Open Thread: Washington Wizards vs. San Antonio Spurs, Regular Season Game 12
by Mike Prada on Nov 21, 2009 7:08 PM EST
in Game Threads
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PrintWashington Wizards at San Antonio Spurs, Nov 21, 2009 8:30 PM EST
The Essentials:
Wizards (3-8) vs. Spurs (4-6)
8:30 p.m.
AT&T Center
TV: CSN, NBATV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
Notable early Spurs numbers this season
15th in expected winning percentage (.514)
27th in pace (90 possessions per game)
5th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (109.1)
22nd in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (108.7)
Notable Spurs numbers last season
7th in expected winning percentage (.635)
26th in pace (88.4 possessions per game)
13th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (108.5)
5th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (104.3)
Pre-game links
Pounding The Rock, SB Nation's Spurs Blog
48 Minutes of Hell, a Spurs blog
Project Spurs
Pounding the Rock's game thread
San Antonio Express-News: Manu Ginobili out, Tony Parker day-to-day (so probably out)
Michael Lee: The Other Side: Spurs
GameDay Spurs
| Tonight's Projected Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wizards | vs. | Spurs |
| Gilbert Arenas |
PG | George Hill |
| Mike Miller |
SG | Keith Bogans |
| Caron Butler |
SF | "Thomas" Jefferson |
| Antawn Jamison |
PF | The man we passed on for $2.5 million |
| Brendan Haywood |
C | Tim Duncan |
Note: Jake's chatting on Comcast SportsNet tonight. Not sure where the chat link is (Ed. Note: It's right here. Check in every once in a while to ask me how bitter I am about DeJuan Blair. -Jake), but go to their web site to find him. Also, I'm bolting early tonight because I have friends in town I need to see - so no post-game thread tonight. I also might not recap this game much tomorrow, so feel free to post your own recap if you slog your way through the entire game, since mine will probably mostly just be stats.
Boy do the Wizards catch a break tonight. They haven't won in San Antonio since 1999, but they'll likely face a very depleted, struggling Spurs team tonight. Manu Ginobili definitely won't play, and it's looking like Tony Parker won't either, leaving San Antonio with a three-man backcourt rotation of George Hill, Keith Bogans and Roger Mason.
That makes San Antonio much less imposing. They're only 4-6, but I wouldn't worry too much -- they've basically played without their whole arsenal every game. That hasn't stopped Spurs fans from panicking (see the PtR game thread - wow), but they pull this act every year. I am very shocked, though, to see how low San Antonio ranks on defense. That's really strange. I don't have much of an explanation either -- maybe it's the lack of a wing stopper, or age catching up to Duncan. Weird.
Tonight offers the first chance to see DeJuan Blair, aka the guy we didn't want for free. I don't want to ignite the Blair flames, but tonight should be an interesting test to see just how good he really is. Antawn Jamison needs to be sure he's boxing out instead of just rebounding in traffic.
Otherwise, let's hope our defense is better. Keep them off the three-point line, because it'll be a struggle for them to score otherwise.
GO WIZARDS!
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sometimes listening to the guys
remind me of that basketball scene from Bedazzled, where one announcer was saying that the center was actually twelve feet tall.
With all the penetration we gave up last night?
I think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk
Aversion alert!
We just stop taking it to the rim. Why? Gilbert needs to play to his strengths which are NOT long 2s and 3s.
Partially Disagree
Gilbert’s strength used to be the equal deadliness of both his pull-up jump shot and his drives to the rim. Now all he can do is drive to the rim and hope he gets the foul called. The problem is, the refs will stop calling so many fouls for Gilbert if he can’t reestablish himself as a star who can make shots.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Well, 15 straight for SA.
Wizards disappointing once again. Nice little five minute scoreless drought. Ugh.
The refs are really letting 'em play inside.
and by “letting ’em play” I mean letting the spurs push our man in the back to grab an offensive rebound.
Flip Saunders is a Jump Shooting Coach
Whose teams typically live and die by the jump shot. Too bad nobody on the Wizards can make a shot consistently. Luckily for us, the Spurs aren’t shooting very well, either. They should be up by at least 20 by now.
The more I watch the Wizards, the more I think I’m looking at a 30 win team. Doesn’t matter who we play, we always dig ourselves a huge hole to dig out of in the first half. Does anybody see us pulling off a huge run at any point this season? How about this game?
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
I could see it happening...
The only way I see us winning this game is if Agent Zero takes over with attacking the basket. Butler gets some confidence and starts making his shots and being aggressive (not on the defensive end). Jamison starts out hot in the second half and if we decide to play defense.
I Hope You're Right
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
this is utterly depressing
it seems they work the ball around the perimeter a few times and everyone stands around and watches someone take a jump shot that usually doesn’t drop.
We need to face facts. Butler all of a sudden stinks and I just don’t see it changing. Arenas is an absolute nut job and despite Flip saying he has a high basketball IQ, may be the single worst and dumbest player to ever average more than 26 points a game. I often watch his D and seriously wonder if a heart beats in the man’s body. He absolutly kills you with everything else but his scoring. Finally, Jamison is my favorite among the “big 3”, what a joke thats become, but cant play d cause he just does not have the physical tools.
I’w willing to sit this group of heartless wonders out 25 games to see if there is any signs of life but the depressing thing is, is that a turnaround would probably lead us to only 40 wins. I was expecting 50 before the season starts.
If we still are playing like this after 25 games, this team needs to be blown up for whatever scraps we can get. I for one, hope Gil gets so depressed and gives up his contract so we can sign a real superstar next year.
by iluvthebullets on Nov 21, 2009 10:28 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I Agree
Unfortunately. With just about everything you said, except for the part about Gil giving up his contract. He may get depressed, but he’ll never get that stupid. When Ernie Grunfeld eventually gets fired, it will be the Arenas contract that gets remembered the most from his tenure.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Somebody Please Call Off the Game
Mercy rule, please. This is humiliating.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
I Was Hoping for a Bounce Back Game
The Spurs have already lost twice at home this season, are playing bad defense, and were without Manu Ginobli. This was a very winnable game. For a good team, that is.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
That underestimates the Spur's coach
their star player and the morale boost from getting their starting PG back in the lineup.
Perhaps
But I still think we should have made it a closer game. The Spurs don’t look like a championship caliber team, IMO. We just don’t look very good.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
What a Difference a Year Makes
Last year the Wizards were 2-10 after 12 games. This year? 3-9. It’s good to see all those off-season moves by Ernie resulting in a full one game improvement over last season.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
I Think You are Being Sarcastic
But I will admit I’m being overly negative. It’s just extremely frustrating to watch the losses pile up like this.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
Hilarious!
At least something tonight put a smile on my face. That free throw by Blair should make a blooper reel.
"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier
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