Phil and Buck-- they know the players. Other commentator's don't. Makes a difference.

Well we should be able to get something out of this game, unless we keep on playing the way we have lately....
Ivan, you definitely have to watch comcast...

COMCAST! A WIZARDS GAME WITHOUT PHIL AND BUCK, IS NOT A WIZARDS GAME! u wouldnt want to miss a potential DAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGERRRRRRRRR would u? COMCAST IVAN, fa sho

Gotta watch the Phil & Buck show.
Do you think those two really get along with each other?
They know what they are talking about and make it enjoyable. They better watch out or they might end up on a bigtime national sports channel.
Hope the Wiz can get er done tonight.

I agree, Phil and Buck. Hopefully it'll be a "dagger" night, as opposed to a "backbreaker" kind of evening . . .

Comcast all the way. Plus it is an ESPN game so there are more commercials, and comcast doesn't sell as much as ESPN, so you get more game highlights (and alot of Comcast promos)
Still Phil and Buck rock!

espn

picture and sound is better. Since we get Phil and Buck every night it a bit of a nice change to get someone else perspective of the team. It also nice to here someone objective calling the game as well. You know it a really bad call when the national guys call the ref's out.

Video from ESPN, audio from Comcast w/ Phil and Buck.

The comparative difference in picture quality between ESPN and Comcast is like the Phonebooth vs. the Cap Centre.

ESPN's broadcast is so much more professional. You'd be hard pressed to see any good replays or diagrams on comcast.

ESPN may be more "professional", but if you watch that one, it'll be LeBron, LeBron, and MORE LeBron. You'd be hard pressed to know if anyone else was even on the court with him!

TG, your spot on. It's like the John Madden to Brett Favre mancrush.

Bad strategy by EJ. Just give you the heads up now! THIS TEAM SHOULD BE RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING! Tire those 6 Cavs out!!!!!!!!!!!

EJ strikes again!

Once again, the officiating in the Wizards game is exceptionally bad.

Ilgauskus is getting away with moving screens, pushing and shoving. The foul on Daniels at the end of the half was especially egregious; happening directly in front of the Referee; and should have been a flagrant one. Lebron now has apparently been passed the Jordan torch, because he's getting the Jordan treatment from the Refs. Jamison can't BUY a free throw, but he's getting fouled on almost every shot in the lane; including a scoop shot that nearly went over the backboard because 'Bron hacked his arm.

I ask myself that same question whenver they're on ESPN, cuz I'm intrigued by the subjective point of view.

but c'mon Ivan, it's Phil and Buck! "HOW do ya LIKE that?!" :-D

Yeah - look what he's done for the Caps since he took over ..... all those Championships ..... Glory and honor for Washington ...

28th out of 30 teams in total salary. Spending $39 Million this year. League AVERAGE is $46 Million. Only Phoenix and Nashville spends less.

How is Tightwad Teddy gonna help the Wizards?

Posted by: Rook | February 22, 2008 05:28 PM

Yo Rook. The reason Teddy is not spending on the Capitals is because the hockey team is not his true passion, the basketball team is it. If you remember the deal he has with Abe. He had to "take the Capitals" completely off of Abe's hands to get first crack at the Wiz when Abe sells them. Slick move by Uncle Abe......

Now this is where Abe got over. He had Ted thinking it would only be 1 to 2 years, but it has turned into 6 or more. Teddy took on something that was losing money and Abe knew that.

Remember, it was Ted who got Michael Jordan to come here not Abe. Again, Ted's first love is basketball and not hockey. He does not want to sink all of his money in something he really does not have any interest in. That is why his payroll is so low, not because he is being cheap (like Abe).

To prove my point, the minute Ted "FINALLY" gets his hands on the Wizards, he is going to sell the Capitals as a "short sell".

Ivan I would say ESPN because I get tried of Buck sometimes, but tonight is crazy. The ESPN crew barely says anything about the Wizards. It is all Cleveland all of the time. They are not even watching the game because they are so busy talking about the trade (for the whole first half).

If Hubie was on there I might have stuck with them, but I am tired of hearing about the Cav's 24/7, so I turned back to the Comcast game.

Bullets Fever #1 , sounds like a lot of conjecture to me. Nothing in Teddy's past dealings has shown him to be a big spender. All I know is the fact that the Capitals have done nothing with Terrible Tightwad Teddy as the owner and they have one of the lowest payrolls in the League.

And, by the way, Teddy has more money than God....even if he does not want to sink all of his money in something he really does not have any interest in, the least he could do is to get his payroll around the middle of the pack. I mean, he's pinching pennies with a $39 Million dollar team (The Caps)..... his history says he'll pinch pennies with a $68 Million dollar team (The Wizards).

So, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about whether Teddy will be a good Owner for the Wizards fans.

I'm going to do The Most Unpopular Thing on a Message Board Ever and give Leonsis the benefit of the doubt. The roster was aging by the time Ted got the team from Abe and Ted had no choice but to blow it up. This is exactly what he did, and now he has a very young team.

With all the young talent on hand he will have two choices. One is to start extending those players; the other is to start letting go of those players as free agents. The contract extensions signed by Ovechkin, and to a lesser extent, Fleischmann, indicate that he is moving to keep the team together.

He may yet break the team up. But it's too early to call him a tightwad when the average age of his roster would and should dictate a low payroll.

"Ivan I would say ESPN because I get tried of Buck sometimes, but tonight is crazy. The ESPN crew barely says anything about the Wizards. It is all Cleveland all of the time. They are not even watching the game because they are so busy talking about the trade (for the whole first half).

If Hubie was on there I might have stuck with them, but I am tired of hearing about the Cav's 24/7, so I turned back to the Comcast game.

Posted by: Bullets Fever #1 | February 22, 2008 09:45 PM "

Give the ESPN crew some credit. They had 2 Les BouleS interviews that I saw. One from EJ and one from Caron. Also, plenty of stats comparisons and multiple replays. All Bucky and Phil do is talk.

Trying to say that Teddy won't be a good owner for Les BouleS b/c the Caps haven't done anything is silly. Hockey is a totally different beast...a much poorer best with a very limited following in this area, especially compared to Canadian teams.

Ted is not like Abe, who controls Les BouleS with an iron fist. Ted will hire the best and let them do their jobs. All he will do is sign the checks.

"ESPN may be more "professional", but if you watch that one, it'll be LeBron, LeBron, and MORE LeBron. You'd be hard pressed to know if anyone else was even on the court with him!

Posted by: TG | February 22, 2008 08:08 PM "

Who do you want the announcers to rant about? DSong? C'mon. Gilby and CBut are not in the game!!!!

what's the point in playing - i kept saying to my wife - well we lose if this is close - the block foul was 100% old school ref BS with LeBron. Haywood was set. I tivo'd back and forth several times - it wasn't debatable.

The shot by Stevenson was unspeakable but it shouldn't have been an issue.

No ref will call a charge that will decide the game. It's as simple as that.

Even with Les BouleS missing Caron, Les BouleS still should have won given the fact that the Cavs didn't have the services of Big Ben, Joe Smith, Delonte West, Wally Sczerbiak, A.Varejao, AND Danny Gibson!!!!!!

If anyone wants to ask a question, ask why AB only played 29 minutes (6-8 shooting, 7 Rebs, and 4 blocks) and Roger Mason played 20 minutes and had no impact.

EJ called a great game tonight. I really liked his combinations tonight. Songalia looks like he found his game again. AJ's jumper is still off and that is one of the main reasons they are struggling so hard.

I am not quite sure what that shot was by DS, by for the most part the dude has won my support. I had a lot of critical things to say about him pertaining to his contract and his play as a whole. I must admit I was wrong on my assestment of him.

I hope CB does not rush himself back. I f jamison finds his "j" we will start to win some of these close games.

I think we're gonna be the "kid brother" to LeBron and the Cavs until the end of time. I haven't been this angry over a Wizards game since LeBron walked them into the second round two years ago.

What, exactly, does Eddie Jordan have to do to get fired? The only way I sleep at night is knowing that Grunfeld watches the same games as I do. Losing to the Cavs tonight is like Duke losing to a bunch of 5th graders. An embarassing, embarassing performance.

I cannot believe that the local media gives Jordan such a pass. He was outcoached tonight by Mike Brown, who is known throughout the league as being among the worst 5 coaches around.

Please, EG, please get rid of this clown. I don't care what a nice guy he is. He is causing this team to go down in flames.

Uhhh, let's not give DSong too too much credit. He was guarded by Devin Brown and Billy Thomas, neither above 6-5, and the latter fresh from the D-league.

The one thing memorable about DSong tonight was how a guy named "Kaniel Dickens (don't call me Daniel Kickens)" smothered his one shot at the basket.

STUPID,STUPID,STUPID,STUPID,DEFENSE why let the KING drive from damn near midcourt without cutting off his route to the basket and forcing him to pass the ball,let someone else beat you and again no perimeter D made Damon Jones look like KOBE shooting 3's horrible last play with STEVIE WONDER(DESHAWN) throwing up another blind prayer circus shot EJ had better get a handle on this or he's gonna be toast.

Honestly, this is one lucky tip in at the buzzer away from an 11 game losing streak. I don't care anymore about the Gilbert and Caron injury excuse. Even if you don't have them, you can't win games against the Knicks?? You can't win against a Cleveland team that is missing half their squad???

Not just losing either. We are collapsing in the 4th quarter. 4th quarter collapse after 4th quarter collapse.

I am so angry, I can't type anymore.

Maybe the Wizards can get a game against a team in the D-League so that they can get a win. Oh that's right, they just did.

Embarrassing effort by players and coaches alike.

It's funny how every interview you hear with EJ, he seems to distance himself from the losses and blames the players.

At least the Wizards kept 'Bronbron from getting his third consecutive triple double. (yawn)...

I guess the Heat passed the torch to the Cavs. Heat had a 16-0 run on Les BouleS, and now the Cavs have their run on Les BouleS, including 2 playoff series defeats with one sweep.

terrible horrible awful stupid dumb moronic pathetic bad grotesque ridiculous inane passionless fightless worthless laydown.

you just can't lose a game when you're playing 5 on 4 the whole night.

but, somehow, they did.

Between tonite's pitiful loss and the Knicks loss, I guess it does not matter who returns. What a terrible realization.

I believe they call this a "trap game."

Put out the lights, the parties over!!!
Hopefully for EJ and Abe.

Lights out for EJ and Abe, if this team is ever going to get over the hump.
Forget the playoffs. EJ will lose this team.
BH where are you? Forgedaboutit!!!

Bullets Fever, if you think EJ coached well tonight, I don't even know what to say!!!!

Are we so lackluster and banged up that we can't play up tempo anymore???

Instead of running those guys off the court, we played at a snail's pace the entire night. Cleveland only needed 5 players at the pace the game was played.
Thought it was a good game for McGuire to get some solid minutes as well and get 10-12 rebounds.

Just pathetic pathetic coaching!!!!!!

One defense of this team and all the crap players like Songalia, Mason etc are getting - These guys are playing roles for which they were never intended to play. I really believe we will be dangerous come playoff time when healthy. The problem I see is playing well enough until then to get at least the 6th seed.

I think EJ really might be on the hot seat in the off season. Bare minimum he is on a very short leash entering next season. Who knows. The contract issues on the team might have an impact on the coaching situation as well. It should be interesting!

no comment. Til we get our players back, we're watching the Wiz summer league team pretty much. At least summer league effort. I'm gonna hang in there til March and then start criticizing. Hopefully it's not too late by then.

plain and simple...the Wiz players who are now playing are trying to do things they have never done. And they are for the most part failing. When your two best players are missing for long periods of time, it is up to the coach to put his remaining players in a position to win. This is called leadership. EJ is not doing this. He does not know how to do this. He has some basic coaching skills, but he is very limited as a coach. He is not the long term solution for Ernie, but not sure if Abe will let Ernie do his job and bring in a coach with true leadership skills. Next week could get even uglier for the Wiz...

I went over the schedule for the rest of the season, and find it dificult to see them winning more than 5=7 more games.
It may be time to make some serious changes.
I feel that repacing EJ is essential.
This ia a great time , due to injury circumstances, to get some more playing time, experience and confidence for Pech, DMac, AB, NY, but just know this will not happen with EJ. He is coaching for his life, and consistently playing beat up AD and DS to the ridiculous point. They can not dfend with bad wheels.
Once again, this offseason it will be essential to get the Rooks on weight programs, the youngens are not physically ready to compete hard at this time.
I wish that AJ, who I love, were signed so we could trade him for more pieces, preferably a center, as it is more and more obvious that BH is not capable of firing himself on a consistent basis. Yes part of the problem is EJ's time allotments, but can anyone really see him competing daily?
This team is not constituted to compete at the top levels, esp. with the current HC, even with GA and CB.

Simply put, this was the worst loss of the season.

A.D. was unfocused tonight, as he was against the nicks, and it cost the wiz the game. He continues to get caught from behind in the open court. And that play at the end of the half was inexcusable. He was looking right at the clock and could have easily laid it in off the backboard for 2. Instead he had to go for the showy dunk. Stupid.

I just think that the Wiz are going to struggle until they get a decent backup Point Guadrd. Can anyone say Gary Peyton?

The coaching at the end of games have been very suspect lately. They've had several close games in this losing streak and the coaching has failed them. The entire world knew Lebron would get the ball, but they don't double him until he's already going to the basket. How does that make sense??? Secondly, where's Jamison down the stretch? When they need a game winning shot, Jamison has to demand the ball. They can't have guys like Stevenson or Nick Young taking these awful shots. Jamison should be demanding the ball and Eddie Jordan should be drawing up plays for him. He's the best scorer on the team and he can draw fouls like Gil did. When Caron or Gil played, they ALWAYS had the ball in their hands when the game was on the line.

GET JAMISON THE BALL!

Gordon, Brendan Haywood was interviewed after the game and he said the last play called was to get the ball to Jamison but that Jamison was cut off. He looked for other option and only found Stevenson open.

The past few days AJ has been hard on the rookies saying they need to display some sense of urgency. I think he needs to beat himself up for last night, and a few more games previously for really bad shooting.

On the other hand, he needs rest. Shots won't go if his legs are tired.

So why did Nick Young play only 7 mins, Dominic play 9 mins and Pecherov none?
Why weren't more shots attempted by Brendan or Andrey? I can't understand what the game plan was last night - tire out our core players even more? Keep the ball away from whoever is hot?

"I don't care anymore about the Gilbert and Caron injury excuse."

You shouldn't.

If the rest of the team is waiting on them to get back then they should go find another team. There's no urgency here.

I really think EG should have found some people who want to play before the trade deadline. Saying that, I don't think you're gonna see the same team next year.

- Ray

Clearly, this team can't do anything without a healthy Caron...no if's, and's, or CBut's.

Caron is the key to the success of this franchise.

Phil and Steve are great announcers and entertaining to boot, but you have to listen to other voices.

For example, Hubie Brown and Barry (last night) have said how impressed they are with Blatche. But he's averaging only 20 minutes a game. On a per 40 basis, he's averaging 14 points, 10 boards and 3 blocks. Not bad for a 21 year old who is not near his full potential. On the other hand, if Ruffin and Hayes were still here, how many minutes do you think he would he be getting?

Similarly, the ESPN camera-men showed Lebron and Daman Jones dancing on the bench -- when they were behind. EJ has the Wiz players playing tighter than a knot being drawn down on the Titanic. He's damaging their psyches as well as their bodies.

There also was an interesting dialog last night that Barry quoted with EJ about Young. EG apparently said that Young would play great, but when he would put him in the game the second time, EJ would wonder why he did so (given that he stunk the second time). Barry simply shrugged and said that's the way it is with rookies.

Finally, one of umpteen coaches should watch the game on TV because they are obviously missing lots of stuff on the sidelines. Barry kept pointing out the advantage that the Wiz had inside (with height), and how infrequently they tried to exploit it. He seemed shocked that they went small at the end. Does anybody wonder why Song and Blatche scored so easily when given a chance? They only needed a two-pointer to win (or one foul shot to tie).

Before the lockout in hockey the Caps had a payroll in the top 5, highlighted by a monster contract given to Jaromir Jagr (might have been 7 years $77 million, but I am not sure about that) and it is a contract that the Caps are still paying for as part of their trade with Rangers that got Jagr out of here. I think Ted will be more willing to spend $$ than Abe. He won't be Mark Cuban, but he won't be Robert Sarver either.

Izman, I always watch the Les BouleS games on ESPN when they offer it. Just a different, non-homer perspective, much better production, more replays, more interviews, way more professional.

The hot red-headed court reporter did multiple interviews, including chats with EJ, Caron, and Danny Ferry. There were multiple replays of fast breaks. Also, you get a perspective from a more recent pro player, Barry, rather than Phil Chenier who keeps talking about Elvin Hayes, Wes Unfeld, etc. I think Phil wet himself a few seasons ago when he tried to diagram a play on the screen.

Comparing Comcast to ESPN is like comparing an old school, tightwad owner like Abe to modern technology Cuban, Arison, and Paul Allen.

------------------------------------------

"On a larger scale, Jordan wants to win now. Like any coach who signed a two-year extension with a team option for the third year last summer, the continuity line gets old.

"But I understand Mr. Pollin's standpoint," Jordan said. "We want to stay within a certain budget for the Washington Wizards. We're not going to be like four or five or six other teams that can do anything it takes to win. Those are decisions we made within the organization. It doesn't bother me. There are times when you say, 'How come we can't get this guy?' But then you say, 'These are the parameters the organization has set.' ""

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602210.html

Still the sixth seed. Nets aren't gonna catch us with that motley lineup. These one point loses are disappointing, but largely meaningless. Until Gilbert and Caron are on the court we're just killing time.

Just gotta build momentum the last 20 games. (Kevin Bacon at the end of Animal House) All is well! All is well!!!

Man that last shot by DeShawn was UGLY!! I would rather of seen him shoot a 3. He shoots better from there, he is really terrible driving to the baskets. He takes a 3 and even if he misses maybe we can get the rebound or putback. So many times when he drives he just flings the ball up at the backboard.

http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/pistonsblog/index.cfm

According to the Detroit News, Flip Murray could be a possibility in Washington. How close are the Wiz to the tax? Maybe it is possible Murray could be signed to the veterans minimum for the last 2 months, and the Wiz wouldnt exceed the tax. If the Wiz are too close already (which I thought they were), then Murray probably wouldnt work.

He would be a good pickup though. His problem is inconsistency, but when he gets hot, he can fill it up with the best of them. He had games for the Pistons last year where he was nearly unguardable. He would be perfect off the bench, much better than Nick Young, thats for damn sure.

Bullets Fever, if you think EJ coached well tonight, I don't even know what to say!!!!

Posted by: Rob P | February 23, 2008 02:52 AM

Rob P. The reason why I said EJ coached a good game tonight is he played his "traditional lineup" (i.e. BH or AB at the 5) for most of the game. He did not play slow small-ball very long like he usually does. That right there "for me" says he coached a good game.

Now you must also know I have been one of the folks calling for EJ's head on the regular, because of his crazy combo's he plays, his crush on slow small-ball, bad time management, matching up to what the other team is doing instead of making the team match your lineup, not playing offense for defense at the end of quarters, playing his switch defense where he has the "5" flash out past the top of the key instead of the foul line, letting personal feelings against certain players get in the way of business and that person's playing time, not letting the rookies play through their mistakes, playing certain players way too many minutes and the list goes on and on.

However, I saw EJ make some slight changes to what he likes to do. He played offense for defense at the end of quarters, he did not use slow small-ball at all in the 2nd half, he played Haywood almost the WHOLE 2nd half (which he has never/never/never/never/never done, ever!!!), and he called timeouts at the right time this time.

This game was not EJ's fault. However, the Knicks game was his fault just like the Golden State game also. All because of bad "combo" calls during the game. With the ref's treating LaBron like Jordan, there was no way the Wiz were going to win that game last night. Also with AJ still not hitting his jumper is the other reason. EJ did not lose that game last night.

As Mark said earlier, let Gilbert and CB come back and then we should judge EJ on his coaching abilities for coaching this team. It is unfair to judge him now with the folks he has to work with now.

10 years from now the Village Idiot will still be sitting in his mom's basement pasting the same sad article.

Flip (6'3" / 195lbs) plays the toughest position in hoops to get a job - small scoring guard. If Gilbert can finish the season and AD, DeShawn and Roger are available, there won't be enough minutes for Flip. Scraps go to Nick. I agree that he has had some nice offensive outbursts with Detroit and had a good stretch with Seattle. If someone has to shut it down for the year, he'd be a good choice.

Murray at minmum will still cost more than Wilks simply because he has more yrs in the league.

Lisa, this is such a classic article that it must be reposted over and over again. It ages like fine wine, unlike your wig.

---------------------------------------------

"On a larger scale, Jordan wants to win now. Like any coach who signed a two-year extension with a team option for the third year last summer, the continuity line gets old.

"But I understand Mr. Pollin's standpoint," Jordan said. "We want to stay within a certain budget for the Washington Wizards. We're not going to be like four or five or six other teams that can do anything it takes to win. Those are decisions we made within the organization. It doesn't bother me. There are times when you say, 'How come we can't get this guy?' But then you say, 'These are the parameters the organization has set.' ""

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602210.html

Bullets Fever, you may have been impressed by how he handled his lineups etc....

I'm talking about the entire game plan going into the game! They had 6 NBA players! You know what I think any good coach would have said going into that game. RUN RUN RUN RUN and then when your done RUN some more. I don't care about the score or barely the quality of the shot just have them dragging by the 4th quarter. He should have used every player on the bench to do so too. Hell, I don't care if we were down 10 going into the 4th. If we ran them for 3 quarters, we would have won by 8+ by the end of the game. THAT WAS THE SLOWEST PACED GAME I'VE SEEN IN FOREVER! WHY? BC THE CAVS KNEW THEY COULD NOT PLAY A FAST GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I posted a similar comment before halftime so I'm not playing MMQB at all either!

We are too beat up to beat good teams or even fairly good teams, which makes the Cavs and NY games so important. Hell, PHILLY beat NY by 40 the next night. 40!!!
Come on...

To lay eggs on the coaching, intensity, and game plan is just not acceptable. EJ rarely brings everything together on a consistent basis especially when the team needs the coaching to step up. If you were to get a completely honest on EJ from AJ, I guarantee it would not be flowery!

One positive - besides winning tonight - is Songalia is starting to ball again even though he is still adapting to a different role at this point.

Edit - "honest opinion"

Time to reTOOL ? Look, we all have to admit its time to start over.

It really doesn't matter "who" calls the games - they lose!!!!Even to eight scrubs and 1 LeBron. How pathetic is that. Sadly - they have no point guard if and when Daniels goes down. Mason is "horrificaly bad" Is he still in college? Just run & shoot? Young Has to get some confidence in his shots..Right now, Cleveland is my team...you understand, I need votes Mar 4.)
Whatever it takes..