:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6264588/20120330_ajw_au3_031.jpg)
Be honest: at what point did you *really* feel secure with that big lead the Wizards built vs. the Sixers on Friday night?
Washington led by as many as 22 points in the first half, and their 19-point lead at intermission served mostly as a the beginning of a bunch of Twitter punchlines. Only this time, the Wizards didn't fold in the second half. Bad news for fans of Anthony Davis -- good news for this team that had to be tired of blowing big leads.
Hi, I'm Michael Katz. You might remember me from such sites as SB Nation DC. Mike and Sean are doing something so let's talk about the Wizards without them.*
*Actually, Sean is around somewhere. He Gchatted me with 2 minutes left in the game to ask what was happening because "I thought the score was lying."
Some quick thoughts on what happened after the jump.
Some notes:
• Cartier Martin, you're player of the game. The Wizards have been hurting for shooters to spread the floor this season. Friday, Cartier Martin scored 20 points, hitting four of seven three pointers. That is good! Mostly, he was just able to knock down open looks. That is important! #Cartier4MVP
• Nene is hurting. The question is how bad. Nene had an ice pack on his back while he was on the bench, but midway through the fourth quarter labored into the tunnel with a look of pain on his face. Obviously, Nene's health was the biggest concern (more so even than his contract) when Washington acquired him. The Wizards need Nene -- he scored 10 of the Wizards first 12 points in the third quarter to help them avoid another collapse. Hopefully, this isn't something bigger.
• I'm not a scientist, but this is an encouraging formula: Kevin Seraphin gets minutes --> Gets confidence --> Plays better!
• The Wizards led by as many as 22 in the second half, and took a 19-point advantage in to the locker room at the break. Washington cleaned the glass (+9 on the boards) and ran an actual offense -- shooting 51 percent from the field and assisting on 15 of 24 field goals.
• The bench was huge for the Wizards in the opening half. Kevin Seraphin (!!!) led the Wizards with 10 points in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting. Roger Mason Jr. and Cariter Martin combined for another 14 points on 5-of-9 from the field. Washington outscored the Sixers 11-2 on fast break points in the first half fueld by six Sixers turnovers (four on Wizards steals).
We'll have more up after the game. Running downstairs for quotes. Please, talk amongst yourselves.