Wizards Insider: January 30, 2011 - February 5, 2011
Open thread: Wizards (13-36) vs. Hawks (31-19)
The Wizards will play the Atlanta Hawks for the third time this season after losing the previous two meetings at Philips Arena. Although the Wizards have won 13 games at home, the Hawks (32-18) have won 15 games on the road, which ties Boston for the second-most in the Eastern...
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Michael Lee
| February 5, 2011; 6:03 PM ET |
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Rough schedule wearing on Wizards
It ain't easy being the man, huh? (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) The Wizards have lost seven games in a row, and if not for John Wall's three-point bank shot against Boston two weeks ago, they would be on a 10-game slide. After they lost to Milwaukee,...
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Michael Lee
| February 5, 2011; 12:37 AM ET |
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Gilbert Arenas, JaVale McGee, John Wall, Kirk Hinrich, Nick Young, Rashard Lewis, Trevor Booker
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Wizards bring back Hamady Ndiaye
The Wizards recalled rookie center Hamady Ndiaye from the NBA Developmental League's Dakota Wizards on Friday, but it wasn't because they needed an extra big man on the roster. Coach Flip Saunders said that Ndiaye twisted his knee this week and the team didn't want to him to sit out...
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Michael Lee
| February 4, 2011; 6:54 PM ET |
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Hamady Ndiaye
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Open thread: Wizards (13-35) vs. Magic (31-19)
The Wizards will look to end a six-game losing streak as they welcome back Gilbert Arenas for the first time since dealing him to Orlando on Dec. 18. The Magic has won the first two meetings this season, routing the Wizards, 112-83, in the season opener and barely winning the...
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Michael Lee
| February 4, 2011; 5:14 PM ET |
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Gilbert Arenas
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Nick Young wants to beat "big brother" Gilbert Arenas
You know what, Nick, you should give me a portion of your next contract. (Jonathan Newton / TWP) The Wizards were simulating late-game situations on Thursday afternoon when Nick Young got the ball with his team team trailing by one point. Young caught the ball, dribbled left and shot...
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Michael Lee
| February 4, 2011; 2:55 PM ET |
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Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young
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Rashard Lewis ready for reunion with Orlando
Rashard Lewis was understandably shaken when he got the phone call that he had been dealt from Orlando to Washington. He knew that teams in contention are always looking for ways to improve, but he had no idea that the Magic would swing a huge deal two months before...
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Michael Lee
| February 4, 2011; 12:13 PM ET |
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Flip Saunders, Rashard Lewis
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Jump ball: How will the Wizards do tonight?
Wizards Coach Flip Saunders says it will be an emotional night, but he doesn't want his players to get caught up in any individual duels. Nick Young says the team will be motivated by its last game against Magic, when it came within a Dwight Howard tip-in of pulling off...
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Washington Post editors
| February 4, 2011; 11:45 AM ET |
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No shortage of story lines for tonight's matchup
There haven't been many highly anticipated, must-see nights at Verizon Center this season, but the Wizards' game on Friday against the Orlando Magic should be special if for no other reason than the return of Gilbert Arenas. Arenas captivated the District like few athletes before or after him, using electrifying...
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Michael Lee
| February 4, 2011; 8:05 AM ET |
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Morning brew
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Gilbert Arenas: "Maybe I wasn't worth the contract"
Gilbert Arenas spoke with 106.7 The Fan's Mike Wise Show on Thursday in anticipation of his return to Verizon Center for the first time since he was traded to Orlando on Dec. 18. Arenas, as usual, had a lot to say, and Dan Steinberg of the D.C. Sports Bog provided...
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Michael Lee
| February 3, 2011; 2:57 PM ET |
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Gilbert Arenas
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Jump ball: What about Ron?
Yesterday Michael Lee blogged about the possibility of the Lakers pursuing Wizards guard Kirk Hinrich, and mentioned Ron Artest as a player Los Angeles might be willing to move. Although the Lakers are downplaying trade rumors about Artest, blog commenter dannykurland1 still wonders if he could help toughen up the...
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Washington Post editors
| February 3, 2011; 11:45 AM ET |
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Memories of the road linger
As the Wizards prepare to face Gilbert Arenas and the Orlando Magic at home on Friday, Michael Lee is still recovering from his failed attempt to cover the last game of Washington's road trip in New Orleans. He chronicles his adventures here. As GM Mitch Kupchack considers trade possibilities, it's...
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Washington Post editors
| February 3, 2011; 8:16 AM ET |
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Morning brew
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Lakers covet Kirk Hinrich?
After his team lost to hated rival Boston on Sunday, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said that he "may have to look into a trade" with the two-time defending champion struggling to consistently play at a high level. Magic Johnson echoed that sentiment by proclaiming that the Lakers...
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Michael Lee
| February 2, 2011; 3:21 PM ET |
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Kirk Hinrich
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Why I missed last night's game
I wasn't around for the 25th installment of the Wizards Road Woes, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I had a travel day that was akin to most of the Wizards' games away from Verizon Center -- a rough start, some questionable calls, some disappointment and a decent rally...
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Michael Lee
| February 2, 2011; 1:01 PM ET |
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Jump ball: Would you rather have Arenas back?
With the Wizards mired in a six-game losing streak and heading toward record-setting futility on the road, have things gotten so depressing that fans would rather turn back the clock? Commenter bosshog7169 suggests just such a scenario: Indisputable fact: if Gil was on this team he would have willed us...
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Washington Post editors
| February 2, 2011; 11:45 AM ET |
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Gilbert Arenas
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Road trip ends with another loss
The Wizards lost to the New Orleans Hornets last night, 97-89, their sixth loss in a row and 25th straight road loss this season. Michael Lee was stuck in icy Dallas and missed the game. Earlier in his long travel day, Lee examined Yi Jianlian's season-high game against the Mavericks...
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Washington Post editors
| February 2, 2011; 8:05 AM ET |
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Morning brew
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Open thread: Wizards (13-34) at Hornets (31-18)
Eastern Conference rookie of the month John Wall was named to the rookie team during All-Star weekend with his former Kentucky teammates Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins, Blake Griffin, Derrick Favors, Landry Fields, Greg Monroe, Gary Neal and Wesley Johnson. Wall will conclude a rough point guard stretch against all-starter...
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Michael Lee
| February 1, 2011; 6:18 PM ET |
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John Wall, Mustafa Shakur
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John Wall wins Eastern Conference rookie of the month
John Wall finally ended the stranglehold that New York Knicks guard Landy Fields had on the Eastern Conference rookie of the month honors, as the No. 1 overall pick was awarded the honor on Tuesday for the month of January. I finally got one. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) Wall...
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Michael Lee
| February 1, 2011; 3:41 PM ET |
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John Wall
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Yi Jianlian has season-best outing in Dallas
Andray Blatche had a hard time making shots, Trevor Booker had a harder time staying on the floor, and JaVale McGee had the hardest time regaining his rhythm after missing five days of action with a bad case of the flu. But on a night when Dirk Nowitzki hardly missed...
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Michael Lee
| February 1, 2011; 1:11 PM ET |
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Yi Jianlian
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Jump ball: Who should be in control?
After Saturday's loss to Memphis, Nick Young appeared to criticize the Wizards' play-calling, although he tried to clarify those statements yesterday. It raises an interesting issue, which LarryInClintonMD expressed in the comments section. You blokes that are complaining about Nick and AB getting shots... are you realizing that neither is...
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Washington Post editors
| February 1, 2011; 11:45 AM ET |
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Andray Blatche, Flip Saunders, John Wall, Nick Young
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Mavericks keep Wizards winless on the road
The Wizards dropped their 24th straight road game of the season last night, 102-92, to the Dallas Mavericks. Despite some positive performances, it almost seemed inevitable that Washington would not pull off the upset. Earlier in the day, former Wizard and current Maverick DeShawn Stevenson said no team wants to...
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Washington Post editors
| February 1, 2011; 8:35 AM ET |
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Morning brew
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Wizards keep fighting...and losing on the road
We're. Almost. There. (AP Photo) Maybe it's because I've been around the team all season, and have grown accustomed to the Wizards' inability to close out games. Maybe it's because the Wizards don't have a Dirk Nowitzki, a Kevin Durant, or some guy who you know is going to...
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Michael Lee
| February 1, 2011; 2:20 AM ET |
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Andray Blatche, Flip Saunders, John Wall, Nick Young, Yi Jianlian
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Open thread: Wizards (13-33) at Mavericks (31-15)
Coach Flip Saunders reminded his team that it defeated the Dallas Mavericks when the Wizards were in town for a preseason game on Oct. 5. "Let's hope we can repeat," Saunders said. Trevor Booker will get the start at small forward for the third consecutive game and JaVale McGee will...
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Michael Lee
| January 31, 2011; 7:59 PM ET |
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JaVale McGee, Trevor Booker
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Nick Young speaks with Flip Saunders, JaVale McGee returns
It seemed unusual for the usually playful Nick Young to speak out the way he did on Saturday after the Wizards lost in Memphis. But when he read those comments in print the next morning, he felt compelled to call Coach Flip Saunders to clarify his intent. After the Wizards...
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Michael Lee
| January 31, 2011; 3:54 PM ET |
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Flip Saunders, JaVale McGee, Nick Young
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DeShawn Stevenson: "Got to keep that streak going"
DeShawn Stevenson was considered, no, he was the throw-in when the Wizards dealt him, along with Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, to Dallas in exchange for Josh Howard at the trade deadline last season. But as the two teams meet on Monday for the first time since the deal, Stevenson...
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Michael Lee
| January 31, 2011; 2:10 PM ET |
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Jump ball: Should Flip Saunders keep his job?
A column by Kyle Weidie on DCist has prompted much discussion about whether Flip Saunders is the right coach for the Wizards. A comment by lilhollywood10 sums things up succinctly: How does [Jim] O'Brien get fired from Indy before Flip loses his job? I know the Pacers haven't dropped 23...
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Washington Post editors
| January 31, 2011; 12:44 PM ET |
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Flip Saunders
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Remembering a (preseason) road win
There is a misconception that the Wizards don't know how to play basketball on the road. That's not necessarily true. They have been able to win games away from Verizon Center this season -- just not games that count. It's probably easy to forget, since the Wizards are off to...
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Michael Lee
| January 31, 2011; 8:03 AM ET |
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Morning brew
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John Wall, Trevor Booker, get lessons in Memphis
This is how you take out two rookies at the same time. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman) John Wall has already begun to realize that it doesn't matter if he's facing Russell Westbrook or D.J. Augustin, Derrick Rose or Keyon Dooling; he is not allowed to have an easy night in...
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Michael Lee
| January 30, 2011; 10:07 AM ET |
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John Wall, Trevor Booker
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Nick Young blames play calling for loss in Memphis
It was bound to happen at some point, with the losses piling up, the jokes growing cornier and the gravity of their plight growing more and more upsetting. The Wizards have consistently shown their frustration with angry or befuddled looks, but until Saturday in Memphis, the players had never placed...
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Michael Lee
| January 30, 2011; 12:55 AM ET |
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Flip Saunders, John Wall, Nick Young, Trevor Booker
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