The Pacers will not have their best player (Jermaine O'Neal) so we shouldn't have any trouble...oh sh*#

Ivan and Michael I hope for a next story could you guys please do me a favor and ask Eddie why he "loves" small ball so much in critical times in the 4th quarter?

I could understand "maybe" if the Heat had to bring the ball up the full length of the court, but they took the ball out on the sideline under their basket. You do not need "foot speed (smallball lineup) in the halfcourt; you need length. Just imagine if that was Blanche, Booth or Haywood "checking" Haslem? At least his shot would have been contested.

I would have rather lost that game like we lost the NY game with someone shooting a highly contest 30 footer, versus someone shooting a easy little 5 foot uncontested turnaround jumper in the paint.

Eddie drives me crazy when he refuses to put Haywood back in during the 4th quarters of games (all the way back since last season). Again, could you guys please ask Eddie why he does not play "offense and defense" with his "subs" at the end of tight games more often?????????

You can not teach "length"!!! I always hear Eddie sets his lineups in the 4th quarter by what the "other" team has out on the floor? Why can't he "set HIS lineup" and let the other team adjust to our lineup?

Lastly, if you don't ask him about that could you at least ask him why we never see the "actual" Princeton offense being ran anymore; except after timeouts when the other team has put a "run" on us? thanks......

The Wizards played well for about 12 minutes Sunday night. They were outplayed the other 36 minutes of that ball game. They've only played two good games in the 11 since the All-Star break. I don't think that's a good average. This team is tanking fast, and someone has to step up and pull them out of this funk. I doubt that person is Eddie Jordan, though, because I question his abilities when he says he had good defensive matchups on the floor in the final seconds of the fourth quarter against the Heat. (If he wants good defensive matchups, he should remove Gilbert and Antawn from the game and play some bigger guys down low.)

Colin is generally right on the mark. I'm losing confidence in Eddie by the game.

The only thing that made me happy about the Heat game was that they actually stormed back for a big lead after going down 16 in the first half. Too many times this season, we've seen them go down big early (Spurs, Suns) and just get run out of the building. I have no idea what to expect tomorrow.

Contrary to Mikie's point above, I think Jordan has moved away from smallball recently (the last three or four games). He does have the smallball itch, though, so it's something that can rear its ugly head at any time.
At the end of the Miami game, I think Jordan was right to put a PF on Haslem, not insert a center. Haslem could blow right past Haywood or Thomas if he got the ball away from the basket. So, the question is WHICH power forward to you use to defend Haslem? I don't think anyone in the Wizards huddle was thinking Miami would draw up a play to get it to Haslem, so Jordan probably thought Jamison should be on the floor for rebounding. His other options were Ruffin, who hadn't played all game, or Blatche, who hadn't played since the first quarter and may never have been in a game situation like that before.
A concern I've expressed throughout the year is that Jordan does not have a "defensive team" he rolls out for these end of game/quarter/half situations. It always seems to be a spur of the moment decision, and it sure seems he keeps his stars players in the games during these situations for fear of offending them. One question I'd like Ivan to comment on or ask Jordan about is which 5 are the Wizards' best defensive team? Sure, match-ups can play a role, but all other things being equal, who are the best 5?

Caron should sit. The way he is struggling, he needs to rest and get well, or the Wizards will really tank. And stop playing Jarvis Hayes so much!

I'm sick of seeing jumpers, poor rebounding and weak defense! Not a championship calibre team.

"I think Jordan was right to put a PF on Haslem, not insert a center. Haslem could blow right past Haywood or Thomas if he got the ball away from the basket."
I disagree. Haslem would not blow past Haywood because Haywood would be able to play off him while still having the length to challenge his shot.
Haywood can guard any player in the NBA better than Jamison can. I don't care what his size is.

I give up! The Heat are never going to lose again (until the playoffs). They were 16 points down against a good Utah team and came back and won in the finals seconds...much like the Wizards game.

"The Pacers will not have their best player (Jermaine O'Neal) so we shouldn't have any trouble...oh sh*#"

Well they're screwed now, BK just jinxed them. :P

"I don't think anyone in the Wizards huddle was thinking Miami would draw up a play to get it to Haslem..."

Wow, I'm going to disagree with Henry. What's the world coming too??? :)

Don't think for a second that Jamison's lack of abilty to defend is not well known inside NBA circles. As soon as they ran that play I was thinking,"They got the exact matchup they wanted."

He bodied him to the rim and shot right over him. I could see it coming from a mile away.

"Sure, match-ups can play a role, but all other things being equal, who are the best 5?"

To me Jordan can't count past "3" Henry. His thinking has ALWAYS been "Big 3" and anyone else. This is the only way I can justify some of decisions with subs during the game.

Booth is one of thier BEST defenders, yet he sits on the bench. Again, I don't really buy what Jordan sells anymore and prety soon you're going to see the players do the same thing.

- Ray

I think Henry is right. I am sensing less small ball by EJ. Maybe he is starting to see the light. Problem is that the few times he goes to it he still gets poor results. He needs to scrap it except in very special situations. My problem with it is that he usually does it for offensive reasons, which is why he does most things.

I think the Heat finish was one of those special situations and actually a wise coaching decision by EJ. I re-played the Haslem shot a dozen times because the Jamison vs. Haslem matchup intruiged me as well. Riley had E. Jones, J. Williams, Payton, Haslem, Posey on the floor. Shaq, Zo and Walker were all on the bench. So EJ tried to match-up forward on forward. They were driving past Etan all night and Haywood would have had similar results I believe. The question was "which forward to use?". The reality that we must face is that making key stops is not our personality. We don't have a clear top 5 defensive squad that EJ trusts in those kinds of situation. Many of us warned when things were going so well that lack of D would eventually do us in and that may be starting already as the games get tougher.

I have a feeling that as we toss around the X's and O's and question the match-ups that the key to the rest of the season is the heart of our core players. The core players are going to have to force EJ's hand by playing well on both ends convincing him that they can get the job done. I am not sure they can.

When another team goes small I'd contend that we could go long and quick to counter.
The problem that I think EJ is confronted with at the moment is that Songalia appears to really be struggling through that "dead legs" phase that guys have to fight through normally in camp. Makes a slow white guy that can't jump look glued to the floor. Blatch is so young and reed thin, we don't want to force feed him in some situations, and Booth. Well frankly there's not a good excuse for not having Booth on the floor in that situation.
I'm not convinced that Jamison wouldn't be better defender at the 3 than Hayes in that situation. I like having long guys out there with some shot blocking ability with the game on the line. I also like putting a long guy on the inbounder in that situation. Make the pass a little harder. Even if it meant having a mismatch on the inbounder they didn't have alot of time to get the ball back to the inbounder and have him create.
It's the time of the season that the coaching staff should be working on these kinds of plays. It appears to me there is some confusion as EJ is drawing up how we will defend. Players are leaving the huddle talking to each other like they're trying to figure out who has who.
Most years an NBA team will have 10-15 games that go down to a last second shot. That's where in this league coaching can make a difference. Up until recently EJ has been eeking out some narrow victories, some were closer than the should have been. But the Wizards players and Coaching staff has got to work harder at situational defense to get stops at the end.
They should be very aware that was what killed them last year in the playoffs and will again if they don't improve at it.

"I think the Heat finish was one of those special situations and actually a wise coaching decision by EJ. I re-played the Haslem shot a dozen times because the Jamison vs. Haslem matchup intruiged me as well. Riley had E. Jones, J. Williams, Payton, Haslem, Posey on the floor. Shaq, Zo and Walker were all on the bench. So EJ tried to match-up forward on forward". BmoreRev

BmoreRev - This is my point exactly on what I have been trying to say. Riley inserted "his" lineup of forwards, so true to suit Eddie "matches" up with what Riley put in. That is not the way you coach basketball games. You "dictate" the action not the other way around as Eddie allows himself to do most of the time.

Henry - Booth or Blanche both would have been perfect for that situation. Both have great length and better than average lateral movement. I was not even "thinking" about Thomas being in there (that is another subject all by itself). As For Haywood, he could have been set in the paint under the basket for "backup help" in case someone got to close to the basket (i.e. HU did with the easy uncontested shot). Ruffin could have been put in (he has the best lateral movement of all the Wiz big men). Who cares if he did not play the whole game, this was defense; not offense where he had to come in cold to take a game winning jump shot.

Eddie uses "small ball" for offense and "priemeter defense" for teams who have more then 2 good outside shooters. Was that the case in the Miami game with 3 seconds to go? Heck no. Plus Miami was in a half-court set, so you could have gotten more with length because they only had 3 seconds to shoot the ball anyway.

As I said before, I am not a Eddie basher because overall he is one of the main reasons Gilbert is where he is today and we have such a great offense, however Eddie does seem like he gets "lost" out there sometimes when it comes to coaching at the end of games. Thoughts.....?????

sorry forgot to put my name

The Pacers have lost 10 in the row and are hosting Les Boules tonight. Les Boules better win this game, or Tony K. might have to break out his "choking dog" routine.

Ray said:
"I don't think anyone in the Wizards huddle was thinking Miami would draw up a play to get it to Haslem..."

Wow, I'm going to disagree with Henry. What's the world coming too??? :)

Don't think for a second that Jamison's lack of abilty to defend is not well known inside NBA circles. As soon as they ran that play I was thinking,"They got the exact matchup they wanted."

Re-read what I wrote, Ray: "I don't think anyone IN THE WIZARDS HUDDLE was thinking Miami would draw up a play to get it to Haslem." See, Ray, all is right with the world.

All I know is everyone else is winning and we are losing. Whether it is by a point or a basket it is still a loss. Maybe the Wizards are being out coached? What happened? Other teams win without one of their star players, ie: Miami, Cleveland, New York. Why can't the Wiz?They seem talented enough.

Mikie, I think everyone agrees with you.
HE(EJ)& his coaching staff obviously have not figured out how to close out a game.

They seldom come out strong and aggressive & keep rollin...they get goofy - start that egotistical "swag" crap" which tends to lite a fire under the opposing team then they have to play catch up again which happens a lot.

Its all about focus and determination.

One thing about MJ, Magic & many greats of old...they had extreme focus! No matter what the other team was doing...their focus and determination was strong.
Interviews were of no interest.

Sadly, not the "swag brothers" they enjoy the mike waay too much.

Here's something interesting. Many have said EJ should have sat AJ down during the final seconds against the Heat. Reason was that AJ is considered a defensive liability, as Udonis eventually scored the winning basket. AJ probably would not have made a fuss, but AJ is the on court leader, so what kind of tone would EJ have sent if he sat the leader down with seconds to go in a critical game against a division rival?

I think that we may be seeing Eddie beginning to evolve away from the Princeton Offense. One of the problems with the pure Princton set is that the skil sets that it requires on offense don't mesh well with the skills required to be an NBA defensive and rebounding force at the 4 or 5.
If you think about the teams that have run the Princeton in the NBA there really hasn't been a one of them that has been a strong defensive team. Finding 4's and 5's that can face the basket, draw their man out with an offensive game and make the pass to the backdoor cutter or be that cutter themselves require mobility and ballhandling skils that many traditional 4's and 5's don't have.
There have been some real disasters where teams running the Princeton try to bring in guys that can upgrade their D inside and they are completly lost trying to fit in the offensive sets. The Wizards may be adjusting their thinking and beginning to tinker with the sets to make them work better with Haywood and Thomas on the floor. I've noticed more pick and roll plays that are more traditional NBA offensive fare as well as straight isolations which everybody runs.
When Chris Webber was at the Kings he was often lamblasted for standing around at the top of the key and not getting in the blocks under the rim. Wasn't Webber's fault, he was where he was supposed to be in the set, but he was accused of going soft at times.
To toughen our D and rebounding and be able to control the boards to push tempo I think the Wiz will need to move away from the traditional Princeton Offense.

Excuse me, but EJ had nothing to do with the narrow victories we squeezed out earlier this season. Gilbert Arenas squeezed out those victories. Miraculously. Do you really think "take a shot from 30 feet out" is a good play for the coach to draw up?

The reality of the fact is that this team has been losing because they don't play any D and they do too much one on one, which either leads to a bad shot, or a turnover. Playing an And 1 style of basketball will get you some highlights, a visit to the all star game, and maybe even the playoffs if you have the good players, but for sure, you'll be one and done in the playoffs. Defense wins championships.

What's the point of being one and done if you can instead, just go to the lottery?

Haven't heard anybody that's talking about being happy with one and done. And a goal shouldn't be to make the lottery. Ever wonder why it's the same team's there year after year?
What's the goal to qualify for a crap shoot that is probably rigged(Patrick to NY, Shaq and Penny to Orlando, King James to Cleveland to name a few) The Wizards have NEVER improved their draft position in the lottery. And after Oden there isn't a defensive stopper in the top of this draft.
General feeling amoung the NBA draft experts is that this is a deep draft. Teams may do as well at 25 as they did from 5-10. Not much of a way to plan on building a team, tank a season for a chance at a grap shoot where you don't even get to be in the room.

Zonker, not all of our last second victories have come from 30' shots. I've been at least 3 games where we closed with defensive stops.
Last I looked they count too.

Didn't say anything about "Happy," but your favorite morning read, Wilbon, and so do I, believe that if they don't right this ship, Les Boules will be one and done in the playoffs. Every other team in the east is rising, except maybe Toronto.

Making the lottery is really a strategy, not a goal. It would never be sold to the public because then you're basically telling fans not to buy tickets because games are being tanked on purpose. With the players potentially coming out, hitting the lottery is not so bad. Oden is a great defensive guy, but so is Noah and Jeff Green (tall Scottie Pippen who can score). Who wouldn't want Corey Brewer instead of Jarvis? How about Durant instead of Jarvis?

"The Wizards have never improved their draft position..."

Didn't Les Boules win the lottery a few years ago and were stuck going with Kwame? I don't think they were the worst team that season, and actually improved their draft position.

Nevermind the draft position, if Les Boules hit the lottery, they can potentially use the pick and some of their current players to trade for someone else, a proven big man on a team, which they are yearning for. That's the only way Les Boules can really be in the game, is either with drafting a lottery pick, or trading a lottery pick for a proven post player.

Being one and one with pick 25 instead of lottery with pick 5-10, me and 99.9% of the world would take the latter. This cheap franchise and cheap owner will not and can not pay top dollar for a free agent, and even if they could, who would want to come here and stay in a motel when the team plays in portland? Would anyone want to come here and share the ball with a ballhog like Arenas? Not likely.

Mike Lee is doing his on-line chat now. This is his response to several Eddie Jordan bashings and comments. Thought you'd like to read:

Michael Lee: Alrighty then.

I'm sure this isn't the last of the Eddie Bashing, but let me address this now before I get any more. I can agree with all of you that Eddie does some things that are rather perplexing, especially in terms of his substitution patterns and late-game personnel decisions. It frustrates me that he too often makes decisions based on the personnel the other team has on the floor rather than playing to his strengths.
I think the recurring theme since he was in Washington was how he would get the team to play defense. I've often wondered if it's really possible to be a lockdown defensive team with that personnel.
I was a little amused that Antawn was defending Udonis Haslem on the final play in Miami, but who among us really expected that Haslem would get the final shot - and make it? I don't think most teams go into the huddle in the final seconds of any game and say, 'Okay guys, we've got to shut down Haslem!' That was a great move by Pat Riley, but he has five rings, and he is trying his best right now to raise the confidence level of his players in the absence of D-Wade. A few weeks ago, he let Eddie Jones get the last shot against New York and the Heat lost. Was he an idiot that night? I don't think so. It just didn't work out that time.
I think the problem with the Wizards is that what makes Eddie a good coach also opens himself up for criticism. He gives his players (especially Gilbert) freedom, perhaps too much freedom to make plays and decisions. When things are going well, he looks great. When things get out of wack, he looks terrible. The problem also occurs when he tries to reign in his players after things start going poorly. (See Gilbert's "defense" rant after the loss to Portland last month).
That being said, you have to give Eddie a chance to get out of this before you start destroying him. When the season began, not many people expected the Wizards to be in first place (no matter the margin) this late in the season. The fact remains that they are still in first place, although the Heat could very well jump them before the beginning of next week.
I will say this, though. If the season continues to unravel, expect to hear a more critical slant taken

Someone quoted Arenas as saying that he prefers "helter skelter" offense where you just go for it. I don't know if he's short sighted or just a plain idiot, because unorganized helter skelter offense is a good way of going nowhere teamwise, especially in the playoffs.

Did you all see Jamison's D on that last shot by Haslem?? Antawn "Right this way, let me help you with your bags" Jamison!! Haslem goes up for shot and Jamison did not get up on him or put a hand in his face... HE PUT HIS HANDS TO HIS SIDES AND DUCKED DOWN LOW AND TOOK A STEP BACK AWAY FROM HASLEM!! HE TURNED HIS HEAD SO HE WASN'T EVEN LOOKING AT HIM AND LOOKED AT THE RIM FOR THE REBOUND WHEN THERE WAS NO TIME ON THE CLOCK!!!!!!!! HE WAS THE ONLY ONE IN FRONT OF HASLEM AND HE NOT ONLY DID NOT GET IN HIS FACE HE BACKED DOWN AND GAVE HIM A PERFECT VIEW OF A WIDE OPEN UNCONTESTED J FOR 5 FT!! WHO TAUGHT HIM TO PLAY DEFENSE!!

As of this morning we have the third best record in the East and our "strategery" (Yes I mangled it on purpose) should be to go for the number one pick!
Incredible!

Giggle..Darnell, Jamison said.." I swatted at it - maybe got a swipe - then I was standing there lookin up, praying the ball wouldn't go in" Hopin I could rebound it."

These guys will definitely win tonite.

Jamison doesn't want to sound like a goof again.

Arenas..yes, its obvious he likes everything helter skelter. He's a self guided missile. Jordan probably has a time with Mr. Hollywood & his influence w/the team.

"Jordan probably has a time with Mr. Hollywood...".

I'm thinking he's happier with Mr. Hollywood and being in first place in the division than he would be without Mr. Hollywood and either out of the playoff picture or in 4 way scramble for the 8 spot, like the Wizards typically have been this time of year for, oh, the past two decades or so.

"See, Ray, all is right with the world."

Ohhhh, I'm sorry Henry! :)

Now I agree with you. :)

Yay world, lol!

"One of the problems with the pure Princton set....."

I dunno, in my mind his philosophy has always been flawed. Someone said once in here once that it would have to be EG to talk with him about those kinds of changes. Maybe he has, I've noticed the bigger subs as well.

It still kills me about Hayes though. My gut is telling me Stevenson will be gone next year and they will resign and start Hayes next year no matter what he does the rest of this year.

By the way the Bucks fired thier coach today. I could easily see that being Jordan if he doesn't figure something out and fast.

I can't hear you Darnell, you should write louder. ;) Good to see you again. :)

"That being said, you have to give Eddie a chance to get out of this before you start destroying him."

To Mike Lee:

Now you know that Jamison's flaw is defense, so it's not crazy to think that play was designed to right at him. It's not like Jordan just got here either. He could have instilled a defensive philosophy from the start and he chose not too. This team was young enough for him to do that. Then what does he do MANY times this season, in the 4th when the game is on the line he goes "smallball." In my eyes he's had enough time, there's too much talent on this team for them to be playing like this. Jamison being out defeinately hurt the Wiz, I've admitted this several times. It just makes no sense to me some of the line ups he puts on the floor. It's like he thinks he can put Caron, Gil,and Jamison and anyone else but he can't. This is why smeone always burns the Wiz that you've never heard of...aka "Lucious Harris" I believe. Even with Caron down they should be winning. Pretty soon the players are going to stop listening and then Jordan will be fired. Watch and see. Good defense ALWAYS beats good offense.

- Ray

I wouldn't be talking lottery if this team didn't look like clowns these past 3 games that they lost. Short term, maybe not a good idea, but long term, lottery is the best solution. Seriously, how much better can les boules get based on what they have now? What is their upside?

Is Arenas going to avg. 40 pts a year and become a defensive ace? Not likely. I Jamison going to find the fountain of youth and become ben wallace? Nope. Is Caron going to gain 1 ft. more hops and get the ball more? Not likely. Only players with some upside is probably AB, but he doesn't enough touches.