Wizards Insider - The latest NBA news from Michael Lee - February 1, 2009

Nuggets 124, Wizards 103

THAT was ugly. The Nuggets rolled over the Wizards in embarrassing fashion tonight with 12 dunks and a bunch of easy layups while the injury-plagued Wizards looked totally out of whack. Seriously, after games like this, you have to wonder whether these guys even practice. The team was booed...

Wizards (10-39) vs. Nuggets (33-16)

Wizards starters: Javaris Crittenton, Mike James, Dominic McGuire, Antawn Jamison, Darius Songaila. Nuggets starters: Chauncey Billups, Dahntay Jones, Nene, Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony. Refs: Steve Javie, Bill Kennedy, Derek Richardson. Line: Nuggets 8 1/2. -Caron Butler remains in bed with the flu. -Lineup change tonight as Crittenton gets his first...

Butler out, Injury Update

Caron Butler will miss his second straight game with the flu. DeShawn Stevenson is out (lower back pain) but Juan Dixon, who missed one game with an elbow injury, will be available, giving Ed Tapscott nine players....

The Other Side: Denver Nuggets

That's messed up, Melo. Trying to get a sympathy all-star vote with that ice pack on your hand. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) The Denver Nuggets started their subtle makeover last summer with a salary dump deal, shipping Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles for a pair...

Stevenson Thinks Too Highly of Himself?

I can't feel my ... ego? (Photo by John Kuntz/The Plain Dealer) In the Feb. 9 edition of Sports Illustrated, the magazine conducts a poll of NBA players asking this question: Which NBA player thinks he's a lot better than he really is? First off, that's a loaded question because...

Four Things We Learned From Lakers-Celtics

This should hold us over until June. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) BOSTON -- I missed all the fun of being in Los Angeles on Christmas, but I had to be in attendance for the NBA Finals rematch between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics at...

Injury Update

From Ivan Carter: Caron Butler did not practice again today. (He missed yesterday's loss to the Nets with the flu.) Butler will be re-evaluated tomorrow. Juan Dixon (elbow) and DeShawn Stevenson (back) are still out -- along with Gilbert Arenas, Andray Blatche and Brendan Haywood -- so the Wizards could...

Pecherov Gets In

There wasn't much good to come out of last night's loss to the Nets but we did get an extended look at second-year forward Oleksiy Pecherov, and he played pretty well by posting a season-high 13 points on five-of-nine shooting withi five rebounds in 23 minutes. He had a...

Nets 115, Wizards 88

It was a game for nearly a half and then the Nets ripped off a 25-2 run that spanned the second and third quarters and that was that. The Nets shot better than 60 percent for the first time since 2003 while the shorthanded Wizards, who played without Caron...

Wizards (10-38) vs. Nets (22-27)

Notes: Caron Butler is out (flu)...and I will be on the radio at halftime with Glen Consor talking Wizards... Wizards starters: Mike James, Nick Young, Dominic McGuire, Antawn Jamison, Darius Songaila. Nets: Devin Harris, Vince Carter, Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, Trenton Hassell. Refs: Joey Crawford, Mark Ayotte, Eric Dalen. Line:...

Butler Out With Flu

Forward Caron Butler will not play tonight against New Jersey. He's home with the flu. That leaves the Wizards with eight healthy bodies. It's a throwback to last season when the team went a stretch with only eight players because of injuries and then-coach Eddie Jordan ran a couple...

The Other Side: New Jersey Nets

Nah, I was just saying, "You could've been a Wizard." (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) For the first time this season, the New Jersey Nets will face the Washington Wizards with a losing record. The Nets won both teams' season opener on Oct. 29, and carried a 9-7 record into their matchup...

Butler Turning It Over

Caron Butler is putting up numbers (20 points per game, 6.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists) that are very similar to what he posted last season when he earned his second All-Star appearance. But one area where he's struggling is turnovers. He's averaging a career-high 3.3 per game and has...

Tuesday Update: Dixon Out

The team got out of practice a short while ago but is in a meeting now. I can tell you that G Juan Dixon will be out after injuring his right arm last night. He left the game early in the fourth quarter and did not return. Dixon told...

Tapscott Promises Long Day

Ed Tapscott was as upset following last night's 113-97 loss to Memphis as I've seen him during his tenture as interim coach. He questioned his team's effort and lack of hustle and vowed to get things corrected starting today witih a long practice and lengthy film session. One of...

A Slap in the Face?

Last night's 113-97 loss to the Grizzlies may have been a new low point for the Wizards this season. "That was the worst effort I've seen since I've been here," said interim coach Ed Tapscott. But here's another question: What did you think of O.J. Mayo's buzzer-beating dunk at the...

Grizzlies 113, Wizards 97

Interim coach Ed Tapscott summed it up this way: "That was the worst effort I've seen since I've been here." It was bad. The Wizards lost to the 12-win Grizzlies, who had lost 12 straight coming into the game, because of a terrible stretch at the end of the...

Wizards (10-37) vs. Grizzlies (11-35)

Wizards: Mike James, Caron Butler, Darius Songaila, Antawn Jamison, Dominic McGuire. Grizzlies: Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol, Darrell Arthur, Rudy Gay. Refs: Leon Wood, Olandis Poole, Greg Williard. Line: Wizards by 4 1/2 (that's two games in a row that they've been favored) -DeShawn Stevenson is out tonight with...

The Other Side: Memphis Grizzlies

Okay, guys. This is one of the few times all year that we will have more wins than our opponent. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) The Washington Wizards are about to have their first losing season since 2003-04, an injury-induced nosedive into Lotteryville that has their fans wallowing...

MMPG: The FourCast

Aw, man. This does not look good. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) 1. San Antonio at Denver (Tuesday) Of note: Carmelo Anthony was disappointed about not being selected as an all-star reserve, but the coaches rightfully named Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets were happy to welcome back...

Crittenton Faces Former Team

When the Wizards acquired Javaris Crittenton from Memphis for a conditional first-round pick in December, the second-year guard and former first-round pick was thrilled to come to a place where he would finally get a chance to show what he could do. Entering tonight's game against the Grizzlies, Crittenton...

MMPG: Player of the Week

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic Don't worry. I'll have something better for the dunk contest. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Nathan Denette) It was a magical week in Orlando as Dwight Howard realized that he wasn't going to be alone in Phoenix -- two of his teammates are coming along with him. The...

MMPG: Team of the Weak

Los Angeles Clippers It's all Elton Brand's fault! (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) The Los Angeles Clippers may not win many games this season, but they are destined to be on some nice-looking posters after losing four games -- all by double digits -- last week, with two players getting embarrassed with...

MMPG: Team of the Week

San Antonio Spurs Hey, Manu. Think the rest of the league knows we're serious yet? (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) After getting walloped in Los Angeles by the Western Conference-leading Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs continued to prove that they are the best of the rest of the West by defeating playoff...

Monday Morning Point Guard

Yep, it's my silver anniversary. I'm doing okay. (Greg Smith/AP Photo) David Stern reached a personal milestone on Super Bowl Sunday, as he marked his 25th anniversary as NBA Commissioner. The NBA has undergone some dramatic changes since Stern succeeded Larry O'Brien on Feb. 1, 1984 -- well before kids...

Wizards Insider: February 1, 2009 - February 7, 2009