All Wizards Games to be Carried by CSN

This afternoon Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and the Washington Wizards announced that CSN would carry all of the team’s 82 regular-season games (72 on CSN and 10 on CSN Plus) and three preseason contests.

CSN went on to announce that its game day broadcast crew would remain intact with the return of play-by-play announcer Steve Buckhantz, analyst Phil Chenier and sideline reporter Chris Miller.  This will mark the 15^th season that Buckhantz and Chenier have worked together.  Ron Thompson will also return to provide analysis on Wizards Postgame Live which will be hosted by Chris Miller.

We will see how many of the 85 games will actually be broadcast due to the continuing NBA lockout.

202SportsBlog Daily

Pretty cool. 202Sportsblog Daily http://bit.ly/eYJeZn

— CJ Hemp (@CJ_202SB) March 9, 2011

Washington Wizards host the NBA’s first midnight madness-style event

If you were unable to attend the Wizards Midnight Tip-Off event or watch it on NBA TV this post is for you.  Click here to view videos capturing the essence of the event.

Wizards Yi Jianlian is exceeding expectations at the FIBA Worlds

Through three games at the FIBA Worlds Yi Jianlian has put together impressive performances.  Follow this link to take a closer look.

Wizards Rookies Attend NBA Orientation

John Wall and Trevor Booker are in Tarrytown, NY to participate in NBA’s Rookie photo shoot.  The players will move to New York City as  part of the NBA’s orientation week for incoming first-year players.  It is unclear if Hamady N’Diaye or Kevin Seraphin participated in Tuesday’s photo shoot, but Kevin Seraphin had hoped to have his work visa in time to participate in the NBA Rookie Transition program.

The Rookie Transition program is typically a six-day seminar which began in 1986.  The objective of the program is to help the new NBA players make a seamless transition into the league.  The NBA and NBAPA jointly administered program typically covers a wide range of topics including:
Professional and Life Skills

• Computer Training
• Education
• Finance
• Professionalism/Networking

Continue reading the post.

What will we be able to take from Yi Jianlian’s performance in the FIBA World Championship?

Many Wizards fans are paying special attention to the performance of Yi Jianlian leading up to the FIBA World Championship.  The goal is to get a sense of how his game has improved and how that might translate into helping the Washington Wizards this season.  In the vein, a few in the press and blogosphere, have already begun to analyze his early performances in the tune-up games.

When analyzing Yi’s performance it is important to balance his on-court performance with a couple of key facts that impact each game:
New role: Alpha male versus role player
The 2010 Chinese National team is without its most famous player, Yao Ming, who retired from international play.  As a result, Yi is being asked to step up from a role player and take on the leadership role with his team.  Much to his credit, Yi has taken on the burden and responsibility for leading his team.  However, it is important to point out that this is a role that he has never held at this level of play.

Continue reading the post.

Unofficial Wizards 2010 Summer League Roster

Slowly a few teams are beginning to publish their 2010 Summer League rosters.  As I am writing this, the Wizards are not yet one of those teams.  However, unofficially, the roster seems to be taking shape.

Please note that the majority of this list was compiled by Scott Schroeder @ Ridiculous Upside.  As this is an unofficial list it is subject to change.  [Updated on 7/7/10 based on reporting by the Post’s Gene Wang]

PG – John Wall, Jerome Randle, Sun Yue, Cedric Jackson Abdulai Jalloh

SG – Cartier Martin, Eric Hayes, Jon Scheyer (via @draftexpress) Lester Hudson

SF – Raymar Morgan, Kyle Spain, Kevin Palmer, J.P. Prince

PF – Trevor Booker, James “Boo” Jackson, Michael Sweetney

C – JaVale McGee, Hamady N’Diaye, Aaron Pettway

According to the Post’s Michael Lee, the Wizards Summer League squad will be without PF Kevin Seraphin who continues to recover from a knee injury.

As it stands this team has a nice mix with JaVale McGee getting some work during the summer; a couple of 2009/10 Wizards trying to earn a spot on the team (Cedric Jackson and Cartier martin), newly drafted Wizards (Wall, Booker and N’Diaye), DLeaguers looking for a shot (Michael Sweetney and Boo Jackson) and finally undrafted free agents.

Clearly, I like everyone else is looking forward to our first chance of seeing John Wall, Trevor Booker and Hamady N’Diaye play for the Wiz – even if it is only the Summer League.  So setting that aside, I am probably most intrigued by Sun Yue.  Since my days growing up idolizing Magic Johnson, I have been fascinated by big Point Guards.  And while the only thing that I will claim that Sun Yue has in common with the greatest Point Guard ever (IMHO), is his height 6’9”.  Nevertheless I am intrigued.  In 2007, he was drafted in the second round by the Lakers but was left overseas until 2008.

During an interview, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said the following about Yue:

“I spoke to Kobe last week, because Team USA played against China and Kobe said that he knew who the guy was. He said he was competitive and feisty and he did not back down. I know that he’s athletic enough. I like his size, I like his skill level. I think he’s a ball handling guard at 6’8″. Those are all positives, but he hasn’t played at this level and I think he’ll show well, but the NBA is a different game. He’ll face challenges he hasn’t faced before, but I don’t think he’ll back down. I think he’ll embrace the challenge and at the end of the day if the guy is good enough after 28 days of training camp (and pre-season), we’ll know it and he’ll make the team. It’s not something that will be ferreted out in a week or 2, maybe some guys will know in a week if they’re good enough, but if you’re with the team for 28 days, we’ll know and he’ll know too (if he’s good enough).”

Ultimately, the Lakers waived him in 2009.  When the Lakers waived him, Mitch Kupchak said that given the talent currently on his team, he did not feel that Yue would get any playing time.  He was picked up very briefly by the Knicks in 2009.  Sun Yue has played for his national team, and in both the ABA and NBDL.

Yue strikes me as a perfectly intriguing player, one that a team should provide with an opportunity during the Summer League.  It is not very often that you can take a peek at a 6’9” 212 lbs true PG, who can also potentially play SG or SF.  However, Yue’s overall athletic ability, strength and outside shooting touch were his main drawbacks when he first tried to break into the league – all very substantial concerns.  This is the perfect place to attempt to get a feel for how hard he has been working on those deficiencies.  If he has, then this could be his opportunity to earn an invitation to the Wizards (or some other team’s) training camp.

When looking at the undrafted free agents, I am probably most intrigued by the competition that will likely develop between Maryland’s Eric Hayes and Duke’s Jon Scheyer.  In many respects they are identical players and while the Wizards will need players who can hit open threes, I don’t think that either will ultimately make the team.  It will be interesting to see them both battle to earn an invitation to training camp this fall.

Wizards Win NBA Draft Lottery and Some in the Media Lose Their Ever-Loving Minds

A few years ago, one could argue that the Wizards became the darling of the NBA.  Under Ernie Grunfeld and Eddie Jordan the Wizards made the playoffs four years in a row and, as many of us who live in the DMV have heard much too often, they even had the best record in the East – prior to the 06/07 All-Star break.  Hell, as recently as this season, the Wizards were a popular candidate to again compete with the best in the East.

However, today most in the popular press want to lead off their Wizards draft lottery stories by focusing on the infamous gun issue and use it to describe what prevented the Wizards from recapturing the glories of its recent past.  More insulting still, they want to use it as a means to describe the Wizards franchise as a fatally flawed organization that no one would want to play for.  And while that incident clearly, was a significant contributing factor, there were many other issues that plagued the team.  And all of those issues in total, ultimately wrecked the 2009/10 Wizards season.  (I highly recommend reading Michael Lee of the Post, Truthaboutit.net and Bulletsforever.com to get a broader perspective on all of the issues that undermined the 09/10 Wizards season.)

It is easier, however, to focus only on the more salacious and dysfunctional story of Gilbert and the guns.  It is also easier to characterize the Wizards organization as the Raiders of the NBA or the Clippers of the East.  And while the Wizards have not had the same level of success as it did in the 70s, it is not accurate to describe them in the same manner as the Clippers.  It may shorten your copy to pretend as if the Wizards recent stretch of playoff appearances did not occur.  Selectively focusing on a few facts tightens up the story, but it also serves to aggravate those of us who follow the team faithfully.

This post isn’t just about the way in which the franchise has been characterized.  I also have issues with a number of story lines and/or recommendations that have been floated since the Wizards won the draft lottery.  I have paraphrased and responded to some of my favorites:

The Wizards may trade the pick:

This thought is just insane and I will not waste any more keystrokes on this.

Winning the lottery means that the Wizards will/should trade Arenas:

There were multiple variations of this floated by many different journalists and “experts.”  I believe this is a ridiculous claim and I will pick this up later in this posting.  However, those who floated the idea have clearly not listened to the things that Ted Leonsis has said publicly.  I believe that Gilbert Arenas will be (and should be) a Wizard next season.

Should the Wizards take Wall or Turner with the first pick?:

Most have said that the Wizards should draft Wall – and I am of that camp.  However a few, including Tim Legler on ESPN, floated the idea that they should take Turner – even though he contradicted himself by saying that Wall would be the first pick.  There are plenty of places on the net in which you can find stats on both players until you are warm and fuzzy, but here are a couple thoughts that jumped out to me:

• Magic Johnson who I believe is the best PG ever immediately stated that the Wizards have to take Wall because he will be a special player.  I am inclined to believe that Magic has forgotten more about the position of PG than the majority of us have ever known.  So his recommendation carries more weight for me than nearly every other person who is not named Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  Sorry, Tim Legler that goes for you too.
• While Turner appears that he will be a very solid (if not special) pro, I give Wall credit for having to play the entire season with the label as “the man.”  Just as importantly he did not fold or disappoint, while carrying that label and he outplayed most on his more talent rich team.  Many did not start talking about Turner until some of his more amazing performances in March.  I will continue to lean towards a person who had more pressure and performed consistently at a high level for an entire season.

And finally…

Gilbert Arenas and John Wall can’t play on the same team or in the same backcourt:

I believe this opinion is based on feelings and not based in fact.  Not only do I think that these two can and will play for the same team.  I think that they will form an incredible backcourt.

First, let me point out that I believe that Gilbert will grow following his recent self-inflicted wounds.  He is no longer the youngest guy on the roster,  this last issue almost sent him to jail and nearly ended his career.  I believe that this served as the wakeup call that he needed.  I also believe that he will come back more highly motivated than ever.

Those who don’t think Gil can play with Wall clearly forget that Gil truly enjoyed playing in a two guard system with Larry Hughes.  More pressure was put on him to score when Larry left and then he had to share the backcourt with combinations that included Daniels, Butler, and Stevenson (during the 05/06 and 06/07 seasons) – none of which struck fear in the competition.  Adding someone as dynamic as Wall will provide Arenas with his best backcourt mate since Larry Hughes, while reducing the need for him to constantly handle the ball and run the offense.  Just as importantly, it puts pressure on the competition to decide how best to match up with the two of them.

And for those that want to talk about Arenas’ knee injury and whether he had fully recovered, it is true that early in the season he had struggled, but much of that was fitting into a new system with additional responsibilities.  Prior to the suspension, Gilbert was having a comparable season, Per 36 minutes, to both the 05/06 & 06/07 campaigns.  In December Gilbert appeared to be rounding back into form and while his scoring numbers were in his normal range, more impressive was that he had superior assist numbers.

I don’t believe that Gilbert is going to come back and be a problem.  I believe that he will be highly focused and motivated, and when you combine that with his already high work ethic and the stage is set for an extremely productive season.  Pairing him in the backcourt with a talent like John Wall could create a tandem that you cannot find in the NBA.

One of the weaknesses that the Wizards have had is the lack of a true Point Guard.  Well, with some poor play and a great deal of luck they have the opportunity to select a potential star at the position.  I suggest they take the potential star and deal with any “potential” issues as they develop.  Unlike many in the popular press, I don’t think there will be any issue between Arenas and Wall.  Gilbert has proven that he is willing and able to adapt his play to fit with another talented guard.

Tomlin did not go to far with punishment

I was reading Bob Smizik’s article today about the punishment handed out by Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin to his starting Nose Tackle Casey Hampton, who reported to training camp overweight. Smizik wondered if Tomlin is being too tough, or at least too public, in his punishment of Casey Hampton. These are good questions to ask and the answer will be known over the course of the season. However, it is very common for the coaching and training staff to give players, particularly those with weight control problems, a target weight that they want them to report to camp at. According to Smizik, “One report had him at 40 pounds overweight, which would have put the scale closer to 400 pounds than 350.”

Mike Tomlin is attempting to ensure that the Steelers return to past success as such he was looking for all members of the team to show up for camp in the best possible condition. When one of your key veterans shows up for camp approximately 40 pounds over the limit it is indicative of a much larger problem for the team and long-term for the player. In a situation like this it is completely appropriate for Mike Tomlin to set an example with Casey Hampton. He is using Hampton to signal to both the veterans and young players that his rules are to be followed. Bob Smizik pointed out that Cowher would let an issue like this slide, and I would quickly point out that the comparison with Cowher should be made with him in the early days and not the later years. I strongly suspect that Cowher became more lenient on certain issues, with certain players, after he set his program. And at some point, the same will likely be true of Tomlin. But, currently he is in the second year on this job with many of the players pre-dating him; it is important that Tomlin remains consistent in the enforcement of his rules.

My belief is that Mike Tomlin and Casey Hampton will get past this. Casey has been a consistent performer on this team and will likely be one this year as well. It would help Casey if he fully appreciates that when there is a change in management, the way business gets done also changes. It is not appropriate in a situation like that to say, this is the way I/we have always done it. It is a new day, with new rules.

One wonders, though, how much better Casey could be if he was in better physical condition. I believe this is the core issue from the coaching staff perspective. Tomlin, Dick LeBeau, John Mitchell and their staff most likely watched film and decided that he could have been an even better player, if he reported to camp at the target weight.

LA Clippers’ Chris Kaman to play for German Olympic basketball team… so what?

I admit that when I first read the story on CBSSports.com that Chris Kaman received German citizenship, so he now has dual citizenship – USA and German, my original reaction was to question why he would do such a thing. The article points out that he is not an immigrant, but rather his great-grandparents were German. I was a little bothered by the idea that an athlete would seek citizenship in another country to primarily compete in the Olympics.

I then did a little research. It appears that this phenomenon is more common than one would think – particularly if you primarily follow only the major US sports. The New York Times in its article entitled, Swapping passports in pursuit of Olympic medals, illustrated a number of former foreign Olympic athletes that became US citizens and continued to compete, this time for the USA.

A particularly controversial example, again depending on your perspective, was Kenya-born Olympic medal winner Bernard Lagat. Lagat, who was a distance running star in Kenya, received US citizenship in 2004, just months prior to medaling in the 2004 Athens games. Kenya, as the article points out, prohibits dual citizenship, but Legat did not disclose his changed citizenship due to the knowledge that he would not be able to compete in the 2004 Olympics. However, the Kenyan Olympic committee is not happy that he is currently competing as an American athlete – even though he has been a citizen for just over 4 years.

The point is this phenomenon is not new. It has been going on for a number of years, but mostly in sports that the majority of Americans do not care much about – except for a few weeks every 4 years. The difference in the Kaman story is that he is an (1) American who elected to gain citizenship and compete for another country; and most importantly (2) he plays a sport that is much more important to the majority of American citizens. If he was playing shuffle board, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, race walking (the list goes on and on), no one – except for the athletes they compete against and/or the relatively small groups of people who are passionate about those sports – would have even noticed. MAYBE during the actual coverage, assuming one of the previously mentioned sports even gets a few minutes of coverage, would there have been a passing mention, but that’s it.

So in the grand scheme of things, so what. While there doesn’t appear to be very accurate statistics on dual citizenship, the estimates range from 494,000 to 5.7 million US citizens hold dual citizenship. So, Chris Kaman is just one more. Now, what would be truly interesting is… since he is now also a German citizen… if the German government sent him a tax bill on his NBA salary.