Wizards Insider - The latest NBA news from Michael Lee - April 5, 2009

Race to the Bottom (2 Games Remaining)

The Wizards' win over Toronto last night helped them avoid finishing with a record worse than the 2000-01 team, but it essentially knocked them out of the race for the league's worst overall record this season. The Sacramento Kings basically rolled over last night in Los Angeles, losing by 31-points...

Wizards 100, Raptors 98

You thought they were going to blow it, didn't you? When they worked so hard to build that six-point lead with 57.8 remaining then watched it vanish in less than 30 seconds, you thought you were re-living another nightmare finish. When Toronto's Jason Kapono made his second three-pointer to tie...

Wizards (18-61) at Raptors (30-48)

Wizards starters: Javaris Crittenton, Dominic McGuire, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood. Raptors: Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker, Shawn Marion, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani Refs: Sean Corbin, David Guthrie and Michael Smith Line: Raptors by 6.5. Interim Coach Ed Tapscott said he noticed some slippage in the team after that emotional,...

The Other Side: Toronto Raptors

No, I didn't lose all my upper teeth. It's a black mouth piece. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) The Toronto Raptors have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NBA season, even more than the Washington Wizards. At least in the Wizards' case, they can blame...

Arenas on the Wiz, the Cavs, the East

TNT's David Aldridge recently spoke with Gilbert Arenas about his comeback and how much the Eastern Conference has changed since January 2007, the last time the Washington Wizards were completely healthy and sat atop the conference. Arenas didn't say anything outlandish in this Overtime segment, but it is worth a...

What Do You Think?

Michael Lee reported on speculation about the next Wizards coach earlier this morning on the blog. Time for you to weigh in. poll by twiigs.com...

Who's Going to Coach?

Caron Butler had a lot to say about his summer plans and the future of the Washington Wizards today, but the quote that stood out was his comment about the window of opportunity for this team. "If you look at our window for opportunity, we have a four-year window right...

And One to Grow On

Reader Paul Porterfield passed along this column by Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston after the Cavaliers smashed the Washington Wizards 98-86 last night. Livingtson pulls no punches in the article. He's basically calling the Wizards the Cavaliers' whipping boys. He also picks on everyone from Elvin Hayes to DeShawn...

Wizards Running on Empty

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo "Original Hibachi" Williams was the only guy willing to state the obvious after his team drilled the Washington Wizards 98-86 on Wednesday night, with LeBron James whirling his air guitar in the fourth quarter as if he were practicing for a Guitar Hero competition later that...

Cavaliers 98, Wizards 86

Gold star and a shot of grape juice to anyone who was able to sit through all of that game. That was a terrible game to watch -- one of the least competitive games the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards have played since Larry Hughes left town in the summer...

Wizards (18-60) at Cavaliers (62-15)

Wizards starters: Javaris Crittenton, Dominic McGuire, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood. Cavaliers: Delonte West, Mo Williams, LeBron James, Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas Refs: Tom Washington, Eric Lewis and Haywoode Workman Line: Cavaliers by 16.5 You can wipe out that 0.01 percent chance of Gilbert Arenas playing. He is not...

The Other Side: Cleveland Cavaliers

We see your Soulja Boy and raise you Bootsy Collins. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) Following a 109-101 victory last week at Verizon Center, the No. 15 seed Washington Wizards carry a 2-1 lead into Cleveland for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference regular season series. The...

Some Clarity on Gilbert

You will probably see me again on Monday against Toronto. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) There is a 99.99 percent chance that Gilbert Arenas will not play tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers. I will leave open the 0.01 percent because nobody has been able to fully figure out...

$3.72 Million Per Win?

Michael Lee pointed out an interesting piece by SI.com's Ian Thomsen on the financial efficiency of NBA franchises. Since the criteria is basically payroll divided by wins, you can imagine who shows up on the list and why. Say what you will about the usefulness of Thomsen's breakdown, but when...

Back In Cleveland

The Wizards had a light practice late this afternoon at the Cleveland Cavaliers' former practice court at Quicken Loans Arena. Gilbert Arenas did not participate, but Nick Young and Juan Dixon did. Young and Dixon were both injured in the Wizards' loss to Miami last Saturday; Young spraining his left...

Draft Watch: Griffin Heading to NBA

Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin has officially given up his final two years of eligibility and is heading to the NBA after a sophomore season that ended with him being recognized as college basketball's top player. From the Associated Press: Griffin announced his decision Tuesday at a campus news conference alongside...

289 Man-Games and Counting

The Wizards' injury struggles are no news to anybody here, but sometimes seeing the numbers behind something makes it more vivid. These numbers were originally for a graphic that couldn't fit into Saturday's print edition, and we saw no reason to keep them to ourselves. Based on information from Wizards...

The JaVale, Nick, Andray & Mike Show

You may or may not have had the chance to see the silly, bizarre and random video of Wizards youngsters JaVale McGee, Nick Young and Andray Blatche, and veteran Mike James on the Internet. Agent Steinz posted it yesterday, and Young and McGee talked about it after practice. Apparently, McGee...

Young Sits Out, Jamison Headed to NCAA Final

Nick Young said his hyperextended left knee felt sore on Sunday -- the morning after he wound up on the wrong end of collision with Miami Heat center Jamaal Magloire on Saturday night. But he said on Monday that he will be ready to play in Cleveland on Wednesday. Wizards...

MMPG: The FourCast

Ready to do this again? (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) 1. San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday) Of note: Oklahoma City, playoff spoiler? The Thunder is praying for Blake Griffin and really has nothing to play for, but it has been a thorn in San Antonio's side. After upsetting...

Haywood Still Getting In Shape

Brendan Haywood's minutes and production have increased with each game since he returned last week, going from two points, two rebounds and three blocks in 24 minutes in his debut against Memphis on Wednesday, to 12 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes against Cleveland the next day and 18...

MMPG: Player of the Week

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic MVP voters are like kryptonite. (Photo by Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) Orlando Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing used the "big man" card in explaining why Dwight Howard isn't mentioned as a leading most valuable player candidate. You have to wonder what Howard has to do...

MMPG: Team of the Weak

Atlanta Hawks Losing ain't funny, but my dance moves are. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) When the Atlanta Hawks beat the Los Angeles Lakers on March 29, they looked as if they were destined to finish with the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and homecourt advantage in...

MMPG: Team of the Week

Denver Nuggets See us shooting up in the standings? (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) When the Denver Nuggets lost five of their first six games in March to slip out of first place in the Northwest Division, the concern was that they had peaked too soon. But...

Thinking Big

So we've seen a few games with Brendan Haywood back in the middle. The Wiz would take his 18 and 12 from Saturday night when he's 100%. We've seen the U.-Conn. Huskies and likely lottery pick Hasheem Thabeet eliminated from the Final Four. In fact, the real hardwood hardheads among...

Wizards Insider: April 5, 2009 - April 11, 2009