SB Nation User Blog: JakeTheSnake

Thank You, Abe Pollin

JakeTheSnake — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:48:39 -0000

More photos » by Charles Tasnadi - AP

1 day ago: FILE - In this June 8, 1978 file photo, Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin, holds up the NBA Championship trophy as the Bullets returned to Washington's Dulles Airport after defeating the Seattle SuperSonics . Among the huge crowd to greet the team was Barry Silberman, left, dressed as the operatic fat lady. Pollin, the Washington Wizards owner who brought an NBA championship to the nation's capital and later had the mettle to stand up to Michael Jordan, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. He was 85. (AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi)

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Some people invest their money. With the capital they've earned, these people can give funding and support to those who can make a difference.

Other people invest their time. They might not have the bank accounts that people in the first group have, so they help deserving causes with their efforts, their output, and their presence.

Rarely do you find people who can do both, especially at the level that Abe Pollin did throughout his life. In an era where so many owners demand the city pony up money for new arenas, Abe went against the grain twice and paid for new arenas out of his own pocket. Abe Pollin knew how to make money, but more importantly he knew how to give money.

Odds are if you've spent any amount of time in or near the District of Columbia, you've been impacted by Abe Pollin in some way or another. Whether you were one of the lucky students who received a scholarship from Abe, your business prospered from the rebirth of Chinatown that he spawned, or the joy you received from being a Wizards fan, Abe Pollin had a positive impact on your life.

Below is just a small sampling of reflections on the passing of Abe Pollin. Feel free to add your own reflections in the comments.

Thank You Abe Pollin For Caring About Us - 3rd Stone From the Sun

Though he often lamented the escalating salaries of players over the years, he knew how much impact they had on society. He was the man who demanded, and brought in, the rule of player conduct on the current labor agreement of the league. "You may or may not want to be role models, but you are role models. If you don't want to be role models, you should get out of this business and go do something else." He was a role model himself. He saved a historic synagogue from being turned into a dance club a few blocks from his offices, even though it cost millions of dollars to refurbish. He gave every school in the city working computers so children could use them. He established a program called "Abe's Table", where his team would go door to door and give food to the needy. Today the program was out giving food when he passed away.

Abe Pollin built Verizon Center, mentored Magic Johnson - Michael Wilbon, Washington Post

Not surprisingly, Pollin was praised widely in the wake of the news that he had died, at 85, and deservedly so, especially when the conversation turned to his civic and charitable contributions. In the interest of full disclosure, it should be mentioned in this space that Pollin and I clashed on a couple of issues, some of it the everyday stuff that happens when a columnist is critical of a local owner. But some of it was a little more confrontational, like a pointed disagreement over the firing of Michael Jordan and, years earlier, the building of the new downtown arena. Pollin actually took out a huge ad in The Washington Post the day after I wrote a column saying that the basketball franchise would only remain viable if he got out of Capital Centre and moved downtown. Pollin paid thousands of dollars for ads in The Post and The Washington Times, ripping me and calling Capital Centre "state-of-the-art," which by then it certainly was not. Anyway, it wasn't more than 18 months later when somebody from Pollin's office called me to come and cover the groundbreaking for a new arena downtown. I came ... and brought with me a copy of the ad in The Post. When handed a yellow hard hat, I handed Pollin the ad and asked him to sign it, which he did with a smile, after grabbing me around the neck and kissing me on the cheek. All was forgotten. I was easy. After I suffered a heart attack nearly two years ago, there was a warm phone call and a floral arrangement at the door from Abe and Irene Pollin.

When it comes to Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin, think big picture - J.A. Adande - ESPN

As with any life, Pollin's shouldn't be reduced to a single image. It should be a collage -- in his case, one that would include not just that Google Street View of D.C.'s Chinatown district but everything from underprivileged kids receiving college diplomas to a red basketball jersey hanging in a former sports editor's house. And while a certain other Washington-based franchise has defiantly refused to change its offensive nickname, Pollin was the one who -- completely unprompted -- changed the name of his team from Bullets to Wizards to avoid any violent connotations. Pollin wasn't as flamboyant or successful as former Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, nor did he generate the animosity of current Skins owner Dan Snyder. However, as a fellow former Washington resident texted me Tuesday, Pollin was one of the few nongovernmental types who defined life in D.C. Before selling the NHL Capitals and before the arrival of baseball's Nationals, Pollin oversaw two-thirds of Washington's pro sports teams. And, fittingly for a man who made his fortune in the construction business, he made his biggest impact with buildings; first the Capital Centre just outside the Beltway, then the Verizon (née MCI) Center in the District.

Abe Pollin Dies at 85 - Matt DeBonis, Washington City Paper

His prime development legacy, let there be no doubt about it, will be the MCI Center, which Pollin built out of his own pocket while the city suffered from crippling financial woes and went on to anchor the rebirth of downtown Washington. Though well known as a hellish negotiator, Pollin was generous with his riches, donating heavily to Jewish causes (he helped save the Sixth & I Synagogue, for instance) and, among other good works, paying for an entire elementary-school class to go to college.

Wizards Owner Abe Pollin Dies at 85 - ABC 7 Sports

While Pollin's teams sometimes frustrated fans, he was a widely hailed and frequently honored community leader who devoted considerable time and money to charities. One of his most popular programs is Abe's Table, which has served free meals twice a week at a church one block from where his teams play. A builder by trade, Pollin also constructed the Verizon Center's predecessor, originally known as the Capital Centre, in the Washington suburbs in 1973. He renamed his NBA team in 1997 because of the violent connotation of the word "Bullets," particularly in a city associated with crime.

Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at age 85 - ESPN

"He had opportunities to go to other places, but this is where he wanted to be," team president Ernie Grunfeld said. "He wanted to do this for his city." Pollin, though, wasn't about to leave Washington. "I wanted to build a beautiful arena and one that served as a catalyst to turn things around downtown," Pollin said. "I'm proud to say we succeeded in both scores."

The Abe Pollin Way - Spence, DC Pro Sports Report

For decades the downtown of Washington, D.C. didn’t really exist. Buildings, entire neighborhoods emptied out once people left their offices. There were no quality restaurants, no hip night spots, no life or vitality downtown. The Verizon Center, in the city’s Chinatown district, changed all that. The Gallery Place area is now buzzing night after night with young and old [especially young] strolling the streets and moving in and out of restaurants, night clubs, lounges, movie theaters and, of course, the Verizon Center. It was Abe’s arena, now 12 years old, that is the single biggest reason for all this. Particularly after Michael Jordan’s presence on the court guaranteed sellout crowds for every game, Chinatown became a popular place for people to be after dark in DC. Now, the area is crowded even when the Wizards and Caps are not playing.

Despite flaws, Pollin helped save Washington, D.C. - David Aldridge, NBA.com

As it is most every night, the Verizon Center crowd was the most racially diverse in the NBA. Alongside the K Street lobbyists and the politicos of varying political stripes, there were people of color, sitting courtside as well as in the upper bowl, loads of women who run their own businesses or help others run theirs. That is Washington, circa 2009. Abe Pollin played a part in that. A big part. Not the biggest part, to be sure. But a city that is still psychologially scarred, 40 years later, by the 1968 riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., only now has a downtown corridor capable of sustaining nightlife, providing jobs for locals and housing for yuppies and buppies, of being a destination point for bosses and for working people, as all great cities used to have. And the main reason that downtown exists today is because Abe Pollin built an arena on the corner of 7th and F Streets.

Pollin stood by the people who stood by him - Mike Wise, Washington Post

Antawn Jamison nodded at the portrait being painted of Mr. P, whom the veteran forward said worried as much about his millionaires as his minimum-wage minions. "I have a friend here who said to me today, 'If it hadn't been for Mr. Pollin, I'd probably be dead.' It wasn't just the players he cared about; he got people off the streets in D.C."

Analysis: The passing of Abe Pollin - Leon Saffelle and Brian McNally, Washington Examiner

"[Pollin] was not just the beloved owner of sports teams in the Nation's Capital for almost 40 years," the Washington Nationals and the Lerner family said in a press release. "He was also a significant force in the rebirth of downtown Washington, D.C., and a magnanimous contributor to the personality, health, and well-being of everyone who calls our community home. "He leaves an important legacy." No truer words have been said.

Abe Pollin Won at Life - DC Landing Strip

He was also a strong philanthropist, but his greatest contribution to DC is the Verizon Center. Pollin took a huge risk and sacrificed a lot of his wealth to build that arena. The result? 'That arena' has completely revitalized (vitalized?) a downtown area to the benefit of all DC residents and become a model for any team looking to build a new stadium in terms of geographic location. It is not a coincidence that Pollin amassed his fortune in housing development. The arena has also had the effect of taking teams in peripheral sports (not football), and putting them right in the heart of DC, literally and figuratively.

For D.C. sports, a true loss - Thom Loverro, Washington Times

Pollin sometimes was criticized for the so-called "mom and pop" way he ran the franchise. He sometimes was criticized for his devotion to his employees - he was loyal to a fault, they said. If that is so, his was a fault to be valued in sports today, when loyalties are too often measured by the bottom line. The bottom line about Abe Pollin was that he was ours. He was part of the District.

Pollin's dream of one more title left unfulfilled - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Pollin's competitive spirit drove him throughout the 46 years that he owned the Wizards, but not because of the recognition it brought to him personally. The deterioration of Pollin's health over the last few years was difficult for veteran players to watch, but even wheelchair-bound he still made it to the team's training camp in Richmond earlier this fall.

Discuss the life and legacy of Wizards owner Abe Pollin - George Solomon, Washington Post

Washington, DC: I have heard cynics say that Pollin changed the name of the Bullets to the Wizards as a mere marketing ploy, not out of any genuine sensitivity to gun violence in DC or the assassination of Yitzak Rabin. Do you have insights on that?

George Solomon: Nothing Abe Pollin ever did in his life was for marketing.

"He Was Just One Giant of a Man" - Matthew Stabley, NBC Washington

The Pollins have made just as big a mark on the community with their philanthropic and humanitarian endeavors. Abe Pollin served as the chair of the Advisory Council, was honorable chair of the Salvation Army’s Leadership Committee for Centers of Hope and was co-chair of the Community Capital Campaign for N Street Village. He co-sponsored the "I Have a Dream Foundation." The Abe’s Table program feeds the underserved in D.C. community. Through Gilbert Arenas’ Gilbert Scores for Schools program, the Pollins donated $100 for every point that Arenas scored in games during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons to Washington-area schools. "The first person I called was my dad because [Pollin] was the father away from California," Arenas said at the Verizon Center before Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. "So it hurts. We just got to stick together. He wanted the championship before he died, and as long as I'm here, that's what I'm going to be shooting for."

The Fearless Life of Abe Pollin - Jarrett Carter, Stet Sports Blog

But his strongest characteristic is likely to be the one passed over by many writers. His fearless approach to life and profession. Everything would point to life working against the son of a Russian immigrant in the early 1900’s, by Abe Pollin crafted fortune out of opportunity, and generosity out of affluence. He eschewed a life as a real estate mogul in exchange for life as the owner of the Baltimore Bullets, characterized early on as the definition of risky business. Rather than making professional sports ownership into a hobby venture, he envisioned a lucrative business operation. A fearless proposition for a team that was not perennially successful, and had very few supporters in the region.

D.C. sports icon, Wizards owner Pollin dead at 85 - Dick Heller, Washington Times

Mr. Pollin remained mentally sharp, but his brain disease forced him to give up his active lifestyle and rely on a cart to ride the halls of the Verizon Center. He and his wife, Irene, established a $1 million research fund in 2008 at the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in hopes of finding a cure. Over his years in the District, Mr. Pollin won a National Basketball Association championship, took the city's hockey team to its only Stanley Cup final, built two arenas, helped revitalize part of downtown, hired and fired the world's most famous basketball player and performed innumerable acts of charity.

Hoops Addict Reflects on the Passing of Abe Pollin - Rashad Mobley, Hoops Addict

After Mr. Unseld’s speech, I listened to Team President Ernie Grunfeld and Wizards’ guard DeShawn Stevenson discuss what Mr. Pollin meant to them, and then I prepared for the game. I felt overwhelmed by the all the information I received, and I even commented to someone next to me, "I don’t even want the game to start yet, I have so much to process." Unfortunately though, the game had to start, but before it did, there was a moment of silence for Mr. Pollin. And for those brief eight seconds, the house that Pollin built was completely silent, while his picture, with the years he lived under it, hovered over all of us in attendance on the giant flat screen.

Agent Zero on Abe Pollin's death - Dan Steinberg, D.C. Sports Bog

And [Gilbert] was asked about his first meeting with the owner. "It was kind of weird, because to be honest, I was coming off a gun charge in San Francisco, so I'm already nervous," Gilbert explained. "And I'm like, 'Aw, I don't think this guy's gonna pick me up.' And he's like, 'Oh no, we're family.' And then we just started talking about life. We started talking about family, him and my dad talked--I'm gonna take care of your son, I know he's a young kid, he's an extension of me--and from there we just bonded." Which is not to say that Gilbert, in his own way, wasn't also touching and heartfelt and appropriate. "It was kind of a hard evening, but at the end of the day, Abe Pollin loved us so much that we couldn't feel the pain until after the game," Gilbert said. "We had to go out there and just play. He wouldn't want us to stop doing what he loved because of what happened....We wasn't gonna try to lose this game for Mr. P. You know, he treated us like family, he [brought] us in, he believed in us. No matter what nobody was saying out there, he always believed we were his guys from the beginning."

Rest in peace, Abe - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

Pollin will be remembered both as an exceptional owner and a great man. He was a rare owner in todays sports world who cared more about values and loyalty than team revanue. An owner who put a quality and family oriented product on the court for his city. An owner who through his longevity and consistency became a staple in the city he was from. Abe and Irene Pollin were entering their 45th year of ownership of the Wizards, which was the longest-tenured ownership in the NBA.

First Impressions of Abe Pollin; Wes Unseld: "He was a Washingtonian" - Kyle Weidie, Truth About It

Mr. Pollin was a good owner. Not particularly adept at guiding a franchise toward winning (at least in my lifetime), but a good owner. He was a loyal man, a trait which countless will stand in line to attest. Perhaps, at times, that loyalty got in the way of winning. But that wasn’t the path Abe wanted to take. It didn’t mean he wanted to win any less than the next fan for life. This team, this city was damn lucky to have Abe Pollin on their side. So cheers to the captain of the vessel, here’s to hoping your successor steers the ship at least as good as you did, and to the best of your championship aspirations.

'A very tough loss' for Wizards - Mike Jones, Washington Times

It was an unconventional move; most teams hire a general manager and then let him pick the coach. But Pollin selected [Eddie] Jordan, a D.C. native, and then two weeks later chose Ernie Grunfeld as team president. "He meant a lot to me," Jordan said. "He hired me to come back and coach a team that I was a big fan of. It was my hometown team. It was a 10-minute interview, and I shook his hand, and he said, 'I don't live by contracts; I live by handshakes.' I shook his hand and walked out and then all of a sudden thought... 'Did I take the job, or what happened there?' " Jordan, who coached the Wizards for five full seasons and guided them to four straight playoff appearances, credited Pollin's enthusiasm and knowledge of basketball as a source for the team's success.

Dan Snyder remembers growing up a Bullets fan - Dan Steinberg, D.C. Sports Bog

"When I was a little kid, we moved to New York for a while," Snyder remembered. "We had an uncle that passed. We lived with my grandmother. And we moved in, and my father was working a little bit in New York, and we would go across the street and get the newspapers that came out in the middle of the night when [the Bullets] were playing Seattle. [ellip] It goes way back. I mean, if you're a Washingtonian, you have to have loved Abe Pollin."

Wes Unseld's Thoughts on Abe's Passing, as told to Mike Jones

"I just lost a really, really good friend. I think it's more than any of you will understand or I could explain. It's going to be a big void in sports and this community as well. The type of person he was, Mr. Pollin was a tremendous competitor. I wanted to win because it made me look good and I could re-negotiate contracts. He wanted to win because he was a competitor and for what it gave to other people and gave them a sense of pride. He was different and he followed that every day for the 40 years I knew him."

Antawn Jamison on Abe's Passing as told to Craig Stouffer

"Everybody knows how much he thought of myself, and he always said, 'You remind me of Wes,' and we all know the bond that he has with Wes Unseld. For me, I thought it was the utmost respect and just how much he believed in me, my professionalism and just as a player, he put a lot of trust in me from day one. Nobody has given me that trust, ever, really, as far as just doing my job and being the person that I am. This guy always checked up on me and my family and my kids. He always asked me how they were doing, and ‘Buy a gift for them and say it’s from me,’ and just, this guy’s done so much, not only for this city but this organization, making this world a better place."

Ted Leonsis on Abe's Passing, as told to Alexa Steele

Mr. Pollin was a model philanthropist, an icon in the sports world and the individual responsible for founding the Capitals and bringing an NBA championship to our city. He was the catalyst in building a fabulous downtown arena that revitalized the surrounding area. Anyone walking down 7th Street, seeing the throngs of excited fans, the host of popular restaurants, hotels and nightspots, can attest to the lasting legacy of Mr. Pollin's deep commitment to D.C.

Defensive lapse proves costly to Sixers - Kate Fagan, Philadelphia Inquirer

On the day that the Wizards' longtime owner, Abe Pollin, 85, died of a rare brain disorder, his team played better than it had been playing. After the game, Sixers coach Eddie Jordan said of Williams' last-second miss: "Mr. Pollin's spirit blocked that shot out of the rim."

Tribute Videos: Remembering Abe Pollin

Remembering Mr. Pollin - Agent Dagger

Abe Pollin, 1923-2009 | Mr. Irrelevant

Timeline: Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin dies at 85 - Washington Post

Abe Pollin timeline - John Taylor, Washington Times

Briefing: Wizards Hold on to Beat the Sixers

JakeTheSnake — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:45:10 -0000

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

1 day ago: Washington Wizards guard Nick Young (1) goes to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers' Andre Iguodala (9) and Louis Williams (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, in Washington. The Wizards won 108-107. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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[Ed. Note: Obviously, there was a lot more than a game going on last night. Today's briefing will be two-part. The first part will focus striclty on the game last night and in the second part we'll focus on tributes to Abe Pollin. -Jake]

Wizards pull off comeback, hang on for win - Mike Jones, Outlet
The unlikely hero of the night, however, was Nick Young. Young had been inactive on Saturday night, and had five DNP's this season. But he came out tonight with the Wizards shorthanded with Mike Miller and Caron Butler out with injuries, he started and played a smart game on both ends of the floor. He scored 20 points on 8-for-16 shooting, grabbed four rebounds and had two assists.

Wizards 108, 76ers 107 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider
Young helped hold Andre Iguodala to just 12 points on 2 of 10 shooting. He also made some smart basketball plays, like when he recovered a loose ball in the third quarter and alertly called timeout before falling out of bounds. Saunders said that going on the inactive list probably forced Young to say, " 'I got a choice. I can change myself or go along with the motions.' To his credit, our last few practices, he's probably been our best player."

Wizards win one for Pollin - William Yoder, Agent Dagger
Antawn Jamison notched a free throw at the 8:24 mark in the third to get things started for the Wizards and to give them a 56-55 Wizards lead. From there on the Wizards would turn up the pace as the club would go on a 19-4 run to take a 15 point lead at 74-59. In a stretch where the Wizards looked like the club we had hoped to see going into 2009, as opposed to the club we have, Washington shot seven for nine from the field while tallying four assists and no turnovers. It was a stretch where the Wizards looked like a team that was in-synch offensively, and mature enough to hold on to the ball.

GM 13 RECAP: WTF !? - Philadunkia
The Wizards won without Caron Butler. — Out with a sore ankle, we thought the loss of Butler’s 16 & 7 a night would spell doom for the Wizards. We were wrong as the Sixers had no answer for Antwan Jamison (32 points) or Nick Young and that was all the Wizards needed. By the way, how good is Jamison? You really forget just how good he is because he is such a quiet guy and plays in DC, but he is just awesome and arguable one of the best forwards in the League.

Defensive lapse proves costly to Sixers - Kate Fagan, Philadelphia Inquirer
In the third quarter, nothing blocked the Wizards from the rim: They shot 16 for 25 and built a 15-point lead. What happened to the Sixers' defense? "The same thing we've been doing all year," said swingman Andre Iguodala, who shot 2 for 10 and sat for most of the fourth quarter. "Giving up open shots, second-chance points. Teams get in a good rhythm, and we don't apply enough pressure and they score the ball pretty easily."

Sixers lose to Wizards, but Jrue is free! - Jordan Sams, Liberty Ballers
The game-winning attempt upset some people. Lou dribbled 11 seconds off the clock and pulled up for a jumper instead of driving to the basket. I completely understand why fans are mad that he didn't go to the basket, but I'm okay with the shot myself. What I'm not okay with is the 11 seconds he dribbled off the clock. I would've much rather seen him take a quicker shot, so the Sixers could foul and get the ball back should he miss. My counter to the people saying he should've taken it to the hoop is: how many NBA players settle for a game-winning jump shot instead of taking it to the hole? 99%. That doesn't make it right, but that's the NBA folks. Everyone wants to be a hero and hold the pose.

Everything is Bigger in Texas, Even the Blowouts: Spurs Win 106-84

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:11:23 -0000

More photos » by Bahram Mark Sobhani - AP

Just a flesh wound!

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What's the difference between a team that trusts its offensive system and a team that doesn't? 22 points, 20 assists, and just over 13 percentage points better when shooting from the field. Other than that, not a whole lot.

Know Your Colts History: The Answer in Indy

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:59:32 -0000

The recent discussion about whether or not LeBron James would make it as an NFL player, got me thinking about how another NBA player could have had an impact in the NFL, specifically for the Colts.

As we all remember, the 1998 Draft forced Bill Polian to choose between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. We all know in hindsight that picking Peyton was the right move, it wasn't such a sure bet at the time. The only thing that could have made that decision more difficult is if there had been a third option for Polian to mull over. If it hadn't been for one player who decided to take his skills to the hardwood, this three-way battle could have occured. The player in question grew up in the Newport News area, home of Mike Vick and Aaron Brooks. Many who live in the area will tell you he player was better than both of them. Of course, we'll never know what kind of football career he could have had, because Allen Iverson decided that he had a better career in basketball.

If Iverson had decided to go into football, he would have graduated in 1998, the same year as Manning and Leaf. Maybe it's silly to propose that Iverson would have been in the discussion to be the top pick, but it's hard to say anything is silly when you're trying to choose between Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. Once you really take a look at NFL climate at the time, envisioning Iverson as a top NFL draft pick isn't as far-fetched as you might think.

You can look at his size and say that he never would have cut it on the pro level, but as BBS has pointed out many times here, size doesn't matter. Size hasn't stopped Drew Brees, it hasn't stopped Darren Sproles, and it sure didn't stop Barry Sanders. Michael Vick isn't much taller than Iverson. Did his height stop him from being the top pick in 2001 NFL Draft? If you can play, you can play. Clearly, Iverson could play.

You can say that he wouldn't have had the smarts to be a QB at the pro level, but I would counter that by saying that Iverson would have entered the league right as the scrambling quarterback revolution was starting to explode. Kordell Stewart had just finished his first season as full-time starter at quarterback and he guided the Steelers to an 11-5 record. That was good enough to win the AFC Central and the team only lost by a field goal to the eventual Super Bowl champions. Those eventual Super Bowl champions were the Denver Broncos, who were led by a quarterback who could still make plays with his feet. Other scramblers like Steve Young, Tony Banks, Steve McNair, and Mark Brunell also made scrambling quarterbacks hot commodities. More than at any other moment in NFL history, general managers would have been willing to overlook some deficiencies passing the ball in order to get someone who could make plays on the run.

Even if you want to dismiss that Iverson would've been taken seriously as a quarterback in the NFL, he certainly would have possessed the speed and ability to be a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. A defensive back had beaten out Peyton for the Heisman. Who's to say that another one couldn't have taken the top draft spot away from him as well?

Of course, all of this is conjecture. Manning, Leaf, and Iverson all went down separate career paths that made them famous in different ways. For Colts fan, it certainly worked out for the best that things went the way they did. Thinking about any scenario where Peyton Manning doesn't end up in Indianapolis is a scary one, but it is good for making us stop to appreciate what we have and how glad we are that things worked out the way they did. That's what Thanksgiving is all about, right?

Briefing: The Thunder Kept on Rolling and Rolling

JakeTheSnake — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:34:32 -0000

More photos » by Alonzo Adams - AP

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I'm not all that good at picking momentum-changing moments, but I do know that when play like this happens, odds are that team is going to win. Sometimes, you just have games where it just doesn't come together and tonight was one of those nights. There are a lot of places blame can be assigned for last night's blowout, as you'll see below, but let's hope that no one dwells on last night for too long. It's a long season and there's another game tonight. The best thing that everyone can do is forget about what went wrong last night and gear up for a big game against the Spurs (see how I didn't say anything about you-know-who there? I'm getting better!).

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

The Wizards had no answer for Durant. The former Montrose Christian star poured in 35 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. He wasn’t alone; fellow Prince Georges County product Jeff Green had a double double by half time and Westbrook scored 26 points on only 12 shots. Most of Westbrook’s’ damage came from the lane (which he got into at will) leading to 12 free throw attempts and seven assists. Jamison, Butler and Arenas combined to score 69 of the Wizards 108 points but it simply wasn’t enough.

Wizards run hot and cold in defeat - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The Wizards (3-8) started off slow - falling behind by 10 in the first five minutes - responded with a spurt that put them back in the game, but went cold again and slipped into a double-digit hole. The roller-coaster ride continued throughout the game, and finally after pulling within 82-81 with three minutes left in the third quarter, Washington allowed Oklahoma City to outscore it 45-27 in the final 15 minutes of play.

Thunder 127, Wizards 108 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Saunders said that every time his coaching staff focuses on one weakness, the team forgets everything else that it has learned. After training camp, the team focused on rebounding and became a better rebounding team. They focused on defense and became a better defensive team through the first 10 games. But the past few practices, the Wizards tried to address their offensive woes, then decided not to play defense against the young and exciting Thunder. So much for that carryover from the big win against the Cavaliers. "We focused on offense and we forgot all of our defensive concepts," Saunders said. "We have not evolved to be a total team, where we can grasp everything."

Thunder fend off Wizards 127-108 - Jeff Latzke, Associated Press

After watching Washington answer every Thunder run for the better part of three quarters, Brooks changed the game when he went with a three-guard lineup. Oklahoma City immediately went on a 9-0 burst to stretch its lead to 91-81 on Durant’s three-point play. Then Brooks went even smaller, going without a center and leaving the 6-foot-9 Green as his tallest player on the court. The move worked, as Oklahoma City continued to pull away.

Thunder 127, Wizards 108 - Mike Jones, Outlet

Said Arenas: "We let them kept getting middle. Our defensive philosophy is don't let a team get middle because once they get middle, they put pressure on the bigs, and then the guards have to suck in, and then you have wide-open 3-pointers, so mentally we just shut down today and they just took advantage of it." OKC is a young team, but they played like the experienced bunch. And tip your hat to coach Scott Brooks. Whenever the Wizards would cut the score to within striking distance, he'd call timeout and his guys would come out and execute. And it wasn't just one play, they came out and reeled off scoring runs. That's a mark of a coach who is getting through to his players. "Every time they came out of a timeout, they went on a 6-0 run. They just scored. They came out of the timeup only up one and they went up," Arenas said.

Washington Wizards lose to Oklahoma City Thunder, 127-108 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

Miller returned to the game in the second quarter but was wincing as he kept his left arm bent near his waist and pressed against his body. He finished with five points, but said he would continue to play through the pain. "It's one of those things that's going to keep lingering and hopefully, it's going to go away sooner than later," Miller said. "Right now, its something that I got to deal with. The doctors said there isn't a chance for it to get worse structurally so it's going be really painful. Right now, I can bear it, so I'm going to play. It's not an excuse."

Thunder 127, Wizards 108: Think Durant was up for that one? - Craig Stouffer, Pick & Roll

Washington simply couldn't match OKC's offensive explosiveness, but the 20 turnovers didn't help. Even Mike Miller coughed the ball up three times. Again limited by his shoulder, he took only four shots and finished with five points. Randy Foye was also a goat, with one point, one assist and two turnovers in 11 and a half minutes. He's still not sharp coming off the ankle injury. But Miller is the bigger concern. Until he plays a game without looking like a one-armed man, it's time to start questioning whether he should be playing at all.

Wizards Plus: Saunders stresses rest - Mike Jones, Washington Times

Always looking for ways to get more out of his players, Wizards coach Flip Saunders canceled the morning shootaround for the second straight game to allow his team to get extra rest. Instead of the traditional midmorning shootaround, the coach held a 3 p.m. planning meeting with his players at the team hotel before they headed over to Ford Center. Portland, New York and Boston have made similar moves this season to keep their players fresher.

Wizards fall to Thunder, 127-108 - Matt Kremnitzer, Krem's Sports Blog

What exactly is Boykins's role? Is he the backup point guard? I guess he is, and for the most part, I don't have a problem with that. Boykins played the entire fourth quarter and took all seven of his shots then (making five), scoring 11 points. But when Boykins is in the game, he has the ball a ton and dribbles a lot, which means Arenas doesn't have the ball. At least for right now, I'm not a huge fan of the Boykins-Arenas backcourt.

Thunder 127 Wiz 108 - Joe Newell, Daily Thunder

Grant Long said it well tonight when he was talking about the Wiz when he said something along the lines of the Wiz having all the talent a team could want, but for whatever the reason the pieces don’t seem to fit. I see his point. I personally think the Wizards problem is defense, or a lack of it to be more specific. The Wiz matchup very well with the Thunder at every position but their supposed "stopper" is Deshawn Stevenson who only saw 12 minutes of play.

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Mike Jones
I really don't get why Mike Miller is being allowed to play. Arm is hanging like it weighs 100 pounds.

Twitter / Michael Lee
I know Caron has had to guard LeBron, D-Wade & others, but Durant might the toughest cover of them all. Dude is at least 6-11 – not 6-9!

Twitter / Rashad Mobley
Nick Young to Flip at halftime: "Coach I have TWO shoulders..put me in..put.me.in.

Twitter / Chris C-Ford
The Thunder makes the "Which NBA teams don't end in 'S'?" A little bit harder

Twitter / wizznutzz
unless Harden has John Adams tattoed on his apple, Dsean win RT @MikeJonesTWT DeShawn and James Harden in the battle of the beards.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
I think the agility in Jamison's arms on offense compensates for the lack of agility in his legs on defense.

Twitter / Chase Hughes
What happened to Andray Blatche, he had 2 points tonight? 127-108 final

Twitter / Agent Dagger
the big 3 all have 20 points, when was the last time that happened?

Twitter / George V. Panagakos
Since Boykins joined Wizards, Washington hasn't played a single game without scoring at least 100 points. Miller and Jamison of course :).

Twitter / Wizards Extreme
30 win season if the Wiz kids can't get it together, another mediocre performance tonight

Twitter / The BF gang
So what happened to that much-improved defense? This looks like an Eddie Jordan effort.

Twitter / Kevin Durant
Good win against the hometown wizards...Gilbert is back!!! Back to work tomorrow!!! What's good tweeps

Gilbert just upped the ante on his hunt to get 1,000,000 followers.

JakeTheSnake — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:13:49 -0000

Gilbert just upped the ante on his hunt to get 1,000,000 followers.

Earl Boykins is a freak of nature

JakeTheSnake — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:13:30 -0000

Earl Boykins is a freak of nature

(via Ball Don't Lie)

Briefing: Antawn Jamison is Unfamiliar With the Concept of Rust

JakeTheSnake — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:01:34 -0000

More photos » by Ned Dishman - NBAE/Getty Images

7 days ago: WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 18: Antawn Jamison #4 of the Washington Wizards shoots against Jamario Moon #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Verizon Center during the game on November 18, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Rust is natural. If you take someone away from something that they do on a regular basis for an extended amount of time, it takes sometime to get back into that rhythm. That's just the way things work, unless your name is Antawn Jamison.

Not only was Jamison thrown back into the starting lineup, but expected to carry the team as they slumped through most of the first half. If it weren't for his 21 points and 8 rebounds in the first half, the Wizards would have faced a much, much more formidable deficit heading into halftime. You tend to forget about these things when the team ends up winning by 17, but without Jamison's spectacular first half in his first game back from injury, the Wizards would be staring at a 2-8 record this morning. Antawn didn't waste anytime helping out where the team needed him to help out. That's what team captains do, and that's why he was so sorely missed when he was out.

Behind the Box Score, where the Nets still haven't won - Kelly Dwyer, Ball Don't Lie

After watching Antawn Jamison in this win, I'm convinced that every player should develop a cold after deeming themselves ready to return to action. That way, you don't feel as if you're coming right off the shelf, rather, you feel as if you've been waylaid by something else (a cold) that is easily overcome. Jamison fit right in, in his first game of the season, only turning the ball over two times in 38 minutes, pouring in 31 points in various styles and pulling in 10 rebounds (six offensive).

Wizards Plus: Jamison's title focus - Mike Jones, Washington Times

Before the start of the season, Jamison threw out the "C" word, saying a championship "is all I'm playing for." To keep that goal fresh in his mind, Jamison has an 8-inch-by-10-inch, framed color photograph of the Larry O'Brien Trophy hanging in his locker. On the wall that borders Jamison's locker, which is just outside the trainers room, is a poster-sized image of the trophy, also framed. "We need a little championship aura in here," Jamison said last week. He also said he plans on ordering a copy for all of his teammates' lockers.

Wizards 108, Cavaliers 91 - Mike Jones, Outlet

"Sometimes you don’t realize the little things," Jamison said. "One thing I’ve noticed lately is our energy level has been down, whether we miss a couple of shots or make a run, guys run to the huddle with their heads down and that’s something that I knew that I could come in and change that and just move that ball form one end to the other, another added weapon for them to really key in on. I’ve been sitting down for what seems like forever, so I had a lot of energy. I knew it was going to be different from what we’ve been doing." Jamison kept shooting, and kept barking at his teammates and eventually Mike Miller responded with back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter.

Is it a rivalry yet? Wizards top Cavs 108-91 - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

Antawn Jamison made his return Wednesday night and helped lead his Wizards to a 108-91 victory over Cleveland at the Verizon Center. The Wizards powerforward helped spark the Wizards with 31 points on 12 of 22 shooting, and10 rebounds. Jamison helped fill a void tonight that the club had strugled to fill all season. They had been missing the man on their team who keeps the club together when things get rough. When no one else can seem to put the ball in the hoop, grab the rebound, or make the defensive play, Antawn has been there. He was there tonight.

Wizards cruise past Cavaliers, 108-91 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

But the Wizards weren't focused on anything except the win, which ended Cleveland's five-game winning streak and marked just the 11th time that Arenas, Jamison and Butler started a game together since April 4, 2007, when Arenas first injured his left knee. "It's great to have us all out there together," Butler said. "That's been the talk for years, 'When is the Big Three going to be out there together, along with the new additions?' Antawn was great tonight. He kept the energy going. Gilbert did some spectacular things. I thought DeShawn did a great job of slowing down LeBron. "This is what we expect. We expect to win games. That's what happened."

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

The stat sheet will show that Arenas shot 6-for-22 from the field, and even in person, there were times when he forced the issue and tried to shoot his way out of his slump. In the first half he shot just 1-for-9, and he had six points. But in the second half, he played a bit better and found his stroke. Even Arenas noticed this inconsistency, "I just can’t find two halves to match right now. I just gotta get it together…I had one bad half, and I figured the second one would get better." What will not show up in the stat sheet is his solid defense on Mo Williams. Williams who is widely considered to be the second best player on the Cavaliers squad scored just six points in 36 minutes.

Wizards 108, Cavaliers 91 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler have struggled with their shots all season, and it was no different on Wednesday night, as Arenas and Butler combined to shoot just 12 of 38. Any other night, the Wizards probably would've succumbed to the LeBron James one-man show. But on this night, the Wizards had Antawn Jamison to fill the gaps, and he did that and more, as he scored 31 points with 10 rebounds, keeping the Wizards competitive in the first half, until Arenas was able to wake up in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 18 points, and Butler was able to take over the game completely in the fourth, scoring 13 of his 19 points.

Wizards 108, Cavaliers 91: When LeBron scores, the other guy wins - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

The one guy whose role has emerged is Mike Miller. He came into the Wizards very accepting of whatever capacity that they wanted to use him. It’s pretty clear that role needs to be substantial because not only does Miller make shots, he makes hustle plays and smart plays. But – and this remains a concern – his left shoulder still looks mighty banged up.

Wizards come full circle against Cavaliers - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Stevenson allowed James just six of his game-high 34 points in the final period, tying him up with a blocked shot on a fast break with three minutes, 22 seconds, a play that ended with Caron Butler alone at the free throw line after James argued the call. James then responded with two huge dunks with the game basically decided, only to injure his left wrist on the first. "He came in very professional and played ‘meat and potato’ basketball," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders of Stevenson. "He didn’t give them any antics. He just put his nose into it and played solid defense."

Before They Self-Destruct, Wizards Beat Cleveland - Jarrett Carter, Stet Sports Blog

Caution yourself against classifying this win as "season-saving." Yes, the rotations were better for Flip Saunders, the defensive commitment in the second half was more noticeably solid, and there was fun to be had on the floor even in tense moments. But there are miles to go before the Eastern Conference can be called out for sleeping on the Wizards; specifically within a Wizards west coast road trip with games against Oklahoma City and San Antonio over the next few days. They still have injuries, they still have trust issues, they still have quite a few problems. But this game can serve as a memory to the Wizards of what injury-free, focused basketball looks and feels like. Rivals can be vanquished, stats can be compiled and expectations can be met. Before tonight’s game, the Wizards were on the verge of implosion for reasons that they couldn’t fully control. They were headed for self-destruction, but allowed experience and trust to make a big game smaller than their team objective.

Cavs Win Streak, Wizards Losing Streak Both Snapped as Wiz Pull off 108-91 Win - RockKing, WaitingForNextYear

The Wizards showed a lot of poise in not panicking after digging a deep hole early and fighting their way back to a blowout win. It was certainly easy to see the impact Jamison brings to the team and they found a way to still score 108 points despite not shooting the ball particularly well. So they certainly deserve all the credit for coming up with the win, but you have to believe the Cavaliers feel frustrated that they never made any kind of adjustments and let this game slip away out of their reach. This will be one they will want to forget about as soon as possible.

Wizards Blow Out Cavaliers - Carla Peay, Washington Informer

Wizards head coach Flip Saunders didn’t go so far as to call it a "statement game", but the team’s 108-91 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wed., Nov. 18 at Verizon Center might have been the best victory of the season. The Wizards are now 3-7 on the season, and for the first time in what seems like years, guard Gilbert Arenas, and forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, the so-called "big three" were on the floor together, and healthy.

No More Excuses For The Washington Wizards - Gerald Narciso, Dime Magazine

Now that the big three of Arenas, Jamison and Butler are in full force, the Wizards have no more excuses. I understand, the team still has to adjust to Flip Saunders’ system and all the new faces on the roster like Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Earl Boykins. Even Arenas, who basically missed two seasons, is still trying to find his chemistry with the team again. Bottom line is Washington has enough talent on that roster to finish in the top five of the East. The ball movement looked a lot better last night and maybe this win can get their confidence up. If the team can get comfortable in the offense in the next 10 games and the team escapes any more injuries, than this team has no excuses why they shouldn’t be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. But even with injuries, it shouldn’t be an excuse. Last year, Orlando and L.A. made the Finals with some of their key guys hurt, so why can’t Washington do that?

Jamison's return helps Wizards stop skid - Mike Jones, Washington Times

The Wizards carried a 75-72 lead into the fourth quarter, and with Arenas and Jamison watching from the bench, Washington blew the Cavaliers away. Boykins and Butler led Washington on a 25-8 charge that ballooned a three-point lead into a 100-80 advantage. In the quarter, Boykins had nine points and two assists, and Butler scored 13 points. "We said from the beginning that depth will always help you," coach Flip Saunders said. "I told our guys in the locker room that if we have a group that's playing well, no matter who it is, we let them play it out. In this league they are all good players. Given the opportunity and in certain situations they can all play well."

Cavaliers falls to Wizards, 108-91: Windhorst Beat Blog - Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer

You can really see the impact of not having Andy Varejao and Shaq. The Cavs are getting hammered on the boards. This is something Mike Brown is also I'm sure making a big point of in the locker room. Brendan Haywood has 10 rebounds already and the Wiz have 13 second-chance points. The Cavs gave up 23 last night. They didn't have a game where they allowed more than 14 before these last two nights.

Arenas waiting for 1 million followers to tweet - Associated Press

"Once I get a million followers, I’ll do it," Arenas said after his Washington Wizards beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91 Wednesday. Asked why he picked that number, he said because it’s "so far-fetched." When someone pointed out to Arenas that the way people tend to accrue followers is by tweeting, he replied: "I’m trying to do the opposite."

Best of Twitterville

Twitter / Michael Lee
Gilbert just said he won't make another shot until he gets one million followers on Twitter.

Twitter / The BF gang
Dear Cavs fans: That was a really bad call on DeShawn. He wrapped him up. See, #Wizards fans can admit when there's a bad call.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
My eyes could be deceiving me, but I swear I just saw Mike Brown go over & lick LeBron's wounds.

Twitter / Mike Jones
Second guest student pep band of the season, and once again, a rendition of Jay-Z's Empire State of Mind. WE'RE IN DC PEOPLE!

Twitter / Jack Kogod
LeBron not joining team huddle, busy glaring at section 112. Can't imagine why.

Twitter / Bob Sumner
Enjoy that highlight, Lebron. This one is over like your hairline. Guess you will have a hard time hoisting Cris at Lima wit that limp wrist

Twitter / Agent Dagger
Lebron is considered dominant because his size proposes ridiculous match up problems...could say the same for Boykins?

Twitter / wizznutzz
BOYKS!!! The Bunson Burner gone all BRAISE on the Cavz. MOIST HEAT.

Twitter / Marcel Mutoni
Pretty sure each of the Wizards dancers could post up Earl Boykins with ease.

Twitter / 106.7 The Fan
DeShawn Stevenson's doing a terrific job on Lebron James. Just tied him up on a drive to the hoop. Jump ball called, then Lebron got T'd up.

Twitter / Brian Windhorst
Wizards 108, Cavs 91. DeShawn Stevenson is MVP without taking shot, just by getting in LeBron's head.

Twitter / John Krolik
Well, then. Crap.

Twitter / Ric Bucher
For anyone thinking tonight's outcome would be different if Shaq were playing: Wizards consider Z a tougher matchup for Haywood.

Twitter / We <3 DC
Oh I'm sorry, Bron Bron, did we break your concentration? Love, the Wizards

Twitter / Andrew Sharp
Gil throws his jersey as he leaves the court. Good to have the real gilbert arenas back. Also: !!!!!!!!!!!

Twitter / Jon Lewallen
Come on ESPN, at least let me enjoy the Wizards win before throwing it to SA-Dallas. Mark Jackson makes me sad inside.

Twitter / Wolf Blitzer
Wizards WIN. 108-91. Enough said.

The Death and Rebirth of Agent Zero

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:04:32 -0000

One of the major storylines of the early season has been the "new" Gilbert Arenas. The wacky, controversial shooter was apparently being replaced with a more subdued Gilbert Arenas who just wanted to get his teammates involved and become a pure point guard. On the media end, he was doing a good job for most of the season, only generating controversy when he didn't talk.

The results were more mixed on the court. At times this season, he's shown that he can be an elite passer. He's also shown that he can still score with the best of them when he gets (or gives himself) the green light. What he's struggled with this season is balancing between initiating the offense and knowing when to take over. Granted, it's a tricky line to walk, but rarely do you see someone fluctuate so wildly between being a scorer and a passer.

This back and forth between opposite ends of the offensive spectrum is a microcosm of Gilbert's career. He can play to any extreme that you want him to be (remember, he claims to be a Republican even though he has an Obama tattoo) but he can't fall in the middle. Look at his interactions with the media. He could have very easily decided to just stick with the same general jocktalk that every other athlete uses and avoid all the controversy that came along with speaking his mind 100% of the time. Instead, he decided to go all the way to the opposite end of the interaction spectrum and avoid controversy by not talking at all. Staying medium hasn't worked well for Jim Zorn and it certainly won't work with Gilbert Arenas, that's just not who he is.

So at some point, the battle between Gilbert Arenas: Point Guard and Agent Zero: Shooter extraordinaire was going to have to be resolved. Based on what was said after the Pistons game last night, it looks like Agent Zero is winning:

Gilbert Arenas had an announcement to make as walked through the locker room on Saturday. Arenas lifted his headphones from his ears, smiled and proclaimed, "I'm Zero. I'm not Gilbert no more." "Gilbert's not working out," said Arenas, who claimed that he retired his Agent Zero and Hibachi personas on media day. Asked why he decided to go back to Agent Zero, Arenas said, "It ain't working if we lost five in a row. Coach told me he didn't want the angry man no more. So, he's back."

Of course, if you've been checking out Gilbert Arenas' website, you probably already knew this was bound to happen.

(HT: Gilbertology)

Given how quickly the "new" Gilbert Arenas seems to have reverted back to Agent Zero, it has to make you wonder how committed Gilbert was to turning a new leaf. My theory: this whole facade was part of a "New Coke" strategy from Gilbert. He knew that people were fed up with his Gilbert's persona, so he came out with a new personality that no one in the media or the locker room liked. Once everyone started to realize how good they had it with the old product, they begged Gilbert to bring back Agent Zero, just like everyone begged Coca-Cola to bring back the original Coca-Cola after they had a taste of New Coke.

If you think I'm spewing nonsense, remember what Mark Cuban said before the first game of the season about Gilbert's media blackout:

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban calls Arenas's move from being one of the most open and talkative athletes to going silent is an excellent way of promoting himself.

"What a better marketing route could he have made? He started a blog and he started talking, and when you talk a lot and you shut up, people [media] want to know, 'Ok, Am I going to be the guy who makes him talk?' I'll ask him all these questions and I'll write all about the questions I asked and how he refused to answer, and I'll write three stories a day on when Gilbert Arenas will talk and what I think he should be saying and what he's thinking. You guys will do all the talking for him and he'll save all his breath."
"He's recognized by having dealt with the media so much and playing the media to his advantage that the best way to get media attention is to have gone from talking a lot to not saying a word," Cuban said. "I never thought that about Dennis Rodman until I talked to him a bunch of times and realized the guy was just a master media player. The guy knew what he was doing . . . He's obviously doing it the right way."

Contrary to what Gilbert's sometimes unpredictable game would have you believe, there is, and always has been a method to his madness. His latest masterstroke of killing off his Agent Zero persona, just to bring it back at a time where his team needs it most, demonstrates how well Gilbert understands the game of putting out a good public image and branding your identity.

Briefing: This Probably Isn't Going The Way Flip Saunders Planned It

JakeTheSnake — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:15:40 -0000

More photos » by Evan Vucci - AP

I knew Earl Boykins and Will Bynum were short, I had no idea they only came up to Brendan Haywood's waist.

Browse more photos »

Game Hub | Boxscore | Game Flow

Poor Flip. Do you still think he would've taken the job in Washington if he had known nine games in that he would 2-7 and that Earl Boykins and Mike Miller would be the team's leading scorers in his first game against his former team? I know he'd point out that Jamison and Foye are injured and the team is still getting used to each other and a new system, but you have to think in the back of his mind if he's wondering if he's become latest victim of this snake-bitten franchise.

Wizards drop sixth straight game, losing to Pistons, 106-103 - Michael Lee, Washington Post

The Wizards hadn't topped 90 points since scoring a season-high 123 points against New Jersey on Oct. 31. Coming off a game in which they scored a season-low 76 against the Miami Heat, the Wizards reached that total with 3:32 left in the third quarter. They went ahead 78-69 when Caron Butler rebounded his own miss and made a layup. But the Wizards got too comfortable with the lead, and the Pistons closed out the period on a 9-2 run. "The stuff we did in the third quarter, that was the 19-win Wizards, from last year," Haywood said. "We don't need that."

Wizards' slide reaches six - Mike Jones, Washington Times

"It's like we're inventing ways to put ourselves in the hole," coach Flip Saunders said. "One thing that's very obvious with us - and has to change - is that if we don't make shots, the energy gets sucked out of us and we become very stagnant in the defense, and that carries over into the offense. Just because you're not making shots, you can't let that dictate the level of effort that you play with."

Wizards lose yet again, this makes six in a row - William Yoder, Agent Dagger

Despite the loss, tonight was far more encouraging than previous losses in what is now a six game losing streak. The Wizards put points on the board at a better rate than they had since they played the Nets at the end of October. Mike Miller returned and gave the club the versatility they have been missing, and Earl Boykins provided a tiny surge of energy off the bench that they have been missing.

Wizards Plus - Mike Jones, Washington Times

Saunders said he didn't notice any sentimental feelings over facing his former team, partly because Hamilton and fellow star Tayshaun Prince are hurt and did not play and because the Wizards entered having lost five straight games. Hamilton, whose team went from championship contender to barely making the playoffs following Saunders' dismissal, said he still misses his former coach. The Pistons averaged 58 wins a season under Saunders, then were the No. 8 seed with a 39-43 record last season under Michael Curry. "Yo, from having him here to Michael Curry, it was night and day," Hamilton said. "And I told [Saunders], it was like, 'Yo, Flip, you were great at what you did!' It made me appreciate what he brought to the team and how he made the game easier and just allowed you to go out there and make plays."

Another Third Quarter... Nevermind; Pistons Persevere, 106-103 - Packey, Motown String Music

During the third quarter, I thought I'd be cutting and pasting an old song here to explain how the Pistons lost. The Pistons were well on their way to allowing another 40-point quarter, giving up 17 points in just the first four minutes of the third and falling behind by as many as 10 points despite having an eight point lead at the half. Then Will Bynum took over and scored the final nine points for the Pistons in the third and pulled them back to within two heading into the fourth.

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

Prior to the game, Coach Flip Saunders mentioned that Mike Miller’s return from a shoulder injury would spread the floor and help Arenas and others get open shots, and for most of the game he did just that. Miller scored 20 points, and was able to knock down several open shot, which helped Arenas, Earl Boykins, Andray Blatche and Caron Butler get excellent open looks from the outside. But during a crucial point towards the end of the game, at the 2:34 mark of the fourth quarter, Miller was removed from the lineup with the Wizards up two points. During the next two minutes of the game while Miller was out, and the lineup of Butler, Blatche, Haywood, Arenas and Boykins were in the game, the absence of Miller was noticeable. On two separate occasions the floor spacing was terrible, and both Boykins and Arenas took contested, rushed shots. The lead disappeared with Miller on the bench, and the Pistons went up by two point. With 48 seconds left, Miller returned, but the Wizards never led again.

Pistons 106, Wizards 103 - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Even more troubling, Butler seemed to have better on-court chemistry with Boykins -- a guy who was plucked off the street on Wednesday -- than Arenas, someone who has been his teammate the past four seasons. That might seem baffling, but it's true. "He was great," Butler said. "He was a guy that distributed the ball and made plays, got into the paint, made plays and a lot of times I was playing a two-man game with him. He was finding me, throwing the ball back, which was something I wasn't accustomed to. He was throwing the ball back and getting me nice little shots, getting other guys into the offense, so he's a pleasure to have out there, definitely." Butler didn't necessarily call out Arenas, but you can definitely read between the lines. These guys have been making comments, veiled or otherwise, about each other since this losing streak began. Arenas said Butler needed to be more of a catch-and-shoot player, then he made a comment about certain players needing to move the ball more on offense (at the time, Butler had just four assists on the season), then Butler said the team doesn't need anybody to be a hero and make spectacular plays (I don't think he was talking about Haywood there).

Agent Zero is back?

I've been working on a post about this very subject for the last few days. What transpired last night confirms a lot of my thoughts about the Gilbert vs. Agent Zero dilemma.

Pistons (4-4) at Wizards (2-6); Return of Agent Zero? - Michael Lee, Wizards Insider

Gilbert Arenas had an announcement to make as walked through the locker room on Saturday. Arenas lifted his headphones from his ears, smiled and proclaimed, "I'm Zero. I'm not Gilbert no more." "Gilbert's not working out," said Arenas, who claimed that he retired his Agent Zero and Hibachi personas on media day. Asked why he decided to go back to Agent Zero, Arenas said, "It ain't working if we lost five in a row. Coach told me he didn't want the angry man no more. So, he's back."

Pistons 106, Wizards 103: What was Arenas worth? - Craig Stouffer, Washington Examiner

Third quarter: Arenas sets the tone, with a runner right out of the game and two huge three’s a short time later. He’s orchestrating the break with long and short passes, and picking his spots for pure unselfishness, giving up the ball to Boykins for a wide open three. One turnover is cancelled out by a steal. This is the Arenas that Flip Saunders needs. Final line: 8 points (3 for 4), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal Actual value: We’ll buy that for a dollar. Arenas: "I find myself doing more thinking than I am just reacting off my instincts. Players in this league, they react. I was a reactor. Now I find myself being a thinker. Just the Miami game [in which he had 12 turnovers], I’m concentrating on getting assists, averaging 8 assists, averaging 9 assists because I want to be labeled a point guard. I catch myself trying to force assists. Today I was like, you know what, forget the assists, forget the turnovers, I’m just going to go out there and just do whatever. I end up getting 10, like [holy guy].

Arenas opens up after Wizards lose to Pistons by 3 - Howard Fendrich, Associated Press

Back before three operations in 1 1/2 years on his left knee, Arenas used to be the guy who would take over games late in quarters, and he showed some flashes Saturday: He sank a 3-pointer from about 30 feet right at the end of the first half, hopping in place as the ball cut through the net. And when he made back-to-back 3s at another point, he waved his palms in front of him, the old Hibachi signal that he was hot. "Mike Miller(notes) told me to bring it back," said Arenas, who ended up with 19 points and 10 assists. "Everyone wants the fun guy back." But Arenas also was deferential at times to the 5-foot-5 Boykins, who signed with Washington on Wednesday, went through two days of practice, and scored 20 points in his first NBA game since April 2008.

Pistons 106, Wizards 103 - Mike Jones, Outlet

There were some crazy things about the fourth quarter. Gilbert took only three shots all fourth quarter, and it wasn't like he was serving as set-up man, because he had only one assist in the fourth. In what was the first time he's really opened up since the season started, he admitted that he's struggling to figure out what role to play under Flip Saunders. "Its frurstraing for me because I know I can take over in fourth quarters ... but I dont want to take away from the team," Arenas said. [DeShawn Stevenson] got mad at me today, because in the fourth quarter I only took three shots. He said, 'Before, this wouldnt have happened. You would have taken over the fourth quarter, even if you had to take every shot.' I feel i dont have to do that this early because of what we have here."

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Like everything else about Gilbert's game right now, even Agent Zero is in a bit of a transition. He's still trying to find a happy medium with everything right now and I think you saw a microcosm of that tonight in his performance. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of the true Agent Zero soon.

Top Tweets

Twitter / Mike Jones
It's amazing how small Earl is. They HAD to have gotten that uniform custom made.

Twitter / Andrew Sharp
What'd I tell you? Crowd (and team) alive for the first time all night. Energy. Earl Boykins!!!

Twitter / Michael Lee
Ah, yes. Nothing can elicit boos in this place like the mere mention of "Kwame Brown." He's still got it.

Twitter / Jack Kogod
Just saw a guy in a Flip Saunders jersey. I'd mock, but there's a "SPURRIER" Redskins jersey in the back of my closet.

Twitter / The BF gang
Apparently someone knocked some sense into Mike Miller. It's a pleasure watching him actually shoot.

Twitter / Hardwood Paroxysm
Hey Flip, down two with 50 ticks left, here's a list of who you want to take that shot: NOT EAR BOYKINS. The end.

Twitter / Truth_About_It
Agent Turnover rears his ugly head ... looks for a foul that he does not get. DET hits 1 FTs, up 99-96 with 39.3 left.

Twitter / Chase Hughes
What happened to Gil being Mr. smooth at the end of the game? He's made some serious mistakes this year when it really counts.