Sports
Is JaVale McGee the next big thing for the Wizards?
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
November 14, 2008
Team is excited about rookie center’s potential
Forget the 1-5 record. With each blocked shot, each extra-terrestrial alley-oop, each windmill dunk, rookie center JaVale McGee fires the imagination. Who cares about the present when the future is so tantalizing?
When asked which NBA player reminds him of McGee, Wizards guard Juan Dixon was stumped.
“In his class?” asked Dixon. “Well, Dwight Howard can finish, block shots, and run the floor, like him. He’s about the only one.”
The Wizards would be thrilled to present Superman II, the sequel.
McGee did a reasonable impersonation of Howard Wednesday night with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 27 minutes in the Wizards’ 95-87 win over Utah. But his presence added up to much more. With McGee on the floor, the Wizards out-scored the Jazz by 19 points.
So did Washington President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld steal a lottery-worthy player with the No. 18 pick last June?
“He’s a special player because of his growth, his intangibles. Let’s see if that continues,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “Teams are gonna key in on him. Teams are going to play him differently. I would think they’ll try to go to his body first, get him in foul trouble.”
With the shot blocking ability that comes with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and 36-inch vertical leap, McGee can make the Wizards a different team. Instead of packing it in and guarding the lane, Washington can be more aggressive on the perimeter, contest 3-pointers and force more turnovers, which lead to easy baskets.
The McGee effect was apparent against Utah. Watch for it at Miami.
Wizards at Heat
» After last year’s free fall to the worst record in the NBA, Miami (4-4) is rejuvenated with G Dwyane Wade (28.3 ppg, 7.6 apg, 2.8 spg), finally healthy, the addition of Seat Pleasant resident Michael Beasley (16.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and a refocused F Shawn Marion (10.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg).
Forget the 1-5 record. With each blocked shot, each extra-terrestrial alley-oop, each windmill dunk, rookie center JaVale McGee fires the imagination. Who cares about the present when the future is so tantalizing?
When asked which NBA player reminds him of McGee, Wizards guard Juan Dixon was stumped.
“In his class?” asked Dixon. “Well, Dwight Howard can finish, block shots, and run the floor, like him. He’s about the only one.”
The Wizards would be thrilled to present Superman II, the sequel.
McGee did a reasonable impersonation of Howard Wednesday night with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 27 minutes in the Wizards’ 95-87 win over Utah. But his presence added up to much more. With McGee on the floor, the Wizards out-scored the Jazz by 19 points.
So did Washington President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld steal a lottery-worthy player with the No. 18 pick last June?
“He’s a special player because of his growth, his intangibles. Let’s see if that continues,” said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. “Teams are gonna key in on him. Teams are going to play him differently. I would think they’ll try to go to his body first, get him in foul trouble.”
With the shot blocking ability that comes with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and 36-inch vertical leap, McGee can make the Wizards a different team. Instead of packing it in and guarding the lane, Washington can be more aggressive on the perimeter, contest 3-pointers and force more turnovers, which lead to easy baskets.
The McGee effect was apparent against Utah. Watch for it at Miami.
Wizards at Heat
» After last year’s free fall to the worst record in the NBA, Miami (4-4) is rejuvenated with G Dwyane Wade (28.3 ppg, 7.6 apg, 2.8 spg), finally healthy, the addition of Seat Pleasant resident Michael Beasley (16.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg), and a refocused F Shawn Marion (10.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg).
