truebluefan

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NorthEast Wiz

The main reason the Wizards are struggling has more to do with the new make-up of the team. There are five new starters to the team:

2001

Chris Whitney
Rip Hamilton
Micheal Jordan
Popeye Jones/L8
Jahidi White

2002

Larry Hughes
Jerry Stackhouse
Brian Russell
Kwame Brown
Brendan Haywood

We have 5 new players that play significant minutes: Hughes, Stack, Russell, Jeffries and Oak.

I expect us to be in the playoffs regardless of the slow start. Last year we started 2-9.

jazzy1

Agreed I expect us to be a playoff team also, its still early and we're one game under .500 , I think we're struggling to find an identity on offense, we need 2 players to play like stars and thats Stack and MJ, I never bought into this thinking that MJ could be a part-time Star we need him and Stack to be stars asa tandem getting 20 + a piece every night and then I think we can make up the other points elsewhere, but it has to start with them. MJ playing a bigger role will open up the young big guys with more production because of MJ's passing ability.

local_sportsfan

I'm sorry but I need to point this out. Did the author actually bother to do some research on the Wizards?

He talks about Tyronn "who" Lue or whatever being "grossly overpaid"? Lue makes less than 2 million a year, a steal considering the guy averages almost 10 pts and 4 assists OFF THE BENCH!

He talks about Stackhouse not being a part of the future of this team...so why did the Wizards even bother to trade for him?

I know the guy had no ill intentions, but its hard to agree with an article that a) shows that the author didn't research the subject at all and b) makes a conclusion that is WAY too early to make. Maybe if the Wizards were 6-14 after 20 games, then I would undertsand the need to write the article...but they are only 1 game below .500.

Just my $0.02

BEEZ

Yes I did BOTHER to do some research on the Wizards. Like I said he was grossly overpaid because what he was had for they didnt have to pay him at the time because no one else really wnated him. Stackhouse is not part of the future of this team because he has openly stated he will test the FA market when the season is out. Someone that is committed to the team would either get and ext. done right when he was signed or not even make this statement in public and get it done when the season is over. So before YOU start to make conclusions about what research I have done or not check out what you are responding to yourself. By the way if you dont think 6-7 is mediocre for a team that is "SUPPOSED to be challenging for the east title". Then you should really evaluate what the concept of winning is.

Just my Dollar

P.S. By the way. Any wrieter values "Constructive Criticism" but dont diss and straight bash me or any other when you dont know what or where they're sources came from. By the way its a link on the page to back up most of what I wrote.

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local_sportsfan

Who said the Wizards were challenging for the East title? I think most, if not all Wizards fans would be happy just to see the team in the playoffs. Maybe your just a bigger Wizard fan than I thought?

As for Lue, i still don't understand your point. Even if Lue was "overpaid" based on his demand when he was signed, hasn't he proven so far that he worth more than what he is currently being paid? I dont understand your point...sorry.

And your Stackhouse argument still holds no merit. Most free agents wait until the end of the season before they sign contracts. It just wouldn't be smart for either the team or the player to sign anything before the season starts, especially for players who are not coming off a rookie contract.

You still need to do research before you write something like this. Maybe if you wrote this piece further down the line, then maybe it would make some sense, but right now it doesnt.

Added: I didn't mean to "bash" you personally, but there are obvious flaws in some of your argument that I wanted to point out. btw if youre planning to start a career in journalism, be prepared to get bashed somewhat. If someone disagrees with you, dont take it personally.

BEEZ

Ok how about this. I'm ont going to argue with you on this. Um look at the Majority of the preseason Polls and Washington is right near the top of them. So get your facts straight. Second, Tyronn Lue is not worth more than he is being paid. He's a 3rd string point guard at best IMO and many others. I'm going to just pass on the Stackhouse issue because you wont get it no matter how I put it. As far as my research is concerned. I make/made a lot of sense. You dont have to agree with what I wrote but dont tell me to do further research when I do this on a regular basis.

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HBM

I think that the Wiz, given some time (but not too much) will gel and become a playoff team in the weaker east. I actually think that they can get to the Eastern Conf. finals as the race is wide open there, but it all relies on intangibles. MJ's health, Kwame's improved game, Stack's consistency. It all has to happen for them to progress

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local_sportsfan

Tyrone Lue is making $1,885,715 this season.

His numbers: 9.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, .5 tpg on 47% shooting (25 mpg).

Alright..lets compare with other backup pgs:

Moochie Norris: $3,600,000 (BYC)
His numbers: 3.3 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 tpg.

Chucky Atkins: $3,600,000
His numbers: 9.5 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2 tpg (36% fgp).

Derek Fisher (who is a starter): 3,750,000
His numbers: 9.4 ppg, 2.8 apg, .9 tpg, 36% shooting (32.3 mpg).

btw Lue is a league leader in assists-to-turnover ratio.

Do you still need more proof?

NorthEast Wiz

On the Lue being overpaid theory, I think we paid market for a back-up point. This signing is not a big deal.

If you want to talk about overpaying for someone you should start with L8. Five million to start out with and guaranteed for 2 years after this one.

MJ's one bad signing.

BEEZ

Fine he is one of the most erratic out of control players on the Washington Wizards team. If you tell me this is not true you dont watch basketball and frankly tells me you really dont know the sport

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I have no clue!

local_sportsfan

Erratic and out of control?

If so, dont you think he would be averaging more than .5 turnovers a game? Dont you think he'd be shooting worst than 47%? Would he really be leading the league in assists to turnover ratio if he were erratic?

You are wrong on this point. Just let it go.

BEEZ

Fine you know the game of basketball and you have followed Lue's career since he played at Stanford and the Lakers and you know the knock him as been, hes always been out of control and hes had a good 12 games now hes the 2nd coming of John Stockton. Right

By the way. YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT THE WIZARDS AND THE GAME OF BASKETBALL. WHY DONT YOU WRITE SOME EDITORIALS

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I have no clue!

local_sportsfan

Geez...lighten up. No one said he was the next Stackton. IMO he is nothing more than a good backup point guard.

You said he was grossly overpaid....i simply said he isn't based on his production.

You need to take a deep breath and just calm down.

oh and by the way, Lue went to Nebraska...not Stanford.

local_sportsfan

I just figured out why you hate Lue so much BEEZ...

You're a Philly fan!