Washington Wizards Need Some Magic

Word out of D.C. is that Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan is planning to shake things up.

I say, shake 'em like a martini, Eddie.

Once again, this talented team is off to a slow start. The Wizards started the 2007-2008 season 0-5, and currently own an 0-3 record, good enough for last place in the Southeast Division.

The Wizards were expected to miss Gilbert Arenas, aka Agent Zero games played, but who thought they would miss Brendan Haywood? Say what you want about Haywood, but all he did last season was have a career year, playing solid basketball at both ends of the court consistently.

Jordan has decided to start Etan Thomas at center this season.  While I love Thomas' passion for the game and aggressive style of play, he is just not a starting NBA center.

The second problem with this team is the starting guard play. The Wizards currently start two guards who are not a threat to score. This enables opposing teams to load up on Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison without fear of Antonio Daniels and DeShawn Stevenson making shots.

Speaking of the Wizards' two active All-Stars—they must stop settling for jump shots. I know that this team does not have a low-post presence, so Butler and Jamison must exploit matchups whenever possible to fill that void.

In the last two games, the Wizard's most productive line-up has included Nick Young and Juan Dixon at guard, Butler and Jamison at forward, and either Darius Songaila or JaVale McGee at center. I'm not suggesting that these five players should constitute the starting unit, but clearly they need to play more.

Some would argue that the Dixon/Young backcourt is a liability defensively. I would say that this tandem has produced more steals and fast-break points the past two games than the starters have in three.

The bottom line is that this team is never going to be a great defensive team. The Wizards need to outscore teams to win. Stevenson and Daniels aren't exactly locking down the opposing starters at guard, so if they are not hitting shots they have to sit.

The Wizards' best option at center right now is the rookie JaVale McGee. He's an athletic seven-footer with average big-man skills—but again, he is seven feet tall. He will block a couple of shots a game and alter a few others. McGee's youthful energy and rebounding ability can really help the team at this point.

The most disappointing facets of the Bucks game were the poor free-throw shooting and turnovers. Seventeen missed free throws and twenty turnovers—that's a recipe for defeat.

With the next two games against the new-look New York Knicks and Superman's Orlando Magic, the prospects of another 0-5 start—or worse—are pretty good. Now is a good time to shake things up.

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