[0-6] The Bullets Are Back. | What Could've/Should've Been..

[Lamrock]

Yeah, I liked that style. Problem with that is that 2k (sadly) lacks a sim intervention feature. Nellieball was so hard to update because I simmed most of the games, but (stupidly) recapped all of them the same way.

Shame there's no gun logo to choose from. In the end, it came down to the plane, or a basketball with a mohawk.

[kibaxx7]

a basketball with a mohawk.

That one was for Sit... just kidding man

[Fresh8]

Hey Lamrock, I am asking if I can borrow your method of reviewing player trades?

[Lamrock]

No problem Sit. I'm not sure if I was even the first to do it that way.

[Lamrock]

Diary Of Kyle Washburn

The blog Wizznutzz posted a season preview for the Wizards. I appreciate the optimism. I really don't think this team will win 32 games, but hopefully they can prove me wrong. Didn't notice that more than half the team was new, though half of them won't be getting any minutes.

[ Image ]

2010-11 Bullets Season Preview

2009-10 Record: 29-53 | Predicted 2010-11 Record: 32-50

Players Added:
Ramon Sessions (trade)
Larry Hughes (free agent)
Darko Milicic (free agent)
Donatas Motiejunas (draft)
Lance Stephenson (draft)
Liam Washburn (draft)
Steve Francis (free agency)
Salim Stoudamire (free agency)

Players Subtracted:
Mike Miller (trade)
Nick Young (trade)
James Singleton (trade)
Randy Foye (free agency)
Earl Boykins (free agency)
Javaris Crittenton (free agency)
Fabricio Oberto (free agency)
Shaun Livingston (free agency)

Projected Starters: Ramon Sessions | Larry Hughes | Josh Howard | Andray Blatche | JaVale McGee
Projected Rotation: Gilbert Arenas, Quinton Ross, Al Thornton, Donatas Motiejunas, Darko Milicic

[ Image ] [ Image ]
Despite a 1-7 pre-season, there is still some reason for optimism...

Last season, the Washington Wizards made tremendous progress. Gilbert Arenas played 32 games (his highest total since 2006-07!), and the team improved ten wins, from 19-63 to 29-53! Also, four of the team's starters were dealt for expiring contracts, two players had a Mexican Standoff and the owner died...

But despite the doom and gloom of the previous season, as well as a 1-7 pre-season, there is hope yet for this team. Gilbert Arenas looks like he's back to his old poor man's Kobe-esque self, Josh Howard is fitting in, and the rookies seem to be pretty solid. (Lance Stephenson and Liam Washburn are looking like steals!). Our only victory in pre-season may have been a nailbiter against the Knicks, but it could have been worse! At least we weren't like the Magic, who suffered a huge hit to their repeat hopes with star shooting guard Vince Carter tearing his ACL.

GM Washburn opted to accept Josh Howard's option on the final year of his contract, taking the team out of the 2010 sweepstakes. With some teams coming out empty-handed (New Jersey has $30 million in unused cap!), Washburn got a great trade chip with Howard's contract, and flexibility for the potentially more lucrative 2011 off-season. In the meantime, we have draft steal Darko Milicic, max-contract deserving Larry Hughes and superstar in his prime Steve Francis to tide us over.

The core of this team however, is still Gilbert Arenas. In his last two healthy (and trouble-free) seasons, Gil was an All-NBA talent, averaging just under 30 points a game. Signed to a near max contract and practically un-tradeable, he's the team's franchise player (like it or not). Flanking him will be mercurial swingman Josh Howard, who is coming off a pair of disappointing seasons and a Torn ACL, as well as Andray Blatche, who became a 20-10 player once all of the team's good players were gone. The delusional Blatche is a moron who thinks he's an underpaid all-star. He's a team captain.

Combo guard Ramon Sessions looks to be a good acquisition, as long as his poor season in Minnesota was a fluke. Al Thornton will likely always suck, but Javale McGee looks increasingly serviceable. If he can continue to hold the starting 5 spot over Darko, then, well, he's not as bad as Darko. Though the team's two highest paid (and scoring) players are pushing 30, this team has a generally young core. Lets hope coach doesn't decide to play an Arenas-Hughes-Howard-Thornton-Milicic lineup 40 minutes a game...

If it sounds like my expectations for this team are low, its because they are. The team has the talent to sneak into the post-season as a low seed, but injuries, poor character and instability will likely spell another 50 loss season here in D.C. At least we can take solace in the fact that we aren't the New Jersey Nets!

[kibaxx7]

Lol, that Wizznutzz header is superb Thought of trading Thornton, instead of Young, for example?

[Clutch]

awesome Wizznutz preview! love being surprised by comments like, "max-contract deserving Larry Hughes"

[dare]

Nice write man, still think that your not a 30 win team.

[Fresh8]

Yes, a tough losing season for you guys. Cool to see you nearly starting. My Stealth season preview is just around the corner and looks exactly like what you have written. I guess great minds think alike.

[hova-]

Arenas-Hughes-Howard-Thornton-Milicic lineup 40 minutes a game.

That would be sick

[Valor]

Loving the recap style, but too bad about the preseason..hopefully some miracle occurs in the regular season and y'all make the playoffs

[Martti.]

I think you have to wait for 2011. That doesn't look like a Playoff team. Give a year to Blatche and McGee to develop and then you might have something.

[Lamrock]

Thierry., I did, but I liked having Thornton around in my Clippers because he could play both forward positions. Plus I don't think Nick Young is very good.

Clutch, Thanks man. I'm going to try and mix up the recaps by having them from different source/points of view.

dare, Tsk tsk, ye of little faith.

Sit, Looking forward to it. Two months in the making.

hova-,

Valor, Yeah, though to be fair, for pre-season I played 5 minute quarter games trying to get used to the team and sliders. I lost the first game 90-52.

Martti., Nah, Gilbert's like Wade. He can take a team of scrubs and somehow win 45 games.

New season kicks off tomorrow. Get in any last minute hype! I would love to start on the fourth page.

[puttincomputers]

i think before mid season josh howard will no longer be starting. he and arenas are a bad combo in real life in my book.

[Lamrock]

He's an expiring contract, so trading him is something I'd consider. Carl Landry and Marc Gasol are upcoming free agents though, and I would love to get one of them.

[puttincomputers]

I believe in real life Marc will be huge. i would definitely grab him. I once traded Diop when i was using live 2000 and had one of the nlsc roster from back then. at the time Diop was a 69. in 5 years he was close to a 90! to bad that didnt happen in real life.

[kibaxx7]

Thierry., I did, but I liked having Thornton around in my Clippers because he could play both forward positions. Plus I don't think Nick Young is very good.

In my Pacers, the Wiz traded Thornton to Utah for C.J. Miles

[Fresh8]

Pretty cool man, we will both be going into the season at the same time.

You gonna have the motivation to keep this running?

[hova-]

Last minute hype ! Looking forward to your season.

[dare]

I would love to start on the fourth page.

glad that I help

[Azzdogs]

Looking forward to see how the team goes. I reckon if you play well you could somehow sneak into the playoffs.

[|)e8*]

Your team will surprise other teams and snatch the eight seed!

[Martti.]

Helping you get to 4 pages.

Go Bullets!

[Lamrock]

It's looking that way. Haven't had the motivation to do the write-up for the season opener. May go with shorter recaps than usual for this dynasty. (with the simmed games presented like in my Wolves)

[puttincomputers]

...., page 4 coming up and after that "THEEEEE REST OF THE STORY" <---- Said in a Paul Harvey voice.