Wizards drop their 4th meeting against the Heat

[dj_stouty]

If they want to get anywhere in the playoffs, they will need to compete with teams such as the Heat.

The Wiz played their best game of the series tonight..but the role players on the Heat aside from Shaq put the game away.

[suppitty]

Well everything in dc is going downhill. Nats, redskins, and now wizards. Expect a big losing streak here folks.

[straightupbeast]

if they can beat the teams theyre supposed to theyll do fine...now for the playoffs...we'll be in but i dont know how far we will get...all based on who we'll play

[GibbsRules!]

Damon Jones killed the Wiz tonight. I really watched Kwame closely on D and he just looked lethargic. I thought he would have turned it around...I just don't know that he has it in him. Haywood played his heart out against Shaq. Some bad missed calls this game, but I'm not gonna blame it on that. Time to regroup.

[ShaggySkins]

I'm not getting too upset about the loss to the Heat. They are one of the 3 best teams in the East. Making the playoffs for the Wizards would be a great accomplishment. If they can beat the bottom rung teams in the conferences then we can make the playoffs.

[riskus]

the officiating was horrible tonight. For both sides but it killed the flow of the game. I thought they played better when shaq was actually in the game.

they will be alright. I think they can go 500 this year. it sucks that they got swept by the heat but they really played a better game then them tonight. The heat just have more depth right now.

Hopefully when Eitan gets back he will make a difference. Kwame is really bothering me right now.

I was more concerned about this stretch of games comming up about a week ago when they were about to go up against the bulls and other dregs. I figured if they won out on those games they would be alright. So they did and now I am not as concerned about a little losing streak on this west coast trip.

Im hoping they will split the next 4 games. Im thinking they can beat the lakers and warriors on this trip. That will keep them 4 games above 500.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

why couldnt they at least get ONE against the heat? i know they are a top team but the wiz have got to climb that mountain to get some respect. i think they'll snatch 2 out of 4 (it is 4 right?) in this west coast trip.....starting at LA.

[Redskin006]

the heat games are killing the wizards. they are a great team this year, but there's something about the heat...d*mn shaq!!

[GolfFreak]

At least that was their last game vs. them this year. It was good that Shaq foulded out and I thought overtime was coming. I think they'll do OK, this road trip will show their true colors.

[Jimreaper007]

This just in.......The Heat are very good

[GibbsRules!]

Hopefully when Eitan gets back he will make a difference. Kwame is really bothering me right now.



I saw Dwayne Wade get the ball at the free throw line with Brown to his right and a step closer to the basket. Wade dribbled with his left and sped to the basket while Brown allowed him to and tried for the playground reach around to steal the ball. A SEVEN FOOTER TRYING TO REACH AROUND AND NOT ALTER THE SMALLER PLAYERS SHOT!

I know I've supported Kwame in the past here, but at this point I see him a nothing more than 6 Fouls in the Hack a Shaq program. I would rather see Etan backing up Haywood...

[Jimreaper007]

The wiz need to see what the deal is with Ramos...Big investment nothing to show for it...

Does he have any minutes what so ever?

[GibbsRules!]

The wiz need to see what the deal is with Ramos...Big investment nothing to show for it...

Does he have any minutes what so ever?

Ramos is a project JimReap. He got destroyed by Sean May of UNC this summer down in Puerto Rico...he just isn't ready yet. He, too, might be getting ready for the post season Hack a Shaq playoff run. Ramos has the size to let Shaq know he's on the court.

[Jimreaper007]

The only way you get better is to play....

So they are paying this guy more money than us to be a bench ornament?

I know he is a project, but you cannot teach 7'6 and 290 pounds. Ramos can change games by his mere appearance in the paint.

[dj_stouty]

The only way you get better is to play....

Yeah...but why should the Wizards jeopardize their winning record by giving playing minutes to someone not "ready for primetime players"? Only if the Wiz are blowing out the opponent by 20+ with 4 minutes to go...

I'm all up for developing players, but not at the expense of losing.

[Jimreaper007]

Yeah...but why should the Wizards jeopardize their winning record by giving playing minutes to someone not "ready for primetime players"? Only if the Wiz are blowing out the opponent by 20+ with 4 minutes to go...

I'm all up for developing players, but not at the expense of losing.


Very Good point, but what are the expectations for the wiz this year?

Are we expecting them to make the playoffs? I would play him in situations in the game so he makes it difficult for other teams. There has to be a way to utilize his size every night.

[GibbsRules!]

Very Good point, but what are the expectations for the wiz this year?

Are we expecting them to make the playoffs? I would play him in situations in the game so he makes it difficult for other teams. There has to be a way to utilize his size every night.

Here's his scouting report. He might need a slight attitude adjustment. I think the Wiz are more concerned with Kwame's attitude right now...


Scouting Reports
ESPN Insider

Notes: Ramos may be the only guy in the United States to be playing both professional and high school ball at the same time (unless you count Sebastian Telfair). Scouts have been watching him closely for several years. Played in the Global Games and in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for under-18 year olds. Ramos dropped 30 points and had 20 boards against former NBA big man Stanley Roberts in April. Roberts was held to two points and four boards playing against Ramos. Has entered the draft and hired an agent, but is considered an international player by the NBA and can pull his name out of the draft if he doesn't like his status.

Upside: He's enormous. He's pretty strong and has a developing post game. Has a nice hook shot and a soft touch on his jumper with range out to 15 feet. When he plays aggresively on offense, he can be tough to stop. Fundamentally he's pretty sound for a big man. He's a good passer for a big man. Unlike Pavel, he's gotten plenty of playing experience over the past few years in a number of venues. Ramos' agent, Andrew Vye, sent me a third video tape of Ramos from a game he played April 20. In the game Ramos scored 30 points and had 9 rebounds. It was, by far, the most impressive look at the big kid so far. He runs the floor very well, shows surprising touch from 15 feet, puts the ball on the floor on several occasions and attacks the basket and is generally aggressive on the offensive side of the floor. The bottom line? In that game, almost every time Ramos touched the ball something good happened.

Downside: Like all young big men, he's still got a long way to go. He's got a good frame on him, but he isn't nearly as strong as Pavel is. Defensively his effort is pretty weak. He allows much smaller players to shoot over him. Doesn't keep his hands up. Some scouts have questioned his focus and desire to play the game.

Insider Projection: Ramos may be the hottest name in the draft right now. He's putting up big numbers in Puerto Rico lately and the scouts who have made the trip down to Puerto Rico have generally been impressed. Vye has also hired Billy Bayno, the same guy who ran Pavel Podkolzine's workout last year, to help him get prepared for the draft. Bayno, on the video, claims that Ramos is a quick learner and that based on what he's seen, he's a top 10 pick in the draft. There are several GMs, who've only seen Ramos recently, who are saying the same thing. But beware of the hype. Scouts who have been following Ramos for a much longer time think that there are major issues on the court and off the court that will eventually bring his stock back to earth. Questions about his head, work ethic and attitude are everywhere among scouts who've seen him longer. Two scouts compared him to Loren Woods, another talented big kid who never could keep his head in the game. He could go anywhere from 12 to 29. That's the biggest range in the draft.

[riskus]

losing 4 to the heat doesnt bother me since we didnt have a fully healthy interior.
That being said. Even if they did. Shaq is just Shaq. we can lose to them if we beat everyone else.

[Jimreaper007]

A good coach utlizes all the strengths of his players and minimizes their weaknesses. Eddie Jordan needs to find a way to encorporate this 7'6 monster into games.

The only way the kid will get better is to play...otherwise he is a 7'4 bench ornament.

[riskus]

most second round picks dont even make it in the league anyway. I am pretty sure he isnt being played for a reason. Jordan is a good coach and I trust him.

[RedskinsVision]

most second round picks dont even make it in the league anyway. I am pretty sure he isnt being played for a reason. Jordan is a good coach and I trust him.

yes.. Ramos is a 2nd Rounder which means he's a project at best and we do not need to rush this guy at the expense of slowing down a team headed for the playoffs. if he doesn't work out it won't even be considered a bust. plus he's on IR so he can't play.

12-8 is still a great record when nobody thought they'd be anywhere and now they're done with 1 of the 3 great Eastern teams so as long as they take care of the rest like they have been, they're headed for the playoffs.. which is a big accomplishment.

[IndianBaller27]

The good news is that it's the last game of the regular season against them.

[IndianBaller27]

A good coach utlizes all the strengths of his players and minimizes their weaknesses. Eddie Jordan needs to find a way to encorporate this 7'6 monster into games.

The only way the kid will get better is to play...otherwise he is a 7'4 bench ornament.
He's not 7'6". I thought he was 7'3"