Wednesday After a Win
Is it just me or even on this rainy Wednesday morning did it feel about 10 times easier to get out of bed. Anyway Sportzwiz checking in, great game last night. You really can’t say enough about the professionalism of Juan Dixon to come off the bench after several DNP’s and just playing great out there.
Darius Songaila has been a huge difference maker for the past several weeks, last night he played with one of the best big men in the game and flustered him throughout on his way to 15 points. Antawn Jamison hardly filled up the stat sheet in points, but he rebounded well and had several steals, as coach Tapscott said after the game he did a great job of rotating and helping down low. Andray Blatche brought some great energy and his huge slam over Rasheed was a huge momentum builder as was his putback dunk to give the Wizards their first lead of the game.
As many of you know I have been a huge Dominic McGuire fan, he plays hard nose defense and his offense is slowly coming around. Yesterday he showed off a great dribble and reverse layup, a soaring putback dunk and something that we talked about all summer, an improved jumper that was a huge shotin the fourth. Of course he also had a block and steal and received a standing ovation when he came out in the fourth.
Finally, Caron Butler, he brings it every night and yesterday was no different, 33 points, 14-14 from the stripe, 6 assists and five rebounds.
A few more stats from last night:
The Wizards committed just 7 turnovers
Washington held Detroit to just 4 offensive rebounds
The Wizards went to the stripe 31 times compared to Detroit’s 14
Ok I will be heading down to practice but today’s audio will probably be posted later today as several players, Wizard Girls and G-Wiz will be attending the Wizards Family to Family Event.
Posted: December 10th, 2008 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 10, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I love Dominic too, SportsWiz — but I do think I want to wait for more than 1 jumper before I’m sure his shot has “improved.” 
That said, I don’t see why it won’t; his form is fine.
Caron played great last night, but for me the MVP was Dixon. I *expect* a good game from Caron, but Juan’s game was off the charts.
As to Javaris Crittenton, he couldn’t earn minutes w/ the Lakers, or even with the Grizzlies. He is a plus for us in what way exactly? And, yes, it would almost have to be in a trade for Pecherov. Eh.
Comment from aznzero
Time December 10, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I felt the same Sportwiz. It seemed like i hit the snooze button once this morning instead of like 5 times.
Juan Dixon really stepped it up last night. i give him mad props for coming in ready to play after being out the rotation for some time.
another player i didnt see too many people talk about was antonio daniels. i thought he played well and with the same attack mode he had a long time ago and getting to the free throw line. i havent seen the past two games so maybe hes been doing that since but i missed it.
and the rest you guys covered it already so i dont think i need to repeat wat everyone says. great win!
Comment from millie mill
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:32 PM
*update*
The Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets have agreed to a three-team trade that will bring two new guards to the Gilbert Arenas-less Wizards, according to NBA front-office sources.
The Wizards will receive New Orleans’ Mike James and Memphis’ Javaris Crittenton in the exchange, with the Hornets acquiring Washington’s Antonio Daniels and the Grizzlies coming away with a future first-round pick.
Arenas has yet to play for the Wizards since signing a new $111 million contract in the offseason after undergoing surgery on his left knee. A firm timetable for Arenas’ comeback has not been established, but he has yet to be cleared to participate in contact drills, making a return by Jan. 1 — as Arenas initially hoped — seem unlikely.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday morning that the pick is a conditional first-rounder that Memphis had sent to Washington in the trade to acquire Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro in the 2007 offseason. Navarro returned to club power FC Barcelona in his native country this season.
The Wizards have to release guard Dee Brown to make roster room for their new players.
According to the Post, Daniels was at Wizards practice but was pulled off the floor once the deal proceeded to the conference-call stage required for league approval.
The Grizzlies had been expected to part with at least one point guard this season after stockpiling several. Crittenton, taken 19th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 draft, arrived in Memphis in February as part of the Pau Gasol deal.
James had fallen out of favor in New Orleans under coach Byron Scott and hadn’t played in nine of the Hornets’ past 10 games. Daniels, who has been a fixture on Washington’s playoff teams over the past three seasons, is averaging 5.1 points, 3.6 assists and 22.4 minutes in 13 games.
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:34 PM
millie mill,
Deg you beat me too it but…
here’s the link if any one wants it…
Comment from millie mill
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:38 PM
How do you guys think this trade will work out for the Wizards???
Comment from aznzero
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:45 PM
haha dang you guys must be on the espn page waiting and hitting refresh or something.
Comment from jhough813
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:50 PM
It’s tough to lose such a good guy like A.D. but he’s clearly been banged up and hasn’t been able to run the team like he did last year. It’s not a salary cap move since James and A.D. are making about the same money. Also, apparently we’re going to have to cut Dee. That kind of sucks since he’s been playing much better lately, hitting his open shots when he has them and making a conscious effort to get the ball to Antawn and Caron.
Comment from jdmek9tec
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Honestly, i think mike james would be a “poor-mans” version of gilbert, and we need someone that can score from the PG position and do what arenas kinda did till he comes back. he used to kill us when he was in the raptors with those 3sSS!.
As for Jarvaris, this kid can play. He has great handles and is very quick, i think he will learn a lot from gilbert and just by being with Gil he can develop his game. Oh yeah and he already met Gilbert back when he was doing the pre-draft workout with us, and gilbert gave him his shoes!.
GET THIS TRADE FINALIZED!
Comment from millie mill
Time December 10, 2008 at 1:59 PM
I think Mike James will start for the Wizards until Gil comes back. Too bad for me I bought tickets for tomorrow’s game and I think this lessen our chances to win with no AD or Dee Brown.
Comment from NickDaGiFt
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:01 PM
no dee brown, where’s dee going.
I really liked dee
Comment from wiz-skins07
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:04 PM
NickDaGift,
We are all guessing he gets released to make room for the 2 gaurds
Comment from NickDaGiFt
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:06 PM
sweet trade…
AD gets to go to a contender,go for him.
And we get a young 6′5 point guard with a good upside,only thing im confused about is mike james.
Comment from NickDaGiFt
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:06 PM
yea i just read the official espn story
Comment from millie mill
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:10 PM
I think Mike James is a good back up PG. He wasn’t getting much playing time in NO (playing behind Chris Paul) and in Houston he only played 16 mins per game and avg 6.5 points.
Comment from wizkid034
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:13 PM
I just read a post by Ivan Carter on the Post’s Insider site, and I see they have put it on the Wizards page. Here is the breakdown, how I heard it…
Three team deal between the Wiz, Grizz and Hornets.
Wiz get Mike James and Javaris Crittenton
Grizz get back the conditional pick they gave up for JCN
Hornets get AD and possibly a conditional pick
Dee Brown will be outright released.
All in all, I like the deal. Let’s face it, something more had to be done to shake things up. I honestly thought EG would try and move Pesh, since he so obviously does not fit anywhere in the rotation. I knew that Dee and Juan were not safe because their contracts are not guaranteed until after Jan. 10th. That means we can cut either with no affect on our luxury tax.
AD is getting older and he has been hobbled this season. I agree that not having him will hurt initially, but if he keeps having trouble with nagging injuries this will be better.
Mike James might get the PG position initially, but I really like the upside for Crittenton. He and Gil in the same lineup down the road could be great!
I still anticipate a possible move of Pesh at some point here. At this point, Young, McGuire and Andray appear to be untouchable.
Comment from aznzero
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:15 PM
the deal is done. its on espn.
check this out too. but its basically the same.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/
sad to see AD go. really liked him running the team when healthy and getting to the line and hitting them freethrows. As for Dee. i was really hoping he would make a comeback in the NBA with us and he was really starting to gel with our guys. and hes a great person too.
mike james had his best stretch in his career when he played for houston, min, and toronto. and yes he can score. expecially the three. im not surprised if he replaces stevenson due to dsteve’s inconsistent shooting.
javaris is athletic. i think he will be a good player for us. a second year 6′ 5″ guard. its getting me excited just how i get excited when i first saw javale mcgee! but javaris has a bright future.
So who will start at point? Juan?
Will these guys be able to play tomorow for us?
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:24 PM
I *hate* this trade, I really do.
Dee Brown has actually played pretty well in his minutes, and he was developing — in particular, his shot was coming around.
Javaris Crittenton has some of the worst numbers in 722 minutes you could imagine. He turns the ball over 3 times as much as he steals it, he has 56 assists total, he has blocked a shot 2 times total, he shoots a low percentage, and low from 3, and low from the line. He is a pretty good rebounder for a guard, but that is his *only* positive number.
Mike James makes as much as Antonio, and has the same length contract. He is *obviously* not as good a player as Antonio, so we can’t have made the trade to acquire him.
We are maneuvering to get high in the lottery.
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:27 PM
On the other hand, this is a *great* deal for Antonio and for New Orleans. AD has a chance to back up the best point guard (and arguably the best player) in the league, and he’ll be contending for a title (tho I still don’t think anyone in the West will get by the Lakers).
Comment from aznzero
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:35 PM
mike james is a younger player and alot quicker than antonio. he plays pretty good defense from what i remember when he played alot. but we will see what happens. But Crittenton has potential for being a good player.
Comment from millie mill
Time December 10, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Mike James and AD are the same age. With all the injures we have on this team Crittenton will get playing time. Tom remember the guy is only 20 and has been in the league only one year.
Comment from M2
Time December 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Crit has only played sporadically in two separate systems for just a little over a year (thus the 722 minutes total) so don’t be so quick to tally up your “numbers”… He has a serious upside & EG has wanted him since he declared for the draft. He’s gotten a little lost in the NBA system early but will recover… We are hopefully a good home for him!
I wanted him over Nick in that draft & thought LA got a steal… We’ll see?
Comment from adnanajanah
Time December 10, 2008 at 8:51 PM
sucks for dee now he has no team. Can’t wait for tomorrows game. If we win we are starting a 7 game win streak and getting back in the hunt for the playoffs. go wiz
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Comment from millie mill
Time December 10, 2008 at 11:59 AM
That was a BIG BIG win last night. The bench came out and really held there own out there. Butler was defiantly the game’s MVP but Dixon, and D-Mac should have been next in line. Can you believe the D-Mac was 100% from the floor? ?
I saw on ESPN this article.
Trade To Wizards Possible
Javaris Crittenton | Grizzlies
The Wizards and Grizzlies have held discussions regarding a possible trade involving second-year Memphis point guard Javaris Crittenton, a league source confirmed last night.
The deal, first reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal, would likely involve a swap of Crittenton for the conditional draft pick the Wizards received from Memphis in the summer of 2007 for Juan Carlos Navarro. — The Washington Post
• Memphis and Washington first tossed around this idea during the summer. The Griz have since had other opportunities to deal Crittenton in exchange for players but always sought to pick up a first-round pick after Navarro returned to Spain. — Memphis Commercial-Appeal
If this is true I don’t understand how we can get a player with out giving up a player. I say we trade Pecherov for Crittenton.