Wizards Insider - The latest NBA news from Michael Lee - December 7, 2008

Wizards at 76ers

Information on tonight's game from Philly: (Not feeling well tonight folks, think I'm coming down with the flu or something so pardon the brief blog entry) The 76ers fired Coach Maurice Cheeks today and replaced him with assistant GM Tony DiLeo. Wizards starters: Juan Dixon, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler,...

Jordan to Philly?

The first thing that popped into my head when I heard the news about the 76ers firing Mo Cheeks today was that Eddie Jordan coud soon be back in the game. Jordan has a good relationship with Sixers GM Ed Stefanski going back to their days together in New...

The Other Side: Philadelphia 76ers (UPDATED)

Elton, you were supposed to make this easier for us. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) The Washington Wizards have been a disappointment this season, but at least they have the excuse of being without Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood. The Philadelphia 76ers added Elton Brand last summer,...

Friday Bits and Pieces

I've seldom seen a locker room clear out as fast as the home one did after last night's 122-88 loss to the Celtics. That was as close to total humiliation as you'll seen in the NBA (a blowout loss at home on national TV with fans of the other...

Stevenson's Struggles

DeShawn Stevenson's ongoing offensive struggles continued last night as the veteran shooting guard missed all four of his shots (three of them 3's) and finished with no points, two assists, one rebound and four turnvoers in 22 minutes. For the season, Stevenson is shooting a career-low 30.9 pecent (28...

All-Star Streak Over?

You get the feeling that former Coach Eddie Jordan and Antonio Daniels likely aren't the only casualties of the woeful start to this season. The Wizards are 4-16 after last night's embarrassing 122-88 loss against the Boston Celtics, but they still have a mathematical, best-case-scenario, dream-the-impossible-dream chance of making the...

TNT's Halftime Report

In case you missed it last night, here's what Charles, Ernie and Kenny had to say about the best teams in the league -- and the first half of last night's debacle against Celtics....

Celtics 122, Wizards 88

Not much to say about this one folks. Ugly game, total blowout. The Celtics are 21-2 for the first time in franchise history and have won 13 straight. The Wizards are 4-16 and still looking for consecutive wins. It's the worst loss of the season for the Wizards and...

Celtics at Wizards

Information on tonight's game: -New Wizards Javaris Crittenton and Mike James will in uniform and available to play tonight. Wizards starters: Juan Dixon, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, JaVale McGee. Inactives: Oleksiy Pecherov, Brendan Haywood, Gilbert Arenas. Celtics starters: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick...

Daniels Takes Physical, Crittenton and James Will Suit Up

Javaris Crittenton and Mike James will be in uniform tonight. John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune informs me that Antonio Daniels took his physical this morning and is expected to join the Hornets in Boston later tonight where the team awaits the Celtics for a game tomorrow...

The Other Side: Boston Celtics

All we want for Christmas is another championship ring. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) The Boston Celtics are coming to town with two thoughts on their minds -- history and revenge. If Boston (20-2) beats Washington tonight, it will break the record for best start in franchise history...

Reggie Miller Talks About the Wizards

NBA All-Star-turned-TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller sits down with the D.C. Sports Bog to talk Wizards, among other things....

Crittenton, James Could Be in Uniform Tonight

Javaris Crittenton and Mike James attended shootaround today but could not participate because the Wizards are waiting for the results of Antonio Daniels's physical in New Orleans. The Hornets do not play tonight but leave for Boston later today for a game against the Celtics tomorrow night. Word is...

Poll: Impact of Trade

poll by twiigs.com And please share your thoughts on why or why not ......

Crittenton, James at Shootaround

From Ivan Carter at Verizon Center: Javaris Crittenton and Mike James were at shootaround this morning, but the Wizards won't know if the two will be eligible to play tonight until Antonio Daniels takes his physical for the Hornets. Daniels had 48 hours to report to the team. New Orleans...

Player Reactions to Trade

Editor's note: Here are a few quotes from Wizards players about yesterday's trade, which sent Antonio Daniels to New Orleans and brought the Hornets' Mike James and the Grizzlies' Javaris Crittenton to the Wizards. The team also released Dee Brown. Brendan Haywood: "The trade didn't surprise me because we needed...

Trade Odds and Ends

Interesting day. Funny, but I rolled out of the rack early this morning with a feeling that something was going to go down. Anyway, a few leftovers from today's trade: -Teams always say they like like what they get in a trade situation but this one really does appear...

James, Crittenton Update

Guards Mike James and Javaris Crittenton are expected to arrive in Washington at some point tonight and will take physicals tomorrow morning. Their status for tomorrow night's game against the Boston Celtics will hinge on those physicals and on the one Antonio Daniels will take in New Orleans. The...

Wizards Complete Three-Team Trade

The Wizards, New Orleans Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies have completed a three-team trade. The Wizards have acquired guards Javaris Crittenton (Memphis) and Mike James (New Orleans). The Hornets get Antonio Daniels from the Wizards and a conditional draft pick from Memphis that was initially acquired from Memphis in exchange for...

Should the Wizards Make This Trade?

Yesterday, Ivan reported that the Wizards and Grizzlies have held discussions regarding a possible trade involving second-year Memphis point guard Javaris Crittenton. The deal would likely involve a swap of Crittenton for the conditional draft pick the Wizards received from Memphis in the summer of 2007 for Juan Carlos Navarro....

Wizards 107, Pistons 94

MVP: The Washington bench scored a season-high 59 points and helped turn the game with some high-energy play by Dominic McGuire, Andray Blatche, Darius Songaila, Juan Dixon and Nick Young. Key stat: Juan Dixon had 16 points, four rebounds and seven assists and posted an unreal plus-33 plus/minus rating....

Pistons at Wizards (Trade Rumor Update)

(Read about the Javaris Crittenton rumor down below) Information on tonight's game: First meeting: Pistons 117, Wizards 109. Nov. 1 at Detroit. Wizards starters: Dee Brown, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, JaVale McGee. Inactives: Oleksiy Pecherov, Brendan Haywood, Gilbert Arenas. Detroit: Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince,...

The Other Side: Detroit Pistons (UPDATED)

I don't look weird in this uniform, but we don't look that good with me in this uniform -- yet. (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images) At his introductory press conference with the Detroit Pistons, Allen Iverson said the transition for himself and his new team "might not...

Random Thoughts on Pistons, 'Wolves

From Ivan Carter: -The Pistons are indeed going small tonight. - I'm all for Kevin McHale taking over as coach of the team I grew up following. Good. He built that roster (or tore it down if you want to look at it that way) so he should coach it....

Defense Remains the Issue

This is my fourth season covering the Wizards on a daily basis and there has been one constant throughout that time: This team does not consistently play defense. Nothing new there -- you fans have been harping on it for years -- but the defensive issues are a huge...

Monday Update: Daniels, Butler Practice

A few quick notes from today's practices at VC: -Antonio Daniels, who fell hard on his back during the third quarter in Chicago Saturday night and left the game with a bruised tailbone, practiced and is good to go tomorrow night against Detroit. Caron Butler has a sore right...

MMPG: The FourCast

1. San Antonio at Dallas (Tuesday) Of note: The Mavericks smashed the Spurs, 99-81, in their first meeting on Nov. 4, sending San Antonio its third loss to open the season. Since then, the Spurs have gone 11-5 to silence the annual whispers that they are old and finished. Dallas...

MMPG: Player of the Week

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat What took you so long? I should've been POTW at least two times already. (Photo by Evan Gole/NBAE via Getty Images) Before he was flanked by Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, there wasn't a better one-man show in the NBA than Kobe Bryant. Now, that title...

MMPG: Team of the Weak

Minnesota Timberwolves Ah, man. What's that smell? Is that us? We stink. How much time is left in this game? (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) Golden State and Sacramento have been on longer losing streaks, but the Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to stop trying last week. How else do...

MMPG: Team of the Week

Boston Celtics Whew. Did you see what I did to Big Baby? (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) On pace to win 75 games, the Boston Celtics (20-2) have won an NBA season-high 12 games in a row. They have the same record that they had this time last year but that...

Monday Morning Point Guard

See, Andrea. While you guys are still losing, I'll be somewhere over there, in the Cayman Islands, or something. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) At the rate things are going, half the coaches in the NBA will be fired before the end of the season. Sam Mitchell became the third...

Different Directions

It's stunning to believe now, but there actually was a time when the Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers were fighting it out for a spot among the East's elite. Remember how good that playoff series was in 2006? Three games decided by a point, thrilling finishes, big shots...it had it...

Bulls 117, Wizards 110

Caron Butler summed this one up best: "Same old, same old. Play hard, give effort but come up short." This one did feel exactly like so many games so far this season. The Wizards played hard and at times played well but couldn't overcome big lapses that led to...

Wizards Insider: December 7, 2008 - December 13, 2008