This is going to be a tough one, but aren’t they all?
We remember that the Wizards beat the Mavericks in Dallas back in game 14 of the season. The keys to beating the Mavericks today remain pretty much the same as they were then.
- The Bullets need to start the game off hot with buckets – In these last 5 games, the Wizards really only game out balling on offense in last Friday’s home win against the Knicks. Luckily in the other 4 games, the Wiz were able to win 3 of them with tight defense.
Although….Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison combining for 62 points as they did that night in Dallas wouldn’t hurt.
- Contain Devin Harris and dribble penetration, the key ingredients to the ignition of the Dallas offense. In game 14, Harris had 7 points, 7 assists and 0 turnovers at halftime. He didn’t do anything in the 2nd half save for scoring 5 points.
Read more »
Okay, so no one is exactly expecting the Wizards to win tonight, Danny Sheridan’s odds on USAToday.com favors the Mavericks by 12. And I’m sure that Eddie Jordan may be giving the “no one outside this locker room thinks you are going to win” speech…actually, do NBA players even need this speech? Especially since there are so many games? I wonder if most all NBA pre-game talks are more technical and strictly about business. I can’t exactly see Eddie Jordan trying to fire a team up.
If the Wizards want to be in this game, the need to stop the penetration of Devin Harris first and foremost. Yea, we know, the Wizards have been trying to protect the basket which has lead to inefficiencies in defending the 3-point line. But, the Wizards would not have to do so much basket protecting, and so much shifting on D, if the dribble penetration was limited.
The Pradamaster on Bullets Forever has an issue with the excuses given by Eddie Jordan in today’s Washington Times article. Prada makes some good points…hell, we all are frustrated with the team defense over the past couple of years. But I saw the article as less of Eddie Jordan trying to make excuses and more of a little politicking for Ernie Grunfeld to seek some help and for Abe Pollin to dig in his pockets to find a means. Yes, guys do need to step up when the chips are down, but you also need to replenish the cupboard after some plates are accidentally broken.
The Basics:
1) Stop/Slow Devin Harris
2) Play with Effort & Energy
3) Step Up and Score — the Wizards need someone other than Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison whom they can depend upon as a scoring threat
Read more »
