that's hilarious with the family guy thing. hilarious - totally spot on with pech and particularly his greased down caesar hair.

im all over the place with eddie. sometimes we can't execute worth a darn (re: houston game), where our offense is beyond pathetic, and other times the team just does it. gotta give eddie credit on both accounts.

great win.

cj

What a great victory. I don't expect miracles, but when the Wizards blew the 23-point lead and lost to Golden State, I though that was the down-the-drain-game for the season.
Maybe this win can turn things around.

Difference in the game, in my opinion, was two things.

1. The Wizards played defense in the second half.

2. The Referees started calling fouls on Chicago for all the bumps and reach-ins in the second half. And the Wizards did a better job of making their free throws.

In the end it came down to Crucial plays by Songaila, great D in the closing minutes by BTH, 2 attempted chokes by RM. good win.

Early results are in and after some major trades have been consummated prior to the deadline, we find that there arent many winners thus far.

NJN 3 - 3
ATL 2 - 4
CHI 1 - 3
CLE 3 - 2
DAL 4 - 3
HOU 5 - 0
LAL 12 - 2
MIA 2 - 7
PHO 5 - 5
WAS 3 - 3 since the trade deadline

Twice, the handoffs between Mason and Songaila near the end of the game (at the time when protecting the ball is paramount) are just too casual. First time resulted in a turnover and a Bulls fast break dunk. The second time resulted in a luck bounce that sent Jamison's way

Overall, though, the team showed their heart in coming back from a 20 points deficit and won the game (with that luck bounce).

Nocioni is a punk, roughhousing player and one of Chicago's whiners along with Noah. The referees called Jamison for having his legs open and unintentionally tripping Nocioni. But they did not call Nocioni for barelling into Pecherov while making that dunk that Chicago TV kept replaying with the Stewie face pasted on Pech.
Like Songaila said, Pech you better foul the guy the next time that happens. Watch April 5.

There were so many desperation trades that I think only five teams improved, two of which are already looking ahead to the off-season to begin what they started here.

Heat - dumped Shaq's huge contract and can now shop Marion, who is still valuable. No chance Wade plays the balance of the season.
Sonics - the rebuilding around Durant can officially begin.
Lakers - Kwame for Gasol. Biggest steal since Kwame for Caron. They look tough.
Hawks - not sure about the coach, but Bibby gives them a top-notch guard for the next couple of years as they mature their core. He won't be the pg there during the core's peak, but a good growth choice since he's already done it all.
Sacto - still have to sort out Artest, but trading Bibby allows the Kevin Martin era to begin.

Also suspect the tweaks to SAS and Houston should help. Houston probably still a 1st round out without Yao.

I thought Phoenix made the worst trade, but their one weakness is a really tough one to address. Getting a big who can bang in the post-season and not screw up the run and gun is a tough find. At almost 36, Shaq is too old and too expensive to fit the bill.

Memphis was also bad, but they are liquidating the franchise.

Cavs, Mavs, Nets and Bulls may have gotten some fresh attitudes in, but the results won't be much different. I actually kind of like the prospects for the Nets. No idea where the Bulls are going. Cavs and Mavs just got older.

To clarify on PHX, I think they were in a tough spot because of playoff failures and had to choose between keeping Amare' or Marion happy. Amare' was tired of playing out of position and constantly getting dinged up. Marion wanted more of the spotlight. Doing nothing probably reaps the same results. Enter Shaq-Fu.

Pauly B. - I can't really disagree with your trade assessments with the possible exception of the Suns trade for Shaq.

Shaq will NOT help Phoenix during the season, but let's see how they do in the Playoffs. That's when Shaq shines. And, really, that's why Phoenix got him; to make a run at the Championship THIS YEAR.

If Phoenix does not win the Championship this year, then it's a bad trade - If they do, then it's just like Miami all over again. They'll rent a Championship for a year and be terrible next year. Followed up by blowing up the team the year after, and starting over.

Pauly,
there's a 99% chance that Marion will stay on with the Heat. Why? Because the trade deadline passed us by. Unless there's a buyout, which wouldn't make sense since he's not causing any issues down there, Marion will stay on the "balance of the season." He has the option of terminating the last year on his contract after the season and becoming a free agent...

heheh, my bad, you said Wade wouldn't play the balance of the season. Agreed...

rgz- I don't like Nocioni's style of play either. I think he and Heinrich both bump, grab slap too much on defense (and never seem to get called for it)...but I didn't see anything wrong with his dunk on Pech.

Next time, Pech needs to take a page from the Rick Mahorn's "Thump N' Bump" book on breakaway dunk defense and put the offensive player into the basket stantion.

Pech needs to hit the weight room before taking on Nocioni...I dont like him either on the other team, but would love to have him on my team.
Btw, Shaq is done...I mean BH was abusing him earlier in the season remember? Dumb move by the Suns.

He just put Stewie in the basket!

but I didn't see anything wrong with his dunk on Pech.

Posted by: | March 1, 2008 12:32 PM
Nothing wrong with the dunk, but he kneed Pech in the back. Look at the replays and watch his left knee. It's too bad the Wiz don't have an enforcer on the team.

Normally during the season, experimentation with rotations are a good thing to do.

With EJ though, you never know. Song isn't the future of the team, but with the playoffs in sight, it looks like EJ will put more and more reliance on vets.

It would seem that the owner would want the GM and coach on the same page regarding short-term versus long-term priorities.

Given the current tactics, we will be forever caught in a 1 and out pattern.

I watched some Jamison videos on YouTube from previous seasons and boy did he have a 3 point shot! He had 48 (last season against Magic) and 51 (w/GSW) point games.
Watch this one against Knicks when he made 33 points http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfsWHOLIbSw
Right now all I can say is his jumpshot has deteriorated a "bit".He needs some time with Coach Hopla!

rgz - I don't think his jump shot has deteriorated... It's just that he's spending more time around the basket.

With Stevenson, Mason, and even Young and Pech off the bench, the Wizards have enough jump shooters. What they lack is consistent scoring inside.

I think Jamison has made a decision to score more inside this year. A lot more runners in the lane, flip shots, put backs, etc... and actually, his scoring is UP from last year even though his shooting percentage is slightly lower. I think that's understandable considering he is now the number one option in the Offense and Defenses are keyed on him.

And, remember, last year a ton of his made threes were a direct result of Arenas or Daniels or Stevenson driving the lane and kicking it out to a wide open Jamison. The Wiz don't have that luxury any more - Arenas has not played all year and Daniels and Stevenson are hurt. Jamison can't hang around the 3-point line....

Jamison can't hang around the 3-point line all game long (he might look too much like Pech)....

I never thought I'd see a game in which Arenas and Butler are in street clothes, Stevenson gets thrown out, Jamison's jump shot is on vacation, and the Wiz are down 18 at halftime...and somehow, they win. The only thing that would have made it more perfect would have been if Stewie laid a flagrant 1 on Nocioni. I'm not usually into the rough stuff but somebody should whack that hater at least once every game, just on principle.

Its March and its time to start doing the math. The Wiz have 24 games left. If they win 12 of them (which they should even without CB or GA, if you look at who they are playing), is that enough to get in the playoffs?

Btw, did Blatche get hurt is this last game?

New Jersey and Philadelphia are only a couple of games behind the Wizards... But Atlanta and Chicago are the teams to worry about. Both clubs made trades at the deadline to try to get better.

I would say that right now Atlanta is the one to worry about.. I don't see Chicago playing above .500 ball the rest of the year.

So if the Wizards play .500 the rest of the way (12 and 12), and assuming that New Jersey and Philadelphia do better and overtake the Wizards, Atlanta would have to go 18 Wins 6 Losses the rest of the way to overtake the Wizards...

Given that scenario, then NO - I don't think the Wizards will drop from the playoff picture... If they play poorly the rest of the way, they may lose the 6th spot, but I don't see them falling out of the Playoffs.

Sorry - misspoke -

Atlanta would have to go 17-9 the rest of the way to overtake the Wizards (assuming the Wizards go 12-12)

Chicago would have to go 18-6 the rest of the way to overtake thw Wizards (assuming the Wizards go 12-12)....

I still think it's unlikely the Wizards fall from the Playoffs.

Caron out for season?! I don't know -but I heard it was reported on NBC's Full Court Press show....Anyone have info?

Caron is not out for the season, it's simply that he was found to have a torn labrum on his most recent MRI. You can't get medical information from the sports page. It's not even known if that is the cause of the pain, it's simply a radiographic finding, though it does mean that at some point he actually subluxed his hip. Surgery is never indicated for the injury. At this point we simply need to wait and see how he feels. (I'm not an orthopedic surgeon, but two of my best friends are)

According to reports, the injury is in an area that does not get good blood circulation. It could be a tough injury to heal from, and of course, unless fully healed, a baller's confidence could be affected.

Rook, if Caron is out fir an extended period and Arenas doesn't come back (or even if he does and takes a while to get up to speed) I think assuming the Wiz play 5oo ball the rest of the season is quite optimistic. There are 5 games separating the Wiz at 6 and the Bulls at 10. It wouldn't take a major downturn by Washington or a huge upturn by Atlanta (currently at 9) for the teams to switch places. I do think the Wiz have the better odds of making the playoffs, but they've got a very, very slim margin for error.

At this point it seems we may see Gil on the court sooner then Butler. I've read nothing about Gil suffering any setbacks in recovery, it's just been a slower process then he expected. Sounds like he's playing alot of one on one so far.

Don't think the guy's every shut it down for this long before. It's pretty clear that he pushed to hard to be "ready on day one" at the beginning of the season, so I'm sure he's being more conservative this time around.

Caron's already been out for awhile before they discovered the small tear, given the time he's already rested the's still a good chance we'll see him before the end of the season. I think alot will depend on how the team continues to play and if Gil seems to be able to come back strong to try and make a late run.

These guys are 5-6 since Butler went down and they're playing without two allstars, big improvement from the end of last year. There's still some tough games out there but they could be through the most brutal stretch of the season.

Blatche seemed to adjust pretty well to coming off the bench in Chicago, and Mason is still solid as a rock. Songaila is a solid vet and the kind of street fighter the team needed to toughen up the starting 5, this team got badly out toughed against Houston.

Moving Darius into the starting lineup was a good move against Chicago, they really are a team that trys to come out and play with that "tough guy tude". But if a team goes toe to toe with them they seem to wilt. Without Skiles and now Wallace I'm not sure they know what their team identy is yet with the new parts.

Calls helped in the third, but they had quit swarming and they were caught reaching alot. The Wiz out worked them on the boards all night, But boy did the Bulls get away with alot of crap down low in the first half. Thought I was watching a game in the park where the guys really didn't like each other.

The Bulls are a team that was supposed to be on the rise, the Kobe trade talk really seemed to mess with their young guy's minds. Jury is still out if they will make a late run or not. Hughes looks like he'll get his mojo back there, he was not a happy camper playing with the King.

Tough home game against the Hornets, they really have a nice team right now. It would be real nice to get another win against those guys, but I'm sure they're going to want to come here avenge that loss. Should be a fun one to watch.

A win tonight would be special... hope it is a full and raucus house...

Wonder if Pecherov will take some of his Nocioni frustration out on David West?

We also need to shut down Peja (Dmac?) and MoPete who seems rise up and kill the Wizards right when you least expect it.

Brendan and Chandler can be a good match-up for us. Antonio will obviously need to hang tough against CP3 and I think we will need serious scoring from AJ.

I watched the game on the Chicago feed on Direct TV the other night. The Stewie picture on the split screen with Pecherov was a classic. Hearing how this group of guys ride each other, I bet he's NEVER living that one down!

But, I still like the "White Hole" nickname, and OPEC wasn't bad either.

The other funny thing about the game the other night, we got a snow storm up here in the mountains, started to lose the picture in the 4th. reminded me of the old days of watching games out here on channel 20 with an antenna.