Le Basketbawl

Washington Wizards
Coach: Eddie Jordan
Projected Finish: 44-38

Analysis
The greatest team that almost was? The Washington Wizards should have at least made the Eastern Conference Finals by now with all that talent. Injuries, however have made the team a first round victim three years straight. Agent Zero again has problems with the knee that has plagued him for the last two seasons. The window of opportunity is closing quickly.

NBA Preview; Southeast Division

Want to be a basketball coach and have job security? Than get yourself a teaching certificate, and get hooked up with a high school. Preferably one that puts teaching ahead of winning. Stay away from private schools, the parents get too involved. The higher you go up the coaching chain the less security you will have. Division One colleges are a crap shoot, the alumni will only put up with losing so long.

By the time you get to the pinnacle coaching in the NBA, you realize every day could be your last. No greater proof is needed than  Phil Jackson. The best coach in the Association in the post Red Auerbach, did not have his contract renewed by the Chicago Bulls, and the Los Angeles Lakers. That tells you all you need to know.

As you go through the teams in the NBA there are two coaches who will most likely have their jobs as long as they want them. That would be the San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, and the Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Doc Rivers in Boston probably now has a Teflon coating in Boston, as does Jackson in L.A.  Mike Brown in Cleveland and Byron Scott in New Orleans would seem to be safe in their positions as well. 

There have been two firings within the past week, both understandable, one justifiable. The justifiable one was the first one as P.J. Carlesimo was released by the Oklahoma  City Thunder after a 1-12 start. Why the “Team Formerly Known As The Seattle SuperSonics” hired Carlesimo never really made sense. Was he just a place setter for the team to get through the final season in the Northwest? Scott Brooks now has a chance to see if he can be a diamond in the rough, or just one more interim coach in the history of the Association.

The other firing was understandable, but not justified. Eddie Jordan was cast over the side of the “S.S. Washington Wizards” basically, due to problems that he did not cause. Washington General Manager Ernie Grunfeld, knew he was rolling the dice when he re-signed free agent guard Gilbert Arenas to a long term contract. Although, the long term results may end up being successful, Grunfeld has come up with snake eyes in this still young NBA campaign.

When “Agent Zero” is healthy, he is a legitimate NBA All-Star, an elite player. He has great game, and charisma, a great interview win or lose. Unfortunately Arenas has enjoyed healthy status too infrequently in the last couple of seasons. Arenas has been attempting to come back from a knee injury, that has landed him on the injured list for huge chunks of time since the 2006-2007 season.  Arenas has had 3 separate surgeries on the same knee. He has started this season on the injured list, and Washington has not been able to fill the void. Center Brendan Haywood may end up missing the season after having surgery on his shooting wrist, which has only increased the Wizards woes.

Jordan was a highly respected, and highly sought after assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets when the Wizards hired him in June of 2003. Jordan was part of the coaching staff that led to back to back appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002, and 2003. The Nets had lost both times, but it was the only two times the team has ever been in the Finals in their history in the Association. Washington wooed him, and a year later their choice paid off, as the team made the playoffs in his second season.

The following season a rivalry was born, between the Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wizards had post season experience, where as the Cavaliers were making their maiden voyage. Cleveland had home court advantage in the series, but many NBA observers had predicted Washington would win. A six game roller coaster series ensued with the Cavaliers winning in six games in D.C. Both teams had all their weapons and matched up against each other quite well.

The two opponents met in the playoffs the following two years, in 2007 without Arenas and Caron Butler. Butler was healthy in 2008, but Arenas played hurt at the beginning of the series, and then finally just shut it down.

Jordan accumulated the third most wins as a coach in team history, even with the injuries. The team had the talent, but not the karma on their side, and Jordan was the sacrificial lamb. Wizards G.M. Grunfeld was more responsible for the team’s poor start than Jordan was, but he apparently still has the confidence of the club’s owner Abe Polin.

Jordan is a a good coach and in the long run, this firing may work out as a blessing in disguise. A few seasons ago, another young promising coach was fired by the Orlando Magic, when that team was beset by injuries. That young coach would be hired again, and win the NBA Finals last June as head coach of the Boston Celtics.