Breaking Up The Old Gang
Filed under: NBA, basketball, following the locals, sports
I realize that it had to happen. Had to go down this way.
I realize that Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood had to go. There was no way to keep playing out the charade of the Wizards being a viable playoff contender. Yet it doesn’t make it any easier to take. But the organization had to get what they could for them while their value was high. In what was becoming yet another lost season, the Wizards had to lick their wounds and come back to fight another day, even if that day is further in the distance than anyone thought.
I realize that only a cock-eyed optimist could see what was left of the Wizards after Gilbert Arenas’s departure and think that a playoff team was in residence. Even with Gilbert it was a stretch to believe it, given the way the team was playing. But as a fan, I had hoped for better. I hoped someone, somewhere would teach them how to defend. How to distribute the ball and get good, makeable shots. But it wasn’t to be.
And in a season that has seen the so-called “star” of the team suspended for what amounts to about 70% of the season for of all things, bringing his arsenal of weaponry into the locker room at Verizon Center-in what is not only a violation of Washington D.C. law, but the NBA’s own collective bargaining agreement-something drastic was going to happen. You knew it would, it was just a question of when.
The dominoes began to fall on Saturday of All-Star weekend, when general manager Ernie Grunfeld dealt Butler, Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden and a couple of other bodies, but no draft picks. Gooden never even set foot on the court for the Wizards, having been traded four days later to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a three-team deal that sent Antawn Jamison to Cleveland to play with LeBron James. I can’t say how happy Butler and Jamison may be; both stated on several occasions that they wanted to win in Washington, but given the current state of the franchise they have to be happy that they have left basketball purgatory and now have a chance to play for a championship, something both of them have wanted to do. Haywood leaving doesn’t leave me feeling hot or cold; yes he was becoming a competent center, but I’ve never liked him all that much. Stevenson was never as good as he thought he was, in my opinion-so no real loss there. Grunfeld’s trade deadline dealing has freed up cap room for the Wizards to hopefully sign some decent free agents to begin the rebuilding process-if he is even around to do the rebuilding. No matter who the architect is that will attempt to rebuild this franchise yet again-who do they think they can bring in that would even want to play for the Wizards?
If you want to get an idea of what jazzes fans of the Wizards, the fact that there is talk of changing the team name back to the Bullets actually got people excited. They could be called Lez Boulet, it wouldn’t make them play any better. It’s the players IN the jerseys, not the name on the front that will make the team better. As for me, more losing is in store, for certain, but will I care? How much longer will I wait until the Wizards/Bullets/whatchamacallits finally climb back to respectability? If you know me, you know how I roll. I’ll stick with them no matter what. But this kind of rebuilding is hard to take. Especially since the brain trust would’ve had you believe that with Gilbert, Caron and Antawn the team was a few pieces away from contending for a championship. After Eddie Jordan took the fall last season despite not even having Arenas around because Grunfeld thought the team should have won more games-is Flip Saunders looking to get out or will he be pushed because the team should be better? No one could believe this team is better now than it was before Saturday-unless they are a cock-eyed optimist. Maybe if/when Ted Leonsis is given control of the Wizards a rebuilding we can believe in may take place. Or it just might be like I always say-the franchise is cursed.
Random Sports Thoughts 7
Filed under: MLB, NBA, NFL, baseball, basketball, college basketball, football, sports
Around and about in the world of sports:
- Congratulations to the seven members of the newest class of the NFL Hall of Fame: Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm, Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little. Rice and Smith were no-brainers of course, and the other candidates deserved their nods as well. There is a backlog of great players that are eligible for the Hall; it will take some time to get all of them in. I would just like to put in a few words for Grimm. Given the fact that the Hogs were one of the best offensive lines of the last 25-30 years, it’s actually about time one of them got some recognition by the Hall.
- There was talk last week of the NCAA opting out of their contract with CBS and possibly expanding the NCAA basketball tournament from it’s current 65 team format to 96 teams. Okay, let me get this straight. No action is necessary for a college football playoff, but the greatest college event ever needs to break up the current format to let more teams in? I don’t think so…this thing reeks of a money grab. Not to mention, that if they really want to fix the tournament they should get rid of the play-in game, or at the least let the last two at-large teams play in that game. Don’t put a small school automatic qualifier in the game-they deserve the opportunity to have the full tournament experience much more than some BCS school mediocrity. Not to mention, if the tournament did include 96 teams, most if not all of those spots would be to BCS schools with unimpressive resumes.
- The days are growing short leading into spring training for another baseball season, and I wonder what exactly will the Orioles look like this year. I’ll have more to say about them as the season gets closer, but it has been a pretty quiet offseason for Baltimore’s baseball birds. For some fans, it has been too quiet. I’ll reserve judgement until things get going, but once again, I am hoping for progress. I’m not expecting a worst-to-first season, but at least be competitive past the All-Star break, and if possible, make an approach to .500.
- Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the remainder of this season, and has probably seen his last days as a member of the Washington Wizards. Has there been a more stunning fall from grace? Arenas was once the prince of the city; his blog was popular and his skills on the court made fans sit up and take notice. His absence serves as just a symbol of the Wizards’ season; where they were counting on him to finally be healthy enough to play, he ends up missing another large chunk of a third consecutive season. I don’t see how the Wizards can keep this core of players together, with Arenas surely gone it may be time for Ernie Grunfeld (or someone else) to blow this team up and build it back from the ground up. It will definitely be interesting to see how the Wizards proceed from here.
Light The Fuse…
Filed under: NBA, basketball, following the locals, sports
…and blow it up! Right now!
Given that we recently had a scare with a person who attempted to blow up a flight headed for Detroit on Christmas Day, that may be an unfortunate choice of words. But those are the words I thought of when thinking about the Washington Wizards, who now have been relieved of the services of one Gilbert Arenas, effective immediately, for an indefinite period of time. With the loss of Arenas, possibly for the remainder of this season though not specifically stated as such, any hopes the Wizards had of improving on last season’s debacle have imploded with his horrible sense of judgement. Given that the team wasn’t exactly setting the league on fire at the moment perhaps this is the impetus Ernie Grunfeld needs to tear down this version of the team, keeping only the real salvageable parts (if there are any) and start all over. Of course, that is if Grunfeld is even around to do the rebuilding. While I haven’t heard anything suggesting he may not be long for the general manager’s chair, with Ted Leonsis about to take over primary ownership of the team, anything is possible.
Back to Arenas’ suspension-I know that he has described himself as a “goofball,” but really-did he think this was something you could make jokes about? One day after being interviewed by law enforcement officials about bringing a gun or guns-never mind if it/they were loaded or not-in the locker room, he’s running around pointing fingers like they were guns at your teammates? Did you really find this funny, Gilbert? In a city where the murder rate was so bad, heck isn’t exactly great now, that the gun laws are some of the strictest in the nation (and of which you are probably in violation)? Where crime was so bad that the venerable Abe Pollin changed the team name from Bullets to Wizards because of the mere association of bullets to gun crime? I know how we all seemed to love Gilbert in his “Hibachi” days, scoring points in bunches, launching game-winning shots and turning his back on them before they fell through the net, blogging and generally being his off-kilter self. But guns are nothing to joke about-if nothing else Arenas appears to have been flouting the law and his own league’s collective bargaining agreement rules, which forbid firearms in team NBA arenas. Now there is talk that the team may try to void Arenas’ contract-a contract that was paying him over $16 million this season.
As for the team which must now soldier on without the one player they had been counting on returning to his pre-injury form…it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere anyway…so cut ties and start over. I know people have tried to convince me otherwise, but the franchise is living under some kind of curse. Perhaps the “Curse of Lez Boulez” is real…real enough anyway. Playoff appearances have been few and far between for the franchise, which hasn’t won an NBA title in over 30 years. Every few years there are glimmers of hope, only to see them dim. Who can forget the Chris Webber/Juwan Howard years? The playoff appearances that always seemed to hit a dead end against Cleveland’s Cavaliers? Fans were looking forward to better things this season, with Gilbert completely healthy for the first time in three seasons, the additions of Mike Miller and Randy Foye and a new coach in Flip Saunders. Despite all that, and Tuesday night’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Wizards remain one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, having won just eleven of thirty-four games so far this season. I don’t see things getting any better, but I have been wrong before. Even with Gilbert, the team played very little defense; and you’re not going to win many games in any league if you don’t do that.
Personally, I would love to see Gilbert back on an NBA court…but he has some serious growing up to do. He just turned 28, so he still has some time. But if he misses another season, how much harder will it be for him to return as good as he was, not to mention to get in the good graces of fans after this display of immaturity and foolishness? I know athletes are no better than regular folks; they are human after all. But at some point, most of us stop waving guns around because we get past playing cowboys and indians and war games (except on video screens). If and when he does return, what are the chances it is in a Wizards uniform? And if he’s in a Wizards uniform after missing the remainder of this season, who will he be playing with?
Am I too gloomy…are the Wizards about to turn things around? Will Gilbert return this season? Tell me what you think in the comments.
A Wish List For My Teams
Filed under: MLB, NBA, NCAA Football, NFL, baseball, basketball, college basketball, college football, following the locals, sports
Since it is Christmas Eve, I thought I’d take the time to write out a few wishes that I have for my favorite teams Most of these can’t be completed for Christmas, but are more long-term wishes that I will hopefully see come to fruition over the coming months.
For the Baltimore Orioles:
- A plan that makes the O’s competitive in 2010. I think I’ve given up hope on making the playoffs next season, but something other than a last place finish would be great.
- An effort to pry Adrian Gonzalez out of San Diego. If you’re looking for a power-hitting corner infielder, he fits the bill.
- Failing at #2, please find the following: some players with pop in their bats to play first and third base, a healthy complete season out of Adam Jones, and at least one frontline starter. Regarding the frontline starting pitcher, he may already be in the fold, but finding one, anywhere would be terrific.
- Hope. All we want is some hope that things will get better (a very common wish).
For the Baltimore Ravens:
- Playoffs! Of course, it may not be a long run when or if you get there, but still, I’d like to see you there-preferably while the hated Steelers stay home!
- Ozzie Newsome, please, please please find some playmakers…on both sides of the ball. While you’re at it, find some depth on the defense, the old stalwarts aren’t getting any younger. If Demetrius Williams is the playmaking wide receiver we all wanted around draft time, his grade is an incomplete. Dominique Foxworth has only recently been the cornerback we thought we were getting.
- Not much else, so there really isn’t a third wish.
For the Washington Wizards:
- It may be time to admit that this plan of Ernie Grunfeld’s isn’t working. To be fair, Flip Saunders needs at least one season to see what he can do with the parts he’s got, and it would be nice if those parts could stay healthy. Grunfeld fired Eddie Jordan because he didn’t win enough games at the start of last season, even though he didn’t have Gilbert Arenas healthy. Now Arenas is healthy and still the Wizards aren’t winning.
- Can someone on the Wizards brain trust teach these players how to play defense? The song still remains the same, this club doesn’t play defense worth a damn. Unfortunately, I don’t think any changes are going to be made to increase the importance of defense, so the Wizards are going to have to rely on outscoring foes yet again.
- Ted Leonsis, you are poised to take control of the Wizards. Please follow the hallowed footsteps of Abe Pollin and yet build upon the great foundation he laid. While Mr. Pollin was only able to witness one NBA title for his franchise, here’s hoping you can do what is needed to really build the team up for contention in the seasons to come.
- See Wish #4 for the Baltimore Orioles.
For the Maryland Terrapins (football and basketball):
- Ralph Friedgen, the ball is in your court. There has to be improvement in the football program immediately. 2-10 seasons are not going to cut it. Somehow, someway, you and your staff (those of whom are still around) have to find the players that will bring Maryland football back, if not to Orange Bowl or BCS levels, then at least to respectability. Goodness knows, Terp fans would like a diversion in the fall other than waiting for…
- Gary Williams and the basketball squad. Thank you for showing the fan base that indeed, you can coach. If you can take a team that had as minimal talent and no real inside presence to the second round of the NCAA tournament, imagine what you can do with this year’s team. I would advise you not to get close to the NCAA tournament bubble or suffer any losses “supposedly” beneath your level, though, or the squawking about whether or not you’ve lost it will begin anew.
- For both of you: recruit, recruit, recruit! You don’t necessarily have to get the best one and done players, but you do have to get some players in order to compete with the powerhouses. Maybe even a few victories against them wouldn’t hurt (that’s for the football team).
- See Wish #4 for the Orioles and Wizards.
Do you agree with the wishes? Do you have some you would like to add? Put them in the comments. Hope everyone out there has a very Merry Christmas!
Local Hoops Notes
Filed under: NBA, NCAA, basketball, college basketball, sports
A few words about the upcoming hoops season (college and pro):
The 2009-2010 college hoop season began this past Friday-did anyone really notice? Like college football, there is opening day, but it’s scattered as teams play all over the weekend, not to mention a few exhibitions aimed at getting the team into a rhythm to start the season. ESPN, of course has a made-for-the-network gimmick in place that it debuted last season. Opening day for college hoops, ESPN style begins at midnight on Tuesday with a game featuring Cal State Fullerton taking on UCLA. From there, games will be played live for 24 hours straight. Now of course, I won’t be able to catch them all, but if you want a schedule of the games to be played throughout the day, look here.
As for the local angle, yours truly will be looking toward the flagship hoops school, the Maryland Terrapins. Maryland’s season began on Friday, with an easy 89-51 win over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. The Terps return four starters from a team that was heavily criticized, yet rebounded well enough to make a trip to the NCAA tournament and beat California before falling to Memphis in round 2. Leading this year’s team are seniors Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes, with Landon Milbourne and Sean Mosley expected to be key contributors. One of last year’s team’s major deficiencies was a lack of size up front; this year that has been addressed with the addition of freshmen Jordan Williams and James Padgett. Both played well in their first games at the college level, though the competition will get tougher once the team gets into ACC play. For me, it will be interesting to see what Vasquez and Hayes do in their senior seasons. Vasquez has many talents, but can be erratic; it was great to see him look to set his teammates up when his shots were not falling. Hayes scored a quiet 10 points in the opener, but hit three three-pointers. At the end of last season, it was great to see Hayes look for his offense; he practically carried the Terps in the ACC tournament run that got them into the big dance.
The Washington Wizards have begun the 2009-2010 season as well with some of the same issues as last season: injuries and losses. Before the season began, Antawn Jamison was injured, he has yet to play. While the Wizards won over Dallas on opening night, they have gone 1-6 since and have seen new acquisitions Mike Miller and Randy Foye injured as well. Gilbert Arenas though, is back and is healthy (except for a calf injury which threatened to scratch him from a game last week). Arenas, in a interesting change, has decided to let his play do the talking this season, going so far as getting himself and the team fined in preseason for not being available to the media. With a new coach in Flip Saunders, the return of Brendan Haywood from injury and also a new addition in Fabricio Oberto, it looks to be taking some time to get the team on the same page. The Wizards are expected to make a run to the playoffs after only winning 19 games the previous season.
It looks to be another exciting season, both college and pro…can’t wait to get my fill of games of both, and to see some questions answered. Can the Lakers repeat? Will the Celtics bounce back? Who looks to be the team to beat in the NCAA’s? Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina? What teams look to surprise in both the NBA and NCAA? Time will tell.
High Scorers: In Defense Of Andy MacPhail
Filed under: NBA, NFL, baseball, basketball, blogs, following the locals, football, high scorers, sports
This week, High Scorers leads off with Zach from the Baltimore Sports Report’s passionate defense of Andy MacPhail’s efforts to rebuild the Orioles. He was responding to WNST’s Drew Forrester, who went all in on MacPhail’s work so far, even suggesting that the Orioles were not trying to win games. Anyone who follows the Orioles knows this team is not built to win right now; even suggesting that bringing Chris Tillman or anyone else is going to automatically turn things around seems foolish on his face. Read here how Zach takes down his man.
JC of the Stet Sports Blog (whom I thought was away on vacation) has a post on the youth of the Washington Wizards, mentioning JaVale McGee, Nick Young, Andray Blatche and Dominic McGuire by name. His take in this post is that the youth of these players is going to keep the Wizards from joining the NBA elite. His reasoning is not based on talent-but on other, non-basketball related factors. See what you think.
With the recent news about Ben Roethlisberger being involved in a civil suit for a possible sexual assault, the Pigskin Loving Lady asks the question, “Are Athletes Targets?” Former Raven TE Daniel Wilcox is quoted in the post from a post he did at Yardbarker. My take: perhaps they are targets, but they have to be smarter about who they associate with, where they go, and what they do. It’s a 24-hour news cycle now, and athletes aren’t treated with kid gloves like they may have been over a generation ago. Athletes are looked at just as much as celebrities in other fields, so they have to be extra careful with their words and actions.
Not necessarily a sports blog, Carolinaware often makes posts about sports at his spot The WareHouse. Sticking with the Big Ben story, Carolinaware makes his feelings known about Colin Cowherd’s explanation as to why ESPN didn’t cover the story right away. Sorry ESPN, your excuses don’t wash. If you are a first-class sports news organization as you purport to be, you have to be on that story. Even if it amounts to be nothing, I think it warranted the network’s coverage. I would like to welcome The WareHouse to High Scorers; I have a feeling it won’t be the last time I feature a post from there. (There is a mature content warning that appears before entering the site; this post is fine and safe for work or your eyes and ears).
My fellow Ravens fan The NFL Chick! (got to get the exclamation point in) is getting busy this week. She’s already written an open letter to Ozzie Newsome, imploring him to get some receiver help for the Ravens, like, RIGHT NOW! The post I want to highlight for High Scorers, though is this thoughtful (yet funny) take on Michael Vick’s conditional reinstatement to play in the NFL. Vick has served his time, and whether or not you believe he deserves a second chance, he is going to get one. Other players have done worse and been offered a second chance to play in this and other sports.
Finally, some blogs are getting makeovers this week, just in time for football season. The folks at Tailgate365 have set up a blogging network, and have given three (or is it four) blogs that I check out some new looks. Check out the new: The Mile High Salute, The City That Reeds (a combination of the former Ravens365 blog and The City That Reeds blog at Wordpress), and Steelergurl. Looking good folks! There may (or may not) be more blogs on the way, or even in existence in the Tailgate365 network. Even so, stop by the site and sign up, if you haven’t already.
Passionate Fan…Or A Homer?
Filed under: MLB, NBA, NFL, baseball, blogs, following the locals, football, media, sports
Being a fan is a serious business. Many fans are and should be passionate about their favorite team. But what differentiates a passionate fan from a homer?
In a post inspired by a comment conversation I saw recently at The NFL Chick blog (check her out ya’ll), she explained to me how she was called a “homer” by Ed The Sports Fan (don’t sleep on him either), because in her post about running back tandems to take notice of, she included one from her team and mine, the Baltimore Ravens. As a fellow fan of the Ravens, I’ve got to have her back on this one. The “three-headed monster” was a force last season for the Ravens, and I don’t see any reason why they can’t be as good or better, even without Lorenzo Neal blocking. But does the fact that she even included Willis McGahee and Ray Rice make her a homer? I told her that I didn’t think so, that being a homer means that you drink the kool-aid no matter what, even in the face of evidence to suggest otherwise. I’d say that she falls on the passionate fan side of the ledger.
To me, a homer is someone who roots for the home team but doesn’t give the other team any credit if they come out on top over your squad. A homer is also someone who won’t admit that something the team did was wrong, but places blame on anyone or anything outside the team. By a basic definition, I would suppose that I am a homer because I root for my local teams. However, I am not someone who can’t give the other team some credit when they beat my team. I am a passionate fan for the squads I like (and it ain’t easy when the Orioles and Wizards are on your list). But if another team comes in and whoops my team, unless there is some egregious mistake by the team or the officiating, I can give the other team credit and admit they were better on that particular day. I can also criticize my team if they make a personnel decision I don’t agree with, or a player who doesn’t make a play at a crucial time. In the history of sports, every team has made a mistake at one time or another. To not even acknowledge any mistake or error by your team or its management puts you in the homer category.
Perhaps the worst type of homer is the press box homer. Now I suppose when you are hired by the team and they sign your paycheck, you have to “root” for the home team some. But the motto used to be “no cheering in the press box” (or at least I think it still is). The good announcers can support the home team without being overzealous about it. One of the rumors as to why John Miller was sent packing as the Orioles radio announcer years ago was because Peter Angelos didn’t think he rooted for the Orioles enough and was too critical of them when the team made mistakes. Now, I’ve always thought that Miller broadcast the right way…but I can remember watching Atlanta Braves games back in the day when Skip Caray would root for the Braves unashamedly from announcer’s booth, often invoking “we” as in “we (the Braves) need to score some runs.” I was never a fan of that style of announcing, but some fans may like it. To me though, Carey was a homer.
If you have an opinion on this, let me know in the comments.
The Curse Lives
If you’re a fan of the Washington Wizards (and I am, only because they’re the closest NBA team to where I live), you had to know this was coming. Given what the franchise has been through over the years, you were hoping the black cloud would lift in Secaucus, NJ in time for the NBA lottery drawing. You were hoping that Blake Griffin, the consensus #1 pick in next month’s NBA draft, would fall to you as you would win the #1 pick. Only the Sacramento Kings, with former Bullet Chris Webber representing them, had a better percentage chance of getting the top pick.
And then the curse struck.
Somehow, through some supposedly legal means, Oklahoma City, Memphis and the LA Clippers moved up, pushing the Wizards to the #5 spot, the absolute worst spot they could have gotten. Bye Bye Blake Griffin. Hello uncertainty. What on earth can the Wizards do with the fifth pick in the draft? Certainly no one they get at that spot will make an immediate impact. So do they trade out of the spot to find some veteran pieces that they can use (hopefully someone to add some toughness to what is a swiss cheeze defensive squad)? Hell, I’ll take anyone that can play defense, period. Preferably without talking about how good they are at it (looking at you, Mr. Stevenson).
So again, the Curse of Lez Boulez reigns. I blame C-Webb. Not because I dislike the guy, but he played for the Bullets/Wizards and even he and his running buddy Juwan Howard couldn’t get them over the hump. Then C-Webb was labeled a “problem”, the front office overpaid Juwan Howard, and things haven’t been right since. Sure there were the playoff appearances that always ran afoul of the Cleveland Cavs, but no sniff of a conference finals or NBA title.
Wizards At Home
Filed under: NBA, basketball, following the locals, sports
For sixteen of the NBA’s thirty franchises, the chase for the NBA Finals, or the real NBA season, began yesterday. For the Washington Wizards, the real NBA season finds them licking their wounds after tying the club record for worst won-loss record in a season. Michael Lee has a post mortem on the team and the season at the Wizards Insider blog at the Washington Post. With a new head coach coming in, and hopefully players returning from injuries that cost them most of this season, the Wizards should be appreciably better next year than they were a year ago. Many fans hope that, with the Wizards holding the second highest chance of landing the top pick in the draft this summer, that Blake Griffin comes to play for the team. I’m not so sure that Griffin is the cure-all to the Wizards woes. First of all, they are, to be kind, less than decent on defense. That is not news, they have always been less than stellar on defense; certainly their defense is not as good as their offense when healthy. If Flip Saunders is indeed the next head coach of this team, defensive improvement will have to come from the assistant coaches. Saunders is regarded as a offensive mastermind, which sounds good for the likes of Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas, but doesn’t sound so good for anyone required to lock down the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, etc. The return of Brendan Haywood from injury at least sounds like there will be some kind of interior presence for the team which will improve the defense somewhat, but that alone won’t turn the Wizards into a lockdown defensive squad.
This past season’s woes seemed to bring out a new persona in Arenas, who is at least saying the right things about next season. This article, again by Lee of the Washington Post, finds Arenas talking about getting serious for next season, sticking together as a team and trying to erase the bad taste this past season has left behind. It all sounds good, but it’s all empty talk if not followed up by hard work and action over the summer and into training camp.
Wizards Over And Out
In what is now becoming an annual rite of spring, the Washington Wizards lost game 6 of their playoff series to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night. That makes the Cavs three for three in playoff series with the Wizards; three years in a row, all in the first round.
And now the questions begin for the Wizards officials. Is this team, as presently constructed, at its peak? Was the suspension of Darius Songaila fair? What changes need to be made? How can this team avoid the Cavaliers in future playoff series?
I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t have the answers to any of those or any other questions that face the braintrust of the Wizards franchise. It’s apparent that while the Wizards improved defensively this season, there is still more room for improvement. It seemed that the Wizards, with all the talking, talked themselves right out of the series (some will say they pushed and shoved their way out as well). I’m not sure that the suspension of Songaila was fair, although his lack of availability was not the deciding factor in last night’s loss. A cursory glance at the boxscore should credit the Cavalier defense for holding the Wizard offense to 40% shooting, while the Cavs shot almost 50%. That, more than anything, decided the game.
As for LeBron James, great players come to play when it matters, and he did. His triple-double effort, along with his defensive effort in slowing down Caron Butler, the Wizards’ game 5 hero, was another in what will be and has been a long line of great performances by the Cavs’ superstar. He even managed to take the high road in his postgame comments, which is way more than some of the Wizards were able to do before or during the series.
Maybe next season, the Wizards will keep their tongues in check before competing in the playoffs. The franchise is built to get to the playoffs, but hasn’t done much while getting there. In fact, they may be in a holding pattern. A first-round exit the last three years after making it to the second round the year before does not show signs of progress. But then, the Wizards may look different next year. There are issues regarding Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison and whether or not they will be back. There are needs that management will have to address with personnel. And at some point, though I don’t think that point is now, there is sure to be some scrutiny about Eddie Jordan and his status as coach of the team.
Congratulations to the Cleveland Cavaliers, once again you have proven to be the better team as it pertains to the Wizards. Good luck against either the Celtics or Hawks (and no, I can’t believe I’m writing that sentence).
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baltimoresun.com – Sports- COLLEGE LACROSSE UM, Towson coaches on the hot seat March 12, 2010Cottle, Seaman both at end of their contracts Terps-Tigers game could play big in coaches' future […]
- Ravens need a defensive end, but that's not the end of it March 12, 2010After re-signing wide receiver Derrick Mason on Wednesday night, the Ravens probably will turn their attention to the only void remaining in their starting lineup: defensive end. […]
- No. 7 Old Mill takes Urbana comeback calmly, wins, 73-64 March 12, 2010- For the past couple of seasons, the Old Mill boys basketball team has been used to the highs and lows that come in the 32 minutes of each game. […]
- ORIOLES SPRING TRAINING Orioles relief pitchers battling for roster spots on Opening Day roster March 12, 20109 pitchers vying for three spots on the roster Cla Meredith (left) has faced eight batters and retired them all this spring. Matt Albers has allowed two hits in 41⁄3 scoreless innings. […]
- Western defeats Centennial, 40-35, to return to final March 12, 2010Western's basketball team was just a little too quick for Centennial in Thursday night's state Class 3A girls basketball semifinal. […]
- Milford Mill boys rout Stephen Decatur, reach 3A title game March 12, 2010Hamilton's 16 points lead way for No. 5 Millers, who will face Thomas Stone It took a couple of minutes for the Milford Mill boys basketball team to settle into Thursday's Class 3A state semifinal against Stephen Decatur, but once they got comfortable it was apparent the No. 5 Millers had the goods to make a return trip to Comcast Center for Saturd […]
- At last, postseason arrives for Terps March 11, 2010Pressure is on second-seeded Maryland as it begins ACC tournament play Friday night The Atlantic Coast Conference tournament has a familiar feel for the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins. After all, they have played each of the participants this season and could find themselves playing at least one team for a third time. […]
- Ex-Hopkins star makes mark as Seminoles hoops assistant March 11, 2010Enfield, one of two former Blue Jays in Div. I men's basketball coaching, helps guide Florida State into ACC's upper echelon It's quite a short list of Johns Hopkins basketball players who have gone on to coach at Division I college basketball schools in the past 25 years. […]
- Live Terps chat with Jeff Barker at noon Friday March 11, 2010[…]
- Chat wrap: Orioles Q&A with Jeff Zrebiec March 11, 2010[…]
- COLLEGE LACROSSE UM, Towson coaches on the hot seat March 12, 2010
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