Washington Wizards News

Wizard's Oberto's heart gets a checkup
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March 19
Washington Post
 
"Fabricio Oberto said he felt a little freer, a little lighter during Thursday's practice, the first time in nearly a week that the Washington Wizards reserve forward was allowed do his regular routine without being linked to a heart monitor. Oberto played in four of the past five games with three wires and patches attached to his chest and an electrocardiography monitor connected to his shorts. The device and wires were attached to him continuously for seven days -- when he slept and showered -- and was a part of his continued care following a procedure Oberto had last June to correct an irregular heartbeat. "I don't worry about it. It's just when you move, you feel all the sticks and ..."
Wizard's Blatche is "50-50" for Portland, Gee signs second 10-day contract
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March 19
Washington Post
 
"Andray Blatche was unable to practice on Thursday, two days after he sprained his left ankle late in the fourth-quarter of the Wizards' 97-87 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Blatche received treatment, iced his ankle, and was limited to shooting stand-still jumpers with assistant Gene Banks. But he said he expects to play on Friday night in Portland. "It's a little tender. I'm going to try to play - no, I'm not going to try, I'm going to play," Blatche said. "I'm just going to work through it." Coach Flip Saunders wasn't as optimistic about Blatche's availability, which might be a game-time decision. "It's 50-50," he said. "He was still pretty sore, pretty ginger." Blatche hurt himself ..."
As injuries and losses mount, the Washington Wizards' misery continues to multiply
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March 18
Washington Post
 
"Andray Blatche fell to the floor under the basket Tuesday night and immediately reached for his left ankle. Blatche looked up and saw Denver Nuggets center Nene lunging toward the basket for a powerful slam. He curled up and rolled over to avoid getting stepped on and continued to grimace and groan as he tried, unsuccessfully, to stand. Asked what he thought when he saw Blatche writhing on the court in pain, Coach Flip Saunders shook his head and said, "You don't want to know." Chances are, Saunders wasn't immediately expecting a positive outcome. Not in a worst-case-scenario season in which the Wizards have endured the death of owner Abe Pollin, Gilbert Arenas's season-ending suspension ..."
Andray Blatche has a mild ankle sprain, should be able to play Friday
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March 18
Washington Post
 
"Andray Blatche fell to the floor under the basket Tuesday night and immediately reached for his left ankle. Blatche looked up and saw Denver Nuggets center Nene lunging toward the basket for a powerful slam. He curled up and rolled over to avoid getting stepped on and continued to grimace and groan as he tried, unsuccessfully, to stand. Asked what he thought when he saw Blatche writhing on the court in pain, Coach Flip Saunders shook his head and said, "You don't want to know." Chances are, Saunders wasn't immediately expecting a positive outcome. Not in a worst-case-scenario season in which the Wizards have endured the death of owner Abe Pollin, Gilbert Arenas's season-ending suspension ..."
Gee to get second 10-day contract
Comment
March 17
Washington Post
 
"Andray Blatche limped off the court at Pepsi Center on Tuesday with a sprained left ankle. Randy Foye lost his starting job at point guard and his left wrist was so sore after a loss to the Denver Nuggets that it made a clicking sound whenever he moved it. JaVale McGee was down on himself after his fourth consecutive sub-par performance. About the only member of the Wizards who was able to survive this grueling five-games-in-six-nights stretch with some positive vibes was newcomer Alonzo Gee. After Gee recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and adding two steals in 26 minutes off the bench, Coach Flip Saunders said that the team intends on signing him to a ..."
Wizards lose ninth straight as Andray Blatche becomes latest player to fall
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March 17
Washington Post
 
"Playing their fifth game in six nights, against a team that they upset nearly a month ago, and in the exhaustive high altitude of the Rocky Mountains, the Washington Wizards appeared to be set up for massacre on Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets. But the Wizards refused to lay down for a slaughter, leading for more than 28 minutes and staying within range of a Western Conference contender until they eventually succumbed to fatigue and attrition. For a team that endured more than its share of hardships this season, the Wizards got another scare when Andray Blatche -- one of the few bright spots of a miserable stretch since the all-star break -- collapsed under the basket, grabbing his ..."
Reeling Wizards can't challenge Jazz
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March 16
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Thanks to a schedule that didn't call for them to play in the first 60-plus games, the Jazz never saw the Washington Wizards team of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler that made all the wrong headlines in the NBA this season. By the time they arrived at EnergySolutions Arena for Monday's game, the Wizards' season long ago had been lost to guns, guilty pleas and recklessness, leaving Andray Blatche, Al Thornton, Mike Miller and others to pick up the pieces. The Jazz took full advantage of a team in free fall, dismantling Washington 65-35 in the middle two quarters on the way to a 112-89 thrashing, leading by as many as 34 points in sending the Wizards to their eighth ..."
Arenas admits he 'messed up'
Comment
March 16
Washington Examiner
 columnist John Keim
"At least Gilbert Arenas understands one thing: He messed up and deserves to be punished. That's what he told Esquire Magazine for its next issue, which comes out later this week. The Washington Wizards star was suspended for bringing guns into the locker room. He told The Associated Press earlier this month that he would have no problem playing for the Wizards again. Arenas also told Esquire that he "messed up" the legacy of late owner Abe Pollin, who died in November -- a month before the gun incident. "I have a painting of him in my garage. I just walk by it with my head down," Arenas said. "I called Mrs. Pollin and said, 'If Abe was still with us, I would've had to talk to him, so I'm ..."
Wizards continue to struggle as they lose to Utah, their eighth straight defeat
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March 16
Washington Post
 
"For the first time in a while, the Washington Wizards faced an opponent that could relate to feeling a bit tired and fatigued. The Utah Jazz was set to play its fifth game in seven nights on Monday and was coming off a loss in Oklahoma City on Sunday. But Coach Flip Saunders wasn't concerned much about the plight of the Jazz, not with his team playing its fourth game in five nights after completing a rare back-to-back-to-back set two nights before. "I'm not giving any sympathy to anybody," Saunders said with a chuckle before the game. And of late, the Wizards' opponents certainly aren't feeling sorry for them. They just see an opportunity to get right and add another notch to the win ..."
Livingston starts, gets immediate test
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March 16
Washington Post
 
"Shaun Livingston was thrilled to get his first start in nearly 11 months - and just his second start since his horrific knee injury more than three years ago - but it probably felt like some sort of punishment. He was matched up Monday against arguably the best point guard going right now in Deron Williams and will get another all-star point guard on Tuesday in Chauncey Billups. Although he had to adjust his mindset from coming off the bench for Randy Foye, Livingston didn't appear to be in awe of the situation early on Monday. He blocked Williams's shot twice in the first three minutes, with his first block leading to a fastbreak layup for Mike Miller. But Livingston didn't have many ..."
Reeling Washington Wizards head west for a 'ridiculous' road trip
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March 15
Washington Post
 
"One night after suffering their seventh straight loss, the Washington Wizards boarded a plane on Sunday afternoon to begin their final extended trip of the season. The flight to Utah will have given the Wizards plenty of time to assess just how fragile their situation is, considering their slide has reached a season high and the caliber of opponents they will face over the next week. "We're playing the best," Wizards forward Al Thornton said. "Some of the best teams in the West, and we've got to take it on as a challenge and try to get better. I mean that's the only thing you can do." The Jazz, the Denver Nuggets and the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers await the Wizards (21-43), as does ..."
Orlando Magic dominate Washington Wizards, 109-95
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March 14
Orlando Sentinel
 
"The Orlando Magic's offense stalled and its defense was porous. The Washington Wizards smacked them in the opening quarter of Saturday night's game at the Verizon Center and Orlando's starters had no answer. The Magic needed a jolt. They got it from their bench. "[Mickael Pietrus] looked at me, and MP said to everybody we needed to pick things up for the starters," J.J. Redick said. That's when things went back to normal. With the second team of Redick, Pietrus, point guard Jason Williams and power forward Brandon Bass joining starting center Dwight Howard in the second quarter, the Magic beat the exhausted Washington Wizards (21-43) into submission. Orlando (47-20) scored 41 points in the ..."
Flip Saunders on Shaun Livingston
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March 14
Washington Post
 
"Among the few positives from the Wizards' 109-95 loss to Orlando on Saturday was the performance of guard Shaun Livingston, who had 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting and eight assists. It was the second time Livingston has scored that many points for the Wizards, and he played season-high 30 minutes 54 seconds. Livingston was the preferred point guard ahead of starter Randy Foye because of his height advantage over the Magic's Jameer Nelson, who is listed at 6 feet. Livingston is 6-foot-7, and he was able to post up Nelson several times for easy baskets."
Will Bynum has career-high 20 assists as Pistons roll past Washington
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March 13
Michigan Live
 
"Will Bynum said this week he would like to re-sign with the Detroit Pistons in the offseason. If he keeps playing like he has the past week, the Pistons will be happy to have him back. Bynum had a career-high 20 assists Friday night to lead the Pistons to a 101-87 victory against the Washington Wizards. Bynum will be a restricted free agent this summer and said after practice Thursday he would prefer to stay with the Pistons. "I'm comfortable with the players, with the organization, with everybody here," he said. "It's the perfect situation for me." Bynum, who had just one career start as of a week ago, has put up some impressive numbers while starting the past three games in place of ..."
Back-to-back-to-back? Wizards won't be well-rested for Orlando Magic
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March 13
Orlando Sentinel
 
""Thy fate is the common fate of all, "Into each life some rain must fall." Or some snow. The Washington Wizards might not be too familiar with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — hey, he's not on Twitter — but his poetic lament captures their season. Tonight the Orlando Magic face the Wizards, who are playing a back-to-back … to-back. Yes, that's right. As if they haven't gone through enough hard times this season, what with Gilbert Arenas' suspension for gun-play, the death of owner Abe Pollin and trades of three starters that signaled another franchise re-start, the Wizards are playing the last game of a three-game set. They lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night at home in a make-up game. ..."
Will Bynum has career-best 20 assists
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March 13
Detroit News
 
"The media gathered around the hero of the evening. Pistons point guard Will Bynum looked up sheepishly as everybody gathered to get his thoughts in his career-high 20 assist night. Then a jokester piped from the peanut gallery. "Hey, I got two assists," Tayshaun Prince cracked. The dressing room broke into laughter on a rare fun evening for the Pistons. They rode the coattails of several players while pounding out a 101-87 victory over the Wizards on Friday night at The Palace. The loudest cheers were reserved for the 3-point shot by Ben Gordon that gave Bynum his 20th assist. The Pistons knew it might have been perceived as running up the score. But they didn't care. They wanted to ..."
Pistons 101, Wizards 87: Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince lead the way
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March 13
Detroit News
 
"It seemed like old times for the Pistons' old guard at The Palace on Friday night. Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince provided the scoring punch as the Pistons pounded the Wizards, 101-87. Prince and Hamilton, who were part of the Pistons' championship run in 2004, were a combined 17-of-32 from the field. Prince led the way with 18 points while Hamilton scored 16. Guard Will Bynum, who replaced Rodney Stuckey, had a career-high 20 assists. Jason Maxiell had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jonas Jerebko scored 18 as the Pistons placed five players in double figures. Ben Gordon had 18 off the bench and rookie Austin Daye had seven points and seven rebounds."
Pistons run Wizards ragged, sweep season series
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March 13
Washington Post
 
"What are the Wizards going to have left for Orlando? After sticking with the Atlanta Hawks the night before, they didn't appear to have much stored up for the Detroit Pistons on Friday and they got ran off the court. The Pistons had 28 fastbreak points, taking advantage of the Wizards' sloppy ball movement and inability to get back on defense. The Wizards looked like their running with weights, while the Pistons looked they were rolling on skates. Once the Pistons built a 12-point lead in the first quarter, the Wizards were forced to play uphill, powered by fumes. "You can't make any excuses on back-to-backs, because everybody plays them," Mike Miller said. "It's not like it is our first ..."
Flip Saunders's old team, the Pistons, beat Coach's new team, the Wizards, for fourth time
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March 13
Washington Post
 
"Before the opening tip on Friday, Detroit Pistons players Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton walked downcourt and embraced Flip Saunders, their former coach. Perhaps for a fleeting moment, Saunders had flashbacks of better days, when he was leading a powerhouse team, including Prince and Hamilton, to three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference finals. The time apart hasn't been good for Saunders or his former players, as all of them are with teams mired among the dregs of the league and headed for the NBA draft lottery. But if the Pistons can take anything from this season, it's that they never lost to Saunders and the Wizards. Washington's 101-87 defeat gave Detroit its first ..."
Hawks hold on to beat Wizards
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March 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Wizards are bringing up the rear of the NBA's Southeast Division while the Hawks are trying to catch the Magic at the top of the standings. Yet it was hard to tell much difference between the two teams for most of Thursday night at the Verizon Center. Then again, after the Hawks faltered late while losing their past two games they left Washington content with their 105-99 victory, even if wasn't easy. "Good teams find a way to win," said Hawks center Al Horford. "We lost the last two close games, so it feels good to come out on top like this." The Hawks couldn't count on the victory until the final moments. The Hawks never led by more than seven points through three quarters. They ..."
Hawks at Wizards . . . AKA Will (Should) Joe Johnson Go?
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March 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"New York media have their eye on J.J. Meanwhile THHB (now over at Peachtree Hoops) says you can have J.J. with his old, expensive, ball-demanding self. First, the New York stuff. J.J. went through the media wringer there like all big-name (he is, right?) free-agents-to-be. Speculation was that Johnson's history with Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and agent Arn Tellem's relationship with Donnie Walsh could lead to J.J. signing with the Knicks. Johnson didn't say he won't leave the Hawks and there's no reason, financial or otherwise, for him to do so. He told reporters he'd have no problem playing in New York and was open to seeing what other teams have to offer. But he didn't give many hints ..."
Josh Howard wants to return to Washington Wizards next season
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March 12
Washington Post
 
"After leading the Washington Wizards to a shocking 10-point victory over the Denver Nuggets nearly three weeks ago, Josh Howard reached into his locker room stall and picked up an all-white Washington Nationals baseball cap. Howard explained how much he liked the curly W logo and that he had bought a few Nats hats in different colors long before the Dallas Mavericks made him a District resident in a trade. "I got a whole bunch of these," Howard said, flashing his crooked grin as he twisted the slightly oversize cap around his head. "You'll see." Howard had hoped to make wins and his assortment of Nats caps a regular postgame sight, but that was the last time he would play a game at ..."
Wizards lose to Hawks, 105-99, despite big nights from Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee
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March 12
Washington Post
 
"Back when the Washington Wizards were originally supposed to host the Atlanta Hawks, Andray Blatche was forced to scrap for his scoring opportunities backing up Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood, and JaVale McGee was a seldom-used backup center subjected to cheerleading duty on the bench. When the teams finally got together Thursday night, it seemed that the only time Blatche could be stopped in the low block was when he committed a turnover, while McGee spent the entire game auditioning for the 2011 slam dunk contest. The Wizards are a much different team than they were on Feb. 6 -- the day a blizzard postponed their matchup and placed them in the precarious situation of playing three ..."
Miller gives No. 6 to Arenas; Wizards give away game
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March 12
Washington Post
 
"After the Wizards lost their fifth game in a row to the Atlanta Hawks, the question that had to be asked had nothing to do with the performances of Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee, or how they were going to stay energized playing three games in three consecutive nights. No, Mike Miller had to explain his thoughts now that Gilbert Arenas's desire to abandon No. 0 - and all of the Agent Zeroisms that came with it - to switch the No. 6 currently in Miller's possession. As expected, Miller had no problem with it. "He gave me a call, asked me about it. I gave him the go-ahead," Miller said. "If he wants No. 6, he can have it." When asked what number he'll wear if he and Arenas are teammates in ..."
Wizards face a tough road
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March 11
Washington Examiner
 
"Al Thornton wasn't a member of the Washington Wizards when snow-mageddon postponed the Atlanta Hawks' originally scheduled visit Feb. 6. But he isn't shying away from the gantlet the rescheduled game has created for the Wizards, a stretch coach Flip Saunders deemed "the rock star tour." Beginning with the Hawks (40-23), the Wizards (21-40) will play three consecutive nights. They then have one travel day before a four-game swing against Western Conference playoff teams that begins with a back-to-back set at Utah and Denver and ends at the defending NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers. "We should embrace it," Thornton said. "We need to get better." Yet the Wizards seem to be getting worse. They ..."
Washington Wizards face stretch of five games in six days
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March 11
Washington Post
 
"When the snowpocalypse struck the Washington region on Feb. 6, forcing the postponement of a home game against the Atlanta Hawks, the Wizards weren't exactly complaining. The blizzard stranded the team for three days in Orlando, where players got to enjoy some sun and didn't have to worry about shoveling or driving along icy roads. Coach Flip Saunders actually referred to the time in Florida as a "mini-all-star break before the all-star break." But eventually, the Wizards were going to have to deal with the hoopocalypse -- a grueling avalanche of games that finds them playing five times in six nights in four different cities. After playing their rescheduled game against the Hawks on ..."
Rockets blast past Wizards, 96-88
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March 10
Washington Examiner
 
"The Wizards, brimming with energy and enthusiasm after the spate of trade deadline moves last month, averaged 105 points in their first six games after the All-Star break. The well has since run dry. Washington has failed to reach 90 points in five straight games. What's worse, the last four have all been losses, the latest a lackluster 96-88 defeat to Houston on Tuesday night. With 23 points and 9 rebounds from Luis Scola and 21 points from Kevin Martin, the Rockets (32-31) led by as many as 18 in the second half before the Wizards (21-40) trimmed the deficit to six points down the stretch. Washington actually led early, going up, 20-13, in the first quarter with a 10-0 run that included ..."
Wizards fall to Rockets for their fourth consecutive loss
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March 10
Washington Post
 
"At some point, it disappeared. It could've been right when Josh Howard suffered his season-ending knee injury, or when the opponents on the Washington Wizards' schedule changed to more teams jostling for playoff position. But the excitement, the adrenaline rush and hustle that propelled the Wizards to three victories in their first four games after the trade-deadline flurry is gone. The Wizards aren't that team anymore, and after giving a listless performance for most of a 96-88 loss to the Houston Rockets, forward James Singleton wondered what happened to an energetic bunch that has suddenly lost four in a row and six of its past seven games. "When the trade happened, everybody was on a ..."
Celtics run past Wizards at end, 86-83
Comment
March 8
Washington Post
 
"The mostly inexperienced and learning-on-the-fly Washington Wizards were in a position in which they are unaccustomed - on the road, dominating the once-removed NBA champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden. JaVale McGee had future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett shuffling his feet nearly every time he came near and had the Celtics adding extra height on every attempt inside the lane. Al Thornton ruggedly attacked the basket, as he prevailed a head-to-head duel with Paul Pierce. Andray Blatche was handling what Coach Flip Saunders called his "greatest challenge" as a newly-minted go-to-guy, as he scored with relative ease against a Celtics' front line that includes former defensive player of the ..."
Young Wizards' hard play not resulting in victories
Comment
March 7
Washington Examiner
 columnist Craig Stouffer
"The good times are always short-lived. After winning three of their first four games after the All-Star break and a flurry of moves at the NBA trade deadline, the Wizards (21-38) have lost four of their last five and are now confronting the true picture of what they have become, a group of mostly young, scrappy players that will only go so far with just energy and determination. "That's what I said right after the trades," said guard Mike Miller. "It's one thing to do it right away for the first couple games. It's another thing to maintain it." And it won't get any easier, with Sunday's visit to the Celtics (39-21) kicking off a stretch of seven games in 10 days. "Yeah, I'm concerned with ..."
Washington Wizards' Shaun Livingston gets a second chance in D.C.
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March 7
Washington Post
 
"Nearly 40 minutes after the Washington Wizards lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, Shaun Livingston stepped out of the training room, where he had been soaking in the hot tub and receiving treatment for his surgically repaired left knee. Livingston had just scored six points with two assists in about 15 minutes of late-game, mop-up duty and grabbed a seat in the same locker room stall that used to belong to Antawn Jamison. It's a grueling postgame ritual for Livingston, but one that he will gladly repeat, so long as he continues to have the opportunity to play NBA basketball. "Playing is where my fun is," said Livingston, who has had to endure many joyless days and nights since ..."
Bucks clobber Wizards, again
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March 6
Washington Post
 
"After Milwaukee ran through them and jumped over them two days before, the Washington Wizards were anxious to get some payback as they welcomed the Bucks to Verizon Center for the second end of the home-and-home series on Friday. Perhaps they were a bit too anxious. JaVale McGee won the opening the tip, batting the ball to Andray Blatche, who quickly dribbled ahead and whipped a pass to a sprinting McGee. McGee wasn't quite ready for the ball, so he released a rapid-fire shot that squirted from his hands and crashed hard off the glass. Seven seconds into the game, the Wizards had their first missed shot -- and already seemed to exhaust all their adrenaline because it didn't get much ..."
Bogut dominates in Bucks' jam session
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March 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"Bring on Cleveland. The Milwaukee Bucks left no doubts in their rematch with Washington on Friday night at the Verizon Center, moving the ball crisply and dunking and blocking their way to a 102-74 victory. It was just the type of performance coach Scott Skiles was seeking as the Bucks headed home to prepare for LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Saturday night. Center Andrew Bogut threw down four dunks and had five blocked shots to spice up his double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Bucks (32-29) remain in the sixth position in the Eastern Conference race, just one-half game behind fifth-place Toronto. "Our defense was active, and our ball movement was great again," said ..."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas' agent says the center plans on rejoining Cleveland Cavaliers
Comment
March 5
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"He's back. Or at least he wants to be. In a move sure to delight Cavaliers fans, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has announced his intentions to rejoin the team and has asked agent Herb Rudoy to begin negotiations with the Cavs on March 22, the first date he can do so. "It is Zydrunas' desire to return to the Cavaliers if a suitable contract can be agreed upon," Rudoy said in an e-mail to reporters. "He has been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the outpouring of support and affection by the fans and by his teammates. He hopes to return to bring a championship to the Cavaliers and to the city of Cleveland.""
Wizards can't cool off the surging Bucks
Comment
March 4
Washington Post
 
"Andray Blatche caught the ball on the right baseline and pondered his move before he finally pump-faked and exploded toward the basket. After jumping into a crowd of Milwaukee Bucks and drawing contact, Blatche heard the whistle blow and was surprised to hear that the official called him for traveling. Blatche rolled his eyes and later picked up a technical foul for complaining about the call. Moments later, forward Al Thornton was dribbling up the court when he flipped a behind-the-back pass intended for point guard Randy Foye. Foye jumped to the ground to recover the errant pass, but his tussle for the ball with Bucks guard Brandon Jennings eventually led to an eight-second violation. ..."
Andray Blatche and Greivis Vasquez have rehabilitated their images with stretches of incredible basketball
Comment
March 3
Washington Post
 columnist Michael Wilbon
"It's difficult to imagine two basketball players changing perceptions about who they are as quickly and as dramatically as the Wizards' Andray Blatche and Maryland's Greivis Vasquez are now. Only two weeks ago Blatche was seen, even by some of the people managing him and playing with him, as a straight-up knucklehead, a fifth-year player who couldn't be bothered with the weight room, was difficult to coach and might be beyond salvaging here in Washington. Vasquez, when the ACC season began in earnest eight weeks ago, was seen as talented but unreliable, a huge asset to the Terrapins some nights, a total liability others. He could, his critics said, win a game or lose one almost by ..."
Wizards Coach Flip Saunders holding it all together in a season of upheaval
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March 3
Washington Post
 
"Flip Saunders arrived in Washington with grand expectations, talking about winning championships and hopeful that his success in Minnesota and later Detroit would mesh with a veteran-laden team hoping to recover from a miserable 19-win season. He brought a hypnotist to training camp, handed out iPods with his playbook and even made motivational T-shirts and caps for his players emblazoned with the phrase "Our Time." But the times have changed rather swiftly for Saunders and the Wizards, who have endured a season that few could've imagined. The team foundered, owner Abe Pollin died, Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the remainder of the season for bringing guns to the locker room, and fellow ..."
Arenas would have "no problem" playing for Wizards
Comment
March 3
Washington Post
 
"Since pleading guilty to a felony gun charge and receiving a subsequent season-ending suspension from the NBA, Gilbert Arenas has done what most thought he was incapable of achieving: He has maintained a low profile. Other than a brief comment about his suspension and an opinion piece in The Washington Post, Arenas hasn't said much of anything publicly. But on Tuesday, Arenas told the Associated Press that he would have "no problem" playing for the Washington Wizards again. In the days and weeks after he received an indefinite suspension following his behavior and comments in Philadelphia in early January, Arenas had been telling those close to him that he had no desire to play for team ..."
Andray Blatche is on a ridiculous roll
Comment
March 2
Washington Post
 
"No doubt, Andray Blatche had a monster performance in the Wizards' 89-85 win over New Jersey on Sunday night, as he posted a career-high 36 points with 15 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. But it also was a historic performance. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Blatche is the first player in Bullets/Wizards franchise history since Elvin Hayes to reach those statistical marks in one game. On Feb. 26, 1975, Hayes had 39 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocked shots in a 104-98 win over the Seattle SuperSonics. Blatche is also the only NBA player to score 36 or more points, with 15 or more rebounds, four or more assists, two or more steals and two or ..."
Wizards buy out Mike James then waive him
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March 2
Washington Post
 
"Mike James wasn't a part of the Wizards' present, and certainly not it's future, so it was only right that the two sides were able to make an amicable split on Monday. James left the team by a mutual agreement immediately after the Feb. 18 trade deadline and needed to be waived by March 1 in order to have an opportunity to make the postseason roster of another team. James, 34, only played four games with the Wizards this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.3 assists. He made his last appearance in New York on Feb. 3. "He's excited to go out there and have a job and continue having an NBA career," James's agent, Bernie Lee, said in a telephone interview on Monday. "Mike is able to focus on ..."
Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee takes his lumps
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March 2
Washington Post
 
"JaVale McGee really didn't have to say anything about how anxious he was about making his first start of the season against Minnesota two weeks ago, because he nearly did a much better job of revealing his nerves to the home fans at Verizon Center. After pregame introductions, McGee was ready to rip off his breakaway pants when he noticed that he wasn't wearing his game shorts. McGee sprinted to the locker room, quickly made the switch from his black practice shorts, and recorded his first double-double of the season, with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. "I was just used to wearing my practice shorts," McGee said recently, laughing about the incident. McGee was undoubtedly ..."
Home : Sports : Pro Sports : Pro Basketball : Nets Nets slip back to usual ways in 89-85 loss to the Wizards
Comment
March 1
Bergen Record
 
"The Nets' first two-game winning streak of the season was right in front of them if only someone would have bothered getting in front of Andray Blatche or closer to Randy Foye. Blatche, the Wizards' unheralded big man, shredded the Nets for a career-high 36 points and 15 rebounds. Foye, the Newark native, delivered back-to-back crushing jumpers in the last 45 seconds Sunday night at Izod Center. Their clutch play combined with the Nets' disappearing act on both ends led to a deflating 89-85 loss that erased all the good feelings they had from Saturday's unexpected victory in Boston. "It's definitely a step back," Brook Lopez said. "This could have been something." It was for Blatche and ..."
Andray Blatche's 36 points lead Washington Wizards past New Jersey Nets
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March 1
Washington Post
 
"With each game, each converted up-and-under move, each dropped jump shot and each driving basket, Andray Blatche's confidence continues to grow. On Sunday night, Blatche found himself in an incredible rhythm against the New Jersey Nets, matched up against Yi Jianlian. Blatche didn't hesitate to attack the basket -- as he did on an impressive one-handed dunk over Yi -- and coolly stepping back to drain jumpers, showing the versatility and tenacity that the undermanned and overhauled Washington Wizards sorely needed after falling behind by 14 points in the first half. Blatche scored a career-high 36 points with 15 rebounds in leading the Washington Wizards to an 89-85 victory at Izod ..."
New Jersey back to losing ways
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March 1
New York Post
 
"The Nets ran into one of their trademark droughts last night. It was called the second half. Defensively, New Jersey was torched by Andray Blatche (36 points) and Randy Foye, who hit two critical endgame jumpers. But the Nets killed themselves by scoring 35 points and shooting .262 against Washington's zones after halftime, and that's how dreams of two-game winning streaks die. "We need to work a little bit more on our zone offense," Devin Harris said. So the Nets wasted some strong individual efforts -- like a season-high-tying 14 assists from Harris, a career-best 19 rebounds from Yi Jianlian and rally-fueling energy by Terrence Williams. They failed to get stops when required and scores ..."
New Jersey Nets back on losing track, fall to Washington Wizards after beating Boston Celtics
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March 1
New York Daily News
 
"One day, the Nets can beat the Celtics, making Ray Allen and Co. look very ordinary. The next night, the Nets can lose to the Wizards and make Andray Blatche look like a legend. At this point, should that come as a surprise? Just over 24 hours after a stunning win over the Celtics, the Nets collapsed and lost, 89-85, to the lowly (but not as lowly as the Nets) Wizards Sunday night at the Meadowlands, blowing a 14-point lead and a chance to win two straight games for the first time this season. Blatche scored a career-high 36 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help the Wizards (21-36) avoid the same humiliation the Celtics, Knicks, Clippers and Bobcats (twice) have felt this season. The Nets ..."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to a report
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March 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"A source has told Marc Stein of ESPN.com that center Zydrunas Ilgauskas will return to the Cleveland Cavaliers as soon as NBA rules allow. Ilgauskas was a Cavalier since he was drafted by Cleveland in 1996, until he was traded to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 17 as part of a three-team trade that landed veteran forward Antawn Jamison with the Cavaliers. Ilgauskas and Washington worked out a buyout of his contract and he was waived on Thursday, making him a free agent. Writes Stein for ESPN.com: Dallas Mavericks representatives declined formal comment Sunday, but one source briefed on the discussions told ESPN.com that Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, has informed the Mavericks that Ilgauskas ..."
Foye still adjusting to his new role with the Wizards
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February 28
Washington Post
 
"Amid the disorder surrounding the Washington Wizards this season, guard Randy Foye has distinguished himself as one of the team's steadying influences. That composure has been especially valuable in recent games, when Foye incorporated a slew of new teammates into the offense while asserting himself when needed. Such was the case in the 118-116 overtime loss to the visiting New York Knicks on Friday night. With 15 seconds to play in regulation, Foye released a 20-foot jumper that rattled around the rim and bounced above it before falling to tie the score at 112 and force the extra session. "Randy's clutch," said forward Al Thornton, who has played five games with the Wizards since joining ..."
Knicks end losing streak at eight
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February 27
The Journal News
 
"David Lee provided just enough offense for the Knicks to escape an overtime where the defenses ruled. Lee made a layup with 1.6 seconds left in the extra period, and the Knicks beat the Washington Wizards 118-116 on Friday night to snap an eight-game losing streak. The Knicks won for just the second time this month - both against Washington - by surviving a bizarre overtime where the teams combined to miss 13 of their 16 field goal attempts. "What was strange about it is, both teams are having trouble getting stops on defense in regulation, and when it came time for overtime neither team could score," Lee said. With the score tied at 116-116, Lee - who had both of the Knicks' baskets in ..."
Wizards get a slasher, Livingston, who gets a 10-day
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February 27
Washington Examiner
 
"10-day times two as the Washington Wizards, in the hopes of trying to add some pop from the wing after the loss of Josh Howard to a season-ending knee injury, have added Shaun Livingston . Here's the rundown from the Wizards press release: A former "Mr. Basketball" in Illinois (2003-04), Livingston led Peoria Central High (Peoria, IL) to Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004 before jumping straight to the NBA as the L.A. Clippers' first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 2004 NBA Draft. Livingston has appeared in 167 games (61 starts) in parts of five seasons in the NBA, compiling career averages of 6.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He most recently appeared in 10 ..."
Wizards sign Shaun Livingston
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February 27
Washington Post
 
"The Washington Wizards signed guard Shaun Livingston to a 10-day contract today. From the official news release: A former "Mr. Basketball" in Illinois (2003-04), Livingston led Peoria Central High (Peoria, IL) to Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004 before jumping straight to the NBA as the L.A. Clippers' first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 2004 NBA Draft. Livingston has appeared in 167 games (61 starts) in parts of five seasons in the NBA, compiling career averages of 6.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He most recently appeared in 10 games this season for the Oklahoma City Thunder and also played briefly for the NBA D-League's Tulsa 66ers in 2008-09. Livingston was ..."