[Dre™]

It's kind of funny when you think about it," he said, of the playoff disappointments. "Everybody says we can't get past Cleveland. Cleveland beat us one year, that was three years ago. The other years they've just been beating up on some hurt dogs. We just want to get our fair shot when we're healthy at the right time, because two years we showed what kind of team we are....We were rolling, we were top five in the league, and that's what kind of team we are when we're healthy. When we're healthy that's the kind of team we are, we're a top five team in the league."

Later, he explained what he had told his teammates after the season.

"You guys played the whole season without me and you guys made it to the playoffs," he said. "Tell Cleveland to play without LeBron. I don't think they won a game last year."

I know people that don't like Gilbert and would rather label somebody a loser than analyze a situation in depth won't agree, but he's right.

Two out of the three years Butler and/or Arenas were hurt. Yeah yeah, Arenas shouldn't have played if he was hurt, but trying to pretend like he was 100% this past series is foolish.

Let's see what happens when/if both teams are healthy.

*puts on bulletproof vest, squints eyes in anticipation*

[HB]

You never see Bron running his mouth without provocation

[HKF]

What makes him so sure that he won't be hurt again? Or that Butler won't completely disappear? He still hasn't won jack.

[PauloCatarino]

[quote=HKF;5615885]What makes him so sure that he won't be hurt again? Or that Butler won't completely disappear? He still hasn't won jack.[/QUOTE]

Neither has Lebron James.

Arenas is speaking the truth: the Cavs have beaten an healthy Wiz squad once, some years ago (and the Cavs did it being carried by the refs).
Dude is propping his team, saying something like: "If we are healthy, watch out!". Nothing wrong about that, IMHO.

[BG7]

In my season predictions I have the Wizards players getting injured in some sort of way taken into account. I think it's almost a given one of them gets hurt.

[The Hedo Show]

they dont have the nucleus to make a run at the title... wcf= best case scenario.
First round exit= worst case scenario end of story.

[Omega]

Originally Posted by S.T.A.T.1

they dont have the nucleus to make a run at the title... wcf= best case scenario.
First round exit= worst case scenario end of story.

a WCF run would be a hell of a run. i dont think an eastern conference team has ever been there..

[Dre™]

Yeah, wouldn't that be some ****

[Hibachi!]

Is he somehow implying that he is as valuable as LeBron? Not even in the same ballpark.

[Smez86]

Conditioning is part of being a good basketball player/team too.

[Organized Chaos]

STAT obviously meant ECF. And it's true too. Though I doubt they'd even get that far. Don't know why Wizards are content by bringing back the same team basically without trying to upgrade certain spots.

[myst]

Originally Posted by Dre™

I know people that don't like Gilbert and would rather label somebody a loser than analyze a situation in depth won't agree, but he's right.

Two out of the three years Butler and/or Arenas were hurt. Yeah yeah, Arenas shouldn't have played if he was hurt, but trying to pretend like he was 100% this past series is foolish.

Let's see what happens when/if both teams are healthy.

*puts on bulletproof vest, squints eyes in anticipation*

Most teams could use that excuse. The Heat would have back-to-back championships if it wasn't for injuries. If only excuses made a difference.

[Dre™]

Arenas hasn't peaked yet, Butler is good (even though he dissappeared vs. the Cavs), Jamison is still good.

Young, Blatche, Haywood are all improving, plus they picked up Mcgee.

Stevenson, Daniels, and Thomas is a good start to a bench.

You make it seem like the Wizards are like the Pistons who all have players in their prime and keep coming back the same.

They finally improved on their defense last year. I believe with a healthy team and Arenas with a chip on his shoulder they can make the ECFs, and depending on when the Celtics fall off...maybe further.

[BG7]

Originally Posted by Dissonance19

STAT obviously meant ECF. And it's true too. Though I doubt they'd even get that far. Don't know why Wizards are content by bringing back the same team basically without trying to upgrade certain spots.

Agreed. Teams have to start following suit of Miami and Chicago when they realize they can be good, but not championship good. Now Miami and Chicago actually employed 2 different strategies.

Miami instituted the dead possum strategy.


(possum killed by Michael Beasley)

Chicago chose to institute the chicken with its head cut off strategy.


(chicken's head cut off by Michael Beasley)

[remy23]

Originally Posted by PauloCatarino

(and the Cavs did it being carried by the refs).

Carried by the refs, huh? Sounds like a way of making a Cleveland win less than a win. After all, the refs won it for them, not their own play. Ridiculous.