I hope this wasn't that same doctor that worked on Jarvis' knee.

Maybe he rubbed some "clear" on his shoulder.

Gilbert should just keep drivin' to the basket and work his way out.

Looks like the team could use not only TuffJuice. With all the rust Songaila, Jamison, Butler and Arenas have to work out, a case of WD-40 couldn't hurt either.

He didn't realize til NOW that his clavicle felt funny? Let's get Zero and the team back on track tonight. How 'bout a blowout?

Ivan,

Some day you got to interview the Wiz crack medical team. Kid has had a dislocated collar bone for months, complained of discomfort, suddenly can't hit a shot and they finally get around to checking it out...

I just want to know some names so I can avoid them if I ever need rehab for whatever.

That's great news! Kind of bizarre (I have no idea how you pop something into place around your clavicle), but good to hear he feels better.

Gilbert is what we call people in Yiddish, "meshugener" which means crazy/madman.

Ivan, That has GOT to be the strangest "story" we've ever heard.

Did having to play defense have anything to do with dislocating his shoulder?

He shouldn't be able to rotate his arm with a dislocated clavicle or maybe my anatomy is wrong? Perhaps

OR!!!

They had his dad come to talk him into playin again - like before. You gotta remember that. He kept refusing to shoot, etc.

Finally, they called his pops - he talked him into shooting again.

Anyway, "Hope he's feeling better"

Well the technical term for the medical procedure is called "getting your all-star teamates back and realizing that you will finally get easy buckets", just in case you were wondering.

we'll let gil slide on this one though.

in his defense i had a shoulder injury and a saw a couple physical therapists who didnt do jack sh*t until i saw a really good one who basically pushed on this one spot of the back causing all of the pain to go away.

and clearly the point that i'm trying to make is that Gil is a nutjob.

It can't hurt to have Butler and Antawn back

I second what another poster just said. Why couldn't they figure this out two weeks ago!

Ray Chris, You are hillarious!!!

Mr. Templeton, its the "entertainment business" Who can figure?
But I agree with ya...its a sad excuse considering the guy notched up 23
3 pointers at the all star deal then 36, 29 points afterwards. But - thats what he says - so that settles it.
LETS PLAY BALL!!!!!

I think he's just been to "high" from the all-star festivities....he hasn't been the same since...and his shoulder didn't appear to bother him there in the 3-point shoot-out...Butler/Jamison is what's missing..I guess coincidentally this shoulder issue surfaces as soon as they are to return...Gil know the deal!

Sounds strange to me, but if Gil beleives it that's what counts.

And that's the thing, I think Gil is being completely honest about this, which just shows you how strange he can be at times. It is entirely possible that it didn't occur to him to get it checked by 2 or 3 different people until now.

Whether this is true or not, finally Gilbert has acknowledged something, and at the least, its going to help mentally. Gilbert of the last 3 years shooting-wise MUST be back for the rest of the season.

If I were Gilbert, I wouldn't jump the gun and say that Hibachi is back just yet. Maybe with this revelation, other teams will know they can get him off his shot by being physical with him...rough him up.

In any regard, Caron + Antawn + especially Atlanta (22-36) = a good recipe for turning the tide. Now if they lose tonight, it'll be another story.

Hmm, Seems like Gilbert is telling the truth but is the physician? Maybe this is just some psychological mumbo jumbo. I have never heard of pop-ing something back in around the clavical. If your clavical is dislocated your screwed for awhile. Perhaps someone decided to tell him that it was a clavicle issue and let him re-fresh his mind. Remember this is the guy that changes shoes, his jersey and shorts at half time just to get over a bad half. So I think this is merely psychological on behalf of the physicians and someone higher up!

Lets face it, Gil is the beast point guard in the nba. i cant wait to see him with his stroke again. i will be watching out for a 50 point game with da blazers comin up. SHOW EM WHOS BOSS GIL! REPRESENT WASHINGTON GOOD!

How bizarre. If it was obvious to me and many other fans for weeks that this was not just a "slump" why didn't the Wizards infrastucture i.e Eddie, Ernie etc. have Gilbert thoroughly examined? Gilbert's belief that his shoulder was "annoying" but not affecting his shot should not have been taken at face value by the team medical staff.

Can you guys run Spellcheck occasionally? I'd appreciate it.

WUT DOO U MEAN DOOD, WE SPEEL GUD

Ok I'm not gonna say anything negative about that game (even though someone's love for small ball backfired again). But I do have one question. Are the Wizards forbidden by the coaching staff to throw a alley oop? Do they run extra laps or something in practice if they do? Do you know how many times tonight Blatche asked for a lob and they looked him off? At least 6 or 7. Instead they try to force that stupid bounce pass through traffic on that back door. Even colleges through the lob back door!

I think the player who could throw an alley oop with Les Boules would be Steve Blake, and his tenure here ended a long time ago. Before Blake was the Juwan/CWebb combo. We don't have a PG on this team that does stuff like that.

Atlanta's got some nice big men on their team. Hope Grunfeld can do some business with them during the offseason. Sheldon Williams, a Dukie, seems to be on the outs with that team.

C.Bell, I have had that exact same thought especially considering NJ is probably the best team in the league at the alley oop and Jordan set up their offense. I imagine we have the lowest number of alley oops in the league.

By the way, I have been on Gilber's slump for a long time. Probably over a month. Glad you guys finally are on board! ;)

I will say that Arenas had no business being in the all-star game festivities when he knew he was not healthy. Guess that would have interfered with the "takeover".

Just got in from work now I don't understand. All major players are back & healthy. Arenas got his shot back, Jamison shot 22 pts but....they barely got by the Atlanta Hawks?

Is this good ?

The problem is twofold. Caron had a bad/rusty night at 1-10, but played good D, and this team is not good against athletic teams. They barely squeaked by a 22-37 team, but at least they got the win. They probably would have lost had AJ not played. Gilby had a decent night, but was not a big factor and was yanked early in the game for 4 quick turnovers.

Though Les Boules' record is 32-25, it's probably inflated because they play in the East. They're not as good as their record indicates, and other teams are surging right now. Hopefully they can stay healthy, but it was very weird when EJ had Booth, AB, and Gilby as the second team.

Why did Jarvis not play the entire first half and then 17 straight minutes in the second? I'm not calling for more Jarvis - in fact - I want far less. EJ went small to match a more athletic Hawks team and we got crushed on the boards. Not sure what EJ was thinking. He also left DeShawn on the bench for a long time in the 4th -- seems to often far too often.

Etan was dreadful -- good energy, terrible results, 4 rebounds aside -- 3 TOs and 4 fous in 9 minutes. Songalia should have gotten more run this evening. He should play center whenever Jordan gets the urge to go small.

Good to have AJ and Butler back. Gil hit his shots. Stevenson played great D down the stretch. There was an AD sighting. Not sure why Jarvis was there late -- he's not really a good defender. Johnson was killing him --forced to double team which is bad because Johnson is a good passer. Happy to get a win though.

Gilbert threw some of the nastiest Alley-Oops this side of J-Kidd and Nash while he was with the Warriors. Funny, playing with guys like J-Rich/Vince Carter/Shawn Mariod/Stoudamire will do that too you.

Including Gil's best - the no look one bounce alley to a streaking J-Rich for the slam.

songaila and blatche played a combined 15 minutes. i hope this isnt the start of a trend.

I'm with DCMan 88's comments...

I thought EJ's 4th quarter rotation nearly killed us last night. Hmmm... take out your two best defensive players in Haywood and Stevenson, and replace them with Daniels and Hayes? Is it any wonder that the Hawks went on a huge run in the 4th quarter? He does this all the time and it kills me!!! I like EJ's coaching, and I actually thought his rotations prior to the 4th quarter were good. But his constant removal of defensive players and substitution with "El Chucker" (aka Hayes) kills me. At least he came to his senses on the last possession and put Stevenson and Haywood back in.

I liked the Big Bench frontcourt to start the 2nd:

Zero
Daniels
DSong
Bulletproof
Booth

This is a veteran crew of savvy ballers (plus the raw energetic Blatche). This is the bench that EG built. Once Songaila gets all the way back, I can see the team stealing a few good minutes of rest for the starters with this defensive stopgap squad.

It'd work even better if Booth would hit that jumper and draw the center farther out the paint. Princeton style highpost. (Next year that's Pecherov's role).

Daniels doesn't have great stats for the game, but the squad played well with him out there, all game. Nice to see the stats back it up:

http://www.popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20070302&game=ATLWAS

Hopefully the coaching staff takes a look at the stats to notice the 11-2 run, keyed by long-armed defense.

Compare and contrast with Eddie's small-ball squads in the 4th. I think it's pretty well known in the League you can scare EJ into a smallball team if you put one out there yourself. You go small, he'll go smaller.

Still, it's nice to see the flickering ghost of a bench for this team.

-doc.

"The hibachi is back baby!"

This is why I love Gil. :)

It's not always about stats.

"I hope this wasn't that same doctor that worked on Jarvis' knee."

ANDDD...

"Why couldn't they figure this out two weeks ago!"

That is sooo funny because I was thinking the same thing. The Wiz's medical staff is horrid.

"Gilbert should just keep drivin' to the basket and work his way out."

My thoughts exactly icberg. :)

"Are the Wizards forbidden by the coaching staff to throw a alley oop?"

Lol, it sure seems that way doesn't it? I mean they only have what, three 7 footers on the team and Haywood starts?

They should do "alley oop" practice or something or go watch tape of the Heat with Shaq.

Remember Eddie Jordan is coach. Maybe it's a "smallball" mentality. ;)

"Is this good ?"

For last night because people are back semi-healthy and they won. Jamison was solid in his first night back, Gil has his shoulder, but Caron is starting to worry me. He looks like he's in pain, you can see it on his face. :(

He only went 1-10 last night. With Jamison back maybe they should give him a rest and play Blatche a few games. I think they'll be ok since he's clearly no playing well.

Ask me/us that same question in a couple weeks or so.

I really wish I could understand Jordan's un-dying love with Jarvis Hayes and Michael Ruffin. Ruffin is out again with some kind of injury, but you have to ask yourself "who can win you more games?"

Blatche or Hayes?

Hayes gets 17 minutes, Blatche only 10. Scratch that, Jordan needs to ask himself that when doing his rotations. Haywood goes 6-10, has 14 points and only gets 24 minutes? Com'on.

I'm sorry everyone, I know I talk about it a lot but it really bugs me.

The next two games are going to be kind of important, especially that Toronto game on Tueday.

- Ray

"Is it any wonder that the Hawks went on a huge run in the 4th quarter?"

Happens every game man. :(

See my whiney post above. ;)

- Ray

"Compare and contrast with Eddie's small-ball squads in the 4th. I think it's pretty well known in the League you can scare EJ into a smallball team if you put one out there yourself. You go small, he'll go smaller."

Ok, no more posting today for me but this should be made into a plaque or something and given to Jordan.

Very wise words doc. :)

- Ray

Ivan and Michael need to run the Spellcheck. The rest of us can bask in the warm glow of our own ignorance.

I am with you Ray, I honestly don't think there should be any minutes for Jarvis with everyone in the fold (assuming Caron can stay healthy). To me Booth or Blatche should get all his minutes. And doc's point about the high post and Booth is dead on, but we can't have everything we want. It wasn't a great win, but it still goes in that column so it will do.

DC Man88,

I don't think the lack of alley oop problem is strictly on the passer. We simply do not have great leapers on this team. (Look at Atlanta, they are stacked with athletic leapers.) Lacking athletic leapers means alley oops are easy to defend, since your guy cannot out jump the defender; and has to be precise since an athletic player can twist in the air and still convert a not so perfect pass.

Regarding rotation, obviousely, EJ is still trying to figure out how the rotation should be when everyone healthy. Last night, he used all 12 players.

Sagaliba,

I agree to a certain extent. The only leapers on this team are Jarvis, who's coming off a knee injury, and AB, who's hardly in the game to begin with.

I think the bigger issue is that this team has a lot of players who look to score, instead of looking to pass. If you had someone who even thought about passing, then they'd be more likely to set someone up with an alley oop. Other players on this team are just plain role players who don't have many passing or shooting skills, just D (AD, Ruffin, Etan, etc.).

Just to take it back a little, I wonder what Chucky Atkins is thinking right now. He left this team for whatever reason he left, but now, his Memphis Grizzles suck. Their winning percentage is .250 right now.

Way to go Maryland, what a great final game for the Terps! What a streak these guys have been on. The ACC Tourney looks to be wide open this year. Hope somebody can end coach K's reign there, so why not the Terps!
The last blog there was some discussion of Jaun Carlos Navarro and his status. If I remember correctly he had signed a big contract before he was qualified for the NBA draft. The only reason that he was available in the second round was the fact that teams would be making a long term investment. Kind of like buying a CD and waiting for it to mature.
I think it has been pointed out by others that there is a limit($500,00.00 US dollars) to the amount of cash that an NBA team can contribute to a player buying out his Euro-contract. Teams could and do negotiate additional bonus money that players use to buy their freedom, but the problem is that money counts against the salary & luxury caps and the player doesn't get to keep it so he wants even more.
I think I read last off season in a review of the Euro prospects that Navarro has a buyout coming up this off season on his contract. I only ever came across that one place, anyone know any more about this? I'm wondering since EG did go over and scout him if there is a possibility of his being available this off season. And any clue how big his buyout is?
Could be an interesting peice to the puzzle. I've seen him play a couple of times, hits about 48 percent from the international 3 ball line, and is about 6'3". Doesn't look like a superstar but could add another shooter to stretch defenses.
About smallball, just once I'd like to see EJ challenge to other team when they go small. Agianst Atlanta I would have liked to seen him brought Haywood and Blatch or Booth in against the small lineup. They didn't have great shooters out there. Force their hand with a big lineup. At least we wouldn't give up easy second chance points.
Haywood is one of those guys who is either on or he disappears. He was having a hugh night and got no playing time from mid third to the very end. He should have been in and forcing Smith to gaurd the low post instead of roaming free for blocks.

GM, I would love to see Navarro over here. It is my understanding that he has the skill to run a team as well as score and frankly the Wizards need that as much as anything. I believe Navarro went off against the U.S. when the worlds were in Indiana, but I could be wrong on that.
And you are right on it with a Haywood/Booth or Blatche front line as best version of a small-ball lineup for us. To me Booth or Blatche have shown that they can handle themselves defensively away from the basket and would do well against smaller lineups.

Listening to the Wiz vs. Golden State game today (Sunday). I tuned in late, so I may have missed something. Where's Haywood?

Looks like Thomas started, and Booth came off the bench when Thomas got three quick fouls.

The box score doesn't even show Haywood as active. Did he get hurt?

Rook

Never mind - I see in another blog that Haywood is out with lower back spasms.

I guess that means we'll see a long look at "small ball" today.

Rook

What a win! One thing you can say about the Wiz.....they make it exciting. Almost enough to cause a heart attack.

Are back spasms contagious?

Seems like the Referees wanted to decide this game. Terrible foul against Butler with 3 seconds left - and another bad call at the end that gave Arenas 2 shots. Tell me that Refs don't do "make up" calls!!!

Don Nelson with a bonehead technical really allowed the Wizards to win the game; Otherwise they would have gone into overtime.

Rook

That was the craziest ending I think I've ever seen.

Just crazy.

- Ray

agreed. very crazy. don nelson is insane. so is our inability to rebound.

Rook, don't see how a Ref could let that much contact go at the buzzer. On Caron's call, when you reach accross the body more often then not they're going to call that. But Nellie's T priceless!
At worst he was going to get the tie, once the whistle blew he should have been lobbying for the early foul. His guy got Gil out top pretty good and he could have hoped to talk the officials into a few 10ths of a second.
Apparently, what ever popped out of his mouth wasn't the kind of thing you lead with when you you want the someone to see things your way. He must have attended the DC institute of friendly conversation and debating skills for Men located on 88th street.
Lisa, back spasms aren't contagious, but I had one of those flights out of Chicago on a Commutor Airliner and a freak snow storm blew in and a 2 hr trip lasted about nine. All three of us from my Company got spasms that layed us up after that. They occurred from the next morning, til almost two weeks later, so the Wiz might see more of them before all is said and done.
When I was growing up, this time of year old people used to complain of the rumatism or spring fever when they got muscle soreness and aches and spasms. Maybe the Wizards just need a dose of the Tonic. Or maybe two wins in a row maybe the cure that we needed.

DeShawn was asked what Nellie said - he replied that he was cursing. Gil was asked and he said that Nellie called the ref an "idiot" - which was preceded I believe by a curse word.....I have an idea what that word was....

It's always great to have a win, but you gotta be concerned about a team at full strength barely squeaking by two teams that are well below .500. Atlanta at .367 and Golden State at .426 (sans Stephen Jackson in today's game).

Hey GM (Geriatric Man), sorry to hear about your tough flight. I hope, for everyone's sake on the plane, that you wore your Depends undergarments that day. Save your health and growing up history to yourself though. Nobody gives a crap.

yes nice win.get out of here dcman when did u get here?1?!?!?!

k, I didn't know that you were annointed the keeper of this exclusive member's only blog. When did you come on the scene though, or are you hiding behind the name "k?" In any regard, congrats...even though it comes with a prestigious title as the "Keeper of the Wizard's Blog," you really have no power over anyone or anything. Don't like it? Get out.

As always a wit with words. A true gentleman and scholar. We should never expect any less from a sage like yourself. Or was this from one of the imposters?

GM, thanks for sharing your story. I wanted to hear it - and unfortunately, I don't think that was an impostor.

Thanks Lisa, Actually at 50 I'm only 1/2 of a Geriatic Man. I guess that anyone with more than 1/2 their Wits would know that.
I'm coming to the conclusion that our friend must be the illegitiment spawning of a Post Editor since he seems pretty confident that no matter how many people he insults here he can't be cut off. No matter how vulgar he gets.

I've complained numerous times via the links, guys. WaPo.com doesn't care. I may email Michael and/or Ivan, but I don't think policing is really in their job description.

Geriatric Man (SKA GM),

Do you think I would honestly instigate something against you? I actually responded to your verbal jab from your recent post. I hope everyone opens their eyes and sees that.

"He must have attended the DC institute of friendly conversation and debating skills for Men located on 88th street. "

Use your common sense. If you left me alone, I would be happy to leave you alone. Losers on this board like to take off subject jabs at me, but when I respond, they cry to their moms for t!t. In Lisa's case, she cries to her daddy for something else. Geriatric, don't act like the victim when you're the instigator. Also, I don't give a sh!t how many days, weeks, or seconds above 50.

Just saw the replay of the end of the game and that was a load of crap. Happy that the Wizards won, but that was BS and Nellie ought to be livid.

Gack, you're taking this blog way too seriously. You really need to get a life.

Gack, easy for him to say right after he calls everyone losers and puts down Lisa because she's always made him to lose face here. Every time he spouts something really insane, he conveniently says an impostor posted it. lol

I'm actually the imposter that keeps putting up fake comments. Sorry, I'll go back to my mom's basement now.

DC Man88 is Clewiston88, aka his nickname ClueLessOne on the ESPN message board. Everyone tries to ignore him there, where he is known as TROLL. He was booted off the Miami Heat board where, despite being a Miami Heat and D Wade fan, he so ticked everyone off with his snide remarks that he was banned. He should be banned everywhere. Ignoring him is the best way to get rid of him.

GT: what was BS?

It looked to me like Gil got fouled before time ran out -- second foul in the last two minutes; he would have been shooting two whether it was called in the act or not.

As for the T on Nellie, that's pretty unusual in that situation, but if he really did storm onto the court and call an official an f-ing idiot, then he IS an f-ing idiot, and he deserved to get T'ed up.

lol,

You're not too bright. If I'm "DC" Man88 and commenting about the Wizards, why would I give a rat's @ss about the Miami Heat? The only blog that I write on is this blog.

I couldn't give a sh!t about ESPN's blog, especially now that I know there is one. Go back to your mom's basement, your anime, your box of tissues, and your xbox. I can't take credit for your accusations.

Thanks! ROFL ClueLessOne! A few more posters you've ticked off.

To post as me, you might want to spell "impostor" like I did, ClueLessOne.

You're welcome.

Nobody cares BRAH!

I outed DC Man88 on the ESPN Wizards board so that everyone would know where Clewiston88 (aka "ClueLessOne") tried to run to. He has been terrorizing Wizards fans there for many months, so much that he finally decided to try to jump to Ivan Carter's Post blog and post there. He hates the Wizards and loves the Miami Heat and D Wade:

http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=nba&id=was&tid=579914&lid=0

d!ckhead cracker 88 needs to get prison rape.
Yeah me needs to take it up the rear.
I tell every1 to get a life & go down the basement.
Here I am trying to make friends on the internet.
Yay!

Every cares brah! btw, who uses "brah" except a white suburban balding white dude such as me?!

OMG, I suck.

Seriously clewiston is a white trash dump! Is it any surprise BJ MAN69 is from there?

Just a brutally bad performance in yesterday's game against Golden State. The lads are going to have to raise their performance level dramatically if they don't want to get smoked in the first round of the playoffs.

A sound clip of EJ was played on the radio this morning from after the game. He kind of singled out Caron as the guy who, although he plays tough D, needs to pick up his game. "Our flow is not right good right now, but we'll get there..." Hope Caron doesn't take offense to this, although he did have 7 turnovers in yesterday's game.

PS. All the people out there who are hatin' against me, save your breath. You can pretend to be me by using my name, say goofy things, blah, blah, but you're the only one who really cares, because I don't.

To get so worked up over this blog is funny, if not ridiculous. I'll be posting here until the end of the season and probably into the draft, so get used to it. Don't like it? Don't read it.

Interesting thing, my older son's girlfriend's teenage boy had a report to do this week for school. The subject matter was cyber-bullys. After what's been going on here, it's interesting to note that it is a growing problem. Interesting part is that now some States are taking a hard look at allowing people to file assualt charges against the cyper-bully or the Web-host.
Dear DCman88 I'm so sorry that you took offense to me making the cruel comment about Nellie attending "the DC Institute for friendly conversation and debating skills for men located on 88th Street". It was cruel and heartless on my part and I hope that my apology will make that up to you.(I didn't really mean that but it was so funny I just had to type it again!)
Now If I can just forget your lewd comments about my wife then I guess everybody's even! You've come on this site and have bullied and picked fights from day one. Ignoring you is not working, I would think sooner or later you'd get the point. I would tell you that you should stick to basketball but that is a subject you no NOTHING about!
Twice you posted in your jammering complaining about Gil trying to split the double team. I think everyone here except you is aware of how a point should ATTACK the double. I pointed out to you and you attacked me and got Vulger!
You posted Gils stats and screamed how terrible they were, I merely suggested that if you were going to post stats and say how foul they were you might want to just take a tiny peak at the greatest scoring gaurd to ever play the games stat line. I never compared Jordan to Gil, you did! All I was trying to say to you was if you're going to go "all Gack on me" and start spouting statistics at least have a basic understanding of the relevence of what you're posting. (And Gack I like when you use statistics cause you're always using them relative to the point you're making.)
And finally you bawl on here for weeks that we should get rid of Arenas and what a Bum he is. So I laid down a friendly challenge to all on the site, who would you trade one on one for Arenas? My point was and is if you look at it objectively, it's a very short list. Should make you stop and think. Even if I don't like him, he is one of the Top Players in the league!
People are just plain tired of you forcing your mindless opinions that are based on a not even an under informed knowledge of the game on us all. When anyone has tried to engage you in a debate and make you think about your answer you go into another vulgar tirade.
So get used to it, we're all posting here and if you say something stupid we're going to point it out to you. If you act obnoxious, you're going to point it out to you. I've been a Wizards fan for 41 years, you have NO CLUE how much perserverence that takes. But one things for sure I'll outlast your sorry butt and you'll be onto another site where your vulgar putdowns are new and fresh for about ... 3 seconds!

Two ugly wins, but I like the fact that EJ is trying to limit the big 3 to 40 minutes or less per game.

Really good games from Booth, Blatche, and Mason in relief of the starters. Decent games by Daniels, Songaila, Hayes, and Donnell Taylor as well.

This team has some untapped potential and room to grow this year.

Geriatric Man (ska GM),

You wasted 10 minutes of your life writing that summary ode to me. I really couldn't care less dude.

Remind yourself that this is the Wizard's blog. Stick to the subject matter, and stop obsessing over me, you darn bully!

JP2, They've been ugly but at the end of the year a wins a win and everyone we get gives Miami one less game to gain ground. The goal at this point has to be to stay ahead of the Heat and not let them leap frog up to having home court for playing a 1/2 a season.
I really like Blatch coming off the bench as a high energy big man. I like some of the combos that have him and Booth together, it makes us really long on defense. I think it's going to take a few more games for the big three to get clicking again and for our offense to get operating smoothly.
But I agree if Eddie can figure out combinations and rotations there is alot of room for improvement down the stretch. Jarvis is playing quite well in the minutes that he gets at small forward and shooting gaurd. Eddie just needs to get it out of his head to use him at the 4 in smallball.
If we want to go small and spread the floor in the 4th I don't see why he doesn't put Booth or Songalia at center down the stretch. They both give the ability to spread with jump shooting and high post passing that Brendan an Etan don't offer and we wouldn't give up so much on the boards or defensively.

GM: I apologize for hurling a vicious invective towards your family. & also for wasting bandwidth for all the other personal insults

For that I humbly apologize to you & all the Wizards fan. I myself am not a real fan. Just this blog gives me a reason to be.

I want to remind myself, that I have no life nor friends & am balding up north & down low.
I come on here to instigate fights like a hoodlum because...well when you are alone behind a PC for 24/7, you don't socialize well & can be a jerk toad anonymously.

Even though though I toss this @ others. Guess I'm calling the oatmeal, beige. Sorry I don't get along with all the homes (is that like house or hommee...I'm a little behind even with all the net surfing).

Mr. Dcman88, Nice to see one response without your normal foul mouthed trash! Now if you'd just learn a little bit about basketball maybe we could get back to having grownup conversations about Wizards Basketball.
Well as Reispace said, Thanks for keeping it clean! Maybe if you'd have started out that way you might have been treated like an adult here. As I asked you weeks ago "please read your messages before you hit the send button!"
You might recall at first I pretty much ignored you as Ray suggested. After awhile when you started bullying everyone on the site I got as sick of it as everyone else. We don't have to read your foul mouthed trash that you spew. And if you ever expect me to treat you with any form of repect you can apologize for bringing my wife into your tirades.
My E-mail to you had plenty of basketball in it but talking to you about something that you've exhibited almost no knowledge of is pretty much pointless. "But, keep pounding those keys it's making you bigger in your eyes by the second." I'll be enjoying my playoff tickets hopefully all the way to the finals!

GM, good analysis. I look at top tier teams--Dallas, Phoenix, Utah, San Antonio--and you see a distribution of minutes that limits the starting 5 to around 35 minutes a game. Right now the Washington Big 3 are in the 40 minute range. Obviously if a team doesn't have a bench to lean on, then you have to risk having tired starters at 80% in the 4th quarter. But I think this team does have a pretty good bench. I hope EJ continues to develop the talent that is there. It should make a difference come playoff time.

Now that's what I call progress! Let's hope it continues, for all our sakes.

Geriatric Man (ska GM),

Why the fvuck should I apologize to you? Some imposter apologized to you not me. Who gives a sh!t what you think about me? Les Boules are not going to the finals with Gilby leading the team, get over it.

Oh Well! I asked DC mann88 is he could ever post at least one positive note and interestingly enough he sat silent for a few days. Now, he's back spewing his venom as tho he were some alien spawn.
Anybody remember the movie "Alien"?

Even the Bible says: Its ok to be thought a fool but don't open your mouth(type out your words) and remove all doubt!!
Keep on typin brother!! We understand!!!

***Ladies & gentlementle:. In the theatre of DCmann88's mind he sees himself a
"Shaq Daddy Diesel!!!!" Like the old guy behind the screen in the Wizard of OZ. He can be nasty and cruel to others so long as the curtain covers him. You know the type; the grand prognosticator who never learned to play the game so he criticises and hates those who do out of envy. Its ok we understand. Ya didn't make the cut now you're going savage on those who made it and hate those who support the guys on the court. We understand and will keep you in prayer. Whew!!!

Guys/girls,

Stop getting sucked into childish stuff on here. Just ignore the poster and they will go away.

If you see the tag name of the troll, just don't read it. Simple.

Makes life way easier on one of these things.

- Ray

Route 66, can't you post something positive for a change? For all your wasted typings in your post, nothing was mentioned about the Wizards. Serious hypocrites on this blog.

Geriatric Man,

How gullible are you? You honestly think it was me who apologized to you? Puhleaze.

GM's right - a win is a win. Was at the Warriors game and sure would like to see the Wiz play better but I'll take the win (even if it was sketchy at the end). These two one point wins may well indeed be the difference between having home court in the first and (!) second rounds of the playoffs. THAT home court advantage is probaboy worth at least one win in a playoff series.

In terms of the current play, let's keep in mind that the princeton offense is a movement and rythm based offsense. As such is need momentum to work. I think that the Wiz lost the momentum with the injuries; we will work back the momentum (see beginning of year woes transitioned to outstanding Dec/Jan play). Winning these soft games while we play badly is just a bonus.

BTW - Warriors have some talent eh? ellis, patreus, harrington, richardson all have major chops, and davis and jackson didn't even play. they need some size, and have some headcases, but there are some real players there.

On to the Wiz - comments about minutes for the Big 3 are right on. That aside, the month off for Jamison should be goodness for the rest of the year; while his knee healed, so did the rest of him.

Blatche continues to look better and better. He is now a player worthy of minutes - a positive contributor - obviously has the green light to take the ball up the court, which is a HUGE sign of Eddie's confidence in him. Rebounds, decent passing, mid range jumper, and low post moves, plus he has what ultimately has kept Kwame from succeeding - he appears to understand basketball. Sure he still makes dumb turnovers and takes the ill advised shot from time to time. That being said, how great will it be to have a real big coming off the bench in the playoffs? Someone who can cover mobile big men on defense, and keep them playing defense on the other end.

Historically this present team has three weaknesses: defense, bench, clutch shooting. Clutch is coming along with Gil's progress (the three FT's y-day were big - mark that down), tho Caron has shown some softness this season on end of game shot/FT, and Antawn always likes to miss a couple of FT's at end of game, but end of day, being clutch will fall to Gil, and I'm hopeful.

Defense is what it is - they have been playing a bit better and the bench in particular is husting on D (AD, Blatche, Songalia), but it will be Achilles heal for the rest of the season and ultimately not fixable.

Bench - real hope here. Mason appears to be the three point guy we need. Can't believe I am saying this, but Jarvis seems to be coming around. Size with Etan (who isn't playing well). Size and flexibility with Blatche. Hustle, passing, and stiff white guy jump shots with Songalia.

Our starting five ranks up there near the top of the league. The bench has developed nicely and we will need it closing up the year and going into the playoffs.

(p.s., please please please don't soil this blog with juvenile and vulgar off topic commentary. It bums me out every time I log on and see more of it)

lol = fake DC Man88 = Route 66 = a sad individual whom I musta hurt badly with my writings

JP2, Eddie got forced into using his bench. Even in the losses I thought there were positives to be taken from the play of the reserves that got extra time.
I think now the challenge is to weave those players into the rotation in combinations that can help the team. I see the chance for Eddie to put together some units to cause matchup problems for other teams. That's what coaching this game is really all about, matchups and putting players on the court when they have a chance to use their talents.
To bore you all with another childhood story, ever go to the carnival or the Boardwalk and play that game where animal heads pop up out of a hole and you're supposed to whack em with a club before they go back in their hole? And they just keep popping up in a random order and they go faster and faster.
Well dealing with Mr. DCman88 is kind of like that except each time he raises his head it either screams something vulgar or I get no respect! How many heads does this sucker have? and are they connected or what? You'd think by now he'd have taken upside his head from enough different people here that he'd just stay in his hole!

Charles Jones = the truth. Straight up like 6 o'clock.

A win is a win, whether by 1 or 100. Sure, it would be better if the execution was smoother, but that can be worked out.

Looks like the month off did do Antawn good. Friday (didn't see yesterday's game), he had more elevation on his jumpers and his movement in traffic or without the ball was fluid.

Think the bench and clutch shooting will continue to improve as the season progresses as long as there are no more serious injuries.

As for D -- well, this team is what it is on D, and though Stephenson did a good job on T. Lue Friday, I really wish a couple more people on this team took demonstrable pride locking their man up on D, rather than getting shots and points.

A dedication to D would be especially nice tomorrow night vs. Toronto, which is not as athletic as ATL but seems headed in that direction.

Boy, I really wish (ha!) I could take credit for your postings (gag...) Too convenient a cover for your delusional and personal rants.

DC Man88= lol = fake DC Man88 = Route 66 = DC Man88 = every one.

yes it's true folks. I am all the above. I can't help but make up these multiple personalities.

I can't leave well enough alone & have to ruin this board with my antics.

Oh, I won't even admit I screwed up on wanting to trade Blatche for those benchies from Boston. Not to mention, vilifying him because I think 2nd year players should be KG by now.

Let the fun begin. I need my notoriety!

Geriatric,

Same goes for your missues when she raises her head, but in her case, she can't talk.

On a side note, it'll be interesting to see what Les Boules can do against Toronto on Tuesday. They're a division leader, unlike Atlanta and Golden State which are well below .500.

From Wilbon's chat...funnnnny!:

Silver Spring Md.: Did you see that bizarre ending to the Wizards/Warriors game? Thoughts?

Michael Wilbon: Yes, and the Warriors got hosed. There's no other way to put it. In fact, the Wizards got two gift-wrapped games in-a-row. Atlanta was called for at least one phantom foul that gave the Wizards free throws and the game...and then the Warriors. A team with serious aspirations shouldn't need gift-wrapped games from the refs to beat the Hawks and Warriors at home in March...The Wizards really need to find their game in a hurry. There were out-played by a pair of lottery teams at home, which is sad, even with Butler and Jamison just coming back off injuries to the lineup.

Charle Jones,"Stiff White guy Jump Shots". Hey I resemble that remark! Well at 50 I don't think I can get much air under my toes anymore.
I agree the Warriors have some players, they're better than their record indicates. Give Nellie a little time and he'll have that team moving up.
I agree in the long run the injuries could turn out to be a blessing because it forced Eddie to develop trust in some of these guys and we need them down the stretch. We need to redevelop timing and chemistry in our starting 5 and that does take a while in a motion offense.
But the big thing is to not run our starters in the ground down the stretch and to keep some distance ahead of Miami. If we can finish 16 and 8 we'll put a hugh amount of pressure on them. Even 14 and 10 will make them finish at 18 and 6 which could be a real stretch for them.

Burke you didn't think that was a soft foul call, I mean I've seen Gilbert get calls like that at the end of the game and they were legitimate, but I thought that call was a load of bull. Just my opinion.

And if your the ref doesn't a coach get a little more latitude to complain because you don't want to give a game-deciding tech. I mean I was expecting to see Nellie go absolutely wild, he didn't.

DC Man88 must be Michael Wilbon. In retrospect it all makes perfect sense: he LOVES to hear himself talk, thinks he's awfully clever, ceaselessly hates on the home team and home fans, and knows absolutely nothing about sports. Yup, gotta be Wilbon.

GT, to be honest, I was just looking at it from the point of view of whether contact was made before the buzzer or not, and not so much whether that amount of contact would usually draw a foul. Since it's my team, of COURSE it was good call...

Yeah, I am Michael Wilbon. If you got a problem with it, you know where I work. Step up, or step off.