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Friday, January 25th, 2013
7:00 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus HD
Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier  
Radio: 106.7 FM/1500 AM
Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor

Earlier this week, Wizards Extreme teamed up with the John Flesta (@jflesta) of Timberpups.com to preview tonight's matchup between the Wiz and the Wolves. The post is in Q&A format, with the answers to three questions pertaining to both of our respective squads. John provided some good insight on the state of the Timberwolves and I did the same for our Wizards. Here is a simulcast of the post. We'll start with my answers regarding the Wizards.

First and foremost, John Wall is back in action and looks like he is close to 100% already.  What have you noticed thus far in his play – strengths, potential weaknesses, where he may be struggling, etc.? 

Abdullah: Wall’s return has posed an immediate impact on the team, as the Wizards find themselves playing with a refreshing sense of aggression and fluidity that’s been rare to the Wizards faithful up until his recovery from the stress fracture in his knee. Over the past week and a half, the Wizards have won 5 of their last 7 games, including wins over Oklahoma City, Denver and Portland. Wall has defied several concerns regarding his conditioning, physical strength, and his overall rust from being away from the game for so long. While he displays the same speed and agility we’ve been used to, Wall has also been facilitating the offense in a more disciplined manner.

However, Wall has also proven that he still has some improvements to be made. His mid-range jump shot remains questionable, although his form has clearly improved. At times, Wall finds himself underestimating his speed down court, which usually results in making the wrong decision in transition, leading to a charging foul or a turnover. But overall, Wall’s long absence has proven his worth, and as a result, the Wizards are now in the midst of newfound success, with John being the catalyst.

I held onto hope for Peter John Ramos for an unreasonably long time.

Ernie Grunfeld selected Ramos 32^nd overall in the 2004 NBA draft, his first as President of Basketball Operations with the Washington Wizards.  Grunfeld had a relatively solid draft history prior to assuming his role with the Wizards, but one of his more noteworthy accomplishments was selecting Michael Redd 43^rd overall in the 2000 NBA draft.  I was hoping Ramos would be a similar fortune.

I was wrong.

jazz 92 wizards 88
1/21/2013 - EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
ESPN Boxscore
NBA.com Game Highlights


(Photo by Rick Bowmer/ Associated Press)

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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
9:00 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet HD
Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier  
Radio: 106.7 FM/1500 AM
Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor

With reports coming out today that there will be a press conference tomorrow to officially announce the nickname change of the New Orleans Hornets to the New Orleans Pelicans, it’s only right to look back on the time when Abe Pollin made the decision to change the name from the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards.

Supposedly influenced by the increasing number of gun-related deaths in the D.C. area, Pollin announced in 1995 that he was considering changing the name of the team that had been associated with the franchise for 31 years.

He was already going through a face-change with the team after acquiring Juwon Howard and Chris Webber and was planning to change not only the uniforms that the players would wear, but the venue they would play in, as well. Rumors went around that when the Bullets moved their home from the US Air Arena in Prince George’s County to the (then) MCI Center in Downtown D.C., the Bullets would no longer retain their name.

wizards 98 blazers 95
1/21/2013 - Rose Garden, Portland, OR
ESPN Boxscore
NBA.com Game Highlights


(Photo by Bruce Ely/ The Oregonian)

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Monday, January 21st, 2013
10:00 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet HD
Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier  
Radio: 106.7 FM/1500 AM
Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor

clippers 94 wizards 87
1/19/2013 - Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
ESPN Boxscore
NBA.com Game Highlights


(Photo by Getty Images)

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Saturday, January 19, 2013
10:30 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet HD
Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier  
Radio: 106.7 FM/1500 AM
Dave Johnson and Glenn Consor