Washington Wizards over 39.5 WINS!

I could not believe this number when I saw it. The Wizards have had 45 and 42 wins the last two seasons. This is a team that I believe is a lock for a spot in the post season. The wizards have been focusing on their defense in training camp and was the reason they lost about 4-6 regular season games, because of shitty defense when it counted the most.

Last season the Wizards lost one of the big three in Larry Hughes and replaced him with Caron Butler. The wiz started out slow, getting adjusted to playing with Caron and did not insert him into the starting line up till a few months into the season. It wasn't that we lost so much replacing Butler with Hughes it was the fact that the team had not played with each other and need time to gel and find their chemistry.

The wizards lost Jarred Jefferies in the offseason who was a roll player on this team and replaced him with Deshaun Stevenson, who is being touted around DC as a better defender than Jefferies, something Washington needs. Other than that, the Wizards basically have the same squad back from last season and new commitment to defense. The wizards are looking beyond making the playoffs this season, they are a team that they believe can make a run at the Eastern Conference Finals. Gilbert is also pissed about being left off the USA roster and feels he has something to prove this season. I have never felt so confident about something I have posted on therx.

For this play to lose the Wizards would have to end the season 39-43 and be 3 games below .500! This is not going to happen this season. Wizards will win 45+ games!

Keep in mind that the Wizards didn't lose a single significant player to injury for an extended period of time the entire year(sorry Etan)...to be that healthy two seasons in a row might be asking too much.

Getting DeShawn was big after losing Jeffries, and the Wizards have re-dedicated themselves to defense this season...but their conference is improved(they were +6 in conference last season) and the West is, well, the West...so it's no guarantee. And for all the talk about improved D, it's still just TALK at this point.

FWIW, I think they'll hit that over...but I'm a homer, so yeah. GL with it.

One little injury to Gilby and the Wiz will not even win 29.5 games. I wouldn't
touch that total with a ten foot pole.

True, Gilbert is a big part of their team and a season ending injury would most likely kill the bet. But I would take my chances, other teams could have injuries too in the season, what if Lebron goes down, or Nash, or Kobe, or Nowitski, all what ifs. If you sit around and think about what ifs then don't bet futures.

Gilbert has been durable the last two season and in all his 5 years played in the league he has averaged 68.2 games a season.

I like it, 45 wins minimum barring any major injury....The schedule should be a little harder though, as the East is getting stronger as a conference.

SundayTiger said:

True, Gilbert is a big part of their team and a season ending injury would most likely kill the bet. But I would take my chances, other teams could have injuries too in the season, what if Lebron goes down, or Nash, or Kobe, or Nowitski, all what ifs. If you sit around and think about what ifs then don't bet futures.

Gilbert has been durable the last two season and in all his 5 years played in the league he has averaged 68.2 games a season.

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Those teams you mentioned have many more decent role players than the Wiz have.
This Wizard team is hurting for talent and really did nothing in the off season to improve. Stevenson is no big upgrade and Songaila is a stiff. Any team that is going to have to rely on C Butler and A Daniels for scoring is asking for trouble. Jamison is another year older and most likely a step slower. If Arenas is not a one man wrecking crew, this team has a chance to be downright awful.

Solid play, on it myself.

SundayTiger said:

True, Gilbert is a big part of their team and a season ending injury would most likely kill the bet. But I would take my chances, other teams could have injuries too in the season, what if Lebron goes down, or Nash, or Kobe, or Nowitski, all what ifs. If you sit around and think about what ifs then don't bet futures.

Gilbert has been durable the last two season and in all his 5 years played in the league he has averaged 68.2 games a season.

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That's why betting futures is about the biggest gamble you can make. You are in reality making 2 bets when betting a team wins total for the year. The first is the original bet that your team will win that many games. The second is that you are betting that no one important on your team gets hurt.

A very bad bet to make and I'm not trying to depress you, but help you understand that team totals are about the biggest sucker bet ever offered. You are betting 2 bets, but only get paid for 1!