WIZARDS KEEP IT CLOSE BUT FALL IN JERSEY
Despite missing two starters on the final stop of a three game road-trip, the Wizards found themselves trailing by just one point after three periods Tuesday night in New Jersey. Washington was within five points with less than five minutes to go in the game but they couldn’t overcome the Nets hot shooting in the final minutes and fell 101-113.
Gilbert Arenas led the team with 26 points, but his off-shooting continued (7-25 FGA). But big contributions from Jarvis Hayes (season-high 21 points) and Roger Mason (career-high tying 18 points) helped keep the Wizards in the contest. Brendan Haywood also pitched in with a solid effort (11 points, five rebounds).
Washington went winless through their three game trip away from Verizon Center, but there is some rest for the weary. Not much rest, but at least it will come in their own beds, as the Wizards play five of their next six games at home. The rub is that their next four takes place over the next seven days.
“We have to keep plugging,” said Head Coach Eddie Jordan. “We’ll get home and we have a really good team coming in. Just being home doesn’t cure all the ills. We have to play better, and rebound better, and handle defense better.”
A cure could come in the help from the calvary - in this case Antawn Jamison, who could make a return to action tonight versus the Heat after missing the past 11 games with a sprained left knee. Caron Butler, who returned to Washington Tuesday afternoon and missed his second consecutive game (lower back spasms), is day to day.
Posted: February 28th, 2007 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time February 28, 2007 at 9:25 AM
I won’t disagree with that statement anonymous, but take a look at the boxscores - if Gilbert shoots the ball closer to .450-.500 in the last two games, the outcome is possibly different.
The last few weeks have shown that other guys are capable of contributing. Hopefully when the team gets back to full strength those players (Hayes, Mason, Blatche etc) will still be able to make plays and produce while on the court.
Comment from Nara
Time February 28, 2007 at 9:46 AM
It’s great to finally see Jarvis shut up his doubters. Even if he hadn’t scored a lot yesterday, I thought all the other things he did would have been enough to keep him on the floor if I was Coach Jordan. He made Vince Carter change his mind about shooting more than once while in the air b/c Jarvis was playing really good D on him.
I watched the game on NBALP but I’m guessing the people watching local comcast sports station didn’t get the feed for some reason. For those people, I’m here to say that Hayes played Vince Carter really well when he was guarding him. He crashed the boards, and played the passing lane well w/o giving up open shots too.
In this league if you can play D and box out, that gets you playing time. So all the Jarvis haters need to look at the whole game rather than just the box score at the end of the game.
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 28, 2007 at 9:51 AM
Nara, it will probably take more than one game to quiet his critics. He needs to put together a few consistent performances to keep the doubters at bay. Good luck tonight Hayes!
Comment from Brickjp
Time February 28, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Yeah, VERY pleased with Jarvis. If anything, he looked like he knows he can score now, which is key.
Overall, I didn’t think we played that poorly in this game. For some ODD reason Jason Kidd was on fire and their team hit a ton of threes. I know that some of them were open looks but they were just sizzling.
I also thought some of the calls were really bogus. But that’s me complaining of course. I always feel like we don’t get calls.
Good things from Roger Mason, who is taking it to the basket now which is great, beating his man off the dribble.
Overall I think these bumps in the road will help us. We were without two of our big three. We are losing some games, but I still think we are ‘winning’ in other ways. Guys are gaining great experience from Jamison and Butler going down.
Can’t wait ’til tonight!
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 28, 2007 at 11:00 AM
The game wasn’t on Comcast people. There are 7 possible locations where Wizards games are broadcasted on tv. I’m going to type this only once:
1. Comcast SportsNet (regional)
2. NBA League Pass (if not locked out regionally)
3. ESPN
4. ABC
5. TNT
6. CW of Washington (CW used to be WB network)
7. The Channel 8 local news network.
If none of these channels have the game on, then the radio is the best way to catch the game.
Eric the webmaster posts all this information on the main Wizards website. Maybe checking that would help. Strange how Wizards fans DON’T even check the main site. Tsk tsk.
If Jason Kidd didn’t hit all those 3’s in the third quarter (he’s a very streaky shooter from long range), the Wizards may have gotten the win.
I’m seeing the players bounce up and down with their production. Hayes and Mason were up and Stevenson and Blatche were down. If the trend continues, Stevenson and Blatche would be up tonight and Mason and Hayes would be down. Who knows what type of game Arenas is going to pull? He’s going up against Jason Williams (little defense), Gary Payton (old and slow but pretty good defense), and Chris Quinn (who?). On paper it looks like he can dominate (since he’s at home), but with his recent shooting woes, nothing is easy like back in December. Very frustrating.
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 28, 2007 at 11:37 AM
The most important thing here is consistency…consistency…consistency. I am glad to see that Hayes had a fairly decent game but if he doesn’t do that every game then I don’t think he should be on the court.
Comment from Neal
Time February 28, 2007 at 3:07 PM
I also like the other things about Hayes. But if he doesn’t continue to shoot better the Wiz certainly won’t pick up his $3.5 million option for next year.
I’m not as big a fan of Arenas as most people. FG%, for instance:
S.Nash .53
D.Stevenson .50
D.Wade .49
K.Bryant .46
J.Kidd .43
A.Daniels .43
G.Arenas .42
And 3pt%:
S.Nash .48
D.Stevenson .47
J.Kidd .36
K.Bryant .36
G.Arenas .35
D.Wade .27
A.Daniels .21
And assist/TO ratio:
A.Daniels 3.6
J.Kidd 3.3
S.Nash 3.2
D.Stevenson 2.0
D.Wade 1.9
G.Arenas 1.7
K.Bryant 1.6
I think Arenas is still a work in progress. I think he still tries to do too much - thinks the team has a better chance with him putting it up. We won’t take the next step until he trust his teammates more.
Apparently, Jordan has given him the green light to shoot whenever he wants. I think that’s a mistake, especially now that he’s being guarded more closely. I’d much rather see the other guys take open shots than Arenas take them with somebody on him.
Comments?
Comment from Anonymous
Time February 28, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Answer from the coach why AD didn’t play
After struggling for most of the month of February, reserve guard Antonio Daniels didn’t play at all, receiving his first DNP-coach’s decision since joining the Wizards. “He hasn’t played very, very well,” Jordan said before the game. “I still like Antonio as a starter if Gilbert can’t start. I still like Antonio finishing games. But right now, I’m going in a different direction.”
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time February 28, 2007 at 4:08 PM
Yup - above comment can be found in today’s Washington Post.
Comment from sagaliba
Time February 28, 2007 at 4:13 PM
I think Arenas is similar to AI, shoots a lot, but not at a very high percentage. They are both very quick. But Arenas is bigger, has a longer range, and probably shoots a little better. And hopefully, Arenas does not have the attitude of AI.
Comment from Anonymous
Time March 1, 2007 at 7:28 PM
Come on coach…the team is still losing with the guys you think are playing well.
With the injuries and a team that appears to be on a downward spiral, it might not hurt to play a veteran like AD.
Let him play his way out of the slump…it can’t hurt at this point.
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Comment from Anonymous
Time February 28, 2007 at 8:35 AM
Wow!these last two games proved the wizards need caron and showed that he is the glue to hold this team together……..