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Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)[note: this game blog also appears on Bullets Forever]
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
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.
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.
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]
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.
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, DCEnd 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.
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.
flickr photo from SimondsThe 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.
The Wizards Run-Down
Recapping those Pistons:
The Detroit Museum of Contemporary Art – flickr/detroitderekNo 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.
The quick and easy run-down:
Orlando Magic
Big win.
The ranks:
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.
Well, the Wizards won’t be seeing what’s in these bags of tricks.
flickr photo from Cougar-Studio.comWhy? 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.
Watch out for this guy….>> 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.
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