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Highest Plus/Minus: Gilbert Arenas (+21)
Lowest Plus/Minus: Antonio Daniels (-4)

(I only got to listen to the game, so bear with me as I try to make sense of what I heard.)

With the game and pivotal playoff seeding on the line, the Wizards had one quarter to show what they were made of. Here's their report card from the final quarter:

I'd give 'em an A++++++++++++++++++++++++, with a few smiley faces and a sticker. It was that good. The main story from last night's game is going to be the re-emergence of Gilbert, but don't lose sight of what everyone else did last night.

Antonio Daniels had a strong game, despite what the +/- would tell you. Stevenson was hitting from outside, he still shoots a little too much, but when he's making that shot, the offense is almost unstoppable. Roger's 5 fouls in 18 minutes kind of bothered me, but his shot was falling as well, and it's not like he's constantly in foul trouble, and the rest of his game was solid. Jamison and Songaila did their thing as always. Blatche had a strong game, and while Brendan Haywood wasn't scoring like Blatche was, he was still rebounding the ball which is huge. It seems like whenever Brendan struggles scoring he struggles on the glass as well, but tonight he found a way to contribute even though he was cold. They'll need him to do more of the same if his shot betrays him in the playoffs.

As much as people are going to want to blow up LeBron vs. DeShawn or LeBron vs. Caron or LeBron vs. Gil, the key is going to be how well the supporting cast fills their roles like they did tonight. The Wizards aren't going to be able to match the star power of LeBron, but the Cavs can't match up with the rest of the Wizards. If Washington is going to get over the hump against Cleveland, they're going to need to fill their roles like they did tonight.

In case you missed it, we're giving Kobe the M.V.P and Gilbert Arenas is focused. Oh yea, I got no love for Philly.

flickr/vic15

Quarter One

10:19: The Wizards get off to a quick 6-0 start with four Songalia points and an Antonio Daniels fade-away.

8:53: Thaddeus Young steals a casual Wizards pass (Daniels is credited with the turnover, but it’s really a team thing) and it’s break away points. 9-6 Philly, all nine coming in the last 65 seconds.

8:23: The Sixers run and dunk….they can’t shot jumpers or FTs, but when it comes to the Sixers running on the Wizards, I guess that doesn’t matter. 11 straight points for Philly, Wizards still stuck on 6.

Dalembert is owning Brendan Haywood with intimidation in the paint. Meanwhile, 13 points in 2:35 for Philadelphia.

6:52: Are you kidding me? Lazy inbounds pass is picked off and a breakaway dunk by Igoudala…15-0 run. Needless to say, Coach Eddie calls a timeout. 15-6 Philly. Please! Throw a clip board, kick a water cooler….Do something Eddie! This is unacceptable!!

6:40: Chris Miller’s sideline report says that Eddie was quite "spirited" during the timeout. Whatever that means.

5:52: An offensive rebound finally results in points for Haywood….he has been working (4 offensive boards), but this is the first positive result.

5:04: Willie Green back-cuts a Lock Smith with horse blinders. Points, 19-12 Philly.

4:16: Gil checks in for Haywood….who finally picked up his first foul going for an offensive board. Reggie Nut Grabber Evans thinks everyone is cheering for him as he comes in for T. Young.

3:06: Wow….AD makes one of the prettiest moves I’ve seen him make in getting by Lou Williams and Reggie Evans with a running, twisting scoop. And1, but misses the FT. 23-17 Sixers.

2:35: Arenas hits a 3 as the Sixers collapsed on D-Song. Darius was tough enough not to turn the ball over and get it to Gilbert. 23-20 Philly.

0:32: Despite doing a little better….the Wiz are still running a bad offense of missed D-Song jumpers, missed Arenas jumpers and missed Daniels runners. AJ misses a post 1-on 1 move….Lou Williams dunk. 30-20 76ers. Wizards offensive movement? Nope.

0:08: Stevenson luckily bandages bleeding with his second three of the quarter. 30-23 Philadelphia

The Wizards got 7 offensive boards in the first but could only convert once on that Haywood tip….Philly shot 62% to 36% for the Wiz. Sixers had 18 points in the paint and assisted on 8 of 13 FGs. 11 of the points on that initial 15-0 Sixers run came on the break.

Quarter Two

11:31: Carney picks the pocket of a lackadaisical Gil Arenas and there’s scramble for the ball (actually, I think the photo in the post below depicts this), but Reggie Evans somehow commits an off the ball foul. Gil turns the luck into a three. 30-26 Sixers.

10:56: Gilbert’s poor bounce pass on the break gets easily picked off….Lou Williams with a monster oop to Igoudala. 32-26 Philly.

TAKE CARE OF THE DAMN BALL GILBERT!

10:30: Lou Williams knocks a 3 in Roger Mason’s grill. 8 points in about 6 minutes for Sweet Lou.

9:47: Pick and dive down the middle of the lane opens up Blatche to receive a pass from DeShawn. Bucket and foul…missed FT. 35-30 Sixers.

The Cleaner checks into the game.

8:23: Gil with an ill-advised pull up…hand in his face, disruption to the offense.

They are interviewing the wives of AD and AJ about a charity event…..something about dresses made of chocolate. Boy, Jamison’s wife has that deeeeeep Southern accent. Both of them are some beautiful women though….good luck raising money for kid’s books.

6:41: The Potomac Rainmaker nails a long three….let’s hope that loosens up the Philly D as Phil Chenier suggests. 39-37 Sixers.

6:03: Very Nice…I like!! Blatche gives the ball to The Cleaner on the perimeter….D- Mac drives the ball as Blatche dives…making himself available for the pass and the bucket. Nice combo kids. 41-39 76ers.

4:34: Uh oh…full court Philly press is set up after made FTs. Wizards break it with no hiccups this time….just can’t convert a Roger Mason lay-up attempt.

3:42: The Cleaner (Dominic McGuire) tips and takes care of the mess that Haywood makes with his miss. 47-43 Philly.

3:26: Nice work for Haywood to get his hand in to deflect the ball from a wide open Sixer in the paint. The Wizards finally get some transition points (Daniels). Timeout Philly, they’re up 47-45.

3:07: Don’t sleep on Igoudala’s three pointer…DeShawn. 50-45 76ers.

2:45: Antonio Daniels has been a warrior going to the basket….seems like he gets hit every time. 50-47 Philly.

2:18: DeShawn ties the game at 50 with a three after getting a steal (Philly’s 5th turnover of the quarter)

2:01: DeShawn draws a charge on Thaddeus Young. Some flashes of smart basketball going on now.

1:39: DeShawn draws a foul on Jason Smith with 3 seconds left on the shot clock. His 2 FTs give the Wiz a 52-50 lead.

1:25: Unbelievable…..Andre miller gets the ball WIDE open on the baseline. Everyone thinks he going to shot. Brendan even leaves his post protecting the basket to block out. Miller just drives the open lane, but misses the lay-up.

0:18: Stevenson has to throw up a garbage three with the shot clock running down and the offense stalling. That’s the type of night for him…as he makes it, his 4th of the half. A 16-6 run to close out the second. I just hope DeShawn doesn’t start gunning as he usually does when he starts hot. 57-53 Wizards.

Half stats? Eff ‘em….just go win the game.

Continue reading this post »

Ahhh!  Sorry guys, totally fell asleep on the long preview I promised.  

Needless to say, this game is as big as it gets this season.  A win means we essentially win the five spot, because Philly would be out by virtue of being down two games with two to play (and we have the tiebreaker).  A loss means we drop to sixth.

GO WIZARDS!

[UPDATE from TruthAboutIt - I was saving this for the game blog, but it's better served in the pre-game thread]

The Detroit game was the Detroit game. The Wizards players, coaches, fans, bloggers, turkeys, felines and baby mamas need to move it on along now. Needless to say, the key for tonight's game is energy. Hopefully the Wizards can start their own fire and the Verizon Center crowd will be added fuel. Philly is a team that doesn't always leave me with brotherly feelings.

• Nov. 20, Game 10 - 116-101 Wizards over Sixers: Gilbert's 2nd missed game of the season…..remember when we thought it was just a precaution? On this night, the Wizards were hot, shooting 57% from the field. On the negative side, the Sixers out-scored the Wizards 33-18 in the 4th quarter, but still lost by 15. Sweet Lou Williams had one of his coming out parties with 25 off the bench.
  
• Nov. 30, Game 16 - 85-84 Sixers over Wizards: The Wiz had the ball at the end of the game with 12 seconds left, but all they could manage was a wide open three miss from Nick Young. Yea, he was open…but you give yourself a better chance with something going towards the basket rather than long distance faith in the hands of a rookie. Stevenson was 4-14, Jamison was 6-21 and PG play was very poor as AD had 4 assists and 4 turnovers. In contrast, Andre Miller had 8 assists and 0 turnovers.
  
• Feb. 5, Game 47 - 101-96 Sixers over Wizards: The Wizards were up 10 after 3 quarters. Caron re-aggravated his hip, limping to the locker room after 3 and not playing in the 4th. Basically, the Wizards folded hard under Philly backcourt pressure as the Sixers had a 17-0 mid-fourth-quarter run. Ideas for a "Jamison You're Next" t-shirt started floating around.

As I was typing this before the game, The Payback by James Brown was playing on my computer itunes…..let's hope that's a good sign.