Open thread: Preseason Game 1 vs. Dallas Mavericks
by Mike Prada on Oct 7, 2008 6:51 PM EDT
in Game Threads
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PrintWashington Wizards at Dallas Mavericks, Oct 7, 2008 8:30 PM EDT
The Essentials:
Wizards at Mavericks
8:30 p.m.
American Airlines Center
CSN and Sports Talk 980
Notable Mavericks numbers last season:
10th in expected winning percentage (.656)
24th in pace factor (90.2 possessions per game)
8th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (111.1)
9th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (106.1)
Key Links (drop any others in the comments)
Mavs Moneyball
Mavs Moneyball blog preview
Competition Discussion: Dallas
Wizards Insider checks in on the Mavs
Times: Thomas ready for return
Dave Johnson's game blog
Starting Lineups:
Wizards
PG: Antonio Daniels
SG: DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Etan Thomas
Mavericks
PG: Jason Kidd
SG: Jason Terry
SF: Josh Howard
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Erick Dampier
Ahoy folks. It's time for our very first Game Thread of the year! If you're new, game threads are awesome because the comments pop up in real time, meaning you never need to click refresh. It's basically like being in an online chatroom, or, to put it in less dorky terms, it's like you're at a sports bar watching the game and chatting with other Wizards fans.
My apologies for not being around much recently. Schoolwork really picked up this week, and the fact that my computer screen stopped working two days ago hasn't helped matters. That means I'm not exactly sure how I'll watch or listen to this game, seeing as I'm out of market and without a computer necessary to listen to the game. Hopefully, I'll figure things out.
As far as tonight goes, Jake already gave us a heads-up on what to watch in the preseason, but I'm curious about a couple other things. I expect our young guys to play well, since they played well in preseason last year and have all had good training camps, but I don't know about Etan Thomas. We know that Brendan Haywood is out at least a week after hurting his wrist (I'm expecting the worst), so either Etan or Andray Blatche will get the nod at center tonight. I want to see Etan play well, of course, because I hope he can be a helpful reserve that shows enough to boost his trade value, but I don't want him to play so well that Eddie forgets what he has in Haywood.
I'm also curious to see guys like Dee Brown and DerMarr Johnson in action. One of them is going to miss out on making the team most likely, so the way they play today will go a long way with that.
As far as Dallas goes, it always amuses me to hear about Rick Carlisle stressing that he wants to push the tempo. This is the same Rick Carlisle that has only once coached a team that was in the top half of the league in pace. I don't expect Dallas to fall off as much as some, but I also don't expect them to look too different.
This is an open game thread, so celebrate Taser time here.
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Taser
Let’s go Taser! Can’t wait to see the progression of the young’ns
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 7:17 PM EDT reply actions
Haywood
Yeah – I’m worried about Haywood’s “sprained” wrist too….. With the history of the Wizard’s medical staff, he may be out all year !!
Hava
This should be cool…..
I just installed my Hava Internet video streaming device – so I can watch the game in High-Definition on my PC and blog at the same time….
And here...we...go
It’s basketball time people! Get hyphy!
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Oy
Juan Dixon has a calf injury and Nick Young has some knee tendinitis. Lovely.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
that stinks
I was looking forward to seeing them both. Nick didn’t mention this during his Q&A today.
Open door?
You gotta wonder if that may open the door for Dermarr Johnson….
I think Dee Brown has a roster spot sewn up, with his quickness, and ability to change the pace of the game…. Plus the fact that he’s the only other healthy PG on the roster besides Daniels…
As I posted before, I think Dermarr and Juan are battling for the final roster spot…..
Well
Want to see them but it’s more time for the other guys, we’ve got 6 more games
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions
oh geez
Haywood might be out 4-6 months?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2008/10/haywood_to_see_hand_specialist.html
oh man…
@#%&_#@!!!
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
that is absolutely terrible. I don’t even want to say I hope Etan looks great tonight
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I mean this in the best way
But I don’t think Dan is going to get a lot of good sound bites out of JaVale this season.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
By Dan, I mean Dan Steinberg
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
TIP
Welcome to the season
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions
Wow
They sure love those preseason games in Dallas, eh?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Yeah...
We probably outnumber them on here
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Swat!
Welcome back, Etan.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
NOOOO!
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions
There was no contact, I’m hopeful. Looks like he just slipped backward?
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions
Call me a pessimist
But I think the fact that he went down without a contact is probably a bad thing. If it’s contact, there’s always the chance it’s just a bruise or something, but when you go down without any help, that’s not good.
I hope I’m wrong.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I don’t think his feet ever planted right either. I’m guessing you’re right Rook
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions
Is it just me
Or does Andray’s hair seem especially funky?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Come to think of it
Andray’s hair looks a lot like Popeye’s in the pic for the Game Thread.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions
you can listen to it on nba audio league pass
I don’t know about watching.
Nope – but you can listen live, and get play by play :
http://www.nba.com/games/20081007/WASDAL/gameinfo.html?nav=scoreboardhome
Interesting
Eddie’s putting Taser on Jason Kidd. Let’s see how this works out.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
dominic mcguire
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions
That's our nickname for Dominic McGuire
It was coined by one of our members, Vanilla Gorilla, here.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions
What I wanted to watch tonight.
From Yesterday
What I’ll be looking at:
Dee Brown’s speed.
Taser’s shot.
Nick Young’s defense.
Andray Blatche’s intensity. CHECK (so far)
Eddie Jordan’s rotations.
Individual and Team Defense.
And skill!
He looks a lot more confident with the ball so far.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Sprained right knee says CSN
Lets hope its not worse than that.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 9:04 PM EDT reply actions
Injury Update
Sprained right knee. Won’t be back tonight.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Get buckets son!
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Yeah
Kinda reminded me of Tim Duncan lining up that three vs. the Suns in the playoffs.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
That might be the only time . . .
Pecherov and Tim Duncan are mentioned in the same breath.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Andray Blatche!
Keep up the good work!
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 9:13 PM EDT reply actions
Interesting comparison
Tyronne Lue isn’t the first guy that comes to my mind when thinking of a comparable player to Dee Brown, but I think it works.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
I'm not with it....
Tyronn doesn’t have “Chicago Toughness”….he’s took skinny.
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net
Dom's shot
Needs to start falling. But Blatche! Awesome
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 9:16 PM EDT reply actions
Same here
Surprised we haven’t seen DerMarr yet.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions
What I wanted to see tonight:
From Yesterday
Dee Brown’s speed. CHECK (Man is that guy quick)
Taser’s shot.
Nick Young’s defense.
Andray Blatche’s intensity. CHECK (so far)
Eddie Jordan’s rotations.
Individual and Team Defense.
McGee sighting!
1 for 1!
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Oh boy
Buck just said JaVale’s mom has a way of making soundbytes.
I’m sure that won’t ever be a problem this season.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Our first backbreaker of the season!
And it’s only the second quarter of the first preseason game. I hope that isn’t Buck’s way of practicing that!
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 9:24 PM EDT reply actions
That would be overdoing it in the preseason
And I think Buck has enough sense of decorum to do that.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope not
I’ve always assumed/hoped that he uses backbreaker and dagger as a part of his everyday conversation
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m personally waiting for the slip up (or purposeful) daggerbreaker
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions
Blatche and McGee leading the break
What other team can have 2 7-footers run a break like that?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Not only the lingo, practical uses of the lingo!
Nicely done.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
It's cool
I don’t know what you get out there, but in DC, we don’t get another televised game until the 22nd, which is probably why we’re so active for a preseason game.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
TV
DirecTV has the New Orleans game from Berlin on October 14th on channel 601 (NBA TV) –
and the NO game from Barcelona on October 17th on Channel 208 (ESPN Classic)….
Yeah
NBATV & ESPN are covering the Europe tour, I’m not sure if Memphis and Detroit are sending out crews for the two games before Europe.
Kinda surprising not to see the Pistons game being televised by CSN, considering it’s at the Verizon Center.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Scratch that
The reason the game vs. the Pistons isn’t being shown is because it’s opening night for the Caps. That’s understandable.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions
That would make sense as to why CSN (Washington) is not showing the game….. but why isn’t CSN-Detroit showing it?
No idea
The Red Wings aren’t playing, the Shock’s season is over, and no one wants to see the Lions. Strange.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Poor defense
I sure haven’t seen what I wanted to out of the Wiz defense so far….
Dee Brown’s speed. CHECK (Man is that guy quick)
Taser’s shot.
Nick Young’s defense. ON HOLD (Nick not playing tonight)
Andray Blatche’s intensity. CHECK (so far)
Eddie Jordan’s rotations.
Individual and Team Defense. NO IMPROVEMENT (of course, it’s only halftime of the first Preseason game – but still )
Strained right knee?
Not sprained as was said before? WTF?
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions
The training staff needs spell check!
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions
AD!
With the baby hook?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Amen.
I know Taser wasn’t great out there, but I’d like to see him get back in the game.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
I liked what I saw out of McGee out there. Didn’t seem fazed by the big stage at all.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
by Jake Whitacre on Oct 7, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Haywood Injury
Specialist, Possible Surgery, Months?!!! This is unreal
Daniels?
Also wondering about Antonio Daniels…. it looked like he turned an ankle late in the First Half…. and I don’t think he’s been back since…
Not a lot of great things coming out of this, but multiple positive signs. Watching the Redskins terrible preseason makes me more optimistic about this, but if those injuries are bad this is already a lot worse than the Redskins preseason…
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
C'mon now
Throwing down a two-handed dunk and heading straight back up court is boo worthy now?
Geez…
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Yea...
At first, I wondered if he did a stupid celebration, but the replay showed that he did not.
Pfffttt…..Dallas fans, typical.
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net
Taser
Is that 2 McGuire turnovers? More? Man, disappointing. Everyone stopped talking, and the debate is over, which means you’re prolly feeling like I am. Shutting this computer off, night.
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions
He's got more than two turnovers.
NBA.com shows 4 now….but it could be behind.
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net
Wow
Thanks, I forgot they showed that (it’s been a long offseason)
If only we could trade Taser for one day and have him put up 30 on us off their bench before we got him back...
by Juice over Whine on Oct 7, 2008 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Very poor defense
I sure haven’t seen what I wanted to out of the Wiz defense
Dee Brown’s speed. CHECK (Man is that guy quick)
Taser’s shot.
Nick Young’s defense. ON HOLD (Nick not playing tonight)
Andray Blatche’s intensity. CHECK (so far)
Eddie Jordan’s rotations.
Individual and Team Defense. NO IMPROVEMENT (of course, it’s only halftime of the first Preseason game – but still )
Some encouraging things
Dee Brown looks like a real player- 4pts, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 TO and looked comfortable.
Pecherov – 3 for 8, 10 points, and 5 rebounds… in only 10 minutes – and seems to be moving well on his ankle.
McGee – looks like he belongs on the court – with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 12 minutes.
Blatche – looked like the best player on the court for most of the game.
Haywood to have surgery
CSN reporting that Haywood will get a second opinion, but will most likely have surgery and be out 4-6 months (probably all year)…
That's just great
No Haywood means who backing up Etan? Songaila, McGee, Blatche. Good God, why every f-in year does this happen to our f-in team. Other than 2005 we seemed to get bleeped by injuries every bleeping time. It’s bleeping unfair that the curse keeps gettin us!
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Oct 7, 2008 11:07 PM EDT reply actions
Blatche will back up Etan – assuming that Jamison is not severely injured… otherwise, he’ll be starting at PF… and Pech or McGee will have to step up to back up the Center position…
Some discouraging things
I guess to be a Wizards fan means to be punched in the gut every year – when the (inevitable?) injuries hit. Curse of Les Bullez? Poor training? Bad Luck? Freak accidents? Coincidence?
I just think it’s the Basketball gods punishing the city. (for what, I don’t know)
Arenas with a 3rd surgery on the same knee – bad news.
Haywood to have surgery – out 4-6 months… bad news.
Jamison down in the first 5 minutes of the first pre-season game – bad news.
Nick Young – dnp, sore right knee – bad news.
The Wizards defense gives up 108 points on 53% shooting – bad news.
Dominic McGuire – 0 for 6 with 4 turn overs. (and got 3 of his shots blocked).- bad news.
I guess I should be a glass half-full kind of guy and say: things can only get better from here.
Any good news?
Wow – I waited all Summer for this? What a punch in the face.
Quick, someone post some GOOD news about the Wizards…..
I'll be honest
With no computer, I didn’t even think about this one, then I log into the computer to see that we not only lost by 26, but that Haywood’s out for the year and Jamison’s got a sprained knee.
I hate being a fan of this team sometimes.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
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