Open thread: Regular season game 39

by JakeTheSnake on Jan 20, 2008 10:44 PM EST in Game Threads Comment 17 comments

The essentials:
Mavericks (28-12) at Wizards (21-17)
1 p.m.
Verizon Center
CSN

Last year:
November 21: Mavericks 107, Wizards 80
December 5: Wizards 106, Mavericks 97

This Year:
November 26: Wizards 110, Mavericks 98

4th in expected winning percentage (.704).
26th in pace factor (88.7 possessions per game).
2nd in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (114.5).
15th in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (107.6).

Key links
Mavs Moneyball
Showboating
Showboating blog preview
Competition Discussion: Dallas

Starting lineups:

Mavericks
PG: Devin Harris
SG: Eddie Jones
SF: Josh Howard
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: DeSagana Diop

Wizards
PG: Antonio Daniels
SG: DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Brendan Haywood

Tonight's lines:
Wizards at Mavericks: Mavericks by 3
Over/Under on Big 2 points: 43.2

Alright boys and girls, there's a chance that I might be out of town most of the day so I'm getting the game thread up early in case that happens.

Who's Hot, Who's Not: The Mavericks have won eight of their last nine games, the only loss coming to Salmons, Salmons, SALMONS!!! by 2. However, Washington isn't unfamiliar with facing a hot Dallas team. Last season the Wizards snapped the Mavericks 13 game winning streak and they've won the last two against the Mavs (three if you count the preseason game at the Patriot Center) so the Wiz have that going for them.

Jeeves, get me a log for this fireplace! In the first matchup this season, Caron's outside touch was the major difference. In case you don't remember how hot he was, here's a quick reminder:

Obviously, the Wiz weren't really doing anything special to get him open, he was just Dre Smith hot that night and that opened everyone else up. Someone, whether it be Caron or someone else, needs to step up the scoring tonight if they want to keep up with Dallas.

Keys to the Game: When we played the Mavs in November, they were mired in a losing streak that they've now worked out of, but that doesn't mean that the Wizards still can't use what they did last time to pull out a W. If they can work the offense, and limit penetration from the guards, they can stay competitive. It's hard to see the starters being as hot as they were in the game so the bench is going to have to step it up, if it turns into a shootout.

This is an open thread, so if you're still trying to figure out who Eddie Jones is passing the ball to, leave your guesses here.

0 recs | Comment 17 comments

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Comments

Picks

Wiz
Over

Bullets Forever: Your place for the very latest in Wizards news and PhD-level analysis.

by JakeTheSnake on Jan 20, 2008 10:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wiz
Over

And one NY poster slam over Dampier/Nowitzki.

I've been known to be right.

by Icantfeelmyface on Jan 20, 2008 11:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Wiz
Over

2 good matchups: AJ vs Dirk, Caron vs Howard

I smooth prediction: Nick Young goes for 101 and breaks Wilts record. Nick Young is the future (All jokes aside I really am high on that kid.)

by billy332 on Jan 20, 2008 11:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't read SI then

Sports Illustrated represents everything that's wrong with national sports reporting. They might as well change their name to Front Runner Illustrated. The reason I'm saying this here is because they recently ranked the top 10 NBA rookies this year, and Nick Young didn't make the list. Mike Conley and Daequan Cook made it, but our guy didn't.

by jvflail on Jan 21, 2008 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NY

I don't know - he's got some sweet offensive moves, but he has a LOT to work on, especially his defensive intensity. Fortunately he has the physical talent but I think he's a year or two and some solid coaching from making a consistent impact.

I've been known to be right.

by Icantfeelmyface on Jan 21, 2008 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree with you....... but..........

He is just too talented and skilled on offense. His offensive game when he is on is too polished. He can get anywhere he wants with the ball in his hands, he has a great jumpshot, can shoot off the dribble, catch and shoot, drive to the rim, pullups, he can just get wherever he wants. He can also make plays for his teammates with his passing, and his defense is solid (Although not consistent)......

The one thing that I think holds him back is that he is immature. His game is ready IMHO, obviously he needs to improve a bunch of things like all young players do, but this kids GAME is ready in a ton of ways. I think MENTALLY is whats holding him back.

If the professionalism of Antawn, Caron, AD, Deshawn can rub off on him a bit and they can help him become more mature and consistent than I think he could be huge for us by the end of this year as an offensive spark off the bench. Maybe even a 6th man, I think he is that good.

IF OUR LEADERS CAN GET THRU TO HIM HE COULD BE HUGE FOR US THIS YEAR. I am very high on this kids game, he is gonna be an absolute STUD in the future without a doubt IMHO. I think he could help us tremendously and be our best offensive weapon off the bench by the end of this year.

by billy332 on Jan 22, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A list of things Young has to do to be a stud

Get stronger (very doable, a near certainty).
Exhibit better shot selection and playmaking ability (not so doable, check his college assist and usage rate numbers).
Stop fading on his jump shots (not doable at all).
Play better defense, which is really holding him back right now (tied into #1, but not as doable as that).
Finish better around the rim (doable).
Generally maintain focus beyond just one possession (doable, but not a certainty).

It's certainly up to him, but I don't see him being any more than a one trick pony for the next couple years. Perhaps he gets better, but I don't think he'll ever be a real superstar.

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

by Mike Prada on Jan 22, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Mavs, over

by Aldo on Jan 21, 2008 9:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Picks

Mavs, over. We always seem to come out flat in afternoon games.

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

by mamemimo on Jan 21, 2008 9:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have no idea...

Who Jones was passing too. I've been kicking around a few old person jokes for the last 5 minutes but have to admit I've got nothing. However, I liked the clip for two other reasons beyond the pass.

The Celtics have some issues with Eddie House bringing the ball up the court. Apparently other teams have concerns in this area as well if Jones is doing it from time to time.
How about the moving screen attempt by Juwan Howard? It does not get much more blatant than that.

Celtics '08 or bust. Are you on the bandwagon?

by Jim Weeks on Jan 21, 2008 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Big Oily

I like his energy. Blocks, rebounds, quick hands. He may have more upside than Blatche...

I've been known to be right.

by Icantfeelmyface on Jan 21, 2008 1:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pesh - Mr. All Around

Blocked shot + an assist while leading the break!

by hotplate on Jan 21, 2008 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Looked like a great game...

...from my computer. Stupid work.

Anyone know why Blatche got all the crunch time minutes and Haywood didn't? Was he injured? He seemed to be playing pretty well, from what I could tell from ESPN's GameCast dealie.

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

by mamemimo on Jan 21, 2008 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why.

I watched the entire game but I think this is just Jordan's regular "rotation." He doesn't like to play Haywood more than about 22-25 minutes (as far as I've noticed from boxscores), and he's gonna get Blatche in there no matter what. I thought Blatche played TERRIBLE on both ends of the court. Haywood played about average, that is, a few nice plays and a few - mainly defensively -that make you pound your head on the table. On the bright side, Pech looked like he might be able to provide almost everything that Blatche does (minus some blocks/athleticism). I hope to see him start taking Blatche's minutes.

I can't wait to see what Jordan does when Etan gets back... (note extreme sarcasm).

I've been known to be right.

by Icantfeelmyface on Jan 21, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I share your sarcasm

Haywood should be playing 30 minutes a night, though against Dallas, it's not as big of a deal.

Still, it's concerning that this is the second time he didn't even play in the fourth quarter of a game this year (Atlanta being the first).

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

by Mike Prada on Jan 21, 2008 4:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great, just what I thought.

It begins!

I kinda figured EJ might get back to his old inexplicable ways.

Yeah, and Etan's return scares me far more than his absence.

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

by mamemimo on Jan 21, 2008 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we may have found something in OPEC

Kid is pretty dang good. The bench played well again today. Nick Young, Blatche, Songaila, Mason, Opec..... studs

We are playing TOGETHER, with so much poise and confidence. Caron is for real, doing such a great job leading this team. He is amazing, our defense was great, and Jamison should also be an allstar doing a great job IMHO.

Deshawn was a TERROR today, and Haywood did a great job too. AD stabilizes our PG position and also played well doing what he always does. So big for our team..... AWESOME!

22-12 since that 0-5 start. Dont look now but the Bullets are BLAZIN!

by billy332 on Jan 21, 2008 5:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs