Drew Gooden says Wizards better than nation realizes

By Staff     Oct 29, 2015

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Washington Wizards' Drew Gooden III, right, reacts during a NBA basketball media day, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

A 13-year veteran of the NBA, power forward Drew Gooden knows a good situation when he sees it. And the former Kansas star is watching one play out around him, in Washington D.C. — even if the rest of the country isn’t as interested as it should be in the Wizards.

Playing in the lesser Eastern Conference is one reason, Washington, which has advanced to the second round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, isn’t exactly the talk of the nation.

The star power of the East’s other top teams — LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers, Derrick Rose’s/Jimmy Butler’s Chicago Bulls, Dwyane Wade’s/Chris Bosh’s Miami Heat — also contributes to the lack of attention on the Wizards.

Gooden, a backup big man, [explained to The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg][1] why some are over-looking the Wizards, who went 46-36 last season.

> “I think we have less [national] games
> this year than we had last year,”
> noted Gooden. “People want to see the
> Heat play, people want to see the
> Knicks play, people definitely want to
> see the Bulls play, people want to see
> the Cavaliers play. So where do we
> fall out in the East as far as
> prime-time teams? And that’s what they
> look at.”

At 34, Gooden is Washington’s oldest player, and young stars John Wall and Bradley Beal make the team an upper-echelon squad in the East. [But The Washington Post’s Jorge Castillo reports][2] D.C. will look for more than just rebounding and put-backs from its bearded, 6-foot-10 journeyman.

Washington found success in last year’s playoffs by going small, and using former KU star Paul Pierce (who signed with the L.A. Clippers this summer) as a stretch power forward. Gooden played that role off the bench and is expected to do the same this season, while occasionally playing center, too.

While Gooden (5.4 points, 4.4 rebounds last season) is a 26.9% career 3-point shooter and only has attempted more than 50 3’s in a season twice in his career — he made 23 of 59 in the 2014-15 regular season before making 12 of 26 in the 2015 playoffs — Gooden led D.C. in 3-pointers made (11) and taken (28) during the preseason.

The Wizards will play small, take 3-pointers and, according to Gooden, be more entertaining than people realize.

> “We want to play that up-and-down
> game, and it is fun to watch,” Gooden
> said. “We’ll open some eyes up. People
> will recognize sooner than later.”

Don’t be surprised if by the end of the season Washington finishes as the No. 3 or 4 seed in the East.

2015-16 ‘Hawks in the NBA Season Previews
—————————

– [Cole Aldrich, L.A. Clippers][3]

– [Cliff Alexander, Portland Trail Blazers][4]

– [Darrell Arthur, Denver Nuggets][5]

– [Tarik Black, L.A. Lakers][6]

– [Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat][7]

– [Nick Collison, Oklahoma City Thunder][8]

– [Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers][9]

*- Keep up with the production of all the ‘Hawks in the NBA [daily at KUsports.com][10].*

*- [Follow @BentonASmith on Twitter][11].*

[1]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/10/27/another-winning-season-could-bring-the-wizards-off-the-back-of-the-bus/
[2]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2015/10/27/wizards-season-preview-the-revamped-offenses-effect-on-the-bench/
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/19/cole-aldrich-2015-16-season-preview/
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/23/cliff-alexander-misses-entire-preseason/
[5]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/26/darrell-arthur-brings-d-and-maybe-3s-to-/
[6]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/26/coach-says-its-time-for-tarik-black-to-g/
[7]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/26/mario-chalmers-adjusts-to-new-role-as-ba/
[8]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/27/nick-collison-major-contributor-to-okc-c/
[9]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2015/oct/27/one-of-these-years-maybe-joel-embiid-wil/
[10]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/hawks_nba/
[11]: https://twitter.com/BentonASmith

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