Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 20

Washington Times

"No one in the Washington Wizards' locker room is calling Wednesday's 108-91 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers a signature win. The team is simply hoping the performance, which snapped a six-game losing streak and marked the season debut of forward Antawn Jamison, can serve as a building block for a turnaround in what has been a trying month. "Right now it's a win, but it's a win against a team we've been battling," said Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who has struggled for the most part during his team's 3-7 start. "It may have been ugly early in the game, but we always play well here against them. We'll take this win and keep moving on. We've got about five more games in this month, and ..."

For Haywood, time is everything

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November 20

Washington Post

"The ball rolled on the court and LeBron James appeared to have an easy rebound. But as James leaned down to pick it up, Brendan Haywood lunged, slapped down with his large left hand, gained control of the ball and alertly called a timeout to secure the possession. Haywood had a game-high 13 rebounds in the Washington Wizards' 108-91 win against Cleveland on Wednesday, and that sort of ball-hawking determination has defined his play this season, as he is averaging a career-high 10.8 rebounds a game. Haywood has never averaged more than 7.2 rebounds for a full season, but he ranks eighth in the NBA -- ahead of reigning rebounding champion Dwight Howard. He has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in ..."

Wizards come full circle against Cavaliers

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November 19

Washington Examiner

"The five guys on the floor that put it away – that made the decisive run to end a six-game Wizards losing streak that had begun in Cleveland 15 days earlier, that frustrated Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown and LeBron James both into technical fouls, that earned the deserved standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Verizon Center in the final minute – were not the ones that might have been expected. But Washington's newfound depth played a huge role in the 108-91 victory that snapped a five-game winning streak for the Cavaliers (8-4), and it gave rise to the notion that the Wizards (3-7) may still fulfill the high expectations they had entering the season. "This is what we envisioned at ..."

Wizard puts disruptive spell on LeBron to beat Cavaliers

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November 19

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"It is rare for anyone to straight up outplay LeBron James and it is simply unheard of to see anyone get inside his head. But no matter what the stats say, that certainly appears to have been the case Wednesday night. There's been so much trash talk and hard fouls -- and even venomous rap songs -- between James and the Washington Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. The scoreboard is overwhelming in James' favor, from playoff victories to flagrant fouls to Jay-Z in the studio having his back. This time, though, the worm turned, and in a most bizarre and unexpected way. All on Stevenson's "bobble hand" night. That's right, the sellout got tattoo-free figurines with the Stevenson's hand wagging in ..."

Jamison's title focus

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November 19

Washington Times

"Washington Wizards power forward Antawn Jamison made his season debut Wednesday night with hopes of helping his team end its six-game losing streak and beginning what he hopes is a championship run. Before the start of the season, Jamison threw out the "C" word, saying a championship "is all I'm playing for." To keep that goal fresh in his mind, Jamison has an 8-inch-by-10-inch, framed color photograph of the Larry O'Brien Trophy hanging in his locker. On the wall that borders Jamison's locker, which is just outside the trainers room, is a poster-sized image of the trophy, also framed. "We need a little championship aura in here," Jamison said last week. He also said he plans on ordering a ..."

Jamison's return helps Wizards stop skid

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November 19

Washington Times

"After missing the first nine games of the season, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison didn't show the slightest trace of rust in his season debut against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Verizon Center. Instead, the two-time All-Star put his struggling team on his back and carried it to a 108-91 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 20,173 fans. Jamison picked up career double-double No. 263, recording 31 points and 10 rebounds, and helped the Wizards snap a six-game losing streak. "Me coming back and just trying to stop the bleeding a little bit, we found a way to pull it off," said Jamison, who made 12 of 22 shots from the field and five of six from the foul ..."

All together now, Wizards win

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November 19

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards were in a month-long funk; unable to start, unable to finish, unable to win. It was a miserable, frustrating period that left players searching for answers, wondering how a team with so much talent could play so poorly. Antawn Jamison was a well-dressed observer for that entire period, taking note of what his team was lacking and what he could provide whenever he made his return. Jamison finally made his long-awaited season debut on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, coming around full circle since he partially dislocated his right shoulder against this same team during the preseason. He led the Wizards with 31 points and 10 rebounds as they snapped a ..."

Encouraging signs for a night

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November 19

Washington Post

columnist Michael Wilbon

"Nothing good can come of drawing definitive conclusions before Christmas when it comes to the NBA. The game-to-game pronouncements that characterize the way we assess the NFL's 16-game sprint simply don't work in professional basketball, with the necessary ups and downs of its interminable marathon season. When the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first two games of the new season, NFL-style wisdom was that Shaquille O'Neal was a bad fit and Mike Brown might need to be the first coaching casualty. Then the Cavaliers won eight of nine, five straight and the folks so worried about Cleveland looked at its standing near the top of the Eastern Conference and said, "Oops, sorry." The Washington ..."

Wizards End Cleveland's Winning Streak

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November 19

New York Times

"The Washington Wizards overcame a 34-point performance by LeBron James to crush the Central Division-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91 on Wednesday and snap a six-game losing streak. Antawn Jamison, who hurt his shoulder during pre-season and missed the first nine games, sparkled in his season debut, scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the Wizards."

Wizard beat Cavs, James injures wrist on dunk

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November 19

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"It is rare for anyone to straight up outplay LeBron James and it is simply unheard of to see anyone get inside his head. But no matter what the stats say, that certainly appears to have been the case Wednesday night. There's been so much trash talk and hard fouls -- and even venomous rap songs -- between James and the Washington Wizards' DeShawn Stevenson. The scoreboard is overwhelming in James' favor, from playoff victories to flagrant fouls to Jay-Z in the studio having his back. This time, though, the worm turned, and in a most bizarre and unexpected way. All on Stevenson's "bobble hand" night. That's right, the sellout got tattoo-free figurines with the Stevenson's hand wagging in ..."

Jamison anxious to return

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November 18

Washington Examiner

"With a full allotment of starters and regulars finally available for the first time this season, the Washington Wizards could be forgiven for wanting to completely discard the first nine games of the year. "As I told our guys, we're not going to worry about the nine games that we've played," said head coach Flip Saunders. "We've got to worry about the next 73 games we're going to play and build off of what we're going to do starting now." The Wizards' dismal 2-7 start, including losing their last six games, came without All-Star forward Antawn Jamison, who is anxious to make his season debut Wednesday against Cleveland (7-3), the same team Washington was playing when he dislocated his left ..."

Wizards get Jamison, Foye back in lineup

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November 18

Washington Times

"Directing his players at Tuesday's practice session - the first in more than a month with all his core players healthy - coach Flip Saunders had to feel relieved. Antawn Jamison, one of the cornerstones for the Washington Wizards, was back for the second straight day. Randy Foye also was back in his role as the key rotation player after missing the past two games with a sprained ankle. Finally, Saunders & Co. were able to resume building on the foundation they laid during training camp and the first week of the preseason. "We're not a team that you would say has lost six games in a row if you're watching," Saunders said. "I think it's good to have Antawn back in the fold. ... Now you can ..."

Wizards hope Jamison rights ship

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November 18

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards knew they would have a challenging start to the season the moment Antawn Jamison's right shoulder popped from its socket last month in Cleveland, but they didn't anticipate a near surrender. Sitting at 2-7, with the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference, was not a feasible outcome -- even with Jamison missing the first nine games and other players scuttling in and out of the lineup because of injuries. The other reasons for the Wizards' November doldrums -- they are 0-6 this month -- range from Gilbert Arenas's uneven adjustment to a new, point-guard driven offense after missing nearly two years of regular basketball action; a difficult schedule; the ..."

Jamison doesn't talk

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November 17

Washington Examiner

"After the Wizards lost to Detroit on Saturday night, a lone bright spot was head coach Flip Saunders announcing that Antawn Jamison would be back for Wednesday's game against Cleveland. Back from his shoulder injury. Back from the illness that knocked him out last week. Cue the anticipation of talking to Jamison after Monday's practice, about his return, about hitting the reset button on the Wizards season, about the fruit plate tirade in Indianapolis, about being the glue that can hold together Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and the rest of the team. But Jamison didn't show. He wasn't available after practice ended, wasn't available after a couple of team meetings. Five hours after arriving ..."

Jamison expected to play Wednesday

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November 17

Washington Times

"The Washington Wizards had a completely healthy Antawn Jamison back on the practice court for the first time in five weeks, and he is expected to make his season debut Wednesday when the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town. The two-time All-Star power forward, who in the past two seasons has led the Wizards in both scoring and rebounding, missed the last two weeks of the preseason and all nine of the Wizards' regular-season games with a partially dislocated right shoulder. He was cleared for full-contact practice Thursday, but a virus kept him sidelined another three days, causing him to miss two practices and Saturday's 106-103 loss to Detroit. The Wizards did not practice Sunday, so Jamison ..."

Jamison practices, expected to play

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November 17

Washington Post

"Antawn Jamison's season debut was delayed the first time when he dislocated his right shoulder in Cleveland last month. It was delayed again when he came down with an illness that left him bedridden last weekend. But the two-time all-star forward, who has been sidelined five weeks, is finally expected to return on Wednesday against the Cavaliers. And it couldn't come any sooner for a team that has stumbled to a 2-7 start and is in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Jamison on Monday participated in his first full contact practice since he collided with Cavaliers reserve center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and suffered a shoulder subluxation on Oct. 14. Coach Flip Saunders said "he didn't show ..."

Arenas trying to have fun again

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November 16

Washington Times

"He tried serious. Surly even. He declared Agent Zero dead and retired the Hibachi. Once the most media-accessible star in the NBA, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas aimed to be so focused on basketball that he had to be forced by the NBA - in the form of a $25,000 fine - to speak to the media. Although Arenas claimed otherwise, the fun appeared to be gone, and on the court he mostly sported a scowl. But the new persona didn't translate into on-court success. Aside from the season-opening 29-point, nine-assist performance in a victory over Dallas and a 32-point, seven-assist game in a win over New Jersey, Arenas largely has been disappointing. In six losses heading into Saturday ..."

Arenas trying to have fun again

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November 16

Washington Times

"He tried serious. Surly even. He declared Agent Zero dead and retired the Hibachi. Once the most media-accessible star in the NBA, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas aimed to be so focused on basketball that he had to be forced by the NBA - in the form of a $25,000 fine - to speak to the media. Although Arenas claimed otherwise, the fun appeared to be gone, and on the court he mostly sported a scowl. But the new persona didn't translate into on-court success. Aside from the season-opening 29-point, nine-assist performance in a victory over Dallas and a 32-point, seven-assist game in a win over New Jersey, Arenas largely has been disappointing. In six losses heading into Saturday ..."

Wizards and Arenas still looking for offense

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November 16

Washington Post

"Gilbert Arenas said he didn't want to be an entertainer anymore. Then he decided to reenlist his Agent Zero and Hibachi identities during the Washington Wizards' 106-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday -- complete with his familiar palms up, hands-waving motion after a made basket. "Everyone wants the fun guy back," Arenas said after the loss. "They feel with the fun guy, everyone gets to be looser." Arenas, though, is having an especially tough time finding his identity as a point guard, which is one reason the Wizards (2-7) have an inconsistent offense, are on a six-game losing streak and have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Arenas has flourished as a scorer, ..."

Wizards Plus

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November 15

Washington Times

"Saturday's matchup between the Wizards and Pistons was reunion night for multiple reasons. First, it represented the first regular-season game Flip Saunders coached against Detroit since he guided the team to three straight Eastern Conference finals from 2006 to 2008. It also featured four Connecticut players - Caron Butler welcomed fellow Huskies alums Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to Verizon Center. The Pistons have four former Wizards: Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Kwame Brown -- Michael Jordan's No. 1 overall pick from 2001, who still gets booed heavily by D.C. fans -- and Chucky Atkins. And two Detroit players attended schools in the D.C. area: Backup center Chris Wilcox ..."

Struggling Wizards remain at a loss

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November 15

Washington Post

"Antawn Jamison's anticipated return was put on hold, with an illness keeping him home sick while the Washington Wizards hosted the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. But the Wizards were able to welcome new arrival Earl Boykins and welcome back Mike Miller after missing the past three games with a sprained left shoulder. And, about an hour before the game, the team heard that another familiar personality was returning after a short-lived retirement. "I'm Zero. I'm not Gilbert no more," said Gilbert Arenas, who claimed on media day that his days an entertainer were over and that he was going to retire his Agent Zero and Hibachi personas. "Gilbert's not working out. It ain't working if we lost ..."

Ben Gordon 'closes' for Pistons in win over Wizards

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November 15

Detroit Free Press

"Ben Gordon scored 29 points, including the eight with less than two minutes to play, as the Detroit Pistons beat the Wizards, 106-103, tonight in Washington. Charlie Villanueva added 25 points and Will Bynum came off the bench with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Rodney Stuckey had 17 points and seven rebounds. "The thing I like about this team is, we keep chipping away," Gordon said. "We don't hang our heads. We don't make excuses. We play hard, and that got us back in the game." Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan), in his first game with the Wizards, scored 20 points. He played all last season in Italy and was signed late last week. Mike Miller, who returned from a left shoulder ..."

Small guards Will Bynum and Earl Boykins could square off when Pistons face Wizards

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November 14

Michigan Live

"Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum is small by NBA standards, but he is a physically gifted athlete who plays with a lot of heart. Sounds a bit like Earl Boykins. Bynum and Boykins likely will find themselves face to face on Saturday night when the Pistons play a road game against the Washington Wizards. The Wizards signed Boykins, a former Eastern Michigan University star, this week after guards Javaris Crittenton, Mike James and Randy Foye sustained injuries. The Wizards will be the ninth NBA team for Boykins in his 11-year career. Not bad for a guy who stands 5-foot-5 and weighs 133 pounds. "It's a great tribute to what he's all about and what his heart is in regards to his love for the ..."

Miller wants back in, Jamison still out sick

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November 14

Washington Examiner

"Mike Miller said he's bored. He didn't accompany the Wizards to Miami or Indianapolis due to the left shoulder injury he suffered last week against the Heat at Verizon Center. He wants to play Saturday vs. Detroit. "I was a little tired today," said Miller, who did participate in full contact practice on Thursday. "But that's to be expected. I'll be fine. I told [Wizards head coach] Flip [Saunders] that I'll be ready to play, and if he feels like I'm hurting the team, take me out." It's just one of a few player decisions Saunders has looming as he gets set to face his former team for the first time during the regular season. Antawn Jamison (left shoulder) missed his second straight ..."

David Aldridge is the versatile insider

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November 14

Washington Examiner

columnist Jim Williams

"David Aldridge is busy working the phones and talking to players, general managers and coaches about what is going on in the NBA. He is the "NBA Insider" for TNT, NBA-TV and he writes the very popular "The Morning Tip" for NBA.com. Aldridge is one of the most respected people who covers the NBA and we talked about what it is like to be an "insider" as well as the many roles he serves as a member of Turner Sports: JW » How does an "insider" work? Aldridge » First of all, you have to develop trust over a number of years with players, coaches and front office people. They need to know that what they tell you will be reported accurately, fairly and timely, without ever burning any of your ..."

Wizards could receive partial fix

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November 14

Washington Times

"The Washington Wizards, desperate to snap a five-game losing streak, anxiously looked to this weekend for what they anticipated would mark both the season debut of team captain Antawn Jamison and the return of starting shooting guard Mike Miller. Jamison and Miller - as well as backup point guard Randy Foye, who sprained his ankle Tuesday - could be back in uniform for the Wizards on Saturday night when they host the Detroit Pistons, but the team will be far from whole again. And that's if they play. Jamison, who has been sidelined since Oct. 13 with a partially dislocated right shoulder, was cleared for practice Thursday. But his status for Saturday is in doubt because of a virus that ..."

Slow start is testing Saunders's patience

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November 14

Washington Post

"When Coach Flip Saunders took over as an early-season replacement with the Minnesota Timberwolves in December 1995, his team lost seven of its first eight games. But when Saunders took over the Detroit Pistons nearly 10 years later, his team won its first eight games, setting off his most successful three-year run in the NBA and perhaps spoiling him with the relative ease of the transition. Saunders's first eight games with the Washington Wizards (2-6) have served as a not-so-friendly reminder that even an amateur magician such as Saunders can't heal injured players and produce wins with the snap of a finger. The early bumps -- especially the offensive inefficiency -- have challenged his ..."

Boykins feeling at home with Wizards

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November 13

Washington Times

"It wasn't his first choice, but Earl Boykins wasn't about to let himself complain. When he didn't get the interest he wanted last year from NBA teams, he signed with Italian team Virtus Bologna for a contract reportedly worth more than $3.5 million, which made him the country's highest-paid player. The 5-foot-5 NBA veteran averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists while helping lead his team to the 2009 EuroChallenge title. But despite the success, he wanted more, and he didn't want it to come on foreign soil. "I was out of the NBA, but as long as you're getting paid to play basketball, it's not that bad," said Boykins, whom the Wizards - down to one healthy point guard - signed Wednesday to a ..."

Guard-needy Wizards eagerly welcome Boykins

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November 13

Washington Post

"After the Washington Wizards returned from Miami -- where they suffered their fifth consecutive loss, continued to sputter on offense and were reduced to just one healthy point guard -- Caron Butler said he walked around his house with a smile on his face. His wife, Andrea, looked at him, perplexed. "How are you smiling?" Butler recalls her asking. "I've got to smile to keep from crying," he told her. The Wizards' sorrows weren't resolved when they signed point guard Earl Boykins on Wednesday, but the 11-year veteran does address one problem for a team already ravaged by injuries only three weeks into the season. He provides scoring, playmaking and stability, all in a pocket-sized ..."

Wizards struggle at the point

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November 12

Washington Post

"Shirtless, slouching and sulking, Gilbert Arenas was fidgeting with his cellphone Tuesday night when personal trainer Tim Grover, in Miami to check on him, leaned over his locker room stall. Grover spoke to Arenas for a few minutes, with Arenas repeatedly nodding his head. Arenas's rehabilitation from a left knee injury that cost him most of the last two seasons had not ended when he left Grover's training facility in Chicago last summer, and Arenas was already learning an early-season lesson. A strained left calf nearly sidelined him before he decided about 15 minutes before the game to play against the Miami Heat. Then, after his backup Randy Foye sprained his right ankle in the first ..."

Wizards, Boykins agree to contract

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November 12

Washington Times

"Down to one healthy point guard, the Washington Wizards signed 11th-year veteran Earl Boykins on Wednesday to back up Gilbert Arenas while the club waits for the healthy return of three other players at that position. "Earl is a proven veteran point guard who will provide us with leadership and stability off of the bench," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. The Wizards, who were playing without power forward Antawn Jamison and shooting guard Mike Miller, did get some good news on the injury front. Jamison, sidelined since Oct. 14 with a partial dislocation to his right shoulder, is expected to make his season debut Saturday against Detroit. Miller, who sprained his left shoulder Nov. ..."

Sources: Wizards to sign Boykins

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November 11

ESPN.com

"The injury-hit Washington Wizards have turned to veteran guard Earl Boykins to bolster their depleted backcourt, sources told ESPN.com. The formal signing of Boykins to a one-year minimum deal for the rest of the season will be announced later Wednesday, according to sources with knowledge of the Wizards' thinking. Sources said that Washington (2-6) targeted Boykins to help them survive an injury crisis that has felled Randy Foye (ankle), Javaris Crittenton (foot) and Mike James (hand) in the backcourt alone. Starting forward Antawn Jamison and swingman Mike Miller are also out with shoulder injuries. And star guard Gilbert Arenas -- still recovering from three surgeries on the same knee ..."

Heat 90, Wizards 76: Arenas pads the wrong stat

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November 11

Washington Examiner

"Four giveaways after the Wizards (2-6) made their first five shots and got a Gilbert Arenas dagger from six-feet behind the three-point line at the end of the first quarter but blew a 49-41 halftime lead in Miami and extended their current losing streak to five with a 90-76 loss to the Heat (6-1): If Arenas had shown the same kind of focus and intensity that he had arguing calls with referee Dan Crawford after the game had already been decided - enough to earn himself a dumb technical foul - back during his 7-turnover third period, perhaps he might not have rung up the most dubious of double-doubles: 21 points, a career-high 12 turnovers. Even with eight assists, that A-to-T ratio ended in ..."

Miami Heat wallops Wizards behind Dwyane Wade's 41 points

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November 11

Miami Herald

"Considering the itinerary includes a meeting with Michael Jordan on Wednesday and a showdown with LeBron James on Thursday, Heat guard Dwyane Wade could have had his mind on other matters Tuesday night. But for the second time in a week, Wade found time on the schedule to finish off the Washington Wizards. Wade topped his previous season high of 40 points in last week's victory at Washington by going for 41 in a 90-76 victory over the Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena. In guiding the Heat back from its first double-digit deficit of the season, Wade contributed to every point the Heat scored during a decisive 11-0 run to pull away late. Wade got 14 of his points in the fourth quarter for ..."

Dwyane Wade's 41 lifts Heat over Wizards, to 6-1

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November 11

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"It took nearly two weeks, but adversity finally arrived. The Miami Heat and guard Dwyane Wade proved up to the challenge. Having played its first six games without experiencing a single double-digit deficit, the only team in the league to play so deep into this season without one, the Heat turned an early 11-point hole into a 90-76 victory Tuesday night over the Washington Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I certainly liked the resolve," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Obviously, in the second half we were a different team. "And then Dwyane was able to do what he was able to do." When it was over, despite an uneven start, Wade had 41 points on 14-of-29 shooting, his second 40-point effort ..."

Yet another loss that hurts

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November 11

Washington Post

"Gilbert Arenas may have claimed that he had retired from entertainment, but that doesn't mean that he's going to stop providing some zaniness and unpredictability. An hour before they played the Miami Heat on Tuesday, the Washington Wizards announced that Arenas wasn't going to play because of a strained left calf muscle. With him laid up on the training table, it appeared that Arenas's dream of playing all 82 games was going to evaporate just eight games into the season. Coach Flip Saunders had already decided that DeShawn Stevenson and Randy Foye would be his starting back court, but Arenas changed his mind about 15 minutes before the game -- right after the team's pregame meeting -- ..."

Arenas sets franchise record, Foye helped off court with ankle sprain

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November 11

Washington Times

"Gilbert Arenas gave the Washington Wizards a scare about an hour before Tuesday night's game against the Miami Heat. After running through pregame warmups, the guard and team trainers informed coach Flip Saunders that the sore right calf that had kept Arenas out of Monday's practice was too tight for him to play. Saunders, who already had four other injured players, had to come up with a new starting lineup. But 10 minutes before tipoff, Arenas changed his mind. Not only did Arenas play - and start - he was on the court for a season-high 42 minutes and fell two assists shy of recording a triple-double. But it wasn't the type of triple-double he was looking for, nor the outcome he sought. ..."

Anemic offense slowing Wizards

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November 10

Washington Times

"Rather than dwell on his team's fourth straight defeat, Gilbert Arenas chose instead to point out a positive: The Washington Wizards, he says, finally have shored up a long-standing weakness - defense. The numbers back up Arenas. The Wizards (2-5) ranked among the worst teams in the league defensively for the past five years, but this season they rank eighth in field goal percentage and 11th in points allowed. But the improved defense hasn't led to wins thanks to an anemic offense, the culprit in the club's five losses and its current four-game skid. For the season, Washington ranks 22nd in both points a game (95.6) and field goal percentage (.438). The Wizards scored 102 points in a ..."

Wizards, Caps among sports' best bargains

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November 10

Washington Times

"The District is home to two of the best bargains in professional sports, according to recent surveys of prices on tickets and merchandise. The Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards are among the least-expensive teams for fans of the NHL and NBA with ticket prices well below the league average even as the popularity of both teams has increased in recent years, according to Chicago-based Team Marketing Report. TMR, which collected pricing data for its annual "Fan Cost Index" surveys, said last week the average ticket price for a Wizards game is $27.21, the third lowest in the NBA and more than $21 below the league average. The Caps, meanwhile, ranked 21st in the NHL in ticket prices, ..."

Anemic offense slowing Wizards

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November 10

Washington Times

"Rather than dwell on his team's fourth straight defeat, Gilbert Arenas chose instead to point out a positive: The Washington Wizards, he says, finally have shored up a long-standing weakness - defense. The numbers back up Arenas. The Wizards (2-5) ranked among the worst teams in the league defensively for the past five years, but this season they rank eighth in field goal percentage and 11th in points allowed. But the improved defense hasn't led to wins thanks to an anemic offense, the culprit in the club's five losses and its current four-game skid. For the season, Washington ranks 22nd in both points a game (95.6) and field goal percentage (.438). The Wizards scored 102 points in a ..."

Wizards look for some straight shooters

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November 10

Washington Post

"Caron Butler hasn't shot this poorly in nearly six years, when he was playing for the Miami Heat. Gilbert Arenas has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5 to 1. Antawn Jamison (right shoulder) likely won't start practicing until Thursday, and Mike Miller (left shoulder) might be another week away. Making matters worse for the Washington Wizards, Mike James recently broke his left hand and will be out four to five weeks, leaving the team with just two healthy point guards. Add it all up, and it's no wonder the Wizards (2-5) are mired in a four-game losing streak as they prepare to play the Heat on Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. "Right now we got no mojo," Coach Flip Saunders said. "So, we ..."

Wizards lose James for 5 weeks, Arenas doesn't practice

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November 9

Washington Examiner

"We're edging dangerously close to absurdity here at the Verizon Center, where the Wizards have suffered another couple of injuries, one minor, one slightly more so. First off, Gilbert Arenas was held out of practice with some soreness in his left calf. Second, guard Mike James, who jammed his left hand in practice on Satuday -- one day after 6 points and 3 assists in his season debut during Washington's loss at Indiana -- found out this morning that the fourth metacarpal in his left hand is broken. Emerging from the locker room with his left hand in a cast, he's set to miss 4-5 weeks. The casualty list was already a long one: Antawn Jamison (shoulder), Mike Miller (shoulder), and Javaris ..."

Wizards 'out of gas,' lose fourth straight

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November 9

Washington Times

"Gilbert Arenas knocked down a 20-foot jumper in Steve Nash's face late in the first quarter and brought back his old Hibachi move. Palms up, he waved his hands back and forth as if warming them on an imaginary grill, then he ran back down the Verizon Center floor Sunday. Then with 0.8 seconds left in the quarter, Arenas struck again, drilling a 3-pointer. The Wizards had a lead over the visiting Phoenix Suns, and Arenas and his team were in a flow. But neither Arenas nor his teammates were able to continue their production. They cooled suddenly in the second quarter, never heated back up and fell 102-90. "I was just getting into the rhythm of the game," Arenas said. "I didn't play so well ..."

Not taking a pass at working together

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November 9

Washington Times

columnist Tom Knott

"The Wizards already are immersed in self-doubt. They are out of sync and out of sorts, found wanting in purpose and cohesiveness. They are not a pretty sight, whether it is Caron Butler missing three shots at the rim or Randy Foye, inexplicably, making an ill-advised move to the basket before halftime that allowed the Suns enough time to sink a 3-pointer. The latter prompted assistant coach Sam Cassell to give Foye a quickie lesson in time management as the players made their way to the locker room. That snapshot is emblematic of a team that is exhibiting a low basketball IQ and lacks a sense of urgency. It is a team that provided only minimal resistance in succumbing to the Suns 102-90 on ..."

Not taking a pass at working together

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November 9

Washington Times

columnist Tom Knott

"The Wizards already are immersed in self-doubt. They are out of sync and out of sorts, found wanting in purpose and cohesiveness. They are not a pretty sight, whether it is Caron Butler missing three shots at the rim or Randy Foye, inexplicably, making an ill-advised move to the basket before halftime that allowed the Suns enough time to sink a 3-pointer. The latter prompted assistant coach Sam Cassell to give Foye a quickie lesson in time management as the players made their way to the locker room. That snapshot is emblematic of a team that is exhibiting a low basketball IQ and lacks a sense of urgency."

Wizards 'out of gas,' lose fourth straight

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November 9

Washington Times

"Gilbert Arenas knocked down a 20-foot jumper in Steve Nash's face late in the first quarter and brought back his old Hibachi move. Palms up, he waved his hands back and forth as if warming them on an imaginary grill, then he ran back down the Verizon Center floor Sunday. Then with 0.8 seconds left in the quarter, Arenas struck again, drilling a 3-pointer. The Wizards had a lead over the visiting Phoenix Suns, and Arenas and his team were in a flow. But neither Arenas nor his teammates were able to continue their production. They cooled suddenly in the second quarter, never heated back up and fell 102-90. "I was just getting into the rhythm of the game," Arenas said. "I didn't play so well ..."

Stagnant Wizards get passed over by Nash and the Suns

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November 9

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards' fourth consecutive loss wasn't punctuated by some postgame tirade, motivational speech or a shattered fruit plate. Instead, the scattered crowd at Verizon Center serenaded the Wizards with boos for the first time this season after watching them lose to the Phoenix Suns, 102-90, in a painful exhibition in which Steve Nash dished out more assists than the home team. Coach Flip Saunders tried his fourth lineup in seven games, inserting Randy Foye into the starting shooting guard spot vacated by the injured Mike Miller. But the final result played out with similar results to the previous three games, with the Wizards (2-5) having more turnovers (17) than assists (15) ..."

Wizards discussed Stoudemire deal

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November 9

Washington Post

"When Amare Stoudemire visited Washington in late May, he did a radio interview in which he expressed his "love" for the city and joked that the Wizards "could be a number one jersey away" from a championship. The Wizards attempted to make that happen, as they engaged in trade discussions with the Phoenix Suns about acquiring Stoudemire before the NBA draft, according to multiple league sources. The proposed deal involved swapping the fifth pick and No. 14 pick, with Antawn Jamison and other conciliatory pieces also mentioned in the discussions. The deal reportedly collapsed when the Suns wanted Caron Butler included. The Wizards eventually settled on a package with Minnesota for Mike ..."

Bad flashback for the Wizards

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November 8

Washington Times

"So this is what it was like, huh? Gilbert Arenas found himself thinking that Friday night after a 102-86 loss to the Indiana Pacers. He finally realized how Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler felt during the Washington Wizards' 19-63 season a year ago. Arenas, sidelined by injury, watched for 80 games as his co-captains tried in vain to get their teammates to play with the effort needed to produce winning results. In just three games this season - all losses that epitomized the struggles of a season ago - Arenas has gotten a taste of Butler's and Jamison's frustrations. First, there was the short-handed roster with Jamison out with a shoulder injury, and then shooting guard Mike Miller went ..."

Listless Wizards fall on the road

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November 7

Washington Times

"Flip Saunders threw darn near the entire kitchen sink at the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at Conseco Fieldhouse. He tried the traditional lineup (although it was his third different one of the season thanks to injuries). He tried a small lineup. He played Gilbert Arenas on the ball. He played him off the ball. He used all 12 players at his disposal. But none of that did the trick. The Wizards put on a listless performance and fell 102-86, their third straight loss. Although the score indicated otherwise, the Pacers' play couldn't exactly be described as dominant. The Pacers only shot 40 percent, only narrowly out-rebounded the Wizards 51-47 and had three more assists (19-16). But 19 ..."

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