Antawn Jamison is on his own level and you can’t get on it, at least that’s what the promotional party flier above seems to indicate. Jamison’s level these days involves sitting out the past 13 games — likely the rest of the year — due to a broken pinkie finger; and he has to watch the 15-58 Cleveland Cavaliers all the time, which probably isn’t that much different than watching the 18-55 Wizards. Jamison’s level also involves getting paid over $13.3 million this season, which is a pretty nice level regardless of the environment. Back to the promotional flier … Jamison’s level will evidently be on display this Thursday at the Shadow Room, as he is welcomed back to D.C. with a party the night before his Cavs take on the Wizards. Speaking of the Shadow Room, that’s the venue where Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee once got on the level of fighting with each other outside the club on Christmas Eve. The Wizards are just a classic team, on so many levels.

In other team party news, Josh Howard, who has appeared in 409 minutes over 18 games this season, has lent his name to the Wizards-Heat post-game party at Oxygen tonight. The most recently injured Wizard, Trevor Booker, had provided his name for use as well. Wale will also be performing … I still wonder if he roots for the Cavaliers and/or Nuggets.

Links.

Washington will likely be with Andray Blatche as they play the Miami Heat tonight and without Trevor Booker, who could miss the last nine games of the season with a crack in the bottom of his right foot. It all sounds rather splendid.
[Washington Examiner]

The Wizards’ final record this year notwithstanding, or maybe it is, will people really look back and care if John Wall averaged at least nine assists per game during his rookie year, keeping him in company with Oscar Robertson, Damon Stoudemire and Mark Jackson?
[Wizards Insider]

I provided some thoughts about John Wall for a Dime Magazine piece.
[Dime]

If you’re one of the few people who have attended a Wizards game this year, you probably noticed that guy on the cheer squad — or whatever it’s called — dancing and doing crazy things around the arena to get the crowd hype. It was inevitable that a story would be written about him. David Rowell of the Washington Post does a pretty good job of doing so.
[Washington Post]

Read more about Othyus Jeffers.
[Ridiculous Upside]

Jimmer Fredette is like Gilbert Arenas? (So says Bethlehem Shoals)
[The Atlantic]

Is it legal for an NBA player to pass it to himself off the backboard?
[TrueHoop]

Great (long) article about shady high school basketball in the state of Florida, Miami to be exact.
[Miami New Times]

Awesome aerial photography from ’round the globe.
[Twisted Sifter]

Other reads from Truth About It:

• February 7, 2011 -- ShareBullets: Plodding Through An NBA Lottery Winter
• August 24, 2011 -- ShareBullets: Earthquake After Effects & The Detriment of Gilbert Arenas’ Twitter Account
• June 12, 2011 -- ShareBullets: NBA At Dusk

Marie asked ‘Twan how the Cleveland Cavaliers were going to transition without LeBron. The gist of his answer: “It’s going to be interesting.”

Indeed it is, Antawn, indeed it is. He also spit out some generic clichés such as, “It’s a business,” and “It’s not going to be easy.” I don’t think the Gentleman will ever change, and he shouldn’t. In any case, you can watch the video yourself via Yahoo! Sports.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>LINKS.

Antawn Jamison has a Cleveland Cavaliers “Swagger Tee” (go figure) … and other NBA team store fun courtesy of DocFunk.
[Brain On Funk]

Is Gilbert Arenas the athlete who best embodies the spirit of Washington, D.C.?
[SB Nation DC]

Speaking of … Arenas’ image is slowly creeping back onto the Washington Wizards official website.
[DC Sports Bog]

Want more semi-Arenas related news? Marc Barnes, owner of D.C. nightclubs Love (where Arenas had his infamous birthday party, and where former Cleveland Cavalier, Damon Jones, debuted “Blow the Whistle,” a Jay-Z diss track of DeShawn Stevenson), and The Park at 14th (often frequented by Andray Blatche, among others), has declared bankruptcy. Sorry ballers.
[Washington City Paper]

The Times-Picayune is reporting that the New Orleans Hornets have hired Tim Connelly as their assistant general manager. Connelly just completed his tenth year with the Wizards organization, most recently serving as director of player personnel. Tim’s brother, Pat, just completed his fourth year with the Wizards as a scout/basketball operations assistant.
[Times-Picayune]

Will the development of John Wall be a “headache” for Flip Saunders? Shaun Powell of NBA.com evidently believes in this silly idea. He writes:
[NBA.com]

“The big chore for Saunders is dealing with three potential headaches: The development of rookie point guard John Wall, the rehabilitation of Arenas, and the outsized ego of emerging big man Andray Blatche, who believes he’s an All-Star. No pressure for Flip to win right away, but the Wiz expect a more polished product and polished Wall come spring.”

OK, I definitely get the Gilbert Arenas part, and maybe the Andray Blatche part … although, my belief that he’s truly a humble kid is greater than any concerns I have about his ego growing (another although: ‘Dray has already claimed that he’s underpaid, amongst the other B.S. he pulled last year).

But to say that the development of Wall will cause Flip ‘Point Guards Come From Heaven’ Saunders to turn to Advil on a regular basis is a little preposterous. Sure, Saunders “didn’t sign up for this,” as Powell outlines and as Saunders himself has reminded the media a couple times, but the coach has also said that he relishes being a teacher. So, given the overall circumstances, I’m pretty sure that Saunders is happy to have the option of going through growing pains and the development process with Wall … and that it won’t necessarily cause his brain to hurt.

Hilton Armstrong will wear No. 24 for the Wizards … the last Wizard to wear that number, Alonzo Gee.
[@WashWizards]

Kevin Durant tells you all you need to know about him on Wale’s new mixtape.
[Mr. Irrelevant]

Roger Mason, Jr. has signed a 1-year, $1.4 million contract with the New York Knicks.
[@FisolaNYDN]

The Hoops Whisperer, also known as Idan Ravin, the man who has trained the likes of Arenas and Brendan Haywood, among others, has started writing for Slam.
[Slam Online]

Where LeBron James used to be, there is now light … in Cleveland.
[True Hoop]

Finally … A YI JIANLIAN MILWAUKEE BUCKS BOBBLEHEAD DOLL!! BUY-BUY-BUY!! (only $12.95).
[Amazon.com]

A basketball court on Girard Street NW, between 15th and 16th.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• December 10, 2010 -- ShareBullets: A Winner Arises From Memory
• September 19, 2010 -- ShareBullets: Are We Allowed To Scoff At Josh Howard?
• August 24, 2011 -- ShareBullets: Earthquake After Effects & The Detriment of Gilbert Arenas’ Twitter Account

Antawn Jamison doesn’t get Twitter. Neither does my 70-year old dad (okay, he’s 69, will be 70 next June).

He, my dad, was recently in town and Twitter came up in the dinner conversation. I tried to justify its relevancy by citing how it provides those in the media, bloggers, such as myself, the ability to extend personal branding (as HRO would call it), and even more so, how it’s great for late-breaking news, especially in the sports world. I trailed off and cut the list of merits short after seeing the look on my dad’s face, not mentioning how I’ve actually made friends with people via Twitter.

My pops, mind you, is not completely tech oblivious. He does have a ‘net book’. And I suppose Antawn is in the same boat.

Tom Sorenson of the Charlotte Observer has the first Antawn Jamison, ‘Here I Am’ article of the summer. Sorenson recently caught up with the Gentleman Jamison at his basketball camp in North Carolina. You should read the whole piece, but here are a couple select quotes:

But the Cavaliers crashed and burned in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston and crashed and burned again two weeks ago when LeBron giddily announced he was leaving Cleveland for the Miami Heat.

“I was disappointed,” Jamison says Thursday at his basketball camp at Carolina Courts in Indian Trail. “I only got to play with him two months.”

Okay, so Jamison wasn’t disappointed in LeBron as much as he was disappointed in his actions.

There was also this dubious quote in the article regarding Twitter:

He is universally well-liked and, even though he’s a Tar Heel, disdains Twitter.

Are Tar Heels usually relatively amicable toward Twitter? I’m not sure. And Jamison isn’t even quoted. Oh well.

One thing I can say is that D.C. misses Jamison, for many of the reasons outlined in Sorenson’s article. He’d probably play in Washington for less than half of the $28 million remaining on his 2-year contract, and Wizards fans would gladly oblige.

But back to “disdaining” Twitter for a second. Now why would Jamison do that?

Oh yea …

Other reads from Truth About It:

• August 24, 2011 -- ShareBullets: Earthquake After Effects & The Detriment of Gilbert Arenas’ Twitter Account
• July 2, 2011 -- ShareBullets: Wizards Weekender of Lockout Links
• October 3, 2009 -- Unheard and Unseen Cuts from Wizards Media Day

It’s tough to truly remember Antawn Jamison’s time in D.C., yet hard to do it enough. Wish I were around to cover him when times were good, but this year had to happen. Still, Antawn did it with dignity. He did it with class, emulating the owner he looked up to so much. An owner whose family is making a classy move with a free “Living for the City” Stevie Wonder concert for some of the people touched by Abe Pollin’s spirit for his community. Antawn was the Gentleman Jamison. He deserves an Unsilent tribute. Hence, Jack Kogod (aka Unsilent Majority) of Kissing Suzy Kobler, and occasional Wizards correspondent for Mr. Irrelevant,  (not to mention that he sits in some really good season tickets for a ton of Wizards games), agreed to share his thoughts. Here’s what @Unsilent had to say:

>>>>>>>>>

I miss Antawn Jamison more than I thought I would. When the house cleaning commenced I thought it would be Caron Butler I missed the most, but I was wrong. Of course I’m wrong a lot. I was wrong in my belief that the Wizards  should have held on to the fifth pick in the ’04 draft to select Luol Deng (although I couldn’t be too upset with any trade that sent Jerry Stackhouse packing), and I was wrong to think that Jamison wasn’t the right guy at the right time. It only took one season for him to prove me wrong. Jamison made his All Star Game debut in that first season, and he helped lead the Wizards on a fantastic turnaround. The Wizards won their first playoff series of my lifetime that year, and that wouldn’t have happened without Jamison.

A lot changed in the years between the ’05 playoffs and the ’10 trade deadline, but Jamison never did. Throughout his time in Washington he was the most consistent player on the team, and one of the most reliable performers in the entire league (defensive shortcomings notwithstanding). There is a reason why Abe Pollin considered Jamison to be the Wes Unseld of the modern Wizards, because he have all of himself to the organization. I hope for nothing but the best from Jamison, just short of winning a ring of course. Afterall, he is a Cav now.

{Antawn Jamison, a season of video interviews:}

{Always Remember …?}

The Honeydew Game.

The drubbing in San Antonio where the Wizards shot 33% as a team.

When a speech was made…

…and a Mike Miller Photo-bomb.

A yell of passion in Toronto.

The Cleveland blowout after Arenas was suspended.

Farewell and good luck.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• December 28, 2011 -- Andray Blatche Just Can’t Help Himself
• December 23, 2011 -- Washington Wizards: Rolling Toward Roles
• December 15, 2011 -- John Wall Smells More Than Popcorn

Below you will find portraits of the departed along with their story from the night pictured and a video clip of a selected quote. Enjoy … I think.

{DeShawn Stevenson}

Depart Date: February 13, 2010

On Halloween Night after the Wizards defeated the New Jersey Nets 123-104 in their home opener, pushing their record to 2-1, (the only time it would be better than .500 this season), Stevenson spoke about how, unlike last season, everybody now wants tickets to Wizards games and that he wasn’t going to dress up for All Hallows Eve.

Coulda fooled me. This night was the best it would ever get for the 2009-10 Washington Wizards.

{Antawn Jamison}

Depart Date: February 18, 2010

In late November, the Wizards suffered a terrible 96-76 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats, pushing their record to 5-10, but much less daunting than the current 22-52 record. It was the first home game after the day Mr. Pollin died, on which there was also a home game against the 76ers, and after a Thanksgiving-Friday away loss in Miami.

Before the game against the Bobcats, Jamison spoke on the court, thanking Abe Pollin and the fans. After the game, Antawn spoke about getting zero rebounds to go along with his six points in 27 minutes of play, the first time he didn’t snag a board since March 14, 2005 and the first time he didn’t get a rebound in over 25 minutes of play since January 11, 2004.

{Dominic McGuire}

Depart Date: February 18, 2010

In late December, with a record of 8-17, Flip Saunders’ team came out flat against the Philadelphia 76ers at home, despite having two days off.

Four minutes into the second half, with his team getting out-scored 12-5, putting them down 56-52 to the Sixers, Saunders had enough. He made wholesale substitutions, pulling Gilbert Arenas, Randy Foye, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood in exchange for Earl Boykins, Nick Young, Andray Blatche, Fabricio Oberto and McGuire. Embarrassed, the starters ultimately rallied in the fourth quarter to take the game 105-98.

After the game, McGuire recounted how Flip let his reserves know they were going into the game.

{Brendan Haywood}

Depart Date: February 13, 2010

Coincidentally, as he did in late November, Antawn Jamison was again marched out on the court before the game to speak for the franchise. That night’s match against the Orlando Magic came was the first home match since Gilbert Arenas was suspended indefinitely, so Jamison apologized for Finger Guns.

Dwight Howard got his with 23 and 12, but Brendan Haywood came after him strong with 18 and 15. Plus, the Wizards had three other 20+ point scorers: Jamison – 28, Caron Butler – 23, and Randy Foye – 21. Imagine that … ah, the good ol’ days.

That 104-97 win against the Magic pushed the Wizards to 12-22. After the game, Haywood had jokes, recounting that when Jamison took the mic, he didn’t know if he was going to rap or sing.

{Caron Butler}

Depart Date: February 13, 2010

In late January, the Wizards came across their fourth chance of the season to win three games in a row, something they still haven’t done by the way. With the game on the line and the Wizards down one to the visiting Dallas Mavericks, Caron Butler decided to call his own play instead of the one drawn up by Flip Saunders. Not surprisingly, Caron got his potential game winning shot blocked by Shawn Marion and the Wizards lost.

That night of Rogue Tuff Juice couldn’t be written about enough. It is what it is, unfortunately.

{Mike James}

Depart Date: March 1, 2010

The Wizards put up a late-January stinker against the LA Clippers, losing 92-78 and bumping their record to 14-29. But hey, Mike James got to play for the first time in almost 80 days. He was happy.

Here, Mike recounts how with just over two minutes left in the second quarter, Flip Saunders called his name, but he didn’t respond right away. James’ teammates had to tell him that he was being summoned because he learned a lesson long ago that he would never again confuse himself with the other Mike, White Mike Miller.

{Mike Harris}

Depart Date: March 5, 2010

Harris, the team’s first D-League call up of the season, made his debut with the Wizards in a late-February 99-94 loss to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. In 1:21 of action, Harris scored two points and got one steal. After the game he spoke of the difference between the D-League and the NBA, including traveling on a regular plane versus a charter flight, and also mentioning the $35 per diem on the road in the D-League against the plush $106 you get in the NBA.

{Alonzo Gee}

Depart Date: March 29, 2010

After his last game as a Washington Wizard, but which was at the time believed to just be one of several more forthcoming as Flip Saunders previously stated intentions to sign Gee for the rest of the season, the former D-Leaguer and current San Antonio Spur spoke about his ‘I’m here!’ rookie moment in the NBA, which occurred onMarch 12th against the Pistons in Detroit.

Gee’s, “Wow, I’m in the game,” instance came in his second game with the Wizards, after he had made his NBA debut with the team in Washington against the Hawks the previous night.

{Paul Davis}

Depart Date: November 11, 2009

Davis appeared in two games with the Wizards, the home opener and a disgraceful November 6th effort in Indiana. He played in a total of eight minutes, scoring five points on 2-4 from the field, and dropped three assists. His PER with the team stands at 35.5

Not pictured, nor caught on video.

{The Wizards Departed}

Sure, there will likely be more departed, such as Cartier Martin and Cedric Jackson, but with only eight games left in the season, might as well start cherishing the memories now.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• April 30, 2009 -- Questioning Antawn Jamison
• October 22, 2009 -- Observations & Screen Shot Lessons In Defensive Fundamentals From Philly
• October 8, 2009 -- Wizards v. Grizzlies: Leftover Table Scraps & Pictures

Has a franchise ever been at a crossroads like the Washington Wizards? As some analysts predicted Washington to compete for a fourth seed this season, no NBA team has fallen further from expectations. That should be enough. Now, the once face of the team has been cast aside, partially due to his irresponsibility in bringing guns into the locker room and partially due to his resulting immature treatment of a serious situation.

Antawn Jamison is the consummate veteran, a Gentleman, as goes his nickname. Caron Butler is the during-game straw chewing guy, former mass consumer of Mountain Dew who arose from 15 arrests before 15 years on this earth to make the NBA, one whom his former coach Eddie Jordan nicknamed, “Tough Juice.” Gilbert Arenas was once the guy who went to Barry Farms, D.C.’s equivalent of Rucker Park, by himself sans entourage just because he liked being around regular people. All three of these massive basketball figures in the Nation’s Capital — each playing a role in the four-year playoff run that resuscitated basketball in the DMV, are on the verge of being set afloat down the Potomac.

Now, one is making vain attempts for a team wrought with futility. Another only provides waning memories of a past All-Star self. A third has created an unfathomable situation, with pranks, guns, shoe turds, and exposing the issue of guns and NBA players via the quiet, polite kid from Atlanta whom no one would expect to lock and load his own gun while singing. All could be gone by February. Question is, will management gut the house, bulldoze the structure and give everything away? Or will Ernie Grunfeld get some ‘Bubs from The Wire’-like ingenuity and receive assets in return for his valuable scrap metal. Either way, if cap room is the direction, the Wizards better hope they get lucky in the draft and overpay the right veteran free-agent, else the future is a long time away.

[This originally appeared in the January 15, 2010 edition of the Daily Dime on ESPN.com]

Other reads from Truth About It:

• December 28, 2009 -- No Surprise That Wizards Are Cautiously Open For Business
• May 11, 2009 -- Linking the Washington Wizards
• April 15, 2009 -- Why Not Flip Saunders?

I started tinkering around with this trade idea last Wednesday, but never followed up with publishing a post. Today, with Yahoo!’s Marc Spears reporting that the Utah Jazz could face a roster shake-up and Mike Jones, of Mike Jones Sports, reporting that multiple Wizards have asked to be traded, i.e., more than just Mike James, it seems like an appropriate time to float this proposal out there. And no, this is not like Bill Simmons’ silly Utah-Washington-Cleveland idea where the Wizards would lose Haywood, Jamison, Butler and James and only get Shaq and Boozer in return … although my idea is almost as drastic.

So here goes …

Utah has the Carlos Boozer issue hanging over their head, the desire to remain cheap, and is a decent team unwilling to take a big step backwards.

Washington is not in a good way. If you read this blog site, you know this. Shot out to any readers in the Philippines who know this (they really, really like the NBA over in the Phillippines).

Not many ifs, ands, or buts about it, Ernie Grunfeld needs to make a move. He also would like to save some money, or remain “flexible.”

Previously expressing the opinion that all options should be on the table for Grunfeld and that he should avoid straight salary dumps, he goes my proposition …

TO UTAH, Washington sends:

Antawn Jamison
Caron Butler
Mike James
Randy Foye

TO WASHINGTON, Utah sends:

Carlos Boozer
Andrei Kirilenko
C.J. Miles

Cost-Cutting:

In James and Foye, the Wizards are departing with about $10 million in expiring contracts, but gain about $2.3 million in expiring money by adding Boozer’s $12.3 million that the Wizards could let walk this summer.

Heading into the off-season, assuming Stevenson takes his player option for next season and the team handles Dominic McGuire’s qualifying offer situation, the Wizards would have eight players and around $52 million in total salary on the books for 2010-11 (Arenas, Miles, Stevenson, Blatche, Kirilenko, Young, McGee and McGuire). Not much lower than the $53.5 million the Wizards currently have on the books for 2010-11.

However, in the summer of 2011, since there’s a option on Miles for the ’11-12, the Wizards could have $25.7 million set to come off the books (Kirilenko, Stevenson & Miles). Basically, $32.6 million committed to contracts ’11-12 instead of the current $40.3 million.

Would the Jazz save $$?

Well, the Jazz could either keep the incoming parts for a playoff push, or they could trade Jamison to Cleveland for Zydrunas Ilgauskas straight up, and even do it with the under-the-table understanding that they would buy out Ilgauskas so they he could eventually re-sign with Cleveland.

(Note: the only way that Jamison could be traded again so soon, under the standard two-month embargo when the 2010 trade deadline is about six weeks away, is if he’s not packaged with other players … as I understand via NBA Salary Cap FAQ. There could also be some loop-hole workarounds.)

Between Big Z, Foye and Mike James, Utah would have over $21 million coming off the books this summer and will gain Caron Butler, who has a final year contact in 2010-11 that would cost Utah around $7 million less than Kirilenko.

Alternately …

If Utah is adamant about getting back more for Boozer, Cleveland can send them J.J. Hickson, especially if the Jazz would intend on buying-out Ilgauskas. Thus, all players would be packaged in a three-team deal, which works on the ESPN trade machine.

Why?

Cleveland does this for obvious reasons. They want a championship and they’ve been rumored to be wanting Jamison since last year. His style of play would certainly fit with LeBron and Shaq, although he’d clearly have to sacrifice shots. I think Antawn would do that if it meant winning a championship. Although, I must say that the thought of sending Jamison to Cleveland to win a title sickens me.

Utah does it because they save a bunch of money and come out looking decent with Butler and Hickson. Caron is an upstanding citizen and who knows, maybe he would mesh better with a more traditional point guard like Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur. Plus, this trade immediately frees up more time for Paul Millsap. If you’re going to pay the man, play the man.

Washington doesn’t come out all that great, especially with having to trade two great players and community leaders like Jamison and Butler while having to keep Arenas (by the way, I’m assuming here that Arenas is untrade-able and that the Wizards will not be able to void his contract), but they don’t come out all that bad.

Kirilenko still has talent (plus taking on one more year of him at $17.8 million saves more money than three more years of Jamison/Butler at $39 million total), C.J. Miles is young, and Boozer could keep the Wizards in the weak Eastern conference playoff race.

Maybe the Wizards are giving up too much, and maybe they don’t have much of a choice. Who knows. It’s just an idea.

[Tweaks]

There could be several tweaks to a trade between these three teams, such as Jamison and Oberto heading to Cleveland; Ilgauskas, Butler, James and Foye heading to Utah; and Boozer, Hickson and Kirilenko heading to Washington. This tweak certainly fares better for the Wizards. Draft picks could also factor into the fairness of any deal.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• December 28, 2009 -- No Surprise That Wizards Are Cautiously Open For Business
• October 15, 2009 -- Flip’s Well-Oiled 3rd Quarter Offense: Wizards 109 – Cavaliers 104
• June 28, 2009 -- Point, Counter-Point: Why Didn’t The Wizards Get Vince Carter?

Antawn Jamison just might go crazy. His words, not mine.

It was about a year ago (I think) when Jamison first referenced the movie Groundhog Day in regard to the Wizards’ losing ways after they fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the 25th game of the season, putting their record at 4-21.

This spawned the creation of the image above, Jamison as Bill Murray … with a groundhog. As the 2008-09 season carried on and the Wizards kept losing, Antawn’s evoking of the Groundhog Day theme became a reoccurring event, much like the movie itself.

“It’s like Groundhog Day,” ingrained itself into Jamison’s lexicon, joining one of his other oft-used phrases, “[blah-blah-blah] … and things of that nature.”

As we’ve moved into another season, now ready to turn the calendar to 2010, Jamison still finds himself trapped in a repetitive loop of losing.

The first time Jamison channeled his inner Bill Murray this year came after a loss to the Indiana Pacers on December 12th (at least as far as I know, I’ve only been to home games). Last night, after loss number twenty, Antawn went back to his rock, and perhaps one of the few consistent things in his life right now, an evocation of the movie Groundhog Day.

I certainly hope ‘Twan doesn’t go crazy, but if he shows up at the Verizon Center with an imaginary pet named Punxsutawney Phil or if you see him chocking Andray Blatche while yelling the name ‘Ned Ryerson’, you’ll know that the poor guy has lost it.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• February 18, 2010 -- Bullets for a Throwback Bullet, The Departed Antawn Jamison
• October 12, 2009 -- Links, Commentary, Notes From The Dallas Game and Caron Butler With A Clown
• August 24, 2011 -- ShareBullets: Earthquake After Effects & The Detriment of Gilbert Arenas’ Twitter Account

Jamison talks about his shoulder feeling good, shooting for the first time, and being a cheerleader in Dallas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsuqfyuTKk

Also, NBC 4′s Lindsay Czarniak sat down with Irene Pollin to talk about her involvement in professional sports with her husband Abe.

[Link to embedded video]

{Other Links}

Mike Prada reports from Thursday’s Wizards practice. [via Bullets Forever]

Javaris Crittenton’s injury saga [via Wizards Outlet, Washington Times] – Also remember, he’s previously worn a boot three times since getting injured in a ProAm game in July. See my previous post from training camp: The Competitive Nature of Javaris Crittenton’s Injury

Caps/Mystics owner (and Wizards minority ownership partner), Ted Leonsis, runs into Gilbert Arenas, calls him a panther. [via Ted's Take]

Bill Simmons has a section on the contrasting styles of Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes in his new book on the NBA. [via The Washington Times] — I previously covered the dynamic of the two great Bullets in a late-September post: Elvin Hayes versus Wes Unseld

The Wizards still have swag, the video. [via DC Sports Bog]

Caron Butler loves O.J. and salmon. [via Complex.com]

Someone outside of D.C., much less anywhere, picks the Wizards to win the East. [via Daily Egyptian - the student-run newspaper of Southern Illinois]

Other reads from Truth About It:

• December 10, 2010 -- ShareBullets: A Winner Arises From Memory
• August 5, 2010 -- ShareBullets: Antawn Jamison on the Cavs without LeBron: ‘It’s going to be interesting.’
• May 20, 2010 -- Putting Your Finger In The Pie: The Grand-Daddy of Wizards #1 Draft Pick Run-Downs

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Antawn Jamison’s right shoulder has been re-evaluated and that the findings were consistent with the original diagnosis of a subluxation.  He is expected to miss from four to six weeks from the date of the injury (Jamison sustained the injury in the Wizards’ 109-104 win in Cleveland on Oct. 14).

Honestly, I kinda expected this to be the case … especially when a shoulder briefly pops out of place. Better to be safe than sorry I guess.

Flip Saunders said he would probably start Fabricio Oberto tonight against the Bulls so that Andray Blatche can get used to his role of coming off the bench … wonder if this now changes the plan.

Antawn Jamison could be out until around December. Damn.

Get well soon Captain.

{flickr/Keith Allison}

Want to see these two in the same uniform soon.

flickr/Geoff Livingston

Wizards Insider Update via Michael Lee:

The Wizards, though, are optimistic that because Jamison’s injury won’t require surgery and since his shoulder has made considerable progress in the past week, it would only keep him out the first 10 or so games.

“He’s really ahead of where we anticipated, but we’re being really conservative right now,” Coach Flip Saunders said on Friday, after the Wizards completed shootaround for their preseason finale against the Chicago Bulls. “We’re going to be patient with him. We don’t want to take any chances. We want to make sure that thing is right and fully healed.”

Other reads from Truth About It:

• October 15, 2009 -- Antawn Jamison Injury Update
• April 1, 2009 -- The Gilbert Arenas Comback: In Screen Shots
• February 1, 2012 -- Gilbert Arenas To The Lakers? What Nick Young Thinks

In addition to me being there, blogging about DeShawn Stevenson’s new tats, the musings of Gilbert Arenas, and the ‘consistent’ goals of Andray Blatche, there was a ton of great coverage from Hoops Addict, Wizards Insider, Wizards Outlet, and Bullets Forever.

Now, after transcribing all of my interview recordings, I wanted to share some of the quotes/pictures that have been relatively unheard/unseen.

{Note: I will be in Richmond for training camp on Saturday and Sunday. There’s limited media access, but I’ll be updating some of the goings-ons via Twitter}

Antawn Jamison Question: This team needs to improve defensively, where does that start? “It starts with each and every individual. We know what we have to do. There’s no need to talk about it. I think that guys have to be accountable. Guys have to work hard. Work at it, apply it to what the coaching staff is trying to do, and just take it from there. Don’t think we can outscore everybody and just be an offensive minded team because we see where that gets you – that gets you to the first round of the playoffs and then you’re home after that. For us, it’s all about trying to win championships, and in order to do that, you have to play better defense and be successful at it.”

Javaris Crittenton

On his retirement from Twitter (July 18, 2009):

“There’s just a lot going on and I  wanted to stay focused on what I needed to be doing. Sometimes, the Internet, FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, that can take away from your concentration on something that’s more important. And as soon as I got off, some of the players started getting in trouble … you have to watch what you say on there. I think the best way to avoid that is to just not be on there, so I got off.”

• Suggested Reading: Twizards Mostly Okay With New NBA Rule [Michael Lee - Wizards Insider, Washington Post]

On the one thing that can separate him from the pack and earn him minutes:

“Be a consistent shooter and be able to run the offense. Set up the offense and run it with a purpose. Get guys the shots … we got a lot of scorers on this team, and me, I have to play something different. I can’t try to score. I gotta play defense, set up the plays, and make sure everybody gets their shots off. But be able to knock down shots when I have to opportunity.”

On leadership and being vocal:

“That’s something that Flip also stressed. The point guard should always be the leader, no matter how young you are. Not that you should disrespect anybody, but just be a leader. And that’s something that I found myself, not battling with, but I was so young when I came into the league, I had to learn how to lead.

It’s a different level now that you’re in the NBA. I definitely think that’s something I’m going to continue to improve upon, my leadership and being much more vocal this year.”

Mike James

On the challenge of changing his game from being more of a scorer to being more of a facilitator in order to earn minutes:

“Just play the game the right way. I think we have a lot of weapons on this team this year, we have a lot of scorers. And so, when we’re playing the game, we have to figure out how to put people in the right places, and I definitely have to be a facilitator. That will definitely be one of my jobs.

But at the same time,  I won’t turn down any shots. And I don’t think Flip wants the type of offense, or runs the type of system where he wants you to turn down shots. He just wants you to go out there and play, and put the team in the right situations.”

On if he’ll be a vocal leader because of his experience and his championship ring:

“This is 2009-10 season, I won a ring in 2004. A lot has happened since 2004, and I’m not even focused on what I did. It’s about what I’m doing and what I’ll do. It has nothing to do with what I did. My respect comes from the basketball player I am, not from what I’ve done in the past.”

Suggested Reading:

• Mike James tries to make the battle for minutes even more complicated [Mike Prada - Bullets Forever]
• Wizards’ James won’t count himself out of the mix [Mike Jones - Washington Times]

Nick Young On his work with Sam Cassell and if he’s learned any veteran tricks of the trade: “Sam was a smooth player, he knows the inside game very well. I grew up watching him, especially when he played for the Clippers. He’s taught me a lot … post moves, and how to stay under control.”

Fabricio Oberto On leadership via his championship experience: “I’m just trying to help the team. I won’t put anything on it, like ‘yea, let’s do this’. That’s happens when you start practicing, start working out, when you start getting to know each other … you know, trying to help with my experience. When you go through many years playing for different teams, you know how to get it done. And I’m that’s what I can bring to the team.”

Brendan Haywood

Fitting In With Flip:

“I think I’ll fit in fine. If you look at Flip Saunders’ system, big men have always fit in well … as far as Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Rasho Nesterovic … even guys like Dean Garrett did well in his system.”

It’s A Contract Year, but Does Brendan Know His Role?

“I know my role and I know what I’m supposed to do for this team. I know who the scorers are and I know what they’re supposed to do. And I think as a team, we know that we’re supposed to do.”

On Oberto and Defense:

I think Oberto helps us defensively because he’s a guy, you don’t have to tell him where to be, he already knows. That was part of our problem last year. We had a lot of guys who didn’t really know where to be. He’s not going to be apart of that problem, so that’s definitely an added bonus.”

More on Defense:

“We have to figure out what our defensive identity is, and we have to have guys in the right position. It’s one thing to get beat by your man, but it’s another thing to not know where you’re supposed to be. We have to have guys who play good position defense. The best defensive teams, teams like the Spurs, they play great position defense. They’ve taken guys who have been traditionally poor defenders, like let’s say a Mike Finley or a Brent Barry, integrated them into their system, and they’ve done just fine because they play good position defense. We have to get to the point where everybody knows, this is how we’re going to play, this is where I need to be, and you can count on your teammates to be there.”

Defensive Potential:

“I think we can definitely become a good defensive team. Maybe not last year, but the year before that, with the addition of Randy Ayers, I thought you saw us become a better defensive team. It doesn’t happen overnight, but we definitely became a better defensive team.

In previous years, defense wasn’t stressed … if you could score, you played. And now it’s a little bit different. Now it’s ‘what can you do on both sides of the ball’, because you have to realize that offense isn’t the only side of the basketball.”

On Failure vs. Success:

“Failure will be not making the playoffs, or losing in the first round. I think DC fans probably got tired of that.”

“Success will be making it to the second round, making it to the conference finals, NBA finals … anything past the first round. So, it’s a process, but I think we can get there.”

On his trainer Idan Ravin, ‘The Hoops Whisperer‘:

“He has this one drill that’s like 15 minutes of constant basketball movement. And it’s crazy, I’m like, ‘when am I going to be moving for 15 straight minutes?’ It’s very tiring and frustrating, but at the end of the day, it gets you in shape and gets you ready.”

On Blogging (and if Gilbert has passed the torch to him):

“I’m not sure if he handed to blogging torch over to me, but it’s something I just did this summer. YardBarker asked me if I wanted to do it, I figured it’d be fun. I had a little bit of fun with it. I think I’ll continue to do it during the course of the year. It’s gets you closer to the fans and gives them a little insight into what you’re thinking and what you’re doing.”

On If Gilbert Needs To Change:

“I don’t think he needs to change. I think you have to be who you are. When we were winning, and he was doing all his antics and actions, everybody loved it. But when we started losing and they tried to blame him, I don’t think it was him needing to change, I think it was him being injured. I compare him to Chad Johnson. When the Bengals were winning, all that stuff was funny. When they started losing, they blamed him. It wasn’t his fault. Carson Palmer was hurt. They weren’t going to win anyway. Everybody is always going to need a scapegoat, and he can’t let people on the outside determine who he is.”

Haywood At Attention

Jamison’s Blue Steel

Wiz Media Day Scene 1

Wiz Media Day Scene 2

The Faces of Tuff Juice

Waiting For Gilbert

Other reads from Truth About It:

• October 8, 2009 -- Wizards v. Grizzlies: Leftover Table Scraps & Pictures
• September 29, 2009 -- Blatche Makes Cupcakes, LaVar Arrington Posts Up Arenas, and Training Camp Day 1
• April 30, 2009 -- Questioning Antawn Jamison

First a couple Wizards-related pieces I wrote for NBC Washington (shameless self promotion):

“[Ernie Grunfeld is] panicking and that whole franchise is panicking, they are a dumb blockbuster trade waiting to happen,” said ESPN columnist Bill Simmons.
ESPN Columnist Wants To Fleece Wizards [NBC Washington]

From Miami, to throwing the opening pitch at a Nationals game, to La-La Land, Caron Butler is on a tour, going each and every place with a mic in his hand .
Caron Butler’s Championship Campaign [NBC Washington]

Speaking of … in case you missed Butler’s redemptive throw [via DC Sports Bog]:

Of course Antawn Jamison was this year’s team M.V.P.
MVP of the Woeful Wizards [NBC Washington]

Antawn Jamison an all-NBA No Defense 1st Teamer [Tim Kawakami, MercuryNews.com]

Wizards Game of the Year? Go vote at Bullets Forever.

Brendan Haywood chatted it up briefly on ESPN. Here are the highlights:

Gilbert Arena’s stomach tattoo via Slam Online. I wish he didn’t have to put the design of the tiger over his belly button. It looks like the tiger has an extra mouth, or a bullet hole in his chin. Bullets.

via Slam Online

NBA Draft: Tom Ziller did some research on the King’s Lucky Numbers at SacTown Royalty, I had my research on the date May 19th.

Coaching: SacTown Royalty also has an evaluation of Eddie Jordan’s experience … good read. But to be clear, Jordan dealt with plenty of injuries before this past season.

The Philly Sixers have had their eye on Jordan as well … but Sacramento might be a more realistic, although less desirable, situation. The Sacramento Bee has a run-down on Jordan being the prime candidate. The WaPost’s Michael Lee has a follow-up on Jordan on Wizards Insider.

That is all.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• April 30, 2009 -- Questioning Antawn Jamison
• April 17, 2009 -- Walking Backwards Toward The Finish Line: Done with the 08-09 Wizards
• April 13, 2010 -- The Wizards Wear Hats, and Even Represent the Nats

Jamison is the current patriarchal cornerstone of the franchise. This year’s team MVP? Unquestionably. He possesses the never-quit attitude that should be infecting the locker room via leadership by example … Jamison is quite the opposite of past clubhouse cancers, like Christian Laettner.

But sometimes, everyone needs to be questioned, Jamison being no exception.

Jamison’s struggles on defense are no secret. He has aging lateral movement, and as discovered this year, he’s not an adequate substitute for Brendan Haywood‘s post defensive communication. Are we to just accept Jamison’s “unique” scoring ability, rebounding numbers, and minimal turnovers as big pluses? Or should Flip Saunders seek improved defense out of the starting lineup?

Gilbert Arenas said on Washington Post Live that he wouldn’t mind going to a big lineup, suggesting getting a four, putting Jamison at three and Caron Butler at two. A tall lineup would have some usefulness in the rebounding department. However, the problem with keeping Jamison as a starter is that he’d likely have to guard the opposing team’s wing. I’d rather not go through the pain of watching that, even if the matchup zone hides individual defensive inefficiencies. A poor defender in a mismatch can still be exploited time and time again.

I’ve come to Jamison’s defense before, saying he’d “take one for the team” for a chance at winning … just as he did when he won the 6th Man Award in Dallas . I couldn’t be wrong, could I?

On Washington Post Live, Eddie Jordan rapped about a situation back in 2006. With Haywood already out of practice nursing an injury and Jamison going down briefly during, Jordan instituted a lineup of Arenas, Butler, Jared Jeffries, Michael Ruffin and Calvin Booth. The coach liked how they jived defensively. “It really got me going,” said Jordan at the time, going with the lineup for the next game regardless of the heath of Haywood and Jamison (both were cleared to play).

Lo and behold, the Wiz won their next two, without Haywood and Jamison starting, by playing *gasp* defense. Going into a January 13th game against the Hawks in D.C., the Wizards were 13-19, scoring 100.3 points per game, but giving up an average of 102, and allowing opponents to shoot 46.4% from the field. The Wiz were also getting out-rebounded by averages of 44.6 to 41.5 in those first 32 games of ’05-06.

Against Atlanta, Wizards held the Hawks to 72 points and 39.4% FGs, out-rebounding them by a whopping 52-31 margin as well. Jamison came off the bench to play 28+ minutes with 13 points and 7 boards. Haywood got 10 and six in 17+ minutes as a sub. Otherwise, the Wizards’ scoring was balanced on their way to 103 points; Arenas only had nine and Butler 14.

The Hawks (9-23 at the time) were no world-beaters, but holding them below their 97.2 ppg average on the year to only 72 points was certainly an accomplishment.

Afterwards, Haywood was pouty because he claimed to not know about his benching until just 20 minutes beforehand. Jamison towed the company line in being happy about the win, but still said, “I don’t see myself as a guy coming off the bench.”

Jordan went with same the lineup two nights later on the road in Indiana, the Pacers entering the game with a 19-14 record. Holding Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Jackson, Danny Granger & Co. to 85 points on 45.3% from the field wasn’t too far off Indy’s regular season numbers. But holding the Pacers to five rebounds below their season average, besting them 41-37, was key. Arenas and Butler were responsible for a bulk of the scoring load, combining for 61 of the Wizards’ 91 points. Jamison didn’t score in 13+ minutes off the bench and Haywood netted five points in just under 20 minutes.

In the 32 games leading up to Eddie’s adjusted lineup, the Wizards only held opponents to 37 boards or less three times, and allowed less than 85 points just three times.

Still unhappy, Jamison elected to bitch and complain behind closed doors, while Haywood showed his ill will of emotions on the bench. The two were back in the starting lineup the next night in Atlanta, where the Wizards beat the Hawks for the second time in three games.

According to Jordan, Jamison gave him an “I told you so!” after hitting a 7-foot jumper with 18 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 99 and sending it to OT. The Wiz outscored Atlanta 15-7 in OT, making the final 114-106.

What Jamison failed recognize was that his team had just given up 106 points on 45.5% shooting to a Hawks team they held to 72 points on 39.4%FGs just three nights before. The Wizards also got out-rebounded by seven, 45-38, when they previously killed Atlanta on the boards with a +21.

It’s a coach’s prerogative to try new things/send a message, especially when he sees defensive efforts falling short of reasonable expectations, reflected by the Wizards’ record at the time. But alas, it’s the NBA, and the presence of enhanced player’s rights over those of the coach are why so many college basketball aficionados are turned off by the pro game.

What was Eddie Jordan to do? Perhaps his message about defense did work as the Wizards cut opponent scoring from 102 ppg in 32 games before the ATL-Indy lineup change to 99.2 ppg in 48 games after.

But all that was back when Jamison was a spry 29 years old; AJ turns 33 in June. And while there haven’t been many signs of Jamison falling off statistically, his defense sure as hell isn’t getting any better.

What happens in the dream scenario I’ve been touting of taking Chris Bosh off the Raptors’ hands for Blatche, the expiring contracts of Etan Thomas and Mike James, along with the #2 pick, and perhaps a future 1st rounder as well? (this scenario will surely be covered in the future, just go w
ith it for now).

With the big combo of Bosh and Haywood, the Wiz could play tighter on the perimeter, cutting down on wide open three point attempts they love to give up. Maybe you’re willing to look past the defensive inefficiencies from Jamison playing the three, but think about the atrocious combo of Arenas and Butler trying to contain the opponent’s one and two. Not to mention Caron doesn’t even like playing the two, but maybe that changes in Flip’s offense.

Simply put, the Wizards need a better perimeter defender in the starting lineup and dependable scoring off the bench. New coach … no one’s spot is safe? Wonder if in his “player’s coach” capacity, Flip Saunders has been promising starting jobs to people.

One possible scenario: start Arenas at a guard, have an open competition between DeShawn Stevenson (I’ll attribute DeShawn’s poor play this year to back/hamstring injuries and will assume that the Wiz will get something resembling his former self from the previous couple of seasons — I know, a huge assumption to make) and Dom McGuire at the two, fill in Caron Butler at the three, Haywood at the five, and either Jamison or veteran four with experience/defense at next, the latter obviously being more ideal.

Imagine a bench of Crittenton, Young, McGuire, Jamison and Songaila/McGee … sounds like a promising, if not slightly young. The Wizards would need another veteran point/combo/three point shooter (Roger Mason, Jr. would be ideal, wouldn’t he?). But it’s way too early to delve into the questions when the probability of roster adjustment is high and unknown.

Improved defense is a must. What the Wizards, and Saunders, need to know is if Jamison is able to swallow his pride, suppress any hubris, and come off the bench. If the team wants to win, and no one is immune to sacrifice, then the Gentlemen Jamison should be willing to hold the door for someone else.

Other reads from Truth About It:

• April 22, 2009 -- Wizards Fans, The Date is May 19th
• October 8, 2009 -- Wizards v. Grizzlies: Leftover Table Scraps & Pictures
• October 3, 2011 -- Washington Wizards Suspensions & Fines Since 1995

Cleveland was also aware of everything the Wiz wanted to do offensively before they did it. Javaris Crittenton would come down the court tapping his chin and Mo Williams would do the same. Guess the “intricate” offense (simplified for the youth, I know) of Ed Tapscott and Wes Unseld, Jr. won’t fool many.

To make matters worse, Washington was always a second behind on open passes, a telltale sign of the team going through the motions….a “we got this team in DC, so who cares about Cleveland?” type attitude.

Not to belittle the effort of some individuals, but as a team, it sucked a big one last night….what’s new? The game was no where close to the final 12 point margin.

Enjoy the screen shots.

Surely no one would mistake this for the timeout huddle of Gregg Popovich or Phil Jackson……heads handing, Jamison smirking (AJ subsequently got up to head to the court before Tapscott finished speaking, as he usually does), and no one else around.
Doubt the Wiz marketers will be using this image to sell season tickets for next season.
Oh wait, they just did.

Link Run Down:

[Wizards Insider]
If you want to understand why the Wizards are 18-61 this season, all you had to do was see both Young and Blatche knock in shots for the Cavaliers while fighting for rebounds. I couldn’t help but shake my head when I heard their reactions to the plays.

“I wish I could’ve got the points for it,” Blatche said.

“I know. Me, too,” Young said.

[Wizards Outlet]
What an ugly game. The Wizards stumbled out of the gates as if they wished they were some place else and shot 1-for-8 to start the first quarter.

[Washington Times]
“If you look at the game, it was more of us than more of them,” Jamison said. “Defensively, we did OK; it’s just offensively, we played like crap. … We just continue to take steps back. No excuses, no young guys on this team, you’ve got the Wizards. And the Wizards for some reason when they do something good, take four, five steps back and we continue to take steps back.”

[Bullets Forever]
This is normally where I’d say, “Oh well, better luck next time.” But of course, there’s not going to be a next time, since the Wizards won’t be facing the Cavs in the playoffs this year. You’d think that I’d be ready for that given how the season has gone, but I still find myself having to remind myself that we’re not going to the playoffs this year. It’s a depressing feeling.

[Washington Post]
Arenas had originally stated that he would play home games and select road games, including in Cleveland because of his special love-hate relationship with the Cavaliers’ fans. Before the game, Arenas sat in front of his locker-room stall, looking at a calendar on his computer and plotting his workout plans for after the season ends.

When asked why he didn’t want to stick it to the Cavaliers, who were hoping to extend their impressive home record, Arenas said, “I already did.” He then went on to mention how he helped end the Cavaliers’ 13-game win streak last week in Washington.

[Forest City Fanatics]
That’s not a great team, but there are at least a handful of NBA rosters that are less talented. Eddie Jordan had done a pretty good job with that squad in the past, and his firing remains one of the bigger mistakes in the league this season.

[Hardwood Paroxysm]
Which brings us to Washington. We’re going to pretend for the purposes of this exercise that we’re getting Gilbert and Haywood (and Jamison and Butler and Epic Vale and everyone else) back at full strength next season. If they get the top pick… CATSANDDOGSLIVINGTOGETHERMASSHYSTERIA. What, do you bring Blake Griffin off the bench? The top pick with explosive talent, the big investment, you groom him as a longterm replacement to Antawn Jamison? Do you shift Butler to the 2 guard, move Jamison to the three (ewwww) and start Griffin? Do you trade Jamison? I mean, it seems like it could be a gluttony of brilliance or an absolute disaster. So basically, a very Wizards scenario.

Wizards Q&A with Dan Steinberg and D.C. Pro Sports Report [Pete Marasmitch]

Other reads from Truth About It:

• October 3, 2011 -- Washington Wizards Suspensions & Fines Since 1995
• May 27, 2009 -- Evaluating Oleksiy Pecherov in 2008-09
• April 22, 2009 -- Wizards Fans, The Date is May 19th

And, my game blogs, which have become noticeably sparse, tend to be very, very lengthy.

So, in lieu, I present what went down last night via screen shots.

Enjoy America.

Oh yea, part one of this is on Bullets Forever……go there first and then come back here.

Antawn Jamison was sorry and sad about how the season has gone.
(cue the slow, sappy piano music)
Oh, BTW….renew your season tickets NOW! NOW! NOW!

Ed Tapscott was happy.
Somebody probably finally blocked out or something.

JaVale McGee made his Lemon Head face.
I read lips, JaVale said, “Naw yung!” in a pip-squeak voice.

Nick Young kept getting these B.S. calls against him….
…..so he sat on the floor and threatened to take his ball home.

But the Bean Burrito kept his head in the game and got a HUGE block on Boris Diaw…..
I read lips, Nick said, “You’re toast, Frenchie.”

Nick Young was smiley….
“Look Ma! I played defense!!”

Dom McGuire had a rough game….sure he scored for the first time since last Friday,
but fouling out and committing four costly turnovers made his night forgettable.

After the Wizards allowed the Bobcats to hit a bucket, with an impending free-throw, Ed Tapscott wanted to crawl into a tiny little hole and eat his favorite ice cream (Chubby Hubby if you must know) and hope that his favorite stuffed animal, Puppy G00-G00, would fetch him a dream.

But the Wiz prevailed in the ugliest ending to a game since….well, ever.
….Cause for Nick Young to sport his Brokeback Mountain shirt.

The Ends.

Random Posts

• February 17, 2010 -- First Wizards Day For Old Mavericks, and The Curse of Gerald Wallace?
• July 1, 2009 -- Finding A Big Man For The Washington Wizards
• June 24, 2010 -- Ernie Grunfeld’s Attempt at the John Wall Dance

Joakim Noah thinks that getting paid to put a ball in a basket is overrated [via DC Sports Bog]

NBA Draft Glass Half Full for Wizards Fans [B-Shoals @ The Sporting Blog]

Random Posts

• December 20, 2007 -- Links That I Like, and You Should Too
• January 12, 2011 -- Andray Blatche’s Roller Coaster Recovery
• February 17, 2010 -- First Wizards Day For Old Mavericks, and The Curse of Gerald Wallace?

Random Posts

• January 23, 2012 -- 3-on-3: Wizards at Sixers: Looking For A Roadie
• April 21, 2010 -- Cardboard Bullets: Don MacLean, the basketball player
• January 9, 2010 -- Wizards Top Magic 104-97 – Locker Room Quotes and Portraits

Truth_About_It: Orlando up 30-25 on Wiz after 1Q – Jamison & Super Jesus with 7 each about 15 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Good to know that JJ Redick still gets solid boo birds in DC about 15 hours ago

Truth_About_It: has a pro team ever established next season’s marketing slogan when the current season still has a month or so left? about 15 hours ago

Truth_About_It: @BulletsForever well, the Wiz probably have $$ for throw-in towels in this year’s playoff budget about 15 hours ago

Truth_About_It: looks like the refs are coddling Dwight Howard like LeBron about 15 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Wizards down 52-45 with 3:56 left in 2nd Q…Magic trey balls have hurt about 15 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Patrick Ewing (or Chewing) needs to go bald, he’s got that top head shine. Oh yea, no to Ewing as Wiz head coach too. about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Caron Butler having an off game….thought he was going to drive to the hoop more. about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Wizards down 60-52 @ half. Nick Young squandered an opportunity to secure a bucket before the half. about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: just saw a black man in an all leather non S&M outfit @ Wizards game. Jesus is rolling in his grave, muttering “oh no he Di-ent” n his sleep about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Turnovers: Wizards only ONE, Magic with five. about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: Three Pointers: Orlando
7-18, Wizards 2-3 about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: 35% of sparse Wizards crowd seems to show up @ halftime. about 14 hours ago

Truth_About_It: no one on the Wiz can guard dwight howard like darius songaila Friday, March 13, 2009 8:34 PM

Truth_About_It: I just looooove when nick young jumps to pass turnover & then commits a foul on other end Friday, March 13, 2009 8:37 PM

Truth_About_It: then again, Young hits deuce to keep Wiz within 6 @ 66-60. Stan Van Gundy no likey…..timeout. 6:49 left in 3rd Friday, March 13, 2009 8:38 PM

Truth_About_It: Darius Songaila’s 1st CD was Bon Jovi. Brendan Haywood’s was Jodeci: Diary of a Mad Band Friday, March 13, 2009 8:40 PM

Truth_About_It: Wizards keep battling, but unfortunately, the Wiz youth can’t seal the dealon crucial plays. 81-75 Magic @ end of 3rd. Jamison has 31 points Friday, March 13, 2009 8:53 PM

Truth_About_It: Oleksiy Pecherov about to make random appearance. Wiz down only 85-83 with 9:11 left in 4th. Friday, March 13, 2009 8:59 PM

Truth_About_It: Dwight Howard has 3 goaltends and a tech in 3:18 at beginning of 4th. Wiz down 87-86. Friday, March 13, 2009 9:01 PM

Truth_About_It: @ticktock6 life changing Chinese food? Tribe called again to say relax urself girl, please settle down Friday, March 13, 2009 9:03 PM

Truth_About_It: got a feeling that the Magic are about to get homer calls in the Wizards’ arena Friday, March 13, 2009 9:07 PM

Truth_About_It: Nick young is doing JJ Redick’s hair….with gel and all. Friday, March 13, 2009 9:08 PM

Truth_About_It: Caron Butler’s off night = stay on the bench Tuff Juice. it’s been Jamison & the Wiz kids. Magic up 99-95, 4:24 left in 4th Friday, March 13, 2009 9:11 PM

Truth_About_It: well….good try by Wiz kids & Jamison……but no dice Friday, March 13, 2009 9:20 PM

Truth_About_It: gotta give Tapscott credit 4 leaving McGee, McGuire, Young & Crittenton in down the stretch….hopefully Javaris will learn from mistakes Friday, March 13, 2009 9:23 PM

Truth_About_It: Magic beat Wizards 112-103….at least Wiz kept it entertaining. Friday, March 13, 2009 9:27 PM

Truth_About_It: and Dwight Howard throws his shoes into the sparsely awaiting Wizards crowd – there’s some “Rick” in a SuperMan outfit Friday, March 13, 2009 9:32 PM

3QCMagic: Oh snap! Redick to heckler: “This guy’s probably a Maryland fan, and they’re barely going to make the tournament” Friday, March 13, 2009 11:59 PM

The. End.

Random Posts

• February 7, 2009 -- JaVale McGee's mom is not impressed by the Wizards
• February 14, 2011 -- Wizards Improve To 1-25 On The Road, “Dougie” Could Be In Order For Team Owner
• October 28, 2010 -- ShareBullets: Before The 2010-11 Debut of Washington Basketball

Not only did D-Song go off with an 8-9 FG, 19 point performance against the T-Wolves, but those stats are from his last TEN games.

Before the All-Star break, Darius “Dirty” Songaila played in 52 games, starting 10, and dropped 6.1 ppg on 50% shooting. In the 11 games since the break, all starts, he is draining 65.9% of his shots and scoring 11.5 points per.

Ernie Grunfeld, you MUST keep this pasty white, Justin Timberlake impersonating, choir boy on this team….he will be a key role player in the future.

Bullets on the Wizards:

• A piece I wrote about Abe Pollin on NBCWashington.com has not exactly been well received. Oh well…. I still stand by my assertion that it’s time for team ownership to change hands. Nothing against Mr. Pollin, as I think he’s done some very great things for the franchise and for the city. However, every view of him need not be looked at through rose-colored glass. Speaking of….I’ve yet to read Washington Post (Mike Wise) and Washington Times (Tim Lemke) pieces on Polllin, but I’m about to.

• Also….Ivan Carter’s gut says that Flip Saunders will be the next coach of the Wizards.

• “Motivation’s not a problem for me, even though our season hasn’t gone the way we wanted, teams are coming after us, seeing us as a game they should easily win. These teams are bringing their ‘A’ games, so we should, too.” -Antawn Jamison

• [Washington Wizards Blog] Caron Butler told us in the radio post-game Monday that he plans to continue to drive to the basket more.

• [Bullets Forever] A guy that averages 7.8 minutes per game and has only played in 21 games this season probably doesn’t strike you as a guy that could be having a historic season. Yet when you check the stats, you’ll realize that Oleksiy is closing in on something that very few players have ever done: Going an entire season without recording an assist.

• Enter the Gilbert Arenas T-Shirt Contest at Gilbertology

• [Wizards Insider] In terms of a grade and given his salary, history and role, I’ll give Juan a C for the season.

In Other News:

What the shit kind of Michael Jordan Wizards rip off is this?

[photo via Hype Beast]

Evidently these things are designed by Michael Lau, some toy designer from Hong Kong. Not sure how I feel…they seem cool….but damn MJ! Could you have at least made the playoffs while in DC?

Finally:

To honor D-Song….and his FIYAA!! (or fire for you proper people), I’m going to let M.O.P. handle the outro. Now I’m off to see the Wiz take on CP3.

Random Posts

• September 8, 2010 -- Wizards/Bullets Team History: A Statistical Search Part 2
• November 30, 2007 -- A U.S. State Expansion On…Where Are NBA Players From?
• November 2, 2009 -- The Dagger Report, Washington Wizards Podcast – Episode 2: Wizards-Cavaliers Rivalry