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Game 69: Detroit @ Wizards // Sun. 8pm on ESPN
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:07 am
by nasty daddy
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:32 am
by nasty daddy
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... ts_pi.html
Washington All-Star Gilbert Arenas has been out since undergoing left knee surgery on Nov. 21, but it appears he's on the path to returning before the regular season ends. He underwent an MRI on Monday, and was given the go-ahead to increase the intensity of workouts.
"I'll be back way before the playoffs," Arenas told the Washington Post earlier this week.
With all but the first three playoff spots in the East (Boston, Detroit and Orlando) pretty wide open, there's no telling who the Wizards might face in the postseason."We're not scared of any team," Arenas said. "There's no team that actually frightens us out there. When you have three guys that can score 20, we're more frightening because no one has actually seen us as a whole group yet."
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:00 am
by srt4b
this is a blowout, obviously.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:52 am
by Hunter
srt4b wrote:this is a blowout, obviously.
For who? The Wiz give us problems because we can't defend them. Butler is one of those SF types that gives Prince all sorts of trouble and neither of our bigs like to go out on the perimeter to cover Jamison, and if they do he takes em off the dribble. Plus pulling Sheed/Dice away from the basket opens up driving lanes for guys like Daniels.
It's certainly possible we blow em out, but I wouldn't write off the Wiz just yet. If nothing else they are gonna be able to put some pts on the board, which will probably be enough to keep it close.
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:07 pm
by Roscoe Sheed
I'd rather play the 76ers in the first round than the Wiz, especially if they have Arenas back. I know the Sixers have been on fire as of late, but I don't think they'd really have a chance of beating the Pistons in a series. With the Wiz on the other hand, I think Arenas might make a game winning shot or two that could steal a series
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:44 pm
by srt4b
Hunter wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
For who? The Wiz give us problems because we can't defend them. Butler is one of those SF types that gives Prince all sorts of trouble and neither of our bigs like to go out on the perimeter to cover Jamison, and if they do he takes em off the dribble. Plus pulling Sheed/Dice away from the basket opens up driving lanes for guys like Daniels.
It's certainly possible we blow em out, but I wouldn't write off the Wiz just yet. If nothing else they are gonna be able to put some pts on the board, which will probably be enough to keep it close.
This is the kind of game where we re-focus and our guards have major advantages over their depleted back court.
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:06 am
by dlts20
Wiz fan here. Some think that Gil may come back for this game but it will most likely be on Wednesday or so.
If no Gil then I think you guys probally wouldve killed us a few days ago. Now I think we have a solid shot. The reason is because Caron finally knocked off his rust tonight. Since he's came back he's been passing great and rebounding well but you could easily tell that his timing was way off. He was shooting like 33%, turning the ball over alot, couldnt guard anyone, and he would always basically go the wrong way with the ball like he had 2 left fight. Tonight he was back to looking awesome again and AJ has been playing as good as anyone in the league the last 10 games or so. He was named the EC player of the week last week and is still hot.
I think this is kind of one of those win win games as a Wiz fan. We'll either get a great win or if we lose then we can hold our hat on the fact that Gil should be back in the next game or so to make that late push. I do feel like we matchup better with you guys then almost any other team in the league can. What do you guys think you will do with your depth in the playoffs? Do you think you will still play those bench guys alot or will just just stick with basically the starting 5 and Maxiel? I know you guys hate the Cavs like us and may do or may not want to see them in the playoffs but Ill say that we will get to them 1st and knock them off. We will probally make it easy for you and knock the C's off also
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:05 am
by nasty daddy
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 20343/1127
The Pistons play the Wizards on Sunday, which begs the question: Will Gilbert Arenas (left knee surgery) be back?
He's been working out, and could return soon.
"They (doctors) told me that this year I won't be me," Arenas told washingtonwizards.com. "Don't go back and try to be me. I have to come back as an assist man. I have to be careful."
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:15 pm
by Roscoe Sheed
dlts20 wrote:Wiz fan here. Some think that Gil may come back for this game but it will most likely be on Wednesday or so.
If no Gil then I think you guys probally wouldve killed us a few days ago. Now I think we have a solid shot. The reason is because Caron finally knocked off his rust tonight. Since he's came back he's been passing great and rebounding well but you could easily tell that his timing was way off. He was shooting like 33%, turning the ball over alot, couldnt guard anyone, and he would always basically go the wrong way with the ball like he had 2 left fight. Tonight he was back to looking awesome again and AJ has been playing as good as anyone in the league the last 10 games or so. He was named the EC player of the week last week and is still hot.
I think this is kind of one of those win win games as a Wiz fan. We'll either get a great win or if we lose then we can hold our hat on the fact that Gil should be back in the next game or so to make that late push. I do feel like we matchup better with you guys then almost any other team in the league can. What do you guys think you will do with your depth in the playoffs? Do you think you will still play those bench guys alot or will just just stick with basically the starting 5 and Maxiel? I know you guys hate the Cavs like us and may do or may not want to see them in the playoffs but Ill say that we will get to them 1st and knock them off. We will probally make it easy for you and knock the C's off also
I know the Wiz played well against the Celtics earlier in the season, but in a series the Celtics would clamp down and win 4-1 or 4-2
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:55 pm
by miller31time
Roscoe Sheed wrote:I know the Wiz played well against the Celtics earlier in the season, but in a series the Celtics would clamp down and win 4-1 or 4-2
To be honest, I don't know about that. We actually match up quite well with them. Their best player and MVP candidate (Garnett) is pitted against our best defender (Haywood) who always defends KG well, because of his length and ability to move laterally.
Their 2nd best player (Pierce) and our best non-injured player (Caron) pretty much cancel each other out.
Jamison sticks to the perimeter where, although Garnett is a superb defender, it's tough to get out on him constantly.
The key in this equation is the health of Arenas. If he's back by the playoffs, then we have a factor that can make you say "Well, since HE'S here, anything can happen".
I'm not saying we'd win. I'm not saying it's not a possibility that we'd be severely embarrassed. But I don't think the likelihood of the 2nd would be high.
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:06 pm
by Snakebites
miller31time wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
To be honest, I don't know about that. We actually match up quite well with them. Their best player and MVP candidate (Garnett) is pitted against our best defender (Haywood) who always defends KG well, because of his length and ability to move laterally.
Their 2nd best player (Pierce) and our best non-injured player (Caron) pretty much cancel each other out.
Jamison sticks to the perimeter where, although Garnett is a superb defender, it's tough to get out on him constantly.
The key in this equation is the health of Arenas. If he's back by the playoffs, then we have a factor that can make you say "Well, since HE'S here, anything can happen".
I'm not saying we'd win. I'm not saying it's not a possibility that we'd be severely embarrassed. But I don't think the likelihood of the 2nd would be high.
Anything that makes life rougher for the Celtics makes it easier for us (hopefully).
Godspeed.
We'll have to see how Arenas looks. Guards (or players for that matter) trying to get into it after being injured most of a season are a huge hit or miss. The Wiz have held their own well without him throughout the season, but Im not sure Butler, Jaminson, and the supporting cast can go toe to toe with Boston.
Of course, Pistons fans would be thrilled to see you playing Boston at all, because it would mean you would have eliminated any possibility of us getting saddled with Cleveland at any point....
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:31 pm
by Rasheeed!!!
Wizards play tough, so i expect a needlessly hard game
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:47 pm
by beau
I am just hoping Sheed shows up, but Jamison usually scorches him anyways. I propose someone esle besides sheed and mcdyess guard Jamison. Maybe Prince or Amir?
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:44 pm
by nasty daddy
http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?cat=11
Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace was selected 4th overall by Washington Bullets in the 1995 NBA Draft, and averaged 10.1 points per game for the Wizards in 65 games during the 1995-96 season. Wallace and Antonio Daniels were teammates during the 2002-2003 season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton was selected 7th overall by the Wizards in the 1999 NBA Draft, and averaged 15.6 points per game in 212 games for the Wizards from 1999-02. Pistons guard Juan Dixon was drafted with the 17th overall pick by Washington in the 2002 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.2 points per game in 176 games as a Wizard from 2002-05.
Pistons swingman Jarvis Hayes was selected 10th overall by the Wizards in the 2003 NBA Draft, and averaged 8.9 points per game in 226 games for Washington from 2003-07
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:14 am
by nasty daddy
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/wizardsi ... r_now.html
Rookie Nick Young was a late scratch with a bruised left thigh, an injury he suffered during last Thursday's win over Cleveland. It's been bothering him ever since and after he warmed up tonight, the decision was made to sit him out. Nick told me that he expects to be able to play Sunday night against Detroit.
No real update on Gilbert Arenas. He went through a pretty intense workout before the game. In one drill, he dribbled a basketball while athletic trainer Eric Waters used a stretch chord to create resistence. Arenas didn't rule himself in or out of Sunday's game against the Pistons but my gut tells me that if he comes back, it will be at some point during the road trip that opens Tuesday night in Portland.
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:43 am
by tmorgan
beau wrote:I am just hoping Sheed shows up, but Jamison usually scorches him anyways. I propose someone esle besides sheed and mcdyess guard Jamison. Maybe Prince or Amir?
Tall guys with some athleticism and a good outside shot aren't really guarded, ever. There's nothing you can really do with them over the course of a whole game, unless they have no teammates whatsoever, I guess, then you can double them on the perimeter.
Jamison has good shooting games and bad shooting games, just like Sheed. Neither one of them is really guardable. The difference is, Jamison's a better scorer and Sheed is a much, much better defender. Problem is, that's post defense, something you don't really need against the Wizards.
It's a tough matchup for Detroit. We're still better, but not as much better as the overall talent level and accomplishments would indicate. Along with Cleveland, Washington is another second tier team I'd prefer to avoid in the playoffs.
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:32 am
by nasty daddy
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... is_ro.html
Eddie Jordan is a longshot to be named this season's coach of the year. But the job he has done with the injury-riddled Wizards has not gone unnoticed. Despite a slew of injuries to key players including three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas, Jordan currently has them fifth in the East and battling to get home court in the first round. "It says something about the job Eddie has done, his system," Saunders said. "More so with the injuries, they've relied on their system and how they play."
Billups had similar comments about Jordan. "I've been very impressed with them," Billups said. "They've been playing good. You can attribute a lot of that to their coach."
Hayes spent four seasons under Jordan in Washington. While he admits Jordan has done a good job dealing with the many setbacks faced by Washington this year, Hayes contends that a lot of credit should go to the players as well. "Guys there have been listening to him," Hayes said. "That's why they've been able to stay afloat."
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:37 am
by nasty daddy
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 30610/1051
On Saturday, the Washington Wizards stood 1 1/2 games ahead of the seventh spot -- and a potential playoff date with the Pistons -- in the Eastern Conference standings. But they don't seem primed for a fall. Not with All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas set to return soon -- maybe even today against the Pistons. And not with the resiliency the Wizards have displayed in carrying on with not only Arenas out, but also All-Star Caron Butler gone for extended periods this season.
With Friday's win, the Wizards moved into the fifth spot in the East, and the Pistons aren't surprised to see them climbing. "I've been very impressed with them," point guard Chauncey Billups said. "They've been playing good ball, everybody's touching it. It's just a good brand of basketball, and you can probably contribute a lot of that to coach (Eddie) Jordan. He's kept those guys afloat." Jordan also got praise from Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who pointed to his colleague's system as the key to keeping the Wizards relevant despite their injury troubles. "They've relied more on that system to dictate how they play," Saunders said. "... They've stuck in there."
Arenas hasn't ruled out playing today, and Saunders said he'd include the former All-Star in his pregame talks with the team, just in case. It would seem whenever he returns, the Wizards will have to go through an adjustment period. Arenas played only eight games before his knee injury and hasn't been on the court with his team since Nov. 16. When he's in, he commands the ball, averaging 22.4 points. But Saunders foresees a smooth reintroduction. "They have the same team they've had the last three years together," he said. "It's not like you're bringing in someone different and wondering how are they going to blend in."
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:32 pm
by dlts20
Here's an update from this morning:
Gilbert Arenas participated in shootaround this morning and will meet with doctors before tonight's game against Detroit to determine whether he can be cleared to play. Arenas has been practicing and lately, he's really picked up the level of his activity. In Orlando Wednesday night, he said expected to be back "way before the playoffs" and hinted that he'd be back before the team opens a five-game road trip in Portland Tuesday night.
If doctors clear him and Arenas feels ready, tonight makes sense. It's the last home game the Wizards will play until April 2 and he'd have tomorrow to see how his knee reacts before the trip. Arenas would likely come off the bench and play limited minutes. He has been out since undergoing left knee surgery on Nov. 21 and last played in a game on Nov. 16
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I know your supposed to start off slow and probally come off the bench but as a Wiz fan I think if he's going to play then he should start. It makes no sense to get our team use to Gil coming off then bench and then when everyone has adjusted, now you move him into the starting unit? If he's back then he should start, even if it sets us back for a few games. Gil is also the type of player that I think would suck coming off the bench. I think it would also be best to have him on the 1st unit with all the vets and guys that Gil can lean on. Our bench has been very good lately but I still wouldnt feel comfortable with Gil having to lean on them all the way. The only good thing is that Gil would be playing against backups but I still think it would be a bad decision
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:52 pm
by nasty daddy
( - ) V's 
( - )
Antonio Daniels day-to-day - Knee.
Brendan Haywood Wrist (out). 
Gilbert Arenas Knee (out).
Rasheed Wallace 
Antwan Jamison