Prepping for Game 3
Hey everyone, I’ll be heading down to practice in about an hour and a half. If there are any questions please let me know. The team didn’t go through much of a practice yesterday, so I expect them to go for a pretty good amount of time today. Again the team seemed very upbeat yesterday and is very excited about coming home and playing in front of the home fans. I’ll have quotes after practice and let you know about anything that catches my eye.
Two things First off here is a very comical article on WashingtonWizards.com looking at non basketbal matchups between cleveland and Washington.. VERY FUNNY
2nd off here are your quotes… As far as the team is concerned, the one thing is they have been here before. They have responded well all season after bad losses and I think you will see the same thing happen tomorrow.
WIZARDS HEAD COACH EDDIE JORDAN
On preparing for Game Three:
“We have to channel all of our aggressiveness, all of our excitement and all of our bravado into being organized within the team framework.â€
On regaining momentum:
“I think that being home is going to increase our comfort level. We’ve been in this situation before. We’ve got everybody back. We’re looking to do some things better. We watched some tape, we’ve had meetings and we’ve had practice.â€
On making adjustments:
“We have to give our opponent credit and respect. At the same time, we have to address our downfalls. We need to concentrate on improving and playing a little harder going into tomorrow night’s game.â€
WIZARDS FORWARD ANTAWN JAMISON
On Game Three:
“We know what to expect tomorrow and how important this game is. If you win Game Three you have a series and can really concentrate on Game Four. This is the most important game for us. We need to defend our home court and get a win. I expect it to be crazy.â€
More on Game Three:
“Every time you get blown out, you always want to come back the next night and get a win, but also, to really produce and play better. I think it is part of being a veteran team. I think we do a great job of putting it behind us and not letting it soak in. We put it behind us.â€
On defending LeBron James:
“We really need to concentrate on keeping him in front of us. He is getting a lot of drives, too many drives. We need to prevent him from getting in a rhythm. He got to the free throw line a lot last game. I think in all we have to do a better job as a team and not just with the guy who is guarding him.â€
On the offense:
“We need to stay disciplined and trust the things that got us to this point. We didn’t play well in Game Two, but we know we can play better. We put it behind us that we didn’t play well. The ‘Big Three’ has to come out, be patient and trust our teammates.â€
On returning to Washington DC:
“There’s no need to panic. We’re at home. We’re going to get some home cooking. We need to play better than we did on the road.â€
On the physical play of the series:
“Everybody affiliated with playoff basketball knows that things are a little different. Every possession counts. I don’t think anything is going to change. We’re going to continue to play hard and protect the rim.â€
On Brendan Haywood:
“He’s our big man. His job is to protect the paint. His job is to play great defense. When he plays well, we play well. I always thought that he’d have a big impact. He’s our big man. He’s been protecting the paint all year and we don’t expect anything different now that the playoffs have started.â€
WIZARDS CENTER BRENDAN HAYWOOD
On making adjustments:
“I don’t think we need to change our style too much. Even though Cleveland won the first two games at home, I think we stayed with our principles and played better team basketball.â€
On fouling LeBron James:
“I’m going to play the same way. That was just a bang-bang unfortunate incident. I saw him at the last minute and tried to foul him and he was already up in the air. I’m not going to change the way I play.â€
On apologizing to LeBron James:
“A lot of people felt it was a dirty play and I wanted to make sure people didn’t think I was a dirty player. I didn’t want LeBron to think I’m a dirty player.â€
WIZARDS GUARD ANTONIO DANIELS
On the team:
“We watched a lot of tape yesterday on things we need to improve on. It isn’t complicated and it is something we have done throughout the course of the season. We know what we have to do to be successful against this team. It is not easy because they are obviously a very good basketball team. It isn’t easy, but with the team we have we are very capable of doing it.â€
Posted: April 23rd, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:26 AM
CB shot the ball very well yesterday after film, I did not see Gilbert yesterday.
Comment from gbkdc
Time April 23, 2008 at 10:23 AM
How will the team find the confidence and passion to win this game?
Tell Haywood I said he’s the man for showing so much heart in the last game. Can he spread some of that heart to the rest of the team?
How is Eddie Jordan going to fire up the team and keep them running the offense? Will they keep their composure this time? Will he call a time out when they are NOT composed???
What is wrong with Tough Juice? Is it the injuries? Nothing but love for CB, but he looks off.
Comment from Brickjp
Time April 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I agree – Caron looks tentative at best. Both him and Gil are missing their explosiveness which normally makes them so hard to guard. Without that, they are both taking more outside shots which haven’t really been falling.
At this point, their is no need for discussion or talk from the players or the coaches regarding the game. We just straight up have not played up to our potential. We need to execute and we need to do it early in the game tomorrow. We need to make a statement that they will not win in Verizon Center and that we are back in this series. Tomorrow night’s game will have a huge impact on what this team looks like next year.
Comment from majdi
Time April 23, 2008 at 11:01 AM
gbkdc, are you serious haywood allowed the cavs to get fired up and get 5 point out of one position and he could have fouled in a smart way or whtever just let him dunk the wizards cant afford to loose their centr any way they even need more to stop lebron.
Comment from gbkdc
Time April 23, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Yes, I’m serious. He’s the only player that looked like he cared about winning. Just my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. I know he fouled out.
Comment from majdi
Time April 23, 2008 at 11:17 AM
good for you not the team
Comment from Brickjp
Time April 23, 2008 at 11:21 AM
gbkdc – I totally agree with you. Haywood has had that passion all year. We need him to continue to contribue.
btw – majdi provides nothing in terms of this discussion board. He’s only looking to annoy Wizards fans.
Comment from majdi
Time April 23, 2008 at 12:48 PM
how about what neal said in (back in DC blog): “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.”
is that annoying? …. i think its so true.
Comment from Brickjp
Time April 23, 2008 at 1:13 PM
^ Yea, neal is actually a Wizards fan (who else would post here) who provides some decent input. He doesn’t post here just to try to get people riled up. Get a life already.
WIZARDS
Comment from nickman
Time April 23, 2008 at 1:13 PM
We need to come out on fire cb3, aj, and deshwan stevenson. Deshawn needs to silence the critics about the lbj crap. He has not shown up in his playoff apperances, do u remember last years disaster granted we were undermanned. He scored maybe 2pts in 4 games. Its time to show the cavs wut wizards bball truly is. Ready to rule baby
Comment from dopeboyfresh
Time April 23, 2008 at 2:08 PM
ESPN MAKES ME SO mad sometimes…………………………………..
They talk always about certain teams that most of the country like, Like
PHOENIX
SAN ANTONIO
DETROIT
CLEVELAND
DALLAS
LA LAKERS and now, BOSTON and NEW ORLEANS…………………..
the Espn analyst are always talkin’ about these teams……………
you almost never hear someone saying something about washington or utah…
that’s why washington needs to win this year………… to shut up all those stupid analysts,
most of whom probaly never won a championship………
IF THE WIZARDS WIN THIS YEAR, CHARLES BARKLEY SHOULD NEVER TALK ABOUT SPORTS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from Jason C
Time April 23, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Yeah I agree on the Haywood thing, he was the only guy to show any fire, and after he got ejected its like we stopped trying…that wasn’t too hard to see.
Comment from neal
Time April 23, 2008 at 2:45 PM
I don’t agree Jason. I think we got rattled when they got ahead and tried to get back by putting up quick jump shots and making stoopid plays on D. Lost composure and discipline. I think everyone wanted it and was still trying. There’s such a thin margin at this level that any bit of lost confidence can effect your play and at the same time give more confidence to the enemy.
Comment from majdi
Time April 23, 2008 at 2:54 PM
espn makes some people mad sometimes how about the other times, well i am wondering why some people are mad at me on this blog i thought i was talking to men but i dont see that i just say my openion and i really dont see the wizards beating the cavs i just dont see it. i want to see someone to talk basketball not confirm the win before tipp off you can predict but show me the evidences that you depend on. people the waizards cant win using this blog and they cant loose because of me.
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time April 23, 2008 at 3:18 PM
you don’t say anything about basketball you talk about how we are going to lose try to use words to form a sentence it works when you talk so people can respond to your “opinions”… it was your opinion that we could not win from day one so its kinda hard to say we are talking win before tip when you were here talking about the cavs win way b4 us…
how ever the evidence is in the fact that we have been a team that has done what people said we could not do all year we have a knack to be up when others think we are down and love it when our back is to the wall and if the cavs win at home that’s what there supposed to do and we should win at home as well… there is the evidence that you ask for!
Comment from Brickjp
Time April 23, 2008 at 3:29 PM
^ Well put W4L. I could come on this blog every day and say ‘I think the Wizards will win tonight’ and claim that I ‘stated my opinion’. That comment is useless. As a fan, I come on here have meaningful discussions with other Wiz fans about the sport we all love. I don’t come on this site to respond to meaningless comments about how the Wizards are going to lose. I will support this team in good times and in bad. That is what being a fan is. You don’t say a series is over after two games. Last time I checked, it’s a best of SEVEN game series, so until we lose four games, we are still in it. Pumped about tomorrows home game! WIZARDS.
Comment from majdi
Time April 23, 2008 at 3:30 PM
I agree you have to win at home just like they did it is 2 full days off for the cavs the crowd is gonna go off and support so it is wizards turn but think about it i never said the cavs will win just because they are the cavs i just look at it like u just did home court too much talking from D S and GIL so the cavs are fired and want to proove that the wizards cant talk about them like that. does it make sense
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time April 23, 2008 at 4:07 PM
for my poster board for tomorrows game should i put:
Welcome to DC Queen James
or just Queen James…
any suggestions on something else i can put to greet the queen
Comment from LilGil
Time April 23, 2008 at 4:11 PM
If you put Welcome to DC Queen James you’ll have to wait by the end of the game or some impresive move on the queen cuz there’s no way we’re welcoming her!!
Comment from dopeboyfresh
Time April 23, 2008 at 4:32 PM
” i don’t see the wizards beating the cavs”……………………….
MAJDI, ARE U SERIOUS?…………….
THIS IS A WIZARDS BLOG,NOT SUM SOME BLOG FOR PEOPLE TO BOP OFF LeBRON JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN WASHINGTON, THEN DON’T TYPE HERE, CUZ MESSAGES LIKE THESE WILL KEEP ON COMING TO YOU AND ALL THE OTHER BUMS WHO COME HERE
TALKIN’ TRASH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from SportzWiz
Time April 23, 2008 at 4:51 PM
EVERYONE PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1st off As I have said about 20 times over the last three days anymore posts with **** in the middle of inproper language will be deleted! With repeat offenders being suspended or banned from making comments.
2nd off, Majdi for several straight days now since you have joined you have continued to make comments to annoy/upset our frequent users. This is a Wizards Blog and while everyone is critical from time to time with the team you are pushing it to the extent that you will be thrown off this blog. You might wonder what you have done, but coming on this blog everyday and saying the Wizards are going to lose is not posting comments about the team it is purely inciting people.
CONSIDER THIS TO BE YOUR FIRST AND LAST WARNING!!!
I hope I make myself clear to everyone on this blog that we will not have people using inproper language or inciting people on this blog.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 23, 2008 at 4:54 PM
What is this “Queen James” stuff? LeBron is a great player; give him some respect.
If we play our game, and if Gil doesn’t get too many minutes (and if Nick doesn’t get any), we should win. Gil is way off, that’s obvious.
Whatever happens in the series, this has been a great year to watch the Wizards!
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 23, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Hey Sportswiz — I’m glad you chimed in. Lets keep it positive, gang!
Comment from neal
Time April 23, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Thanks for the support majdi & brickjp.
Comment from FLOYDBT
Time April 23, 2008 at 5:56 PM
The bench isnt helping out at all thats the problem, the defense is alright but they just need to stay on there man and know that lebron isnt kobe and wont try to score every point if possible so lets stop double and triple teaming him causing the defense to srew up and give easy points to the wide open cavs……but what is bothering me the most is that gilbert isnt passing the ball first like he did when he first came back from his injury. if gilbert keeps trying to force shots instead of actually passing the ball first were screwed big time.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time April 23, 2008 at 8:36 PM
no bopping — just want to talk *basketball* not trash here.
Comment from wizards_fusion
Time April 23, 2008 at 8:42 PM
I’ve thought about this the last couple of days and I want to share this theoretical lineup with other bloggers here.
Since Arenas came back from injury, he’s been solid on most games but he lost his shot during the playoffs. I feel that when Arenas comes off the bench, he feels he needs to “lead the charge” and take all the responsibility upon himself. I suppose that when you’re a superstar, you feel obligated to carry the team on your back.
Anyways, with the Wiz down 2 to the Cavs, why not consider a new starting lineup? How about this:
PG – Antonio
SG – Gilbert
SF – Caron
PF – Antawn
C – Brendan
I’m not suggesting to sit DeShawn Stevenson because of his struggles during the playoffs. What I’m suggesting is this – if Arenas starts with the other heavy hitters on the team, he won’t feel all the burden on his shoulders like he would if he came in as a sub with other players that are more specialists (i.e., 3pt shooter). Also, Stevenson can focus more on his defense against LeBron coming off the bench instead of playing D and having the team rely on his 2-3 threes per game.
Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Just a couple of Quotes From A True Winner “George S. Paton”
“Say what you mean and mean what you say.”
“Success is how you bounce off the bottom.”
“Your’re never beaten until you admit it”
” Attack rapidly,ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tired, more hungry. KEEP PUNCHING”
GO Wizards > Siemper Fidelis .Always Faithful!
Comment from Wizards4Life
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:17 PM
wizards_fusion good idea the only problem i see in there is that Gil might not have the wind to pull that off he is not in Game shape after missing 60+ games… if he can do it i would think that should not only change Gil’s plays and mood it might give other guys DS a relaxed role to loosen him up as well
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:51 PM
We are trying too hard. We need to start playing the kind of team ball that got us to the playoffs in the first place. I understand Coach’s decision to commit hard fouls on James, but, that really isn’t who we are. I’d rather take a page from the recent past and double team him early on the perimeter and take the ball out of his hands. Caronimo and Gil need to synch up fast. Too much time apart for those two. Each seems to be afraid of stealing the other’s thunder.
Team ball guys and we can still win this! Let’s get this one Tomorrow at HOME!
ps) expect a few like majdi. every year, in other sports blogs as well, a fan of the opposing team will take on the blog teams colors for no other reason than to stir things up. Just expect it and don’t let it bother you.
Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:56 PM
Its time to get our mindsets right and think of a new strategy to stopping the Chosen One becuase the media and league donot like it when he is hit hard. So I would suggest maybe a media lockout until it’s over and done with! We cannot win if he is fouled hard so we have to pitty pat this huge behemouth!
Comment from ewoldtk
Time April 23, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Here is a great link (and printable poster) for heckling Lebron…I plan to print a bunch out and bring em.
http://aherninquirer.blogspot.com/2008/04/taunting-lebron-games-3-4.html
Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 23, 2008 at 10:42 PM
I’m no Phil Jackson genius of basketball but if we get our assist way up over 20 and make a few three pointers 10 for 25 and rebound the ball we might have a good chance of winning a game! We have been beat in the assist,rebounds and three-pointers every game. I expect a better free- throw shooting percentage also that will only help the cause!
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time April 24, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Aundra for some reason our free throw shooting has forsaken us? I have no idea why? We were soooo good at it in the regular season. We don’t seem comfortable. We need to forget the hype and just play! I’ve been an advocate, all year, of sharing the ball. It seems to me that whenever we get over 20 assists a game we either win or make it one heck of a close ball game. We have 3 perenial all stars. They can only double team one of them. The other 2 have to step it UP.
Ok… it’s only me I’m sure lol. How would you guys like to see Dom on the “king” a little???? My gut feeling says Stevenson at the 2 and Mcguire at the 3 would really give the “king” fits.
Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 24, 2008 at 1:06 AM
I give anything a try to slow down the CHOSEN ONE but what really scares me is this team has lost its SCORING THREAT. That scoring pace Coach has been talking about has gone defunct and that surprises me the MOST! We need a blow out game to get our rhythm back with 50% field goal percentage and hopefully that will get the engine”core”
restarted!
Comment from AUNDRA
Time April 24, 2008 at 1:17 AM
Lakers 33 ASSIST versus Denver’s 12 ASSISTS . And the Winner is ?
You guessed it THE LAKERS BY A MILE!
YOU SEE TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!
Comment from majdi
Time April 24, 2008 at 6:02 AM
sportz wiz i was using a nick name of “mario” and i made acomment on a blog before where everybody was thinking that the cavs gonna loos to miami and philadelphia then in your replay to me you invited me to join the game day but i lost the password…..
i am just saying some openion just not to get the guys really surprised after a loss, did you read my last reply and in addition to that to make the wizards chances even stronger i agree with Tom Mandel.
Comment from gee wiz
Time April 24, 2008 at 11:20 AM
i said before the series started put stevenson or mcguire on lebron. ne way what is wrong with yall…. sure deshawn talked to much, the first half of game 1 deshawn did a great job on lebron but there is 4 quaters and lebron crushed him and deshawns shooting was terrible. game 2 lebron wasnt a dominant but deshawn guarded him less than usual and also deshawn had a great offensive performance the best he has had in washington in the playoffs. game 2 was entirely put to blame on the big 3. 28 points….. thats an average of 9.2 something a game for all three. that sucks. the first half of games were right in there….. the second half were falling off. it is time to start arenas. ur suppose to ride or die with ur star player. the fire off tha bench thing just aint working
Comment from gbkdc
Time April 24, 2008 at 11:29 AM
AUNDRA, thanks for these great quotes:
“Success is how you bounce off the bottom.†AIN’T THAT THE TRUTH!!!!!!!
“Your’re never beaten until you admit itâ€
And I hope they find that swagger tonight!
Comment from adnanajanah
Time April 24, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Lets GO!! Being back home feels great but it would be better if it was 1-1 right now . But I’m not worried
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time April 25, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Hey Aundra….. we got our blowout 
Time to see how “energized” the core is NOW. (at home too)
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Comment from r55
Time April 23, 2008 at 9:22 AM
How is caron and gilbert feeling……cb looks like he is having a hard time finding a rythm