Good riddance Haywood. He's divisive and his production doesn't justify the headache he's causing. What do you think we could get for him?

You know, the way Etan is playing, you might consider allowing Etan to step up and stop dribble penetration. When the wings drop into the lane to prevent someone from attacking the rim, the pass goes back outside for a wide open jump shot. Whatever Eddie's stressing isn't getting the job done. They didn't lose that game last night on offense -- you score 103 points, you win -- they lost it first and foremost because they could not make a key stop down the stretch. They lost secondly because Gilbert became a liability again, shooting poorly and turning the ball over several times in the second half. And finally, they lost because of a rushed 3-pointer from Jamison and an ill-advised top-of-the-key jump shot from Butler.

I really haven't seen anything from this team that leads me to believe they're any different from the last two years. I'm beginning to think Eddie and players give the fans the run around in the offseason, yakking about defense and rebounding and challenging the Eastern Conference powers. But, because only three games have been played, I'll reserve judgment. I'll wait until they've at least completed 20 games.

Thank you for the update Ivan. Also thanks for the story... the guys may be unhappy with you, but we the fans love to know what's going on. I mean what is going on with Haywood? Is he going to play hard off the bench, or does he want out? He looked mad sitting on the bench last night, and didn't play much at all. I love to see Etan playing like that! That is the Etan of a couple years back, and glad he is finally healthy again! Love the "In your mouth!" comment, that is stuff we can't experience at home... that is downright hilarious!

People don't expect the Wizards to be tough or physical, and Etan will surprise some people. Hopefully Eddie is right and it is just the beginning! Just wonder how the Haywood situation is going to play out. I can't imagine him settling for coming off the bench, and suspect if he doesn't think he can win back the starting position here he will want to go elsewhere.

I agree with Colin. If this team is going to take the next step now or in the future, Gilbert is going to have to become at least a better than average defender. If he doesn't, the team likely won't rise above a 5th seed in the playoffs. The two most important defensive positions are center and point guard. If the opposing point guard can dribble and pass wherever and whenever he wants and set up the offense without interference, the entire defense is put at a disadvantage. If you disrupt the opposing point guard, you disrupt the offense and allow your defense to be more effective. Gilbert is mostly passive except when he gambles for steals. Maybe when he checks into the gym at three in the morning, Coach Berry should be there to have him do slides.

Tight update IC and tight article as well. One point I'd like to make though. I think it is a bit short sighted to say that we lost that game on offense. Folks tend to harp on the last few minutes of ball games as the make or break. The fact is, the Wiz will play like that all year as they did last year. The reason is that we give up too many easy buckets as the game goes on. Turkoglu's 4 3s before anyone blinked in the 1st quarter, the cutters and the other layups we gave. Hey, its the NBA; certain nights, NBA players are going to hit shots like Arroyo did last night. You can't stop that. You can stop the easy buckets the suppliment the great play. A good team, I mean a really good team (like we keep claiming that we are) wins that game last night by 10 and it NEVER comes down to having to make a last second play on the road.

We did some nice things but we did the same last year. The next step is to do it for 48 instead of 30-some minutes. Those stretches where we give up 10 points in a minute are absolute killers. We just don't make it hard enough for other teams for 48. Forget the last 2 minutes where everything can happen.

Is it just me? I thought EJ should have called a timeout around 4-3 mins left. The Wiz were getting stops, but playing hurried and almost desperate on the other end of the court. I thought they needed a breather to slow things down and re-gain focus. I realize this would have meant they had one less TO during the final seconds, but perhaps it would not have come to that situation.

It's simple: if Etan can play anywhere near this level for the whole season, the Wiz will win at least 50. I don't remember center play like this for decades. Etan's been just amazing, and I was a guy who was fully in favor of Eddie starting Haywood. Etan's play is the single biggest difference between last year and this. And if he plays like this, he's worth 8 more wins.

The main thing that disturbed me about the defense last night was the way the perimeter players sag into the lane and just sort of hang out there, waiting for a shot to go up. You don't often see them running out to a shooter, or rotating around.

It's *way* too early to make any judgements yet, but not being able to close out twice is disconcerting. In fact, watching the game, I said to myself, with two minutes left "They're going to lose." I just don't have that confidence in their ability to make crucial stops on the perimeter right now. But I am feeling better about their ability to control the lane, if Etan can keep it up.

Oh, and it was nice to see Etan stay in at the end, and not have Eddie go to small ball. But if Etan wants to remain in at the end of games, he'd better learn how to hit foul shots.

It was interesting to see that Jordan did not go as small as usual last night. His centers played more minutes than in the previous games, and he played Ruffin at PF rather than center. He did go small one time in the first half (don't remember the details, but I think it worked out pretty well) and for one stretch in the second half. The Wizards were up 75-70 and Jamison came out. The frontcourt was Thomas, Butler and Hayes, with Howard and Milicic in the front court for the Magic. Hayes was guarding Milicic and vice versa. The Magic started going right to the hole and to Milicic in the post. The Wizards started out the right way by going to Hayes to take advantage of the mismatch, who missed a 2 point jumper, but didn't go back to that matchup. The Magic tied it up at 79, and Jamison came back in.

Arenas needs to get it together. He has looked bad, and he got killed last night by Arroyo. He's got to play some defense. Also DeShawn hasn't impressed me. He runs around alot and looks tough, but I haven't seen him make any kind of really good defensive plays for someone who is focusing so much on that. The opposing guards are killing us, and I thought he was supposed to stop that? Also I've noticed he is a terrible dribbler, can't penetrate without TO, and has looked really bad taking it to the hoop. He has no smoothness to his game at all. He made some nice jump shots from the baseline. But between him, Gil, and AD someone has to play some defense on the perimeter. And what's the deal with Jamison? IMO the only players who have done good so far are Etan and Butler.

It clear Gilbert can not check anyone. Arroyo abuse whomever was checking him.

Arroyo 9-13 FG 3-4 3pts 23 points. That's just not acceptable.

It's good to see Etan beginning to earn that 50 million. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a great season for him.

Two topics here:

1. Antawn's HORRID defense and
2. Trade possibilities for Jamison/Howard.

I see people ripping on Gilbert's defense. The guy we should be ripping is Antawn, who is BRUTAL on the defensive end. The Wizards lose way too much at the power forward position with the kind of defense Jamison plays. Forget about last year's terrible play against Cleveland that cost the Wizards the game and the series . . . a play I saw this year against Cleveland was just as egregious (although not as costly, yet). Near the end of the game, LeBron was driving baseline. Jamison had position. Instead of fronting James, Jamison stepped to his left, avoiding contact, and slapped wistfully at the ball as James drove in for a game freezing lay-up. That brings me to point number 2 . . .

Can we package Jamison and team cancer Brendan Haywood for a legitimate power forward? Is there any way that those two guys plus draft picks can net us a Kevin Garnett? Before you completely laugh that off, let me point out the following: Garnett is making $18 mil this year - his contract expires in the next couple of years. Jamison is making (drum roll please) almost $14 frickin' million this year. His contract expires at the end of this year. Haywood is making $4 million this year. The contracts add up, don't they? If not Garnett, then someone. There's no way the Wizards are making it deep into the playoffs with Jamison at the 4 - period.

As a defender, Daniels is pretty good. He and Caron are the best they have in that arena. It's true that Stevenson hasn't been able to keep guys in front of him, but neither has Gilbert or Hayes, which is the real problem here. Simple defensive tendencies and rotations are things you learn in high school. This team has little ability to cover down and double down and close out. I think they should just run the shell drill in practice for the next week or so.

It's hard to justify trading Jamison, who can score 20 points a game and Haywood together for one player. No way they get Garnett out of that. You'd have to be careful of the quality you got back in return, plus the trade would have to fit under the salary cap for both parties.

Jamison is a terrible defender, but let me know address the play you brought up, MDP. Jamison, I think, did the right thing by staying home and not getting in front of LeBron. Had he tried to slip in front, he would've been called for a blocking foul because he wouldn't have arrived in time. Not to mention, he would've been inside the circle. Then, LeBron makes the lay up, gets the foul call and makes the free throw. No need to compound the problem by sending him to the line. With all that said, had Jamison recognized what was happening, he could've possibly slipped over in time. But because he didn't, it was better that he stayed at home. The next time LeBron did that, though, Jamison covered down and almost picked off LeBron's pass. So at least he learned.

Ladies and gentlemen, heeerrrrreeee's your 2005 Washington Wizards....

....errrr 2006 Washington Wizards!

Same team as last year, just Etan looks better. They can't play defense, the other team gets layups while the Wiz are resigned to jump shots at the end of the game.

What gives?

I feel like it's "Groundhogs Day" watching them the last three games compared to last year.

Some "no name" dude nearly every game steps up against the Wiz and has a career game.

I thought they would have gotten the hint by now but I guess I was wrong.

They're gonna keep losing games at this rate and people are going to be calling for Jordan's head here soon.

- Ray

DeShawn Stevenson is a wookie.

IC, not trying to nitpick, but the Wiz lost that game on the defensive end. Yeah, they didn't score down the stretch, but had they played defense even at the same level they did last season, they would have won.

We have the worst defense in the league. Come on, Ivan...we lost that game on offense? What? Are you serious? We lost 106-103...We allowed 106 points...to the Tragic. Don't get too close to that team Ivan, it will taint your vision.

This season is turning out exactly how I thought it would. Nonsense. We will win 42-44 games. No doubt. But remember all of you bloggers coming out with that "The team was 10-18 in close games last year and we will win those this year"? We are 0-2 now in those "close games."

Our interior defense is a joke. Also, Brendan Haywood needs to go. Period. Bernard King is a huge advocate of this, as am I. You can't have guys like that in the locker room. Poisons a team.

MDP, the best deal we can make is Haywood for Stromile Swift. It is fair and even trade, and Memphis needs a center, and is home of Brendan's buddy Chucky Atkins. They are solid at PF already and will eventually get Gasol back at some point, and don't need Swift.

Swift is career backup, so he won't pout about coming off the bench. But he can backup Jamison at PF, and also allow 'Twan to play some SF. He can also backup at center, and would be a nice option there when Eddie wants small ball.

Swift would add athleticism and versatility off the bench, and can matchup with some of the more athletic PFs that dominate Jamison. Also, as an athletic shotblocker, he brings a different skillset from Songaila, so he won't be obsolete when/if Darius returns.

ESPN trade machine says the deal works straight up salary-wise. This is a very good and even trade that would benefit both teams.

The only thing that kept me from throwing my remote at the TV last night was knowing we are only three games into the season. I'm confident our guys will figure it out, but honestly I was embarrased for Gilbert last night. He is too good to let Arroyo get away with that. I just kept thinking about the LeBron commercial where he's "too pretty" to play defense.

The sad part is that I think our guys really are scrappy. The hustle for loose balls, they're protecting the rim (Etan is anyway), but they're number one problem is loosing their man away from the ball. I learned this in eighth grade! It's almost like watching a bunch of little kids all collapsing toward the ball, completely forgetting there are four other guys on the court who still need defending. It's especially sad really because this is a VERY talented and charismatic team.

Not surprising that the Wizards are poor on defense. They got rid of or let go their three best defenders in the past two offseasons-- Kwame, Hughes and Jeffries.

Let me toss out a question: Would we rather that Haywood be the kind of guy who would accept the fact that he will be second string or be a brooding, irritable, pissed-off dude with a chip on his shoulder?

Val, very salient point. Although Kwame for Caron is an absolute slam dunk for the Wiz. I hope Etan's defensive intensity starts to set a tone for the other players.

There's no way you'd get Garnett for Haywood/Jamison, unless Isaiah Thomas was the Wolves' GM. Come back to reality, folks. I like the Swift for Haywood scenario, though.

I beg to differ with you IC on what impact this article will have. I believe this will essentially be the reason that Haywood will get traded by Grunfield. Remember Lavernous Coles and the Nanyo (sp?) story about Snyder and the flat screen tv?? Before that story, L. Coles couldn't have left, but when that story got out, it improved his chances on getting traded. The fans will now choose sides, and we will obviouslly choose Etan Thomas because he is the one producing.......

That being said, I like Swift for HAywood also.

Jared Jeffries was a mediocre defender at best. Letting him go is no real blow to this team, as I see it. He's not as versatile as people seem to think. He can guard a three, but if he mans a two, he's out-quicked, and if he marks a four, he's overpowered. Losing Hughes was tough from a defensive stand point. Trading away Kwame was the right move. (As was not matching the Knicks offer sheet to Jeffries.)

They need Etan to take on a Ben Wallace type role defensively, where he can control the lane. That way, the Wizards guards don't have to slag off the wings to stop dribble penetration. Or, if the Wizards want to allow the guards to drop down and cut off lanes, the rest of the team needs to rotate so that the open man is on the other side of the court. Someone has to teach this team defensive principles, and Eddie is not the man to do it.

Oh, and Swift for Haywood would be nice. Just get that heartless, passionless Haywood out of Washington.

yes...its only 3 games into the season.
yes...there's still time to improve.

but the Wizards need to make a mental defensive adjustment, "STOP tryin' to double down on the post with weak-side help!"

they leave too many shooters open (Damon Jones, Wally Szczerbiak, Hedo Turkoglu) when they try to rotate defensively.

if Etan remains consistent, you don't need to double down on ANY post player in the Eastern Conference...or the Western - except maybe Yao Ming. Etan's strong and agile enough to guard his man one-on-one.

that means your perimeter players can stay home and contest the passing lanes or at the very least minimize the amount of open jump shots teams get on you.

its not a hard game. the team that makes the fewest mistakes and most shots always wins!

If Haywood will be moved, it will not be because of Ivan's article, but because of the following:
1. Grunfeld gets a good trade offer.
2. Haywood's skills do not fit into what Jordan is trying to do. (Neither do Swift's, so don't hold your breath on Grunfeld pulling the trigger on that one.)
3. Grunfeld decides to do something salary cap-wise.
4. Haywood is an attractive throw-in on a bigger deal.

We as fans hear about Haywood complaining about this and that and think that he is a "cancer," but my impression from reading and observing is that Haywood is an easy-going comedian who is liked by his teammates (except for maybe Etan the last couple of weeks), though perhaps not always by certain coaches. Ivan can provide insight on that. (By the way, I liked the part of Ivan's blog entry where he said that Haywood's and Thomas's teammates kind of enjoyed that those two were rumbling.) So I doubt Grunfeld will move him for chemistry issues.

""...they lost that game last night on offense.""

Ivan, come on now.

You score 0ver 100 points you should win, and two of those three shots were DEEP shots.

Going back to the last year we had Hughes here. I don't know the exact number of games(maybe someone better can look this one up) but if the Wiz scored over 100 points they won more often then not.

I know it's three games in but right now they look worse on defense then last year.... and that's with Etan playing better? Was Jeffries really that good on defense? I know Hughes was....

If they keep playing this way they are going to lose A LOT of games.

And if it's as bad as you write, then I think they should trade Haywood as well. :(

No point keeping someone here who doesn't want to be.

- Ray

Hmm, I think the "source" could be Etan's agent. :-) If fighting happened last Wednesday, but waited till Etan had the best game to reveal it. The timing is certainly to Etan's favor.

If I remember correctly, there was no clear winner for the competition between Etan and Wood until the last preseason game. So the way Etan played so well may have Andy Miller's comment to thank for. :-)

Larry Hughes was an overrated defender. He made a lot of steals, but that doesn't always translate to good defense. He was average, at best, on the ball. He was great at anticipating passes.

As for trading Brendan, I'd actually be for it at this point. He does seem like he's whining and complaining a lot, and may have started to poison the well. I would be totally against any big trades, though; we need to keep the core together, and have some consistency (are you listening, Joe Gibbs?)

I have been saying for the past two or three years that Haywood has to go. Etan has always been the better center in my opinion, and he has proven that so far this year. Haywood is about as mobile as Drew Bledsoe, and we saw what happened to Drew. He's a klutz and he has nothing going for him offensively. For his size his defense is average. The best thing the Wizards can do is trade him. I would have given Ramos a chance over Haywood.

Reporting the fight was completely fair game. Fights and scuffles may happen all the time on any sports team, but this one is newsworthy because it involves:

1) A key position battle
2) A disgruntled player
3) And was in response to Andy Miller's ridiculous comments published in this very paper

Maybe Haywood, having been confronted by Etan, embarrased by Etan's strong play, and spending more and more time on the bench while his teammates rally around Etan, will tell his agent to be quiet.

What a difference a week makes. If this story occurred during training camp (Etan starting a fight with Haywood), I imagine that many posters would be calling for Etan to be traded, calling him an overpaid bust (and probably a similar number calling for Haywood to be traded). With three good games under his belt, however, no one is suggesting that Etan has to go (and neither am I). Rebound and block shots, and all is forgiven, baby!

Etan has been impressive, no doubt. But for all those that want Haywood dumped ASAP, what happens when Etan gets hurt or his play tails off?

Who's the backup C then? Booth? Lang? Ruffin, Jamison....ugh!

Haywood is the only legit 7-0 on the roster and although Etan was amazing against Orlando, Brendan has proven over the years to be the better interior defender and in all honesty, the Wizards best defender of the last three years.

So I think many are jumping the gun on believing we don't need Wood, or Etan's ability to play at a consistent level for 82 games.

From today's Washington Times quoting Etan Thomas who while addmiting that he started the fight said:

"What really happened was that after we argued and I hit him, he pushed me into the lockers," Thomas said yesterday. "We squared off, and he grabbed my hair with both hands and wouldn't let it go. Then, while Michael Ruffin was holding me and he had my hair, he sucker-punched me twice. That's what really happened."

"Secondly, let me say that I understand that he has been pretty frustrated with how things have developed for him, but handling that disappointment with a level of maturity and dignity is something that he needs to learn.
"The day that coach made the announcement he had a great practice, the best I've ever seen from him. That level of competition can be utilized to further motivate both of us. I understand he's been frustrated, but disrespect is something that I simply cannot tolerate. I worked extremely hard this summer to prepare myself, and I am looking forward to a very productive season."

That's not fair, considering Etan is a poet, he can talk his way out of this pretty smoothly.

At least he had the courage to go on the record and didn't tell his agent to do the dirtly work for him.

a) Ivan was absolutely correct in reporting the fight. It's newsworthy.

b) No one needs to get traded unless Etan vs. Haywood comes to be a divisive issue in the locker room. Teammates fight all the time -- it's just not that big a deal.

Hopefully the "fight" made them both want to compete even more. We've seen what Etan has done and now the floor is open for Haywood to show us what he's going to accomplish this season.