Back in DC
Hey everyone, the team got back in late last night and will practice at Noon. I will get what I can from practice and relay it over here as soon as possible.
If there is one positive thing going for the Wizards right now is this team has dealt with adversity from day one, with injury after injury, and yet somehow, someway they have persevered. They have also responded after bad losses by playing great basketball in their next game, in fact the Wizards are 5-2 this season in games following a loss of over 20 points. Will that mean anything on Thursday? We will have to wait and see, but as they say their is no place like home, and I think you will see a much different team in Verizon Center come 8:00 on Thursday.
UPDATE: Just got back from practice. And while I say practice it was much more of the team talking and watching film than practice. The team went in for film to start which is very rare and they talked for about an hour. From what I understand Coach Jordan talked to the team while they watched film and it really helped perk the mood of the guys. Following film the team went through individual shooting drills and one thing that caught my attention was DeShawn Stevenson. The guy went out and at one point made 25 consecutive three points from four spots on the floor. I will have quotes coming soon.
UPDATE: it sounds as though Brendan WILL NOT BE SUSPENDED FOR GAME 3 Here are quotes from practice
Head Coach Eddie Jordan
On tomorrow’s game
“We have a chance to protect our home floor. We need to play better. We can do a lot of things better. We get a chance to do it, it is our turn and we will see what happens.”
On what the team needs to do to be more successful
“We have to stay a lot more disciplined and trust what we are doing. We can have random possessions. We need to stick to the game plan, if all five guys are disciplined enough on both ends we are very competitive and if we get out of sorts and undisciplined then they are a good team that will take advantage of it.”
On the team’s ability to bounce back this season
“I’m hoping that this is the prototypical Wizards team that will bounce back from a tough loss like that. Now we have to return the favor. If we trust each other and play harder we will give ourselves a chance.”
On getting the crowd into the game
“You need to get the crowd believing in you. You need to get the crowd to say ‘they are playing good basketball’ and they will come along with you. That’s when you get that 6th man and that ride from the crowd.”
Brendan Haywood
On being in this same position against Chicago
“I definitely take that experience with us. We feel confident in our skills and we know we can get things done. When we watched tape today we saw so many mistakes that aided them. We don’t feel demoralized we feel we have a lot to give and we probably have played our worst basketball of the season so far.”
On being able to bounce back from a blowout loss
“I think it’s easier to bounce back after a blowout because everything is more real to you. When you lose in a one or two point game there are so many possessions that could have changed the outcome of the game. When you get blown out you have to sit back and take a look at yourself. I think everyone on our team is doing that right now and saying what do I have to do better to help the team.”
On getting support from the fans
“I think we can definitely take care of business at home,” said Brendan Haywood. “Of course we are going need the fans to come out there and support us. We feed off their energy. I remember when they were really great in that Chicago Bulls series a couple of years back. We really fed off their energy and that helped us turn it around.”
DeShawn Stevenson
On Wizards fans treating the Cavaliers like Cleveland fans treated him
“”I really hope are fans come out loud and support us,” said DeShawn Stevenson. “After the way the Cavaliers fans treated me over there. They had thousands of signs, and putting my comments on the scoreboard so hopefully LeBron and the Cavaliers get the same kind of treatment in our building. We need for them to feel like they are on the road and not at home.”
Posted: April 22nd, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from rayvinly
Time April 22, 2008 at 10:28 AM
It is at times like this that tell whether this team has characters to come back strong or not. We’ve been through some harsher times, and we always bounced back. I think we will do the same at VZC.
However, I think the physical approach takes away our game. It is obvious that when we try to play physical, their bodies are so banged up that they can’t even make shots and free throws. We are and have never been a physical team. Haywood and Butler are our two most physical guys. We don’t have a Jason Maxiel or a Joe Smith. We used to have Ruffin but he couldn’t do anything else other than being physical.
I say the way we respond in this series should tell what Grunfeld should do in the offseason. Get some physical guys that can play ball.
Comment from Brickjp
Time April 22, 2008 at 10:39 AM
We definitely seem like we’re getting manhandled out there. We gotta take these games 1 at a time and worry about game 3 on Thursday. A loss is a loss. We’re down 0-2, but we are going back home.
The only way this series is over is if our players think it’s over. They know it’s not over. Cavs will be feeling good and over-confident most likely. They blew us out and it was easy for them, but that won’t happen again. Where is the team that held it’s own without Gilbert?
Comment from Beeb
Time April 22, 2008 at 10:48 AM
This is what Ernie G said at the end of last season,”" It ended in a disappointing fashion for all of us. Overall, we started the season very well. We hit some bumps in the road during the second half of the season. We did not finish as well as we would have liked to, but I think that we have shown that when we are healthy and have all of our players we can compete with anyone in the league.” If the Wizards are not careful, he will be repeating the same. As fans, that game tormented me. If it were my livelihood like a competitive person as Ernie, I can only imagine how bothered I’d be. I’m not sure I’d be pacified by a comment by the Coach, admitting he did poorly as the coach. I’m not sure I’d be satisfied with Mr “I’m Opting Out” who clearly has bogged the team down. Finally, I’d be bothered as GM that the team is focused on counterproductive fouling rather than doing what got us there.
Comment from natsdude562
Time April 22, 2008 at 10:53 AM
LeBron is used to Yellow Outs he is coming to be in White Out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from Phemy
Time April 22, 2008 at 11:54 AM
home sweet home…let’s hope for the best. “It’s not over until you lose at home blabla…”!
Stay confident, don’t let the emotions controll our game, be concentrated, move the ball, attack the rim….well…you know it… GO WIZ. WE STILL BELIEVE.
Comment from omedrano
Time April 22, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Gil wants to exercise his free agency and demand 100,000,000 at the end of this season. Let him go, he is just another Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway. All he wants is to jack up worthless shots. The Wizards are better without him in the lineup. The offense should not be flowing through him, he is still injured and is slugish. Micheal Wilbon said it best, “there are allstars and then there are superstars. The Wizards have three allstars and the Cavs have one Superstar that outscored all three of our allstars in game 2 30 to 28. ” Jamison has been consistent day in and day out, Butler needs to step it up asap or we are done. I hope Gilbert gets the message that he is no longer the only person on the team, “there is no I in team”, i HOPE EDDIE JORDAN GIVES HIM LIMITED MINUTES. DON’T GET ME WRONG GILBERT IS A GREAT SHOOTER, BUT SO IS JAMISON, MASON, BUTLER, AND STEVENSON, ANY ONE OF THOSE GUYS CAN HAVE 6 OR 7 THREES POINTERS IN A GAME. FINALLY I JUST WANT TO SAY GILBERT YOU ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE FANS MAKING DEMANDS FOR MORE MONEY. WHERE IS YOUR LOYALTY. THIS MESSAGE IS MANLY ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU SUCK!!!!
Comment from gbkdc
Time April 22, 2008 at 12:55 PM
What I find most unsettling is that we don’t even look like the same team anymore! We (Washington Wizards) are a good team, but this team (don’t recognize them) is NOT! So I just don’t get it… but it’s been like this all season. We lose by 25 one night, get completely blown out, and then beat Boston 3 times. ??? But last night was the worst I have ever seen this team play. EVER.
I just hope someone can get them pumped up and motivated, and bring them all together as a team again. I would think Caron could do it. And Jamison. Jamison did not have a good night last night, but he looked incredible on Saturday. He certainly had fire in his belly on Saturday. I don’t know what happened last night, but Haywood’s ejection may have had something to do with it. He was really really playing well, at least with a ton of heart, and then when he got ejected, everyone else seemed to lose whatever heart they had left.
Comment from gbkdc
Time April 22, 2008 at 12:55 PM
AUNDRA, I’m still waiting for your positivity… Where are you???
Comment from vah4bm
Time April 22, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Gil and Antawn and Caron have been all-stars in their careers but they sure haven’t shown any all-star credentials this series. Combined they shot 10-33 (30%) in Game 2. The whole jump shooting thing has been especially annoying. Where are the drives to the basket to draw fouls or dish to teammates for easy shots?
Unfortunately, the other players have been WORSE. In Game 1, Stevenson/Mason/Songaila were 2-19 (11%). In Game 2, Daniels/Young/Mason were 3-15 (20%).
Two things were VERY VERY clear in Game 2…the Wizards played one-on-one, not team, basketball. Second, DeShawn Stevenson lacks any good judgment. How can he pull that “I can’t feel my face” stunt when he has a career FG percentage less than 20% in the playoffs? What nonsense! Magic or Bird or Isaiah would never have done that in their careers. Why? Because they got class.
Comment from avirtucio
Time April 22, 2008 at 2:15 PM
cmon’ guys.. give them some breathing room, there are already too much pressures from the media and you guys are still giving them additional pressure.. they will be fine our supports will be the only one that they wiil need to keep playing for… as far as gil is concern, he needs to grow up and play like a pro, he is not the only player in this team that can score and if he wants to get hi max deal, he needs to show us that he deserves it…. quit talking just let ypur game talks for u
Comment from avirtucio
Time April 22, 2008 at 2:18 PM
i know gil has a good heart he is just too young i guess to realize that what he was saying would affect him down the road he needs to think million times before opening his mouth to media about him, about the game and about the team… expressing what you feel is ok but you just need to put urself in the right perspective
Comment from LilGil
Time April 22, 2008 at 2:27 PM
You know what I think? Our guys just need to get back home, get some good home crowd cheer (well let’s hope so at least) and they’ll get it rollin. My biggest problem is DeShawn, I really feel sorry for him, cuz he has never had a good playoff game here in DC…. Let’s hope we can stop the bleeding as soon as thursday!
Comment from majdi
Time April 22, 2008 at 2:33 PM
the cavs are carrying a lot of momentum so it will be nice if the wizards can clow them down and try to guard lebron in a way where he cant get others involved. I think thats the key as I saw all the cavs did some damage in game 2 if not it will be 3-0 thursfay night.
Comment from neal
Time April 22, 2008 at 5:26 PM
I’m sure DeShawn wishes he hadn’t opened his mouth, or waived his hand in front of it. He doesn’t need us to beat him over the head with it.
What concerns me more is whether Arenas is learning anything.
Comment from wizards_fusion
Time April 22, 2008 at 5:57 PM
A lot of good comments from others suggesting what went wrong with the Wizards and how to fix them. Sounds like people are still frustrated. At least Haywood has been confirmed safe for Game 3. No suspension from the league.
Instead of HOPING for the Wizards to play better, why not DEMAND it? As fans, we want the best from the athletes that play in our home area. Just like parents demand the best behavior from their kids and professors demand attention from students – fans should demand better play especially when we buy tickets or spend ~3 hours of our time watching the team on television per game. So, I DEMAND the Wizards to play better and DEMAND the team to Win.
Stevenson said he was absolutely bashed by Cavs fans with signs. I would make this sign if I can go to the home game:
LoL @ Cavs Fans = “LockSmith on LeBron”.
Comment from John50
Time April 22, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Honestly…What did Arenas do????? Inquiring minds would like to know…
If you cant explain anything that he did, dont post…
Really, all he stated was Basketball Talk. Hey they flucked up in the past two games but they will be ok
Wizard fans wouldnt talk like that about the players.
Lets support the team..Come on Guys…Gosh!!!!!
Wheres Bridge???..She will curse some people out!!!????
Comment from gbkdc
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Idea for sign:
LEBRON HAS A BOO BOO
Comment from majdi
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I dont care who wins now i am just gonna wait till the second round, because the wizards got thier a……… kicked on monday with in 30 minutes of basketball that was pretty bad.
note: the wizards wants to beat the cavs and thats it.
note: lebron wants to win the chmpionship and the wizards are in the way.
Comment from adnanajanah
Time April 24, 2008 at 4:54 PM
I still not conviced that the cavs are better than us. If they win tonight win tonight which will not happen I’ll admit their better than us and pay off all my bets early. Trust me Im a true Wizards fan and KWOW we WILL come back.
Comment from cpikus
Time April 30, 2008 at 10:21 PM
This is a shout out to all Wizards fans to commission the NBA and our wonderful commissioner David Stern to re-evaluate the entire Wizards vs. CAV’s series. I know how everyone who watched the Tip Off of tonight’s game 5 saw how the Ref’s basically just thru the ball to the CAV’s Big “Z” like it was nothing and proceeded to cheat the Wizards the entire game as usual but we still WON game 5 and brought it back to D.C. I can’t believe David Stern fined Stevensen 25K of his hard earned salary today for hating on Jay-Z but also admitted Mr. Lebron “OVERATED” James committed a flagrant foul against Blatche in game one 11 days after it occured. And what benefit did that give the Wizards nothing. Did we receive two free foul shots and the ball like we deserved too no. But after the biggest cry baby In the NBA, and best actor Lebron made it look like Darius S. hit him in the face tonight they got a free throw and the ball for nothing. Don’t even get me started how C. Butler’s second to last shot that gave us the lead wasn’t a foul, when everyone that watches the NBA knows that the same play would have been a foul if the Zards were on the other end (Caron The All-Star for making it regardless the no call). All I can hope for is the Wizards get a little Love at Home for game 6 from the refs cause we all know James and the CAV’S will get every call they cry to the refs for regardless of where the game is played. Just a reminder for David Stern and the NBA do you remember how bad the ratings were last year when the CAV’s made the finals after they were getting similar love for 3 straight series…..yeah no need for a reminder..they were awful. GO WIZARDS……
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Comment from wiz-skins07
Time April 22, 2008 at 10:08 AM
We can do this…i think when Gil came in yesterday..it really messed up our flow..we was forcing things…he didn’t look at all focused for the game..yesterday i was just hoping that they would sit Gil out…
Not Wizards Related:
For all you Redskins fans….The Skins offered a 08′ 1st Rd and 09′ 3rd pick (which could turn out being a 1st depending on how OCHO CINCO performs…but guess what Cincy said NO…