[NorthEast Wiz]

Late thread for a tough fought win. We are in the last spot as of today because Milwaukee choked.

Winning the 'easy' games may be the key.

[BCH]

I think they are making it close so that it will be like a dagger or a backbreaker when they lose it in their final game.

Allen played like he did to keep the Bucks out of the playoffs.

[NorthEast Wiz]

BCH,

You have turned into such a pessimist lately (maybe not so lately). What happened to you?

[Wizards1]

Well the Wiz finally made it to the 8th spot for the playoffs but whether or not they can stay there is a different story but with MJ their chances are good. It's been a long hard season for the Wiz full of ups & downs maybe it will be worth it in the end.

[BCH]

Originally posted by <b>NorthEast Wiz</b>!
BCH,

You have turned into such a pessimist lately (maybe not so lately). What happened to you?

I am just tired of excuses. It is so easy to blame Kwame for not being what they want him to be, but there have been plenty of games this season where he has played well, while the Wizards still lost. Laettner goes for 12 and 12 as the starting PF and we lose, but it is Kwame's lack of defensive rotations as the reason we lose. I thought we had veteran post players like Laettner and Oakley for a reason. Just as I thought we brought in Bryon Russel for a reason. There have been more than a fair share of games when we roll out veterans only to lose.

I am also tired of hearing garbage about how we should have kept Whitney, Davis, and Rip because they were our 3 point shooters. Whitney has been less than spectacular as a shooter this year, Daivs is hardly doing a thing, and Rip's 3 pointers are easily replaced with Stackhouse. Rip had 16 3 pointers last year, and 32 so far this year. shooting about 30%. The same goes for keeping Popeye. There is a reason he is not playing right now for the Mavs, and it was probably a reason why the Wizards did not offer him that much, and it is because they guy is a walking IL candidate.

So we weren't going to be better with the guys we had, to cover our same weaknesses. Our mistakes were bringing in guys like Russell to supposedly help cover that and have him shoot a god awful .361 while playing 20+ minutes a game. Only Mike James, JR Bremer, and Junior Harrington are as bad as Russell.

So like I said, I am tired of excuses and explanations. I want to see them play, not over analyze why they just lost. Their biggest problem this year has been that they just don't go out and play.

[NorthEast Wiz]

The good things about the blunders with the rotation (B. Russell getting too much time) and injuries (J.White, JJ) is that I think we know now what Haywood brings us - not much and what B.Russell is - not much.

I have been pleasantly surprised at Bobby Simmons. I have taken some time and looked at him at both end and he plays solid defense, functions well in the offense and the best thing I like is that he does not hesitate to shoot.