. But I think the combination of the new Coach (Eddie Jordan) and Gilbert Arenas will at least get them the 7th or 8th seed this year.

[Ripper 0]

The Wizards will definitely make the playoffs this year.

Are they joining the WNBA?

No. But I think the combination of the new Coach (Eddie Jordan) and Gilbert Arenas will at least get them the 7th or 8th seed this year.

I give everyone 2-3 weeks before everyone realises that Gilbert Arenas is a ballhogging undersized two guard and along with the other 8 two guards on the team, they will go nowhere.

 

 

Seeing as the Knicks have 7 PF and the Wizards have like 7 Two Guards, they really need to negotiate a trade.

 

I do think that Jarvis Hayes COULD be the rookie of the year, but with Arenas, Stackhouse, and Hughes on the team, he might not get the ball let alone enough PT to show what he can do.

[razazteca 0]

Wizards will be the Blazers East but without the drugs or DUIs.

[Shanghai Kid 0]

People are definetly sleeping on the Wizards this year. You can talk about guards all you want, but this is Kwame's year.

 

 

And Arenas is a beast, I don't know what your talking about.

[Ripper 0]

People are definetly sleeping on the Wizards this year. You can talk about guards all you want, but this is Kwame's year.

 

 

And Arenas is a beast, I don't know what your talking about.

I watched Arenas play the entire season. He doesn't pass the ball unless it is a called play. His assist totals were COMPLETELY from him just entering the ball to the post to Jamison. He didn't run the offense, he was a streak shooter, and simply would NEVER PASS. Why do you guys think Earl Boykins closed out all the games. If Arenas is such a BEAST, why wasn't he ever their.

 

Don't get me wrong, the guy is good, but he is basically Juan Dixon with a few more inches.

 

Gilbert Arenas PG 0-0 0 Jan. 6, 1982 Arizona

0 Steve Blake PG 6-3 172 Jan. 17, 1981 Maryland

23 Mitchell Butler SG 6-5 210 Dec. 15, 1970 UCLA

3 Juan Dixon G 6-3 164 Oct. 9, 1978 Maryland

21 Adam Harrington G 6-5 200 Jul. 5, 1980 Auburn

20 Larry Hughes PG 6-5 184 Jan. 23, 1979 St. Louis

12 Kenny Satterfield PG 6-2 170 Apr. 10, 1981 Cincinnati

42 Jerry Stackhouse GF 6-6 218 Nov. 5, 1974 North Carolina

12 Chris Whitney G 6-0 175 Oct. 5, 1971 Clemson

 

Now, out of that group, who plays like anything resembling a point guard? Each and everyone of them are two guards and all of them fire on sight(well, satterfield and harrington probably won't make the team). THAT is the problem. Anyone that watched the Warriors play knows that Arenas is JUST like Dixon and Whitney without the accurate jumpshot.

 

If I'm wrong, hey good. I want Hayes and Brown to do good and get their due. But I just don't think that Guardomania is going to work in the league.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

0 Steve Blake PG 6-3 172 Jan. 17, 1981 Maryland

 

Now, out of that group, who plays like anything resembling a point guard?  Each and everyone of them are two guards and all of them fire on sight(well, satterfield and harrington probably won't make the team).

Erm...dude Blake led the ACC(IIRC) in assists and points last year so at least Blake can play PG.

[Ripper 0]

0 Steve Blake PG 6-3 172 Jan. 17, 1981 Maryland

 

Now, out of that group, who plays like anything resembling a point guard?  Each and everyone of them are two guards and all of them fire on sight(well, satterfield and harrington probably won't make the team).

Erm...dude Blake led the ACC(IIRC) in assists and points last year so at least Blake can play PG.

Did you watch Blake play? Unless he was just scoring because he had too, he is a offensive machine.

 

Here is what I guess the starting line up will be:

 

Arenas

Hughes

Stackhouse

Brown

Haywood

 

Not much passing but pretty good.

 

then the bench.

 

PG- Blake

SG- Dixon

SF-Hayes

PF-uh...Latner?

C- White

 

Latner is the best passer out there then...sad really.

 

I just don't think this team is better than 7 of the teams that made it last year and with a Healthy Carter, they won't beat the Raptors. Who do you guys think are falling out of the playoffs. To be honest I see:

 

Nets

Pistons

Celtics

Pacers

Sixers

Hornets

Orlando

Raptors

 

thats the playoffs. I actually think that Miami will have a better record than the Wiz...this is all barring any injuries ofcourse.

[Guest Bricks]

I think it's going to be Houston taking Utah's spot in the playoffs this year. They got a nice trio in Yao, Francis and Mobley and that's enough to put them in as the 8th seed, me thinks.

[Guest Redhawk]

Silver lining: with so many 2-guards, the Wizards have, like, 42 fouls to give when they play against T-Mac, Iverson, Paul Pierce, Kobe, Ray Allen, Ricky Davis, LeBron James, Rip Hamilton. Allan Houston and Vince Carter.

 

But wasn't last year supposed to be Kwame Brown's year? He started out hot then flamed out before the All-Star break. I don't know how much of a negative influence Michael Jordan was on him, but unless he pulls a Jermaine O'Neal and just becomes a stud overnight I don't see it happening for him. And it's not like Kwame isn't getting any playing time, which was JO's problem.

[Ripper 0]

Silver lining: with so many 2-guards, the Wizards have, like, 42 fouls to give when they play against T-Mac, Iverson, Paul Pierce, Kobe, Ray Allen, Ricky Davis, LeBron James, Rip Hamilton. Allan Houston and Vince Carter.

 

But wasn't last year supposed to be Kwame Brown's year? He started out hot then flamed out before the All-Star break. I don't know how much of a negative influence Michael Jordan was on him, but unless he pulls a Jermaine O'Neal and just becomes a stud overnight I don't see it happening for him. And it's not like Kwame isn't getting any playing time, which was JO's problem.

That was exactly Kwame problem. It was nothing strange for Kwame to get off to a slow 1st quarter and not see the floor again to the 4th. Basically, they were acting like he should be incredibly consistant in his second year out of high school. If he came out strong, Doug (and Jordan) would allow him to play. A bad move on D or a bad shooting first quarter and he was benched. It was ridiculous and ever commentator, sports writer and fan was saying something about it.

 

Then to top off the insult, the team would lose and Jordan and Collins would supply soundbites that would imply that if he had played harder(along with everyone else that wasn't Jordan) they would have won.

[Cuban Linx 0]

I just hope the Blazers can put off their nuclear meltdown long enough for them to make the playoffs and equal the NBA's longest consecutive playoff appearance streak. May as well get something out of all these years of playoff failures.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I wouldn't worry about the Blazers missing the playoffs. Despite all the problems they still manage to win close to 50 every year.

[Shanghai Kid 0]

Anyone that says Steve Blake is not a pure pg is a complete moron. Have you ever seen him play? He was the best passer in last years draft bar none. And Chris Whitney isn't a pure PG? Two years ago he started for the Wizards and was 4th in the league in assists to turnover ratio. And Arenas getting benched for Boykins is just a fable, most of the time Boykins came in the game for J-Rich and Arenas moved to the 2. And Stack is a good passer when he committs to it, he lead the Wiz in assists last year. Arenas is a great player, great pg or not, he's a great player. Larry Hughes has bulked up over the summer and is looking great at SG. And Kwame is 7'0 260 now making him one of the biggest PF's in the league. The Wizards are solid at 1, 2, 3, and if they can just get any production out of their big man, they can make the playoffs.

 

You left out Jared Jeffries in your depth chart, you know the 6'11 guy who can play 4 posistions, the guy who can handle the ball like a point guard and pass it ala Lamar Odom. He's going to be a big part of the Wizards this year. The fact that most of our 2 guards can play point is more of an advantage.

 

 

Ripper, you know absolutely nothing about the Wizards.

[Ripper 0]

Anyone that says Steve Blake is not a pure pg is a complete moron. Have you ever seen him play? He was the best passer in last years draft bar none. And Chris Whitney isn't a pure PG? Two years ago he started for the Wizards and was 4th in the league in assists to turnover ratio. And Arenas getting benched for Boykins is just a fable, most of the time Boykins came in the game for J-Rich and Arenas moved to the 2. And Stack is a good passer when he committs to it, he lead the Wiz in assists last year. Arenas is a great player, great pg or not, he's a great player. Larry Hughes has bulked up over the summer and is looking great at SG. And Kwame is 7'0 260 now making him one of the biggest PF's in the league. The Wizards are solid at 1, 2, 3, and if they can just get any production out of their big man, they can make the playoffs.

 

You left out Jared Jeffries in your depth chart, you know the 6'11 guy who can play 4 posistions, the guy who can handle the ball like a point guard and pass it ala Lamar Odom. He's going to be a big part of the Wizards this year. The fact that most of our 2 guards can play point is more of an advantage.

 

 

Ripper, you know absolutely nothing about the Wizards.

That is the most incredible over rating of good players at best that I have ever seen. Jared Jeffries can play 4 positions now? He can play one of them decently.

 

Chris Whitney is a point guard now? If you consider Troy Hudson a point guard, then fine. If you consider Nick Van Excel a point, you are correct. Damon Stodimire, Jason Terry...if these guys are your idea of point guards because they are short guys that bring the ball up, the you would be right. But if you consider being a point guard actually running the offense and not just looking to come off screens to set up your own shot, then he is NOT a point guard.

 

And Blake, I have to wait and see him in the league. But if you DID watch him play, you and I both know that he was a shoot first player. Now that could be because he had to be, but until anyone see's him around other offensively talented players then you will know.

 

Gilbert Arenas in no stretch of the imagination is a "GREAT" player. A good player with this being his year to be come very good or mediocre? Sure. But GREAT? J Rich out scored him on many a night...is he a GREAT player too?

 

Glenn Robinson out scored him, is he a GREAT player.

 

Because lets face it, that is what got Arenas the hype. A guy that could put up points from the PG position. What did he average, 6-7 assist a game? Now all of a sudden he is a great Point. He is damn good at creating his own shot, but running a offense...well see.

 

And its not a myth that he was sitting on the bench in the 4th. If they needed points, he would move to the two. If the were nursing a lead, he was on the bench because he is a lazy defender(something I am sure that Eddie remedy somewhat, but he isn't a miracle worker)

 

Gilbert Arenas=Juan Dixon v 2.0 only Juan had a more consistant shot and Gilbert can finish at the basket. Blake will be the closest thing to a point on this team(sadly, Larry Hughes will be the second closest), and with about 5 guards in frount of him, I doubt he will get PT.

[Guest Redhawk]

To be fair, Glenn Robinson is a great scorer, just not a great player, which is why he outscores a lot of guys who are better basketball players than he is.

[Shanghai Kid 0]

Ripper, your a fool. You keep amazing me by arguing without knowing absolutely nothing on the subject.

 

 

I've never heard anybody in the NBA call Chris Whitney a shoot first point guard. In the last 10 years nobody has ever associated him with being shoot first. Just because he's a great 3-point shooter, you somehow think he likes to bomb 3's. Go back and watch a game instead of talking out of your ass, Whitney only shoots when he's completely wide open.

 

Yes, I know I've seen Steve Blake play, but I don't think you have, especially since you keep insinuating that Blake is a shoot first pg. Blake is 4th all time in assists in the ACC. His highest scoring average I believe is 11pg, and he's never had lower than 7 assists per game in a season. Check out his www.nbadraft.net profile where they compare him to John Stocton. Blake was also second in assists in the summer league.

 

And maybe your underestimating Jeffries, who was a lottery pick two years ago, who Larry Brown said he would of "taken at #1", who Jerry West called the "steal of the draft".

 

I'm not overestimating Gilbert Arenas. In his first full year as a starter he put up 18 ppg, 6 assists, 4 rebounds. He's improved more over the summer, gained more muscle, and is still lightning quick with the ball. In fact, last year Pat Riley said he thinks Gilbert is the fastest player with the ball in his hands. Comparing Gilbert to Juan is the stupidest comparison I have heard. Juan is a SG who doesn't even attempt to become a PG. He's a streaky shooter with absolutely no handles. Gilbert is superior to Juan, hell Steve Blake is superior to Juan.

 

Half the point guards in the league are scoring guards. Steve Francis, Chauncey Billups, Troy Hudson, Nick Van Exel, are all you calling all these players bad? Seriously, get some knowledge.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

I think it's going to be Houston taking Utah's spot in the playoffs this year. They got a nice trio in Yao, Francis and Mobley and that's enough to put them in as the 8th seed, me thinks.

Alright the season is looming and already people are disrespecting and overlooking the Clips! They had great expectations last season, but injuries among other things led to their disappointing season.

 

This summer proved to be a very positive one for the Clips. They finally got a REAL coach who is a proven winner. They got rid of Cancerman, who had 1 good season in 5 years with the team. Drabnjak was a steal for a 2nd round draft choice and Kaman, Wang, OP and Josh Moore is certainly an upgrade from Sean Rooks and Cherokee Parks.

 

They got rid of Andre Miller who just didn't fit in with the team. I was Andre's biggest fan last season and I gave him lots of slack but he was clearly the biggest disappointment for the team. Marko Jaric successfully ran the Yugoslavian National Team and he is certainly capable of doing the same here with a healthy Keyon Dooling as his backup.

 

We lost Odom, who's got all the tools but he isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Pike, the real "Polish Rifle" will be missed but this opens up more playing time for Quentin Richardson and Corey Maggette. Plus, since the Nets have soured on picking up Rice, if we pick him up that will give us the size and shooting range that we lost with Pike and Odom.

 

All in all, it has been one of the most successful summers for the Clips. We lost some of our "big names" but we kept the ones that mattered and will fit into our system.

 

With all that being said, watch out for the Clips to make a serious push for the 8th seed.

[Guest Redhawk]

Check out his www.nbadraft.net profile where they compare him to John Stocton. Blake was also second in assists in the summer league.

Every White PG gets compared to John Stockton, so that doesn't mean much. But I do agree that Blake is more of a pure PG than a shoot-first PG.

 

You're also right that half the PGs in the league are shoot-first types, but Ripper never said they were bad. He just said they weren't pure PGs.

[razazteca 0]

With all that being said, watch out for the Clips to make a serious push for the 8th seed

You think a team with 30 wins can get a playoff spot this year?

[Shanghai Kid 0]

I know Ripper said scoring pg's aren't bad, but he's making it sound like a team can't win games with a scoring point, or that scoring points can't run a team. That's not even a big deal, but Blake will never be a scoring PG.

[Guest Redhawk]

Would you consider Steve Nash a scoring PG? I'm just wondering because I've heard some people say he's a pure PG while others say he isn't.

[razazteca 0]

I think Jason Kidd is one of a few true Point Guards in the NBA.

[Shanghai Kid 0]

Steve

[Shanghai Kid 0]

Steve Nash is a scoring pg IMO. From the Dallas games I've seen, he doesn't mind looking for his own shot, whether it's pulling up for a 3 or taking it to the hoop. I think most of his assists just come from passing it to Dirk, who always shoots and never passes.

[alfdogg 0]

I think it's going to be Houston taking Utah's spot in the playoffs this year. They got a nice trio in Yao, Francis and Mobley and that's enough to put them in as the 8th seed, me thinks.

I actually think Houston could get all the way up to the sixth seed, with Phoenix and Seattle rounding out the cast. Phoenix is a good team, and should be contending for the NBA Finals in the next five years, if they keep all their players, but I still think it should have been Houston instead of them in the playoffs this year.

[Ripper 0]

Ripper, your a fool. You keep amazing me by arguing without knowing absolutely nothing on the subject. 

 

Yeah...I do that sometimes...sorry

 

I've never heard anybody in the NBA call Chris Whitney a shoot first point guard.  In the last 10 years nobody has ever associated him with being shoot first.  Just because he's a great 3-point shooter, you somehow think he likes to bomb 3's.  Go back and watch a game instead of talking out of your ass,  Whitney only shoots when he's completely wide open.

 

Must be talking out my ass...although he did shoot the ball .33 Times a minute last year(.31 for his career). He shot the ball 349 time...185 of them were threes. In case you don't know, .33 is above average for shooting per minute. For instance, Kobe Bryant shoots it .49 times a minute. The average is about .23 times a minute. Whitney comes out firing, and anyone that has seen him play knows this. Of course they never did mention it in the numerous sportcenter highlights that Chris Whitney has had, or they never mention it in the up close and personl looks at Chris Whitney so it must be true. I am taking your word for it, since I have never heard anyone in the NBA mention Christ Whitney...so I must have missed all of thost focuses on him.

 

Yes, I know I've seen Steve Blake play, but I don't think you have, especially since you keep insinuating that Blake is a shoot first pg.  Blake is 4th all time in assists in the ACC.  His highest scoring average I believe is 11pg, and he's never had lower than 7 assists per game in a season.  Check out his www.nbadraft.net profile where they compare him to John Stocton.  Blake was also second in assists in the summer league.

 

Once again, you are arguing with something that is yet to be proven. Every white point guard has been compared to John Stockton(even Jason Williams when he was in the draft) despite not having similar games. You are going to sit here and honestly tell me that Blake was shy about shooting in Maryland? Yeah, he did a good job distributing the ball, but so did Allen Iverson in college. A decent college point guard being a good NBA point guard is not a accurate assumption. This is the only guy I can possibly say wait and see on because simply, he has proven nothing yet. You SHOULD be saying the same but since you want to use unproved players as your podium, go ahead.

 

And maybe your underestimating Jeffries, who was a lottery pick two years ago, who Larry Brown said he would of "taken at #1", who Jerry West called the "steal of the draft".

 

Might be. But MAYBE you are overestimateing him. He has proven nothing except he can swing a towel when the team is on a run. Larry Brown also thought Jalen Rose was a better point for the Pacers than Mark Jackson and Jerry West called Tyrone Lue "a future all star at the point guard position". Until Mr. Steal shows and proves, I don't think you would want to hang your hat on him...or maybe you would.

 

I'm not overestimating Gilbert Arenas.  In his first full year as a starter he put up 18 ppg, 6 assists, 4 rebounds.  He's improved more over the summer, gained more muscle, and is still lightning quick with the ball.  In fact, last year Pat Riley said he thinks Gilbert is the fastest player with the ball in his hands.  Comparing Gilbert to Juan is the stupidest comparison I have heard.  Juan is a SG who doesn't even attempt to become a PG.  He's a streaky shooter with absolutely no handles.  Gilbert is superior to Juan, hell Steve Blake is superior to Juan.

 

So...comparing 2 6'3( I question that on Juan) guards that played the 2, got moved to point, shot the ball at the exact same rate (.41 per minute) is ridiculous now? I give you that Gilbert shot a blistering 34 percent from the 3 and Juan shot a even more blistering 29 (although when he started or got significant minutes his 3 point shooting was...gasp...34 percent.) So Juan could be considered more of a streak shooter. I don't see how I could possibly compare two guards of the same height and similar stats...must be talking out my ass again. Oh...and Gilbert averaged 3 turnovers a game to 1 for Dixon...just to put in perspective that "no handles comment"

 

Half the point guards in the league are scoring guards.  Steve Francis, Chauncey Billups, Troy Hudson, Nick Van Exel,  are all you calling all these players bad? Seriously, get some knowledge.

 

Where did I say that being a scoring point is bad. Steve Francis however is the only one on that list that can truely be considered points. When your sole purpose on the court is to get score, you are not the point guard. You are another 2 guard out there to put up numbers. I don't care if Allen Iverson(who averaged one less assist than Arenas) lines up at the point, he is a two guard. If Kobe gets put in the starting line up as a point(Kobe who BTW averaged nearly the same assist as Arenas...I guess he is a great point guard too.) If you actually WATCHED the Warriors play, you would know that Arenas didn't even call the plays out on the court. The team would look to Murphy or Jamison who got the plays from the coach and THEY called them.

 

Yes, he is quick...never denied that...in fact I said he can create his own shot. But he is NOT this incredible player that people have made him out to be. If putting up 18 points a game (something that makes you a very good scorer not a GREAT one) is all it takes to make you GREAT in your eyes then you need to watch the game more.

 

Yeah, you can win with a scoring point guard, but someone out there has to run the team. Steve Nash runs the team, although he does score alot. He also has Finley, Nowinski, and Jamison...the Wizards have nothing comparable.

 

Troy Hudson doesn't run the team. And he has Kevin Garrnett.

 

Nick Van Excel has never ran a team and the only one that has been successful is the Mavricks...see above for why. Chauncey Billiups has been to the playoffs twice...both times he didn't run the team and the team had been there before without him.

 

Gilbert Arenas is a 2 guard playing point that doesn't run the team. The teams best hope will be Hughes lined up at the two.

 

Of course Gilbert did play 29 minutes the other night and had 2 fucking assist...I guess I was talking out my as about his willingness to pass despite watching him for the past season.

 

Either one of us have the chance of being right or wrong. You could be right and the entire team has been hiding these amazing abilities for their entire career and will unleash them this year, or I am right and the skills that they displayed so far is a testimont of what they can do. Jerry Stackhouse is the only player on the team to ever be in the playoffs (and we see how much his team hurt when he left), but when you throw them all together, they are supposed to be automatic winners?

We'll see...we'll see.

 

Thats all me and my stat talking ass has.

[Ripper 0]

I think it's going to be Houston taking Utah's spot in the playoffs this year. They got a nice trio in Yao, Francis and Mobley and that's enough to put them in as the 8th seed, me thinks.

I actually think Houston could get all the way up to the sixth seed, with Phoenix and Seattle rounding out the cast. Phoenix is a good team, and should be contending for the NBA Finals in the next five years, if they keep all their players, but I still think it should have been Houston instead of them in the playoffs this year.

Phoenix was better at 3(or 2) positions. They were supposed to be there.

 

Amare/Marion/Stephon > Yao/Mobley/Francis