LOSS STREAK CONTINUES AS WIZARDS FALL TO PISTONS

POSTGAME AUDIO:
Eddie Jordan | Gilbert Arenas | Antawn Jamison

The Wizards Big Three weren’t enough to contain the Pistons Big Four as they fell 115-111 and extended their loss streak to four games.

In an effort not to sugar-coat a four game losing streak, three of the team’s last four losses have come against some of the league’s best squads. DET has shown naysayers that there is life after Big Ben and they displayed it tonight at Verizon Center.

The team is obviously unhappy with the recent results, but aren’t ready to pronounce the season over after just 13 games.

“I went down the line and every player came back tonight and played well,” said Eddie Jordan. “They (Detroit) are a good team that has won five or six in a row — a championship caliber team. I still consider this as a road game. We played four games in five nights and had to travel, getting in late last night. We know that is how it is in the NBA and I thought we still brought some good energy tonight.”

For one player, this start isn’t too unfamiliar.

“We have been through this before,” said Gilbert Arenas. “Last year we didn’t start hitting our stride until mid-December. We’re going to keep our head up and stay together like we have been doing for the past couple of years.”

Les Wiz get their next chance of putting this streak to an end Tuesday when the Hawks visit DC.

TONIGHT: WIZARDS vs. PISTONS

The Wizards return home to the friendly confines of Verizon Center when they host the Pistons tonight at 7 pm. The Wizards are 4-and-1 in their home gym and look to even their season series with Detroit, where they lost their first meeting last weekend 91-100. In that game, the Pistons saw five players score in double figures led by Rip Hamilton’s 27 points.

For the Wizards to get back into the ‘W’ column, the team will have to contain the Piston’s four stars, which is often easier said than done. Hamilton (22.5), Chauncey Billups (17.5), Tayshaun Prince (16.0) and Rasheed Wallace (14.2) all average double figures and the team (8-5 overall) is shooting .450 from the field.

SportsTalk 980’s Scott Jackson will be joining me for the usual in-game banter here at the blog. Tip-off is in 45 minutes.

ROAD SLIDE CONTINUES FOR WIZARDS

The good news first: the Wizards four of their next five games at Verizon Center, where they are 4-1.

Now the bad news: the Wizards fell to the Grizzlies Friday night and extended the team’s road losing streak to seven games. The loss came despite the fourth straight double-double turned in by Caron Butler (22 points, 13 boards), who has a team-high six on the season.

Gilbert Arenas, the NBA’s fourth leading scorer, scored a season-low 3 points and didn’t get on the score board until late in the fourth quarter.

“I was just missing shots,” said Arenas. “It was just one of those nights…they come and go”

“We’ll get the momentum back,” Arenas added. “We’ve got a couple of games, so we can catch some momentum before we go on the road again.”

The Wizards don’t have much time to figure out how this one went awry, as they get back on the court Saturday night when they host the Pistons at Verizon Center. Detroit defeated the Bobcats 105-94 Friday night behind Rip Hamilton’s 26 points.

“As a coach, I have to find a way to get through this,” said Jordan. “Going back home doesn’t guarantee a win; we have a game tomorrow, and I’ll look at some things and change some things offensively.”

TONIGHT: WIZARDS AT GRIZZLIES

The Wizards conclude their three-game Western Conference trip when they take on the 2-9 Grizzlies, who are 2-3 at FedEx Forum.

Memphis is obviously not the same team without Pau Gasol and it shows in the team’s overall record. But these are sometimes the most dangerous teams.

With it being the day after Thanksgiving, the Wizards look to have their own “Black Friday” and avoid leaving the road in the red.

Hope all our US-based fans had a Happy Thanksgiving. Anyone have any fun Turkey Day stories worth sharing?

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.