Open Thread: Regular Season Game 64 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
by Jake Whitacre on Mar 9, 2009 2:52 PM EDT
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PrintWashington Wizards at Minnesota Timberwolves, Mar 9, 2009 8:00 PM EDT
The Essentials:
Wizards (14-49) at Timberwolves (18-44)
8:00 p.m.
Target Center
CSN
This year:
February 17: Wizards 111, Timberwolves 103
Notable T-Wolves numbers this season:
25th in expected winning percentage (.335)
11th in pace factor (92.5 possessions per game)
23rd in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (106.0)
26th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (111.0)
Key Links: (drop any others in the comments)
Canis Hoopus
T-Wolves Blog
On the Ball
Game Day Minnesota
The Other Side: T-Wolves
| Tonight's Projected Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wizards | vs. | T-wolves |
| Player filling in for injured starter |
PG | Sebastian Telfair |
| Tough Juice |
SG | Randy Foye |
| Player filling in for injured starter | SF | Ryan Gomes |
| The Last Man Standing |
PF | Kevin Love |
| Player filling in for injured starter | C | Jarron Collins |
Since we're playing the Timberwolves tonight, it only makes sense to update where the Wizards stand in relation to the other bottom-feeders of the NBA right now.
The battle for the ping-pong balls is being fought by six teams: Kings, Clippers, Thunder, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, and the Wizards. Here's a look at the standings:
| Record | GB | |
| Wizards | 14-49 | - |
| Kings | 14-49 | - |
| Clippers | 15-48 | 1 |
| Grizzlies | 16-46 | 2.5 |
| Thunder | 17-46 | 3 |
| T-Wolves | 18-44 | 4.5 |
After tonight's game with the Wolves, the Wizards still have a home game against the Kings this Sunday and a road game against the Clippers the following Wednesday. So the Wizards have a nice stretch here to help their lottery position or help their chances of not becoming the worst team in franchise history. Knowing our luck, I'm guessing the team will somehow fail to do either. (I can see the headlines now, "WIZARDS AND KINGS FORCED TO TIE AFTER EVERY PLAYER FOULS OUT.")
Anyways, on to tonight's game. Tonight we've got two of the coldest squads in the league going at it tonight. The T-Wolves have lost nine straight and have only won once since the All-Star break. The Wizards haven't won since Obama came to town, and they'd like to finish this 4 game Midwestern road trip with something tangible for their efforts.
The first time these two played, the key to the win in my opinion was the play of Javaris Crittenton and Mike James who both produced well at the point, and worked well in tandem in the closing moments with Crittenton forcing the defense to collapse and James knocking down the big shots late. Both of them are coming off good performances against Dallas so hopefully they'll be able to build on that momentum tonight.
This is an open thread, so if you would support a petition to get Calvin Booth in the Hall of Fame, lend us your virtual John Hancock here.
GO WIZARDS!
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Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooth!
The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.
Ted Leonsis
Interesting “My Life 365” on Comcast Sportsnet Mid Atlantic this evening.
I love his “live a life without regret” attitude. It was also interesting to find out that he has two bottom lines…. any of his businesses must show profit in each bottom line, both monetary or business bottom line, and what he calls his “second bottom line” that shows how much the activity can activate volunteerism, or how it can open up charitable giving, etc… In other words, how the activity can do “good”, not just make money.
Very interesting guy. And probably the next Owner of the Wizards… If and when he takes over, I expect the Wizards to follow what the Capitals have done. He took a perpetual Playoff team, that kept losing in the 1st round, and brought in big Free Agents (Jagr, etc..) – and that didn’t work… So he completely rebuilt the team from the ground up. Building the team around the system; with players that wanted to be there. A painful 2 years ensued, but they’re now reaping the benefits.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
We are honoring Leonsis -
at our awards dinner this year. I work for a homelessness and poverty organization and he produced a documentary on the homeless world cup called kicking it. I am really looking forward to meeting him. He has done such a good job with the caps. Learned from mistakes and I can’t wait for the wiz takeover.
If and when he takes over, I expect the Wizards to follow what the Capitals have done. He took a perpetual Playoff team, that kept losing in the 1st round, and brought in big Free Agents (Jagr, etc..) – and that didn’t work… So he completely rebuilt the team from the ground up. Building the team around the system; with players that wanted to be there. A painful 2 years ensued, but they’re now reaping the benefits.
Sounds a lot like what Grunfeld and Jordan did. It seems almost like the Wizards are where the Caps will be if Ovechkin and the rest start getting seriously injured.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions
There goes the potential for a Mike James revenge game
Oh 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 9, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Taser at Point?
PG = Taser
SG = Tough Juice
SF = AJ
PF = Blatche
C = Songaila
???
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
why the F would NBA-TV show a t-wolves vs. wiz game?
thereby blacking out league pass. bummed.
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 8:11 PM EDT reply actions
yeah i was just trying to calculate the % of games blacked out
i think you have to really be into the whole league to make it worth it. questionable whether it’s worth it to focus on one team all season.
i’d say 1 out of 6 games is unavailable – just an estimate.
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
1 out of 6 wiz games that is
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
nice
I’m not really a fan of either of them taking a lot of shots, but it beats the usual “dribble up the floor and let Jamison or Butler take a shot” routine
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Critt vs. Telfair is going to be an interesting matchup
One of the bigger pgs in the league playing a one of the tinier ones.
Has anyone ever seen Javaris post up?
so far,
their perimeter defense has been pretty good. Very little stagnation when players have to rotate.
Yeah
That last possesion was pretty good; it’s nice seeing a zone work out the way it’s supposed to.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Cardinal
Would have been a great “vet” for Tapscott if he was still here.
Getting buckets since 2003.
How much do you want to bet
that if we still had Michael Ruffin, he’d be our starting center?
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
The court
You really have to watch a full game to appreciate how ugly it is.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
The only acceptable answer to that question...
Is both.
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 9, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
glad it's not just me.
I heard some Sportcenter guys hyping it earlier this year; I really hope they were being facetious
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Mar 9, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
frustrated i can't watch this BUT
i’m going to take all the positive comments to mean that this team is much better w/o mike james
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 8:23 PM EDT reply actions
Good shooters like McGuire and Songaila
take the scraps that Butler and Jamison leave on Offense…..
When James is in the game, he takes those shots…
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
OR
It means we are playing a team that sucks as much as we do.
Getting buckets since 2003.
by Icantfeelmyface on Mar 9, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
funny what having a point guard who can do more than just hit open threes can do for a team
plus, Critt’s one of the better rebounding guards in the league. Start Javale at center over Songaila and we should be one of the best rebounding teams in the league.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
that's true
james and critt are completely opposite types of players. critt will never dribble down the court and shot 5 seconds into the shot clock, or pound the ball for 10 seconds then shoot.
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Still talking about Arenas and Haywood coming back
I’d wish they’d let it go until we hear something definitive.
Would it be wrong to start Darius Songaila double-double hype?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Three
So if he plays all 48 minutes, he’ll be on pace for 12.
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 9, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions
he'll have to go bonkers over the next two quarters to convince me
jamison has to get his double-double too, ya know.
Man
If everyone on the team played defense with the intensity that D-Song does, we would be a hell of a lot better off.
Getting buckets since 2003.
Watching Songaila tonight
to see if Cupettcj’s theory that Songaila , even though he doesn’t have very good individual rebounding stats, makes the Wizards a better rebounding team – because he blocks out and allows teammates to get rebounds…
Prada showed where the Team does not rebound any better or worse when Songaila is in the game….
But Cupettcj’s is adamant that the stats don’t show Songaila’s value in the rebounding department.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
On-court/off-court stats can be misleading
They never take into consideration what other substitutions a coach makes to offset the decision to pull someone. If Songaila were Biedrins-type rebounder, Nick Young would most likely start over McGuire and our team rebounding numbers would be roughly the same.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I never said I agreed with him....
but he made such an impassioned argument – that I thought I should at least look to see if there’s something to it.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
Yeah
Not disputing that he could make everyone better or worse, just voicing my frustration with any kind of statistical proof for it.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
(sigh)
Looks like the avatar will be black and gold tomorrow.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
I reeeeeeally like seeing Blatche and McGee in at the same time
and to a lesser extent, seeing Nick Young in with them.
Hmm
Pech might be unavailable tonight too. Yeesh.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Please
Someone teach JaVale how to set a screen.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Or at least take Dixon out
Either McGuire or Crittenton should be on the floor at all times tonight. Juan Dixon’s just not a playmaker.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
didn't realize he was playing point
Dixon as SG = will rack up points, but defensive liability due to size
Dixon as PG = Utter Fail
I assume he is
It’s kind of hard to tell with us, but if he’s not, Nick Young is (which I actually think works better than Dixon doing it, even though it’s far from ideal).
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Followed by a not-as-beautiful fast break
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 9, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Only Buck and Phil
What other announcing team could talk about the Beach Boys during a game like that?
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
You mean which other announcing team
could screw up the Beach Boys names?
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
That too.
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 9, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions
the T'Wolves have come around
and is implementing the age-old “let our best player save our ass” strategy.
Terrible call on the charge
Not only were the defender’s feet INSIDE the restricted area, but he leaned to the right and caught Javaris on the hip…. Not direct contact… but off to the side.
Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......
If Songaila scores 30 tonight, someone in Minnesota will be fired
Just a gut feeling.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
Not anymore
When the McHale took over as coach the Wolves’ owner took away his GM status.
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 9, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably both
Especially if Kevin Love is in fact only 6"7 like Buck and Chenier claim.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
kevin love? of the beach boys?
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
always wondered about the size thing in the NBA
example: I’ve heard that Dixon is 6’3" but I’ve seen him in person and he can’t be that much taller than me (I’m 6’0"). Kobe’s 6’6" or 6’9" depending on who you ask. KG is either 6’10", 6’11", or a legit 7-footer.
Yeah, it seems like everyone lies/exaggerates
A lot of guys are listed as 6"10 or 7 feet, then stand next to Shaq and look like they’re six inches shorter than him. As a rule, I usually subtract two inches from everyone in the league’s height when I’m trying to figure out how tall they actually are.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions
the only exceptions I know are
Elton Brand and Larry Bird. Brand did an article before he was drafted where he talked about how every team he visited measured him b/c nobody believed he was 6’8". As for Bird, Jalen Rose had a story about how when he was in Indiana he and other taller players would talk about how they were 6’9" until they saw Larry for the first time. Rose said since then, he tells people that he’s between 6’7" and 6’8".
By the way
I remember reading somewhere that KG actually claims to be shorter than he his so that he can avoid playing center. Don’t know if there’s any truth to it, but it would explain why he always seems to be taller than people who are listed as being the same height as him.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I've heard that as well
I think I also heard somewhere that part of the reason he lists himself shorter is because he doesn’t want to get stuck with the stigma that follows 7-footers. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s close to 7-2, but that’s purely speculative.
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 9, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
D-Train keeps a-rollin'...
Does Songaila actually have a nickname? The Lithuanian Lothario? Darius Messiah? D-Rod?
I tried calling him Vanilla Thunder once
It didn’t seem to work.
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 9, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Lost my video feed.
Alright folks, I’m flying blind here. Bear with me.
Bullets Forever: A blog dedicated to the Washington Wizards with analysis, commentary, and more YouTube videos than your eyes can handle.
I would like to declare that. . .
Calvin Booth is no Larry Sanders. And for Jake’s sake that will be the only time I mention anything to do with the CAA final in this thread.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Mar 9, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah
I actually hate games like this. I can’t quite bring myself to root against the Wizards but it could really hurt us if the Wolves have a worse record than us come lottery time.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
It's tricky
But I always end up rooting for the win because even if the Wizards end up with the worst record that still only gives them a 1 in 4 shot at landing the first pick. So the way I see it, I might as well just hope for the wins and let the luck go as it may when it comes to the lottery since it’s basically a (weighted) crapshoot anyway.
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 9, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
And lets face it
Did the Bullets ever win the lottery when they had the most or second-most ping pong balls. No, they did not.
"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck
by George Templeton on Mar 9, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
they win the lottery
when david stern says so!
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Honestly, if any of the conspiracy theories about Stern are even partly true, Oklahoma City will win it just because of how natural it would be to put Griffin on a team in his home state, thereby solidifying the Thunder as an NBA franchise. Then New York will get Rubio with the second pick, since the Knicks could otherwise wind up being the least talented team in league history next year.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
yup
i’ve thought about that too. i don’t generally go for conspiracy theories. we’ll see.
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
kwame has 10 points tonight
yes, i still follow that stuff a little
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions
His career has been fascinating
I want to see Ricky Gervais make some kind of biopic about him.
by pantslessyoda1 on Mar 9, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Looks like Taps not taking any chances
Jamison and Butler are still out there, despite the team being up by 13…er, 10.
wow - fast game
and a win.
"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler
by little stevie colter on Mar 9, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions
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