Open Thread: Regular Season Game 60 vs. Atlanta Hawks
by Jake Whitacre on Mar 2, 2009 4:56 PM EST
in Game Threads
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PrintAtlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards, Mar 2, 2009 7:00 PM EST
The Essentials:
Hawks (33-26) at Wizards (14-45)
7:00 p.m.
Verizon Center
CSN
This year:
November 19: Hawks 91, Wizards 87
November 29: Hawks 102, Wizards 98
February 10: Hawks 111, Wizards 90
Notable Hawks numbers this season:
13th in expected winning percentage (.541)
21st in pace factor (90.3 possessions per game)
11th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (109.0)
16th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (107.7)
Key Links: (drop any others in the comments)
Peachtree Hoops
Hoopinion
Hawks BasketBlog
Sekou Smith
Game Day Atlanta
The Other Side: Hawks
| Tonight's Projected Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wizards | vs. | Hawks |
| Player filling in for injured starter |
PG | Mike Bibby |
| SG | The Armadillo Cowboy | |
| Player filling in for injured starter | SF | Marvin Williams |
| The Last Man Standing |
PF | Josh Smith |
| Player filling in for injured starter | C | Al Horford |
[UPDATE: Caron Butler is out tonight - tight hamstring]
Also: DeShawn Stevenson will undergo surgery on his back and is done for the year.
---------------------------
Tonight your Washington Wizards host the Atlanta Hawks for the last time this season. Like Saturday's contest against the Bucks, the Wizards will be trying to avoid a series sweep.
If you're a Wizards fan, you know the key to winning tonight: STOP THE ZAZA!
Let's review the reason why slowing down a backup center is critical to the Wizards' success tonight:
- Zaza Pachulia's career high for points in a game came March 7, 2007 against the Wizards.
- He had 18 rebounds, tying his career high, against the Wizards in the team's first meeting this season.
- The man who's a native of the country of Georgia and plays in the state of Georgia has averaged 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds on 45.6% shooting. Against the Wizards, he's averaged 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds on 50.8% shooting.
If the Wizards still have some semblance of a defensive gameplan, it needs to center around stopping Pachulia. If they can stop Joe Johnson and Josh Smith too, that would be nice, but the team's primary concern tonight has to be stopping the Zaza.
This is an open thread, so if you've ever bitten Danny Ainge's hand, talk about it here.
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UPDATE: Caron Butler is out
Something about tightness in the hamstring (as reported by Comcast)
Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It.net and Bullets Forever.
Yes indeedy
Just when I got excited that the Hawks plane got here late I learn this. Drat.
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:01 PM EST up reply actions
Just curious
Did you hear anything about why DeShawn and the team waited so long before deciding to opt for the surgery?
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions
Well, Dixon has no excuse
with Butler and Stevenson out tonight, he’s likely to get some PT. He better make the most of it.
Don't forget about Crittenton
He might still be out with the flu as well.
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
Critterbug looked good
a second ago when they showed them dancing in a circle
Good
We’ll need him tonight.
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Oh wow
The Phone Booth is emmmmmmmmmmmpty.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
If I had to guess
I’d say there’s maybe 6000 people in attendance tonight.
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe I'm crazy
Why don’t we just put McGuire at point guard?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Wait
So when the Wizards do better in the first quarter, they’re more likely to win? Surely you jest CSN.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Did Mike James just glare at the rim after missing that shot to end the quarter?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Nick Young vs. Flip Murray
And here…we…go.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
I just got how
How did Tap start both Blatche and Songaila but make Songaila the center? Or is teh Yahoo boxscore wrong?
To clarify
I just want to be sure I know which yahoo got it wrong.
by Jon L on Mar 2, 2009 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I saw Blatche listed as the center on CSN
It’s probably just a matter of preference. I think Darius is the center on offense but I think that Andray is the center on defense if that makes sense.
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Being able to jump 12 feet in the air
Doesn’t make you smart. It makes you fun to watch, but it doesn’t make you smart.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
It's never too early
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Worst. Offensive. Possession. Ever.
That ended with a foul, that is.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
just remember:
we have to keep all of these guys for next year because we have to see how the team plays “when everyone’s healthy.” So don’t let the missed shots, bad passes, and utter lack of team chemistry bother you.
Yeah
You don’t see that very often.
You also don’t see a guy tie his career high in assists before the end of the first half. Go Dom Go!
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 Mar 2, 2009 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
Juwan Howard jersey sighting!
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
what is this that's happening when atlanta has the ball?
d-something?
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 2, 2009 8:00 PM EST reply actions
Well, more specifically
Why was he taking the last shot? Were they out of timeouts? They couldn’t get better shooters in?
He gives the team much-needed humility
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 Mar 2, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH
Joe Johnson has 6 points, 9 assists, and 4 boards at the half.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
A slow start to the 2nd half
Surely you jest.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
just sunk a jumper too
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 2, 2009 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
That one hurt to watch.
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 Mar 2, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
Just realized
In missing tonight’s game, the curse of Bulter getting injured in Milwaukee lives on.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Ugh
Mike James has seven points on 10 shots. I’d say “the Mike James Experience, everyone,” except that NY has missed all four of his shots.
No wonder Juan Dixon’s pissed.
At this point
They should just let James, Young, and Dixon each play 4 minutes of the 1st quarter, see which one has the hottest hand and then ride it for the rest of 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 Mar 2, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
Can you always tell who's hot
after four minutes?
Given their shot tendencies
Yes.
(Yes, I’m being a little overdramatic.)
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 Mar 2, 2009 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
Fair enough
At this point, with those three, I’m not sure of any better ideas
no joke
as pissed as i get at james, i’ve seen enough of the dixon show not to want that.
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 2, 2009 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
I can't remember the last time I saw a double dribble.
And somehow, he’s going to end up with the best +/- on the team tonight.
this is a poor effort
zero intensity
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 2, 2009 9:02 PM EST reply actions
Wow
A little gift for the garbage time watchers.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Minutes Watch
Jamison played 42 and a half minutes
Mike James played a little under 39 and a half minutes
Taser played 38 minutes
McGee played a little under 32 and a half minutes
Blatche played 28 and a half minutes
Songaila played a little under 26 minutes
Crittenton played a little over 19 and a half minutes
NY played a little over 13 and a half minutes
I'd love to hear somebody
try to make the case for Mike James getting 39.5 minutes
2 words:
juan dixon
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 2, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
I thought that was settled
After his last performance Juan would never again be allowed to play 5 on 5 full court basketball.
by MR on Mar 2, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
ha - no i meant "juan dixon" as a reason
why james plays 39.5 minutes
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 2, 2009 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
Guys
I think the answer here is obvious: Oleksiy Pecherov.
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 Mar 2, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
You might just be onto something. Play Pech at SG.
by MR on Mar 3, 2009 6:30 AM EST up reply actions
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