Before you start commenting, I think everyone should know that the people who reply to this blog just want to have fun and talk about hoops. There is no need for personal insults and cheap shots. And that vulgar talk is completely unacceptable. That is not what this is about. If some people - you know who you are! - don't learn how to show respect for each other, you might want to leave this place altogether. We don't need this.

Word! Thanks, Michael Lee.

I have to agree. The Cavs didn't lose the game at the end. They lost it in the 3rd quarter, which is where the Pistons have done most of their damage and their opponents seem to have eased up with the leads.

A team that has 50 points at halftime and only scores 26 in the remaining 24 minutes has no right to go pointing the fingers at the refs or anyone else besides themselves.

Nice post Micheal, even better comment. I really like Coach Brown, on the last blog I had just commented about the rumor of him getting the axe and Larry Brown landing in Cleveland. I guess all of the sudden Larry decided that he didn't like the weather in Memphis. The lottery didn't blow their way and bring a star to town so Larry's passing on that one and already has his friends setting sites on someone else's job. What a vulture!
My question is, can you see LaBron playing longterm for any coach that's pursuing the deliberate style of either of the Brown's? Can't you see him wanting to play uptempo basketball where he can create in the open floor?
This maybe the fastest way to get to the title round with the cast of players that Ferry has assembled in Cleveland. But can you really see the biggest Star in the game(that's what he's been told since age 16)staying in Cleveland and playing games where they can't get out of the 70's in scoring when Kobe's getting the green light to put up 70 himself?

"The real reason the Cavaliers aren't going home tied at 1-1 is because they fell asleep in the third quarter. The aggression that they used to build a 12-point lead was replaced by a fear of losing."

Puh-lease.

Aggression replaced by fear? Did that come out during post-game interviews or were you measuring brainwaves during the 3Q, Mike?

Weak.

If Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes had done their jobs in games 1 & 2 respectively, the Cavs would be up 2-0.

I am no Lebron fan at all. In fact, my major criticism has been his reluctance to use his greatest gift -- his passing. But how can anyone blame him when his teammates routinely fail in big moments and then *Lebron* gets blamed for not "taking the big shot."

All this "MJ would have taken that shot" stuff is complete nonsense. Ask John Paxson, Steve Kerr and Bill Wennington whether Jordan made the right plays in crunch time and allowed his teammates to win the game. If Kerr or Paxson had missed their shots in the finals or if Wennington had missed his dunk against the Knicks in MJ's double-nickel at MSG, would it have been Jordan's fault?

While Lebron was probably fouled on the last possession, he forced a shot when perhaps might have passed to an open teammate -- if he had confidence in them, and if he hadn't had to answer hundreds of questions about his refusal to "step up" at the end of games.

I am soo NOT a Lebron fan - in fact, I can't stand him. But I think the heat the media is giving him is a bit much. He was persecuted for passing the ball in Game 1 and now he is being persecuted for forcing a shot in Game 2. After all, Larry Hughes got the rebound - had a perfect shot at the basket...and missed.

hes 22. as long as he doesnt get bored with being a dominant athlete (a la jim brown) and gets better players around him, he'll have a ton of rings...that is unless garnett and gilbert team up for the wiz, right??

I will just repost my comment that I made on the last blog post.

Mike Brown has been a disaster for LeBron's career in my opinion. They have turned him into a scorer instead of the tremendous distributor at the top of the offense that he should be. Mike Brown has to go. I think Larry would be good for LeBron from the perspective of utilizing LeBron's vision and passing ability, but GM you are right, they would be a grind it out team and that is not what the Cavs should be.

"although I think they made it abundantly clear that they were going to let the players play when Rasheed Wallace nearly shoved Anderson Varejao into the front row before buring the game-winning jumper (of course, that was an obvious flop by the Brazilian Carrot Top)."

The ref's did an amazing job of letting the players decided the game. And given they called a kind of cheap foul on Sheed a minute earlier and he kept himself compose(amazing as that was) they were not going to bail out V again.

Sheed even complimented the refs after the game.....hilarious! And probably a first....:)

Thanks Mike. I wrote about the last possession scenario on the other article.

From my corner of the world I felt Brown missed it by changing their line of attack.
Le King James was Killing them, literally 1st & 2nd qtr. He was Bengal Tiger right out of The Gladiator. Then 3rd qtr standing "Z" in the post & passing in. The Shaq, Duncan, Boozer method. It just appearered to be a decision Brown made but wouldn't turn from.

Once Detroit slowed that game down...and King James slowed down..it was lights out.

Le King James, Mr. Sometimes a Gooden & Dr. Hughes will most likely do the Rocky Balboa thing to them tonite. But he should think more Ali v. Liston.

Who was Detroit's bench player "Maxiell"
blockin & rejectin shots? Now THATS a bench player.

Mike, you might as well get ready to prepare an article for follow-up to the Jazz v Spurs game tonite. I can't wait.

Also, Have you heard about any potential trades in the NBA? I'd ask about the NFL but maybe this isn't the right blog.

Michael/Ivan -

Can you ocassionally use this space to inform us on potential draft picks the Wiz have coming in for scheduled workouts?

And what was your take on what Sam Smith wrote about a Wizards deal for Portland's Randolph? Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-070524smith,1,1588065.column?coll=chi-sportstop-hed]

Wow, thanks beyesn. But I agree with Sam Smith. Regardless the Haywood and Thomas fiascos..Do you really think it'll be a good fit?

Mike what say you?

They would trade Jamison. Salaries match up.

The most recent talk has the Trail Blazers trying to trade Randolph to the Washington Wizards, who are in desperate need of interior scoring. Perhaps in a multiteam deal with Atlanta? Antawn Jamison, who's going into his final contract season with the Wizards, could be part of a deal to offset Randolph's $13.3 million salary for next season.

But this, according to newspaper reports over the years, is what you also get with Randolph:

•1995. Thirty days in juvenile detention for shoplifting.

•High school years: Thirty days of house arrest for battery.

•Thirty days in juvenile detention for receiving stolen property, a gun.

•2002. Underage drinking arrest in Marion, Ind., his hometown.

•2003. Team suspension by the Trail Blazers for sucker-punching teammate Ruben Patterson in practice and breaking his eye socket.

•2003. Arrested in Portland for driving under the influence of intoxicants and marijuana.

•2004. Accused by police of lying in an investigation of his brother shooting three men in an Indiana nightclub.

•2006. Suspended by the Trail Blazers for making obscene gestures to fans after a game in Indiana.

•2006. Sued by a Portland woman for sexual assault, though prosecutors didn't file criminal charges.

•2007. Left a strip club without paying the bill while he was on bereavement leave from the team and missed three games after the death of his girlfriend's cousin.

•2007. Earlier this month, police were called to the parking lot of a strip club where Randolph and teammate Darius Miles were part of a gathering and a gunshot was fired.
And we thought Etan losing a dredlock was just "awful" LOL

Ok Wiz fans - Some had written just the other day about this trade. It would be Jamison for sure.

I honestly can't see the Wiz trading an outstanding guy like Jamison for someone with Randolph's issues.

Please no! I used to live in Portland and can say for sure that, while he is a very good player, Randolph would be exactly the type of cancer EG and EJ have been trying to avoid for the last few years. And to trade the one true leader who might be able to keep him in line would just be insane. Wiz need an interior presence, but not at the expense of team chemistry, character, and leadership!

I'd much sooner see the Wizards take a run at Gasol. If you saw his comments after the draft lottery it boiled down to this,"I'd really like to stay in Memphis, but the lottery didn't go their way. so other things will need to happen for me to stay". Sounds like a guy ready sell the house and pack his bags.
Randolph is a 20 and 10 guy, he would actually fit Chicago's offense better than the Wizards. A guy that wants to hold the ball in the post like that really doesn't fit in with Eddie's offense. He is fairly strong at holding his ground in the post and is a good rebounder.
But could you see him playing the pick and roll the way Jordan wants to attack it? He's just not the kind of guy that's going to drive a point gaurd 30' from the basket and then race back to the lane to find his man.
With his length Gasol could play center for us and is mobile enough to attack the pick and roll the way Eddie wants it played. He could also get his 20 and 10 in the flow of this offense. He's also a good locker room guy and a team mate of Navarro's on the Spanish National Team. From what I've read they like to play together so that could be one more incentive to get Navarro to come over.
Sam Smith's pushing the idea of the Wiz going after Randolph because he knows if we get involved in a Gasol deal we've got more to offer because Paxson let Brown's contract expire and he's already declared too many guys off limits in a Gasol deal. He'd look really stupid to have left the deal on the table in Feb. got eliminated from the playoffs and then go back and try to get the deal he turned down.
No, Paxson will head to Portland because they'll gladly deal Randolph without him giving up one of his core just to give up that Rap sheet. Chicago will actually be the ideal place for him. If he's out late at night and involved in a brush with the law, they can just claim it was Tank Williams he's almost the same size!
And Lisa, I think a Gasol deal is possible without dealing Jamison.Jamison's name will come up alot because he's in the last year of his deal and alot of teams are really trying to shed contract dollars. And Jamison is a good guy he's going to come in and not ruin a team's lockerroom. That's exactly why I think the wizards should make every effort to keep him. Next year they should be able to do a cap friendly extension to keep him here and create space for other moves.

The Bulls loss to the Pistons, their glaring lack of inside offensive presence, and the bright light shined on Ben Gordon's limitations in the playoffs pretty much renders moot any comments Paxson made before the trade deadline about guys being "off limits" They're paying an aging Ben Wallace huge money on the theory that in a watered down East, they've got a window to the Finals now. That means that if Paxson wants to keep his job, he'll make whatever moves he has to to get it done. The Bulls are at a point where they have little choice but to go all in. Every year they don't make a move gives the other up and comers in the East a chance to catch up.

And that aside, they've still got more to offer in a trade than Washington, given that they have the #9 pick and the option of using PJ Brown or Nocioni in a S&T.

In any event, I can't see the Bulls going after Randolph. His character issues aside, he's a terrible defensive player, which is not something Skiles has any stomach for. He basically ran Eddy Curry out of town because, despite his offensive skills, Skiles wouldn't put up with his negative defensive impact. Gasol's hardly an all NBA defender, but he's a solid shot blocker and would at least move his feet on defense.

Either way, the Grizzlies' failure to secure the #1 pick (and Oden) makes a Gasol trade a helluva lot more likely.

Wow,

All the original posters are here from the beginning of the season.

Sweet! :)

I have to agree with Barkley about last night's game. Lebron is a star. No he did not get the call that he probably would have if he were playing the Wiz last night, but that doesn't change things.

Why do you stop feeding your best player on the team the ball when you're up by 12 points??

I blame coach Brown for last night's loss, totally dumb to go to big "Z" like that. They did it to themsleves, I agree with George.

Lebron doesn't like him, he will be replaced I guarantee it.

On a side note, I love Larry Hughes and have posted it here before but if you all remember correctly he faded in the playoffs the same way when he was here.

Maybe there's something the good teams know when defending him.

"I'd much sooner see the Wizards take a run at Gasol."

GM, I'd be in heaven if that would happen.

- Ray

I agree Michael. I was on my best behavior as usual until someone started calling me names because they didn't like my basketball opinions. That's just plain wrong.

Stick to basketball people, and stop commenting and badmouthing others just because you don't like what they are saying about your favorite star wannabe (ie. Gilby).

Word on the street (ie. sports talk radio) is that Larry is having a bad series because it's the first anniversary of his brother's death. Tough time for him.

One thing that we can all agree on, Gasol is most likely going to be on the move. Paxson wants to keep his job, but he's also pursued a twin statergy of trying to win now and accumulating and adding to his young core for the future.
Just after the lottery Paxson said again that he values continuity and that he values his core. Doesn't sound like a guy ready to break up the core. Paxson's also stated that he values this pick and the ability get another young big at #9. The temptation to pickup a guy like Randolph and not give up his draft pick or a member of his core will be highly tempting.
It may have been Paxson trying to cover his butt with guys on his team, but he's repeated over and over that he has no intention of breaking up this group for any trade right now.
Another team that lost out big on lottery night that may really have second thoughts about a trade for an experienced guy like Gasol might be Boston. Peirce was making noise about needing some veteran help back during the season. Is he going to be happy waiting around for a guy like Yi to grow into a NBA ready frontliner?
There's going to be some interesting movements this offseason. Ernie the smart guy that he is will be really keeping his ear to the ground in this market and will come up with a deal that helps us.
Heisley will come around kicking the tires looking for a Jamison/Gasol deal. Saving 47m in future contract money will be just too tempting to resist. While he's in the lot Ernie will see if he can get him to look at some other deals.
Gasol will move and Ernie is creative and inventive as a General Manager that always is looking to improve, I wouldn't count us out off the hunt.

The more I think about it we ought to not bite on a Randolph deal, though at first glance his numbers and post-up skills are quite tempting. But this franchise has worked hard to get rid of knuckleheads over the last 10 years and I can't see Pollin signing off on it. The anticipated purging of Haywood from the squad will hopefully be the last in that process. Gasol, Nocioni and others are also out there and so a panic move for Randolph is not neccesary.

I can see Jamison re-structuring next year, taking a lesser role and eventually going the Wes Unseld route of having a lifetime contract. It just seems like that's the way Abe Pollin will reward him for his leadership. We can't forget how low things were when MJ left and the team was re-invented. Jamison is the key leader of the team and has saved Pollin's reputation. He won't forget this.

I like the theory that Sam Smith is floating this idea out there to get the Bulls to move faster. They need better post play as badly as we do.

It will be quite interesting to see what moves Ernie G makes and doesn't make. Here is a big picture thought that I have been pondering: How will Ernie and Eddie process the playoffs when the dust settles? The TNT guys are great in talking about teams having or not having a personality. Certainly the Warriors and Jazz made big splashes. The Heat and Rockets with their centers went out quickly. Wizards are a quick, western-style, team that loves small ball and has no commitment to D. I don't like that personality and think it doesn't take you where you want to go. We ironically usually play the Pistons pretty well because they somehow can't keep up with us when we are clicking. Yet the finals will have 2 defensive oriented, veteran teams. (Cavs and Jazz are not coming all the way back.) So the question is will we think about changing our personality? if so to what degree? Will Jordan's love for the Suns-Mavs-Warriors fast pace ball win the philosphical day? or will Ernie try to convince him that we need to score down low a little more and have a defensive stopper.

This decision will be the driving force behind what we decide to do in the draft and the with other moves that we will probably make. Are they looking for a low post person who will pound the ball with authority to replace Haywood or just someone to score in any old way? We seem to love 7 footers who shoot 25 footers. But don't think that is the way to go.

Any thoughts?

News just out that Rashard Lewis has officially opted out of the final two years of his contract on Friday so he can become an unrestricted free agent. He will be a hot ticket.

Kevin Durant --- your 2008 Rookie of the Year award is on the way.

As for Bmore Rev's point. I think Ernie will win the battle and as such, a knucklehead might be on the way if this team wants to get better.
Since there doesn't seem to be a consensus on whether getting Gasol is feasible, then I think you are looking at 3 guys who can make a difference to this team (defense, rebounding or low post scoring): Artest, Zach Randolph, Kenyon Martin (maybe).
Sure those are three huge risks, but to win a title, sometimes you have to take a big risk (unless you are the Spurs and you can get anyone to play for you for next to nothing and even they had Stephen Jackson for one of their title runs).

George is on point with Jackson being part of one of the Spurs title runs. When you establish the right kind of locker room leadership you can afford to bring in a knucklehead to fill a roll. That's one reason I'd be reluctant to give up Jamison right now. He's the right kind of leader to have to assure that we'll continue to be a playoff contender. With Jamison as our leader we might be able to consider a knucklehead if he helps us on the court.
B-Rev I'm not sure that it really has to be an either or situation. I think the hardest thing to find is a center with the skills to play defense and rebound and come out high and be the spoke in the wheel of the Princeton. If your center is no threat to anything offensively from the top of the key the defense will just play off him and clog the lane for the cutters. At 6'8" and about 75% Songalia made a hugh difference when he was at center with our full team.
Teams had to play Songalia striaght up and it opened up the floor for the offense. If you watch Georgetown with Hibbert he will often come out high set the screen then flash down the lane catch the ball and make a quick lowpost move. If it's not there he looks for the open cutter. How often did you see Eddie call the same play for Haywood or Etan and the ball go off their hands and out of bounds?
That's why I'd take a run at Gasol, in this offense a man with his skills would be invaluable. And he's tough enough defensively. He's the only guy out there that I'd even consider giving up Jamison for because he's not going to be a problem in the lockerroom. But I wouldn't give up Jamison and the #16 pick this year, maybe a future #1 but not this pick.
Grunfeld is saying that he now considers Pecherov a center, and he may have a skill set to be a similar player to Gasol eventually. Rumor has it that he also really likes Tiago Splitter, a very similar young 7' that has played center in Europe but forward on his National team. He's another option that maybe available at 16 but we'd most likely have to wait a year for his contract to allow him to come over. Skilled tough guy that has a rep as a good defender.
With Grunfeld saying he regards Opec to be a center I think he's signaling that he wants to see Blatch and Opec on the floor together. If we put a pair of agile, mobile, long,lean, quick 7'ers on the backline together that alone will go a longway toward improving our help defense. If either could provide some inside scoring it would be a hugh plus. And we already know Blatche can rebound and score in the open floor.
That could allow Jamison to play more small forward against some matchups or become more of a bench scorer. Butler could also swing to 2 gaurd if we want to go very big and long sometimes.
I really can't see Randolph in this offense. Artest could be a hugh addition if it was done cheap(Etan? and future conditional pick?). At that make it clear we're about winning and stow the other crap and dangle a conditional extension at him that would be full of clauses for good behavior on and off the court.
Gasol without Jamison involved would take some doing. Might even have to be a series of deals of a multi-team affair. But I think if Grunfeld could pull it off it would be a hugh move.

I like the idea of a Splitter-Blatche frontcourt, that would be sweet in this offense. Splitter supposedly wants to come over for 2007-08 so it would be nice to bring him along with O-Pec and Navarro (hopefully). If the Wizards could have all that (or Acie Law instead of Splitter) and Songaila stays healthy, the offensive end could be lethal.
I don't know for sure GM but it seems to me Jamison would have to go in any deal for Gasol because of the cap room he would represent for next summer. That and picks seem to be the two things the Wizards can offer to Memphis (whether it is part of a multi-team trade or not).

One thing that would help would be utilizing our big men better. That requires replacing EJ.

As we saw when Caron and Gil were injured, AJ can score in the post at will. No one can stop him in the post. He is such a skilled scorer in the post that he makes scoring look effortless, as if no one is covering him. He didn't just discover a new way to score. He's always had that ability, but EJ did not capitalize on it until Caron and Gil were injured.

So, will the Wizards be a better team? Yes, but how much we improve depends not just on the draft or trades or Opec coming over from Europe or Blatche getting more pt. It depends on the coach maximizing the skills of the players we've already got. EJ won't do that, because he won't learn from the AMAZING scoring performance by AJ after Caron and Gil were injured. And EJ won't learn from Blatche's significant development and play him a lot more because instead he'll just see the lack of veteran understanding of how to win.

Instead, EJ will keep playing Ruffin and Arvis Hayes big minutes and using AJ at center. And EJ will keep AJ out on the perimeter where he can be effective but where his full range of skills are not used, especially on a team that lacks any other serious post up-capable player. And EJ will talk about defense but he won't teach it or require it.

For the Wizards to really improve to the point of getting past the second round, the team must get a new coach, now. Other teams are interviewing coaches right now. What are we doing -- standing pat because EJ has a contract? So what! Can his as$ and let's get to work.

I agree w/general population that losing Jamison could hurt team chemistry also.

But, curious -Euros appear a plenty especially on playoff teams. Phoenix, Utah, Spurs and Cleveland. Seemingly - its the way teams are going. You sure don't hear of any of them with a grocery list of offenses like some of our "home-grown" players. Are Wiz keeping their's in a 401K account for later or something?
They won't gain interest. Can we package them also in a deal or do they have to come here first then trade? Just Curious

"I don't know for sure GM but it seems to me Jamison would have to go in any deal for Gasol because of the cap room he would represent for next summer. That and picks seem to be the two things the Wizards can offer to Memphis (whether it is part of a multi-team trade or not)."

That might (might) have been a jumping off point if Memphis had won the lottery. But since they missed out on a chance to draft a franchise player, even that likely won't be enough (if it ever would have). If they trade Gasol then it means they're rebuilding from scratch. In that instance, the cap space represented by Jamison won't be of much use because without the draw of a tentpole player, they aren't going to be able to attract marquee FA's anyway (assuming that such a deal would even put them far enough below the cap to be significant players in FA, and I'm not sure it will). If they trade Gasol they'll want ready made future assets in return, meaning at least one lottery pick and/or a good high-level starting-caliber young player who can be part of their core into the future. The Wiz don't have the former, and unless they trade Arenas or Butler (which they won't) they can't offer the latter.

Well if Kobe really does get traded from the Lakers, then the whole offseason will be thrown into chaos.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2884339

Thanks GT. I hadn't had a chance to read it but It sounds like a bargaining chip or business maneuver. Kobe's been unhappy for a while. If he get traded or ops out remains to be seen but a great possibility

I wonder what happens to Kobe's demand if Jerry West tells him that he really is done this time and that he isn't going to take any job that is offered, not even the Lakers.

Kobe Um, George, you know I'm not the most knowledgable knife in the drawer but I believe this: If Jerry West couldn't get the Grizzlies up & running why should it be any different in LA? I thinks its all about the right team chemistry, etc.

Re Kobe: If Kobe had the wear withal to finally make public statements to press & public, ie giving Lakers notice so to speak then he's probably got a team or teams in mind.But maybe not cuz Much of it is always business maneuvers/smoke & mirrors anyway. Its interesting its gotten to this point. For such a world renown team know for championships and stars,etc. Lakers appear very inept. practically like Knicks. They're both in about the same poor shape. It sounds more like they NEED a GM or even a new owner. Buss & his daughter with her love affair w/Jackson thing is getting old it should ride out to sunset.

Honestly - although there's been lots said about the Shaq trade - It really sounds like poor mgmt & ownership. I understood Laker Mgmt, coaches & team mates were pissed Shaq wouldn't practice, stay in shap - got fat/bloated every off season. Refused to work out or lose weight - then waited til Oct/Nov to announce he would have foot surgery. That was the year they lost - a sad one. But mgmt felt ok placing blame on Kobe cuz Kobe stepped to him & asked him to work out & lose weight, etc.

Which on its face isn't such a bad thing but the media/press can make a tiny thing grow. It was my understanding the Heat owner said has as part of Shaq's contract he must agree to lose weight, work out & practice which for me says:

Laker's owner & Mgmt were actually having probs with Shaq - Mgmt made demands - he refused - they threatened - Then Shaq & Agent threatened he'd leave or demand trade(Agents love it cuz they make a boatload of money negotiating a new contract)Ownership & Mgmt not wanting to be threatened got arrogant & threw Kobe under the "BUSS" when Kupshak said the only player on team not tradable is Kobe. Shaq's agent threw in a few red herrings, ie. Dallas, etc. Its all now old history. Jerry Buss/Kupchak got out maneuvered by Shaq's Agent. Then Kobe got pissed cuz they made him the culprit so they pay him this rediculous amount of money to shut him up. But now seemingly can't afford anybody else for the team.

George, you know somethings amiss in mgmt: They actually traded away good players for Kwame Browne whom their 19 yr old rookie outplayed him this yr. They actually only have 1 & 1/2 players on that team. Kobe & Odom(when healthy)Sorry, only one. You gotta shake your head. I wonder if Buss is letting his daughter run things. Probably.

It all sounds ludicrous but apparently thats where they are and we'll all have to stay tuned. If nothing else - we do know about owners making jack-assed decisions out of pride.