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Truth at Truth About It sent me a few questions about the Jazz and Wizards game tonight. The Wizards are a team that I just don't get. Perhaps it's because their just another mediocre East Coast team. At least Truth About It has got something going on. It's a great blog.
Here is the transcript:
TBJ: Gilbert Arenas is a love him or hate him type guy. Where do most Wizards fans stand? Where do his teammates seem to stand? Was he over paid?
TAI: Gil has frustrated the hell out of me in recent times. That being said, I'm still glad he's on the team. And even though the Wiz paid a lot to re-sign him (he took less than he could have), Arenas was the best present day option who can provide a realistic chance for success in the future...basically, he was worth the risk. The Jazz certainly know of Arenas' sniping capabilities, and I think a player with his offensive skills is part of the formula of a championship contender.
But now, the ice under Arenas is thinning. From surprise surgeries, to the lack of transparency with the management, to off-court silliness such as saying that he didn't believe in voting, Gilbert Arenas is not exactly endearing fans to his quirkiness as long as he's not on the court. The Agent Zero blog may have made him famous, but his exploits on the court made him relevant in the first place. I get the impression that Gil is appreciated around the clubhouse because he keeps things loose. However, with mounting losses, an act like Arenas' can get stale in a heartbeat.
CB Jack: Dammit. I knew that video was coming. Zero is exactly how much respect I have for this Agent.
TBJ: Do Wizard fans support the DeShawn Stevenson vs. Lebron James rivalry? Were you a little embarrassed the way he acted in last seasons playoffs? Does he still have a 14 year old girlfriend?
TAI: I support DeShawn Stevenson because he's still on the team I root for, and I also think he's serviceable for his price. However.....what the hell is with that dude? Stevenson has proved to Wiz fans that he's a warrior (he constantly played hurt last year, even with a knee the size of a watermelon at times), and that despite occasional heat checks, he plays within himself....relatively. But damn I was frustrated by his actions during last year's playoff series against Cleveland. It's not that I thought he was poking a stick at a sleeping giant....LeBron James doesn't need any motivation to exhume beastliness. Rather, it's the distraction that his actions (and those of Gilbert Arenas) brought to the Wizards locker room which I felt was detrimental to the team's overall focus.
CB Jack: DeShawn has made some questionable decisions in his life. We've seen it first hand. But dissing Bron Bron? That takes balls.
TBJ: The Wizards played pretty well in the playoffs last season. What is the expectation this season?
TAI: I'll have to get in my time machine to give you an answer. Before Gilbert Arenas' 3rd surgery: "Well, depending on if Gilbert is the Agent Zero of old, and perhaps with continued development of the younger players, I think this team has the potential to make noise in the playoffs (as in Eastern Conference Finals), as long as they develop chemistry throughout the season." Before Brendan Haywood got hurt: "Hey, the team held it together last year...sure the East is better, but the Wiz can still get a top 5 playoff seed." Before Game 1: "Man, it's going to be tough without Haywood and Arenas, but Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are All-Stars. Plus, the team is supposedly deep....so maybe they can hang, and maybe Arenas comes back in late-December, and maybe Haywood is only out for four months and not the year, and maybe....." Today: "Man....I'm not ready to tank the season, but I better bone up on potential lottery picks."
CB Jack: I'll give you an expectation: Try to not go 0-82. It's fairly realistic.
TBJ: When will you get a new coach and who will it be?
TAI: I still believe in and support Eddie Jordan, the guy has been dealt some tough coaching hands. Ernie Grunfeld just recently extended his contract through the 09-10 season....so, Jordan has until then to get this team to the East Finals. In the present day, names like Avery Johnson and Flip Saunders (who was a "consultant" in training camp) have been floated around, but I'd almost bet that if Grunfeld were to replace Jordan sooner, the choice might come out of left field.
CB Jack: I actually like Eddie Jordan. Too bad it's the other Jordan who messed this franchise up.
Thanks again to Truth at Truth About It. Here is a link to ready CB Jack's responses to Truth's questions.
Visit our Jazz @ Wizards game thread in the TBJ Forum to talk about tonight's game. You can leave thoughts, predictions, smack, anything you want.
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Let's hope the Jazz can take the Wiz tonight. I heard DJ and PK mention the Wizards are the worst defensive team in the league this year. To any other team this is a cake walk, to the Jazz, it's going to be a battle.