Wack Rapper Alert!
(but hey….if it means good luck….)
Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)[note: this game blog also appears on Bullets Forever]
David Stern was on Comcast before the game talking with Russ Thaler and Mike Wise of the Washington Post …who was hitting him with some hard questions, albeit halfway in jest….such as:
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Ron Thompson on Comcast with his “Ronny’s” tonight…..some type of award with a creative nickname.
The Warrior Award: DeShawn Stevenson – agreed. My 2nd place would be Antawn Jamison
Most Improved: Roger Mason – agreed again. Just as Ron said, it was a difficult choice between Mase-ON and Brendan Haywood.
Mr. Dependable: Obviously Jamison.
Mr. Complete: Caron Butler
(I’m beginning to think that they selected players first, and then named awards according to their games.)
The Overachiever: Eddie Jordan – I’m caught on this award. I hate to call Eddie an “overachiever” for doing his job and being the good coach that I know he is, and whom I’ve supported, from Day 1.
Anyway, the game…
This is the Pacers ‘De La Soul’ game….you know, the Stakes Is High. If they lose, they can pretty much count on watching the playoffs from home. And that’s fine with me, I’d rather see the Atlanta Hawks step up to bat. The task won’t be easy, Danny Granger has been killing lately (much less being an upcoming Wizards Killer, a la Mo Williams) and both Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler will be resting injuries tonight.
Quarter One
10:33: Dunleavy is Mr. Go-Hard at Antawn Jamison, getting a bucket and later, a two foul shots. Bout time, for a #3 overall pick. 4-4 game.
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Sometimes these game blogs get way too long. At times, it becomes difficult to temper my enthusiasm. When the Wizards do well, I’m just typing away as a result of the abundant offense (usually). If they are playing poorly, I got words too. Tonight, I’m really going to concentrate on selectivity. D’oh! Forgot this is a Triple Play…..Wizards on the main feed, Caps playoff game #1 on the left. The strugglin’ Nats on the right. Oh well, we will see.
I got a preview/run-down of all (some) things Wizards here. Laters.
Also, check out the Bullets Forever game thread for comments.
Previously on Ready to Die.
Wizards vs. Pistons Game 30: Stuck with the fat girl at the dance as DC got blown 106-93. Detroit had 33 bench points, was 11-22 from three and had 23 assists to 10 for Washington. Bad all around.
Wizards vs. Pistons Game 68: This will be known as the Gilbert Arenas hissy-fit game. The Wizards won 95-83 and made Detroit look very un-Detroit. This discovered picture of Rasheed Wallace was the most important piece of the night.
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Welcome to the Wizards-Celtics game preview. To start……
What Happened Last Time?
Wizards Game 2 in Boston: Celtics 103-83: Gilbert talked pre-season smack then got his name chanted (a la Dar-ryl Strawberry) and booed by the playoff atmosphere in Beantown. The Kevin Garnett block on Gilbert Arenas typified the night.
Wizards Game 35 in DC: Washington 85-78: Shocker in DC! (I’m talking about a win vs. the Celtics, not the fact that the Verizon Center crowd was actually *cough* good). Caron Butler and Paul Pierce had an intense 3rd quarter battle. DeShawn Stevenson capped the game with a dunk and trash talk to the Celtics bench.
Wizards Game 36 in Boston: Washington 88-83: Shocker Part II! Tuff Juice was all over the court in the late going…..hitting a double-clutch shot AND1 to put the Wiz up one with 40 seconds left, playing insane D on Paul Pierce, hitting a scoop shot to again put the Wiz up one with 19 seconds left, rebounding a KG miss and hitting FTs to put the Wiz up 3 with 8.6 seconds left, etc., etc…..
Sincerely From Boston.
I traded emails with Jeff from CelticsBlog.com earlier today, here are the results:
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Time for some quick react quotes from the past two Wizards games. It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the Wiz were able to squeeze out dubs versus both Miami and Chicago. Considering the injuries, I’ve become comfortable in the fact that the Wizards can mange wins while trying to find a rhythm. These are not your father’s Washington Wizards Bullets…so let’s not get spoiled by four playoff appearances in a row. Even so, wins against the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls are hardly anything to write a blog post home about, or is it?
Next Up: Boston Celtics, 7pm, Wednesday April 9th. Onto to the quotes….
Miami Heat
“Last night, when the Wizards clinched their fourth straight playoff appearance with a 109-95 victory over the dreadful Miami Heat, the reaction from the crowd was the basketball equivalent of a golf clap, and players reacted with relief rather than excitement. [Washington Post]
“Wasn’t easy to watch former Heat small forward Caron Butler get busy on the Heat, but it sure was easy to ponder the questions of “Why” was he let go in the first place, and “What” do we have to show for it in the aftermath? The Miami Heat got the worst of that Shaq trade in more ways than one. [Crazy from the Heat]
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Wizards take the Bulls by the horns.
Well, that answers Ivan Carter’s question, Gilbert Arenas will sit out and rest the knee tonight against the Chicago Bulls, opting out of the back-to-back. Who knows what that means….I thought it was normal rest earlier this season, then all of a sudden, he’s having another surgery. Antawn Jamison, as most know, will also be dress-code suited on the bench.
The update is that Gilbert is out as a precaution.
Quarter One
11:41: Can of Tuff Juice from long distance to start.
Even bigger sports night for DC (than on Nats opening night)….got the Caps season finale on the left feed (a win and they’re in the playoffs). The Wizards-Bulls front and center, for now UNC-Kansas on the far right.
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Like one of those so-called cool movies (not that I know an actual example), this is a tale that will be told backwards. It may turn disaster just like this Wizards game, but that would be fitting. The last play must bat lead-off. Frustrating, unnecessary mistakes, such as the one committed by Gilbert Arenas will keep the Washington Wizards from being a contender. Oh yea….that whole Curse O’…..(I won’t type it this time) – Gil comes back and three Wizards get hurt? Karma-Vodoo-Inferno-What?
Meridian Hill Park, Washington, DC
End of the Fourth Quarter
Eddie Jordan’s quotes after the game were very interesting: “I found out [about Gilbert playing]….he doesn’t really tell me, but that’s Gil……..Let’s say it wasn’t through normal, proper channels, but I found out. That’s it? Okay…….” Exit stage right. [What the hell kind of professionalism is that? From hissy-fits to angry auto drives to game plan surprises......Gilbert is like that fake can of nuts loaded with springy snakes.]
Well, the Wizards are back to normal. The offense looks like a poor-man’s Suns (which is pretty good) and the defense has lost it’s damn mind. Gilbert was named Comcast’s Player of the Game. Are you serious? This development disgusts me.
DeShawn limps off the floor….game over. 110-109 Milwaukee.
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Recapping the Best of the Recaps.
Don’t Sleep on Roger Mason in Seattle
Seattle Sonics Blog on seattlepi.com:
There were several disturbing things about the game. How in the world did Roger Mason Jr. get open for six 3-pointers en route to 22 points? At about the third or fourth 3-pointer, you have to double Mason to get the ball out of his hands. There was a definite lack of defensive adjustments and that is coach P.J. Carlesimo’s fault.
Seattle “tried” to get the ball out of Roger Mason’s hands, but when it was too late [from the game blog]:
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The Wizards need to rebound in more ways than one: rebound from last night’s demoralizing game (for fans) and rebound the damn ball. 55-36. That’s the rebounding total from the Wizards’ time in Oregon. Joel Pryzbilla had 17 rebounds….8 of those offensive. Tonight, I’m going to pay special attention to any offensive rebound the Wizards give up and the responsible party.
The Wizards blew the Sonics out in game 32 of the season, DC side. In that game, Seattle provided us an example of their youthful sloppiness. Tonight in Seattle, the Wizards need to provide a consistent veteran effort.
Sixers and Raptors have both already won, so the pressure is on. I love these late-night West Coast games.
Let’s start the show….
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The Wizards Run-Down
Recapping those Pistons:
The prerequisite Bullets Forever recap and link to the live game blog.
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No time for a game preview as promised after the Florida run-down…..you should be (or probably already have) checking out Bullets Forever for the pre-game 68 thread.
Quarter One
10:00 – Getting into the game (watching on TV) a little late, 4-4 is the score. McDyess already has 7 rebounds, Rasheed is on the bench with two fouls, Hubie Brown likes the early energy for the Wizards and apotential nickname has emerged for Jamison – “Horse” because as old Hubie says, most of his shots look like they belong in a game of H-O-R-S-E.
5:01 – Actually, maybe horse is not such a good moniker. In any case, Haywood and Jamison answer Hamilton and Prince buckets with a couple dunks, Jamison’s leaning to the side. 13-12 Detroit.
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The quick and easy run-down:
Orlando Magic
Big win.
The ranks:
- Jamison’s 31 and 11
- Brendan Haywood’s defense
- Songaila’s war with Super Buddy Jesus
- Dominic McGuire’s alley-oop from Caron in the middle of the 2nd
- Antonio Daniels’ sweet spin and finger-roll late in the 3rd
- Hedo Turkoglu missing 2 free-throws in the final minute
The live blog will give you the full story.
Bullets Forever opened the Hollinger hating door again.
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No, this is not Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. This is:
Just to set the record is straight, okay? The other guy? Oh c’mon, acting like you’ve never seen Ron Jeremy in a Mario outfit.ON TAP:
A HUGE Wizards Insider post tonight.
1st: Gilbert gives some straight talk — the East should be scared of the Wizards [essentially].
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Well, the Wizards won’t be seeing what’s in these bags of tricks.
Why? Because Eddie Jordan has set a curfew for his Wizards team on their 2-game Florida road trip. Curious as to why Eddie would do this, as the Washington Post tells, Jordan has never believed in curfews. Is this a reactionary or preemptive move? In any case, I am in agreement because the idea can’t hurt.
“…..a business trip, not a Florida pleasure trip.” -Coach EJ
Moving on to the Atlanta Hawks loss.
Bad Wizards defense…..what more can I say? At least someone was happy to get free donuts as a result of the Hawks win. Bibby is getting props too.
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Watch out for this guy….
just ask Tang Hamilton (not pictured guarding Joe Johnson).
picture from flickr/vedia >> After the 0-5 start, the Wizards got their first win of this 2007-2008 season against the Atlanta Hawks back on November 11th…..thanks to some guts and 15 rebounds from Antawn Jamison. Unfortunately, that game coincided with a 33-25 Redskins loss to the hated Philadelphia Eagles.
>> In game 25, a 97-92 Wizards loss to the Hawks, Washington survived a slow start to make the match really close down the stretch. Nick Young and DeShawn Stevenson both gave solid efforts, however the Wiz were unable to overcome a 32 point night from Joe Johnson and a +16 rebound margin for Atlanta.
>> Game 34: Wizards vs. Hawks in Atlanta. This one was even more exciting as the game went into overtime; Washington prevailed 102-98 thanks to Antonio Daniels with his game sealing bucket and 7 assists with 0 turnovers.
>> Tonight’s game is a big one for both teams….playoff implications. As I read on the Bullets Forever game 66 preview, the Hawks are tied with the New Jersey Nets for the 8th spot in the NBA Eastern Conference playoff race. Currently, the teams share a 28-38 record….disgusting.
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