The Wizards Could Win The Championship This Year
Before you skip the article and head directly to the comments to destroy me, just hear me out. And for fans of the Celtics, Cavs and Magic, it’s not that you don’t think it’s possible, but rather that the thought of the Wizards beating you in the second round of the playoffs makes you sick. But the more and more I think about it, the more and more I convince myself that the Wizards could win the championship this year.
While a lot of teams have pieces to the puzzle and some key players coming off the bench, I truly believe that there are few teams as deep as the Wizards at every position. Check it out:
PG – Gilbert Arenas, Randy Foye, Javaris Crittenton
SG – DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young
SF – Caron Butler, Mike Miller, Dominic McGuire
PF – Antawn Jamison, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee
C – Brendan Haywood, Fabricio Oberto
And with this roster there is great flexibility. Depending on matchups, the Wizards could drop Butler down to the two, play Jamison at the three and have one of their athletic bigs step in at the four. Also, what teams can say that they have the ability to bring two starters from last year off the bench in Foye and Miller?
Clearly this whole notion hinges on guys staying healthy, but that’s a risk that every team has. Could the Celtics have won back-to-back titles last year if KG and Leon Powe were healthy? I think so. Could the Wizards do it this year? Perhaps.
With Flip Saunders at the helm, the Wizards should have as good a shot as any. And perhaps the best of their offseason moves – besides trading away their draft pick – was signing Oberto. While he was never a “star” in San Antonio, Oberto went up against the elite in the Western Conference each night, and had to play against Tim Duncan every day in practice. While he could just be insurance if Haywood can’t stay healthy or if Blatche and McGee don’t pan out, he will be an integral part of the Wizards success this season.
In the Washington Post yesterday, Jamison was talking about the “C word” and definitely sees in his team what many people do: talent.
“The thing about this team is, everybody has a chip on his shoulder. You got guys coming back and saying, ‘Am I going to come back and be the same player I was before the injury?’ You got guys trying to get new contracts. You got guys trying to make a name for themselves. And you got me, trying to lead this team to a championship. That’s the only thing that we should be playing for. I think everybody has that mentality.”
And if everyone does, then Wizards could win it all.
What do you think?
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September 17th, 2009 at 10:36 am
nobs6669 says:
yeah for sure they have all the tools
September 17th, 2009 at 10:39 am
scotsman says:
if arenas is still arenas then they are contenders
September 17th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Deez says:
got a lot of nice pieces no doubt…but last i checked this group doesnt play defense…not even a little…and their additions arent exactly shut down-ers…so…not happening.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:46 am
jryu says:
i love the wizards but come on.. that SG slot looks terrible.
stevenson shot 31% last year…
September 17th, 2009 at 10:47 am
nobs6669 says:
@deez
yeah defense is their issues but flip would now it and it would be noted this training camp. but the reality if all are healthy they are a serious contender
September 17th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Mellmeister says:
@Aron Philips
I thought Antawn Jamisons the only one high on dope…
But mayne, are you serious? ‘coz the wiz doesn’t defend well, LBJ’s gonna have tons of highlights against the wiz… if they come of fourth or 5th, they might see the second round… but just the second round… they can goe toe to toe with the hawks… but CLEVELAND-BOSTON-ORLANDO? i seriously doubt that…
i’m out like Jamison’s D.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:55 am
wiz says:
@jryu
First Stevenson shot 31% with a messed up disc in his back dont forget bout the Mr. cant feel my face he was when he was healthy and got open shots off of arenas…
And nick young will come along thats as arenas once said that’s young kobe just give him sometime
Its the wizards year if we can just play some D mostly at the 1 and 4 position Jamison has to step up his D.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Jake says:
Defense. The Wizards dont have alot of it. If they have any hope of winning a championship they need to learn to play defense and they must stay healthy. When Agent Zero is at the top of his game, he’s as deadly as anyone and a top ten player. However it’ll take alot to convince that multiple injuries havent slowed him down. This team certainly has an oppurtunity, they simply need to build on it.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:01 am
JA says:
Don’t really see Deshawn being the go to SG for this team. Foye will get minutes and Miller will play SG as well.
Oberto is definitely the dark horse on this team, and was a heck of a pick up for them.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Soopa says:
“SG – DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young” *ALAAAARM!*
Show me their passing PG (Love Arenas, but he isnt a passer)
Show me a shooting guard – who can shoot! (Mike Miller is too slow to guard other 2’s so he cant slide down and therefor doesnt count)
Show me their lock down defender whos to deal with the lebrons and kobes. (Dont even mention Stevenson)
Show me their center who can get a 10/10 on a nightly basis. (What are the ralistic odds Haywood does this? 1 to 25? 1 to 50?)
Since they have no passer in their back court, show me their Odom/Diaw point forward who can distribute (Jamison is a damn good finisher, but nowhere near a facilitator)
I like the wiz as a playoff team, perhaps even a 2nd round team but Boston, Olando og Cleveland are all just straight up better. I even like ATL’s chances better then Washingtons.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Sheedfan87 says:
Not a prayer. They’d be lucky to get a No. 5 or 6 seed. In no way can that team match-up with the Celts, Cavaliers or Magic. And I hate to say it, but you know somebody’s getting hurt for a while, sooner rather than later.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Dagomar says:
Huge holes at the 2 and the 5; a big question mark at the 1 until Arenas proves himself, and who knows how much Jamison has left in the tank? Even if Arenas is healthy the only substantial improvement of this team over the team that lost to the Cavs a couple years ago is the Timberwolves leftovers, and that’s hardly encouraging. Meanwhile this team will take at least the year to get used to the new parts, and Arenas’s return. The playoffs are a possibility, but any other ambitions are ridiculous at this stage.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Sanssasin says:
any team with gilbert arenas as your best player will NEVER win a championship!
i agree with Sheedfan87, they’d be lucky to sniff the 5th seed.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Kermit the Washington says:
I think you’re crazy. BUT, that being said, I think the Wizards will upset a major contender in the playoffs this year. And then get beat by another major contender in the Conference Finals. Maybe knock off the Cavs but get bounced by the Celtics.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:21 am
nobs6669 says:
im not a wizards fan for real they are the most dangerous team in the east. they could match up with any top team in the east. they have all the player to match-up every team in the league. but the three things that could make them at the top of the league is.
1st. health – no need to specify this issue
2nd. defense – they could be a defensive team if they would focus on it. eddie jordan didn’t believe in that system
3rd. coaches – lebron wouldn’t won any championship as long as brown would be his coach. as for wizard. if flip could utilize all the talent in this team. and based on his carrier he is the perfect fit for this wizard team
September 17th, 2009 at 11:21 am
korver says:
not in a million years, Oberto’s youth will never be back and their other centers and PF will get destroyed in Playoffs, randy foye is nothing, stevenson a joke, mike miller almost retired … plus arenas will be out after 20 games
September 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am
JH says:
The beauty of competition is that anyone can win @ any given time. Do I think the Wizards have a legit shot…not really…but they do have a shot.
I figure that the Wizards are like the Utah Jazz…they may make the playoffs and could even advance a round…but they’ll never win a championship.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:37 am
emilio says:
I couldn’t care less about them beating the celtics, cavs and magic alltogether, there’s no way around the Lakers. And you know it.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Abe504 says:
It can be possible, wizards have enough firepower to beat any team in the league, on any given night somebody can go off. Just look back 2 years ago, the wizards were the only team that had a winning record against the celtics that year, the year they won it all. the idea aint that farfetched as it seems, could happen.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Kobeef says:
Mike Miller he is a great shooter and a very good playmaker. He could start at SG. If that doesn’t work out I think there is a very good chance the Wizards go with a starting line of
PG – Agent 0/Foye
SG – Tough Juice/Nick Young/DeShawn
SF – Antawn/Miller
PF – Blatche/Oberto
C – McGee/Haywood
I would be willing to bet on Javale McGee outsting Brendan Haywood from the starting C position before christmas. Javale is a bigger, more offensively talented version of Dwight Howard. Laugh now, haters.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:38 am
loc says:
they aint no raptors
September 17th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Sweet English says:
“I truly believe that there are few teams as deep as the Wizards at every position.”
They go one deep at the 1, 3, and 5 and 0 deep at the 2 and 4.
I’v had puddles on my driveway deeper than the wizards.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
jay says:
yeah, it’s possible.. only if they learn how to defend..
September 17th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Steve A says:
You can’t win a title unless you have (at least one) great player. They don’t. They are filled with 2nd/3rd Bananas.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Sweet English says:
I’ve seen Midgets fucking fat chicks that go deeper than the wizards.
I’ve bought $10 ‘Bolex’ off guys in the street watches that went deeper than the wizards.
I’v got contact lenses that are deeper than the wizards.
You are going to sit here and listen to all the funny things that are deeper than the wizards.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:49 am
sh!tfaced says:
If they trade Jamison for a true power forward like Bosh, Amare, Brand or even Boozer, maybe then. It just isn’t gonna work having a PF in an SF’s body like Antawn.
With weak and inconsistent big man like Blatche, Haywood, Oberto and McGee, they need to have that frontcourt anchor for them to be real contenders.
Although they now have a mad bench. Gotta give the front office some props pulling off the trade for Miller and Foye and take themselves out of a potential mess if they ever got involved with Rubio.
But it still all depends on how hot the Hibachi re-heats.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:51 am
sh!tfaced says:
LMFAO@english
that’s classic, man.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Notorious says:
“With Flip Saunders at the helm…”
You wrote that and still believe in the Wizards? No way in hell will they win the ‘Chip, they will be lucky to even make the playoffs. Over/under on games Gilbert plays in is 40, take the under.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Sweet English says:
Tyrone’s range of vocabulary is deeper than the wizards
September 17th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Sweet English says:
Stevie Wonder can drain jumpers deeper than the wizards
September 17th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Dee says:
I would not want to see this team in the first rouond….Nick Young too can drop buckets, with Foye and Miller off the bench they might not ever miss a step with the subs out.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Soopa says:
@ Kobeef
“Javale is a bigger, more offensively talented version of Dwight Howard. Laugh now, haters.”
By bigger surely you mean taller ‘cos last time i saw McGee he was hiding behind a pogostick!
*The sound of me laughing*
September 17th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Sweet English says:
Soopa, the word you’re looking for is ‘lol’
September 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
BiG ShoT BoB says:
HaHahahaha damn your smokin some serious stuff my man. They couldn’t beat the Cavs even when Arenas was healthy. Who’s going to guard Dwight? Even if they do by some miracle come out the east (which would instantly put Arenas in Hall of fame talk for me) they can’t beat any team in the West especially the Lakers.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
D.H. says:
Which SG gets to guard Kobe IF they make it to the finals?
September 17th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Only problem is Saunders isnt the coach who can teach them enough about D to truly make them contenders..
Saunders is a offensive coach so they will be near the tops in scoring and POSSIBLY make the second round but when get into a grind it out series against Orlando or Boston they’ll crumble.. Unless Haywood plays to his potential, dont forget dude has shown flashes in the past..
Did someone really type *the sound of me laughing*?
September 17th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
control says:
This article should read:
“Hello boys and girls, this is a Public Service Announcement. Crack is Wack. When you start smoking it, you end up saying some pretty fucked up shit, like the Wizards could win the Championship this year. Obviously I was playing some D&D while smoking my crack, so the only two options were the Warriors and the Wizards.
Crack fucks your mind up boys and girls, don’t smoke it. Friends don’t let friends talk reckless shit.”
September 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
LakeShow84 says:
LMAO
Control got the post of the day..
Ill agree 2 posts with the Wizards winning the Chip is absolutely frightening.. Kind of like waking up in crack land lol
September 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Boombaby says:
I started reading the first sentence then I went on the comment section! Why defend the wizards? they will never win a ring. They could get to the playoffs then early exit. They have thier egos bruised by the Hawks. Even if Arenas is healthy with the roster like this Lebron and Co will crush them.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
jryu says:
@dime
arenas’s rehab and criticism of the wizards:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4480321
it may be good for a discussion later on.. and no, you guys don’t have to tell us who tim grover has worked with in the past, we know already. i remember reading a comment about that and thinking the same thing.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Blazermark says:
they might be able to win out in the East… but they best stay on their side of the country. The West will whoop that ass.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Sccob says:
If they play with discipline they can win. Put it this way, I beat the Lakers with the Wizards all the time on 2K. I’m not saying that they are dead
September 17th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
MSkittle says:
Not a championship, but maybe 2nd round.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Ian says:
@13 agree
@2 if arenas is still arenas they are a first round team.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Ric_Hardwood says:
They’ll make playoffs but I think the Raps are even a stronger team. Arenas is too selfish and the East is strong this year.
@English
dude, u had me rollin’… lol
September 17th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Ejay says:
They should get Capt. Jack for Nick Young, Deshawn, Javaris and Mike James. Trade away Mike Jame’s Contract and get Capt. Jack and Cj Watson or something.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
chester says:
INSANE ARTICLE… THAT’S ALL…
HOW COME CAN THEY WIN CHAMPIONSHIP IF THEY CAN’T BEAT THE THE OLD CAVS IN THE PLAYOFFS. REMEMBER THE CAVS IN THAT SERIES IS JUST ALL LEBRON AND A BUNCH WHATEVER.! THEY CAN’T BEAT THOSE 3 TEAMS..
ARE U FOR REAL?? Aron Phillips….
HOPE UR DREAMIN’
September 17th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
JayGM says:
The Wizards are potentially one trade away to become a TRUE title contender. Rip Hamilton, who has championship experience and is a true shooting guard, would be a great fit with the Wizards.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mq2e4b
starting Lineup:
Arenas/Foye
Hamilton/Stevenson
Bulter/Miller/Washington
Jamison/Oberto
Haywood/Brown/McGee
September 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Flip says:
Not a chance to win the championship. Not even a darkhorse chance.
September 17th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
The REAL Tyrone says:
I ain’t gotsa say much more than Aron be on crack y’all. Dem Wizards ain’tgot no chance to be winning shit this year.
True thugs NEVER lie.
The Real Tyrone
September 17th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
geoff says:
with the exception of antawn jamison, every player on this team is over rated.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
karizmatic says:
There are several things that prevent the Wizards from ever winning a championship.
1. Gilbert Arenas is a shoot first no defense point guard
2. Antawn Jamison while a good player is not a winner…not a clutch player and really not even a guy you double.
3. Flip Saunders is their coach
4. Brendan Haywoode is talented and soft when it comes down to crunch time
5. Lebron has their number they are his version of MJ’s Knicks or Shaq’s Sacramento Kings
6. Deshawn Stevenson is on their team
7. DESHAWN STEVENSON IS ON THEIR TEAM!!!!
September 17th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Bing says:
gilbert arenas at 100% is awesome but he never lead them to a ring before. why would this year be any different??
September 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
heartbreaker85 says:
AGAIN WITH THE WIZARDS.
of all the players you listed, NOT ONE PLAYER CAN PLAY A LICK OF DEFENSE.
sure butler might be a so-so defender, but after him who else is there?
sure they can score, no doubt. but answer me this aron philips, who’s going to stop the kobes, james, parkers, howards and cp3s of the nba?
and having coach flip on the team doesnt really upgrade your defense.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:45 am
"Tha Boddy™" says:
Great read AP your a gentleman and a scholar
September 18th, 2009 at 5:20 am
M Intellect says:
I love the fear the comments section has garnered and as a regular commenter, I am proud. We’re like the crowd at MSG.
If Javale McGee outplays Haywood, he’ll punch his lights out ala Evan Thomas.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Matt says:
DeShawn Stevenson is wack…the dude took himself out of the starting lineup last year because he knew he was wack. Nick Young isnt much better…and i dont know what people see in blatche, he is lazy out of shape, has no moves and is butt ugly. Its gonna be the same d.c. story, gilbert chucks up ugly shots and butler and jamison clean up his mess. They’ll be weak.
September 19th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Rob says:
As a fan of the team, it’s a stretch for them to win it all, but some comments in here are plain dumb.
First, Dominic McGuire, Stevenson, Butler, and Haywood are all above average defenders with potential in McGee turning into a great defender once he fills out and gets more experience. Oh, let’s not forget Oberto who can bang and flop as well as Varaj in Cleveland. I might add Foye in the mix too.
Second, you guys talk about past failures like losing to the Cavs in the playoffs as if this is the same team. It’s not and those teams were not completely healthy either nor as deep as this year’s team will be.
Third, Flip is the perfect coach for this team and he did employ zone schemes in Minnesota that made the sum better than the parts defensively. Eddie Jordan was the coach who virtually dismissed defense altogether. And, with all the scoring on this team, they only need to be average defensively to win 50 games or perhaps slightly more.
I got them finishing 4th in the conference with a chance at 3rd if someone slips a little and possibly making the CF in the playoffs. This upcoming season’s version of the Nuggets.
September 19th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
ab_40 says:
it’s a chemistry thing… they can go for 50 to 53 this year if everything is clicking if not they’re a middle of the pack team in the east. and at the end of the season their record wouldn’t be good enough to get to the playoffs in the west.
i was just checkin and the east has no exciting young teams loaded with talent. so I have to get leauge pass to see the exciting young teams play I can’t stay up till 3 in the moring for a game to start hehe.
September 19th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
cp3 says:
i dont think theyll be contenders, i think they will make the playoffs though.
and why is everyone sleeping on nick young?
September 20th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Whatever says:
If they are able to play defense as a unit, in which I haven’t seen them do that IN A WHILE. Also, Arenas has to be Arenas again, and everyone else has to play up to the hype. All of this has to happen before you EVEN CONSIDER them contenders. After that, they still have to play the Celtics, Cavs and or the Magic in the playoffs before they even get to the NBA Finals. I’ll admit that they could go as far as the 2nd Round, depending on who they meet in the 1st Round, but to say that they’ll get as far as the NBA Finals, let alone the West Finals, is just ludicrous.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:56 am
IVO says:
DID EVERYBODY SEE MIAMI WADE BRING BACK THE HEAT TO THE PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR ALONE OKAY 1ST ROUND BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE PLAYER WHO DID EVERYTHING.
THE WIZARDS WILL PLAY MORE DEFENSE AND A BETTER DEFENSE BECAUSE FLIP SAUNDERS IS A DEFENSE ADICT LOL.
WILL BE COMPLICATED I HAVE 80% SURE THEY CAN’T WIN A CHIP BUT WHO KNOWS… THEY ARE A GOOD OFFENSE TEAM ARENAS, BUTLER, JAMISON, FOYE AND MILLER… WE EXPECT DEFENSE
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 am
BQ says:
don’t sleep on Foye. He had to work too hard for his shots last year cuz Al J never kicked it out when double teamed. Randy had to create too much for himself…he’s gonna get more open shots now…dont sleep on what he can bring to the offense
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Skywalker says:
Foye, Young, Miller, and Caron playing the 2 with Gil running point….Wiz have the best rotation of SGs in the league. It’s easily their strongest and most reliable position.
Foye is not a PG.
on paper, Wiz are deep
September 26th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Kenneth says:
The Wizards won’t win the championship and I don’t think there’s much possibility. They can get to the second round and possibly beyond.
Folks are sleeping on Arenas not being back, but being better than ever. Tim Grover in Chicago says so and so do all the pros who’ve worked against him.
The thing that will make this the best Wizards team ever are a better coach, much better bigs, and much better perimeter shooting. Saunders will coach the defense up without taking away from the offense. Haywood’s in a contract year. Oberto is a savvy flopper. Blatche has a new number, has had a terrific summer, and is going to have his best season. McGee is a 7 foot 1 player with freakish athleticism. His dunks will come frequently because of three point shooters who can pass in Foye and Miller.
The Wizards are a balanced team that will probably win 30-35 games more than they won last season. (19)
I think they could get to the second round and maybe come out of the east if they are healthy because Boston is old and Shaq will throw off Cleveland’s chemistry.
Don’t sleep on the Wizards. (But don’t bank on a championship, either, until the defense is better at the PF position).