Wiz @ Kings

[miller31time]

Was doing something while the game was on, but I caught bits and pieces.

We do seem to be the comeback kidz, though that's not going to bode well when we face better competition (not putting down Sacramento - they're good, just not playoff-caliber).

Solid win, nonetheless. On the road at an infamously tough arena to play in, facing adversity, etc.

Oh, and even as one of Brendan's biggest fanboys, I had no problems with him being taken out late in the game. He was having a so-so game, and Song was doing a bit better. It was when Darius was being "the worst player in the league" and being subbed in for Brendan late that annoyed me. Obviously, if we're in dire need of a stop, there's no way I want Songaila in for Big Wood, but that wasn't the case last night.

Big win. 2 games behind the Cadavers.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

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You're right, CCJ, I don't read the game thread during the game. There's just too much drama and negativity on the thread for my taste.

I did think of you, however, when EJ put DSong in for BH with about two minutes left in the game. I could hear you all the way from Hawaii screaming for EJ's head, as usual, for benching BH at crunch time. Then DSong hits two timely shots (on great passes from CB) that effectively seal the win, proving that EJ got it right.

Rather than sitting at home on my butt second-guessing every move they make, I personally like to leave the game planning, substitution patterns, play calling and other stuff like that to the coaching staff.

Yes, mistakes will be made but I figure, at the end of the day, EJ and the other coaches know a lot more about what buttons to push for the Zards to win than I do. And, thus far this season, they've done a pretty good job, imo.

Personally, I'd rather second-guess and whine about the Wizards than real life, DCZards.

At the end of the Sacramento game EJ was right and I was wrong about that substitution. BTH wasn't finishing well at all and he wasn't all that active on the glass. On top of that he's not hitting FTs like he was.

Darius, OTOH has been scoring as well as Jamison or Butler in limited minutes and he's automatic at the line.

As a fan, I see things that particular game and have no idea what EJ sees before and after games, in practices and meetings, and in transit. He's got his own preferences and is privy to the big picture.

I just don't put him on high for that knowledge that he has, though I could see where I come off as an ungrateful, clueless guy for having strong opinions against some of the things EJ does.

It's all good, DCZards.

What matters is 38-34, and 8-2 over their last 10, including two straight on the road. EJ's getting it done. Period.

And the team could be healthy going into the playoffs.

I'm hoping for health and fourth place and a deep run in the playoffs.

[dobrojim]

Gil has been cleared to play.

In his blog he says his 1st game will be at home, but he has been cleared.....so we shall see.

Someone may have already addressed this but technically,
he has been ELIGIBLE ie active to play for most of the season, this being
an artifact of us not carrying a 15 player roster. Cleared to me
refers to medically ready. Not quite but almost.

Or I totally don't understand the way rosters work...
He has been active because we would have to pay lux
tax in order to have a player take his spot on the active
roster.

[dobrojim]

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That really is shocking considering that the Lakers are desperate for every win they can get while Memphis has been in tank mode since January.

Let me guess...Kwame totally dominated the game at both ends

What? He was injured and not playing! I was so sure that had to be it!

[dobrojim]

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You're right, CCJ, I don't read the game thread during the game. There's just too much drama and negativity on the thread for my taste.

I did think of you, however, when EJ put DSong in for BH with about two minutes left in the game. I could hear you all the way from Hawaii screaming for EJ's head, as usual, for benching BH at crunch time. Then DSong hits two timely shots (on great passes from CB) that effectively seal the win, proving that EJ got it right.

Rather than sitting at home on my butt second-guessing every move they make, I personally like to leave the game planning, substitution patterns, play calling and other stuff like that to the coaching staff.

Yes, mistakes will be made but I figure, at the end of the day, EJ and the other coaches know a lot more about what buttons to push for the Zards to win than I do. And, thus far this season, they've done a pretty good job, imo.

IMO, the salient point of that move was that he put Songaila in
on an OFFENSIVE possession. The way Darius has been playing
lately, that is almost a no brainer. And long time readers of
this board know I'm a huge Haywood fan.

[dobrojim]

so I was late getting to watch the game

last night I HAD to go to bed early, friday night and all

got up at 4, met for carpooling at 5, got down to RFK
for the marathon which started at 7, ran a 3:35 marathon
which is a Boston Qualifying time. Felt pretty good, didn't try to
push myself too hard during the first half since I was already
going to Boston in 3 weeks for that marathon. Came home,
soaked my legs in COLD water for 20 min or so and THEN,
sat back with a brew and watched. Very satisfying. After the
last comeback, I wasn't that surprised to see them do it again.
Wiz had all the mo in the 2nd half (duh).
Mikki Moore should be used to getting called for fouls since
I think they showed he leads the league in total fouls.

Monster dunk by Butler, that sets off a run of great plays by
virtually the whole rest of the team. Fantastic win. As an earlier poster
expressed it, winning our 2nd of these 5 road games leaves us
playing with house money for the last 2. As good as they're playing.
it would be still be a shocker to win another one.
Nice that Philly finally lost. They won't play PHO every night though. Speaking of monster slams, Amare vs PHL! OMG.

Love to pass CLE so WE have the home court.

Gil vs MIL for 20 min. Next week, at home. A game that we
simply MUST win. You heard it here.

[queridiculo]

I'm really having a hard time finding anything to suggest he has been cleared. Can somebody post a link?

[DCZards]

Personally, I'd rather second-guess and whine about the Wizards than real life, DCZards.

As a fan, I see things that particular game and have no idea what EJ sees before and after games, in practices and meetings, and in transit. He's got his own preferences and is privy to the big picture.

It's all good, DCZards.

What matters is 38-34, and 8-2 over their last 10, including two straight on the road. EJ's getting it done. Period.
And the team could be healthy going into the playoffs.

I'm hoping for health and fourth place and a deep run in the playoffs.

It is all good, ccj...and on the points above we most definitely agree.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

I'm really having a hard time finding anything to suggest he has been cleared. Can somebody post a link?

I don't think he has, they were mixed up on the pregame and said he was "active" not "activated". He has been active for a long time now, but I dont think he has been cleared and activated yet.

[hands11]

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.

I agree that EJ has gotten it wrong lots of times. The record will show that I've said on more than one occasion that he's far from a perfect coach. But EJ's gotten it right more often than some of you are willing to admit.

Yes, Songaila is a "different player now." That's because his coach stuck with him when some on this board would have traded him for a ham sandwich.

I'm cool with where you are coming from. Sorry if I snapped. It just came across to me like you were telling us all to shut up and stop commenting on EJ.

As for Songaila and EJ sticking with him. It looks like it had more to do with his health. I didn't realize he had a bad heel. I don't remember seeing that reported. Plus he was tired. Playing him was only making matters worse.

As for being tired because of summer ball. I'm kind of getting a little tired of this. These guys make so much money that they have to be prepared all year long. The off season for be for working on your game and resting. Aren't they employed by the wizards all year around. Do NBA team have any say in what their players do in the off season. This doesn't all add up to me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02036.html

[hands11]

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I don't think he has, they were mixed up on the pregame and said he was "active" not "activated". He has been active for a long time now, but I dont think he has been cleared and activated yet.

Right. Buck kind of blow that one and tried to clarify. GA has been active all year. We never has enough healthy bodies to need to deactivate him.

[doclinkin]

Personally, I'd rather second-guess and whine about the Wizards than real life, DCZards.

At the end of the Sacramento game EJ was right and I was wrong about that substitution. BTH wasn't finishing well at all and he wasn't all that active on the glass. On top of that he's not hitting FTs like he was.

Darius, OTOH has been scoring as well as Jamison or Butler in limited minutes and he's automatic at the line.

As a fan, I see things that particular game and have no idea what EJ sees before and after games, in practices and meetings, and in transit. He's got his own preferences and is privy to the big picture.

I just don't put him on high for that knowledge that he has

I dunno, I kinda like it when you whine about real life.

The Songaila thing. See, I can understand why a fan might question the coaches decisions, hell I don't mind so much in the moment if you get fired up about it, vent. I actually like that **** gowiz***999 is the lone **** holdout willing to wet his pampers in the first quarter and start metaphorically heading for the exits, because fact is he's there every game regardless, and seems like he stays to the end-- if only to have something to complain about. There's more than a few posters who have nothing to say unless they're complaining about something. No knock on them, I s'pose if you're well adjusted and happy, you got nothing to vent about I guess.

My suggestion has always been, at least for the more levelheaded, ask yourself why reasonably this coach would make a certain decision. There have been a few times when his short term 'errors' seemed to pan out in the long run.

In the case of Darius Songaila, my position has been: that's what we want Blatche to become, a fusion of Darius and Brendan. Intimidating low-post defender and multi-threat high-post floor general. High percentage scorer on the blocks, and jumpshooting passing threat in the midrange.

But if he never sees it run, how will he know how to do it, where to be.

We don't get the hoopla and hullaballoo about it the same way we do about the rest of the team but Darius was injured, he's just now getting his legs back, showing a bit of actual quickness out there, and willing to take it inside. Able to finish in traffic. Difference is, who thinks to interview Darius? Where's the swag?

But the shots he was taking (and missing) were open shots, in the flow of the offense. He just had even less lift than usual. And his defense was at least passable on the bigger slower centers, especially the international guys.

Coaches are driven nuts by inconsistency. Okay yeah, Darius was consistently sub-par, but he ran the sets consistently, helped direct the action on the scrub team, whereas a guy like Daniels who HATES turnovers with a passion said he couldn't play with guys who didn't know the plays.

But who the heck is going to teach the youngsters how to do it in live action? We don't have Jason Kidd out there. As far as the offense goes Darius Songaila has been playing equivalent variations of the offense since he was what 16-17? Year round.

This team will go as far as our offense lets it. It's our greatest strength. Yes the coach will sometimes sacrifice defense to risk offense. Sometimes we've been hurt by that. But when we've been most successful is when our offense catches fire. Our defense picks up, the rest of our shots start hitting, the defenders get out of position frustrated and tired, the opposing team has to adjust to us and not vice versa.

Whereas there have been line-ups, like our superjumbo set where we've snuffed most every attempt to score, but ended up losing momentum anyway by being unable to score ourselves. Especially without Gil, we don't have a go-to shot creator who can invent points out of theory and accidents of imagination. We've got guys who can do it when the system sets them up to do it. Would Caron have lane to dunk that thing if Brendan and Blatche were in the lane shoving on their man?

So. Point being. I don't mind complaints and dialogue, otherwise we'd have nothing to talk about. But my suggestion is, fans might want to just take the interim step and ask Why the F*** is he doing that? And speculate a couple possible reasonable theories before reaching the conclusion: he don't know more than my ass!!!

Something to ruminate on.