Wizards Insider: November 28, 2010 - December 4, 2010

Wizards prove to be a complicated team

Just try to figure us out. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post) Nick Young was styling after the Wizards' 83-79 win over Portland on Friday, as he walked through the locker room in a slick, chocolate leather jacket. Before the game, Wizards assistant Sam Cassell spotted it hanging in Young's...

By Michael Lee  | December 4, 2010; 12:50 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (184)
 
Save & Share:                   

Open thread Wizards (5-12) vs Trail Blazers (8-10)

John Wall is back in the starting lineup, with Gilbert Arenas returning to the bench. Arenas had started the previous eight games, with Wall missing six of them. Wall came off the bench as the Wizards lost 128-109 in Toronto on Wednesday. Nick Young had complained about his thigh hurting...

By Michael Lee  | December 3, 2010; 6:55 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (22)
 
Save & Share:                   

Hilton Armstrong returns after serving one-game suspension

Hilton Armstrong had a hard time watching replays of the shove that led to his one-game suspension this week. The sight of Miami reserve center Joel Anthony's arms and legs flailing in different directions before he landed hard on his backside "was real scary," Armstrong said on Friday. "It put...

By Michael Lee  | December 3, 2010; 1:21 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (33)
Categories:  Flip Saunders, Hilton Armstrong, Yi Jianlian  
Save & Share:                   

Cleveland's insults hark back to a more competitive time for the Wizards

It took one (bad) "Decision" to leave Cleveland, live on ESPN, for the Quicken Loans Arena to turn into an Ohio satellite of Verizon Center on Thursday. LeBron James's return to his home state as a member of the Miami Heat was the dominant NBA story last night, one that...

By Michael Lee  | December 3, 2010; 8:07 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (47)
Categories:  Morning brew  
Save & Share:                   

Wall returns, fails to win conference rookie of the month

John Wall was unable to help the Wizards much in an embarrassing loss -- which established a franchise record to start the season with nine road defeats -- in Toronto on Wednesday, but he was relieved to get 19 points and eight assists in his first game back after missing...

By Michael Lee  | December 2, 2010; 8:05 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (105)
Categories:  Morning brew  
Save & Share:                   

Wizards problems in Toronto started hours before the game

This is too easy. (AP Photo) It's easy to say that the Wizards' problems against the Toronto Raptors started at the opening tip, when Gilbert Arenas tried to get a quick score and Amir Johnson smacked his shot in the opposite direction. Or maybe at the beginning of the second...

By Michael Lee  | December 2, 2010; 1:35 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (78)
Categories:  Andray Blatche, Flip Saunders, Gilbert Arenas, John Wall, Kirk Hinrich  
Save & Share:                   

Open thread: Wizards (5-11) at Raptors (6-11)

The Wizards won't have Hilton Armstrong, who was suspended one game earlier in the day for shoving an airborne Miami Heat reserve Joel Anthony in the third quarter of their 105-94 loss on Monday. But they will have John Wall and Al Thornton, who are both returning from injuries. Wall...

By Michael Lee  | December 1, 2010; 6:54 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (45)
 
Save & Share:                   

Ted Leonsis on Arenas trade rumor: "It isn't true"

Wizards owner Ted Leonsis shot down an Internet rumor on Wednesday that the team has engaged in discussions with the Orlando Magic about a possible trade involving Gilbert Arenas. Leonsis also hoped to quell the perception that the team is looking to move the three-time all-star. Leonsis has been adamant...

By Michael Lee  | December 1, 2010; 4:51 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (25)
 
Save & Share:                   

Hilton Armstrong suspended one game

The Wizards' Hilton Armstrong has been suspended for one game for his flagrant foul, penalty two on the Heat's Joel Anthony during Monday's game in Miami, announced Stu Jackson, NBA executive vice president basketball operations. From the NBA's news release: The incident, in which Armstrong made contact by shoving...

By Washington Post editors  | December 1, 2010; 12:23 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (42)
 
Save & Share:                   

Still seeking a win on the road

The Wizards face the Raptors in Toronto tonight, still in search of their first road win of the season. In today's newspaper, Michael Lee writes that the fighting spirit they displayed in Miami could help, along with the possible return of John Wall. In Miami, Dwyane Wade said he's glad...

By Washington Post editors  | December 1, 2010; 10:35 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (8)
Categories:  Morning brew  
Save & Share:                   

Dwyane Wade on Gilbert Arenas: "He decided to get into the fight"

It's my time to be aggressive, Dwyane. That's all. (Getty Images) Near the end of the first half of the Wizards' 105-94 loss in Miami on Monday, Gilbert Arenas pulled up from deep behind the three-point line to quickly drain a shot that silenced the crowd. It wasn't quite a...

By Michael Lee  | November 30, 2010; 3:32 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (69)
 
Save & Share:                   

Hilton Armstrong, Wizards discuss flagrant foul, loss to Miami

By Michael Lee  | November 30, 2010; 11:55 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (42)
 
Save & Share:                   

On to Toronto, probably without Hilton Armstrong

The Wizards left Miami after their 105-94 loss to the Heat on Monday night and immediately headed to Toronto, where they will likely play the Raptors on Wednesday without reserve center Hilton Armstrong. Armstrong was ejected in the third quarter when he pushed Heat reserve Joel Anthony from the air...

By Michael Lee  | November 30, 2010; 8:02 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (56)
Categories:  Morning brew  
Save & Share:                   

Wizards lose but Heat fails to impress

How good should we feel about an 11-point win over a depleted Wizards team, Bron? (Getty Images) The first thought that came to mind after this game had nothing to do with the Washington Wizards. So forgive me for a minute while I take some time to simply say, the...

By Michael Lee  | November 30, 2010; 1:34 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (27)
 
Save & Share:                   

Open thread: Wizards (5-10) at Heat (9-8)

JaVale McGee was stretched out on the training table in the visitors' locker room at American Airlines Arena, where head athletic trainer Eric Waters was applying some ointment on his ailing lower back. McGee will play against the Miami Heat despite a huge bruise on his back stemming from his...

By Michael Lee  | November 29, 2010; 7:26 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (26)
 
Save & Share:                   

Mike Miller again a spectator on disappointing team

Mike Miller bolted Washington for the Miami Heat in free agency last summer because he wanted to be in the best situation to win. But he finds himself in a similar position as last season with the Wizards: He is out with an injury while a team brought together in...

By Michael Lee  | November 29, 2010; 3:49 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (12)
 
Save & Share:                   

Wizards could be without JaVale McGee, John Wall against Miami

JaVale McGee may have been able to mockingly wave goodbye to Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand after Brand shoved him from midair last week, but McGee apparently continues to feel the reverberations from that hard fall. Goodbye. I hope this doesn't cost me any games. (Photo by Harry E. Walker/...

By Michael Lee  | November 29, 2010; 12:37 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (28)
Categories:  JaVale McGee, John Wall  
Save & Share:                   

Wizards prepare to face the Heat

The Wizards probably would've been thrilled if someone had told them in the preseason that they would enter their first matchup against the Miami Heat in late November with only two fewer losses than the SuperFriends. But as the Wizards get set to face the Heat at American Airlines Arena...

By Michael Lee  | November 29, 2010; 8:05 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (13)
Categories:  Morning brew  
Save & Share:                   

Nick Young: 'I was in the zone'

The Washington Wizards came within a hair of staging a dramatic victory over Orlando last night thanks to Gilbert Arenas down the stretch, but the team would not have been in position to do so had it not been for Nick Young, who came off the bench to score a...

By Gene Wang  | November 28, 2010; 10:51 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (40)
Categories:  Nick Young  
Save & Share: