WE Wrap Up Report: Wizards Beat Boobycats

Wizards killed, yes, I said it, the Wizards killed the Boobycats (not a typo)

 

Washington Wizards 108 Charlotte Bobcats 75

 

 

That's not a typo for the header, I truly called them the Boobycats.  It just sounded funny, plus they deserved to be called that since they got killed by 33 points the Wizards.  I am not taking anything away from the Wiz Kids but the the cats did not come to play.  Better for the Wizards as they came in and handled business. They came out with more energy in the 2nd half and surprised the Boobycats.

"One thing that has happened, Gilbert was so good with the ball, our players had the tendency to stand and watch, now our guys are moving a little bit more, nothing to take away from Gilbert, that sometimes our guys, they are so used to watching Gilbert," says Flip Saunders about the great play as of late from these young Wiz Kids.

The Wizards play has been much improved as of late, according to Flip, they ran their offense much better the last two games.  Funny how Gilbert hasn't played the last 2 games, coincidence? Possibly, who knows? All I know is that the Wizards are playing good basketball and that's a great thing for this city.  Let's just hope that translate to wins sooner than later. 

Great to see Josh Howard slowly get more minutes as he comes back from his injuries. Howard finished with 6 points with 3 rebounds in 20 minutes of playing time.  I asked Josh how he felt, how is legs feel, "they feel good, even though I didn't play (before), I've been able to stay in shape was a big part of my conditioning, I gotta stay positive and keep doing the things I can do."

Coach Flip Saunders had nothing but great things to say about Josh, "He's only played 20 minutes, his leadership and just his ability to lock down defensively on people and know that the guy is not gonna go at us as much is huge for us."

If someone has stepped up for the improve play of the Wizards as of late, it's got to be Nick Young, the guy is on fire it as of late! If you were living under a rock or cared too much about the other losing team (Redskins) than you wouldn't know that Nick Young is feeling it and coming on his own.  This is the Nick Young we come to expect. Now, question is, is this Nick Young's team with Gilbert gone and John Wall injured, "Na na, I'm not gonna say that (he said with a laugh), this is Kirik's team and Josh's, but I'm gonna help them out."

Lester Hudson who was signed today officially by the Wizards came in for Kirk Hinrich so Hinrich did not have to play all 48 minutes like the Miami Heat game.  He actually got minutes courtesy of the Wizards killing the Bobcats early. "Considering he came in late today, found out late last night,  he did a good job, he only played 16 minutes, he wasn't expected to play that much, he made shots, t's tough to be thrown into that situation." He backed up Kirk Hinrich who needed rest as much as possible.  Kirk Hinrich played 48 minutes last game and got 31 minutes tonight.  Kirk, who is the Wizards best defensive player on the floor, has been a pleasant surprise this year.  He is one of the big reasons on why the Wizards are playing better.

One player you did not see was Rashard Lewis, who arrived to Washington Monday afternoon and was too late for him to get ready to play.  You should expect Rashard to play the next game against the Chicago Bulls at home here in Washington.

With a great win, what better than to have the Washington Wizards Cheerleaders (the 4th one from top row, left to right, will be my wife one day)

 

What I Saw/Heard

* Wizards announced that the attendance was 13,825 (close to 5,000 less than the Lakers game)....umm....If that was the case, than Kwame Brown For MVP because that's NOT TRUE!

* Rashard Lewis was on the bench (last person, first person from left to right) He is a tall dude!

* Fans left the game with 5 minutes to go.  Does anybody at a Wizard game not stay through out the game unless it's a close game? #SupportTeam

What Was Josh Wearing?

^ These were a pair of Jordans I have no idea bout, but not bad either way.

 

Photos Courtesy of Joe Glorioso of WizardsExtreme.com, for the rest of the photos, go here ---> WizardsExtreme Photos

 

Post Game Quotes Courtesy of the Washington Wizards PR Staff

WIZARDS HEAD COACH FLIP SAUNDERS

On how he feels his team has played lately:

“After the first half in New Jersey, these last 10 quarters we have really played pretty solid basketball.”

On how he felt Josh Howard played:

“He did a good job.  He got the ball to people and was aggressive when we needed to be in situations.  Even though he is only playing 20 minutes, his leadership and just his ability to lock down defensively on people and know that guy is not going to go at us that much is huge for us.”

On Lester Hudson’s strong play:

“Considering he got in early today, found out late last night that we were going to bring him in, he did a good job.  I don’t think he expected (to play much), but he made some shots, and it’s tough to be thrown into that kind of situation.”

On how he felt his offense played:

“We did it because we never got in a panic situation offensively.  We got into sets, and as I said to our players, you know if you execute you can still score a 100 points, it wasn’t like we were running up and down to get 108 points, but we got into sets and we got the shots that we wanted.”

 

On the team’s strong defensive play tonight:

“I think we have been better defensively.  We have spent time on it, we worked on it… we really contested shots tonight, we didn’t give many open looks and we were very active.”

On Nick Young’s continued strong play:

“He has been able to do what he did for us of off the bench and been able to do it in a starting role.  Even when he was on the bench I said he was like a 6^th starter, because of his ability and you knew he was going to play a lot, play a lot of minutes and we were going to go to him. He has still been able to do that and stretch the defense, and what I like about him is that he is making quick decisions.”

On the difference in the team’s offense without Gilbert Arenas:

“Gilbert was so good as far as with the ball, that out players had a tendency that when Gil got it to stand and watch. Now I think our guys are moving more…now the guys no they can’t rely on (Gil) and his ability to take over situations and so they have to rely on our offense and that is what Nick is doing.  He is making good quick decisions”.

WIZARDS GUARD KIRK HINRINCH

On getting a big win tonight:

“It feels good.  I think we still had a bad taste in our mouths from the Miami game and we wanted to come out and play the same way, with the same intensity and we did a pretty good job of that.”

On the team’s defensive effort:

“We're just into it more, communicating much better.  That's the main thing, putting ourselves in good position, communicating, and trying to help each other.”

On Josh Howard’s impact:

“I think just having his experience. He's a guy who's tough, knows how to play, and has been on good teams.  Obviously, he's a really good player and just having that presence has helped a lot"

On being more consistent as a team:

"We should have it by now. We're twenty-plus games into the season. In the past we haven't done a very good job of that, but for whatever reason these past couple games we've been doing a good job of getting our sets, making hard cuts, spacing the floor and sharing the ball."

WIZARDS GUARD NICK YOUNG

On being on the winning end of blowout:

"It feels good.  We've been searching for a win and we finally got one and we played great tonight."

On the team’s defensive effort:

"We just played tight defense tonight.  We played aggressive on the defensive end and got some open shots on the offensive end."

On becoming a starter:

"You have to get your mindset right. I was preparing to come off the bench or be a starter. Now I have the opportunity to be a starter.  I just want to stay in the rotation."

WIZARDS FORWARD ANDRAY BLATCHE

On the game:

“They fought hard but just weren’t hitting shots in the third quarter. With a higher percentage it would have given them a chance to win, but I didn’t see any of them giving up. We have to work on moving the ball around and try and get some open shots. Every win feels great, and we’ll all sleep great tonight.”

On the team:

“It’s great when we communicate with each other and I think everyone is doing what they have to do.  A lot of guys see that when a trade happens there is a new opportunity for them to step up and that’s what we have been doing.  We all have been helping out and pitching in to better the team.  We are really starting to concentrate more and I can see us maturing and stepping up. The opportunity is available and we’re taking it.”

WIZARDS FORWARD RASHARD LEWIS

On his goal in Washington:

“My ultimate goal is to get this team to the playoffs, in the hunt to make the playoffs and to help these guys grow not only by voice but by example.”

On what he brings to the Wizards:

“I can definitely bring leadership to the table and a fair share of a voice to the locker room. The ultimate goal is for the team to get better with the time we have on the court and hopefully we will grow as a team to try to get to the playoffs.”

On his position:

“I played mostly the three for nine years when I was in Seattle then moved to the four for three years playing in Orlando, but I think for me it’s just whatever fits the team best. Whatever guys you have to put the best team out on the floor, if that’s me playing the four position or me playing the three position. Whatever fits the team best to win ball games and to have the best guys out on the floor to win.”

On coming to the Wizards:

“It’s definitely an opportunity.  I don’t want to say I was underutilized, but when you’re on such a good team like the Orlando Magic, some people have to sacrifice. I needed to sacrifice some shots and not necessary be a role player, but it’s all about sacrificing for your team and I was one of the guys to sacrifice to try to make it work and at the end of the day try to get wins.  Hopefully I can get back to my old self of when I was in Seattle when I made the All-Star team and when I was playing the three position.  We’ll see what happens and hopefully I can get back to that point here in Washington.”

BOBCATS HEAD COACH LARRY BROWN

On the worst part of the loss:

“The worst part [was] warm-ups.  We’re not a team.  We’re not well-coached.  We don’t play hard.  That’s my responsibility.  I feel bad.  To put a team out there like that and look that way, that’s totally my responsibility.”

On the Wizards’ run in the third quarter:

“The first half, first quarter, was the game.  They scored, what, the first 10 times down the court?  That was the game.  We started the second half with the same group.  The bench got us back in the game down five, which is a miracle down five at halftime.  And then [it was] the same beginning.  That’s the coach’s responsibility. To look like that, I feel bad for the young kids because they looked totally disorganized.  Flip’s team executed, shared the ball, played hard and that’s how teams are supposed to do. Not the way we do it.  That’s totally on me.  It looked like it was the first day of practice and maybe it was a pick-up team playing against an NBA team and that’s the result.”

BOBCATS GUARD STEPHEN JACKSON

On what happened in the third quarter:

“It’s how we’ve been playing all year.  We turned the ball over, we’re not aggressive and we’re just terrible on all cylinders.  Even myself, I played terrible and had six turnovers.  As a team, we’ve been playing bad. It’s been almost every night.  We just got to find a way to get out of it.”

On Coach Brown taking the blame:

“I can’t let him do that.  At the end of the day, their job is to prepare us and our job is to go out there and play.  LB is one of those coaches that if the team’s not playing well, he likes to take the blame.  I’m one of those same guys.  I’m not playing well.  Our All-Star is out.  It’s not him.  It’s us as a team.  We’ve got to go out there and play, so it’s more our fault than his.”

On the new-look Wizards:

“They have a great group of young guys that can step up.  Rashard is going to be a good fit.  I think they play with a lot of energy with those guys knowing they would get an opportunity to play tonight with Gilbert gone.”

BOBCATS FORWARD BORIS DIAW

On the Wizards:

“Of course, I give them credit because they beat us by 30 so you have to be humble in that regard.  I think that we didn’t play good and that was the main thing.  We were able to play with them in the first half.  They had a lot of energy.”