D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty seemingly spent his Thanksgiving holiday in South Beach as he’s seen here attending a Washington Wizards game in Miami on Friday, November 27, 2009.

And what would Black Friday be without some free advertising for the local DMV economy by Mayor Fenty, a walking billboard for Baltimore-based Under Armour and Fleet Feet, the Columbia Heights Adams Morgan running store owned by his parents.

I certainly hope Mayor Blackberry enjoyed his time down South, although I do understand it was unseasonably cool. I also hope the Mayor was passionately rooting for his hometown Wizards. Although the fact that he appears to be wearing Miami Heat red doesn’t help his cause.

This season, the Wizards have some of the better commercials I’ve seen be produced for the team in a long time … perhaps ever.

One of the well-shot cityscape spots features Antawn Jamison at the Stead Recreation Center, another with Caron Butler under Whitehurst Freeway. There’s one with Andray Blatche doing something, can’t recall what at the moment.

Then there’s the most recent spot featuring Mike Miller, seen on the Comcast broadcast of the Miami game. The commercial shows ‘It is what it is’ Mike driving through the city and jogging in the shadows of D.C. landmarks as he talks about proving himself in a new city. He has … when he’s been healthy.

At the end, Miller shows how serious he is about the well-being of the franchise, staring into the camera as if to say, “Wizards Holiday Packs are the heart and soul of kindred spirits behind the mean-mug expression of concern I am so eloquently and thought-provokingly providing you with at this frozen moment in time.”

Miller is more serious about holiday packs than he was for social networking. His look reaches from the inner depths and pleads to the recipient, “Hey little bro, trust me, I’ve done all of those unsavory things that you wanna try. Now don’t … but do go buy a Wizards Holiday Pack. ”

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Saturday night was a pick-your-poison game for the Washington Wizards, there was a myriad of reasons for their 92-76 loss against the Charlotte Bobcats. When people look back on this game, they’ll wonder how the Wizards managed to look so good in Friday night’s post-Thanksgiving win in Miami, but then came out at home the next night like a grandpa loopy on leftover tryptophan trying to dribble a basketball with gloves on. The Bobcats stuffed the Wizards like turkeys from the time the oven was turned on to when the dishes were being done and put away.

The problems: Some may cite continued offensive woes. One fan so eloquently exclaimed, “Hey Flip your offense [insert non-complimentary word]!,” as the masses exited the Phone Booth with four minutes left and the Wizards down more than twenty. Others (pretty much every player who talked in the locker room after the game), continuously regurgitated the theme of energy (or lack thereof). Energy seems to be the biggest obstacle facing the Wizards, especially since no one knows how to interject it upon this team of feigning hope.

But the Wizards’ issues can be broken down by quarter as well. Let’s take a look:

1st Quarter

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8:04:48 PM: Antawn Jamison here to say some words before the game …

8:05:31 PM: Antawn cites Mr. Pollin, thanks the fans….

8:09:21 PM: For more on Nick Young’s smile frequency progression >> http://bit.ly/8IAbmw #wizards

8:12:16 PM: Talked 2 some more Wizards about music & @Wale in the locker room before the game … will report later.

8:13:23 PM: Nick Young starts off on Captain Stephen Jackson … who posts him for a running hook, 1st points of game.

8:22:03 PM: Wizards a tad lethargic on defense early. Charlotte 12 easy points on 6-11 FG. A Nick Young breakaway dunk helps. 12-10 Bobcats, 6:00 1stQ

8:25:41 PM: Too early to bring in DeShawn Stevenson for Nick Young? (6:00 1stQ) @rashad20 wonders. DeShawn’s 1st shot airball doesn’t help his case.

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{starter/inactive}

Wizards

Starters: Arenas, Young, Butler, Jamison, Haywood; Inactives: Crittenton, James, Miller

Bobcats

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[Editor's Note: Rashad Mobley has reported on the Wizards with media credentials since the 2008-09 season for Hoops Addict. He occasionally contributes to Truth About It.net, providing excellent analysis and a different perspective from his up-close coverage of the team.]

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- When I initially read that the Wizards would unify and rally around the recent passing of owner Abe Pollin, I must admit I had a certain degree of cynicism.  I wasn’t doubting the sincerity of their feelings around Abe’s death, because I have no doubt that he touched each and every one of those players in some way.  Being touched is one thing–translating that into a team that plays well together in every facet of the game is another.  But on a night where Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler combined for 18 points, the Wizards were still able to win by 10, despite losing double digit leads one more than one occasion.  I don’t know whether Coach Saunders has found his rhythm substitution-wise, or if Abe is inspiring this team from above, but it was nice to see the Wizards put two strong efforts together.

-JaVale McGee checked into the game unusually early (with 3.27 left in the 1st quarter), and Coach Saunders clearly must have known that was the right move, because his impact was immediate.  Within 15 seconds of entering the game, McGee had a first block on Jermaine O’Neal.  Two minutes later he scored on a pretty finger roll around O’Neal.  A few seconds later he blocked a Joel Anthony shot, and then he stole the ball from Udonis Haslem with 15 seconds left in the quarter.  McGee only played 15 minutes total, and he didn’t have much of an effect on the game after the first quarter, but it was nice to see McGee do the little things and be seemingly content.

-Just last week I wrote an article about Nick Young‘s inconsistency, and I questioned whether he was truly ready to step in and be an effective contributor to this Wizards’ team.  On Wednesday, lost in the shuffle between Eddie Jordan’s return and Abe Pollin’s untimely death, was the start and solid play of Nick Young.  In that game, Young scored  20 points on 50% shooting, and he seemed to develop some confidence.  Against the Heat, Young’s confidence only increased with a 22 point, five assist performance.  But more importantly, Young played solid defense on Dwyane Wade who had burned the Wizards for over 40 points in their prior meetings.  Wade was held to 18 points on 6-of-19 shooting, and much of that was Young’s defense.  He consistently had a hand in Wade’s face, and he forced him to take some uncharacteristically bad shots.  More importantly, he played well with the starting lineup of Jamison, Haywood, Arenas and Butler.

-When the Wizards defeated the Cavaliers last week, both Arenas and Jamison sat out much of the fourth quarter, and the second unit was able to both maintain and extend the lead against Cleveland’s starters.  Against the Heat, Arenas shot 4-for-7 with nine points and five assists through three quarters, and  with 1:57 left in the third quarter, he left the game and Earl Boykins took his place.  Arenas never entered the game again.  In that 14 minute span, Boykins tallied six points, seven assists and two rebounds, and controlled the tempo completely, giving Mario Chalmers fits on the defensive end.  Boykins’ performance kept Arenas to just 27 minutes, which is key considering the Wizards play the Bobcats this evening.  But Boykins also demonstrated, yet again, that he can do more than just provide instant scoring.

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It was easy to deduce that a certain jovial nature had returned to the Wizards’ clubhouse, one that had the DC Sports Bog’s Dan Steinberg display a sense of giddiness as he exited the locker room after Tuesday’s win against Philadelphia.

Of course, this mostly started with the release of the team’s biggest character, Gilbert Arenas, which was thus reflected upon the team’s biggest smiley goofball, Nick Young.

The latest theme involved Young being placed in a box, on a shelf, to just gather dust. Now, who exactly placed Young in said box could be debated. It would be easy to assume that it was completely at the behest of the coaches. But given the amount and nature of chances Nick has been given this season, it’s better to conclude that he placed himself in the box. The coaches simply sealed him up with a minimal amount of tape.

Wizards fans now hope that Tuesday’s game wasn’t just Nick taking a peak out of the box and that he will jump out feet first. If he keeps playing disciplined defense like he did against Philly, and limits unnecessary dribbles, there’s no reason to believe why Young can’t mature as a third year player and build on his most recent effort.

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Recommended Reading: Wizards’ Young making most of opportunity – Mike Jones, Washington Times Read more »

I got a text message from a good friend during Tuesday’s Wizards-Sixers game: “#4 is playing his a** off” — The message really came with the asterisks, he doesn’t like to cuss.

The text made me take pause. I clearly noticed Antawn Jamison’s hustle swag, but it took the words for me to fully digest the amount of playing emotion coming from the team leader. The game meant something to Jamison, and his passion dwarfed that of his teammates by far.

The dedication of The Gentleman Jamison helped overcome the fact that his team almost gave the game away, which fueled by the carelessness of Gilbert Arenas.

With 5:30 left in the game, after a Sam Dalembert bucket, Arenas tried to make a casual pass up the court to Earl Boykins … with Jrue Holiday RIGHT in the passing lane. Holiday got the easy steal, brought the ball up the court and hit a three in Arenas’ face. Five quick Philly points, 98-92 Wizards.

One minute later, Gilbert tried to drive the lane in heavy traffic. Holiday stripped him of the ball; a clean play contrary to Steve Buckhantz’s proclamation that Arenas got “clobbered.” Guess who was allowed to get a rebound tip bucket on the Sixers’ fast break … Jrue Holiday. 98-94 Wizards.

Around another minute later, the Wizards became witnesses as Philly was able to get two offensive rebounds that resulted in a Lou Williams three pointer, the ease of which was contributed to by a lack of defensive urgency from Arenas.

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Mr. Pollin was a good owner. Not particularly adept at guiding a franchise toward winning (at least in my lifetime), but a good owner. He was a loyal man, a trait which countless will stand in line to attest. Perhaps, at times, that loyalty got in the way of winning. But that wasn’t the path Abe wanted to take. It didn’t mean he wanted to win any less than the next fan for life. This team, this city was damn lucky to have Abe Pollin on their side. So cheers to the captain of the vessel, here’s to hoping your successor steers the ship at least as good as you did, and to the best of your championship aspirations. (Ted Leonsis, is that you stepping forward?)

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Post-game reactions to Mr. Pollin’s passing from Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood and Wes Unseld.

[note: part two of the video is posted at Bullets Forever]

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{video: Arenas & Jamison on the Wizards’ struggles and facing Eddie Jordan and the Sixers}

• As you are aware, team owner Abe Pollin passed away today, which certainly sets a different tone on reporting about the game. Sad that the man had to die amidst his team’s 3-9 record and perceived bickering among the players. A ton of people spoke about Mr. Pollin before the game (including Wes Unseld, Phil Chenier, Eddie Jordan, Ernie Grunfeld, and obviously the players). I’ll have more on Mr. Pollin’s passing later.
• DeShawn Stevenson described the feeling around the locker room as a state of shock, but the mood is still to go out, play to win, and play with respect.
• Andray Blatche dedicated this game and the rest of the season to Mr. Pollin. “Whatever is holding us back, we gotta get over it for him,” he said.
• The previous storyline of tonight’s game was the return of old coach Eddie Jordan, exactly a year to the day that Jordan was fired after handing out Thanksgiving turkeys to the needy at a team sponsored event.
• A year ago I wrote this post: “The End of The Eddie Jordan Era: Say Goodbye to the Fall Guy” and this a week later.
• Tonight, at a team sponsored event after the game, the currently injured Mike Miller is scheduled to hand out turkeys in conjunction with the Wizards Care community organization.
• Spoke with DeShawn about Jordan before the game. He said their relationship was cool because Eddie gave him an opportunity to start. Stevenson said he had no problem even though some of his teammates do.
• Andray Blatche, on the other hand, said, “Eddie Jordan is not in his mindset right now,” but did express that he’d probably work a bit harder with his old coach in the house.
• Michael Lee of the WaPost has more on Jordan’s return via Wizards Insider and via Wizards Outlet, Mike Jones of the WaTimes reports on Jordan’s surprise at the Wizards’ struggles.
• You can read a pre-game Q&A I did with Philadunkia, an ESPN TrueHoop Network Sixers blog.
• The first time Jordan, as coach of the Wizards, met his previous team, the New Jersey Nets, he lost 98-85 (Nov. 1, 2003). For more on his full career, read this: “The Epic Tale of Eddie Jordan: Connections, Relationships, and the Basketball Community.”
• With all that’s going on, the Wizards really need this win.

As you’ve probably heard by now, Abe Pollin, Chairman of Washington Sports & Entertainment, passed away today at the age of 85.

It’s truly a sad day for the Wizards franchise, fans, and the entire Washington metropolitan area … something which I cannot really express in this hastily put together post.

Pollin, just shy of his 86th birthday (December 3rd, which also is ‘Abe Pollin Day’ in Washington, D.C.) is survived by his wife, and co-owner of WSE, Irene. He was involved in ownership of the team for over 45 years.

The team has issued this statement:
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I actually rewatched last Friday’s loss against the Thunder on Saturday morning … and then was left with the “treat” of the game against the Spurs that night. Lucky me. And no, I didn’t rewatch the Spurs game on Sunday. I’m not self-loathing.

But as this player-induced, media-fueled soap opera surrounding the Wizards continues — [And Dan Steinberg is right, the players should stop ripping each other in the media. However, the media (of which I am apart, I suppose ... since I was called a "reporter" in a Tweet by an actual reporter) is good at taking windowed instances and magnifying them into potentially meaning much more. Than again, these players have been around the media plenty of times, they know what they're doing.] — it’s not necessarily about egos, or free-agents, or hidden agendas.

It’s about a group of players taking the personal responsibility to do the little things, and then that coming together under the coaching of Flip Saunders and the leadership of the three captains: Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison (Brendan Haywood should really be counted as a leader as well). Yes, I know … seems like these things should have been handled in training camp and the preseason.

If this team wants to get out of the current funk, it starts with the little things. I was able to capture several screen shots from the Wizards not doing the little things against the Thunder, probably could have taken more against the Spurs, but I didn’t. So without further adieu, here’s a sample of those which I was able to break down.

Changing The Game

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Episode #4 of the Dagger Report (a Washington Wizards podcast) is here.

This week, Mike Prada of Bullets Forever and I talk about the ways and means of Gilbert Arenas amidst early season struggles. To join us for his conversation, which was recorded on Sunday evening, is Jake Whitacre, contributing editor at Bullets Forever and managing proprietor of Gilbertology.net.

The second segment, recorded on Saturday afternoon, features Jordan Sams of SB Nation’s 76ers blog, Liberty Ballers. Here, we discuss Eddie Jordan’s first year in Philly and the troubles of the Sixers (which aren’t as bad as those of the Wizards).

Enjoy.

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Today’s concluding media session at Wizards practice, which was held on the main Verizon Center court because it happened to be set up, didn’t have as somber of a mood in the air as I expected.

Then again, the shellacking in San Antonio came way back on Saturday … plenty of time for the players to look forward and put the bad loss behind them, as professional athletes are so apt at doing.

I only got to talk with two players today (not that many talked in the first place; to my knowledge, I only missed comments from Andray Blatche), and had to leave before Flip Saunders finally made himself available. The two players: Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas.

And get this, Arenas actually wanted to talk to the media. The days of him walking by after practice and saying, “They told me I didn’t have to talk to you guys today, only on game nights,” could be a distant memory. Then again, Agent Funeral could also be back at any time.

As the scrum surrounded Jamison, Gilbert stopped for a minute to listen on his way to the locker room (Antawn immediately threw a wadded up paper cup at him in jest).

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[Editor's Note: Rashad Mobley has reported on the Wizards with media credentials since the 2008-09 season for Hoops Addict. He will be contributing to Truth About It.net on an occasional basis, providing excellent analysis and a different perspective from his up-close coverage of the team.]

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The Washington Wizards were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs last night, 106-84, and the topics of discussion after the game were endless. There was the topic of Mike Miller, and the warrior mentality he displayed prior to injuring his calf; you could discuss the fact that the Wizards were only able to muster 12 assists in 48 minutes; or you could even discuss the continuing struggle of former All-Star Caron Butler, who only scored eight points in 32 minutes of play. But to me, the biggest subplot that came out of this bad loss, happened prior to the game, and this information came to my attention via Twitter, courtesy of Washington Post beat writer, Michael Lee.

“Flip said he plans to use Fab Oberto vs. Tim Duncan tonight, which means Nick Young will be inactive…”

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