By Craig Kwasniewski
Got the hookup again from Brett and sat courtside for the Clippers-Wiz game on Saturday night. Here's a few very brief notes from the game (brief as in several libations were consumed and I'm a little groggy):
Where was Cassell? - Sam Cassell was bouncing all over the floor during the pre-game. We were hoping for an active Cassell yapping away with Agent Zero all night, but he never made it off the bench. Coach Dunleavy said it was a game-time decision, but if you ask us, he was very spry right up to the national anthem. Maybe his back tightened up, who knows?
Tunnel Vision - Knowing that the bathroom is right next to the entrance hallway for the opposing team, we timed our "break" to get some footage of the Wizards' pre-game huddle. (Follow the Wizards into Staples Center) I was able to trail them into Staples, going for one of those NBA Videos-type of shots. Instead, the quality is very Zapruder Film/Blair Witch-like with all the shaking.
Slow start for Arenas - Agent Zero opened the first half with a very quiet 9 points. Antawn Jamison was on fire with 17 and Gilbert spent much of the half as a distributor.
Correct postage for Tim Thomas? - Thomas continues to mail it in. He may have finished with an acceptable 13 points last night, but you really have to see him in person to see how much he coasts through games. As soon as he subbed in, the Wiz started dominating the offensive glass. Timmy just sat on the perimeter matching up with the nearest guard as the Wizard bigs kept crashing the boards. On offense, he just hung around the three point line looking to jack up a shot.
More minutes for Songaila - Darius Songaila was very impressive tonight. I've always liked Songaila's game. He plays hard on both ends of the floor and has a decent touch for a big. Three teams in three seasons is usually a red flag, but I haven't really heard anything bad about the guy. Tonight, he ran the pick and roll with Arenas to perfection, especially in the second half. The Wizards should be playing him more minutes.
Lounging at the Half - Grabbed a few drinks in the lounge in the tunnel. This is the place where the celebs attending Lakers games go to (cough-cough) relax. But since this is the Clippers, the only celebs there were the owner, Donald T. Sterling and Penny Marshall. For those of you under 35, she was Laverne the slutty chick from Laverne and Shirley. Obviously this was a very loooong time ago (pre-op). Somewhere Cindy Williams is smiling.
Agent Zero Awakens in the 2nd Half - Arenas took it to the hole almost every time he had the ball in the third quarter. Jason Hart (who the Clippers picked up off the waiver wire a few weeks ago) just couldn't hang with Zero on the defensive end. If (and that's a big if) the Clipper bigs rotated over to cut off the lane, Gilbert simply dished off for open shots. But mostly he got to the rack, keeping the Wizards in the game as Jamison got cold.
Gil Zero Closer? - It appears as though Arenas has a closer for his shoes. For the first three quarters, he was rocking the multi-colored Gil Zeros that he wore against Seattle. But in the fourth quarter he put on a pair of the light grey Gil Zeros to close out the game. Do they play "Enter Sandman" at Wizard home games when the light grey Gil Zeros come on?
No Buzzer Beaters Tonight - We were all pulling for Gilbert to keep the game close just to get a chance for last second heroics. Sadly, it was not to be as Chris Kaman was a difference maker, dropping all of his 17 points in the second half. Corey Magette sealed the game from the freethrow line as the Wizards lost 111-105. My only consolation was a low five from Agent Zero as he left the court, which was very cool.
I didn't have to be courtside to see "they" were right about Gilbert in the first place. Without a bunch of undeserved free throws he would have hardly any points at all. Running sideways into a player merely running back in transition gets you to the line? Utter trash. The Clippers had to make baskets while for some reason the Wizards only had to make free throws. Nice brick on that 3 at the end Gilbert.
Man it was fun to run Wizards fan out last night. The clown in the Merlin costume wouldn't get up out of his seat and accept the verbal beatdown that that theater student deserved.
Jason Hart couldn't hang with Zero? Please, if Gilbert was required to play by the rules of the game, ie no off-arm push-offs, his number would likely be his point total.
What's wrong with the Lakers that they gave him 60? More like Kobe couldn't hang with Zero.
Posted by: John R. | March 25, 2007 at 12:07 PM
sam cassell is not exactly in the good graces of mike dunleavy. why ? i think dunleavy sees cassell as a threat to him . cassell made the mistake of voicing and acting his desire to be a coach someday.
so cassell is not really hurt. he's in the doghouse . or in sam's case , confined in area 54 !
Posted by: coach | March 26, 2007 at 09:18 AM
It makes no sense to sit Cassell, so he *must* be in the doghouse. I don't get how a team could play Tim Thomas and sit Cassell. Wacky.
Posted by: basketbawful | March 26, 2007 at 11:12 AM
He is hurt. He tried to go the other night in MIL and went like 3-3 then had to sit with back spasms. A man would have to be pretty far into the doghouse to not get minutes vs Jason Hart and Daniel Ewing.
He is healthy enough to jump around for a minute, but then that back tightens up tighter than a 12 year old. If they don't need him against the scrubs of the league like UTA and WAS its better if he rests.
Posted by: John R. | March 26, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Easy Clipper fan, just because you rolled UTA and WAS back-to-back doesn't make them scrubs. I'd say they hit "The Rhino" hard the night before. D-Fish and Zero know all the cool strip clubs and probably went overboard.
Though it was weird seeing Cassell bounce all over the floor in pre-game and not see him in the game. I wouldn't say doghouse, but maybe Dunleavy is resting him for the playoffs knowing the Clippers have no chance without him.
Posted by: Craig | March 26, 2007 at 04:54 PM
Well the Wizards hit the Warriors hard the night before, that much is certain.
And isn't there some sort of curfew for the Jazz?
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/2007/03/wizards_at_clip.html#comments
"I see the Lakers as the fourth best team in the NBA."
Posted by: John R. | March 26, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Weird.
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/2007/01/point_counterpo.html
Posted by: John R. | March 26, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Busted - that was in my drug-induced days.
Posted by: Craig | March 26, 2007 at 10:42 PM
hi guys
Wizards is my best team in the MLB i wish i could go to watch all their games i found a good web site where you can compare your Washington Wizards tickets an found cheap tickets
http://www.ticketwood.com/mlb/Washington-Wizards-Tickets.php really is a good site
go go Wizards
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