Wizards 2009-10 Season Preview
2008-09 Record: 19-63, 5th in the Southeast Division
Key Additions: Coach Flip Saunders, G/F Mike Miller, G Randy Foye, F/C Fabricio Oberto
Key Losses: Darius Songaila, Etan Thomas, Oleksiy Pecherov
Gilbert Arenas
He's trying to come back from 3 major knee surgeries that have wiped out the last two seasons and almost his entire career. When healthy, Arenas is a spectacular scorer who can get to the rim against almost anyone. With the wealth of scoring options on the roster now, the team needs Gil to distribute more, even if it means his scoring average falls from the high-20s to the low-20s. Arenas also needs to focus on being a great basketball star instead of a media star and he needs to make a real effort on defense from time to time.
Nick Young
Despite an offseason of talk about Nick Young devoting himself to basketball and taking over the shooting guard position, it's not clear how much progress, if any, Young has made. He's still happy-go-lucky, he still dishes very few assists and he's still an inconsistent defender -- to put it kindly. Young has developed a nice jumper off the curl, but he has yet to prove he can be counted on to score 15+ points on a nightly basis. Young could be a key part of Flip Saunders' rotation or he could find himself riding the pine most nights.
DeShawn Stevenson
Saunders appreciates Stevenson's grit and moxie and willingness to get rough, nasty and play defense. These are qualities in very short supply on the Wizards and Stevenson, if his back is fully healed, is the team's best perimeter defender in the backcourt. His shot is ugly and has gotten uglier, but it could improve with Gil back, attracting double teams and leaving Stevenson open for good looks from the 3-point line. Don't be surprised if Stevenson is back from the ashes and starting every game.
Caron Butler
The All Star forward is slimmer and healthier than ever before and promises a huge season. He scored 21 ppg last year and his determination and leadership more than makes up for questionable ball-handling skills. Butler has had major problems staying healthy, but if he can give the Wizarsd 70+ games this year, the team will be happy and in the playoffs.
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