TONIGHT: WIZARDS AT NETS
By Shaun Fletcher, WashingtonWizards.com Blog Contributor
Tonight, the Wizards travel up the coast to the Continental Airlines Arena to take on the New Jersey Nets. Both the Wizards and Nets are coming into the game on two game streaks. The only problem is that the Nets are on a two game winning streak and the Wizards…well, are the reverse of that.
The Nets are sporting a 27-30 overall record this season and a respectable 16-14 record at home, while claiming the second spot in the Atlantic Division. A stat worth noting is that the Wizards are the only team in the Eastern Conference with a winning record when the opponent scores 100 or more points (18-17). The next closest is Toronto at 11-17.
What does this mean you ask? Well, I’m not exactly sure what to make of it, but let’s try this logic on for size. The Nets are a lowly 6-15 this season when their opponents score in triple-digits and have lost every game this month when they have given up 100+ points. Perhaps, this shows that the Nets aren’t exactly fashioned to keep pace during high scoring battles. And with their third leading scorer, Richard Jefferson, still out nursing an ankle injury, their point totals aren’t likely to rise.
The Wizards meanwhile are still in search of a consistent solution to its woes that have caused them to post a sub-.500 record so far this month. Definition – “woes†– replacing Antawn Jamison’s production in the scoring and rebounding columns.
A true analyst can take a few positives from Antawn’s absence; one being that Andray Blatche is continuing to progress into a viable option and gaining experience that will prove to be huge come playoff time. Also, DeShawn Stevenson has shown glimpses of what he can do offensively when given more shot opportunities. But for tonight’s game, it’s likely that the Hibachi will need to sizzle once again to out pace VC and the Nets, especially with Caron Butler sitting out the contest. Ok, enough talk. Wizards vs. Nets… what’s your take?
Posted: February 27th, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from WizDom
Time February 27, 2007 at 4:45 PM
after they are down 10pts… they come back and win by 20.
Comment from Mehdi
Time February 27, 2007 at 5:11 PM
And then they win the tittle at the end of the season lol. Well honestly I’m not really optimistic about tonight… I mean we almost won sunday with butler out, jamison out and gilbert tryin to steal Hayes shooting percentage and that means we’re getting closer and closer to what a real team should look like. I mean a team which wins no mather if the second best scorer in the NBA is hot or not and without their two other great guys. If we make it tonight I’ll really be proud and happy, and I won’t speak of any other possibility of what could happend tonight cuz our wiz are about to make it. Let’s hope Deshawn plays as (now) usual and Andray too, and I hope Antonio will get more minutes than Jarvis this time! We have to score a lot tonight to get out with smiles on our faces and for that we need everyone. Go all in guys!
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 5:46 PM
i wonder how the team would do with Gil out also…It would be interesting to see who steps up however im not promoting the idea at all
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 5:49 PM
Can someone look squarely into my eyes and tell me HOW the Jarvis Hayes bashing will help him? Or help the team? How about having a bunch of strangers you don’t know start bashing on YOU everytime you don’t do something right? You won’t be able to take it let alone Jarvis Hayes.
There is a big problem with people just looking at the stats and not know what really happened with Jarvis’ shots. The game wasn’t on TV so unless you heard the game on the radio, you have no idea if Jarvis took open shots or not open shots. Even the radio doesn’t tell you who’s guarding Jarvis Hayes all the time. If you didn’t see it live, you really don’t know.
It doesn’t matter who starts now that the team is banged up from the top (Arenas - shoulder; Butler - back; Jamison - knee). If someone else besides Hayes starts and he sucked, then everyone will say why didn’t someone else start instead?
I’m pretty fed up with all the bashing in this blog. Arenas’ NBA blog tells me that he’s still loose even after a horrible performance. Nothing personal against you Eric, but the fans that blog here are just too critical sometimes after a couple of losses. My take is this - if you can’t stand losing or bad performances by players, don’t even watch sports. You will never be satisfied.
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 7:08 PM
Anyone out there know what channel if any the game is being shown on Direct TV? I thought it was 659 which is where it usually is, but I am not seeing it in the lineup at all. 659 is usually Comcast Sports Plus.
Comment from Wiz034
Time February 27, 2007 at 7:30 PM
SIGH. I’m not changing my view about Jarvis until I see something different out of his play. So far, I haven’t. You can’t look me in the eyes and tell me that if EJ had those extra bodies that Jarvis will be starting..he wouldn’t be.
Let’s go Wiz..
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 7:36 PM
Game is not on directv 659!!! Anyone know where it is??
Comment from Mehdi
Time February 27, 2007 at 7:44 PM
Just a little something to you anonyme, I didn’t have the chance to see the game, sadly, and well as you said it I don’t know what he really did shot… What I just said is that I don’t understand why Daniels doesn’t play much?? That was a real question…
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 7:45 PM
I don’t see it on DirecTV either except on delayed replay on channel 629 at 1:30am.
It doesn’t appear that it’s on live on any DirecTV channel for some reason.
Comment from Mehdi
Time February 27, 2007 at 8:25 PM
Buy league pass broadband guys 
Mason’s so hot, it’s amazing!! Sadly the officials are blind and don’t see fouls and traveling when mister VC is there…
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 9:11 PM
i cant see the game but i hope those 3’s gil is taking are atleast open
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 9:59 PM
Wiz034 - how’d you like Jarvis Hayes going for 21 points with better shooting? I hope this shuts the Jarvis haters for at least one day.
Comment from Joe
Time February 27, 2007 at 10:02 PM
I love how it takes Gil 25 shots to get 26 points. You don’t win games that way. Eddie went small again in the last 6 minutes!! We lost critical defensive rebounds around the 4 to 5 minute mark. I’m glad to see Hayes do something offensively, but the Wizards’ defense is really sad. I hope Butler and Jamison are back tomorrow. The team needs a boost.
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 10:03 PM
yea we need to root for jarvis…build on this please…roger mason was real nice…we need butler and jamison
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Yeah Jarvis! Good game… I told you bloggers that if this guy was afforded with the opportunity to have more shots (16 compared to 4 or 5) he would produce more points! Sure he was 1-10 last night; they have ALL had games such as this. If anyone on the team took more shots they would be able to put up more points. If you were following the game via internet or by another method you would have seen that Hayes started 1-5. As time passed he was able to find a rhythm!!!! I know that the more shots you take the better your chances are of having a better game, anyone should know that. Did I mention he had 9 rebounds?!
We’ve all ragged on Hayes because we know his potential. Before this season he was playing 20+minutes and averaging 10 ppg. Now it’s around 17mins and 6 ppg. I hope he keeps this up! Is it me or does EJ seem to lack confidence in Hayes? He very rarely mentions him and when he does it isn’t very encouraging………
Good job Mason; you were HOT tonight!
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Even if Jamison is back tomorrow he won’t play more than 15 minutes. Same thing with Butler. No more than 15 minutes.
The guy that needs to sit out a game is Arenas. He is doing too much and it is hurting his shooting.
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 10:24 PM
The game was shown on Channel 8 on local cable tv. Channel 8 is like the 24 hour local news channel.
Anyways, Jarvis Hayes shooting 7 for 16 isn’t all that great but it is a vast improvement. It looks like Jarvis is going to shoot no matter what.
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 10:32 PM
All shoot, but no defense! What a liability!
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 11:23 PM
More shots normally will mean more points unless the players is shooting an extremely low percentage…
Anyhow why is AD not playing? Cutting a veteran’s PT on the home stretch to the playoffs doesn’t make sense, especially when he is the one guy with playoff experience and a ring.
Comment from Juan Garcia
Time February 27, 2007 at 11:51 PM
wow AD didnt play at all.. is he hurt or just not doin enough to get some pt? eric wat do you know bout this?
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time February 27, 2007 at 11:55 PM
No idea why AD didn’t see any action. I’m sure someone in the media will ask Coach soon enough.
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Comment from Anonymous
Time February 27, 2007 at 4:40 PM
Wizards will down by 10 points tonight.