2008 Washington Wizards Preview & NBA Season Predictions

Written October 7, 2008 by Luke Knight

The Wizards have made the playoffs for 4 years in a row now, but with little to show for it. The Wizards have been hurt by injuries to their stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, and last year for the 3rd straight year they were beaten by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first-round of the playoffs. Coach Eddie Jordan still seems to have the players buying what he is selling, but making the playoffs is no longer enough; the Wizards need to actually advance in the playoffs. Keep reading to see if we think the Wizards will finally advance in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Check out BetUS to bet on the Wizards, who are +4000 odds to win the NBA Championship this season. Of course, our NBA odds feed will also have the spread for each Washington game as well.

Gilbert Arenas will run the point in Eddie Jordan’s Princeton-style offense. Arenas is such a good fit, because the offense does not rely on a true point guard. Arenas is second to none offensively, so if he gets better on the defensive end, Washington will be that much better. Arenas shouldn’t have to carry as heavy a load as he has in the past, since the Wizards have become a much more balanced team. Arenas had two knee surgeries in the last year and missed all but 13 regular season games last season and never found his footing in the playoffs. When Arenas is on though, he is magnificent scoring more than 30 points 35 times in 2006-2007. Antonio Daniels has ranked among the league-leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio the last two years, but could see more time at shooting guard. Dee Brown, a solid defensive player, is second on the depth chart at the point position.

DeShawn Stevenson should be able to move back to a supporting role, in which he excels. With Arenas and Caron Butler out last season, Stevenson was asked to do too much. Stevenson has averaged 11 points in five of the last six years. Antonio Daniels will get minutes here as well, if Arenas returns to major minutes. Dee Brown could see some time at the off guard position also. Brown was quickly picked up with the departure of free agent Roger Mason, Jr. Mason will be missed, but Jordan wanted to find more time for Nick Young. Young has a 6-6 frame and could turn into a great find when it is all said and done.

Caron Butler was having his best offensive season ever before injuries knocked him out for the second straight season. Butler was a 2007 all-star and a great locker room presence. Butler is the type of player that holds the team together and more than willingly sacrifices his numbers to Arenas happy and Antawn Jamison involved down low. Butler called out Andray Blatche and Blatche stepped up his game. Dominic McGuire is a project, but should give significant time backing up Butler.

Instant Credit Card Deposits & 100% First Win Bonus!

Antawn Jamison shot a career-low .436 from the field last season, but with injuries to Arenas and Butler, he was often the only viable option. Jamison was one of only 16 NBA players to average a double-double with 21.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. Arenas may be the face of this team, but Jamison’s ability in the paint has been the heartbeat of this team recently. Darius Songaila adds some bulk around the basket, after returning from a back injury to play 80 games last season. Oleksiy Pecherov could get some time here, but is a work in progress. Rookie JaVale McGee, the 18th pick in the draft, is an athletic post player, but was often pushed away from the basket in the summer league.

Brendan Haywood posted career highs of 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in 27.9 minutes after Eddie Jordan sat him down early last season. Haywood started 80 games and played with great intensity. Etan Thomas, who missed the entire season last year after open-heart surgery, is expected to be back at full speed. The Wizards could use another big body to shore up the middle and add some defense.

Final Analysis

This team is a huge question mark if not only for the reason that they have not been able to stay healthy the last two seasons. They are certainly talented with Arenas, Butler, and Jamison all on the floor, but that has been more of a rarity the last two years. Things have got to click for the Wizards this year, or Jordan could find himself on the hot seat, or out of a job. I personally won’t believe the Wizards can stay healthy until I see it. If they are healthy they should compete with the Bobcats for the third place in the division and compete for a 5th consecutive playoff berth. If they aren’t healthy, then I like Larry Brown’s chances of leading the Bobcats past them, and they will fail to make the playoffs for the first time in 4 seasons. We have the Wizards finishing ahead of the Heat, but behind the Magic, Hawks, and Bobcats. We have the Wizards on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, but if you are interested in betting the Wizards they are +2000 at winning the Eastern Conference at BetUS.

Get more NBA predictions from Luke Knight:

Join Now and Get a 10% Cash Bonus!

Filed Under NBA