Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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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 ..."

After loss to Pacers, Jamison blasts effort

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November 7

Washington Times

"The one-armed team captain stormed from the locker room alone after unleashing a vicious, expletive-laced tongue-lashing. Antawn Jamison, still recovering from a partially dislocated right shoulder, had just watched suit-clad from the end of the bench as his Washington Wizards stumbled and fumbled their way through a 102-86 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday night. And as if the poor performance - marked by 19 turnovers and 58 percent shooting from the free throw line - weren't cause for enough frustration, the nonchalant response the two-time All-Star power forward observed from some of his teammates sent him over the edge. Meanwhile, first-year coach Flip ..."

Washington minus two starters equals yuck

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November 7

Washington Examiner

"Four thoughts about the Wizards' 102-86 loss at the Pacers, which was (a) simply an abomination, (b) moved Washington one step closer to legitimate concerns about this season's prospects, or (c) was simply an exclamation point demonstrating how much the Wiz are hurting with two starters (Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller) sidelined by shoulder injuries [Update before I post -- Jamison apparently berated his teammates afterward, making the answer (a)]: At least Caron Butler got some of his scoring mojo back, with a team-high 24 points to go with 12 rebounds. His three-pointer was still off (1 for 5) and he committed the first of Washington's seven first-quarter turnovers. Tonight, it wasn't ..."

Pacers keep up defensive effort

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November 7

Indianapolis Star

"The message was written on the board when the Indiana Pacers arrived for their meeting at Conseco Fieldhouse late Friday afternoon. The message from coach Jim O'Brien said: "Just play with the defensive intensity you did the last nine minutes against New York and everything else will fall into place." Mission accomplished. The Pacers brought their defense back with them from New York and used it to beat the Washington Wizards 102-86 on the 10th anniversary of the opening of the fieldhouse. "That's huge," Pacers point guard T.J. Ford said. "It gives us a lot of confidence knowing we don't have to worry about scoring. The scoring will come; we just have to continue to play defense like we're ..."

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."

After loss to Pacers, Jamison blasts effort

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November 7

Washington Times

"The one-armed team captain stormed from the locker room alone after unleashing a vicious, expletive-laced tongue-lashing. Antawn Jamison, still recovering from a partially dislocated right shoulder, had just watched suit-clad from the end of the bench as his Washington Wizards stumbled and fumbled their way through a 102-86 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse on Friday night. And as if the poor performance - marked by 19 turnovers and 58 percent shooting from the free throw line - weren't cause for enough frustration, the nonchalant response the two-time All-Star power forward observed from some of his teammates sent him over the edge. Meanwhile, first-year coach Flip Saunders ..."

For slumping Wizards, it's three of a bad kind

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November 7

Washington Post

"The frustration could be heard moments after the Washington Wizards' 102-86 loss to the Indiana Pacers as a voice, shouting expletives, boomed from the locker room. It belonged to Antawn Jamison, who didn't play on Friday night but was infuriated by the lethargic and listless display of his teammates. Jamison didn't mince his words, challenging every player in the locker room, young and old, and peppered his speech with curse words to get his point across. Jamison stormed out of the locker room after his profanity-laced rant and shouted, "Ain't nothing funny about this!" The frustration could be seen upon entering the locker room, as a shattered fruit plate rested against a wall, ..."

Wizards face more adversity

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November 6

Washington Examiner

"The media learned the initial diagnosis of Mike Miller's left shoulder sprain from Wizards head coach Flip Saunders before the rest of the team did after Wednesday night's loss to Miami, leaving reporters to fill in some of the players in the locker room later. "How long's he out?" asked Brendan Haywood. Answer: 7-10 days. "Damn. It's tough to develop the chemistry until we get everybody out there for long stretches. But injuries are something we've had to play through in the past. We'll continue to play through it, and at some point, we'll get everybody out there and we'll see where we're at." Miller is the third Washington starter to be sidelined already this season, with Antawn Jamison ..."

'No setbacks' as Jamison rehabs

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November 6

Washington Times

"Antawn Jamison took another step in his rehabilitation Thursday, reporting no problems after participating in noncontact drills for about 45 minutes at an optional practice before the Washington Wizards boarded a plane to Indiana for Friday's game against the Pacers. "I've been shooting and going hard. No limitations as far as shot numbers or range or anything of that nature," Jamison said afterward. "It's just no contact - they don't want me getting hit or pushing or shoving. But we haven't had any limitations as far as drills, running, shooting or anything like that." Although Jamison is antsy to get back, the Wizards are taking a careful approach with the All-Star forward and are ..."

'We have to get into the flow as a team'

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November 6

Washington Post

"After the final horn sounded on the Washington Wizards' 93-89 loss to Miami Heat, Caron Butler stared at the Verizon Center ceiling, rolled his eyes and shook his head. Dwyane Wade was standing nearby, and Butler turned to his former teammate, gave him a hug and whispered something into his ear. Wade gave Butler another hug, shook his hand and before their hands separated, Wade told Butler, essentially, to be more assertive and aggressive. It would seem like strange advice for Wade to give to a player who has averaged at least 20 points in each of the past two seasons. But Butler's early struggles to find his way in Flip Saunders's new offensive scheme -- and playing alongside Gilbert ..."

Mistakes near end hamper Wizards

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November 5

Washington Times

"After sleeping through a first half in which they trailed the visiting Miami Heat by double digits for long stretches, the Wizards rallied for a dramatic second-half comeback Wednesday. Washington had three chances to take the lead in the final minute but blew all of them, falling 93-89 at Verizon Center. The fourth-quarter miscues were a big culprit in the second loss in as many nights for the Wizards (2-3), who blew an 18-point first-half lead Tuesday in Cleveland. After battling back from a 19-point first-quarter deficit and trading leads with the Heat five times in the fourth quarter, the Wizards missed two foul shots and made several other mistakes in the final 44 seconds to suffer ..."

Arenas, Wizards fall short against the Heat, 93-89

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November 5

Washington Examiner

"Through five games this season after missing most of the last two years with a knee injury, Gilbert Arenas has given no indication of any lingering physical limitations to keep him from making the plays down the stretch that will get the Washington Wizards back into the playoffs. But while his body didn't let him down with two chances to lead or tie in the final 25 seconds against Miami on Wednesday at Verizon Center, both Arenas' decisions and execution did. It was one of a number blows the Wizards endured after coming back from a 19-point first-quarter deficit in a 93-89 loss to the Heat. "What happens sometimes, I say the basketball gods will get you," said Wizards head coach Flip ..."

With lead slipping away, Heat falls back on Wade

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November 5

Miami Herald

"Dwyane Wade would prefer not to do things this way. His team left him no choice. For the second time in as many nights, the Heat built a double-digit lead and seemed destined for a confidence-boosting victory. And for the second time in as many nights, Miami found a way to stumble down prosperity's slippery slope. But unlike Tuesday's fall from ahead in a home loss to Phoenix, Wade helped his team avert a complete collapse. Wade scored a season-high 40 points and made the game-winning jumper with 24.6 seconds left as the Heat escaped with a 93-89 victory over the Wizards at Verizon Center."

Beasley gets back to business in this homecoming

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November 5

Miami Herald

"Heat forward Michael Beasley admitted he was overcome as a rookie by distractions associated with returning to his hometown to play the Wizards. So Beasley made a few adjustments during his first trip to Washington as a second-year player. Beasley didn't hang out in his old neighborhoods before Wednesday's game. He also delegated the job of handling the demand for 40 tickets. ``That's over,'' Beasley said of facing the demands of playing in Washington. ``I've been through a year of it. I feel a whole lot more focused.'' Beasley, the No. 2 pick in last year's draft, didn't play as well as he hoped during the Heat's two trips to Washington last season. He scored six points and had four fouls ..."

Spoelstra: We can handle zones

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November 5

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"After reviewing video Wednesday, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra downplayed his team's struggles against the Phoenix Suns' zone defense in Tuesday's home loss. "I don't want to overstate it, because some of the looks, as I re-watched the film this morning, we had six layup opportunities where even if we drill it endless amount of times, those are really the opportunities you want to get," he said before Wednesday's 93-89 victory over the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center. Spoelstra, in fact, said Phoenix's approach was somewhat flattering, even if Tuesday's result wasn't. "It's a different rhythm," he said. "We had been playing so well versus the man-to-man, and really it's the first ..."

Wade scores 40 as Heat battles back from blown 19-point lead

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November 5

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"There was a point early in Wednesday's fourth quarter, when Dwyane Wade normally goes to the bench, that he locked eyes with Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "He pretty much nodded his head," Spoelstra said. The message was understood. Wade would play to the finish, play all 24 minutes of the second half on the second night of a back-to-back set that began with Tuesday's track meet against the Phoenix Suns. "This," Wade said after scoring 40 points in the 93-89 victory over the Washington Wizards, "is one of those games where you have to will your team to victory." And where there is a will and a Wade, there is a way. So even after the Heat blew all of a 19-point first-quarter lead, on a ..."

Mistakes near end hamper Wizards

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November 5

Washington Times

"After sleeping through a first half in which they trailed the visiting Miami Heat by double digits for long stretches, the Wizards rallied for a dramatic second-half comeback Wednesday. Washington had three chances to take the lead in the final minute but blew all of them, falling 93-89 at Verizon Center. The fourth-quarter miscues were a big culprit in the second loss in as many nights for the Wizards (2-3), who blew an 18-point first-half lead Tuesday in Cleveland. After battling back from a 19-point first-quarter deficit and trading leads with the Heat five times in the fourth quarter, the Wizards missed two foul shots and made several other mistakes in the final 44 seconds to suffer ..."

For Wade, a must-win

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November 5

Washington Post

columnist Michael Wilbon

"It's easy to think there aren't any games of consequence in early November of a season that lasts until the middle of April. But when you're the Washington Wizards, trying to piece a team together playing for a new coach, attempting to reincorporate the franchise star, hoping to completely reverse a dreadful season, there are no games to waste. Not even in the interminable season that is the NBA's. There's only one way to respond after failing to hold onto to a 19-point lead in Cleveland Tuesday night: come back home and win Wednesday night. The second game in the back-to-back set was less glamorous than battling LeBron James, but more important to the standings because Miami is a ..."

Wizards stumble down the stretch; Miller out with sprained left shoulder

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November 5

Washington Post

"The Miami Heat was the Washington Wizards' opponent on Wednesday night, but in many ways, it could also serve as their inspiration. Only a year ago, the Heat bounced back from being the most putrid team in the Eastern Conference to making the playoffs after an all-star guard with a history of knee troubles spent an entire summer with renowned trainer Tim Grover. Dwyane Wade was resurrected last season and he led Miami to a 28-game turnaround. After studying that blueprint, Gilbert Arenas is hoping to lead a similar turnaround in Washington -- both of his career and the Wizards. But before a national television audience, Wade outscored Arenas, 40-32, and the Wizards learned that the road to ..."

LeBron, Cavaliers outmuscle Wizards

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November 4

Washington Times

"Flip Saunders said his Washington Wizards squad entered Tuesday night's game at Quicken Loans Arena in a prime position. They would get to test themselves against a team that won a league-best 66 games last season, but because it was only the fourth game, the impact - win or lose - wouldn't be great. "I think it's a good challenge from the standpoint that in one week's time or a month, no one's going to know who won the game basically," Saunders said 90 minutes before tipoff. "But it's also good as far as telling you where you're at both the good and the bad." The good was that for a half, the Wizards managed to hang with the Cavaliers and even build a double-digit lead while holding ..."

Wizards' big lead goes poof as Cavs win

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November 4

Akron Beacon Journal

"The Cavaliers shook off an early 18-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards 102-90 Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The Wizards started off playing as if it was a rivalry. After taking the their best punch, the Cavs shook it off and played like the team that many expected they'd see to open the season. LeBron James led all scorers with 27 points and added eight rebounds and six assists. Shaquille O'Neal flashed some of his skills, scoring 21 points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out three assists. In all, six players scored in double figures. Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards with 22 points each. Despite their early difficulties, the Cavs turned things around ..."

Shaquille O'Neal steadies Cavaliers after sluggish start to 102-90 win over Wizards

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November 4

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Shaquille O'Neal was like a 7-1, 325-pound lifeboat Tuesday night at The Q. With the Cavs sinking fast against the Washington Wizards, coach Mike Brown turned to the biggest guy on the floor and asked him to bail out his teammates. It's a strategy that has worked time and time again for various teams the past 17 years, and O'Neal was only too happy to rescue the Cavs. He had a season-high 21 points, including 7-of-10 free throws, plus eight rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot in 29 minutes of the Cavs' 102-90 win. What's it like to have an option like O'Neal when things aren't going well? "It's like Christmas," Brown said with a big smile. And O'Neal just kept giving and ..."

For Wizards at least, it's a rivalry

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November 3

Washington Times

"A date with LeBron James & Co. always represents a special, love-hate get-together for the Washington Wizards. Tuesday's engagement is no exception. The Wizards face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena for the first time this season - a meeting that noticeably has raised the intensity in the locker room. The Wizards and Cavaliers established a rivalry - at least, according to one team - with three straight meetings in the playoffs from 2006 to 2008. The Cavaliers won all three series, but the clashes still produced plenty of sparks. Last season, for example, Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson engaged in a feud with James that even prompted rapper Jay-Z to pen a song dissing ..."

Is Wiz vs. Cavs really a rivalry?

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November 3

Washington Examiner

"The NBA season is barely a week old and already the Washington Wizards (2-1) are set to play one of their biggest road games of the season at Cleveland (2-2). At least, that's their opinion. The three straight playoff series between Washington and the Cavaliers from 2006-2008 were heated, engaging and entertaining -- both on and off the court. But the answer to whether it amounts to a bona fide rivalry is still unclear. Can evidence of bad blood be easily found on the Internet? Yes. Newly-acquired Wizards guard Randy Foye had seen the playoff games and heard the talk in the Washington locker room. But he found real proof online: "I just YouTubed DeShawn Stevenson versus LeBron to see what ..."

Butler expects to be back vs. Cavaliers

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November 3

Washington Examiner

"Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said after practice Monday that Caron Butler will be back in the starting lineup for Washington at Cleveland tomorrow night after sitting out last weekend's home opener with a bruised left kneecap. Butler didn't quite give a rousing endorsement of his health, saying he still felt a little soreness. "It felt good in practice when I was out there moving around and was able to perform at full speed," he said. "So we'll see how I feel tomorrow." The injury did happen when he dove for a loose ball at Atlanta. "It was just the after-effect thing. I was diving for the ball, played a couple minutes afterward, felt a little stiffness, a little tightness. It swelled ..."

Butler ready to return to action

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November 3

Washington Post

"When the Washington Wizards started losing some steam last Friday in Atlanta, Caron Butler spotted a loose ball rolling on the court, but he also saw an opportunity. By saving the ball and the possession, Butler thought he could possibly rile up his teammates and shift momentum back in favor of his team. But in the process of providing a momentary spark, Butler came up with more than floor burns after he dived for a rebound and alertly called a timeout late in the first quarter against the Hawks. Butler continued to play, but after sitting on the bench in the second quarter, he stood up in pain and with a limp, the result of a bone bruise on his left kneecap that cost him the entire second ..."

Wizards clinging to idea of rivalry with Cavs

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November 3

Akron Beacon Journal

"The Cavaliers-Washington Wizards rivalry has become one-sided in two ways. The Cavs are winning when it counts, in the playoffs, and the Wizards are despising every minute of it. ''I think they would say it's a rivalry. It's a big game for us without question,'' Cavs point guard Mo Williams said. It's easy to find Wizards players who are looking forward to coming into Quicken Loans Arena for tonight's game. ''As long as I'm on the court, Gilbert's [Arenas] on the court, Caron [Butler], Brendan [Haywood], Antawn [Jamison]. Until we all go away, it's going to be a rivalry,'' said DeShawn Stevenson of the Wizards. ''But it's a rivalry. I know it's going to be hard fouls and the fans booing. ..."

Cavaliers expect revamped Washington Wizards to bring plenty of passion to Tuesday's game

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November 3

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Mo Williams doesn't know what he was missing. When jokingly asked whether Soulja Boy would be in attendance for Tuesday's renewal of the sometimes-heated rivalry against the Washington Wizards, Williams smiled and said, "I wasn't here during the Soulja Boy era, so I don't know." A couple of years ago, when the Cavs and Wizards were regular playoff opponents, rapper Soulja Boy was a fixture in the non-stop war of words between the teams, fueled in large part by guard DeShawn Stevenson. But with Gilbert Arenas injured most of the 2008-09 season, the Wizards missed last year's postseason. There have been a lot of changes. Arenas is back, although Antawn Jamison is out with a shoulder ..."

Arenas is back, and so is hope

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November 2

Washington Times

columnist Tom Knott

"A potentially strong team places its foot on the neck of a crippled opponent and does not let up until the last bit of resistance is snuffed out from its supine form. This is what the Wizards did to the Nets in Tony Cheng's neighborhood on Saturday night. With Gilbert Arenas flashing his All-Star self and Andray Blatche finally delivering in a fashion that has been envisioned since he was drafted out of high school in 2005, the Wizards put to rest the issue of the Nets midway through the third quarter. It all starts with Arenas, of course. It all starts with the player who shreds a defense with his dribble-penetration forays. This is the Arenas the Wizards have been waiting on the past two ..."

Wizards get down and defensive

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November 2

Washington Times

"When Flip Saunders took over as coach of the Washington Wizards last spring, his future and past players, league officials and analysts praised him for his impressive career winning percentage and offensive genius. But in talking about expectations for his new team, Saunders discussed leading a Washington squad that would rank among the league leaders on defense. Saunders said he wanted Washington to limit opponents to 44 percent shooting this season. It seemed like a lofty aspiration given that even during their run of four straight playoff appearances, the Wizards never had a reputation of playing defense. But three games into the season, the Wizards already are providing indications ..."

Wizards get down and defensive

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November 2

Washington Times

"When Flip Saunders took over as coach of the Washington Wizards last spring, his future and past players, league officials and analysts praised him for his impressive career winning percentage and offensive genius. But in talking about expectations for his new team, Saunders discussed leading a Washington squad that would rank among the league leaders on defense. Saunders said he wanted Washington to limit opponents to 44 percent shooting this season. It seemed like a lofty aspiration given that even during their run of four straight playoff appearances, the Wizards never had a reputation of playing defense. But three games into the season, the Wizards already are providing indications ..."

Wizards scary good in home opener, top Nets, 123-104

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November 1

Washington Examiner

"When the second Wizards starter went down to injury less than halfway into the second game of the season the night before, it sure felt like, despite the return of Gilbert Arenas, the trick might again be on Washington, which suffered so much in last year's 19-63 campaign. Until oh, what a treat the Wizards delivered on Saturday in their Halloween home opener. Nothing could be sweeter than Arenas pouring in 32 points on 9-for-13 shooting with 7 assists and Andray Blatche adding a career-high 30 points off the bench as the Wizards (2-1) shot 61.5 percent from the field en route to a 123-104 rout of New Jersey. That was without Antawn Jamison, who was already sidelined by a shoulder injury, ..."

Balance key as Wizards win

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November 1

Washington Times

"He may be only three regular-season games into his tenure as coach of the Washington Wizards, but Flip Saunders already is having to familiarize himself with an all-too-common Wizards tradition: reshuffling his lineup and rotation because of injuries. He already was without Antawn Jamison when Caron Butler bruised his left knee in Friday's loss at Atlanta. So Saunders had to adjust yet again. With Butler out, Saunders moved Mike Miller from starting shooting guard to small forward. And he inserted usual backup combo-guard Randy Foye into the lineup at shooting guard. In starting Foye, Miller, Gilbert Arenas, Fabricio Oberto and Brendan Haywood, Washington trotted out a lineup of players ..."

Defenseless Nets crushed; Harris out a week

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November 1

New York Post

"The Nets' season is only three games old and already it's bad. And getting worse. The Nets lost another game after learning they lost All-Star point guard Devin Harris for at least 7 to 10 days. And that's the optimistic viewpoint. Now that defines a bad situation -- when the rosy outlook puts the team's only All-Star out for over a week, maybe two. "We're shooting for 7 to 10. I probably can guarantee it won't be shorter," said Harris before the 0-3 Nets established a standard low for defense that might even withstand the test of their season in a 123-104 defeat to the Wizards here last night. Consider, the Nets surrendered at least 61 points per half to a Wizards' team minus two of its ..."

New-look Wizards storm past Nets

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November 1

Washington Times

"He may be only three regular-season games into his tenure, but coach Flip Saunders already is having to familiarize himself with an all-too-common Washington Wizards tradition: reshuffling his lineup and rotation because of injuries. He already was without Antawn Jamison, then Caron Butler bruised his left knee in Friday's loss at Atlanta. So Saunders had to adjust yet again. With Butler out, Saunders moved Mike Miller from starting shooting guard to small forward. And he inserted usual backup combo-guard Randy Foye into the lineup at shooting guard. By starting Foye, Miller, Gilbert Arenas, Fabricio Oberto and Brendan Haywood, Washington trotted out a lineup that was not on the team's ..."

Balance key as Wizards win

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November 1

Washington Times

"He may be only three regular-season games into his tenure as coach of the Washington Wizards, but Flip Saunders already is having to familiarize himself with an all-too-common Wizards tradition: reshuffling his lineup and rotation because of injuries. He already was without Antawn Jamison when Caron Butler bruised his left knee in Friday's loss at Atlanta. So Saunders had to adjust yet again. With Butler out, Saunders moved Mike Miller from starting shooting guard to small forward. And he inserted usual backup combo-guard Randy Foye into the lineup at shooting guard. In starting Foye, Miller, Gilbert Arenas, Fabricio Oberto and Brendan Haywood, Washington trotted out a lineup of players ..."

Home is where the rout is

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November 1

Washington Post

"The five Washington Wizards who started the home opener against New Jersey on Saturday were completely different than the group that started last season against the Nets. It was unique situation, aided by some unfortunate injuries to all-star forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. But considering the woeful results last season, giving the home fans something new to start the season probably wasn't necessarily a bad idea. With two familiar names -- Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood -- back healthy and Mike Miller, Randy Foye and Fabricio Oberto making their home debuts, the Wizards followed up the elaborate, introductory pyrotechnics with an equally explosive performance. Last season, ..."

For Blatche, it's a 'new Dre'

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November 1

Washington Post

columnist Mike Wise

"Angela Oliver opened her desk drawer in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday morning, saw the page peeking out, and thought, Damn, there it is. By coincidence, she had found a four-year-old article folded between the pages of a notebook. "Blatche Shot," the local paper read. "That's the night I could've lost my baby," said Oliver, the woman who raised and nurtured Andray Blatche. "After everything that's happened since, you know it just seems so long ago now. "It just feels good that I can actually look at it today and, say, 'That was then.' " The Wizards' home opener is Saturday, the hopeful dawning of a new era at Verizon Center, featuring Coach Flip Saunders, the return of a reconstructed ..."

Garnett, Arenas have some bounce in their steps

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November 1

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"If first impressions mean anything, the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards should be feeling awfully good about the return of Kevin Garnett and Gilbert Arenas. Both players are coming back from serious knees injuries and both came out strong in season-opening victories last week. Garnett toiled 33 blue-collar minutes in Boston's victory at Cleveland, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Arenas, showing his quickness and explosiveness of old, played 38 minutes in Washington's victory at Dallas and finished with 29 points and nine assists. If Garnett and Arenas both hold up, it will only enhance the reputation of Boston and Washington as elite teams in the ..."

Wizards exercise options on Young, McGee

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October 31

Washington Times

"The Wizards announced Friday they have picked up their options for next season on Nick Young and JaVale McGee. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the first two seasons of a first-round draft pick's contract are guaranteed, and the team has the option to extend the contract for a third and fourth season. Young, a third-year guard, will remain under contract through the 2010-11 season and will earn roughly $2.6 million. McGee, a second-year center/forward, had his contract extended to a third season and is due to earn about $1.6 million next season. "I'm happy to know I'm still on the team and they still believe in me," Young said. "I try not to think about those things, ..."

Butler injured as Wizards stumble on road

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October 31

Washington Times

"For about four minutes Friday night, it appeared the wizardry Flip Saunders and Co. performed in Washington's season-opening victory at Dallas would carry over into a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. But efficiency and a double-digit lead quickly were replaced by sloppiness and a double-digit deficit. The Wizards never fully recovered and fell 100-89. To make matters worse, forward Caron Butler bruised his left knee while diving for a loose ball, left in the second quarter and did not return. His status for Saturday's home opener against the New Jersey Nets is in doubt. Butler, who scored five quick points in the opening minutes but then went cold, left the game with seven minutes left in ..."

For Blatche, it's a 'new Dre'

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October 31

Washington Post

columnist Mike Wise

"Angela Oliver opened her desk drawer in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday morning, saw the page peeking out, and thought, Damn, there it is. By coincidence, she had found a four-year-old article folded between the pages of a notebook. "Blatche Shot," the local paper read. "That's the night I could've lost my baby," said Oliver, the woman who raised and nurtured Andray Blatche. "After everything that's happened since, you know it just seems so long ago now. "It just feels good that I can actually look at it today and, say, 'That was then.' " The Wizards' home opener is Saturday, the hopeful dawning of a new era at Verizon Center, featuring Coach Flip Saunders, the return of a reconstructed ..."

Wizards lose on a couple of counts

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October 31

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards, just two games into their season, are already having their mettle tested. After losing to the Atlanta Hawks, 100-89, on Friday night at Philips Arena, the Wizards will arrive at Verizon Center for their home opener against New Jersey on Saturday with a 1-1 record and perhaps short another all-star forward. Caron Butler was limited to just 17 minutes and didn't play in the second half after suffering a bruised left knee. Butler did not speak with reporters after the game, but Wizards Coach Flip Saunders said Butler might have injured himself late in the first period, when he dove to the floor to corral a rebound after Gilbert Arenas missed layup. Butler finished ..."

Hawks pop Wizards for second straight win

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October 31

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"You'll have to forgive Joe Johnson for not being able to remember the last time he sat the way he did Friday night and watched one of his teammates tote the load. It has been a while for the Hawks' captain, who sat for nearly 13 minutes in the second quarter of the Hawks' 100-89 win over Washington on Friday night at Philips Arena while sixth man Jamal Crawford stole the show. Crawford gave way in the second half to Josh Smith, who teamed up with Al Horford to control the rebounding on offense and defense while Marvin Williams warmed up before helping close the door on the Wizards in the fourth quarter. It's going to be this way for the Hawks this season, different guys carrying the load ..."

Arenas and Foye as a combo?

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October 30

Washington Examiner

"Gilbert Arenas and Randy Foye hardly played together during the Wizards' preseason games. But practice was a different story, and a sly grin from Flip Saunders after Thursday's practice said that particular backcourt pairing -- one crucial to Washington's opening-night victory at Dallas -- wasn't all he had waited to reveal about his rotation until the regular season. "I was wondering when it was going to happen," said Foye, who led Washington (1-0) with eight of his 19 points off the bench in the final quarter, the final 7:34 partnered with Arenas. "But I guess [Saunders] probably didn't want people to see it, because then they'd probably be waiting for it. I think when he put us in ..."

Opener provides clarity for Wizards

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October 30

Washington Times

"Washington Wizards players heard before the season about the reputation of their new coach for using a streamlined rotation. Rather than using his full roster, Flip Saunders generally relied upon a core of eight players - a marked shift from the way the Wizards had been doing things, particularly in the woeful 2008-09 campaign under coaches Eddie Jordan and Ed Tapscott. Saunders lived up to that reputation in training camp, producing a competitive situation in which his new charges vied for the three or four coveted spots behind the starting five. The winners of the rotation race emerged Tuesday: Fabricio Oberto started in place of the injured Antawn Jamison, and Randy Foye, DeShawn ..."

Powerful opening statement for Wizards

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October 29

Washington Times

columnist Tom Knott

"That was Gilbert Arenas slicing through the defense of the Mavericks, hitting jumpers, finding teammates, picking his spots. That was the Wizards exercising their newfound familiarity with the defensive end of the floor. No one anticipated Wizards 102, Mavericks 91 in the season opener. No one anticipated the Wizards dispatching a highly competent team on the road, a team that wins 50-plus games each season as if it were mandated in the NBA bylaws. The Wizards so thoroughly answered the Mavericks that no late-game run materialized. The retooled Mavericks looked a whole lot like the bunch that is overly dependent on Dirk Nowitzki and cannot get an important defensive stop. The retooled ..."

Oberto, Foye add balance to Wizards

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October 29

Washington Times

"As coach Flip Saunders said Tuesday night, Gilbert Arenas "did his talking on the court." Arenas, who was reluctant to speak to the media in the preseason, fielded questions from reporters after the game but was not interested in talking about himself. When asked about his performance - 29 points and nine assists in the Washington Wizards' 102-91 season-opening victory over Dallas - he said, "I did fine." Later it was, "I felt fine." But when asked about his teammates - particularly offseason acquisitions Fabricio Oberto and Randy Foye - Arenas had no problem giving his take. His teammates praised the three-time All-Star for making the game easy for them, but Arenas credited Oberto and ..."

Arenas is back in the arena

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October 29

Washington Post

"The last time Jason Kidd crossed paths with Gilbert Arenas on the basketball court, his New Jersey Nets had just defeated the Washington Wizards in early November 2007, with Arenas totaling 21 points and six assists. Immediately after the game, Kidd pulled Arenas aside. He had heard reports that Arenas had his left knee drained two times after having surgery earlier that year, and that simply didn't sit well with Kidd, who had knee troubles himself a few years earlier. "Take your time coming back. Don't rush it," Kidd said recently, recalling his conversation with Arenas. "I thought with him being young, it was important not to rush, because you have plenty of basketball ahead of you." ..."

Arenas of old stars in Wizards' opening win

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October 28

Washington Times

"Washington Wizards fans have wondered all summer and preseason which Gilbert Arenas they would get for the 2009-10 NBA season. The player who made only cameo appearances the past two seasons while recovering from three knee surgeries? The three-time All-Star, who could score with the best of them? Something in between? Shortly before his Wizards tipped off the season Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, coach Flip Saunders admitted that he too was curious. "I'm like everyone else - I'm waiting to see," Saunders said. "I think he's going to come out and I think he'll be aggressive in the things that he does. Having not played [completely healthy since April 2007], I'm sure he's ..."

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