It Was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times: Pistons 98, Wizards 96

by Jake Whitacre on Mar 30, 2009 4:41 PM EDT in Game Threads

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Highest Plus/Minus: Nick Young (+3)
Lowest Plus/Minus: Andray Blatche (-7)
Best Five Man Unit: Javaris Crittenton, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire, Antawn Jamison, JaVale McGee (+5 in the 4th Quarter)
Worst Five Man Unit: Gilbert Arenas, Dominic McGuire, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Andray Blatche (-5 to start the 3rd Quarter)

Four Factors

	Pace	Eff	eFG	FT/FG	OREB%	TOr
DET	90.0	108.9	53.2%	17.7	28.6	17.8
WAS		106.7	47.5%	26.6	20.0	12.2

Photo of the Game

(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Game Thread Comment of the Game: "I was BEGGING Gil to take that shot. USA USA USA!!!" by Truth About It in response to Arenas' first three point attempt of the game.

Other than seeing LeBron James take six steps to the hoop on a game-winning layup, watching Kwame Brown block a potential dagger from Gilbert Arenas is about as crushing as it gets. Was there a foul on the play? Maybe, although Gil said after the game that there wasn't a foul. Did Gilbert rush the shot at the end? Definitely. It's one of those things that would've talked about for years if he'd made it, but the chances of that were incredibly low, even if Kwame hadn't blocked the shot.

I suppose you could've said the same thing about Caron Butler's decision to go for three against the Lakers at the buzzer instead of going for two and the tie. In seasons like this, sometimes you just have to go for the jugular when you get the chance, even if it's not the highest percentage play available.

The ending was rough, but all in all I don't think you could've asked for much more from Gilbert's return. His shooting touch was off, but it seemed like it was more a byproduct of rust from not playing than anything else. He didn't seem to be hobbling around out there to me, but I think it will take more than the 4 games left on the schedule to get back into rhythm and return to the form we're familiar with.

It was also very nice to see how some of the other players on the team who haven't had a chance to play with Arenas that much, like Dominic McGuire, Nick Young, JaVale McGee and Javaris Crittenton fit in with Gilbert while he was on the court. Last night we finally got to see how some of those pieces fit together now that the main cog is turning again. It's amazing how the roster makes so much more sense when the Big 3 are all out there.

Even though the finish stunk, I think we all got what we wanted to see out of last night's game. Gilbert looked good, the players around him looked good, and at the end of the day Gilbert's presence didn't cost the Wiz any ping-pong balls last night. You can't ask for much more than that at this point in the season.

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As for why I wasn't around during the game thread on Saturday

My girlfriend had never seen Gilbert Arenas play before, so we went to a sports bar to see the game. Hence, why I wasn’t around Bullets Forever for the biggest game of the year, but I still saw the game live, which was the most important thing. Sadly, we actually had to request to have one of the TVs show 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 30, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Was this a sports bar in the DC area?

I’m not exactly sure where you’re at. But I’m avoiding that one.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Mar 30, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, it was Winchester, VA

It’s called Glory Days. In and of itself I wouldn’t have been mad that they weren’t showing the game, but I was a little upset that they were showing the Air Force-Vermont hockey game and Cartoon Network instead. But at least they were willing to change a channel so we could check it out, unlike Buffalo Wild Wings.

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 30, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Unfortunate

But it’s understandable with the way the season has gone…and given the Washington area sports scene.

The Washington area has never been a mecca of sports mania. Go to Chicago, and they’re all either Cubs fans or Sox fans. When you talk to them about their team, they say “we” and “our”. Like, “We’re going to win the World Series this year”.
Go to Minneapolis and mention that you’re a Bear’s fan, and you’ll get dirty looks. “We’re gonna stomp them Bears when they come to our house”…

In Washington, people say “they”. Like: “Oh, Yeah, the Wizards…… didn’t they they used to be good, or something?”

With Arenas back, I hope that the buzz will start building again. Starting first with the die-hard Wizards fans, like those of us on BF…. and eventually growing to include the Inside-the-Beltway immigrant elitists…

Until then, local sports bars will show what the Washington area public wants to see; the Cartoon Network.

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

by Rook6980 on Mar 30, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the link

It was just great to see Arenas back on the court. Feels like ages since he was out there.

Krem's Sports Blog

by Matt K. on Mar 31, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

All

it was everything that was great for the Wizards: Arenas, Butler and Jamison playing, the young’ins stepping up to show they aren’t what Gilbert said they are, and a another L to get the most ping pong balls.

I don’t believe in tanking. Once you sanction that as a franchise its hard to ever-ever get back up off the floor. Ask the Clippers.

After the fact I have no trouble appreciating the loss.

by Jheiser3 on Mar 31, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions