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Open thread: Regular season game 50 vs. Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets at Washington Wizards, Feb 6, 2009 8:00 PM EST


Jhodge_jp_050810_600_medium

UPDATE: As expected, no Butler or Stevenson.  Juan Dixon will be able to play.

The Essentials:
Nuggets (33-16) vs. Wizards (10-39)
8 p.m.
Verizon Center
ESPN

Notable Nuggets numbers this season:
6th in expected winning percentage (.673)
4th in pace factor (97.6 possessions per game)
8th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (109.9)
9th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (105.8)

Key Links: (drop any others in the comments)
Pickaxe And Roll
Roundball Mining Company
Nugg Doctor
Denver Stiffs
The Chris Andersen Files
Game Day Denver

Tonight's Starters
Wizards vs. Nuggets
Player filling in for injured starter
PG Chauncey Billups
Player filling in for injured starter SG J.R. Smith
Player filling in for injured starter SF Carmelo Anthony
The Last Man Standing
PF Renaldo Balkman
Player filling in for injured starter C Nené

Last year when these two teams tangled at the Phone Booth on a game televised by ESPN, the Nuggets thumped the Wizards by 26.  The team looked awful, the fans booed, and the Wizards found themselves staring at an 0-5 record.  That game would prove to be the turning point in the season as the Wizards reeled off six straight wins and after that point never left the playoff discussion.

Except for the whole using-this-game-a-catalyst-to-get-back-in-the-playoff-hunt, thsi game could very well turn out to be a lot like last year's game.  People will rightfully be scared of Chauncey Billups because of how he's helped that team this season, and they'll rightfully be scared of Carmelo Anthony because he's an outstanding player, but the one to watch out for tonight is Nené.

Just about every low post player is a threat against us, but the Brazillian can really wreak some havoc against the Wizards' front line.  Nené's size negates Songaila's ability use to use his bulk to keep him off the blocks and body him up and JaVale's only hope in stopping him is that maybe he can block some of his shots early and get into his head.  If neither of those things happen, the Wizards better hope that they can get him in foul trouble, because that's probably the only way they stand a chance in this one.

This is an open thread, so if you had to cut your hair because you lost a video game, you can talk about it here.

GO WIZARDS!

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Until Jamison goes down

Then it’ll just be a clean sweep.

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 Feb 6, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions  

Julius Hodge!?

Ha ha … guy hardly got off the bench when he was in town … now you’re using him as our poster child?! haha!

Hopefully the ESPN coverage will fire up both teams enough for a good performance tonight.

by Nate Timmons on Feb 6, 2009 6:32 PM EST reply actions  

Anyone just watching ESPN?

They just used the Wiz comcast intro music from last season. Biters!

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 7:54 PM EST reply actions  

When did McGuire find his left hand?

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 8:09 PM EST reply actions  

Since when is

3/4th of an inch an advantage with shooting over the top?

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 8:10 PM EST reply actions  

movement without the ball - so far, so good

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 8:15 PM EST reply actions  

DUNKER

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 8:20 PM EST reply actions  

So........

There’s about 2.5 of us here…..cool.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 8:36 PM EST reply actions  

Well, at least we know that Pech is not going to just touch the guy

on his way to a dunk….. That was a good, hard foul

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 8:39 PM EST reply actions  

They take their cue from the Vets

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions  

Whatever...

They should come in and play hard. Don’t make excuses for them.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree

Playing hard doesn’t have to be taught.

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 8:46 PM EST up reply actions  

How many dunks do the Nuggets have already?

There’s a difference between being a rookie and not trying. And right now it’s hard to determine which one of those is taking place.

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 8:41 PM EST reply actions  

He and John Ritter

The funny die young, I guess its better than becoming the next Eddie Murphy disaster though

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Javale's not even trying tonight

his efforts been impressive lately, he looks demoralized and disorganized and out there

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:42 PM EST reply actions  

On the otherhand

Lebron’s triple double got invalidated, so thats something to feel good about

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:44 PM EST reply actions  

Someone needs to take

“The Birdman” out into the third row.

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 8:44 PM EST reply actions  

I love the NBA commercials

on NBA League Pass thats all that they show during commercial breaks, and I’m still not sick of them.

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:49 PM EST reply actions  

Its too different teams

the young guys and veterans hate eachother, a lot of group loyalty. Which is why I would rather see them rotated in as groups.
Dixon James McGuire Songaila Jamison
Critt Young McGuire/Jamison Pech McGee

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:54 PM EST up reply actions  

Two

I ain’t ignant I promise

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:54 PM EST up reply actions  

SHARE!

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 8:55 PM EST reply actions  

They shut off media access to that prayer session

Must have scared to death about the crazy soundbites that could have come out of that.
Up next on ESPN…Mike James speaks in tongues

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions  

Didn't Luke Ridnour show up?

I think Blatche was there too. I wonder what he had to say.

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Down 20.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 9:04 PM EST reply actions  

In all seriousness

The Wiz need to explore trading Jamison or Butler. Has any team ever won a championship with its three best players being terrible defensive players?

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 9:05 PM EST reply actions  

Maybe both

Butler can’t guard shooting guards or small forwards.
Jamisons getting olddd, I bet Bobcats would pay tooth and nail for him

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions  

Well, this is comment 150

250 is easily attainable.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 9:11 PM EST reply actions  

Good I raise my mental filter a little

from pure stream of consciousness to not quite saying whatever the hell i want

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Its the new coach

Lets see what Avery thinks about his future team, unless watching this horror show tonight scares him away. I know he turned down the Grizzlies, but come on there is no way we are that hopeless.

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:11 PM EST reply actions  

I'm skeptical of Avery...

But I’d rather have him than Flip or Mark Jackson.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 9:12 PM EST up reply actions  

I would prefer a young coach

Not somebody who’s bounced around between three or four different NBA teams

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Does Avery even want to coach again?

He seems to be having way too much fun being extremely annoying as an analyst.

by Matt K. on Feb 6, 2009 9:15 PM EST up reply actions  

He took over the Mavs

with 18 games left and led the team on a 16-2 run, thats 89% winning percentage.
If we signed him after tonights game and he pulled off a similar feat, we could finish 38-44. That might be good for an 8th seed

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:24 PM EST up reply actions  

32 games left

89% winning would be 28-4, so add that to our record after tonight of 10-40. Do you believe in miracles?

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions  

Naw....he's a competitor....

guys like him can’t NOT be apart of the game.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 9:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Took a knee to the back

It’ll just be a bruise……eff him.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Can't cut anyone either

Deadline passed… All the Wizards contracts are now guaranteed…. All Roster spots are guaranteed for the rest of the year…

The Wizards have 15 players under contract, the maximum allowed…

They can’t sign anyone else; unless they do a 2 for 1 trade… (ie; trade two players for one in return)

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions  

Low Blow of the night

“I don’t know if even the President could stand to watch what the Wizards have done tonight.”

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:32 PM EST reply actions  

Well - Wizards down 34

When do you expect we’ll see Nick Young?

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 9:43 PM EST reply actions  

Dunno

Apparently garbage time is time to play Mike James and Juan Dixon

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions  

What are the veterans

getting out of playing down 34 in the third quarter

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:48 PM EST up reply actions  

Tapscott should chew the young

out and teach them a thing about being professional. If he could motivate the young players to focus and succeed at a goal of say getting the margin of victory within 20, that’d be somewhat of a moral victory and a lesson learned.

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions  

I think the point I was trying to make

is that Tapscott DOES have a doghouse…… and Young is in it.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 9:50 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm disappointed

that we haven’t gotten more of the ESPN Wired experience. Was looking forward to hearing Tapscott.

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 9:46 PM EST reply actions  

How long 'till Jamison...

fakes an injury and is out for the rest of the year?

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 10:00 PM EST reply actions  

Breaks foot

off in Javale McGee’s rearend

by morethesamewiz on Feb 6, 2009 10:01 PM EST up reply actions  

Verizon is so empty

that the boo birds are insignificant.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Kyle Weidie on Feb 6, 2009 10:01 PM EST reply actions  

WHY is Jamison coming back in?

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 10:02 PM EST reply actions  

Never mind

He doesn’t have his double-double yet – he’s short 2 rebounds….

Gotta “get his” , I guess

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Now I know why Jamison is back in

a 30 point blowout with 8 minutes left in the 4th Quarter….

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 10:08 PM EST up reply actions  

The young guys have cut it to 25

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 10:19 PM EST reply actions  

Hey

Javaris with the “crab dribble”

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 10:20 PM EST reply actions  

So

The young guys (Crit, McGuire, McGee, Young and Pecherov), play almost the entire 4th quarter…
A quarter in which the Wizards outscore Denver 33-22…
A quarter in which there was much more energy… more sharing the ball (except Young)… and more, dare I say, defense? Yes, I said it… the Wizards second unit actually played some defense.

Caveat all that with the fact that Denver was up by 34 points at one point; but still……….

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Feb 6, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions  

Just got back

I take it that I’m going to have fun watching the replay of this one.

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 Feb 6, 2009 10:51 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah

I just got through the first half and I think I got what I needed to see out of the game. If I mail in the recap, it’s only because it reflects 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 Feb 7, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions  

Gaining experience!

With the injuries that’s about the best you can root for. I did it for years with the Nuggets. Was watching lotto teams and bad drafts … FOR YEARS! Skita!!! haha…gaawd.

Best of luck to Arenas’ recovery. Wanted that guy to sign in Denver way back when. Guy cracks me up with his blogs. Does he still write? I haven’t checked in forever.

Crit looks like a player in this league for sure.

by Nate Timmons on Feb 7, 2009 3:50 AM EST reply actions  

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