HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – We’re sure some people are calling him crazy this morning, but all we’ve got for Washington Wizards coach Flip Saunders is a salute of approval.
Saunders did what any self-respecting coach would do Monday and stormed out of his team’s morning practice and invited them back for another, unscheduled afternoon session in the hope that they would come back with a bit more urgency than they showed the first time around.
Two-a-days, baby. Who doesn’t like two-a-days?
Now the critics will point out that Saunders struggled to hold his team’s together in both Minnesota (during the later stages of his tenure there) and Detroit (where he struggled to win over a veteran cast used to Larry Brown‘s style). But what else is he supposed to do? The Wizards are 1-4 and rather than see them fall completely apart he decided to make his stand early this season.
Good for you Flip.
Even better, some of the Wizards’ veterans didn’t hesitate to back up their coach, per our main man Mike Lee of the Washington Post:
“Y’all better wake up. You’re making it harder on yourselves,” veteran Josh Howard said as players started quietly heading toward the locker room. Hilton Armstrong wasn’t willing to just let practice end in that fashion, so he called his teammates together and told them there was a reason for the extra session. He could see the frustration but said, “The coaches only want to make us better. Real talk.”
It seems a little “Real Talk” is what’s needed in Washington. This crew is already trying to dig out of the hole of last season’s tumult, trying to mesh the games and personalities of both rookie sensation John Wall and veteran star Gilbert Arenas. All Saunders is asking for is maximum effort and energy from a group that couldn’t get right last season.
If that’s too much to ask for then maybe he’s right to work them twice a day until he gets what he needs out of them.
The Wizards would be wise to listen to Howard, who has been through early season struggles before and come out on the other side. He’s coming back from knee surgery and wasn’t cleared to go full tilt until last week. But he knows of what he speaks when he tells his teammates, young and a little bit older, that now is the time to change their ways.
“I told some of the guys. ‘We getting ready to get a paycheck on the 15th.’ For right now, they getting a paycheck for nothing,” he said. “I can honestly say that. I don’t think guys are really buying into this. If anything, we need to work for this paycheck.
“I’ve been in situations where we started out 0-4, 1-5 and turned it around quick,” said Howard, who won 67 games with Dallas in 2006-07 after the Mavericks started the season 0-4. “It’s a correctable mistake and guys need to go out there and sell it out for one another.”
Five games into their season and it appears these Wizards are already at the crossroads. Saunders is trying to steer them down a different path, one that has to be better than the one they’ve been on the past couple of years.
Now it’s time to see if the Wizards are ready to travel that path.
All they had to do is PLAY a GAME. Not do paper work or fix some plumbings but play a game, why the heck should you not put in the effort when you get payed millions for staying healthy and playing a game?
I think if they dont get the program then show them the waive
Josh is right and Flip needs to keep it up until these guys get it right. Last year the guys they brought in after all star went full throttle and we finally got some life here, josh got hurt but he’s on his way back, we let singleton go to china because we didn’t wanna give him a respectable offer, hell if i was him i would have left too. He’s an easy double double every night, he’s the one guy we knew for sure put it all out there every night and showed true professionalism and energy, his energy was contagious and i loved it. He was a bright spot in the locker room and i loved him. (sry i l just love the guy and what he’s about) y is it the kinda guys teams need to keep because of what they bring to the club, locker room, and how they go hard in the games are always the guys teams let go. True it’s a game but its a job and a lot of guys love doing it cause it’s they’re passion, but a lot of guys on that team are lazy and ego’s are way to big. I really hope they turn it around because if not they will break last years losing record and if there is a lockout at the end of the season i doubt fans will wait around for another losing season.
well in my opinion the wizards are a work in progress but lack of team effort is costing them losses sure wall is doing his thing but arenas, and the rest of the team need to step up or else it will be the same scenario as last year.
This is an 82-game season. Maybe the team’s chemisrty isn’t where it should be? The early losses can take it’s toll on a player’s motivation and work ethic. Yes, they do need to wake up, get over their BS and really step up. But it’s easier said than done. These things take time. Coach Saunders has made a good decision in putting his foot down and getting this group of guys to work. But it won’t happen overnight. And taking serious action this early on in the season would be even more woeful for the team. They wouldn’t benifit from waiving players or anything like that. Keep the two-a-days going. But I’d say let them sort their problems themselves and give them a chance.
The culture in Washington is absolutely pathetic. They’ve been losers for a long time, and if I was running the team, I’d rather trade everybody than let that loser mentality spread to John Wall. Drastic things need to be done to put these guys in a winning frame of mind.
It IS a matter of effort for the most part. But then again, it HAS only been 5 games. We’re all just sitting here thinking that John Wall is gonna run the show and help us get back into mix as soon as 5 games. While he will undoubtedly by the star and WILL run the show, the other players need to step up as well. I mean, how much can one rookie do? The kid’s only 19…and has a whole franchise on his shoulder. So that being said, don’t have SUPER high expectations. REMEMBER, we did win ONLY 26 games the entire last season, and only 19 the season before that.
But as for the effort situation, I can TOTALLY see what Coach Saunders is talking about. This man Blatche changed his number to 7 last season to represent hard work 7 days a week. I am not seeing that this season. He’s putting up very minimal numbers, compared to what he SHOULD be putting up. We all the man has talent, but it just haven’t been seeing it, as opposed to what we all saw in the second half of the season last year. But again, this isnt only his problem, it’s the entire TEAM’s problem, so again, I’m not just singling anyone ONE player out.
As for the guard situtation, I think they’re doing a decent job. The chemistry is quite there yet, but it’s not bad. Wall’s filling up the Stat Sheet, as expected. Hinrich is doing what he’s supposed to…shooting and distributing the ball, and providing the veteran leadership. Gil is still finding the rhythm, although we’re seeing flashes of what he’s capable of doing. Lester Hudson is doing a great job. He doesn’t get too much playing time, but he keeps the game under control when Wall’s not playing. As for Nick Young. Man, this kid has so much damn potential to be a great player…quite possibly a 20 and 5 guy if he REALLY tried. He can do it all, but were just not seeing it every night. I’m seeing 23 one night, and 3 the next night. Actually, I am singling this guy out. He’s a great player, but he needs to step up BIG time if he want’s more playing time.
Moving on the Forwards. Yi is doing a sub-par job. He needs to shoot a higher percentage and needs to contribute more to rebounding and work WAY more on post up work. For a guy his size, he should do nothing BUT stay underneath the rim. STOP SHOOTING THE JUMPER’s YI!! You take too many damn shots!! Moving on, Booker’s D is tough. I like what I see out of this guy. Cartier Martin has been a huge spark off the bench. Although he doesn’t shoot a high percentage, he can rack up the points, just like a Nick Young. Al Thornton has been HUGE these past games. He’s playing so great and so aggressive. I love what he’s bringing to the table. Let me just mention that we’ll probably never see Ndiaye or Seraphin. I don’t know what it is, but Flip just never gives them a chance. So yeah.. don’t expect ANYTHING at ALL from those 2. Also, I won’t mention Josh Howard til he comes back, which will be soon, we already know what this guy can do.
Moving on to the Center position. Armstrong is also inconsistent in almost everything he does and inst versatile. He’s just in the game for a big body. He can’t shoot, pass, dribble, block shots as good as he should be doing, and plays WAY TOO SOFT underneath the rim. He needs to put the ball on the floor every time and just take it to the rim and FINISH with a DUNK. He does put up effort though, so you can’t hate the guy for that at all. So now, time for the truth. McGee is a superstar on the rise. The guy has incredible height and length, can jump RIDICULOUSLY high and is very versatile. He can somewhat shoot a decent jumper when he has to, can dribble like point guard at times, (hopefully not though), and is improving on his foot work and post up moves. The guy blocks shots left and right. Litterally, just grabs them out of the air from the shooters, and can rebound on the defensive end effortlessly, and can put back/clean up other players shots very well. And of course, the guy is a highlight reel for dunks. He is so much fun to watch. The only thing that needs to be mentioned is that his free throw shooting, (which by the way isn’t THAT bad for a guy his size), is sub-par. He needs to shoot better considering his ability to shoot a jumper. And he needs to hustle just a TAD bit more. He already runs the floor great, but gets tired easily…can’t blame him though. On the other hand, he played great in the summer and bulked up to be a better defender down low. Look out for this kid, folks.
ANYWHO, all of that being said, this team has potential. We just need to bring the effort, and bring out the chemistry that we’re all hoping they will bring. Enjoy the rest of the season fellas! It’s gonna be a good one..eventually. Don’t lose hope!
Much respect to Flip for his actions. Most of us have to work 5 days a week, 9am to 5pm (at least), and if we keep stuffing up, we get fired. I don’t see why they should be any different. Practice doesn’t make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect.
The Wizards do not have productive players. No coach on the planet could lead this team to more than 25 wins.