Wiz-Ards Opener

Ten thoughts from the Wizards home opener:

1) We lost to the Nets last night and despite having Vince Carter (who is still nasty by the way), the Nets should have been an easy win. But then again, the Wizards usually start off slow, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt here. The real test will be Saturday night against the Pistons, a team that will kill the Wizards unless they bring their "A-Game."

2) We paid Arenas way too much money. I hate to say that, but it's true. How can you reward a guy whose constantly injured with a 100 million dollar contract and then expect the franchise to thrive in the long-term? Maybe you pay Lebron or Kobe that kind of money, but this is Gilbert Arenas we're talking about here: unless he's healthy and passing the ball, he has very little potential to lead this team to a championship. I love the guy to death, but he is a supporting player at best on a team with rebounding and inside, post-play. Sorry, Gil. The Wizards don't have that.

3) We have to rely on youngsters because of Gilbert's injury, but they are still an unproven quantity. Blatche is good at times, but he still gets in trouble off the court; he also has problems putting fourth constant effort each night. Nick Young shows flashes of greatness, but like Blatche, he's very off and on during the 82-game grind. Maybe this year they will turn a page, but Andray is on season 4 and Nick has to start playing well immediately. Will that happen this year? I hope so.

4) Etan Thomas is back, but his poetry still sucks. Nothing new here.

5) Eddy Jordan will still make this team good, despite what everyone says about Arenas and the youngsters. Why? He is one of the best coaches in the NBA and he's also one of the classiest. So to say that the Heat will finish above the Wizards this year JUST BECAUSE they have D-Wade back, is frankly insulting. The Wiz-ARDS made the playoffs three years in a row despite having the worst possible injury situation you could imagine. Gilbert got injured, Caron got injured, and Antawn was constantly beaten-up. Yet the Wizards always played hard and pulled through thick and thin. You have Jordan to thank for that and I have no doubt he'll do it again. The Miami Heat, however, have no proven quantity at head coach, nor do they have a guarantee that Stoudemire will stay healthy or play consistent basketball. Even if Wade is dominant this year, there is no guarantee Udonis Haslem and Stoudemire will have what it takes to make this team good again. The Wizards, however, have a track record of three veterans constantly leading their team to the playoffs.

6) Caron Butler needs to have a career year and I expect him to do so...Tough Juice just needs to stay out of dance clubs at 3 AM before playoff games...

7) The Western Conference will be nasty this year, but the East has improved as evident by the Celts, the 76ers, the Raptors, Magic, and Wiz. Why do you think TNT is putting more Eastern Conference games on primetime this year?

8) As I mentioned above, Eddy Jordan is one of the classiest coaches in the NBA. His temperment is first class, he never uses foul language, he never unduly criticizes people or refs, and he never complains about his team's injuries or uses them as an excuse for his performance as a coach.

9) DC may get the trifecta this year -- good hockey, football, and basketball. This hasn't happend in my lifetime. But unlike Boston, I doubt they will win a championship and spoil every fan in this area for years to come.

10) Javale McGee is going to be nasty some day. He is 7 feet tall, runs the court well, passes, and has a 10-15 foot jumper. Not bad for a rookie.