Bullets Forever: FanPosts

Wizards upcoming season

wballa — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:06:36 -0000

A bold prediction for the Wizards upcoming season. Gilbert Arenas returns and looks good for a while. Hopefully he won't reinjure his knee. If he doesn't, he'll make it back to the all star game, even though D'wayne Wade will drop 40 on him every time they play Miami. Once again the Wizards will see the Cavaliers in the first, second, or third round of the playoffs. Lebron James will once again have his way with their mattador style defense. Cavs beat em in a close series though 4 games to 3, and we're left with another summer of big free agent names like Ron Artest going to the Rockets instead of the Wizards. Oh yeah, and we'll get a shitty draft pick and select some guy from the Ukraine who won't even be able to play in the NBA for like 2 years. Nonetheless. Go Wizards!

Kevin Duckworth, R.I.P.

WRG — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:40:23 -0000

From ESPN.com:

Kevin Duckworth, a two-time NBA All-Star who spent the majority of his 12 NBA seasons as the Portland Trail Blazers' center, has died. He was 44.

Duckworth died Monday in Kernville, Ore., near the coastal town of Lincoln City. His death was confirmed by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Duckworth was in town as part of a Trail Blazers group hosting a free kids basketball clinic, Fox 12 reported on its Web site.

The cause of his death was not released Tuesday morning.

The 7-foot Duckworth started at center when the Trail Blazers won Western Conference titles in 1990 and '92. He played in the NBA All-Star Game in 1989 and '91.

If you're reading this site, you probably know that Duckworth's in Prada/Jake/Truth's pantheon of Bullet Curiosities...as a giant, fat center who spent two years with the Bullets in the early '90s, probably not as awe-inspiring as God Shammgod or Ledell Eackles, but up there nonetheless.

While a great natural athlete, Duckworth struggled with weight problems his entire NBA career. Unlike Oliver Miller, he briefly overcame them to earn some prominence with the Blazers, but by the time he made it to D.C., Duckworth had regressed to a backup role and the easy target of fans' frustration.

So, godspeed Kevin Duckworth. Perhaps someone will be inspired to remember him best--the way that this site knows how?

Editor's Note from TAI: Thanks to We Rite Goode for the FanPost which has been bumped up to the front page. I'm sure this unfortunate news is shocking to us all in some manner. As WRG has mentioned, Duckworth is currently available among the Bullets Curiosities Project. In this situation, it'd probably be best in the coming days to compile thoughts about Kevin Duckworth, and his time in Washington, from whomever would like to submit, into one post. Our thoughts also go out to the Duckworth family.

Olympic Wizards

stlballa — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:53:44 -0000

Interesting article, which I'm too lazy to link but it suggested that if you took an enitre contending team they would have a better chance to win gold then patching a bunch of all-stars together and trying to build chemistry. The article noted that a contending team would already have role players and chemistry in place and in spades and would thus have a greater chance to succeed. The team suggested that made the most sense was the Celtics. The spurs were also suggested but who do the spurs have left after parker (french) Ginobili (argentine) and Dirk (German) are gone. Not that i believe this is a more favorable option, I happen to be in love with our national team right now, but I did feel it was an interesting option and wanted to share it with you all.

This did get me to thinking that the wizards, ours truly, have one of the best teams consisting of straight Americans out there. Minus Songialia and Pech, and i think we could convince pech to play for the US, we are all red white and blue. This is a good quality to have in my opinion. I think Americans are the cream of the crop when it comes to pressure situations, and we have some great clutch players. But enough im not here to divide our fan base by nationality ( i happen to be nigerian), and the pech comment was for pure comedic purposes (but isnt his entire marriage with the wiz. for the sole purpose of providing hilarious awkwardness that you can't be taught you must be endowed with?)

To the masses: Throw out some other teams that you think would would rival my choice of the wiz. if we were forced to send a single team over to the olympic games.... you can add one other american player to the team....

and with that i would choose Dwight Howard...

Kwame says the right things -- look out

Vanilla Gorilla — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:53:42 -0000

So this post on the official Pistons blog quotes Michael Curry, Detroit's new coach, saying that Kwame Brown "didn’t use anything as an excuse" for Kwame's lackluster career when Curry and Brown met. Curry goes on to say: "“He took responsibility for himself and, really, once he did that, for me it was easy. That’s one of the biggest things – to get athletes to hold themselves accountable."

If I were to discuss the matter with Curry, I'd warn him that Kwame's always talked a pretty good game. It's a lot easier for Kwame to say that he cares and is responsible for himself than it is for him to actually play like it.

Let's just say that if Kwame plays any differently than the shrinking violet who has underwhelmed fans and teams at every stop of his NBA career, I'll be quite surprised.

Wizards on NBA TV right now.

NY1 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:38:22 -0000

Wizards @ Sixers from Nov. 26 '04 is on NBA TV. Just thought you guys might want to know, it's nice to watch this squad play. Check it out.

Wizards up 40-39 right now

asdf

a ds asd f asd f asdf a sdf ads f ad sf as df asd fa sdf a sdf as df asd f asd f asdf a sdf a sdf a sdf asd f asd f d s f asdf asd f asd f df fd s a sd f as df a sdf a sdf sd f d fa sdf a sdf sd f asd f asdf asd f sd f

Wizards Assistant Mike O'Koren Once Wooed by Frank Sinatra

Truth About It — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:31:42 -0000

Recently, both the Pradamaster and myself seperately served as the latter part of a Q&A session with North Carolina Tar Heel blog, The Fifth Corner, who was interested in the Wizards-Tar Heels connection, currently represented by Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood, and Associate Head Coach, Mike O'Koren. You can read each of our posts via the links below, but I wanted to share a tid-bit about O'Koren that I came across when doing some research for my answers.

In the spring of 1976, Tark [Jerry Tarkanian] hatched the idea that Sinatra could help him land a high school star named Mike O'Koren, who had an Italian-American mother and lived in Jersey City, N.J., right next to Sinatra's native Hoboken. So rather than going in for a home visit himself, Tark sent Sinatra, who sang some songs, posed for some pictures and told the star-struck family to send their boy to UNLV. Then O'Koren signed with North Carolina. "Dean Smith might be the greatest recruiter ever; he beat Frank Sinatra on a kid from Jersey City," Tarkanian said.

From "King of the Strip," by Dan Wetzel on Feb. 13, 2007 for Yahoo Sports.

Reggie Miller, the almost Washington Bullet

Truth About It — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:58:12 -0000

In doing some research for another thing, I came across the excerpt below from Reggie Miller's 1995 book, "I Love Being the Enemy."

Not long after I got to Indianapolis, I heard that Washington was going to trade Jeff Malone, who was playing for them at the time, to Denver for Fat Lever, and then they were going to pick me.

So, who knows what would have happened if Reggie slipped to the 11th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. But he didn't. The Pacers took Miller at 10 and the Bullets went with Mugsy Bogues at 11....the rest is history.

Gilbert in the New York Times

Unselds — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:29:28 -0000

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/sports/basketball/17arenas.html?ref=sports

Jay-Z reference and shooting one-handed 3s. I'll take it.

A Filipino Embrace By RAPHAEL BARTHOLOMEW

MANILA — For N.B.A. players making their first visit to the Philippines, the adoration of fans can be flattering and startling.

“They make you feel like you’re a god,” said Gilbert Arenas, who recently spent three days promoting his new line of sneakers. “When my N.B.A. career is done, I have to play here one year just to feel that.”

Arenas, 26, sometimes jokes that being the Washington Wizards’ franchise player makes him “the black president.” Sure enough, this tour gave him a taste of presidential life.

When he landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Arenas was met by a horde of television and newspaper videographers and photographers who followed him throughout his three days in Manila. Arenas said that he was so taken aback by the size and opulence of his presidential suite at the Peninsula Manila Hotel that he took pictures to prove he stayed there.

To visit Adidas stores, he traveled in a motorcade of dark sport utility vehicles with an escort of three police motorcycles. Before he arrived at each site, bomb-sniffing dogs swept the areas, and brawny Adidas-clad security guards wearing Secret Service-style earpieces set up barricades to corral the fans who had crowded mall walkways to catch a glimpse of him. (The sportswear company is one of Arenas’s sponsors.)

“It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I’ve seen crazy fans all over the world,” Arenas wrote on his NBA.com blog. He also offered this advice to his fellow N.B.A. players: “If you’re having a bad day or you’re having a bad career, go to Manila. They’ll bring your spirits up.”

This country’s love of basketball may surprise the players, but it is well known to sportswear companies, which have been sending American stars to Manila for years. Despite its small population and weak economy compared with other Asian markets like China, India and Japan, the Philippines consistently cracks the top four in rankings of Asian basketball sales for Adidas, according to Joey Singian, the managing director of Adidas Philippines.

The sneaker companies reward the country for such dedicated consumption by sending their star endorsers to visit. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets have been to Manila twice in the past 10 years, and it is rare for an N.B.A. off-season to pass without at least one stopover by a star player. That visit is usually followed by a jump in sales of that player’s signature merchandise, and of basketball products in general, Singian said.

Even non-sportswear companies try to tap the interest here. They sponsor teams in the Philippine Basketball Association and give them corporate-themed names, like the Magnolia Beverage Masters and Santa Lucia Realtors.

The way fans climbed over one another during the Fourth of July weekend to touch Arenas’s hand was reminiscent of a papal visit. Some went in for high-fives, grabbed his hand and would not let go until security guards pried away their fingers.

Reynar Monteclaro, a 21-year-old college graduate from Zamboanga del Norte on the southern island of Mindanao, howled after Arenas signed his plush toy basketball. Monteclaro said he made the cross-country journey to Manila just to see Arenas.

During other moments of Arenas’s tour, his reception was more like that of a pop star. At an exhibition in the atrium of a mall in Quezon City, Adidas set up bleachers and a half court at which Arenas gave interviews and shot one-handed 3-pointers. More than 1,000 spectators watched from the ground floor and looked down from walkways on the upper levels.

“I feel like Jay-Z in the States,” Arenas told the crowd. “I don’t get this kind of love in Washington.”

In an Ideal World

stlballa — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:55:19 -0000

I wanted to title this blog: Cut the Shit! but we have a 16 yr old on the site now, so ill keep moderately clean.

I just wanted to put down into writing what I feel and project and hope this team will be like in two-three seasons:

at the 1:

Gil lighting up the league

a younger pg, one who we drafted or traded a few benchers for, someone who gil can mentor

2: Nick young, playing great, reminding us offensively of kobe on some nights, he'll have a consistant three and as pure a mid range jumpshot as their is in the league

again i think we need to go outside the org. for our back up two, but he will need to be a defensive stalwart

3. caron will still have a few years left on him and wil be playing great. he will have morphed into a lock down defender who can drop 20 evrey night..he will be the mvp as he is now by straining the opponents best player's energy by making him work on both ends...i envision a bruce bowen but who actually has legit bball skills

Dom is there, fought hard and has found a way to contribute, developed a consistant lil j as he plays great street ball grabbing boards and throwing down alley-hoops off the fast break, hopefully he'll have gotten a feel for setting the timely pick and rolls that gil and ny will be needing

4: Jamison will still be around

BLATCHE will be blossoming having completely filled out this 23-24 yr old is a straigh vet by now and coaching the summer league (sike) a legit pf that will push bosh around and give howard enough of a problem that by the time he gets past him .....

5. Haywood will be able to take care of the rest, with his awkwardness all gone, and confidence leveled out he is a defensive POY candidate

JV Mcgee, wil be wieghing 270+ and adding on still....he will be stealing minutes with the first team and the go to post player for the second team..giving our 2nd unit consistant offensive production, if by nothing else than drawing fouls and his defensive ability will make our oppostion leave a few starters in against our second unit

1st unit:

gil

Caron

Jamison

Haywood

*solid group can score the ball at will but whose playing perimeter d? well if haywood can step up the interior d and let our perimeter players play thiers... i think we win a lot of those games gil and a polished ny with caron and jami..vs...???

2nd unit:

this is where it gets scary

a pg...a quick one kinda like dee but with wallace's cold-faced three someone that can push the ball and keep up with the insanely athletic group he'll be running with but can take the pressure off with a consistant outside shot..all he needs to do is press the ball up the court and feed it inside and then wait for the kick out

sg..a defender..that can jump outtta the building and likes to run...a thaddeus young type of player

3..dom getting 3 fast break dunks a game and about 5 boards while giving the opponents startign 3 a workout while carons getting a massage on the bench

4 blatche..the star of this unit...developed enough to play with the starters but a year or so until 'tawns gone so he comes in and plays some high energy minute and does a bit of everything..besides i still dont think he'll have his fouling habits controlled by then...

5. Mcgee playing a sudo-haywood..just not letting much happen in the paint...a bulked up JaVale can do this...and he needs to be posting up and working an inside out game that our first unit won't commit too. this will make us very tough to deal with

any thoughts on this guys??? This is just a quick summation of how i want everyone on our team to develop and when you break it down like i did above you gotta feel good because you realize that all the players above can actully realize this goal...next years free agency will be so crazy it will turn the league upside down..the wiz are gonna be on of the few...esp. in the east that will be coming out that next year with a team thats been together and developing side by side...

Lets go tonight boys

stlballa — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:10:38 -0000

A few things I don't want to see tonight:

that one play where Blatche was standing flat-footed and still in the lane, and then decided that the best thing to do would be that awkward reverse 360 finger-roll he tried, only thing more awkard would be: Helen Keller asking if "its" in yet.

McGee start the game with a toe-on-the-line three.....nice way to start your career JV McGee, did Unseld Jr. call that play for you? Whose coaching out in Nevada? somebody please tell me, is charlie spoonhour still alive?

A Nick Young fadaway jumpshot from 4 ft....Or him create and attempt any of the following shots: fadaway dunks, fadaway lay-ups, fadaway fingerrolls

McGee grab only one def. rebound...(well he wouldve gotten two but he let himself get pushed out of the way when the game was on the line)

based off the first game, and i know its only his first summer league game, but i stand by the fact i would accept a straight up JaVale McGee for Dan Dickau deal..no questions asked ( i dont realllly mean that)

Blatche almost fouling out of a 40 min max summer league game that permits 10 fouls...that is silly

I DO want to see:

A Nick Young dunk of any kind

Dee Brown attempt a shot of any kind

Blatche get an alley-hoop

McGee show some toughness

I just hope Thadeus doesnt straight dunk over the top of JV McGee...that might be detriemental to his career...

Lets do this! we should have one of the best teams Las Vegas, I really want some of these players to show some promise

My Intro - Summer League Wrap-Up to come soon!

Azian Zero — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:26:43 -0000

Greetings fellow Wizards fans, I finally broke down and made myself a SB account. For those who don't know me, my name is William, though people call me Will. I currently reside in Rockville, and you might have heard the name 'Will from Rockville' called on whenever you're watching Washington Post Live on CSN. But yeah, that is me, but for those that don't own a TV, then you've probably seen the 'Washington Wizards - Remember The Names' mix or most recently(and personally my favorite) 'Washington Wizards/Cleveland Cavaliers Playoffs 2008 Highlight Reel' . Either those or the various videos Pradamaster or JakeTheSnake have posted on the BF Blog, those would be from me. But if you still don't know who I am, I was the little asian kid who kept trying to get into the camera outside the VC on the set of WPL during the 2007 playoffs(Watch the 2:25 mark).

Anyway, I've been a longtime reader of BF, been reading since I can remember(...then again I forget what I had for dinner last night) but it's probably the best unofficial Wizards blog out there and I just wanted to take part in a great community and talk Wizards basketball with you guys.

To be honest, I don't know how active I will be posting since I'm heading into my junior year of high school but it is summer and I get bored, so I'll be around giving my two cents or sharing my latest mix. I turn 16 this September, but have been posting on forums and talking basketball since I was 11, so I know how things run.

Anyway, I don't have much else to say, but if you guys want to check out some of the NBA Draft 08 pictures I took when I was up in New York, then go ahead. I must say, being stuck in the back corner section with all of the drunk/disgruntled/pissed Knicks fans the entire night was a pretty fun experience

I do plan on writing a Summer League Wrap-up to recap the week, so hopefully you guys will enjoy what I have to say. Hope to talk to you guys soon.

Give the Kid (McGee) a break!

LoneWiz54 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:18:53 -0000

First and formost he is a Wizard!!! I would hope you would want him to develop in time.

It is not his fault, EG drafted him, rip him if you don't like the pick. This pretty much sums it up in what Wizards got with McGee

From ESPN Summer League site;

DraftExpress President Jonathan Givony

DraftExpress president Jonathan Givony has joined me courtside to give his thoughts on the first half of Wizards vs. Blazers.

TrueHoop: Washington's JaVale McGee didn't look good at all out there. What did you notice?

DraftExpress: No surprise here whatsoever. This is how he looked in college often. The Wizards would be the first ones to tell you that he is two or three years away. Still, you can't ignore his physical tools. The guy is a freak, look at his arms and athleticism. He just needs to learn how to play.

So, no he is not going to score 18 points or play defense like BH. He is just going to learn how to play the game for the next few years, pretty much like BulletProof has done. He was not drafted for immediate impact.

Gil "touching the ball" already

Unselds — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:44:11 -0000

It appears he's backtracking from his statement already. Now he won't be "playing basketball" until August. Careful there, big fella!

"I’m not going to play basketball until August. I’m going to go out there and do some basic dribbling and then go back to fundamentals stuff like passing and all that. But I’m not going to do anything jumping wise until August." -Gilbert Arenas, $111 million man.

http://my.nba.com/forum.jspa?forumID=400032200&start=0

The Tradeables

Jheiser3 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:03:05 -0000

While we wait for the Posey chip to fall I'm wondering about who Ernie would target in a trade. THinking in terms of a 2/3 who can defend and knock down and open jump shot.

Trent Hassell, John Salmons, Hakim Warrick, Jared Jeffries, Thabo Sefolosha, and Des Mason are my shortlist. Salmons makes too much for too long though. Warrick is more of a 3/4 than 2/3 and doens't add anything from 3. Hassell contributed to good playoff teams before Minnesota pulled the plug.

Jeffries had a horrid year in NY. Ernie was right not to match Isaiah's full MLE offer. Yet somehow here I am pondering an Etan for Jeffries deal that would save NY 6Mil in 2010.

Thabo Sefolosha is more of a 2 than a 3. He's the cheapest option, which makes him valuable to his own team and less likely to get moved in the guard shuffle in Chicago.

Mason is available. He isn't going to see much time in Milwaukee behind Richard Jefferson, Jow Alexander and Mbah a Moute.

Who else?

It's too early to say I told you so

Icantfeelmyface — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:29:32 -0000

But,

Arthur stood out in his pro debut, scoring 18 points on 9-for-12 shooting.

Something tells me McGee won't come close to 18 points in one game until maybe NEXT year's summer league. Oh well. Oh, and isn't that Chalmers kid doing alright? Dee Brown is a decent signing, but comeon!

I'm happy that we kept Gil and AJ, but EG gets a C- for the rest of the offseason so far. (I know, plenty of room under the cap to make one more move. I'm just evaluating things as I see them right now.)

Etan Thomas update/discussion

Rook6980 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:00:10 -0000

UPDATE, by Pradamaster: Since this is news about Etan's status, and since DWF raised the issue, let's use this thread to discuss Etan's potential role on the team next year. Should he be a significant part in the rotation under any circumstances? Would it be really bad if he wasn't traded? Discuss.

-----------------------------------------

Etan Thomas is expected to take part in the minicamp and will scrimmage with the Summer League team.

Etan "missed all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a leaky aortic valve last fall. Thomas received clearance to resume noncontact training in January, but his sternum didn't fully heal in time for him to resume contact drills and return to live action. Now fully cleared, he will scrimmage with the summer league squad. -- The Washington Times"

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors

That's good news - - - - - well.......... at least it's NEWS... We have not heard anything about Thomas since he shut it down in practice earlier this year.

Gil to sign for less then $111 Million?

DT711 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:44:47 -0000

I heard this rumor on a Baltimore radio station by a so called "nba expert" so take it for what its worth. They said Gil has left open the possibility to sign for less then $111 million if there is a player out there who Ernie and Gil feel can help them contend. If a difference maker becomes available but would cost the full MLE, rumor is Gil would take even less to make it work under the luxury tax.

I understand this is most likely BS, but it is an interesting scenario. I for one, see an outside chance of this being true. It's Gilbert, who knows?

I have a confession to make

George Templeton — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:33:02 -0000

Olympic basketball hasn't been as much fun to watch since the U.S. started using pros, but I have always watched and rooted for the Americans while taking the opportunity to play amateur scout and eyeball the foreign talent on offer during the tournament,

But this tournament is different for me. Because for the first time (and hopefully only time) I won't be rooting for the good ol' U.S. of A. in the Olympic basketball tournament. I can't do it. And it has nothing to do with the players on the team, because many of them I very much like and respect (and three of them contributed to my first fantasy basketball title). It only has to do with one man. Him!

I am a diehard Maryland Terrapins fan (even though I went to VCU) going all the way back to the great Len Bias (RIP). And I loathe that man. There have been a lot of villains and loathesome characters that have roamed the ACC during my time as a Terrapins fan (and unfortunately some of them have been Terps!) but none as much as that man.

I know its unpatriotic. I know its terrible to root against the country in the Olympics, but I can't help it. As long as the brill cream scumball coaches our country, I can't get behind them. Every coach that has helmed team USA since I started watching international basketball in 1988 has had my full support except that man. I cheered like mad and cackled like a hyena when Greece beat them at the Worlds and I will feel the same way if they lose this time.

There I said it and I feel better. I am prepared for the onslaught, fire away!

Yao Ming Trade

Rook6980 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:48:38 -0000

Houston is reportedly positioning their salary situation to become major players in the 2010 Free Agent class.

Imagine, if you will, a Team that is around $60 Million UNDER the Salary Cap. Houston could be that team in 2010...

Proposed trade:

Antonio Daniels, Pecherov, Brendan Haywood & Etan Thomas to Houston

Yao Ming, Shane Battier, & Aaron Brooks to Washington

Why Houston does this trade: With NO committed salaries past 2010, they would have the ENTIRE SALARY CAP to sign Free Agents. Imagine a team with Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade AND LeBron James. The Rockets would be competing for the Championship for the next 5-7 years.

Why Washington does this trade: YAO MING !!

Washington Lineup:

Arenas / Brooks / FA Signing
Stevenson / Young
Butler / Battier / McGuire
Jamison / Blatche / Songaila
Yao Ming / JaVale McGee

Mike Miller TRADE

eltacoman — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:57:39 -0000

if we dont get a sf free agent, I hope we trade for timberwolfs Mike Miller mybe we can offer them

Etan-Petrov 09 1st & memphis 1st for Mike Miller

it works in trade checker
http://www.realgm.com/src_tradechecker/3/

he is the sg/sf 6th man we need that would even our roster out and save money or we can also still sign barns or posey too or a vet or experienced backup center a trade like that could really open things up for us