Goodbye, Flip

Flip Saunders, coach of the Washington Wizards, was fired today, the day after the Wizards were routed by the Philadelphia 76ers. There's no word yet as to why Ernie Grunfeld, the GM who assembled this terrible team, still has a job.

Prior to joining the Wizards, Saunders had won 587 games and lost 396 games. With the Wizards, a ragtag group of misfits, he went 61-130.

Nick Young is a terrible rebounder

First off, I'm not a statistician. Secondly, this is my first time really playing around with the amazing site Basketball Reference. But, after attending the Wizards-Celtics game on Sunday, I couldn't help but wonder if Nick Young knows that rebounds are available. Nick Young is listed at 6'7" or 6'6", depending where you check. Sometimes, he plays shooting guard; sometimes, he plays small forward. As a guy who uses up a lot of possessions taking often-contested shots, I figured it would behoove him to snag a few caroms if he wants to be viewed as anything more than a chucker (taking 14.4 FGA a game, despite shooting 40.3%). Senor Swaggy P feels otherwise, but here's where he stands compared to other active guards over this and the past four seasons when it comes to percentage of total rebounds: 340th place. Granted, a fair amount of better rebounders are listed ahead of him more than once because, well, they've been better rebounders than Nick Young's best season more than once.

But, 340th place is abysmal, anemic, and appears more terrible when we look at per-36s: 353rd place. That's some rockstar rebounding at 3.6 boards per 36 minutes.

So, let's look at this season. Of the 54 guards or guard-forwards who have started at least 10 games, Nick Young has the lowest rebounds per game (2.4) of anyone his height who plays at least 30 minutes per game. In other words, he is pretty much the worst rebounding starter at his height in the NBA right now. In terms of percentage of total rebounds this season for guards and guard-forwards starting at least 10 games? Nick Young is 46th out of 54 with his incredible ability to corral 2.8% of available rebounds. The only players with worse rates are mostly point guards, shorter, and rarely, if ever, found playing small forward: Monta Ellis, Raymond Felton, Ben Gordon, Raja Bell, Steve Nash, Luke Ridnour, Devin Harris, and Jeff Teague.

Next sales approach: Buy Timberwolves tickets or we will punch a kitten in the face

The Business of Sports has published some current incentives from NBA teams struggling to sign up new season ticket holders for the 2011-2012 season. While I confess that I was sold by the Washington Wizards 3-year price guarantee and enthusiastically recruited others to go in on tickets with myself and fellow JB Sports Chat blogger, Beau, I must admit - we didn't get nearly as good of a deal as the Timberwolves fans. On the plus side, we only have to watch the Timberwolves once. They have to see them every night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets are both using the same incentive of a "Pay the Pick" pricing offer. The final price will be determined by the results of the NBA Draft Lottery tomorrow. If their team draws the #1 pick, season ticket holders pay $1 per game. If they draw the #2 pick, $2 per game, and so on. This is less of an incentive for Houston, who narrowly missed the playoffs and have only 5 chances for a top 3 pick in the lottery and probability leaves them with the 14th selection. Minnesota finished with the worst record in the league for the 2010-2011 season, leaving them with 250 lottery chances. At best they will win the #1 pick, but worst case scenario will leave the Pay the Pick price at $4 per game. Coincidentally, $4 per is the same price the tickets sell for on eBay whenever the Wolves visit the Verizon Center.

While I would love to get away with paying $43 for a full season + 2 pre-season games to see the Wizards, I still feel good about our investment. For $16 per ticket, we have great seats in the upper level, fairly close to the center of the court. That's a bit overpriced to watch the Wizards play the Timberwolves, but an insanely low price to watch the Lakers, Heat, and the Celtics. With Ted Leonsis calling the shots and a little added luck from sending John Wall to the Draft Lottery in drag, we've got a good chance at building a decent team in the next few years. And hell, even if we don't - $16 is still a bargain to watch NBA basketball. Unless of course you're driving around in the bitter Minnesota winter to see the Timberwolves. Loyal T-wolves fans, I salute you!

New Look Wizards

While Kathleen pointed out big things afoot with the Wizards' sartorial sensibilities, I have to step in and point out that the new jerseys are... AWESOME. From the Wizards' store:

The throwback font with the lower case reference to the Bullets, the retro horizontal stripes, mmm, nice jersey.

And... in case you really want to go retro...

The Red & the Wall: The New Wizards

Something big is happening to the Washington Wizards franchise and I will give you a hint: It does not begin with winning basketball games. Not yet, anyway. Of course that's their ultimate goal, but that's going to take some time. They have to begin by improving upon their previous season record. The good news is, finishing the 2010-2011 season at .280 should make improvement a viable option.

For weeks I have been receiving emails from the Washington Wizards like the one I received today:

Tomorrow the Wizards will Rock the Red, and hopefully begin to resemble the Washington Capitals franchise in other ways as well. The owner is now the same, the colors will soon be the same, the #1 draft pick to build the team around seems hauntingly familiar as well. (Although I'm hard-pressed to find many more similarities between Alex Ovechkin and John Wall.) Soon we can look forward to the Wizards following the Caps footsteps and dominate throughout the regular NBA season so that they can roll over in the playoffs and shamefully lose to lower seeded teams.

Even apathetic goals like that will have to wait a couple more years.

I give the Wizards credit for their rebranding efforts. Even without the talk of a likely NBA lockout beginning in July, the Wizards are a tough sell. DC loves a winner and even on the rare occasions when they made it to the post-season, the franchise has only seen past the first round of the playoffs once since 1982. To generate season ticket sales, the Wizards are currently guaranteeing a 3-year price freeze. If you buy a ticket package this year, you are guaranteed that the price will not increase until after the 2013-2014 season has ended. I know several Capitals season ticket holders who wish they had a deal like that back in 2007 when the Caps began Rocking the Red again!

After the excitement of the color change, it won't be long before we learn more about what is in store for the new Wizards. The NBA Draft Lottery is one week away on May 17, 2011. The NBA Draft is in June.

The Wiz Officially Sign John Wall

While the basketball world copes with Cleveland's pain, LeBron's narcissism, Dan Gilbert's psycho ex-girlfriend routine, and how the Heat will actually have a full roster, the Washington Wizards accomplished something big: the Wizards signed John Wall, officially.

Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner has more details:

The Wizards signed three of their draft picks -- No. 1 pick overall John Wall, Trevor Booker and Hamady N'diaye -- and they renounced the rights to free agents Mike Miller, Josh Howard and Randy Foye.

Furthermore, the Wizards finalized the Hinrich trade. Now, the Wizards have three point guards: John Wall, Kirk Hinrich, and Gilbert "Guns-no-Ammo" Arenas. It's early in the trading season and the Wizards still need two more players on their roster with roughly $10 million in cap space.

The Wizards Finally Catch a Break

Let's take a quick look back at the Wizards during 2009-2010... it's a sad trip in a sad time machine, but here we go...

Wizards start weak and playoff hopes quickly disappear.
Owner Abe Pollin dies.
Franchise player Gilbert Arenas brings guns into the locker room.
Second two best players on team are at the deadline.
Team struggles mightily for rest of season.
Wizards fail to nab Alonzo Gee and San Antonio picks him up after he's had a great run on the lottery bound Wizards.

Some of this is pure stupidity. Some of it is luck... okay, just the many injuries.

Now, finally, the Wizards get a little luck and nab the number one pick in the 2010 draft. Finally. Grunfeld, this is on you. Don't pick another big guy with a questionable work ethic. Don't pick up the guy who might go third. Don't sell the pick because you have a point guard named Gilbert Arenas.

Pick John Wall. Let everyone know you are picking John Wall. Then, pick John Wall. There is no other option for you.

Leonsis purchase of Washington Wizards finalized

A new era for the Washington Wizards officially begins today. Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, has finalized an agreement to own the Verizon Center (where the Caps and Wiz play) and the Washington Wizards.

Congrats, Wizards fans!

Another Wizards Loss

Here's a secret: I have gone to more Wizards game this year than I have gone to in the past 10 years, combined. This isn't because I'm not a Wizards fan. As a lifelong Washingtonian, I am, even in this era of liberated fandom. I just can't afford season tickets nor do I find the product put on the floor to be worthy of the exorbitant prices the Wizards charge. I've been to more games in this, their second worst season, than many others because of the economy. Thanks too to eBay and Craigslist, I've hit a ton of games.

I scored two tickets for $6 total to the game on March 24 against Michael Jordan's Bobcats. Given Andray Blatche's effort, I overpaid. However, the Wizards played hard without Blatche.

Here are some photos from the evening.

Here's Mike Miller taking a contested long 2 with 11 left on the shot clock. This was before Blatche decided to quit on the team.



Nick Young, open at the arc, flexes his lats in disappointment. If a bad shot is to be taken, he'll gladly take it. If an open shot is to be taken, he'll gladly take it.



And, it's hard to tell what's going on here, but Nick Young went for the foul and the pirouette while James Singleton went for the goaltending.




Greivis Vasquez was there.


Oh, Javale McGee. When you go up for this sort of thing, please keep your eyes open. Otherwise, the ever evil Tyson Chandler (of the bum ankle, toes, among other woes) will get the ball to Raymond Felton.

Gilbert Gets Probation

Gilbert Arenas's sentence, for having four guns in the locker room and causing the incident:
2 years probation. 30 days in a halfway house. 400 hours of community service.

Javaris Crittenton's sentence, for responding to Gilbert Arenas's threat:
1 year of probation. $1250 in fines. Community service.


Fair?

The Hope Begins Now

Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals, has reached an agreement for the price of the Washington Wizards. Leonsis held the right of first refusal should Abe Pollin have wished to sell. Unfortunately, Pollin, a pillar of the DC community, died last year.

Leonsis turned the Caps around. The thought is that he can turn the Wizards around, too. The Wizards, as some may have noticed, have just tied their franchise worst losing streak. The team is in disarray. Its best player faces sentencing tomorrow (and seems to deserve a lengthy sentence if the prosecution's filings are correct). Its best active player refused to listen to his coach during a completely winnable game against the Bobcats. Its best (currently) scandal-free player was acquired in a trade with Dallas and is out for the season. The team starts Shaun Livingston at point guard. Ted Leonsis can only take this team upwards.

Why Didn't Flip Flip?

Well good readers, another day and another story about the Wizards.  And they say that the Clippers are a terrible organization?

From an article by  Adrian Wojnarowski, on Yahoosports:

Yes, the coach should’ve suspended Blatche, sent him home and played the rest of the week without him. Management told the coach it was his call, league sources say. They would’ve gone with a suspension, a benching, whatever Saunders wanted.
The coach backed down, again.
Story of his career.
Story of this franchise.

Never enough Blatche Pictures

5 months ago: Washington Wizards' Andray Blatche poses for a photo during NBA basketball media day, Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Andray....

Those Crazy Wizards!

Andray, Andray, Andray......Andray

From the Washington Post's Gene Wang:

To make matters worse, Wizards Coach Flip Saunders benched starting forward Andray Blatche after he played just 7 minutes 31 seconds. Saunders said he pulled Blatche initially to discuss the player not getting back on defense but that Blatche refused to listen to the coaching staff. Saunders said his assistants attempted to talk to Blatche about the situation multiple times but that Blatche's response was "he just didn't want to play."

"I'm disappointed. I'm the most disappointed I've ever been in 15 years with a player," Saunders said. "Most disappointed."

Prosecutors Recommend 3 Months in Jail for Agent Zero

According to the Washington Post, prosecutors are recommending Gilbert "Gunplay" Arenas serve 3 months in jail for his locker room incident.

The basics:

Prosecutors recommended on Tuesday that Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas spend three months in jail for bringing guns into the Verizon Center locker room.

Prosecutors also proposed that Arenas serve three years probation and perform 300 hours of community service.

The recommendations came in a sentencing memo to the court that is required in most criminal cases.

Arenas's formal sentencing is Friday.

Gilbert played the fool and, despite his ridiculous open letter regarding his idiocy, still doesn't seem to grasp what was so wrong about bringing guns to the locker room.

No Free Taco on Los Lakers' 'Noche Latina'

Yesterday's 99-92 victory by the best-in-the-west L.A. Lakers (52-18) over the fourth-worst-overall Washington Wizards (21-47) took place on the NBA's fourth annual Noche Latina, a night recognizing the fact that 15% of the league's fan base is of Latino heritage, as are 18 of its players.

But the lackluster win by one of the league's best over one of the league's worse is not a good sign for the reigning Champs as playoff season approaches, and as they prepare for their final road-tour of the year. Sure, the Lakers made the second half look like a competition between the Globetrotters and Generals, but the Lakers did lead by 28 points earlier in the half, giving up 21 points in a blink of the eye.

And more importantly, on Noche Latina, there were no free tacos.

As watchers of the Lakers well know, the fourth quarter of winning games brings chants of "We Want Tacos," derived from the Taco Bell Staples Center promotion of giving vouchers for free tacos if the Lakers score over 100 points while holding their opponents to under 100 points. The chant has spread even beyond home games; recently, the chant was heard by infiltrating Lakers fans at L.A.'s 106-99 defeat of the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena. But last night, Los Lakers walked it out in the waning minutes of the game. With 98 points on the board, they played like they were already half asleep, and missed two of their final three free throws.

A repeat is a rare thing in today's NBA, much rarer than free tacos, so the failure to even win the latter for the fans does not bode well for the former.

Wizards/Blazers

Somewhere along the line, this game got ugly. Both teams are shooting below 40%. Portland should be steam-rolling the Wiz right now. Instead, Washington is up 74-72 with a minute to go.

Blazers notes:
- Brandon Roy can't shoot 20% and expect his team to win.
- Camby is a rebounding machine, but Portland needs him to be aggressive offensively if they're going to make noise in the playoffs.


Wiz notes:
- James Singleton is a beast on the boards tonight. 5 offensive rebounds so far!
- Blatche is making smart hustle plays. Was Antawn's presence holding him back?
- Nick Young is a non-factor with Flip Saunders.