Post by donatello2424 on Jun 30, 2009 7:58:44 GMT -5
There were whispers around the Capital Center since last season. Chris Webber heard them and knew about them, but he didn’t think anything of them, they were just rumors floating around. He had heard talks of him being shopped and of other trades, but he decided to go out and play every night. He didn’t personally know of former Bullets star Hakeem Olajuwon, only that he was shocked to be traded with fried Dale Davis to Bullets for him. There were banners of Olajuwon and posters all across the Capital Center mixed in with some of his own. He knew he would love to play with him, but knew that Houston didn’t have the cap space to go after him in free agency.
Webber relaxing the shit hold Capital Center’s hot tub
This past year was an unusual one for the Bullets. Going into the season, many people projected them to be near the bottom of the league. They were a 1 man team with Webber. Davis was solid and could rebound decently and block shots, but he wasn’t an offensive option. They did go out and sign Ed Pinckney during free agency, a small forward with solid defense and rebounding, and Jeff Webster, a former second round pick just looking to make a name for himself. They went out and signed veteran John Starks to a 1 year, league minimum deal with hopes he could provide depth. Well Pinckney was moved to power forward and showed great promise, Webster started at small forward shooting the ball very well, and Starks showed that he could play after rotting on the Kings bench the year before. The team started to win as they found a style of play that worked. Starks and Webster showed they could hit the 3, and allowed Webster and Davis to grab the rebounds and give Webber some easy points. Starks had a career year averaging 18 ppg, Webster added 20, and Webber had his 22. However something was missing. This team wasn’t the same of the former Bullets that was a defensive minded team. The Bullets lost in the playoffs to end this miracle season.
Whisper, whisper, whisper. “Have you heard that Olajuwon could be coming back to the Bullets, what about Wilkins? Drexler is rumored as well?”
“Yes we have been in talks with Houston and at this time nothing could be accomplished”, said GM Donald Southerland after a press conference late last season. “We did acquire their pick from the Denver Nuggets and hope something can be done in the near future.”
Webber decided to re-sign. He had heard that both Shaq and Penny would test, and he didn’t want to be part of that big frenzy. He liked what Washington had to offer and how they always seemed to do well. His longtime friend Dale Davis told him to stay since they were a great duo.
The trade rocked the league. Same felt that it came out of nowhere; others figured it was bound to happen after the talks last season. Washington and Houston agreed, in principle, to send the Big 3 from Houston to Washington for their pick. To say this shook up the league is an understatement.
Webber didn’t know about the trade until he got to the arena. He walked him to see a big “WELCOME DREAM, HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL, GLIDE” in the locker room and had no idea what was happening. He was even more shocked as he saw Dale Davis running around the locker room, jumping up and down. It finally clicked and he was shocked.
Hakeem never sold his house. He secretly had a hope that he would retire back to Washington and start up a political career. He figured he would retire right in Houston with his old buddy from college. Never did he think he would wear a Bullets jersey for anything other than a event when they retire it. But he was wrong.
Drexler’s closest thing to a home was Houston. He played college ball there and after jumping around the league for a while he finally got to settle back down. He found himself on a Houston team after being traded from Minny. Many said that Houston was going to win the title, but the “team killer” nickname followed Drexler here, and we all know the results.
Wilkins signed a big contract to play for Houston. Many said that they were overpaying for an aging star. But Wilkins and the Houston front office knew what he could do, and he proceeded to do that averaging 20 ppg each of his 3 years in Houston.
The Houston Big 3 are now part of the Washington Big 4. They developed a friend ship since they were the “aging” vets that not many teams wanted. Their average age is a tad over 35. They were all looking at retirement. All of them contemplated retiring at the end of this season after making the playoffs but not winning a title. However Houston GM Ducky McDuckerson pleaded with them to stay. He knew that Houston did not have their pick, trading it away in the deal to get Drexler. McDuckerson knew that he could get his pick back, if only they vowed not to retire. Olajuwon convinced the other two to not retire and go back to his former team, the Bullets.
Why didn’t the Houston Big 3 win a title? Some will say it is due to having too many people demanding the ball and no chemistry, however the smart ones will say it is due to their lack of role players. Outside of the Big 3, they had a turnover prone pg and a pf who wouldn’t have made a good backup, and that isn’t mentioning their lack of depth. The Bullets team has these things which make them a title favorite going into the season.
These two longtime friends will look to bring a title to the capital
Olajuwon, Wilkins, and Drexler will join Chris Webber, an All-Legaue 2nd team winner and All-Defensive Team winner in 1996, and Mookie Blaylock, a free agent signing who had been on the Suns. Blaylock may not scare other point guards, but he is serviceable and can play defense.
Blaylock will look to be the mastermind behind the offense
Defense, that is what this team’s new motto is. During the preseason, they gave up under 91 ppg. They have an A+ defender, an A defender, 2 A- defender’s, and a B+ defender. They are a terror to go against.
But it isn’t just their starters that you have to worry about. Dale Davis leads a ragtag, but impressive bunch of bench guys. Davis, last year’s starter, will go to the bench at the 3rd big man for the team. He provides defense and rebounding to make sure they don’t lose any talent by subbing in people. Dan Majerle is a bit of a dark horse for the team. He can play defense, handle the ball, and can shoot. He isn’t going to come in and put up 20, but he can come in and give the team another option. The duo of backup point guards is Michael Williams and B.J. Armstrong. Both are similar but serve different purposes. Armstrong is a great man-to-man defender and can shut down other point guards. Williams is a terror in the passing lanes making a point guard thing twice about making a pass. Each has their own use and combined, can be a great duo.
Thunder Dan will make teams pay if they sleep on him
The past Bullets teams have always been centered around defense, but it hasn’t been until this season that they have made the team a duel threat. They can punish you on defense or make you look foolish on offense. The team hopes that this combo of offense and defense will be enough to get the old guys a ring.
For a season promotion, the Bullets have decided to give a nickname for the season. They are introducing a new slogan: “Bullets Fever”. Here is the shirt that will be for sale and given out as a promotion item to season ticket holders:
A song is also being revived. Bullets Fever by Nils Lofgren has been knighted the official song for the Washington Bullets. If you go to this link, then click on the first song you will get a sample of the song:
www.wizznutzz.com/god.shtml
