Washington Wizards: Where hard work meets top drawer NBA talent

Amongst the NBA’s boxscores from last night, astute observers should understand the significance of this score …

Wizards 95 @ Hornets 92 (Feb 25) 

When Washington (27-29, 2nd Southeast, 6th Eastern Conference) wins a road game, at New Orleans (37-18, 2nd Southwest, 5th Western Conference), it means more than just a W for the visitors.

Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don’t Lie: Behind the boxscore, where the Washington Wizards Care 

But, to simply view this collection of players as a ‘hard-working bunch’ is to actually de-value the job that’s beendone, to this point, by esteemed Wizards’ GM, Ernie Grunfeld, in constructing a high fine team that, despite some serious setbacks that might have put a lesser man, down and out for the count.

Grunfeld has put together a group of good sized, very athletic players with terrific complimentary skill sets, comprised of eight (8) 1st Round NBA Draft Picks & five (5) 2nd Round Selections, that can Rebound, Defend & Score the ball with as much proficiency & balance as any team in the NBA … when completely healthy.

Wizards Roster 2007-2008
Num	Player	Draft #	POS	HT	WT	DOB	FROM	YRS
0	Gilbert Arenas *	32	G	6-4	215	01/06/1982	Arizona	6
32	Andray Blatche	49	F	6-11	248	08/22/1986	South Kent Prep (CT)	2
3	Caron Butler *	10	F	6-7	228	03/13/1980	Connecticut	5
6	Antonio Daniels	4	G	6-4	205	03/19/1975	Bowling Green	10
33	Brendan Haywood	20	C	7-0	263	11/27/1979	North Carolina	6
4	Antawn Jamison	4	F	6-9	235	06/12/1976	North Carolina	9
8	Roger Mason, Jr.	32	G	6-5	212	09/10/1980	Virginia	3
5	Dominic McGuire	47	F	6-9	220	10/20/1985	Fresno State	R
14	Oleksiy Pecherov	16	C-F	7-0	234	12/08/1985	Ukraine	R
9	Darius Songaila	51	F	6-9	248	02/14/1978	Wake Forest	4
2	DeShawn Stevenson	23	G	6-5	218	04/03/1981	Washington Union HS (CA)	7
36	Etan Thomas *	12	C	6-10	260	04/01/1978	Syracuse	6
1	Nick Young	16	G	6-6	200	06/01/1985	USC	R
* Injured

The fact that this group is continuing to perform at a level which will earn them a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, should they maintain their current pace for the balance of the season … in spite of serious injuries to Gilbert Arenas, Etan Thomas and Caron Butler – 2 starters and, overall, 3 of the top 8 players – is a testament to their outstanding character, the daily work of their coaching staff (Eddie Jordan & Co.) , and the basketball acumen of their GM.

Should the Wizards make it to the post-season, this year, with their full comportment of players … they will be another very dangerous ‘bottom-end’ team for one of the top dogs in the East to contend with.

Tags: Andray Blatche, Antawn Jamison, Antonio, Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler, Daniels, Darius Songaila, DeShawn Stevenson, Dominic McGuire, Eddie Jordan, Etan Thomas, Gilbert Arenas, Jr., Kelly Dwyer, Nick Young, Oleksiy Pecherov, Roger Mason, Washington Wizards