SB Nation - Caron Butler

Recap: Wizards 109, Bucks 97

Frank Madden — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:03:04 -0000

Jennings once again struggled to hang with the Little General

The BC had kind of a retro feel Saturday night. To be clear, this wasn't a real retro feel--sadly, the crowd that braved the bilzzard wasn't treated to a '71 Bucks-type performance. It was more like 2006 or 2007 retro. You know, when Mike Redd was creating tons of offense, Charlie Bell still played some point guard, Andrew Bogut left you wanting more, and Brandon Jennings played like a high schooler...because he was.

And the feeling held for the Wizards, too. Gilbert Arenas was manhandling smaller point guards (18 pts, nine assists), Caron Butler (23/10) was making the Lakers feel like fools for trading him, and Antawn Jamison (25 on just 12 shots with 10 rebounds) was doing his inside/outside thing. And, oh yeah, the Wizards (still just 10-17) were a better team than the Bucks (12-15).

The outcome of this one was essentially foreshadowed by the first quarter, when the Bucks got a big start from MIchael Redd (13 points) but showed neither the shot-making nor defensive intensity to hang with a more focused Wizards team. Arenas set a physical tone by bullying Brandon Jennings to the bench, which is where the rookie spent much of his night thanks to an unfortunate combination of foul trouble and amateurish play. Luke Ridnour didn't fair any better with two quick fouls of his own, forcing Charlie Bell into the role of primary ballhandler.

The Bucks' reserves did their darndest to keep the Bucks in it, but most of the game seemed an uphill battle in spite of the Bucks slowly chipping away at the Washington lead. The 10-point first quarter lead was down to five at half, but the lead was still six after three. However, Bell scored six in a 9-0 run to start the third, as the Wizards started settling for long twos and also turned it over twice. The second came on a charge by Arenas, who slumped to the ground with a bum thigh that forced Earl Boykins (15 points on seven shots) back into action with seven minutes remaining. The Bucks suddenly had a three point lead and the Wizards were without their floor leader, but given what Boykins did to them three weeks ago, they probably should have known what was about to happen.

Trailing 86-84, the Wizards took the lead for good with a 9-0 run of their own, as Jamison scored five straight before Butler ripped a long jumper and Boykins stuck a mid-ranger in Jennings' face. Bogut was a spectator for all of it, as he let the Wizards goad him into foul trouble for much of the second half.

Immediately thereafter the Bucks ironically started getting to the line and taking full advantage (they made all six freebies on three straight possessions thereafter) but this time it was their defense that let them down. Jamison rose uncontested to bank in a short jumper and Boykins waltzed in for a layup shortly thereafter--and what had been a close game throughout fell well out of reach as the Bucks spent the final two minutes hoisting wayward threes.

Three Bucks

Michael Redd: 32 pts, 8/21 fg, 1/5 threes, 15/15 ft, 6 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 to
Redd went cold from the field after a 5/5 start, but that made his ability to draw fouls (and actually, you know, make them) so much more important. And even when Redd was hitting shots it wasn't generally because of his jump-shooting--he was in attack mode all night long, terrorizing Randy Foye and Nick Young with dribble penetration. The Wizards may not be a great defensive team, but ti was great to see Redd taking it to the rack and creating offense all on his own. Welcome back, Mike. Now keep it up.

Charlie Bell: 14 pts, 6/15 fg, 0/4 threes, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 0 to
Bell's box score ended up fairly non-descript, but in truth he was the only point guard who looked deserving of playing time. For starters, he didn't let Arenas walk all over him--a nice contrast to Jennings and Ridnour. And while he wasn't creating much for teammates (hence the zero assists) he had a nice stretch in the second half of the third and beginning of the fourth where he made 5/8 shots, effectively attacking the heart of the Wizards defense for buckets. Considering most of the Bucks' offensive weapons were watching from the bench at that point, I'll take it.

Luc Mbah a Moute: 11 pts, 3/6 fg, 5/8 ft, 5 rebs, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 0 to
Another night with a little bit of everything from Luc. He couldn't be the Bucks' savior on defense--though Skiles did use him on Arenas, Butler and Jamison at various points--but his energy and aggressiveness (hence the eight free throws and three offensive rebs) alone made him stand out from his other teammates.

Three Numbers

.529/.600/.886. Let's just lump the Wizards' superior scoring efficiency all into one. Blame it on good jumpshooting if you like, but the truth was the Bucks also had no ability to contain the Wizards penetration either and seemed a step slow rotating on help defense.

1. The Wizards nearly missed becoming just the second team to be held without an offensive rebound, as Brendan Haywood grabbed their first offensive board with just two minutes remaining. `The Bucks fared much better with 14, but the fact that MIlwaukee had only a 40-39 total rebound edge says a lot about the teams' relative shooting percentages.

15. Two nights after his free throw shooting demons nearly cost the Bucks a victory, Redd rebounded in style with a huge and perfect response.

Three Good

Redd rebounds. It didn't end up as a great shooting night for Redd, but the hop in his step was an extremely encouraging sign for the longer term.

Jesse White Tumblers. Always a halftime treat.

Seniorgee. The second of two acts that provided infinitely more satisfying performances than the Bucks. Old people dancing: one standing ovation. Bucks playing basketball for 48 minutes: no standing ovations. Not a good sign for the main event.

Three Bad

Starting frontcourt. Delfino and Ilyasova continued the poor play that started in Indiana, as they combined for a horrid 2/15 shooting. While he still looks to be working hard, Ilyasova has made just one field goal each of the past two games and his usual semi-wreckless, "bend but don't break" style of defense has been closer to "bend and snap in two." While Hakim Warrick wasn't much better in his meager 11 minutes, you have to think he's feeling pretty demoralized that he's playing so little even as Ilyasova struggles.

And then there's Bogut. It wasn't quite as bad as the 4/14 night he put up against Brendan Haywood last month, but he was again mostly ineffective offensively with a 5/13, 12 point night in 28 foul-plagued minutes. Unlike Roy Hibbert, Haywood didn't let Bogut back him down or get especially deep catches, forcing Bogut into too many of those 10 foot hooks which are a foot or two out of his range.

Though he had just five points and looked hilariously clueless on the two post moves he tried, Haywood made up for it with nine boards and excellent defense in the paint, swatting six shots including at least a couple of Bogut hooks. Bogut did add nine boards and his now-customary two blocks, but there were also a couple plays where he basically watched the Wizards make layups.

Jennings. This loss probably represents a new low for the Bucks, and the same is certainly true of Jennings. The rookie was held to a season-low seven points, three rebounds, two assists and three turnovers in 16 minutes--the kind of performance you might have expected a lot of before the season started. Arenas looked like the older brother toying with his younger sibling in the driveway in the first quarter, backing the smaller Jennings down with ease before a second foul sent him to the pine. I'm surprised we haven't seen more of this, but that may be something to look forward to going forward.

But as it turns out, Jennings didn't fare any better against one of the few PGs in the league he does have a size advantage on. In the fourth quarter Boykins toasted him for the second time in a month, as the mighty mite scored 10 in the decisive period to embarrass the Bucks in front of their home fans. More and more we're seeing Jennings' defense exposed, and it's forcing Skiles into gimmicky reactions--like running Bell at the point or having Mbah a Moute guard the 1.

Wake up. For the first time in a few weeks the Bucks had no excuses; this game wasn't about free throws or referees. No, this was about playing flat against a team you're supposed to beat, one that was finishing a back-to-back no less. The Wizards are talented and should certainly be better than their record suggests, but a poor road team like the Bucks simply can't give away games at home like this. The loss now puts them at three straight at home, a worrying sign that leaves us still wondering what this team is really about.

(Late) Briefing: Flip the bench, Flip the script

JakeTheSnake — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:10:20 -0000

More photos » by Evan Vucci - AP

"What?!? I have a worse contract that Gilbert Arenas?"

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

After the Wizards gave up a 9-3 run to start the second half, Flip Saunders decided to pull a page out of the playbook of a college coach who works at a university that rhymes with "puke." Normally, these are just desperate ploys that show just how bad things have gotten; it's rare that you ever see a full swap have any actual impact on the game being played. Typically the bench can hold serve against the other team, so long as they are not left out there too long. Typically, it does not make the game any closer, as was the case last night as the second team was outscored by three in their time on the floor.

Usually, the hope is that the benching will fire up the starters to play better when they are re-inserted and that the added passion they play with will make up for the time they have lost while riding the pine. Last night, the ploy payed off in spades. It was an unconventional move from a conventional coach, but it worked. As Mike has already mentioned, the move lit a fire under Caron and Gilbert, which carried them through the final quarter toward the victory.

Wizards Down Sixers, End Home Slide - Dave Johnson, CSN Washington

While the Wizards bench could not reclaim the lead, it was clearly the answer. In just six minutes of the third, McGuire grabbed four rebounds while Young and Boykins each added eight points to help limit the damage from a quarter in which the Wizards were outscored 35-25. "We knew we were messing up," Butler said of the mass substitution. "We needed a boost and they (bench players) provided a boost. It was about energy and effort. Nick was making shots and Dom was giving the energy."

Flip Saunders’ Wholesale Third Quarter Substitution: Wizards Top Sixers 105-98 - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

Saunders’ motivational tactic worked, but he didn’t like the fact that he needed to use it. The starters returned to the court to start the fourth and the Wizards went on to outscore Philadelphia 33-19 in the final 12 minutes. Washington only had a 26-24 advantage in points in the paint after three periods. They finished the game with a 44-28 advantage. And much of that can be credited to the persistent driving of Arenas. Philadelphia’s defense is pretty bad, but that shouldn’t take away from how relentless Arenas was. Totaling 31 for the game, ten of Arenas’ 12 fourth quarter points came in the paint. The other two came from the free-throw line, also courtesy of penetration into the lane. Caron Butler’s emphatic dunk on two Sixers to put the Wizards up 96-90 was the result of a Gilbert drive.

Last Night's Action: Line Change - Aaron Morrissey, DCist

There's changes, and then there's changes -- and just like David Bowie, Wizards head coach Flip Saunders obviously felt like engaging in some strange fascination, fascinating everyone on Tuesday night at the Verizon Center. Saunders grew tired of his starting five's performance after the Sixers took their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter, and proceeded to substitute them all. At once. Saunders wanted to fire up his regulars; and it seemed to work, as subs Earl Boykins and Nick Young brought a spark. "Guys were pissed, mad. I said, 'you can be mad at me, but you aren't half as mad as I was with the effort,'" Saunders said he told his players. "That got the biggest applause of the night, taking [the starters] out."

Wizards 105, 76ers 98 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Arenas and Butler combined to score 22 points in the fourth quarter, but the Wizards were perhaps rescued by earlier efforts off the bench, which contributed 42 points. Boykins had 18, Young had 13 and Blatche 10. After the game, Young sounded as if he was a bit fired up about Saunders's decision not to give him back the starting shooting guard job. "We had to step up," Young said about Saunders's third quarter move. "I just got to bring it every game. I can't be considered as a streaky player. The young guys went out there to prove a point. We are somebody on this team and we can step up at any time. It shows a lot of confidence in the coaching staff to take out all the main guys and put in the young guys. It showed that we're a team and we got a lot of weapons."

Instant Analysis: Sixers-Wizards - Brian Jackson - CSN Washington

Arenas missed practice Monday with a sore hip but he showed no ill effects against the Sixers. Agent Zero picked up right where he left off on the west coast, opening the game on a personal 7-0 run, finishing with 15 in the first quarter. After going nearly silent in the second and third quarters (4 points), he came back to life in the fourth pouring in 12 of his game high 31 points. It’s amazing that he was able to top the thirty-point mark while only attempting two free throws. While he did knock down three of six from downtown it was his aggressiveness attacking the basket that gave the Wizards a 44-28 advantage in points in the paint. Over the last five games he’s averaging 29.4 points, 6.6 assists and 5 rebounds.

Bench sparks Wizards to comeback win - Mike Fratto, Washington Times

"I just kept the confidence that I had going coming from the West Coast," Arenas said. "All it takes is a couple games to get somebody going. I found it out west, and hopefully I keep it going." It was a much-needed win for the Wizards, who had lost seven of eight - including three of four on the West Coast trip - and immediately returned to the road for a three-game trip that starts Wednesday night in Milwaukee.

Wizards 105, Sixers 98: Bench and response - Craig Stouffer, Pick and Roll

Antawn Jamison, who let’s face it, had a bad game, didn’t comment on the benching, but he did talk about a collision with Haywood for a fourth-quarter defensive rebound that had him dragging down the court well behind the rest of the team: "I’m used to it by now. We’ve played 30 games. Out of 30 games, he’s found a way to tweak my shoulder in 25 of them. It’s just him being aggressive, going for the rebound. He said he didn’t know it was me, but it’s a good excuse. It’s him being aggressive. I like it. He was going for the rebound, but I’m going to have to find a way to counteract it, find a way to prevent that from happening again."

76ers fall to Wizards - Kate Fagan, Philadelphia Inquirer

"We had a horrible defensive fourth quarter," a frustrated Jordan said after his team's record dipped to 7-21. "Horrible, horrible. . . . I mismanaged one possession. I called for a foul when we were down three with a 10-second differential. I made a mistake there, too, but overall, horrible fourth-quarter defense." The stat sheet for the quarter displayed some ugly numbers: The Wizards scored 33 points. The Sixers scored 19, none in transition; committed seven turnovers; and received a grand total of zero field goals from their starting lineup.

This is not over - Caron Butler, Hoops Hype

Even though my numbers are a little down this season, I know I can be an effective player for the Wizards and do whatever I’m asked for. I still can give you 20 points, 7 rebounds and some assists while guarding some of the best players in the league. I know I can do that. I’m not concerned about the trade rumors. I’ve been traded a couple of times before in my career. That did nothing but give me extra motivation. Look at my track record… Every time I was dealt, I had better years with my new team than I had with the old one. You don’t want to get traded, but you can turn it into a positive. I know I did.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Michael Lee
David Falk's protest of Verizon Center (he was upset over Pollin not bringing back Jordan as GM) is over. He's watching Elton Brand

Twitter / George V. Panagakos
Blacthe spins and gets bounce on shot .. a no no no yes shot

Twitter / Craig Stouffer
Last week, Arenas said he needed to get away from Verizon, breathe a little bit. How's the air 2night? He hits his 1st three shots.

Twitter / Mike Prada
Apparently the cure to the #Wizards' offensive woes is playing an Eddie Jordan defense. Overkill? I haven't even gotten going yet.

Twitter / calloni
Flip the squad! Saunders just changed the starting five of the #wizards because they were simply crap in third quarter! #comeonman

Twitter / Jamar Short
@Truth_About_It - @Wale is a Cavs fan but he's always at #Wizards games. I think he's a lowkey Wiz fan but ashamed 2 say it cuz we r losing

Twitter / Mike Fratto
It may have taken til 4:25 left, but that Butler facial was well worth the wait for the first dunk of the game!

Twitter / Bobby Oler
you know your fans are devoted when they chant "dont blow the lead!" #Wizards

Twitter / John Schuhmann
#DumbPlayAlert Willie Green fouls with 35 seconds left and the Sixers down 3. ??? Caron Butler goes to the line and hits both.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Wiz get a much needed win, but it's only a baby step. 105-98 over Sixers.

Twitter / wizznutzz
Jupiter McGwire as gravity grave!!!! Agent Sedgwick as the closer!!! Nick Young as cousin Oliver!!!! WIZ WIN!!!!

Game 27: Wizards/Bucks

Frank Madden — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:23:33 -0000

2009/2010 NBA Season
	@
9-17 (4-10 road)		12-14 (9-5 home)
December 23, 2009
Bradley Center
7:00 PM
Radio: 620 WTMJ TV: FSN Wisconsin
Probable starters:
Gilbert Arenas	PG	Brandon Jennings
Randy Foye	SG	Michael Redd
Caron Butler	SF	Delfino (LRMaM?)
Antawn Jamison	PF	Ersan Ilyasova
Brendan Haywood	C	Andrew Bogut

104.6 (23rd) - OFFENSE - 103.0 (25th)
108.6 (20th) - DEFENSE - 102.3 (4th)
94.1 (9th) - PACE 93.3 (10th)

Linkage:

Bullets Forever / Truth About It

News/notes after the jump

Free Throw Line Blues. The Bucks' mind-boggling 0/7 finish from the line in Indy left a strangely bitter aftertaste to what was a crucial road win. The Bucks' problems at the line aren't anything new of course, but they've taken it to new ~~heights~~ lows of late, as free throws were key ingredients of the Bucks' losses to both the Lakers and Kings last week. Charles Gardner spoke to the prime suspects, and the Bucks offered the cliched responses you expect:

"For me, it's just getting back into a rhythm of playing basketball, shooting my free throws," said Redd, who stayed after practice Tuesday to work on his foul shots with coaches Joe Wolf and Bill Peterson. "My first two looked good last night; my last two looked terrible.

"I'm going to get back to that; it's just a matter of time. Our team will as well. How you correct that is by practicing it. You don't want to shoot 500 free throws but shoot certain sets, put yourself in situations where there may be some pressure."

Bogut also termed the problem a "mental" one, but whatever the origin I'm not sure any of us are expecting sudden improvements from the Big Aussie. With the exception of 07/08 (when he improved by 1% over 06/07), Bogut's free throw percentage has fallen every season since his final season at Utah. He's down to a career-low 53.7% after a combined 6/15 the past two games, so even a return to the modest 60% mark would be a welcome sign.

Guarded optimism. You probably remember the Bucks' visit to the MCI Center last month as the Revenge of Lil' Earl. Boykins was the man down the stretch, scoring 11 of his 13 points (3/5 fg, 7/10 ft) in the last 10 minutes, and capping it off by drawing a foul on Jennings and stroking the clinching free throws. He scored 18 in last night's home win over the Sixers, though he'd managed just 11 points combined in his previous four.

But as scary as Earl may be, Gilbert Arenas is still the guy worth losing sleep over. Despite a sore hip that caused him to miss practice on Monday, Arenas has dropped 30+ in three of his last four games, including 31 last night and 45 against the Warriors (surprised?). In other words, he's finally looking like the Gilbert of '05-'07.

Redd watch. With the exception of the Lakers game a week ago, we haven't been able to say the same thing about Michael Redd. But Redd did show some positive signs in Indianapolis (5/12 fg, 2/3 3fg, 14 pts)---before leaving the aforementioned two free throws well short with the Bucks protecting their narrow lead in the final minute. An 84% career shooter from the line, Redd is now shooting just 55% from the line, 35% from the field and 31% from deep. He also committed a couple cheap fouls down the stretch, but the sloppy defense is at least something we're more used to. Despite all that, Redd still somehow managed to log a game-high and season-high 41 minutes. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me that Redd would see so much burn--for fitness as well as production reasons--but I'll give Skiles the benefit of the doubt for now.

Foye starting? Randy Foye's started the past two games next to Arenas, but the once-balleyhooed lottery pick in Minnesota has struggled to make an impact in Washington. Mike Prada at Bullets Forever writes that Foye has been slow to adjust to a new reality:

In Minnesota, they desperately pumped his psyche up and started him all the time, hoping that he would be a cornerstone like the guy they traded him for, Brandon Roy. They tried him at point guard and shooting guard, but they always gave him his guaranteed 35 minutes. They even gave him the ball with the game on the line, asking him to make the winning plays. In short, he was treated like a much bigger star than he was. Now, he comes to Washington, and he learns the ballad all reserve players learn. Life isn't fair.

Prada goes on to note that Foye is starting in the injured Mike Miller's spot mostly to keep Nick Young in his usual backup role. It's perhaps not surprising then that Young has played more minutes even in Foye's past two starts.

Small forward. Carlos Delfino remained in the starting lineup against the Pacers, shifting over to SF to make room for Redd, but it didn't seem like Skiles particularly wanted him on the court. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute got the call to replace Delfino less than three minutes into both the first and third quarters, as Delfino ended up scoreless on three shots. That's a far cry from Saturday night, when he led the Bucks with 17, including 11 in the fourth.

Delfino has started all 24 games he's played in this season, but given a) Mbah a Moute was significantly better than him against Indy b) the Wizards have the potent Butler/Jamison duo at the forward spots and c) Redd's presence *should* mitigate the need for a fourth three point threat in the starting lineup, Mbah a Moute seems the better lineup fit. Many of us have been rooting for a Mbah a Moute/Ilyasova starting forward combo since the summer, and Skiles was using that lineup before Redd was reinserted into the starting lineup. Stay tuned.

Keys to the Palace: Go west, young men

JakeTheSnake — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:14:07 -0000

More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

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As the D.C. area was bombarded with snow this week, the Wizards were out enjoying sixty degree weather out on the West Coast. Unfortunately, they didn't make the most of their time inside the climate-controlled domes, going 1-3 on the week. What makes the performance this week even sadder is that all four of Washington's opponents missed the playoffs last season.

Of course, Phoenix was the victim of an extremely deep Western Conference. The Kings, Clippers, and Warriors on the other hand, would have been bottom feeders in any conference last season, just like the Wizards last season. With the exception of the Warriors, all of the teams I have mentioned, including the Wizards, have improved since last season.

While the Suns, Kings, and Clippers have developed thanks to the acquisition and development of young talent, the Wizards went the veteran route, figuring that it would take less time to integrate veteran players into the team than a raw talent. Yet as you look at the standings, the Suns are right back in the thick of the Western Conference battle, the Kings and Clippers are hovering around .500, and Washington is the one struggling to win one-third of their games. If this year has shown anything, it's that rebuilding can be faster than remodeling.

As the Palace undergoes renovations, who deserves keys inside? Follow me after the jump to see who goes in and who stays out.

Gilbert Arenas

#0 / Guard / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - 16 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals in 34 minutes (+11)
@ Sacramento - 33 points 6 assists, 4 rebounds in 38 minutes (+4)
@ Golden State - 45 points, 13 assists, 3 rebounds in 43 minutes (+17)
@ Phoenix - 22 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds in 24 minutes (-21)

Gilbert bookended the week with two clunker performances. But like an Oreo, the middle of the week was sweet. We will see if the swagger Gilbert gained out West will travel with him as the team heads back to D.C. In the meantime, enjoy some highlights from Gilbert and Stephen Curry's performance on Friday.

Final Verdict

Andray Blatche

#7 / Forward / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - 3 points, 3 rebounds in 13 minutes (-11)
@ Sacramento - 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks in 18 minutes (-8)
@ Golden State - 8 points, 6 rebounds in 22 minutes (-12)
@ Phoenix - 7 points, 9 rebounds in 21 minutes (-9)

The bench was a weak point all week, and Blatche was one of the big culprits. The good news is that while Blatche has slumped as of late, he isn't hitting the dizzyling lows that he reached earlier in his career.

Final Verdict

Earl Boykins

#12 / Guard / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - 1 assist, 1 rebound in 13 minutes (-13)
@ Sacramento - 8 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds in 15 minutes (-11)
@ Golden State - 2 points, 1 rebound in 4 minutes (-8)
@ Phoenix - 1 point, 2 assists in 14 minutes

Earl was the other big culprit in the bench's woes this weekend. 11 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds is decent output for one game, not four.

Final Verdict

Caron Butler

#3 / Forward / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals in 39 minutes (+16)
@ Sacramento - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist in 39 minutes (+3)
@ Golden State - 28 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals in 46 minutes (+13)
@ Phoenix - 10 points, 4 rebonds, 3 assists in 28 minutes (-18)

On the whole, Caron had a solid week. His shot selection improved, but as Kyle pointed out in this excellent post, Caron still has inefficient tendencies he needs to rid himself of. He summed it up best when he said, "why must Caron always find himself facing up further away from the basket than from where he started?"

Final Verdict

Javaris Crittenton

#8 / Guard / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - DNP - Injured
@ Sacramento - DNP - Injured
@ Golden State - DNP - Injured
@ Phoenix - DNP - Injured

Just when it looked like Javaris was turning the corner, it looks like his ankle has flared up again. Why can't this guy catch a break?

Final Verdict

Randy Foye

#15 / Guard / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - 4 points, 1 rebound in 4 minutes (-5)
@ Sacramento - 0 points, 1 rebound in 5 minutes (-3)
@ Golden State - 2 points in 4 minutes (-5)
@ Phoenix - 13 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound in 19 minutes (-3)

Foye logged 19 minutes on Saturday, the first time he's played over 15 minutes since he November 24th against Philadelphia. His performance, albeit mostly in garbage time, might be enough to earn back some minutes that he has lost to Earl Boykins.

Final Verdict

Brendan Haywood

#33 / Center / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - 12 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks in 41 minutes (+4)
@ Sacramento - 9 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks in 35 minutes (+1)
@ Golden State - 15 points, 12 rebounds in 33 minutes (+14)
@ Phoenix - 3 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist in 27 minutes (-17)

After three strong performances this week, Brendan had his worst outing of the season against the Suns. It's one thing to have season-lows in points and rebounds, but against Channing Frye? Seriously? It's a good thing his other three games were solid as usual.

Final Verdict

Mike James

#13 / Guard / Washington Wizards

This Week

@ Los Angeles - DNP - Injured
@ Sacramento - DNP - Injured
@ Golden State - DNP - Injured
@ Phoenix - DNP - Injured

This exchange between Mike and Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog sums up everything.

This Week

@ Los Angeles - Lost 97-95
@ Sacramento - Lost 112-109
@ Golden State - Won 116-108
@ Phoenix - Lost 121-95

I'm not exactly sure when it clicked, but at some point this week Flip found out that he can't teach and motivate this team the same way he motivated the Pistons. Can he figure out a way to get through to this goofy squad? I don't doubt him, but he may have to take a page out of Eddie Jordan's playbook on how to balance the team's many quirky personalities.

Final Verdict

Briefing: There's no place like your old home

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:01:05 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

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Gilbert Arenas said before the start of this four-game road trip that he hoped going back to his hometown of Los Angeles would spark the rebirth of Agent Zero. Ten missed shots, six turnovers, and six fouls later, Gilbert looked further away than ever. Wednesday's performance provided some more hope, but only led to more disappointment when Tyreke Evans stole away Gilbert's chances to seal a win.

Last night? That was more like it. Sure, everyone will throw out the disclaimer about playing against the Warriors' porous defense, but 45 points is 45 points. Only four other players have scored 45 or more points this season, and no one else has done it while chipping in more than 5 assists (Gilbert had 13). Questions about whether or not Gilbert can fully integrate his game into Flip's offense will continue to linger until he can consistently put together some solid performances, but last night he put away any doubts about whether or not he still has the physical tools.

Wizards 118, Warriors 109: Arenas has no choice - Craig Stouffer, Pick and Roll

It's not a question of whether or not Gilbert Arenas is back after he had 45 points and 13 assists, his highest scoring game since Jan. 15, 2007 (thanks, ESPN). He has to be back. This is his team. He is the center of what it does and how it plays. Everything starts with Arenas, and the Wizards have spent the better part of two years waiting for him simply to finally take his place, one that they paid - yes, i'm talking about it - $111 million to reserve.

Wizards 118, Warriors 109 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Arenas and Butler have both struggled to find their grooves this season, which has played a major role in the Wizards losing 16 of their first 23 games. But with the Wizards in desperate need of a victory, the two most maligned players in Washington helped snap a six-game losing streak by coming through with the type of performances that people have come to expect of them -- although few could've predicted that Arenas was going to score 45 points and hand out 13 assists, even against a very bad, or rather non-existent, Golden State defense. "The rhythm is coming back and I'm feeling good right now," Arenas said after topping 40 points for first time since March 21, 2007, when he scored 42 in a win against Seattle. "Feeling more confident handling the ball, getting into the lane. A lot more confident than I did a couple of weeks ago."

Wizards 118, Warriors 109 - Mike Jones, Outlet

"I’m just trying to get back in attack mode," Arenas continued. "I’ve been the coy fish for a couple of games. I’m just trying to get back in attack mode. I’m finishing off. I finished the game how I left Sacramento. I finally hit plays tonight. down there in the end, I made a shot and a pass to CB. The rhythm is coming back and I’m feeling good right now." So the pressures of D.C. are still weighing on Gil's mind, huh? You don't like to hear your franchise player dreading playing in front of the home crowd, but for now this is how he feels. "I don’t know. When you’re at home, sometimes you got pressure. You got pressure to win. It’s the pressure sometimes. when you get West, you’re away everybody, away from your family, away from your friends, away from most of the media. People off the street saying, ‘Why y’all losing? Get it together’ You get away from that and you go on a trip and it’s you and your team."

Gilbert's 'Greatness Was Overwhelming' - Jamie Mottram, Mr. Irrelevant

Arenas leads Wizards over Warriors - Associated Press

Arenas, who missed most of the past two years with knee injuries, had his 29th career game of 40 or more points. "When we got the ball in Gilbert’s hands he made plays," Wizards’ coach Flip Saunders said. "When you have a guy directly involved with 71 of your points, he’s made a huge impact."

Last Night's Action: Upside Down - Aaron Morrissey, DCist

Arenas, who has been putting up some big numbers despite the multiple losses, had another big night in the box score -- 45 points, his most since January 2007, and 13 assists -- but more importantly, Agent Zero was completely unguardable down the stretch. It was the vintage, clutch Gilbert we fondly remember; late in the fourth, Arenas was either making shots, almost effortlessly finding his way to the bucket, or creating open shots for his teammates.

Arenas Leads Wizards Over Warriors - Dave Johnson, CSN Washington

Wizards head coach Flip Saunders believes Arenas is only at 75 percent in his quest to fully return from his knee problems. "He is getting a little but more aggressive", Saunders added. If you notice he has a better sweat going. He doesn’t look cold out there. He looks loose and into it."

Arenas scores 45 points, Wizards top Golden State, 118-109 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Antawn Jamison's string of three consecutive games with at least 30 points per game came to an end after he suffered a stinger on the left side of his neck in the second period. During a break in action, Arenas asked Jamison where he was hurting then pressed his fingers in the area where Jamison told him. Jamison angrily pushed back Arenas and playfully slapped him across the cheek. "I told him, 'Put some oil on it,' because he got that old neck right now," Arenas said he told Jamison. "But he said, 'Look at your knee.' The jokes stopped right there." Not quite. Jamison later airballed a free throw and Arenas joked with him some more. "He was Gilbert," said Jamison, who also started his career in Golden State.

Instant Analysis: Wizards at Warriors - Chase Hughes, CSN Washington

The Wizards were able to snap their six-game losing streak thanks to big nights from their starters. Antawn Jamison was out for most of the game with a shoulder injury but Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler each pitched in with double-doubles. Butler stepped up by scoring a season-high 28 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and 5 steals in what was his best game of the season. Brendan Haywood had 11 points and nine rebounds in the first half. He finished with 15 points and 12 boards, making seven of nine shots from the field. Haywood was able to take advantage of a Warriors team missing most of their frontcourt. Out due to injury were Andris Biedrins, Mikki Moore, Ronny Turiaf, and Brandon Wright.

Gilbert Arenas scores season-high 45 as Wizards defeat Warriors on the road - George Pangakos, Examiner

Last night's victory, and the fact that four Wizards obtained double-doubles in the win, are definitely things Washington and its fans can enjoy. However, the 8-16 Wizards still have a long road to travel, and allowed Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry to score career-highs of 30 and 27 respectively despite the victory. Washington will not have the luxury of allowing career-highs against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow, as the Suns are a much deeper team and free from some of the injuries which have plagued the Warriors.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Jack Kogod
Anthony Randlolph has a touch of Blatchitis. He needs to get that looked at.

Twitter / George V. Panagakos
Quick math here: if Gil is 75%, his line right now would be 57 points and 17 assists if 100%, right?

Twitter / Mike Prada
A good point. RT @Truth_About_It: Are shoulder issues ultimately to blame for Jamison's 47-77 from the free-throw line on the year?

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Wow, that last shot by Gilbert ... make that the last two shots ... are about nothing but determination.

Twitter / Mike Jones
I don't get how Arenas can stroke one-handed 3-pointers in practice but can't make free throws in games.

Twitter / Jamie Mottram
45, 13 and a W; Gil needed that. We all did.

Twitter / wizznutzz
glory years redux!!! back to 42-40 here we come!!!!!!!! RT @Unsilent: Agent Zero ft. Vintage Tough Juice + Unbreakable 'Tawn

Twitter / Agent Dagger
did we just....win?

Suns Reportedly Interested in Caron Butler

Phoenix Stan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:21:35 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

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The Washington Post's Michael Lee dropped this little gem into his Friday article about the Wizards struggles.

The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, the Wizards' opponents on Friday and Saturday, respectively, were both interested in acquiring Butler, who has been in a season-long slump under new Coach Flip Saunders, averaging just 16.7 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent.

Since this is the Washington Post and it is the first real trade rumor involving the Suns this season it is probably worth examining at least a little bit. Not too much though because in all likelihood this is an old rumor from the off-season and was tangled up in the various reports involving Amare going to Washington.

And of course we all know that Amare was and probably will be involved in trade rumor with half the teams in the league.

So, I wouldn't and don't take this one too seriously but it is out there and our job (if you will) is to overreact and get all hyperbolic about these things. Otherwise what's the internet/blogs for - right, Tiger?

Butler is a small forward with emphasis on small. He's a guy barely bigger than Jason Richardson and probably no stronger. Caron has had a classic up and down career marred by repeated injuries. What I love about him is his tenacity and rebounding for his size (6 rpg) but how exactly would he fit on to this Suns team?

He wouldn't. He's a wing player that doesn't shoot the three (~30%) and is a guy who would need to play if he came here so who's minutes does he get? Do you bench Grant Hill to play Caron Butler? In the long term, maybe but for these season, no. He's a nice player but he's not a guy you would risk much to get as part of a long term plan and certainly not at the price.

Butler is under contract until the end of 2010/11 season making about $10.5m next year. That's about $4m less than Jason Richardson will make in the final year of his contract so on the surface a swap of those two doesn't work from a numbers perspective even if the Wizards threw in the intriguing young Nick Young's rookie contract which they wouldn't likely do.

Salaries aside, the last thing the Suns need to do at this point is make a major trade like this. Richardson is playing well for the Suns and the team chemistry is fantastic. Butler might be a great guy, but I think recent history has shown that making mid-season trade of major players only makes sense in fantasy leagues, video games, and for desperate teams.

The Phoenix Suns are none of those which is why I don't think there's anything nor should there be anything to this rumor (which is likely out of date anyway). Move along. Nothing to see here.

Briefing: Still Can't Finish Games

JakeTheSnake — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:24:10 -0000

Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Nobody is perfect in the clutch. Even the most hallowed crunch-time performers have fallen short from time to time, so we shouldn't get bent too far out of shape after a tough loss like the one we saw last night. The problem, as we all know, is that losses like these are not random outliers, they are the norm. Sure, some of these recent losses can be blamed on bad officiating or just bad luck, but you can't lose 6 games in a row by less than five points without questioning the ability of the team to deliver in critical moments.

An optimist can argue that the law of averages dictates that the Wizards are due for some close victories to balance out this stretch of close losses. While that may be true, I would also point out its better to avoid these situations altogether. If you don't want to get into a situation where the game hangs in the balance and the game could go either way, put them away sooner. I would rather be good than lucky.

Kings 112, Wizards 109 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

"It's frustrating, especially for me because I live for moments like this," said Arenas, who blamed himself for four of six losses in this slide. "The team has been behind me since we started and I feel like I'm letting them down right now -- especially when they're so used to the glory days. At the end of the day, you've got to take your bumps and your bruises. I can't hit every game winner. It all evens out. One day, I'm going to start hitting them again." Right now, it doesn't matter who hits the shot, so long as somebody does. And, the Wizards have yet to find anyone -- other than Earl Boykins -- to play fourth quarter closer/hero. And, that's really a shame.

Tyreke Evans, You Are a Maniac - Tom Ziller, Sactown Royalty

If I hadn't watched it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. That entire final sequence, that is. The what-the-Frahm! turnover on the sideline inbounds play that gave Caron Butler the ballin the open court. The loose ball foul on Tyreke Evans that let the Wizards get within one point. And, of course, the brilliant steal in isolation -- plus the two sunk free throws -- which iced the game.

Kings hand Wizards sixth straight loss - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The Kings finished with two fewer victories than the 19-win Wizards and got the fourth spot in the draft while Washington was awarded the fifth spot. Sacramento used that pick to take Memphis point guard Tyreke Evans. The Wizards traded their pick to Minnesota for Mike Miller and Randy Foye. So far only one team has begun to see a return on their investment and has begun to turn things around. That team is not the Wizards, who on Wednesday night suffered yet another heartbreaking loss, this time 112-109 to Evans and Kings at ARCO Arena.

Game 24 Recap: Kings 112, Wizards 109 - Zach Harper, Cowbell Kingdom

This was the moment that could have signified Gilbert Arenas’ resurgence. He was flush with 33 points on 10/22 shooting and had the ball in his hands with the seconds ticking away and the majority of viewers expecting a dagger by Gil. But as he made his move – the same move he had killed the Kings with all night – there was something else in the cards for this evening. Instead of an Arenas resurgence, we saw Tyreke Evans’ emergence. Evans saw the same crossover move that was destroying Sacramento coming at him and instead of being consumed by it he consumed it. It isn’t registered as a steal because Arenas fouled him before Tyreke could take possession of the basketball but we all know that it was the steal of the game. Tyreke Evans is going to take a lot of things from NBA players as the years go by. He’s going to take hardware and accolades from them (you’re on notice, Brandon Jennings). He’s going to take playoff wins and maybe a title if he’s lucky. He’s going to take a lot of pride away from guys with huge egos. And it all started when he took the win from Gilbert Arenas’ hands.

Arenas confident he's making strides - Mike Jones, Washington Times

"I'm making progress every day. The team is waiting for me to kick it on, and I'm getting back there," said Arenas, who is averaging 20.5 points, 6.9 assists and 3.7 turnovers. "Every day I'm learning something new. I'm learning my game." Arenas said he steadily is regaining his confidence and timing. "I'm close to that. It's just taking a bit for me get my clutch shot back," he said. "It just takes clutch shooting down the end. You can't practice making big shots."

Wizards get close in the end, only to fall short against the Kings - Michael Lee, Washington Post

The Wizards went on a 20-9 run over the six minutes and closed within 109-108 when Caron Butler stole the ball from Kings reserve Beno Udrih and dunked with 17 seconds remaining. Antawn Jamison quickly fouled Udrih, who missed 1 of 2 free throws, setting up the final demoralizing sequence. Arenas said that he was trying to use a crossover dribble to get by Evans, with the hope that he could get a layup or an easy jumper for Jamison (30 points) if Nocioni approached. "I'm right there. I'm feeling the juice," Arenas said. "I felt being back in my old self. Trying to dominate the end of the game and I was close."

Kings 112, Wizards 109: Christmas bells? No, alarm bells - Craig Stouffer, Pick and Roll

Perhaps this team has no other choice but to let Arenas do his thing. If he's getting better with every game -- and his explosiveness seemed to find a new level down the stretch -- surely the Wizards won't lose every one of them. The telling sign of Agent Zero's confidence was the fist pump after Tyreke Evans (26 points) was called for the dead ball foul, which allowed the Wizards to pull within one and get the ball back again. But Evans got redepmtion and the best of Arenas at the same time, poking the ball free, getting fouled and hitting two free throws for the final margin. Butler's game-tying three going in and out was only fitting. Lastly, the unbiased announcing from the ESPN crew should've made it clear to those watching at home, the Wizards are in disarray, even if they came within a three-pointer of going to overtime. Wins may help provide a buffer from the brewing storm, but the foundation is starting to come unglued.

Wow, just wow...the losing streak continues - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

While I know Wizards fans are very discouraged right now, you have to look at it in the most positive light you can. While we have lost five games in a row we have put ourself in a good position to win the game each time. Luck has not been in our favor. But at some point the luck has to change, and at some point the silly calls that don't go our way, and the turnovers at the end of the game have to correct themselves and even out. Until then, we can't ask for more than our two top stars scoring 30 each and our team going 23-26 from the line, and 41-95 from the field.

Behind the Box Score, where Kobe is better than almost all of you - Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don't Lie

Washington? Pressing so hard. Losing so many close ones, and you just have to wonder if something is either going to crack, or if Flip Saunders is going to lose this team for the rest of the year. Few people appreciate Flip's knowledge of Xs and Os like I do, but he doesn't exactly have the best history of righting ships, in-season. And while I know it's a long season, with a start like this, you have to wonder what Washington's next move will be.

Evans, Casspi help Kings hold on to beat Wizards - Associated Press

Arenas scored 13 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and Antawn Jamison had 30 points and eight rebounds for Washington, which has lost six straight games by a combined 14 points. "I’m a big guard in this league, but going up against him I felt little tonight," Arenas said. "It was a great pick up for Sacramento."

Gilbert Arenas vs. Gilbert Arenas. 13 Frames of Wizards vs. Kings - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

Gil: "This is the fourth loss under my belt. I personally lost it at the end." [via @MikeJonesTWT]

Ownership of a loss. "It’s about time" or a step in the right direction? The good news is that every game brings another chance to turn the corner.

Kings 112, Wizards 109 - Mike Jones, Outlet

After the game, the frustration in the locker room was evident. Brendan Haywood, who usually always has something to say, said "I have nothing good to say. Leave me alone," when reporters walked up to him.

Wizards lose record sixth straight close game - Inhistoric

Last night, the Wizards put their futility in the record books. With a three-point loss to the Sacramento Kings, the Wizards have now lost six consecutive games by four points or less -- tying the 1976-77 Phoenix Suns for the most ever.

Tyreke Evans, You Are a Maniac

Ziller — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:26:04 -0000

If I hadn't watched it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. That entire final sequence, that is. The what-the-Frahm! turnover on the sideline inbounds play that gave Caron Butler the ballin the open court. The loose ball foul on Tyreke Evans that let the Wizards get within one point. And, of course, the brilliant steal in isolation -- plus the two sunk free throws -- which iced the game.

That felt really good.

Evans was, of course, a maniac in only the positive sense (except for that foul -- hard to fault him for it). The urgent drives to the rim, the blocked shots (two!), the transition passes, the steal ... there was one stretch in which Evans was clearly ineffective, there in that second half, when he took two long jumpers and couldn't get the team offense organized. But that's a small slice of spoiled pie compared to all the rest.

And, ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to the 6'9 forward out of Israel, number 18, Omri Casspi. 22 points, five rebounds, a steal and a block. And yes, he is a fan favorite.

Jason Thompson (17/13/2) and Andres Nocioni (20/6) also played well, with J.T. doing massive damage in the first half. The Spencer Hawes benching (Hawes finally got into the game late in the third quarter, and played eight total minutes) will be discussed more before Friday's game in Minnesota, and suffice it to say that it didn't a) fix the Kings' interior defense, or b) fix the Kings' defensive rebounding. Hawes happened to be a +9 in the game, though the awful Wizards bench surely has something to do with that.

I watched the ESPN feed in the second half, resolving to see what Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy could say about Tyreke and Omri. Jackson was smitten, and JVG (sarcastic as ever) had great things to say about Omri, especially after a lefty drive through the heart of Wizards defense. The crew took the Kings seriously -- it wasn't some patronizing "oh wow, look at the Kings go!" banter but REAL respect. Of course, it's the players who demand that. But it was good to see they earned it this quickly, both in the decision to air the game and in the actual game discourse.

I have feeling that ESPN will be getting the Kings back on national TV in seasons to come.

Preview: Wizards at Kings ONE DOLLAR MOUNTAIN DEW NIGHT OH BOY

Ziller — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:30:14 -0000

More photos » by Rich Pedroncelli - AP

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THE OPPONENT

You may think the Wizards suck, given their 7-15 record. But they been unlucky in close games, and have the point differential of an 8-14 team. Do not undersell the should-be-8-and-14 Washington Wizards!

How weird is this, right? The Wizards got two key players (former All-Star Gilbert Arenas and ace defender Brendan Haywood) make from injury, traded a high lottery pick for two veterans (one a former Rookie and Sixth Man of the Year), hired the offseason's priciest head coach and augmented the roster with veterans. The Kings lost their best player to injury after five games, drafted a (then-) 19-year-old, a 21-year-old and a 22-year-old, hired the offseason's cheapest head coach and augmented the roster with a 260-pound undersized power forward with bad knee history, a 76-year-old Oklahoman painter and Team Spain's fourth-string point guard.

The Kings have flirted with .500 all season, and sit 10-13 after a string of harrowing road losses. The Wizards are eight games under .500. WHAT.

Mike Miller has been alternatively injured and stubbornly dismissive of his history as a shooter. (Earl Boykins, a gunner himself, shoots twice as frequently per minute as Miller. Unbelievable.) Arenas has needed 18 FGAs a night (plus six FTAs) to get his 20 points. (By comparison, Tyreke Evans, age 20, gets those same 20 points on about 2-1/2 fewer shots a night.) Haywood's return has improved the defense only marginally, and that's under the assumption Flip Saunders hasn't helped in replacement of Eddie Jordan/Ed Tapscott, which probably isn't true. Caron Butler has fallen off the side of the Earth in terms of efficiency. Randy Foye has been a catastrophe. Antawn Jamison has been a champ since returning from injury, but he's clearly aggravated with what's gone on around him.

And now the Wizards have a lottery team without much of a kiddie corps to build with, while the Kings press on with one of the league's most promising young cores, far lower salary committments and a much better record.

WHAT NOW D.C.? WHAT NOW?

THE KEY BATTLE

Evans vs. Arenas. Gil might be off this season, but he can still penetrate and he still averages seven assists a night. He won't be an "Aaron Brooks problem" or a "Deron Williams problem." But he could be a bit of a problem. And we know from experience he has no issues playing before a defiant audience. (In fact, he might be one of the few better in locales hostile. Basically even home-road splits this season. Only slightly better at home for his career.) But to me a key to this game is Evans punishing Arenas. Gil's counterparts have shot better than 52 percent this season. The Wiz are terrible at forcing turnovers and foul too much. Conditions are perfect.

BOLD PROCLAMATION

Thursday Sacramento Bee headline: "Brockman Demasked, NBA to Weigh Whether Cthulhu Can Play."

INTERESTING SIDESHOW

$1. MOUNTAIN DEW. ALL. NIGHT. Boy, do I feel for Maloof Sports & Entertainment janitorial staff.

NUMERIC PREDICTION

Muff209 will quaff 208 beers. Juuuuuuust short.

DETAILS

7:30 PM. E-S-P-N. (Also, Comcast SportsNet. I guarantee you won't miss the first half-quarter on CSN.) Also, 1140 AM KHTK. Game thread at 7:30, Game Thread II at 8:30, Post-Game Thread at 10:15. Recap with a whiskey sour.

Briefing: Wizards fumble away big lead

JakeTheSnake — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:55:50 -0000

More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Clips rally, hold on to beat Wizards 97-95 - Greg Beacham, Associated Press

Caron Butler scored nine of his 20 points in the final 2:43 for the Wizards, including a 3-pointer with 11.8 seconds left. Gordon’s 1-for-2 effort at the line followed before Boykins, the 5-foot-5 former Clipper, lost control of his dribble in the frontcourt with about 4 seconds left. "I just lost the ball," Boykins said. "It was that simple. I saw Brendan (Haywood) open up under the basket, I went to make a pass, and I lost the ball. It was a game where we didn’t execute at the end. Whenever you lose a one-possession game, there’s other possessions in the game that lead to that. We played good, but we didn’t play well enough to win."

Inconsistent Wizards dealt another tough loss - Mike Jones, Washington Times

When the Washington Wizards reported for training camp back in September, coach Flip Saunders claimed "Our Time" as the team motto and had T-shirts and caps made up with the slogan. The Wizards' home game operations staff even selected a song with "Our Time" as the main line. But instead of playing according to that theme, the Wizards have looked, sounded and played more like something along the lines of Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold," going on scoring runs, slipping into funks and falling behind only to come thundering back before going cold again.

Clippers 97 - Washington 95 - Another Ugly Win - Steve Perrin, Clips Nation

Why the Clippers dug a 16 point hole in the first place is quite another story. I don't consider myself a Wizards expert after watching them in one full game and bits and pieces of others, but in this game at least, their problem is pretty obvious - they have three players, while NBA rules allow you to have five. OK, I'll throw Brendan Haywood into the mix with Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, but every single other player on the Wizards absolutely killed them tonight. Now, throw in the fact that of their big guns, only Jamison was particularly good (specifically, he was great) and this really should have been a relatively easy win for the Clippers. But almost nothing is easy for the Clippers - ever - and this game was no exception. Just when it felt like the Clippers should be pulling away in the second quarter, the lid on the basket sealed shut. What's particularly weird is that they must have moved that lid from one basket to the other at half time, because the third quarter started the way the second quarter ended. Over about a five minute stretch spanning the intermission, the Wizards outscored the Clippers 20-2 to take a 12 point lead.

Instant Analysis: Wizards-Clippers - Brian Jackson, CSN Washington

The Washington Wizards rarely get easy points. This season, they’ve had a tendency to settle for contested jump shots early in the shot clock. But during a four-minute stretch in the third quarter, the Wizards went on a 12-5 run with a balanced attack: passed the ball into the paint and then kicking it out to the wings. On two plays, they fed the ball inside to Haywood, who was fouled on both plays but still finished the easy dunks. As the Clippers shifted their defensive focus to the paint, the Wizards made five assisted long jumpers, including two from behind the arc. After Antawn Jamison made the final 3-pointer of the run, the Wizards led by 17 points.

Clippers Hand Wizards Fifth Straight Loss - Dave Johnson, CSN Washington

It was during this time that the Wizards seemed under control as they built a 17-point lead at 64-47 with 6:45 left in the third quarter. The team’s calm was best exemplified on a play when Arenas could have gambled on long throw up court to Butler in traffic. Instead Arenas slowed it down and then found Jamison in the lane on a bounce pass and he flipped to a cutting Brendan Haywood for a slam dunk. The calm didn’t last. The Wizards closed the third quarter more in chaos. Suddenly turnovers and bad shot selection returned for the Wizards and by the end of the quarter their lead was down to 69-67.

Washington Wizards lose fifth in a row, dropping one to the L.A. Clippers, 97-95 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

"When you've got your foot on a team's throat, you got to go ahead and finish them off. We were up 16, 17, we got to go ahead and turn that into 20, 21 and then coast in the fourth quarter," Haywood said. "The problem was, that third quarter, the end of the third quarter, we let them get their confidence going and that basically rolled over into the fourth quarter. It's time to stop fighting from behind and doing the right things when we have the lead."

Clippers 97, Wizards 95 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

After that one, all that I can say is that the Wizards are some creative guys. They really know how to script the most excruciating losses imaginable. The Wizards already delivered the Gilbert Arenas missed layup against Toronto and Arenas's missed free throws against Boston and Indiana (not to mention the referee review that rewarded Mike Dunleavy with two free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining). On Monday, the Wizards squandered a 17-point second-half lead, rallied back from an eight-point deficit with three minutes remaining, then failed to get off a potential game-tying shot as they lost 97-95 to the Los Angeles Clippers and the senior Dunleavy. At least on this night, Arenas won't have to take the blame for how the game ended. That's because he wasn't around for the finish. Arenas fouled out with 2 minutes, 51 seconds left, picking up his sixth foul when he tripped Clippers center Chris Kaman.

Clippers 97, Washington 95 - Kevin Arnovitz, ClipperBlog

Despite a number of dominating spurts by both teams, Monday’s game against the Wizards is a microcosmic win for the Clippers. They play strong half-court defense throughout most of the game, but lose the first half because they can’t control the defensive glass.

Clippers 97, Wizards 95: Another blown lead, another loss - Craig Stouffer, Pick and Roll

Huge nights again for Jamison (32 points, 11 rebounds) and Brendan Haywood (12 points, 12 rebounds) as the Wizards seem to be getting closer -- or further. Yeah, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, but Washington has now lost its last five by a combined 11 points, that has to be the sign of something, right? In addition, the Big Three and Haywood were superior on the floor for most of the night, but the Clippers were the ones with the go-to players.

Clipper 97, Wizards 95 - Mike Jones, Outlet

This is crazy. Seriously. Just two weeks ago, the thing carrying the Wizards was strong bench play because Jamison, Butler and Arenas weren't playing well together. Now those three are playing well and they can't get the bench players going. It's hard to get a feel for Flip Saunders' rotations and substitutions becuase many times he appears to be grasping and hoping that he finds the key. But tonight, he went to his bench too early in the third quarter, and I wasn't the only one who thought that.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Kevin Arnovitz
Jamison: The man knows how to find a mismatch in the halfcourt.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Maybe Brendan should go back to blogging. His defense on Kaman is terrible this game.

Twitter / Craig Stouffer
could've sworn I just saw a #wizards hockey assist. Can't remember many of them lately.

Twitter / Michael Lee
Wiz blow 17-point lead, let Clippers go ahead 71-69 then score 9 in a row. How do you explain this team?

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Wow. Earl Boykins is no longer "The Closer", he's the smallest f-ing turnover in the world. Off his own knee. Wow.

Twitter / Daniel Eichner
Earl Boykins and I are developing a serious love/hate relationship. Would still like to see him as santa's helper tho. #wizards keep losing

Twitter / Chris C-Ford
Id rather they throw up a full court shot, than not get a shot at all

Twitter / Edward
the #wizards might be the collectivley dumbest team sports iq wise I've ever seen. Shot selection in clutch moments is just inexplicable.

Twitter / wizznutzz
Wizards so weary, the sweet cause in vain. You make love, you break love, it's all the same....manic depression is a frustrating mess

Twitter / David Malitz
god, i can't believe i actually have tickets in hand to 4 wiz games over the next month. forget bobbleheads, when's valium night?