7:20:10 PM: Bit of a snow day here in DC, but I made it to the Verizon Center for Wizards-Knicks @ 8 pm.

7:20:54 PM: Of course, I don’t have a car & live a couple metro stops away from Verizon, so getting here is just a matter of putting on boots & walking.

7:21:51 PM: Spoke w both Larry Hughes & Jonathan Bender b/f the game. Gotta get those interviews up along w old ones w Darius Songaila & Erick Dampier.

7:23:28 PM: Before the game, Flip Saunders reiterated that last night’s game tape vs. the NJ Nets is not going into the Springfield Hall of Fame.

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6:41:17 PM: Saw a Lakers fan in Kobe jersey exit liquor store w small brown package on my way to the Verizon Ctr. Yep, this might get ugly tonight.

6:41:39 PM: RT @MrMichaelLee Antawn Jamison has a right foot sprain, but he expects to play 2night. Earl Boykins is doubtful with a left heel injury

6:43:15 PM: With Boykins doubtful, @mikejames7 will likely get some run. He said b/f game that he’ll be ready this time, Flip won’t catch him sleeping.

6:44:22 PM: RT @MrMichaelLee Flip on Kobe’s ability 2 score w broken finger: “If ur a shooter, u can have a broken arm & ur still going 2 get shots up.”

6:45:22 PM: A colleague said Kornheiser & @MikeWiseguy were both in Lakers locker room b/f game. No words were exchanged. Wilbon around too.

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12:14:41 PM: Dragging a tad on this Sunday, but I’m here at the Verizon Center ready to cover the Wizards-Clippers game.

12:16:54 PM: Happy 2 B here, but get feeling around Verizon that not everyone is exactly thrilled @ another Sunday afternoon game, against the Clippers.

12:19:21 PM: Mike James held court in locker room again today, talked about John Lucas, who is an assist. coach w the Clips & works out James in HOU

12:20:47 PM: James said Lucas is unlike any other NBA coach b/c players gravitate 2 him, opposed 2 others players usually want 2 keep distance from

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5:49:23 PM: If Mike Miller scores 26 points against the Mavs tonight, he’ll reach 9,000 for his career.

6:04:28 PM: Same starters for Wizards: Foye, Stevenson, Butler, Jamison & Haywood.

6:06:06 PM: When asked to grade the first half, Flip Saunders gave the Wizards an “incomplete.”

6:10:22 PM: In addition to Flip, other active NBA coaches w 600+ wins: Nelson, Sloan, Jackson, Brown, Karl, Adelman, Popovich & Dunleavy.

6:22:58 PM: Ha! RT @macg_og: @Truth_About_It Ask Miller about proposed All White League, 1st question, is he too black?

6:24:35 PM: RT @MrMichaelLee Terry is Arizona product like Arenas: “We’re a brotherhood. He’s going through a rough time, but we’re here to support him”

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6:57:50 PM: Your inactives: Javaris Crittenton, Mike Miller & Andray Blatche (team suspension). Your ‘not-in-the-buildings’: Gilbert Arenas

6:59:04 PM: Poor Wiz radio guy Dave Johnson, he has to say things like, “You have every reason to be encouraged … esp. after the last two games.”

7:00:41 PM: Meanwhile, U have a player suspended 4 complaining about not getting shots & more players going 2 court everyday 2 speak on their teammates

7:03:20 PM: Washington Wizards: Where “Encouraging” Is A Fairy Tale

7:03:54 PM: Read the Wiz Insider pregame report from @MrMichaelLee http://bit.ly/88xsYE

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6:10:27 PM: I finally left the locker room to go eat. They could probably do just fine with one less shark in the water.

6:12:13 PM: BTW. Flip Saunders said that Gilbert Arenas will be available to play tonight.

6:13:49 PM: Flip said Antawn is a bit stiff, but was hoping he could loosen up & play. Jamison seemed loose enuff bouncing around locker room w his ipod

6:18:20 PM: Flip Saunders: “From my standpoint, and as I told the players, we’re still going to get judged by what we do on the court.”

6:21:59 PM: RT @rashad20 Ex Wiz & current Spur Roger Mason said he didnt know how bad defensive habits were until he got 2 the SA & learned right way

6:23:43 PM: Wizards going big tonight. Flip is starting Arenas, Butler, Jamison, Blatche & Haywood.

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6:48:41 PM: The Verizon Center is dead just like D.C. – 15 minutes until Wizards-Thunder tip-off, but judging from crowd, feels about an hour away.

6:49:24 PM: RT @BulletsForever Flip implied we might see more zone: “In 2 of our last 3 games, our best defense at times has been our zone defense.”

6:50:42 PM: I asked a bunch of the Wizards before the game what was their favorite x-mas gift that they gave someone else. Got some interesting answers.

6:51:38 PM: Yea, riiiight. RT @BulletsForever Don’t expect 2 C Foye at PG. Flip: “Boykins has been most effective player off bench over last 15 gms”

6:53:14 PM: Wizards goals for tonight: Rebound & Run w OKC, go at Durant on D, Swing the ball on O, Contain dribble, & get early help from weakside D.

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5:24:36 PM: Heading to the Verizon Center with the hope that the Wizards will display some serious effort tonight. It’s going to be an adventure.

6:17:13 PM: Mike James is on the cover of the Wizards’ Game Time magazine/handout tonight. Wonder if it’s the last time we’ll see him in a Wiz uniform.

6:18:04 PM: Randy Foye will start tonight for the Wizards, Lou Williams will come off the bench for the 76ers.

6:20:29 PM: Tonight’s Wizards-76ers officials: #33 Sean Corbin, #39 Kevin Fehr, and #66, former Washington Bullet, Haywoode Workman.

6:24:36 PM: Like Flip has done, Eddie Jordan said he thought about giving up shoot-around 2 help his team, but values it too much as a teaching tool.

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6:16:02 PM: DeShawn Stevenson on starting: “It’s whatever. I just want to play basketball.”

6:18:41 PM: DeShawn Stevenson: “It doesn’t matter who starts, who doesn’t start. In the end, we just gotta win ball games.”

6:23:49 PM: Tonight’s Wizards-Pacers officials: Scott Foster, Brian Forte & Ed Malloy.

6:25:54 PM: BTW, records show that Tim Donaghy called fellow referee Scott Foster more times than his bookie b/t 10/2006 & 4/2007 (134 times to 126)

6:27:51 PM: Flip Saunders aims to match the energy of the Pacers & have a carry-over from the 2nd half against Boston. Hope he didn’t mean FTs.

6:29:46 PM: Flip Saunders on various his starting lineups: “Right now we’re still in the juggling phase.”

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7:35:57 PM: Talked 2 Haywood, he expects Bosh 2 come out aggressive tonight after he played good D on him in Toronto & ATL put 146 on TOR on Wed.

7:38:01 PM: Haywood said the Wizards’ defensive focus against Toronto will be to limit their good looks from 3-point land, important to contest shots.

7:40:39 PM: Javaris Crittenton said he “doesn’t really have a timetable” & “should be practicing in a week & a half, no more than 2 weeks.”

7:42:26 PM: Tonight’s Wizards v. Raptors refs: Bill Spooner, Leroy Richardson & Zach Zarba.

7:43:55 PM: @MrMichaelLee takes a look at the Raptors on Wizards Insider http://bit.ly/50SzoJ

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