Thursday Morning
UPDATE: Alright everyone. We will have Caron Butler as our special live chat representative next Thursday. As soon as I have a url to send in questions I will post it.
SportzWiz checking in…Well folks another tough one last night. Not much to say that hasn’t been said in the blog yesterday so I’m just going to give you guys a few heads up on some upcoming things that we have going on here.
First off I know we’ve had people asking about a player coming on for the blog, well it sounds like we’ll have a player available to do a live chat and right now it sounds like we are going to have one next Thursday at 2:30, it will be a similar setup to the ESPN chats so it won’t be on washingtonwizardsblog.com but as soon as I know the URL I will let you know so you can send your questions in early. I will also post the transcript of the chat so those that weren’t there can take a look.
We also have some new videos that you can check out, Wizards Magazine ran a nice interview with Darius Songaila and in part 2 he is joined by his wife and also shot some footage of Obama at Verizon Center which is worth a look. I know I also mentioned the Southwest “Trading Places” event and you can see video of that by clicking here.
As always if anybody has any questions I will do my best to get you an answer. Thanks for hanging in their Wizards fans!
Posted: March 5th, 2009 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from GlingGling
Time March 5, 2009 at 1:32 PM
If any of the bench players got a chance to get comfortable, they could start performing and we might actually win a game. That’s not Taps style. When a player gets hot he likes to pull them.
That piece with Darius and his wife was very nice.
Comment from Bridge
Time March 5, 2009 at 1:42 PM
(Thanks for the info SportzWiz)
Yay! – That’s cool that Caron will be on next Thursday; ain’t that the day before his birthday – - then AD’s is also in March…Gotta represent for all the March-People because I’m one of them 
(woo-woo)
Comment from SportzWiz
Time March 5, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Good call Bridge! I completely forgot it was the 13th? When you send in a question make sure to give him some early birthday wishes!
Comment from Bridge
Time March 5, 2009 at 1:45 PM
You know, I really wasn’t a huge fan of Eddie Jordan either, but WOW! I remember the time when I couldn’t wait for the season to start, but now, I’m just REALLY looking forward to it being over! This dictator-wannabe of a coach absolutely ADORES all of the attention that he’s getting, which is pretty sad. What’s the use of rushing to comment (after games) about his demoralizing-style of coaching – - I’ve got more important things to worry about……..(such as) Damn 
– I’m almost out of nail polish remover [which is my point, exactly]
Comment from Bridge
Time March 5, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Will do
Comment from gbkdc
Time March 5, 2009 at 1:56 PM
I don’t know if this has been posted or not, but
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3951002
the NBA is going to legalize BronBron’s “crab dribble!”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Comment from GlingGling
Time March 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
gbkdc, I think it will depend on how they actually write up the rule. If they write up the rule as it currently is but only changing one step to two steps then yes there will be more room for interpretation. But if they write the new rule correctly there shouldn’t be any room for interpretation and “two steps” will actually mean two steps, non of this two and a half nonsense.
Comment from dcbutler357
Time March 5, 2009 at 2:27 PM
LOL….Now i’m really confused (not that it’s hard to do….)
Okay, everyone has one of those days when you just don’t have or feel “it”….so I try to reach back and count my blessings on days such as today…..then i’m talking to a friend and realize that their sister’s last name is TAPSCOTT……and I’m like, please don’t tell me?!?!?!?! Well, needless to say, I had to reach back and start counting my blessings again…..lol……
Comment from dcbutler357
Time March 5, 2009 at 2:29 PM
about that confusion….so now they may take three steps….lol….no longer a travel, but a slight jog
Comment from gbkdc
Time March 5, 2009 at 2:30 PM
GlingGling, we shall see. I just can’t stand that guy.
DCButler, funny!!
Comment from dcbutler357
Time March 5, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Glad to see you’re laughing….we all need a chuckle every now and then. I’m also glad you enjoyed your trip to Africa.
Comment from GrifonRacing
Time March 5, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Only Lebron is powerful enough to have the league change the rules to allow him to travel. What’s next?
Comment from aburks
Time March 5, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I was curious to know If anyone knows for sure if Caron is playing in the game tomorrow vs Spurs? I know at this point in the season it isn’t as important as it would’ve been in week 1. I will be in San Antonio so I would want to see him play
Comment from SportzWiz
Time March 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Haha i read the article yesterday. Don’t worry the league’s not changing any rule. Basically what they have been saying is that the rule and the present time is confusing and they are changing the wording so that the travel call reflects what the wording says.
Right now the rule states you aren’t allowed 1 1/2 or 2 steps, but just really one step, even though this has never been the case in basketball.
Comment from Rick
Time March 5, 2009 at 5:21 PM
they need to leave some “art” in the job of referee
Comment from neal
Time March 5, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Somebody explain to me why the stars are given better treatment by the refs. Any time a ref sees someone even slightly touch Jamison when he’s shooting it’s called. But our young players usually have to get flagrantly banged before it’s called. What power do the stars have over the refs?
Comment from dcbutler357
Time March 5, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Pretty interesting article from Cooley about Jason Taylor
Comment from dcbutler357
Time March 5, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Neal,
The public pays to see the stars, they are the main attractions for the show and receive perks, i.e. mentioning changing the rule is part of the perks.
Comment from Aj
Time March 5, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Wow Bridge I was thinking the same thing about this season. I wanted this season to start so badly in the summer and now I can’t wait for next fall. It’s also weird that last season I didn’t think we would make the playoffs when gil went down and we did. While this season I expected us to make the playoffs and we all know how that turned out
Comment from Aj
Time March 5, 2009 at 6:48 PM
It is also tough seeing one of my favorite players in antawn getting ridiculed on a nightly basis. I do know he has to stop crying every time a call does not get a call and needs to step his game up on the defensive end, caron to. I don’t see why we can’t get 1 blocked shot per game between our co-captains. I mean I just think of d-wade and how he has stepped up his game on the defensive end.
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 5, 2009 at 8:25 PM
This is the official NBA rule on Traveling. Small wonder that they might have to clarify it.
“Section XIV-Traveling
a. A player who receives the ball while standing still may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot.
b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.
The first count occurs:
(1) As he receives the ball, if either foot is touching the floor at the time he receives it.
(2) As the foot touches the floor, or as both feet touch the floor simultaneously after he receives the ball, if both feet are off the floor when he receives it.
The second occurs:
(1) After the count of one when either foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.
c. A player who comes to a stop on the count of one may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot.
d. A player who comes to a stop on the count of two, with one foot in advance of the other, may pivot using only the rear foot as the pivot foot.
e. A player who comes to a stop on the count of two, with neither foot in advance of the other, may use either foot as the pivot foot.
f. In starting a dribble after (1) receiving the ball while standing still, or (2) coming to a legal stop, the ball must be out of the player’s hand before the pivot foot is raised off the floor.
g. If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor. If he drops the ball while in the air, he may not be the first to touch the ball.
h. A player who falls to the floor while holding the ball, or while coming to a stop, may not gain an advantage by sliding.
i. A player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player.
PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the sideline, nearest spot of the violation but no nearer the baseline than the foul line extended.”
Bottom line is no player with the ball may change the footprint of BOTH feet without dribbling the ball. On a drive to the basket, it is assumed that the first step occurs as the last dribble occurs (hence, the one and 1/2 steps).
Comment from gbkdc
Time March 5, 2009 at 9:19 PM
That is too hard to read. I still hate LeBron, though.
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 5, 2009 at 10:19 PM
Amen, gbkdc
That was my point. Hate the crab dribbler too.
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 5, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I was signing off when I heard the Tapscott BS on the radio: In essence, Tap said: Before the game we discussed the fact that the Thunder was a good rebounding team and in order to win we would have to negate their rebounding advantage.
I guess that explains why we had THREE GUARDS on the court at the same time for extended periods, not once, but twice in the second half (James, Critt, and Juan)…the better to outrebound the Thunder? What a complete fool this coach is. Does he really believe that real Wizard basketball fans will fall for his total BS. He says one thing and does the opposite and we are expected to believe that the cause of the failure is the players.
All this guy does is posture and spout; posture and spout; posture and spout…got the picture?…total BS!
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 5, 2009 at 10:56 PM
We don’t need a tactical genius as a coach for 2009-2010. We need a motivational coach who will install a simple, NBA offense. We have the players. When everyone is back and healthy, we have a winning team. Some of the bloggers are not recognizing the fact that almost every single player on this team is getting serious minutes and those minutes are making those players better NBA competitors. Properly instructed, coached and motivated, this team could win 60+ games in 2009-2010 (stop snickering Tom M. I believe this). We have scoring; we have size; we have rebounding; we have speed..who cares about defense. Which ever team has the most points when the final buzzer goes off is the WINNER. I’ll take the fun of watching a 150-149 win over a 2- 0 win anytime. Defensive purists can go watch the Ivy league.
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 5, 2009 at 11:08 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed both parts of the Darius interview. They seem like a very nice family. It’s nice to see the more-normal side of the NBA player.
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 5, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Shut up GABBO…
Okay. Good night all.
Comment from wizardsallday
Time March 6, 2009 at 12:19 AM
I,m with uu on that GABBO
maybe not on the no defense love to see teams get shut down by good D XD.
Comment from dcbutler357
Time March 6, 2009 at 6:44 AM
Good Morning Everyone!!
Saw this in the washington post…i know it’s football, but at this point, any suggestion for tap to get it together is welcome at this point
Coaches of area youth football teams looking to improve their games in the offseason have a new learning tool thanks to the NFL. The Rockville Football League’s 235 coaches are among the enrollees in USA Football’s Certified Coaching Education Program. USA Football, the NFL-backed national governing body on youth and amateur levels for the sport, offers the two-hour online course. Coaching philosophy, practice planning and communicating with young players and parents is covered in the course as well as teaching football fundamentals, including proper blocking and tackling techniques. The course has computer animation and audio narration. For details, go to http://www.usafootball.com.
–Sports section
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time March 6, 2009 at 7:34 AM
Getabig — it’s not a matter of “snickering”, I’m a Wizards fan too. But, we haven’t yet won 50 games — not even 45 — so forget about 60. Basically, we have 2 guys out who matter to the team — Gil and Brendan. You really think those 2 guys make a 40 game difference?
Of course, there’s the coach — and no doubt we don’t have a good one. But the team we are fielding wouldn’t have won 10 more games with the best coach in the NBA. I remind you, we were 1-10 under Eddie Jordan who is a legitimate NBA coach (took us to the playoffs 3 years in a row).
Comment from getabigboyoffense
Time March 6, 2009 at 8:19 AM
Good morning Tom M.,
I know that you’re a feverant Wizards fan. I wrote that you’d be “snickering” because I could just imagine what your response would be:
“we haven’t yet won 50 games — not even 45 — so forget about 60.”
Enjoy the game tonight. Go Wiz!
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Comment from orlando44
Time March 5, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Would someone in Wizards management PLEASE address why the younger players are NOT getting the bulk of the playing time? It just makes NO sense whatsoever. Mr. Tapscott seems to refuse to play them much as opposed to the veterans. Someone needs to tell him to make the remainder of the season about getting the younger players ready to rise to the next level or be released.