Q1

8:08: Dom McGuire has gotten good at the corner jumper…..as long as he omits that hitch he has in his shot at times. 9-4 Wiz.

D-Mac, of course, can potentially be a great defender, but really must work on his lateral movement.

7:37: Blatche spin and gets in air, but the Wiz (Mike James in this instance) are making better cuts, and it’s an easy pass for a layup. 11-6 Wiz.

Wiz start 1-5 on FGs, but go 5-5 since…thanks to the fact that Brad Miller cannot guard Andray…who has 9 points on 3-4 shooting.

5:46: Butler is having his own issues with Salmons, who just drove by him for a dunk. 17-13 Wiz.

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Milestones: MLK day, Inauguration eve, JaVale McGee is 21, Michael Adams celebrates a B-Day as well, Wiz playing the team against which Ed Tapscott got his first win and Captain Jack does not care.

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11:00:
The Good Thing: Wizards don’t have too much of a reason to collapse into the paint on Biedrins
Bad Thing: Blatche is sometimes allergic to blocking out…Biedrins gets a board and then Azubuike gets 2nd chance three. 5-2 G-State.

Not sure what Caron Butler going behind the screen on a shooter like Jamal Crawford has to do with him having to play the two-spot.

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Q1

11:23: David Lee gets on board for the Knicks as they move the ball well while Andray Blatche flounders around the paint, quizzically pointing fingers at lost defensive assignments. 2-2.

11:09: Blatche, however, scores the first four points of the game….the latter pair coming on a nice behind the back dribble and pull up on Lee who gave him too much space.

It’s nice to see confidence from Andray, but I see two big problems with him: 1) being able to keep up with the energy/hustle of David Lee, and 2) lack of concentration.

8:44: Nice NY ball movement from a driving Lee to a moving Jared Jeffries leaves Blatche’s head hanging. 11-9 Wizards.

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Wes Unseld Jr. whispers sweet coaching nothings into the ear of Ed Tapscott

Songaila makes his first start of the season……and I know some may be griping about the Lithuanian at the 5 spot, but history tells us that he does play the best defense against Dwight Howard…..then I saw this, which was via this.

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Of course, Dom McGuire handles the jump ball, and loses anyway.

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Caron Butler is out again (I guess this is the “tanking it” that many have been calling for — you know and I know that if this game meant something, Tuff Juice would be spilling himself on the court.)

Q1

11:48: Andray v. Yao….Ming stars off with a fade away miss, Blatche played decent D on him the last time out.

11:00: Instead of staying with Battier,Young zones to Scola with the ball….Jamison is there, but could stand to be closer as Scola can shoot…..Who’s Your Daddy Battier is open in the corner for the swing pass…..three ball. 3-2 Houston.

10:46: Andray takes a college three (top of key) with 15 on the shot clock — don’t care if you’re open Andray — No, No, NO!!

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Q1

Butler hits a tough falling shot to begin….Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier relate that Tapscott wants to get the star forwards (Butler/Jamison) off first…..but why?

Seems like those two should be able to get going at any time…it’s the scoring from the rest of the team which has been the concern.

Caron Butler is trying to do too much…..make, miss, gets caught in the air and has to pass to Blatche with one second on the shot clock — bad decision.

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Q1

JaVale McGee starts off:

• Blocking a Gooden hook shot on help side.
• Blocking a Derrick Rose layup attempt and then Rose’s jump shot on a recovery.
• We haven’t played a minute yet.

10:37: Deng blows by Butler, slashing to the basket in transition. Caron, in my opinion, exerts a minimal amount of effort. 4-3 Bulls.

9:33: McGee closes out fast and gets a 4th block on Gooden’s jumper.

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Devin Harris is the talk of the town……so who will he be killing tonight? Ok, how about a more optimistic question, how will the Wizards stop him? Well, I recall Dee Brown being able to somewhat contain Tony Parker in the preseason, so….he’s our best bet, the third string point guard out of the Republic of Turkey.

The Free Darko Prediction: The transition out of Milwaukee proves surprisingly difficult for Yi, who has yet to make any friends outside of Brook Lopez. The incessant hazing from relentlessly cruel Julius Hodge does not help the situation. Wizards by 20.

Damn….ok, I’ve been absent the past two games, so I’m not exactly sure how Darius Songaila got that shiner on his right eye…..please tell me it was a practice scuffle.

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So the big news: JaVale McGee and Dee Brown will be in the starting lineup for Etan Thomas and Juan Dixon. Brown is a little bit of a surprise as his play this year has been spotty, and uneventful when he does see the court. Plus, we know that Juan Dixon had built somewhat of an alley-oop rapport with McGee.

However, Dixon may be better coming off the bench, and Brown is a better defender. Still no Nick Young in the starting lineup, but if I had to choose a starting experiment, it would be McGee before Young.

What scares me: Atlanta is one of the best three point shooting teams in the league.

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[photo credit: flickr/Celia Hippie]

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Playing in a high school gym atmosphere tonight….Miami is worse than LA when it comes to late arriving crowds….and much worse than DC (yes, we are bad too).

Etan Thomas missed his first shot…ok, there’s my 180, bench him (kidding).

Well….the Heat have three layups on their first four baskets: Wade in transition, Beasley drive on a gamble steal attempt by Wiz, Chalmers steal and sweet dunk on Dixon. 8-2 Heat.

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