WizBlog RSS FeedGame Day Toronto
9:40AM….Dave Johnson checking in from chilly Toronto. The wind is just beating up on the hotel here–we have had a charmed life—-Milwaukee and Toronto in the same week at the end of January….still pumped abut last night…on the radio Antawn Jamison calmly noted that the Wizards have been in this situation before (missing a key player) and that they would just have to get it done with no excuses. It’s that kind of attitude that leads to 24 points and 20 rebounds….and rebounding was the key….D-Mac in my mind was like glue–he helped the Wizards keep momentum after Blatche –who not only stepped in but stepped up in place of Caron Butler–went out with four fouls. It will be a big challenge tonight without Caron—Calderon is so tough to deal with and runs the pick and roll so well…..as Glenn Consor noted on the radio he does not like to go to his left but forcing him to go that way is easier said than done…this is just a good Raptors team–getting the sweep will be hard—but we thought that about the two games against the Celtics….BLOGCAST —bloggin with the radio—starts at 7….great stuff last night on the blog..hope you can join us tonight…
6:36PM…Dave and Glenn checking in from TO….starters are in…calderon, parker bargnani, bosh, moon—-daniels,stevenson,haywood, blatche, jamison
January 30th, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Very impressive win last night. The Raptors must have hit a total of 5 shots that if they had missed ANY of those shots, the game would have been over. It was pretty incredible actually. But we stuck it out and got the W. Big win for the Wiz. I wanna see Blatche and McGuire tearing it up again tonight. DMac came up with some HUGE offensive boards last night.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:39 AM
yes yes very impressive win last night…wat a game from blatche (got his confidence going)….what about Dominic McGuire…that man can rebound like Dennis Rodman…he may not have a good shot on the offensive end of the floor BUT did you see that pass he delivered to i belive Darius Songaila in the very clutch minutes of the game…it would been a great overall play if whoever recieved would have made the easy lay-up…i hope to see a lot of bloggers on here tonight as i saw yesterday…GO WIZARDS
January 30th, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I was at the game last night and Dominic McGuire was a rebounding machine! He was getting up so high and just snatching the ball out of the air. Amazing. I knew if he was just allowed to stay in the game and play through a couple mistakes he would do ok. Was happy to see Eddie showed enough confidence in him to let him play in overtime too, Im sure that will do wonders for his confidence.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:57 AM
i’m so glad that we pulled that one out last night. it was tough to lose to the bucks in that OT game, but honestly we didn’t really deserve that win.
last night we deserved it and got it. i have always been a Blatche fan, but when he shows what he is capable of like last night, it really frustrates me that we don’t see him do that more often. he looked so fluid and confident, no one could stop him. and his defense on Bosh down the stretch was solid. Bosh is a really tough cover, and he now seems to get a lot of calls. I think Blatche can be a Bosh like player, especially if he starts to earn the respect of the referees and gets some calls of his own.
lastly, WOW on Mcguire! he was all over the boards last night. those long offensive rebounds for a reset are really demoralizing for the defense and he kept doing it again and again.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Talent-wise, Andray is over the top. Bosh is definitely a tremendous player, but I don’t think he has more talent than Andray. Not at all.
Both teams will be tired tonight. But, Nick and Pech should be pretty fresh; maybe they’ll take over? How much fun would that be?
January 30th, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Tom, I have to disagree on Bosh. However, Blache looked like a completely different player from last year. He does have a move to the basket now. Unfortunately, apart from blocking shots, he still does not shuffle to play defense. Jameson looks like he is playing on two sticks that don’t bend and he still pulled down 20 boards. Dick Bavetta’s calls were killing us last night. On the court he was the only one that had less movement. To use the old cliche, the Wizards showed tremendous heart. The scoreboard kept showing Butler at the game truly cheering the team on. There’s no question that this is Butler’s team. You never see Arenas with that kind of emotion. Being at the game was one of those long term memories. Can’t wait to watch the youngsters tonight. It’s Young’s turn to light it up.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:09 PM
I was just as impressed as you guys by Blatche and by D-mac, boy those rebounds were HUGE!! I hope Nick and Pech can get a little wild out there tonight, knowing they’ll be the freshest player they should…
We haven’t been that successful in Toronto lately and honetly the raptors are quiet a lucky team but when they’re home they’re even luckier… Let’s hope the whole team can get it done tonight cuz we won yesterday thank’s to more than one player!!! Everyone’s stepped up.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Alright Tom, I’ll be good…unfortunately lol.
Dominic can’t be compared to Rodman (yet); he has to be more DRAMATIC like Rodman. He has to start rebounding like it’s a life or death situation - y’all all know that Rodman rebounded that ball “ugly” (is what I call it).
January 30th, 2008 at 2:35 PM
OK, we’re all agreed. Tonight Young and Pecherov shine.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Oh and by the way Nick Young won’t be in the rookie challenge in New Orleans…. (I just read it on nba.com)
Unless I misread this is just disapointing…..
January 30th, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Wins like these are wins that a team can build on.Of course this is only one game,but to pull this one out without Caron was great. i believe the depth and versatility of this team is gonna be one of it’s strongest points. I’m really impressed with the fact that on offense there is more motion,and team play.Their team defense is getting better also.This group is playing with alot of confidence,and to show their resolve the way they did last night was commendable.Don’t look now Gilbert..the same team (I feel) you ripped in your blog may have the same record they attained last year before the All Star Break.I guess that still would only make them a “good team” withoout him still. One thing i do know Gilbert had better be striving to be Jason Kidd with a better “j” when he gets his legs back under him because if he disrupts this team’s chemistry in any sense of the word…I’m throwin’ da first tomato. This team is learning with every game how to play as a team,and it’s a very encouraging sign. I took Gil’s blog to heart because his desire to be metioned with the NBA elite seems to be more important than being a cog in the wheel we call the Wizards. Giving the examples of teams not playing with it’s superstar bothered me. His ego has to take front seat.Just believe in your teammates and applaud their success.The Good team/great team stuff was uncalled for.To me his comments showed signs of a real zero.Hey Gil.Take note from Timmy Duncan.Keep your mouth shut,and live to make your teammates better.The great ones do.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:40 PM
i’ve been watching some replays of last nights game…and boy some of Dominic McGuires rebounds should be count as steeals b/c he literally snatched the ball away from other players
January 30th, 2008 at 5:41 PM
**steals
January 30th, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Wiz-skins you said it and not only did he take it but it was from 7′ guys and he was jumping over them to take it thats what he was asked to do and he did just that last night but while we are on the last game lets give some love to Haywood playing with the flu and still getting it done
January 30th, 2008 at 6:48 PM
6:36PM…Dave and Glenn checking in from TO….starters are in…calderon, parker bargnani, bosh, moon—-daniels,stevenson,haywood, blatche, jamison
January 30th, 2008 at 6:50 PM
gang..all the talk here in the toronto papers about the Wizards dominance on the boards
January 30th, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Glenn here: keys tonight, crowd Bosh, show him different defensive looks. Offensively Wiz really need to emphasize spacing because Raptors will load up on Antawn and Dre. Wiz also need to force Calderon left, he is not as effective. Wiz also need the bench to contribute again, Mcguire and Mason last night, who tonight? Back to back don’t forget.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:26 PM
wizards needed that timeout….four poss..two turnovres..a blocked shot and a missed shot
January 30th, 2008 at 7:40 PM
d mac great eneregy again off the bench
January 30th, 2008 at 7:45 PM
nice recovery after being down by 12
January 30th, 2008 at 7:48 PM
down 5 isn’t all that bad after that sloppy beginning
January 30th, 2008 at 7:53 PM
wow what an odd line-up we just had…pecherov songaila mcguire mason and daniels…
January 30th, 2008 at 7:54 PM
amen….. good to see mcguire in early..need that energy boost
January 30th, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Hi everyone absolutely terrible first half we must destroy them this quarter
January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 PM
hey reuben welcome….you are right…but we need defensive energy and that is missing right now
January 30th, 2008 at 8:43 PM
deshawn trying to make something happen
January 30th, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Man this is terrible
January 30th, 2008 at 9:08 PM
we are at a loss
January 30th, 2008 at 9:22 PM
I just read on NBA.com that Nick Young was not selected to play in the rookie challenge
January 30th, 2008 at 9:35 PM
tough loss tonight, I know that these guys are tired. when a team is making threes like this what can you do? Rest up fellas another tough game comming on friday.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:47 PM
they just locked in on AJ and would not let him do a thing tonight you cant beat a team when 2 of your best players are hurt and the one you have is locked down the whole night but theres always another day and another game lets get this next one an move on
January 31st, 2008 at 1:13 AM
That may be the worst game they have played all season. Pitiful! No energy at all. Nobody acted like they were on a “team”. If that’s the best effort we can give let’s hope for a good lottery pick.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Come on - give them a break! When we are winning we don’t hear that kind of talk - we here some ridicules suggestions to trade Gilbert because we don’t need him. We need Gilbert to get healthy and get back with the team. The rest of the team has been holding down the fort – they have nothing to be ashamed of because they are really doing a great job! Hey look what happen when James was out – his team lost every game! I don’t think I really expected them to win two games back to back without Arenas and Butler plus Haywood had to flu doing the first game and I doubt if he was feeling much better the next day! So please lay off of my boys!!!!!! Mama said there would be days like this.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Hey look, this team has performed above anyones expectations, they still need work and to get healthy, but the young guys on this team have shown us all a glimps of what will be. Dmac, wow what energy he has and rebounding power, I am looking forward to seeing him get more playing time. AB has really stepped up and looks like he is ready to be solid off the bench, he played CBosh very well. NYoung has been a breath of fresh air off the bench and starting, he is not getting his due from the league, but he is a good player for this team and he will get better. AJ, what can I say, this guy comes in every night an leaves it all on the floor and I for one appreciate his leadership and his game. We are going to lose games and we are going to win games, we are a good team that is getting better and I am along for the ride.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:24 PM
“Mama said there would be days like this” - she sho did HardCoreFan lol…