WIZARDS CAN’T CLOSE THE GAP, FALL TO ROCKETS This…
WIZARDS CAN’T CLOSE THE GAP, FALL TO ROCKETS
This one looked like it might go the Wizards way.
After scoring just 28 points in the first half, the Wizards clamped down on defense late in the second half and used some clutch shooting to pull within one point.
With the Wizards down one with under 30 seconds to go, Tracy McGrady found an open Rafer Alston for a three to give Houston a four point lead. Just when you thought that was it, Agent Zero banks in a three to put them within one.
That’s when the ball took another funny bounce for Washington.
Luther Head converted the first of two FT’s after being fouled on the ensuing possession. He missed the second…barely…and when it rimmed out, Jarvis Hayes mis-timed the jump and couldn’t secure it. Rockets get the ball, game, set, match.
“It was a defensive game,” said Gilbert Arenas. “A grind-it-out game, one of those ugly games. It was two teams that fought hard all game. We fought our hearts out and don’t have to hang our heads.”
A loss is a loss. And I’m not going to preach the virtues of moral victories, but nevertheless, it was good to see Washington fight back after a pretty bad first half, particularly on the defensive end.
“We’ve played defensively for a couple of games now and we just have to get our offense going,” said Antonio Daniels. “We did some very good things defensively and we made them work for everything they got. We are building on some very good things and rhythm gets back we’ll be alright.”
Back in action Friday - everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Posted: November 22nd, 2006 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from Neal
Time November 22, 2006 at 11:17 PM
I didn’t see the first quarter. But what I did see actually encouraged me.
Defense looked good. Thomas and Haywood played Yao Ming well I thought.
Seemed like we played Jordan’s offense well. But the lack of confidence by the whole team in the first half killed our shooting.
Arenas did a good job of dishing off in the second half. When he starts taking those quick perimeter shots I don’t think it’s so much an ego thing that he wants the big numbers as he thinks he can hit every shot and get us the win.
Comment from Anonymous
Time November 22, 2006 at 11:18 PM
why ccan’t this team get it together
Comment from Neal
Time November 22, 2006 at 11:19 PM
They’ve always had a problem defending the perimeter. I think in part that’s a function of Jordan’s stressing getting into the passing lanes and protecting the paint. Actually, it seems to me they’re reacting a little more quickly to the open perimeter shooters than last year. Am I off base on this?
Comment from Anonymous
Time November 22, 2006 at 11:29 PM
is it possible to go the whole season and not win on the road? if so i think were gonna do it. i really thought we could play better than this. at home were the best but when we hit the road we turn into the knicks. whats up with that?
Comment from jimbones
Time November 22, 2006 at 11:35 PM
you can call it a funny bounce after the missed free with 3 seconds left on the clock…but i saw it as an inexcusable effort to get a much needed rebound!!!
Comment from Sharpie
Time November 23, 2006 at 10:44 AM
I think we all have high hopes for this team. Its almost like a puzzle ,each night the peices are there but as its been said in previous posts “They just have to get it together.”
Comment from Wiz Fan and the kid
Time November 23, 2006 at 1:57 PM
You know what is odd? I think this is actually good for the Wiz. Gilbert is off when away from home, Caron is off is shooting and honestly, Antwan looks a bit tired. I actually think we are playing through the kinks that are thankfully hitting now, not later in the season. We are not going to shoot this poorly all season, folks.
As to this game, it is amazing how well Brendon can play, isn’t it? There should be a lot more people posting and sending a message to Brendan that he if can play that hard all the time, he will be back as the starter.
What can we say about Jarvis? The fool that posted that he had a lack of effort should be flogged. First, did anyone notice the rest of the squad took off the other way? Second, Jarvis should not have been the one getting that rebound. This is exactly what the kid and I posted about before the season: Eddie needs to use people in the right spots. We had a make and we knew a time out was coming on the next make, right? So, after the first make why didn’t he put in Mike Ruffin? Why? Answer this: Who on the Wiz is better at going after a rebound? Who?
Eddie is a great coach and I hope he is here for years to come, but he has a ton to learn about bringing people in off the bench to win a game. Don Nelson would have said, “Ruf, if that ball doesn’t go in, you go get it.” So would Riley, Phil Jackson, etc.
Finally, to all those who are asking, “Why?” I ask you, would we want this shooting slump later in the season?
I wouldn’t.
Comment from Anonymous
Time November 23, 2006 at 2:16 PM
Jamison needs to get back on track and has to start looking for the easy shots.
Comment from Wizards4life
Time November 23, 2006 at 2:19 PM
yeah but it was one good game i don’t care if it was a loss play like you want it every night i am content! that’s what i love to see and we could of had the game but the fact that we were not shooting the ball well but at the end we had a chance to win is good! Haywood was a beast and Etan was 2 that was good to see and the d in the 4th looked like it could stop a train!
now the offence looked Stael i think arenas needs to get off to a good start then get other people going that would help if we had all of the big 3 going this game would have been a blow out as far as i can tell
P.S. i did not get to see the game till today it did not come on till 1:30am had to DVR it and i got comcast how is it that i don’t get all the games?
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time November 23, 2006 at 2:52 PM
W4L - game was on NC8/CSN+.
The team is starting to show signs. It’s only a matter of time…
Comment from Andrew
Time November 23, 2006 at 3:19 PM
I did not watch the game, but I hope we get our first road win soon. The good thing is that Miami is also struggling mightily. However, I wish we could take this opportunity to get some space between us and the Heat. It is a long season and things will eventually come back to normalcy.
Have faith and stay strong! Go WIZ!!!!
Comment from Neal
Time November 23, 2006 at 8:41 PM
I hate to see Butler go out and Daniels come in. Then we have three guards in (Arenas, Daniels & Stevenson). I know Hayes isn’t shooting well but he needs more minutes and keep shooting until they start falling and he gets his confidence back.
I think the best thing that could happen right now is for someone to be out for a month and Hayes have to play 20 min a game.
Write a comment
You need to login to post comments!
Comment from Anonymous
Time November 22, 2006 at 11:10 PM
I don’t know man, I just thought this team might be a title contender, but they’ve really, really dissapointed me, especially defending the perimeter.