Hawks 100, Wizards 97

by Mike Prada on Mar 8, 2007 1:20 AM EST in Recaps

It would be pointless to go on an angry rant, so I'll let you guys do that instead in the comments.

My main problems are twofold (alright, fourfold).

It seems like this team is turning the ball over a lot more than last year's team, which wouldn't make sense if you consider that JJ was replaced by DeShawn. I'm probably just guessing based on the naked eye, but I feel like there have been a number of games where turnovers have really hurt. Tonight, it's just inexcusable to turn the ball over 21 times against the Atlanta Hawks. There's no other way around it.
The Hawks did the right thing and pounded it inside, with Zaza Pachulia doing most of the damage. Yet with the game on the line, EJ decided to go to that annoying small lineup again, playing Jamison at center. Obviously, Pachulia is going to kill you when Jamison is the guy guarding him. It probably would have paid to play Brendan there, even if he was playing as bad as he was.
The Big 3 were good. Everyone else? Not so much. DeShawn was positively awful today, going 1 for 8 and turning the ball over 5 times. And nobody on the bench did anything, which is a real shame because I thought they had really turned a corner.
I'm not a huge fan of the term "killer instinct," if only because it's overused. But this is yet another time where the Wizards fail to stomp on a bad team when they have the chance. Considering that Miami is actually rounding into form, as witnessed by their 33 point beatdown of Chicago, this concerns me greatly. The Wizards had a 10 point lead, but didn't finish the deal against a bad team. Yes, this was the second game of a back-to-back, but you have to be able to finish off a Hawks team that's already bad and is also missing their best player and another solid starter. I mean, Solomon Jones started for them tonight. Seriously!

The floor is open for ranting. And frankly, it's well deserved.

By the way, a long post on Jarvis is coming tomorrow. I was simply waiting for the right time to unleash it.

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I am so angry

Id rather lose to the sun in phoenix then lose to teams like the hawks.

It seriously makes me so mad that I dont want to watch another game.

ASDDASFADSFDSFASDF!

by riskus on Mar 8, 2007 6:30 AM EST reply actions

Don't do that

A loss is a loss, but yeah, this one definitely stings.

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

by Mike Prada on Mar 8, 2007 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

By that I mean

Don't not watch anymore...

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

by Mike Prada on Mar 8, 2007 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

This game was a MAJOR disappointment. The 'zards had a chance to go on a long winning streak but blew it with their disappointing play. Jarvis fumbling the ball out of bounds epitomized the poor effort. It does illustrate my contention though that when the Wizards lose, it's not because of their defense. Its because their offense stops working. They rarely lose 120-117. Instead all of the losses are in the 93-82 range. The coaches and players need to stop listening to the "no defense" talk and worry about hitting their shots and hanging on to the ball. Of course, bringing in Jarvis Hayes helps neither the offense nor the defense. His supposed ability to "spread the floor" is entirely offset by the defensive matchups created. Much better to have Haywood or Booth attempting to stop ZaZa than Jamison or Hayes. And nothing is lost on the offensive end considering Hayes' poor shooting.

by hotplate on Mar 8, 2007 8:45 AM EST reply actions

I mean...

The Wizards weren't awful defensively, but surrendering 42 free throws is a real killer, and it shows a lack of defensive ability.

It is true that if the offense was working well, the defensive problems wouldn't cost them the game. But the Wizards still need to defend better to reach the next level.

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

by Mike Prada on Mar 8, 2007 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

20 turnovers

I only caught from the 3rd quarter on and wow, YUCK is right! I came away with a similar thought of who is Solomon Jones? No Joe Johnson, No Marvin Williams and the Wiz still get beat? Turnovers crushed em and Eddie got out coached at the end of the game by Mike Woodson? How is this possible? He goes small and Hawks pound it to ZA ZA 3 times in a row. He put Haywood back in but at that point it was pretty much too late. They had a questionable tripping call at the end, Lue unintentionally tripped over Jamison's foot. It could have been called a traveling. They still should have lost and did.

The road losses to the Nuggets with no Iverson&Mello, at Hornets, and now this game are the 3 games that will stick in my side as games the Wizards had no business in losing. Can anyone think of others? I would say Portland at home but they played like garbage and deserved to lose.

Josh Smith was the best player on the court last night and he is an All Star in the making. Too bad his team is stuck with no 1st round pick, no owner, zero fan base and an awful GM.

by Mac G on Mar 8, 2007 12:54 PM EST reply actions