Spurs 110, Wizards 83

by Mike Prada on Feb 8, 2007 3:03 AM EST in Recaps

Awful, awful, awful, awful, awful.

Seriously now, this is the second time the Wizards came out really flat against a good team at home. It happened once against Phoenix, and now, it happened again.

I really can't point to anyone in particular to blame here. Gilbert Arenas was scoring well early, but Tony Parker was doing even better. It sounds cliche, but to become a real superstar, Gil's gotta raise his defense from horrible to average. Too many quick point guards dominate him, and even mediocre players like Smush Parker are scoring well on him.

Caron Butler struggled again, making me wonder whether his struggles have to do with the loss of Antawn Jamison or not. I'm silently worried that teams are bodying up Butler and capitalizing on his lack of strength. He's got a smooth mid-range jupmer, and he's phenomenally quick, but he's not all that strong for a 3 man.

The center combination didn't do anything, and Jarvis Hayes was his usual mediocre self. Andray Blatche was particularly frustrating, because he did so many things well and so many things horribly. There's no reason he should be shooting 11 shots and only making 2 of them. Expecting him to be a solid player right now is asking a lot, but still, it illustrates why Eddie is reluctant to play him.

Honestly, I wish I had more. But this was really about a better team coming out really strong early and a worse team not playing up to their abilities. There's no getting around it; this team misses Jamison. And I was wrong.

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Blatche

I agree about wanting him to be solid now but having to face the reality that he is a while away from being that.

At least he is getting a lot of time now. I assume once Darius is conditioned and Jamison comes back Blatche's minutes will go back to scarce.

He still looks nervous on the court to me.

by riskus on Feb 8, 2007 9:06 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, he does look nervous

It seems like he's worried too much about screwing up, causing him to screw up. He's thinking out there too much.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Feb 8, 2007 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

reminds me of kwame

He used to look similiar when he got the ball in the post. The same too afraid to mess up look.

thankfully, that's really where the comparison ends.

Blatche also looks very hyper and spastic at times. I noticed him losing focus while under the defensive basket after a shot went up. At least once he failed to even attempt to box out.

Again he had another one of those weak passes that was almost stolen.

I loved his attempt at the behind the back bounce pass to Etan though.

by riskus on Feb 8, 2007 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I see this

The good news is that, unlike Kwame, Blatche's mistakes seem to come from trying to do too much. Kwame just never seemed like he was doing enough. You can teach someone to be smarter, but it's much harder to teach someone to be more assertive.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Feb 8, 2007 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

Comparing this game to the phoenix debacle is

unfair because that was pre jamison injury.

Unlike the phoenix game when the lead quickly got to 10 I initially wasnt as nervous because I didnt fear that the spurs could keep up the scoring like phx can. I assumed the wiz could get on a run while the spurs settled down.

However, without jamison, the wiz offensive potential is just not the same and an opponent doesnt necessarily have to keep up the scoring pace once they have a lead.

by riskus on Feb 8, 2007 9:35 AM EST reply actions

It was similar

Only in that both games got away early.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Feb 8, 2007 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

like i said

antawn jamison is probly the most important asset on the wiz's offense because of his spacing and his shooting...when theres no jamison caron and gil couldnt penetrate that much and it leads to gil shooting maybe 8-9 3 pointers a game

by sirnanzy on Feb 8, 2007 10:38 AM EST reply actions

AWFUL is right

I turned that pathetic display early in the 3rd quarter. You are right about Gil's D. He keeps going under screens and his man drills wide open jumpers at will. The most troubling things I have seen is Gil has not played like a superstar since Jamison's injury. His shot has been off, especially from 3. With the Big 3, if one had an off nite scoring wise, 2 could still pick up the slack. However, the Wiz can not afford Arenas or Butler having an off nite at all. They might be able to beat horrible teams like the Sonics but not good (Lakers) or really good (Spurs) teams with just one of them scoring well.

Or the Wiz could defend better to replace Jamison's scoring. I think its quite apparent that is not going to happen.

I do not mind Blatche, at least he hustles for loose balls and crashes the Oboards. Unlike Jarvis, who just shoots and shoots. The Wiz are in trouble. The All Star Break can not get here fast enough and do not look now but the Heat are picking up their game. Mac G

by Mac G on Feb 8, 2007 2:21 PM EST reply actions