SB Nation User Blog: JakeTheSnake

Briefing: At Least the Defense is Better

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:23:27 -0000

More photos » by Ned Dishman - NBAE/Getty Images

Steve Nash points out how many shots DeShawn Stevenson made in 24 minutes of action.

Lost in all the hubbub about the team's offensive woes is the fact that this team has turned a corner defensively. Currently, the team is 18th in defensive efficiency. They're not the kind of defensive numbers that you can win a championship with, but they're a marked improvement over the last few years, where the team has finished 29th (2009), 24th (2008), 28th (2007), 22nd (2006), 19th (2005), and 20th (2004).

Perhaps an increased focus on defense explains why the Wizards have struggled more on the offensive end this season. If so, I don't really mind. Offense is about flow and tempo, something the Wizards will get better at as they learn to trust the system and each other more. Defense, on the other hand, is all about bringing the same product on the court every single night. While they may not have the bedrock-solid defense of the Celtics, the approach is paying dividends. As long as it keeps up, I don't mind some offensive hiccups as the everyone grows into their role.

Suns 102, Wizards 90 - Mike Jones, Outlet

The Wizards took solace in the fact that they put on a better performance than they did in Indiana, and that defensively they limited a Phoenix team that was averaging 111 points a game to 102 points on 47.7 percent shooting. But they still can't get into a flow offensively. Their ball movement was prettty weak. And asside from Andray Blatche's 20 points, their bench was anemic. DeShawn Stevenson scored four points, and the only other backup used (Dominic McGuire) went scoreless.

Washington Wizards fall to Steve Nash and Phoenix Suns, 102-90 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

On Sunday, Butler and Arenas combined to shoot 14 of 42 (33 percent) and scored 39 points, but the ball rarely moved more than twice on offense, with players taking the first shot or going one-on-one. "We're not good, because we're not there, as far as moving the ball," Saunders said. "The ball comes, we don't make that extra pass. We're taking too many contested shots. If we were a hockey team, we'd have no hockey assists, you know, the pass that leads to the pass that leads to the score."

Suns Shake Off Slow Start, Down Washington Arenas's, 102-90 - Wil Cantrel, Bright Side Of The Sun

The early start was a concern for the Suns as was a letdown from the huge win in Boston. There was much to be concerned about as the Suns turned in 16 first half turnovers leading to 19 Wizard points. Still, it was virtually a 5 on 1 game with Agent Zero providing the only consistent offensive threat for the Wizards. Without the miscues, this game could have been iced early as the Suns led in virtually every category of the game.

Wizards 'out of gas,' lose fourth straight - Mike Jones, Washington Times

"I was just getting into the rhythm of the game," Arenas said. "I didn't play so well in the second half. ... I ran out of gas in the third quarter." Indeed he did. After opening the game with a 12-point, three-assist, zero-turnover first quarter, Arenas went 3-for-13 the rest of the way and finished with 20 points. Meanwhile, fellow team captain Caron Butler had nearly as bad a game, going 7-for-20 from the field for 19 points. "I had six layups that I missed. I mean, c'mon," Butler said, shaking his head after the loss. "In-and-out shots. [Phoenix] wasn't doing anything different. Shots [we] normally make. I know [Arenas] feels the same way. In-and-out shots. Shots that we make nine times out of 10. It's just one of those afternoons."

Game Notes: Phoenix vs. Washington - Rashad Mobley, Hoops Addict

Over the past several months I have heard several players, coaches and members of the media, praise the actions of the Phoenix Suns training staff. From Shaquille O’Neal, to Grant Hill, to Steve Nash, to Steve Kerr to ESPN’s Bill Simmons, everyone has nothing but glowing statements about the Suns’ trainers, and today I saw first hand how they operate. I was waiting to interview some of the Suns’ players for almost 20 minutes prior to the game, because all of the players in there were participating in some type of stretching exercise. Amare Stoudemire and Grant Hill were stretching their ankles with resistance bands. Leandro Barbosa and Jared Dudley were sitting on giant exercise balls. Steve Nash and Jason Richardson were also using equipment to stretch as well. To give you some perspective, the usual pre-game locker room atmosphere consists of players listening to music and joking around. For Phoenix, every player was either on the court shooting around or in the locker room stretching. No exceptions.

Suns 102, Wizards 90: Symptom or concern - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Concern -- Washington can’t seem find any offensive rhythm without Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller. Despite getting by in wins at Dallas and vs. New Jersey, being without Jamison has proven more difficult with each passing game because of his consistent production. He may not be the guy that wins games for the Wizards late in the fourth quarter, but he’s definitely the guy that makes and keeps them competitive in the other three. Losing Miller has been a blow to the team IQ. That’s two glue guys down. Overall, it leads to players now blaming their unfamiliarity with one another: “I can’t put my finger on it,” said Caron Butler when asked why the Wizards are ending up with more turnovers than assists. “But obviously we just gotta remain positive and continue to execute. Obviously you see different guys being inserted in the lineup, and we have to get a feel for one another. A lot of things are happening on the fly with the lineup change and different guys being out there playing with one another. So we just gotta get accustomed and just continue to play good basketball and play with high energy.”

Suns 102, Wizards 90 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Suns Coach Alvin Gentry said the Wizards are struggling because "they're missing their best player. With Jamison, they're a different team." Jamison might not be the best player, but it is becoming obvious that he is someone that the team really needs on the floor. Not just because he can get 20 points and 10 rebounds without holding the ball for long stretches, but also because of his leadership. He also provides the bridge for Butler and Arenas, who are not in sync offensively. His return won't fix all of the offensive woes, though. Stevenson said he hopes that Jamison will be back on Saturday against Detroit, but that would also require the team to make another adjustment after playing with four different starting lineups the first seven games. The Wizards often look like they were thrown together for a pickup game, when they've been around each other for almost six weeks.

Not taking a pass at working together - Tom Knott, Washington Times

Blatche delivered another solid performance before becoming fatigued late in the game. He dismissed the notion that the Wizards are in desperate trouble, reminiscent of the disaster last season. "This is nothing like last year," he said. "We just have to keep pushing, keep fighting. We're going to get there. There's no doubt in my mind. And once Mike and Antawn get back..." Until then, the Wizards might want to spend part of their next practice being reintroduced to each other.

Wizards struggle from the field in loss to Suns - George Panagakos, Wizards Examiner

The Wizards, down 89-75 with 8:11 left in the fourth, substituted Dominic McGuire into the game for Caron Butler. Washington went on an 8-0 surge to cut the deficit down to 6, then stumbled as Brendan Haywood stepped to the free throw line and missed a set of two shots which could have made it 89-85, Suns, with about five and a half minutes to go. Following the botched free throws, Phoenix center Channing Frye replied with a statement three, one of Frye's 4-for-8 from downtown in the game. Frye's three was the dagger. With just over five minutes left in regulation, down 92-83, the Wizards looked defeated and depleted. Coach Saunders decided to only play 8 guys in rotation today, and the players felt the strain. "(We) ran out of gas," Arenas stated, after the game. Saunders also spoke about Andray Blatche, who clocked 33 minutes. "Andray can't play the major minutes," Flip said, "Usually when guys get tired you don't want to have a chance at guys getting hurt."

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

To sum things up Nash out assisted the entire Wizards lineup 17-15. As a team the Suns doubled up on the Wizards in the assist department 30-15. Arenas outscored Nash 20-11 but it took him 22 shots to get there. On several occasions Arenas drove into the lane but couldn’t finish. On the other hand Nash’s penetration led to wide-open three point attempts for the Suns. Phoenix enjoyed a 12-4 advantage in 3-point makes. To be fair one can’t accurately judge Arenas’ play making ability until he gets all his weapons back in the lineup.

Wizards-Suns Recap - John Mitchell, NBA.com

But the Suns, the top offensive team in the league, made 57.9 percent of their shots in the second quarter to lead 56-51 at halftime. The Suns led by 10 points late in the third quarter, and took their largest lead of the game at 89-75 in the fourth quarter on Channing Frye's 3-point shot with 8:58 remaining in the game. Washington trimmed the lead to 89-83 on an Andray Blatche (20 points) layup with 6:11 to play but would get no closer the rest of the way. The Wizards didn't help their cause in the fourth quarter when they were just 5-of-19 from the field. They were proud, however, that defensively they held the Suns from hitting their league-leading average in points (111.0). "If you look, this is a team that averages [111] points," Wizards center Brendan Haywood said. "We held them to 102. I was happy with where we were. Defensively, I thought, down the stretch we had a couple of mishaps on rotations that led to easy shots. We gave up a bunch of offensive rebounds too."

Suns' offense stays hot on road - Paul Coro, Arizona Republic

The Suns were not fast or sharp offensively early for the 11 a.m. start (Arizona time). Washington started small guards, prompting the Suns to post up Jason Richardson often. It was successful, but it also led to the Suns turning stagnant. "We try to make very simple plays, and then we'll take what the defense gives us from there," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "We started to try to be too creative."

Wizards attempted to acquire Suns' Stoudemire - Michael Lee, Washington Post

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Looks like Dominic "The Taser" McGuire is just what the Wizards needed to stop Jason Richardson.

Twitter / The BF gang
Gilbert Arenas looks unbelievably depressed out there.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Verizon Center and it's 14,143 fans are dead with Wiz down 69-75 with 8:57 left in fourth. Flip calls timeout.

Twitter / Michael Lee
Why are the Wizards getting smoked in their own house? Arenas and Butler are a combined 13-40. Ugh. It's 99-86 Suns.

Twitter / wizznutzz
the way Buck & Philosophy call homer game re: fouls, we always expect to look up from Mothering Hut work & see decapitated Wizard

Twitter / Kendra Goodwin
So I was "Kids Day" at the Wizards/Suns game. I know I said a lot of bad words today so #SorryParents

Twitter / chad dukes
Rough year to talk DC sports for a living.

Twitter / Dale Banks
The Wizards and Skins doing poorly might be a sign that I might not need to focus so much on watching sports. I need to stay active myself

Know Your Colts History: Thank You, Marlin Jackson

JakeTheSnake — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:47:55 -0000

Among the Colts' many casualties this week was Marlin Jackson, who tore his ACL in practice. As you probably recall, Marlin tore his other ACL in practice last year. Several athletes have gone on to have very successful careers after losing both ACLs, including one-man rebounding machine DeJuan Blair, but there aren't too many exceptions to the rule. Given how much Marlin Jackson struggled to regain his pre-injury form, odds aren't good that he'll be one of the exceptions either.

Granted, Marlin can still go on to play a few more solid years of football, but odds are that those years won't be played in Indianapolis. Marlin will be entering free agency this season and we all know the track record for players, especially defensive ones, entering free agency under Bill Polian: If you're not producing near or at Pro Bowl level, you better start packing your bags, because you will be replaced by someone younger, cheaper, and odds are, more talented than you. We've seen it happen with Nick Harper, Marcus Washington, Jason David, David Thornton, Cato June, and a slew of others and it's hard to see why Marlin Jackson will be any different.

Since he probably won't be coming back next year, let's take a look back at Marlin Jackson's greatest moment as a Colt. If you're having any problem trying to remember what it was, you should probably just stop reading now.

We can sit and argue all day about where Marlin Jackson's interception ranks among the best plays on the Colts' run to Super Bowl XLI and where it stands among the best plays in Colts' history. If nothing else, I think most of us can agree that it did more damage to the history of another team's history than any other play in Colts history.

Without Marlin's pick, who knows what would have happened in those final seconds. Yes, the Patriots only had about 20 seconds left and they would have had to go 45 yards in order to win the game, but even the most blatantly biased fan can admit that Brady is pretty spectacular when it comes to late-game situations. If Marlin Jackson hadn't stepped in to steal that pass away, maybe Brady would have added to his legacy and removed the second-biggest scar on his legacy and the Patriots could have been on their way to a 4th Super Bowl title this decade. If you think that Patriots fans are insufferable now, just imagine what it would have been like if a nickel back in his second year had picked a different moment to have the biggest play of his career.

Marlin Jackson epitomized the spirit of the team that won the Super Bowl XLI championship team: Every player on the team, regardless of their role, had a moment where they were asked to deliver and each player answered the call during that playoff run. Now that it appears his time in Indianapolis is done, let's take some time to sit back and appreciate the contributions that he and the other role players on that team brought during that magical year.

A little late on posting this, but this video from Caron's blog about breaking the habit of...

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:25:22 -0000

A little late on posting this, but this video from Caron's blog about breaking the habit of Mountain Dew deserves an Oscar.

Briefing: The Wizards are Stumbling out of the Gates, What's New?

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:23:37 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

We have our classic dejected-players-sitting-on-the-bench shot, now we know its time to get worried.

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I saw this tweet before the game and I had to chuckle a bit:

Washington Wizards are off to best start in 3 years, let's see if they can continue tonight against the Pacers

Keep in mind that the team was 2-3 going into last night's game. A below .500 record constitutes the best start we've had in three years. Even with the loss last night, this team has a better record after six games than the last two squads, who both started 1-5. Even though the team from three years ago started 3-3, you may recall that they didn't pick up their first win on the road until December 6th. The last time that you can say the Wizards really came blazing out of the gates, was 2005-06 when the team won five of their first six, and even then the Wizards followed up that start by losing their next five. Slow starts have just been a part of Wizards basketball over the last few years.

In the past, you could blame it on learning the nuances of the Princeton offense. Not only did it take longer for players to get acclimated to the offense, but it also took away focus from learning on the defensive end. So essentially the team was playing catch up with the other teams in the NBA on both sides of the ball to start the year. Instead of learning the Princeton this year, the team is starting from scratch with an entirely new system from a new coach, which takes time to implement.

Returns from the first game of the season were very promising, as we saw last night, there's still a lot that the team has to learn. Some of it involves developing offensive cohesion, some of it involves coming out of the gates with better execution and focus, where they've struggled in their last two losses. A lot of us said before the season that Flip Saunders would have some bumps in the road early in the season as he gets acclimated to his roster and vice-versa. Well, these are what bumps in the road look like. Let's hope that both can adjust accordingly as the season goes on.

Washington Wizards lose third straight, 102-86 at Indiana - Michael Lee, Washington Post

"I was trying to get someone to play hard," Saunders said. "I told those guys, I can't coach effort. You got to come out and be prepared and play hard. "I thought our effort was poor. I was extremely disappointed. I told them I take responsibility because evidently right now we've got to keep pounding away because we're not getting through in doing the things we need to do in order to be successful."

Listless Wizards fall on the road - Mike Jones, Washington Times

He tried the traditional lineup (although it was his third different one of the season thanks to injuries). He tried a small lineup. He played Gilbert Arenas on the ball. He played him off the ball. He used all 12 players at his disposal. But none of that did the trick. The Wizards put on a listless performance and fell 102-86, their third straight loss. Although the score indicated otherwise, the Pacers' play couldn't exactly be described as dominant.

Wizards lose to Pacers, Jamison chews out team - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

It's only the sixth game of the season and it looks like Flip Saunders may be running out of ideas. The Wizards head coach addressed the criticisms of the past games. Critics said Caron Butler had to get more aggressive offensively, and the former all-star put up 24-12. The Wizards bigmen got into foul trouble early in the teams last two losses, but tonight Haywood played 35 minutes and grabbed 19 rebounds.

Pacers 102, Wizards 86 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Nick Young and Paul Davis were the only two players who didn't commit a turnover on Friday. It was the third consecutive game in which the Wizards had more turnovers than assists. It's easy to lose three in a row that way. "If we keep playing like this," Arenas said, "we're going to keep getting our [butts] whipped."

Pacers 102, Wizards 86: Washington minus two starters equals yuck - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Mike James turned the ball over and missed his first shot almost immediately after entering the game in his first appearance of the season. Pretty much summed up the night. James still played 22 minutes, finishing with 6 points and 3 assists.

After loss to Pacers, Jamison blasts effort - Mike Jones, Washington Times

"We've got to get better as a team," Haywood said. "Everybody from the starting unit to the bench, you have to be ready to play at a certain level. And if you're not, then don't play. That team played very hard tonight, and I'm not sure that we, as a unit, as a team, matched their energy. Everybody has to come out as a team and match their energy night in and night out. "You're not always going to make shots, but you can control your effort."

Pacers 102, Wizards 84: Inspired Pacers Roll Past Wizards - Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows

Second-year center, Roy Hibbert set the tone early with a couple of hook shots and blocks along with a few rebounds all delivered with a genuine enthusiasm that lifted teammates and fans alike. No doubt, playing against his home town's Wizards gave Hibbert extra motivation. He was so pumped at times it seemed like he was high fiving family and friends back in D.C. right through the television screen. Roy finished the first half with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Not a bad start for Hansbrough - Mike Wells, Pacers Insider

Hansbrough looked like a fullback when bullied his way to the basket for 13 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes. Coach Jim O'Brien said before the game that Hansbrough wouldn't play more than 16 minutes. The stat that stood out was the 10 free throw attempts. Hansbrough's either going to get called for an offensive foul or he's going to get fouled when he goes up for a shot in the paint.

Postgame Report: Pacers vs. Wizards 091106 - Conrad Brunner, Pacers.com

[The Pacers] two victories are most encouraging because of how they were accomplished. They didn't ride hot shooting or explosive offensive runs. Granger scored 22 points but shot 7-of-21 (3-of-11 from the arc). As a team, the Pacers shot just 40 percent but they had strong balance. Dahntay Jones scored 18 with five rebounds, five assists and two steals; T.J. Ford had an odd double-double for a 5-10 point guard with 10 rebounds to go along with 18 points; Roy Hibbert had his third straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, adding five blocked shots. "Winning solves a lot of problems in this league," said Ford. "We’re still getting familiar with each other and the system. Everybody’s role is evolving."

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Michael Lee
Pacers are shooting 39.4 percent and leading by 13?!? Are the Wizards even into this game? No energy right now.

Twitter / Jared Wade
I'm a big fan of these TJ Ford 1-0 breakaways. Pacers up 18. HandsBro and AJ Price not looking like rooks.

Twitter / Agent Dagger
it'd be good to see "the takeover" right about now...#wizards

Twitter / danny rouhier
Watching Hansborough get buckets on your team is like watching your own rectal exam. #Wizards

Twitter / Mike Jones
Davis gets a standing ovation from a pair of dudes who have been calling for him to enter the game since halftime. Davis knocks down a J.

Twitter / George V. Panagakos
Awesome game for fantasy owners tonight, not such an awesome night for Wizards fans. Wizards blown out 102-86 by the Pacers on the road.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Against the Nets, Paul Davis was the human victory cigar. Against the Pacers, he's the human toilet brush.

Twitter / wizznutzz
Twan HATES honeydew!!!! @MikeJonesTWT "A fruit platter lay shattered on the floor with slices of honeydew" http://is.gd/4Pybf

Briefing: If You Can't Take the Heat...

JakeTheSnake — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:25:24 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

WHY SO SERIOUS???

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Heat 93, Wizards 89 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

The man who thrilled the Verizon Center with his fearless, late-game shots, decided it was best that he pass -- to Brendan Haywood; the bemusement of everyone in the arena. Arenas threw a lob that hit the rim and bounced out of the reach of Haywood. Asked about the play afterward, Arenas said, "Obviously it hit the rim. That's it. I mean, it's not rocket scientist." Rocket scientist? Yep. It was that kind of night. Even the words came out wrong.

Last Night's Action: A Fiery Evening - Aaron Morrissey, DCist

It was the Dwayne Wade show at the Phone Booth last night. When Wade was on the court, he poured in 40 to lead all scorers; unfortunately for the Wizards, they couldn't transplant their very good play for the short periods of time when D-Wade was on the bench to when he was playing. Gilbert Arenas had 32 to lead Washington, and Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler both chipped in double-doubles -- although the three were an ugly combined -34 in plus/minus.

Wild East Shootout: Dwyane Wade Outguns Gilbert Arenas -- Chris Tomasson, NBA FanHouse

It was a nostalgic reunion even if Wade, a shooting guard and Arenas, a point guard, didn't guard each other. Wade scored a game-high 40 points and Arenas had 32 as the Heat beat the Wizards 93-89. "There was one time we were both looking at each other (at the free-throw line),'' Wade said. "We just smiled because of all the battles that we've had over the years. I'm happy to see him back as a fan of basketball. Knowing Gil, I'm happy to see him healthy. Hopefully, he'll just keep getting better.''

Heat 93, Wizards 89: Feeling warm and fuzzy - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

DeShawn Stevenson did well guarding Dwyane Wade. That is, as well as one can against a guy who scored 40 points on 26 shots. "DeShawn played a really good game," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders, "and it’s unfortunate that he missed the two free throws at the end because that is what everyone will remember but there are so many other factors that contributed to the loss."

Injury Updates on Miller and Jamison

Wizards' Miller sprains left shoulder - AP

Miller first hurt the shoulder in the third quarter in a collision with the Heat’s Mario Chalmers. He immediately clutched his shoulder and was taken to the locker room. "It felt like it came out of place, went numb," Miller said. "That scared me more than anything." Miller returned to the bench a few minutes later with his shoulder taped and re-entered the game with about four minutes left in the quarter. "I thought he played pretty good with one arm," Washington coach Flip Saunders said.

Injury Bug Bites Wizards Again: Mike Miller Out 7-10 Days With A Sprained Shoulder - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

Unfortunately, just under three minutes into the fourth quarter, he injured [his shoulder] again on a hard drive to the basket. Scoring the hoop and the harm, Miller stayed in the game and made the And1 free-throw, which didn’t give the Wizards a chance to call a timeout. This time, Miller was clearly heavily favoring the shoulder. The Heat subsequently went down the court and Quentin Richardson missed a three pointer. However, the Wizards did not call a timeout to get Miller off the court. On the next offensive possession, the ball actually ended up in Miller’s hands, or hand, as he caught it and only dribbled with his right hand. And then the most amazing part which got Miller a standing ovation, he zipped a pass to Andray Blatche right under the basket for a dunk and his third assist of the game.

So a key Wizard got injured, weird - Dan Steinberg, D.C. Sports Bog

Flip Saunders said he'll likely be gone 7-to-10 days. But even if it really is that brief of a recovery, this means that within the season's first six games, 60 percent of the Wiz starters will have missed at least one game with an injury. The two who have been spared are Gilbert Arenas, who missed most of the last two years with rotted knee, and Brendan Haywood, who was sidelined for 75 games last season. Does that really seem fair?

Game Notes: Miami vs Washington - Rashad Mobley, Hoops Addict

I walked into the Verizon Center at 5:25pm, and Antawn Jamison was on the court. At that point, he was shooting three-point shots while the ball boys fed him him ball after ball. Then he moved down to the post,, and started shooting mini jump-hooks with both hands over assistant coach Sam Cassell. He then did some minor dribbling exercises, before picking up the pace a bit by shooting shots from everywhere on the court. At no point did this look like a man who is suffering any ill effects from a subluxation of the shoulder. There is still no official word on when he is to return, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him back on the court next week.

What's up with Tough Juice?

Wizards Game 5 vs. Miami Live Twitter Blog - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

10:06:39 PM: Caron needs to put lowjack on Quentin Richardson. He’s got 16 on 4 3s, doesn’t he always kill the Wiz? Heat up 73-68, 9:30 left in 4th.

Heat 93, Wizards 89 - Mike Jones, Outlet

Flip said "Caron was doing a lot of other things for us," which is true. He had 10 rebounds. But also five turnovers. He was 6-for-13 tonight, but hasn't had the aggression that we're used to seeing out of him. Butler wasn't pleased with himself after the game, saying "I got caught watching the show instead of being a part of it a bit more. Deferred too much. I look forward to playing the next game and throughout the season. I know my role. Obviously, you just are adapting to the new situation, having guys back and just have to stay aggressive, be aware, don't get caught watching the show."

Wizards lose to Heat; Miller injured - Matt Kremnitzer, Krem's Sports Blog

Butler should adapt and, hopefully, start playing like the old Caron. But, whether it's the fact that he's only played in four games and appears uncomfortable in a new offense, is adjusting to the styles of some new teammates, or is still dealing with knee issues (or a combination of all three), Butler is averaging the fewest points per game (14.0) that he's scored while he's been with the Wizards. He's also taking fewer shots per game (13.3) and is shooting a lower percentage (39.6). It's also not helping that he has more turnovers (10) than assists (three).

First C-Webb, Then Rasheed, Then Ben Wallace, Now...O-Pec?

Oleksiy Pecherov Kicks DC Fans in the Balls - DC Landing Strip

The guy we drafted 18th overall in 2006, 3 spots ahead of Rajon Rondo, finally did something good. The only problem is that he had the best game of his career 5 games after we traded him, almost helping the T-Wolves to an upset of the Celtics.

Briefing: For a Quarter and a Half, Life Was Beautiful

JakeTheSnake — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:37 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

6 days ago: Washington Wizards' Caron Butler (3) jumps toward the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11), of Lithuania, in the first quarter in an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

If you're looking for a sign that the Wizards can be really special, just take a look at how Washington was able to build an 18 point lead early in 2nd quarter. Gilbert and Caron were torching Cleveland and everyone was crashing the glass for Washington. Problem was, no one else got into a rhythm and once Cleveland found a way to limit The Big 2, Washington just didn't have a back-up plan.

Guys like Randy Foye and Andray Blatche, who have both been big in both of Washington's wins, just didn't have it tonight. Neither one was awful by any means, but without Antawn Jamison in the lineup, the Wizards needed more from them to beat a team as good as the Cavs.

Certainly, Foye and Blatche don't deserve all or even most of the blame for last night's loss. None of the bigs could stay out of foul trouble, Mike Miller was efficient, but efficiency only goes so far when you only take three shots, and DeShawn Stevenson was a total non-factor: missing all of his field goal attempts, only grabbing 2 rebounds and getting no assists in 17 minutes of burn. There is still plenty of room for improvement, but as we saw for about 15-20 minutes last night, this team has the capability to be a very, very good team at times and they can get better as the season moves along.

James, Cavaliers outmuscle Wizards - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The good was that for a half, the Wizards managed to hang with the Cavaliers and even build a double-digit game while holding LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal in check. The bad was that when the Cavaliers started pounding the ball inside, Washington couldn't match Cleveland's physicality and instead found its big men mired in foul trouble. And without Antawn Jamison, a slightly subpar Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas weren't enough. The bad was also a 102-90 Cleveland victory, which marked the Wizards' fifth straight regular-season loss at Quicken Loans Arena dating back to Feb. 24, 2006.

Cavs' vision finally becomes clear - Patrick McManamon, Akron Beacon Journal

O'Neal said he takes it personally — ''Totally . . . totally'' — every time he's not double-covered, and he should score every time if he's not. ''If not, get rid of me,'' he said. The Wizards kept avoiding the double-team, and O'Neal made them pay. In this kind of game, against this kind of team, it worked.

Cavaliers 102, Wizards 90: Not a rivalry - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

It isn't a rivalry when the Wizards can't stop the 3-pointer. (Augh! The blinding glare of last season!) Cleveland was 42.6 percent from behind the arc. Without Anthony Parker's bricks (1 for 6), they were 50 percent, led by Gibson (4 for 5, 14 points) and Mo Williams (3 for 4, 15 points). Remember last week, when Washington held Dallas and Atlanta to 22.2 and 25 percent, respectively? By the way, the Wizards themselves were 28.6 (4 for 14) from three.

Cavaliers 102, Wizards 90 [UPDATED] - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Coach Flip Saunders told his team after the game that they have to learn to play the game for 48 minutes, not eight or 15. It's a tired cliché, but the Wizards are learning the hard way so far. Good teams always find a way to respond, especially at home. If you look at the Cavaliers, Lakers, Celtics and Spurs, they are really tough outs. They keep scrapping and clawing and even if you beat them, you feel worn down afterward.

Last Night's Action: I'm Sorry, So Sorry - Aaron Morrissey, DCist

Washington had a 14 point lead after the first, and pushed that lead to 16 after a 22-5 run. Caron Butler was outplaying LeBron, getting into double figures in the first ten minutes. And the Wiz were shooting lights out -- 55 percent in the first twelve minutes. But then, it all came tumbling down. The Cavs turned up the defensive intensity, a light turned on for Shaq (21 and 8), and they hit nine threes in a dominant second-half performance. Washington, meanwhile, looked completely lost, forcing jumpers and botching offensive plays, leading to quite the top-heavy boxscore.

LeBron, Shaq lead Cavs over Wizards - Tom Withers, AP

The Wizards had no answer for O’Neal and the Cavs used it to their advantage. They slowed the game down and pounded the ball inside to their big man, forcing JaVale McGee(notes), Andray Blatche(notes) and Brendan Haywood(notes) to hack or pay. McGee picked up four fouls in less than 10 minutes.

Losing to the Lebronnettes sucks - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

Leading the way for the Wizards was Arenas and Butler who scored 22 each. Off the bench Blatche and Foye both had arguably their worst games as they each scored seven. It’s no coincidence that Washington is 2-0 when the pair each score at least 15 and 0-2 when they don’t. Neither Blatche or Foye shot particularly poorly, both were 3-7 from the field. It just seemed like the pair couldn’t get in the flow of the offense. It seemed that outside of the first quarter, the Wizards were settling for chucking three’s or driving to to the basket with their head down…there was no opportunity for these two to get involved.

Cleveland 102, Washington 90 - Mike Jones, Outlet

We played really well and then there's no question when our bigs got in foul trouble the momentum changed from the standpoint that we couldn't be aggressive around the basket. We couldn't do some of the things we were doing offensively. We just weren't as aggressive and it was tough to get the mojo back," Flip Saunders said. "What happened was we had bigs that were setting good screens and doing things. When the bigs got in foul trouble it was tough to get some of those and we didn't have as much inside presence at that point. So they could lock down more on the perimeter." That would explain why Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas (after scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively) in the first quarter managed just four points apiece in the second quarter. No strong picks coming from their big men and they were forced to create for themselves even more.

Wizards (2-1) at Cavaliers (2-2) - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Before the game, LeBron James said he was thrilled to see Gilbert Arenas playing at a high level again. Arenas entered the game ranked fourth in the league in scoring at 28 points per game. James worked out in Chicago with Arenas for a few days this summer and said in August that he was about 90-95 percent of what he once was. "I'm a big fan of Gil and the way he plays the game," James said. "To see him back healthy is good for the game. It's good for the NBA. It's good for the city of Washington."

Cavs 102 Wizards 90: A Turning Point? - Rick, WaitingForNextYear

Could this be a turning point? Sure it could. The Cavs could point to this game down the road as the game that solidified this group as a team. When they all bought into the team philosophy and clamped down at the defensive end leading to an easier time on offense. Only time will tell, and the first chance they get to keep it going is Thursday night against the Bulls.

Windhorst Beat Blog: Why LeBron was smiling - Brian Windhorst, The Plain Deale

I've been very hard on Gibson in the blog over the last year for his defense, with good reason. After this game, however, I must give him his due. He played excellent D on Gilbert Arenas in the second half and truly worked hard to get in good position and took a couple of charges. Then he shot well again, making 4-of-5 3-pointers. As I've written and said so many times, if Boobie shoots well he's an asset. If he defends he can be a valuable player, we'll see if he keeps it up.

Ride the big guy: Shaquille O'Neal steadies Cavaliers after sluggish start to 102-90 win over Wizards - Mary Schmitt Boyer, The Plain Dealer

Before the game, James told reporters how the Cavs had been improving, starting off with a sense of urgency. Then they came out and rolled over, falling behind after the first quarter, 31-17. They shot 33 percent and allowed the Wizards to shoot 55 percent. The only noteworthy development was an on-court engagement during one of the timeouts. Even Washington's Caron Butler hugged the happy couple. Oh, yes. There also was a video tribute to Cavs fan Marge Garson, celebrating her 101st birthday at the game. She showed more moves than the Cavs in that first quarter.

Recap: Cavs 102, Wizards 90 (Or, patience beats anger) - John Krolik, Cavs the Blog

Should I even say anything about Wizards fans? I mean, more than a third of the Wizards’ points tonight came from the free throw line, and the FT attempts were 41-27 in favor of the Wizards. But on every Wizards blog, all the Wizards fans want to talk about are how the refs fixed the game. Reading these comments, you’d think Mo distracted the refs as Shaq and LeBron beat up Caron without being tagged in. This is a hard game to officiate. If you’re biased towards a team, you’re going to find a number of "bad"calls in every game. Fred and AC sure thought there were some bad calls that went in favor of the Wizards tonight. Let’s all of us maybe get a smidgen of perspective on how objective we are when it comes to evaluating calls. Wizards fans, if you want a rivalry with the Cavs, have a rivalry with the Cavs. Right now, it feels like the Cavs are the middleman in your rivalry with the referees. I get the anxieties, and apologize for game 3 in 2006, but it’s drifting into self-parody. I’d really like to start talking about things like basketball.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Dan Steinberg
There might never be a better Halloween costume idea than Abe Lincoln with a DeShawn Stevenson neck tat http://twitpic.com/o7khs

Twitter / Kevin Reiss
I've paid so little attention to the NBA the last few years that I had no idea Al Roker coaches the Cavaliers.

Twitter / Zach Harper
Andray Blatche, you've had a great start to the season. But for god's sake find a guard on the break.

Twitter / The BF gang
So many ticky-tack fouls. So many real fouls.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Wiz look deflated. Butler's gassed and on bench. Arenas hasn't had impact since the 1st qtr, and Haywood, Blatche tentative w foul woes.

Twitter / Michael Lee
Flip bats away LeBron's pass and forces a turnover. If his team isn't going to play D, at least Flip will.

Twitter / Chase Hughes
Ironically, Andray Blatche only had 7 points tonight.

Twitter / Wizards Extreme
What the hell is with the confetti in game 4 of an NBA season? Stay classy Cleveland

Twitter / Jack Kogod
We're going to lose games like that on the road without Antawn. I can accept that. Cleveland played well. #F*ckingRefsTookOutOurBigs

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Wiz lose 102-90. Bad refs (sorta), but can't blame them at all. Wiz beat themselves. But need short memory, play D-Wade in DC tomorrow.

Twitter / wizznutzz
We all been watching scrolling stats on @Yahoosports rather than game. It is mesmerizing emptiness, like LeBron's soul. http://is.gd/4Mt9K

Believe it or not, this has nothing to do with DeJuan Blair.

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:52:40 -0000

Believe it or not, this has nothing to do with DeJuan Blair.

Briefing: That's the Blatche We've Been Waiting For

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:57:34 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

9 days ago: New Jersey Nets guard Chris Douglas-Roberts (17) is fouled by Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow | Four Factors

Let's get a couple of things straight about last night:

That was the Andray Blatche that we've been waiting for all of these years. Those glimpses of talent that have kept us patient through the boneheaded passes, the clumsy attempts at running a fast break, and the run-ins with the law are finally coming together and we're starting to see the whole package come together. It's a beautiful thing to watch, especially if you've watched since the early days and how he's progressed over time.
If you take tonight's game as the mantle by which Andray is judged for the rest of his career, you'll be severely disappointed. Even Tim Duncan would look inconsistent if he was asked to score 30 points in 27 minutes while shooting over 80% from the floor. Things won't come as easy as they did tonight for Andray, but the key is to make sure that even when his shot isn't falling that his approach and effort stay up; because on the nights when shots aren't going down, there has to be something to anchor your performance. If he can maintain that focus on the nights where things aren't going his way, then we'll be able to say with confidence that Andray has turned the corner and realized the potential that he's given us tastes of for the last few years.

Anywho, here are your links. We've got analysis on Andray's breakout game, Gilbert's performance on the second leg of a back-to-back, and the meeting between Chris Douglas-Roberts and JaVale McGee that you see in this picture.

Arenas’ Efficiency and Blatche’s Consistency: Wizards Scorch Nets 123-104 - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

Andray Blatche looked more comfortable than he ever has in a Wizards uniform en route to a new career high 30 points and a Wizards 123-104 win against New Jersey. Sure, he had Yi Jianlian and Eduardo Najera guarding him. But Wiz fans are used to Blatche being his own worst enemy, and not necessarily a Halloween nightmare to whomever is guarding him. After the game, Flip Saunders praised Blatche for his methodical offensive movement, his ability to read the defense, and overall, his consistency to this point of the season. But no one is going to get too excited over the Blatche they’ve seen so far.

Game Notes: New Jersey vs. Washington - Rashad Mobley, Hoops Addict

Coming into this game, the Wizards were without Butler and Jamison, which meant that someone had to step up tonight besides Arenas, and tonight that person was Andray Blatche, who had a career high 30 points. There were the 18 foot jumpers that came after a behind-the-back move; there was an up and under move. At one point, Blatche even passed up an open shot to get Nick Young his first basket late in the game. That type of unselfishness is usually not a part of Blatche’s game. In just 26 minutes of play, Blatche had 30 points, and he shot a blistering 83% (15-18 from the field). After the game, Haywood remarked, "My son, my son, I’m so proud of my son." When one writer asked Saunders to comment the full array of new moves Blatche unveiled tonight, Coach Saunders quipped, "He had never seen those shots either, and if they hadn’t gone in, he’d have never shot them again."

Arenas and Blatche dominate as Wizards scorch Nets - Matt Kremnitzer, Krem's Sports Blog

Again, it's obviously too early to know if Blatche can keep this level of play going, but it is acceptable to look at his performance last night and wonder exactly how good he can be. According to Basketball-Reference.com, since 1986-1987 only 11 players have had games where they shot better than 83.0 percent on at least 18 field goal attempts while also recording six rebounds and two assists. Some of those players include Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Carlos Boozer, Shaquille O'Neal, Rashard Lewis, Shawn Marion, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Kevin McHale. That's certainly not a bad group of players to be associated with, although Willie Anderson and Loy Vaught also accomplished that feat within the same timeframe, so take that for what it's worth.

Wizards 123, Nets 104 [UPDATED] - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

"He's played fabulous since Tawn went down," Gilbert Arenas said. "We've been waiting for this, for four or five years now. He finally decided this would be the year. He put in the work and it's showing." It's showing in Blatche's jumper. He made his first five shots on Saturday, including some ridiculous turnaround jumpers and a long baseline jumper that made Jamison, one of his harshest critics, get out of his seat and applauded. Blatche finished the night 15 of 18 from the floor and scored the most points by a Bullet/Wizards without a free throw since Rex Chapman scored 32 in a game back in 1992. That's taking it back. . .to when Blatche was six.

Thoughts On The Game: All Trick, No Treat - Sebastian Pruiti, Nets Are Scorching

Speaking of Andray Blatche, he absolutely killed the Nets last night. Don’t get me wrong, I am not taking anything away from this kid, he had a great game, and he will be a great talent in the future, but you can’t let him get 30 points exclusively taking jump shots (15-18 shooting). When you allow Gilbert Arenas to go off, you have to stop everyone else (the let him get his philosophy). When you let 2 players score 62 points on 24-31 shooting, you probably won’t win the game. Despite being a bulldog, Najera wasn’t quick enough or tall enough to stick with Blatche. I don’t know how Sean Williams has been doing in practice, but you need to give him a chance to stop him. Instead, Lawrence Frank just sat on his hands while he watched Blatche embarrass Yi and Najera.

Blatche leads Wizards to blowout - Tyler Green, Agent Dagger

The emergence of Blatche, who is averaging 21 points a contest through the first three games, is going to be huge for the Wizards since their stars continue to be decimated by injury. The 6’ 11" forward has been an enigma in his first three years in the league, and seeing him finally put it together is a godsend for the Wizards, who lack depth in the front court.

Arenas passes back-to-back test in Wizards win - John Mitchell, NBA.com

Twenty four hours after his team fell to the Atlanta Hawks, Arenas put on full display the myriad skills that have made him a three-time all star in the Wizards' 123-104 victory over the New Jersey Nets in Washington's home opener. Arenas, who last played in back-to-back regular season games back on April 11 and 12 of 2008, led the Wizards with a game-high 32 points, marking the first time he has eclipsed 30 points in a game since Nov. 14, 2007.

Balance key as Wizards win - Mike Jones, Washington Times

"We have a lot of depth," Arenas said. "Everybody can contribute. We get everybody back, we can be even deadlier. Right now, we just have to maintain until Antawn and Caron get back." The Wizards shot 61.5 percent, their best performance since Dec. 18, 2002, against Memphis. The Wizards, who also boasted a .643 clip from 3-point range (9-for-14), left the court to a standing ovation from the fans who last season suffered through a 19-63 campaign.

Arenas puts on a frightfully good show - Gene Wang, Washington Post

Although he began with a turnover in the game's first minute, Arenas settled down soon after and made a driving layup with 9 minutes 46 seconds to play in the opening period to give Washington a 7-6 lead. Then 40 seconds later, Arenas made a three-pointer, and it was clear something special was in store. The most raucous applause of the game came at the conclusion of the first quarter, when Arenas swished a jumper from just inside 40 feet with 0.2 of a second to play.

NJ Nets seeing red after lackluster effort in 123-104 loss to the Washington Wizards - Dave D'Alessandro, NJ.com

"McGee gave me a really hard foul, and as the NBA goes, you have to protect each other," the Nets second-year wing said after his team was pummeled by the Wizards, 123-104, at their Verizon Center home opener. "It’s an unwritten rule. You protect each other. And (Brendan) Haywood told me that’s what McGee was supposed to do. What can I say? I have to respect that. But we have to do that, too." Veterans would merely call this a time-honored NBA lesson; for the voluble Douglas-Roberts – a renowned practitioner of the old-school game from the playgrounds of west Detroit – it was more of a manhood thing. So he called out his Nets teammates, which wasn’t hard to do. They fell to 0-3, it had little to do with Devin Harris missing the game because his groin strain flared up again, and it had everything to do with playing defense that was, as Lawrence Frank termed it, "Pitiful."

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Washington Wizards
http://twitpic.com/nqtq0 - A giant Wizards logo hung in the mid air before the Wizards 2009-10 home opener at Verizon Center.

Twitter / The BF gang
I really like the Arenas/Foye/Miller threesome out there. So hard to help out on Gilbert with those two in. Great situational lineup.

Twitter / Michael Lee
Blatche trying to take a charge? I think I know what his Halloween costume is today. A baller. Dude has 16 pts.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Andray Blatche's harshest critic in the past, Antawn Jamison, gave him a standing ovation after another big shot.

Twitter / chad dukes
Gil to the ref: "you didn't see me push him, you just saw him fall! You weren't even looking!"

Twitter / Ed Henry
Wizards blowing out Nets by 21 with @wolfblizercnn & @johnkingcnn and Dana Bash in the house http://yfrog.com/748nwj

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Paul Davis sighting ... looks like he's the Wizards' version of a human victory cigar -- D.C. up 121-94 with 3 minutes left.

Twitter / wizznutzz
Incites: NJ's Lopez need neck shave like Ledell need neck; 7-day Dre need 10 more days contract! An how many cigs Oberto bummed from Vlade?

Twitter / A.I.
the wizards actually dont suck! this new coach of theirs is very promising...

Twitter / Sue B
wizards won, that's appropriate for Halloween

Twitter / Jimmy
This dude Andray Blatche on Washington shot 15-18.. the whole Wizards team didn't miss s***!

Twitter / November
Wizards get their 2nd win of the season by the end of October. Last year's 2nd win: November 25. #NBA

Twitter / JaVale McGee
@cdouglasroberts stop tryna dunk on me lol

Twitter / Chris Dougey-Roberts
RT @bigdaddywookie: @cdouglasroberts stop tryna dunk on me lol<<I respect your foul my dog. I love that about you. (pause)

Twitter / JaVale McGee
@cdouglasroberts fasho

Twitter / Chris Dougey-Roberts
RT @bigdaddywookie: fasho<but don't do that shii again! I owe you one!! & change that picture man. You loom like on of the DeBarge's.

Twitter / JaVale McGee
@cdouglasroberts lol...

He's baaaaaack.

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:23:14 -0000

He's baaaaaack.

Morning Briefing: Hawks Ground the Wizards' Hopes of Going 82-0

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:42:04 -0000

More photos » by Gregory Smith - AP

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Well, you can't win 'em all. Last night's loss may have dampened some of the praise that the team had been receiving before the game, but I still like where this team is headed. Considering that the Wizards only lost by 11 on the road despite not having Jamison, not having Butler for most of the game, seven turnovers from Gilbert Arenas, an 0-8 shooting performance from Nick Young, a 3-12 shooting performance from Randy Foye, and no three point attempts from Mike Miller, I don't think you could ask for much more.

The defense continues to be solid, holding the Hawks to 41% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc, figures that might not lead to comparisons with the Bad Boys anytime soon, but they're far better than the numbers we've become accustomed to defensively over the last half-decade. Oddly enough, the area the team probably needs the most work in right now is offensive cohesion. Brendan Haywood shouldn't be taking the second-most shots for the team, Mike Miller should be shooting more than Nick Young, and Gilbert still isn't fully back in rhythm yet. All of these things will get better with time, so there's no need to panic at this point (unless you're worried about Caron's knee, which you have every right to be worried about). With some more time in system and a little bit of guidance, a lot of these quirks should work themselves out fairly quickly.

In other news, Dallas throttled the Lakers 94-80 last night in L.A., which makes Tuesday's performance look even better in hindsight.

Wizards lose on a couple of counts - Michael Lee, Washington Post

The rough night was summed up during a fourth-quarter sequence. Smith extended himself to block a three-point attempt by Arenas. After Hawks point guard Mike Bibby corralled the ball, Smith sprinted down the court and pointed toward the roof. On cue, Bibby lobbed the ball toward the rim and the former slam dunk champion punished the rim with a dunk that gave the Hawks a 93-78 advantage. He screamed and shook his head, then bumped chests with Bibby, as Saunders called a timeout. The celebration started early for Atlanta, while the Wizards are again left to ponder another possible short-handed future.

Hawks 100, Wizards 89 - Mike Jones, Outlet

Flip was pleased with what he got out of JaVale McGee tonight. The coach had hoped to use McGee in certain situations to spark his team with his energy and athleticism, and soon after he took the court, McGee was providing fireworks with a dunk here, a block there. In 10 minutes, he had seven points, two rebounds and two blocks. His performance will continue to earn him increased playing time, Saunders said. "JaVale played like he did in practice, so he'll continue to get more playing time," Flip said. "He played well. We played him until he couldn't get any more oxygen out of the arena, so we took him out of the game. But he did a nice job."

Midnight Train Derails In Georgia - Brian Jackson, CSN Washington

After falling down 4-0 early Gilbert Arenas led a charge in which the Wizards ran off 12 straight points. “It was almost too easy,” said Flip Saunders of the early advantage. That brief lead was indeed a mirage as the Hawks finished the first quarter on a 15-4 run of their own and they would never trail again. Sensing his team was in need of a spark, Arenas attempted to force the issue but it’s quite apparent he hasn’t shaken off the rust from missing most of the last two seasons. On several occasions he tried to split defenders only to have the ball taken away. Arenas finished with game high seven turnovers to only four assists. He did lead all scorers with 23 points but it came on only 9-of-22 shooting from the field.

Atlanta Hawks 100, Washington Wizards 89 or should we get used to "normal" wins? - hawksdawgs, Peachtree Hoops

In the first quarter, the Hawks played better than the Wizards. In the next three quarters, with Caron Butler our for most of it, the Hawks just were better. Outside of a well executed first six or so minutes by the Wizards and a bad offensive third quarter, the Hawks played a great overall game. Certainly, the Wizards were not at full strength and dealt with a bit of foul trouble, but the Hawks responded by playing like the better team. Throw it all together and mention that Joe Johnson only played 30 minutes and you have a very satisfying win.

Butler injured as Wizards stumble on road - Mike Jones, Washington Times

Arenas turned the ball over four times and Mike Miller, Fabricio Oberto and DeShawn Stevenson all got into foul trouble. "When I got four quick turnovers, I stopped being aggressive, worrying about how many turnovers I get," said Arenas, who scored 23 points on 9-for-22 shooting and had seven turnovers to four assists. "You just can't play the game like that."

Quick Thoughts: Hawks Air Out Wizards 100-89 - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

If Tim Duncan is the ‘Big Fundamental’, then Mike Miller is the ‘Blond Fundamental’ (7 points, 2 steals, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 10 rebounds). The more I watch Miller, the more I’m impressed. Sure, building upon the stigma he gained last year in Minnesota, we all want him to be more assertive on offense. But with everything else he does so well (pass, communicate, play defense, rebound with extended arms and two hands, etc.), and with him being on an offensively potent team, perhaps the Wizards don’t always need him to be looking for a shot. Rather, he can be the glue guy for a team that’s really looking to come together with so many new pieces.

Hawks 100, Wizards 89 - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Whatever Mike Miller needs to bring to the Wizards, that wasn’t it. When the broadcasters can’t gush enough over the fact that Miller is a career 40 percent shooter from three, it’s shocking that he can finish the night without a single attempt from behind the arc. With seven points, 10 rebounds and five assists, sure, he was busy. But when no one could get it going for Washington, the one guy whose scouting report says he’s a lights-out shooter needs to take it upon himself to shoulder some of the offensive burden.

Hawks pop Wizards for second straight win - Sekou Smith, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Friday night's balanced scoring effort was an added bonus to a sterling defensive effort against a Wizards team that won in Dallas on Tuesday night and has been predicted by some to overtake the Hawks in the Southeast Division. The Hawks outrebounded the much larger Wizards 47-40, scored 18 points off of turnovers and piled up seven blocked shots -- five from Horford and two from Smith, who became the youngest player in league history to reach 900 blocks and 23 and 329 days. Horford finished with a game-high 12 rebounds while Smith led the Hawks in scoring with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the floor.

Hawks 100 Wizards 89 - Bret Lagree, Hoopinion

The Hawks didn't wait four quarters to step up defensively tonight. They didn't even wait four minutes. Gilbert Arenas had 5 points and an assist in the first 3:35 to guide Washington to a quick 12-4 lead. Mike Woodson called timeout and from that point forward the Hawks allowed 12 points on Washington's 17 subsequent first quarter possessions, scored 25 points on their 17 remaining first quarter possessions and built a five-point lead they would never relinquish.

Grinding in the Hightlight Factory - The Human Highlight Blog

We previewed the game tonight by noting the abundance of prognosticators that see the Wizards at least as the Hawks equal. We also stated that, while this game was a good litmus test for both teams, it's shouldn't be a "told you so" game either way.

Afterwards we have to say it was a let down in that regard. With Jamison out, Butler getting hurt, and Flip Saunders obviously still getting to know his personnel, the Hawks could see a much different team the next time they host Washington on January 13th, rendering this game just another notch on the win or loss column, and little else.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Michael Lee
I've got a new nickname for JaVale McGee. JaValevation. Either that, or JaValevator.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Dunk you very much .. the first EPIC VALE moment of the year!!! Wizards only down 8.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Wiz back down by 11 points (89-78) with 4:40 left. ATL fan just yelled "Put in Cassell!"

Twitter / Fire Dan Snyder
The Wizards started looking s***ty the second Mike Miller came off. He is the cataylst

Twitter / calloni
#wizards played like last year... lots of injuries... turnovers... simple like that

Twitter / Andrew Sharp
And the wheels come off... 1-1. In the interest of fairness, that alley oop deserved a DAGGER! call from Buckhantz. Oh well

Twitter / Eddie Ray
Mike Miller looks like he would fit right in on the Washington Mystics. Might even start.

Twitter / Sujal
Oh my god... Mike Miller's hair is enough to make me want to change the game...

Twitter / wizznutzz
CONSUMPTION JUNCTION!!!! Throw Strindberg's TB Slanket over this one!!! #tuberculousisthenewDAGGER