DaBullz

As you can tell from my user name, I'm a Bulls fan. But I like the Wizards, too. Indeed, the very first NBA game I ever saw was the Bullets vs. the Knicks, and the two stars of the game were Walt Frazier for the Knicks and Earl Monroe for the Bullets. That had to be like 30 years ago, at least ;-)

Anyhow, watching the Wizards and the Bulls this year, I see a lot of similarities, though I think the Wizards are actually a stronger team at this time.

For example, the Wiz have Kwame Brown, and the Bulls have Chandler and Curry. All three are experiencing almost identical problems on and off the court. We know they have enormous potential, but we don't see that translated to play on the court on a steady basis.

The Wiz have Stackhouse and the Bulls have Jalen Rose. Similar stats and positions on both teams. Though I think Stackhouse is the better player right now.

At least you guys have MJ to cheer for. Though his skills are clearly in decline, he's still one of the better players in the league (say, top 25 to top 50).

The future looks bright for both of these teams. If things pan out the way I see them, it will be the Bulls, Pacers, and Wizards as elite teams in the East, with a declining Lakers team and soft-but-talented teams like Dallas and Sacramento putting up the only obstacle to east teams winning championships.

The one thing I learned from being a Chicago fan for all these years is how to live with a team that loses and remain a fan.

I see no reason why the Wizards can't make the playoffs this year and get some badly needed playoff experience for the young guys.

I'm interested in what you all have to say about the Wizards and how they're going to progress. If you think they need to make some major changes, I'd like to know what you think they need.

Cheers

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rynobot

I feel the Wizards have to first gather a core of players that they can build around. Kwame, Haywood, Jefferies, Dixon and even Hughes is a good start. All they really need to add to the young team is another superstar that can play up to Kwame's potential level. I'm not including Stackhouse into the future because we don't know if he will resign or not. After adding another supertalented player it is important to make sure the young players get the time to play together and learn with each other. Once they start leanrning how to win, then you bring in the nessacssary role players to fill in the small needs to make deep playoff runs. Of course this is the idle road to take and it will take atleast another 3-4 years untill they are making big playoff runs.

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local_sportsfan

As of now, the core IMO is Brown, Dixon, Hughes, and JJ. The rest can be shipped out for all I care. I used to be a big Haywood fan last season....he got worst. So did Etan.

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Chops

Yeah, weren't Wizards fans calling Haywood untouchable last year?

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rynobot

Haywood has looked to regress some this year, I still feel the Wiz should have taken Loren Woods with that pick.

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HAWK23

NBA GMs agreed NOT to take Loren Woods so that Minnesota would get a decent player- I guess the GMs thought the 1st pick ban on Minn because of the Joe Smith thing was too much...

local_sportsfan

The Wizards didn't draft Haywood. He was drafted by the magic, and then subsequently traded to the Wiz for a 1st round draft pick (heavily protected mind you). I heard the Wiz really wanted Hunter.

No matter to me...Haywood is better than Hunter and Woods IMO.

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rynobot

Sorry, I thought Magic should have drafted Haywood then.

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