Yep, that’s how I feel today.Unexpectedly went to the Wizards-Knicks game last night (big ups to my friend Rob who called with the extra ticket….ups also to Rob’s friend Jo(h)n, from whom Rob got the ticket)….took a bunch of pictures, drank some Crown & Cokes, have some thoughts.
I’ll get a game blogish/defensive analysis up on Bullets Forever later (home game blogs are on BF this season, you’ll find the away games here on Truth About It), but until then, I wanted to get up a post on the best game recaps from around the web.
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- Another appropriate adjective would have been frustrating. The Wizards outrebounded the Knicks and outscored them in the paint and on second-chance opportunities – all by double-digit margins. But trailing in two other categories – 3-pointers and assists – sunk the Wizards in a 114-108 loss at Verizon Center that dropped them to 0-4.
[Knicks streak past winless Wizards - Washington Times]
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The Wizards only played the Knicks three times during the 07-08 season, and lost twice to a New York team that only finished with 23 wins on the year. Here’s what happened (after the pic):
- Game 37: Wizards @ New York Knicks – Jan. 15, 2008
Antonio Daniels had a sore knee so Roger Mason Jr. got the starting nod, and he did not disappoint, knocking down 8 of 14 shots for 20 points. But as they have the propensity to do, the Wizards got off to a bad start, down 30-14 after one quarter…..perhaps it was the empty airplane hanger-like atmosphere in the Garden. Behind a strong 2nd quarter where “I Get Buckets Son” hit three 3s, the Wiz were down 51-41 at the half. After three, the Knick lead was cut to 5. But in the end, the Wizards were out rebounded, out assisted, out shot, and looked worn down after coming off amazing back-to-back wins against the Celtics. Jamal Crawford torched the Wiz for 29 points en route to a 105-93 New York win over Washington.
- Game 38: Washington Wizards vs. Knicks – Jan. 18, 2008
So, three days later, the Wiz got their shot at redemption in the confines of the Verizon Center. The first quarter ended with both teams scoring in bunches, and shooting over 63%; the Knicks held the lead 32-28. In the 2nd quarter, Caron Butler showed some hustle swag to put the Wiz up 61-57 at the half. Washington built their lead to 12 at the end of 3 with solid defense by DeShawn Stevenson on Jamal Crawford, and some strong contributions from Big Oily, Oleksiy Pecherov, off the bench. The Knicks cut the Wizards lead to 4 early in the 4th, but Caron Butler (22 points), Antawn Jamison (32 points), and the bench (30 points) ensured the win for the Wizards, 111-98 over the Knicks.
- Game 53: Washington Wizards vs. Knicks – Feb. 19, 2008
I missed this game because of a trip to Argentina (thanks for my friend Chris for picking up the slack on the game blog)….evidently Art Monk was in attendance, as was Alexander Ovechkin, who at one point was shown on TV slipping the tongue to a blond chick (I’m assuming his now wife?). Antawn Jamison tried his best (20 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals), but the Wizards could not overcome the absence of Caron Butler, who was out due to injury. Jamal Crawford missed a chance to put the Knicks up one with 19 seconds left in regulation when he only made 1 of 2 free-throws. With the score tied at 90, the ball was in the hands of Antonio Daniels….not good and you can guess the result. The Knicks would outscore the Wizards 23-10 in OT for the 113-100 win.
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