I had promised myself that I would not say one word about the NBA or its players until my beloved Wizards ended their pathetic and embarrassing losing skid. Finally, after five straight losses, the Wizards defeated the Utah Jazz at Verizon Center and they threw the monkey off their back.

The problem I see with the Wizards right now is lack of team chemistry and lack of defense. Now the whole ‘lack of defense’ thing is nothing new in D.C. The Wizards flat-out have no one that can play any such defense that is the least bit effective. Caron Butler will get some steals and the rookie may get some blocks, but you’re certainly not seeing any first team defensive squad out there. As for the ‘lack of chemistry’, I don’t mean that in a negative way. I am simply stating that when you have three new guys join the squad including a rookie, you have two major injuries to two of your starters, and you are putting a heavy call on former bench players, it is going to take some getting used to for everyone. Hopefully players realize that they need to step up and work as a team if they really want to make any noise whatsoever in the playoffs. Below is a little Wizards’ roster preview:

Gilbert Arenas (G) – Two bum knees, in my opinion, means that paying the guy $116 million is absurd and ridiculous, Arenas was all about the money. Had he cared about the future of the team he would have taken a pay cut and we could have entered in the Chris Bosh sweepstakes in the next two years. Overpaid for riding the pine.

Andray Blatche (F) – It’s his fourth year in the league and there are no more excuses for why he can’t produce and play down low. With Haywood out, Blatche will get his chances and he needs to make the most of them. I love his potential and this year has to be a big for him.

Dee Brown (G) – He was certainly good in college, but we’ll have to wait and see about his play with the Wiz. His PT will be limited but I expect to see some fight out of him in order to stay on an NBA roster.

Caron Butler (F) – He is a captain on this team for a reason. Easily the best all-around player that we have on our team and hopefully he can put this team on his back. All-Star bound for sure.

Antonio Daniels (G) – He is a pretty good reserve, but he’s getting up there in age. He’s a streaky player that is either dead-on or dead-off and his defense is pretty bad. Either way, I’ll take his leadership and experience any day.

Juan Dixon (G) – I’m a huge Juan fan and bringing him back to D.C. was a smart move, although it was his choice to leave originally. Juan should get some quality minutes and he has pretty decent defense and the ability to knock down outside shots. He’ll most likely have his best year since leaving the Wiz a few years ago.

Brendan Haywood (C) – He finally started to come around for us and then he goes and hurts himself. I don’t believe any of the riff-raff that he could come back, he’s out for the season. It’s a huge loss for the club and that’s where we need Blatche to step up.

Antawn Jamison (F) – Awesome player offensively but not so much on the defensive end. However, I will never complain about Antawn or his consistent double-doubles throughout the season. As a captain on this team, Jamison needs to produce like last year and it will certainly carry us far.

JaVale McGee (C) – I hated this pick when I was watching the draft in June, but this rookie has proven me wrong. He’s long, he plays defense, and he has the most hustle out of anyone on the floor. With Haywood down, McGee could actually earn a starting spot for next year if he continues to play like has through the first 6 games.

Dominic McGuire (F) – I have loved this guy since we drafted in the second round a couple years ago. He’s not the biggest guy on the court but he plays like he is. He has heart, he can rebound, and his offensive game is improving (he’s more of a power/dunk kind of guy right now). I hope his PT increases and he really gets to show what he can do.

Oleksiy Pecherov (F) – Does anyone really know who this guy is or why we drafted him? When he does get in games he just fires up threes like he’s Ray Allen. Can someone please tell him that he’s 7-feet tall and that he should probably learn how to post up and play defense.

Darius Songalia (F) – Back-up at best and barely that. I view Songalia as an extra body to go in the game and throw himself around a bit. Nothing flashy but he can get the job done.

DeShawn Stevenson (G) – Cocky, selfish, and average at best. He not only talks the most trash on the team, but he is the least likely to back it up as well (see: 2007 Playoffs v. LeBron). I liked DeShawn at first because he actually played some defense, he has since slacked in that department and he still has a very streaky shot. He’s only around because Gilbert wants him to be.

Etan Thomas (C) – He’s got a lot of effort but he’s just not that good. His defense so far this season has been pretty good and it could lead into him being a big body to throw on opposing centers.

Nick Young (G) – I think he’s the next face of Washington and he should make a lot of noise in the NBA in the next couple years. Kind of a quiet talent that we have brewing here in Washington. His play is more along the lines of streetball than it is organized, but that’s what makes him so dangerous and exciting to watch.

And what really needs to stop are all the people that say Eddie Jordan needs to go or that Ernie Grunfeld sucks. Shut up! Before Eddie Jordan came to Washington, the Wizards had been a disaster for decades and they were the laughing stock of the NBA. We have made the playoffs with Eddie and he has made a reputation here in D.C. As for Ernie, he is a hell of a GM. Gilbert, Caron, Antawn, Larry Hughes (he was good with us), Nick Young, and now JaVale McGee. Give me a break, the guy has worked wonders ever since he showed up in Washington.

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