Last night, the Washington Wizards finally broke their losing streak and had their first epic win of the season versus the Toronto Raptors with a score of 93-78.
The game started off at Verizon Center extremely boring and slow with the crowd booing the Wizards until they picked up the game and finally started playing as a TEAM.
What happened to these Washington Wizards players?!
After the lockout, there was a lot of speculation about Nick Young and where he would land in the NBA as a free agent. Many members of the DC media were pleading for Washington to not overpay just to keep Young due to his inconsistency.
I was not one of them.
I’ve come to find that I’m in the minority of the people who believe that Young is our second greatest asset on this team (behind John Wall). Many people cringe when they see Young take some very questionable shots. Many people shake their head when he’s hot one game, and cold in another. Many people hate the fact that his only real value on the box score is for points.
AT 
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
7:00 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet HD
Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Radio: 106.7 The Fan - http://bit.ly/5yZqu8
Dave Johnson, Glenn Consor
Game Preview
Washington (0-8) host the Toronto Raptors (4-5) at the Verizon Center this evening. For some strange reason, the Wizards are favored in this home game. Possibly because Toronto is coming off of a back to back and traveling, but more possibly because Vegas may believe the Wizards have to get a win eventually. The odds are with them.....right?
If I was a betting man (which I am), and after watching the effort this Wizards team has put together recently, I would be taking the Raptors.
DeMar DeRozan is the one to watch this evening. Coming off of a mini break out at the end of last season, DeRozan has had an up and down year so far. On 1/4, he scored 25 points against Cleveland, and then turned around and scored only 3 points on 1/6 vs the Nets. Look for the Wizards lack of defense to be just what DeRozan needs to cure his inconsistencies. DeRozan vs. Nick Young will be the match up to watch tonight.
Another good match up will be Andray Blatche vs. Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani has been averaging 25 points over the last 4 games, and will look to take advantage of the often lackadaisical Blatche defense. Bargnani can score both inside and outside, and always presents a match up problem. Blatche will have to be on his A game to keep up. Also look for Booker to continue to get more playing time to try and slow Bargnani down.
If JaVale McGee can come out focused and stay out of foul trouble, he could be in for a big game. He has the size and athletic advantage over Amir Johnson and Bargnani. Washington would be wise to try and get out on the fast break and get McGee involved early.
- Trevor Jackson
_________________
WE's to Watch
WE Spotlight
Raptors' Projected Starting Lineup
Wizards' Projected Starting Lineup
Funniest Looking Raptor
Paying Homage
Truly Proud Moment in Raptors' History
Friendly Dancers - Wizard Girls
Go Wizards!!!!!!
When talking about the 2011-12 Washington Wizards, one can take several different angles in analyzing the squad. Most, if not all, would be negative views lamenting the team for being selfish, immature, and having a low basketball I.Q. All would be accurate and have been well documented for the past several days as the team has dropped to a league worst 0-8 record.
With the season over before it even really got started, fans and analysts have already identified the problem areas, so let's take a look to how they can be fixed.
Responsibility and accountability starts at the top. Head coach Flip Saunders has lost the attention and respect of his players. It is time for him to go. Make no mistake about it however, Saunders is an excellent coach with a track record that speaks for itself. But you have to remember that he was hired to coach a veteran team on the cusp of becoming a perennial playoff threat. After arriving, the big three of Gilbert Arenas-Antawn Jamison-Caron Butler was blown up through trades thanks to the infamous gun incident among other things. A rebuild is not what Saunders signed up for, nor is it what he is known for. He is in over his head and the Wizards will need to look elsewhere for a replacement.
To control a team full of young, talented but egotistical players, the best solution is an up and coming assistant coach with prior playing experience. The name that immediately jumps out is Brian Shaw. Not only did he have a successful career in the NBA, including championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he also had the benefit of learning under the guidance of hall of fame head coach Phil Jackson. To take it a step further, he played the same position as Washington's franchise point guard John Wall. Relating to Wall and helping his development is key to the Wizards' turnaround. Other possible candidates would include former champion, Mario Elie. A young and fiery coach is what Washington desperately needs.
Second, the Wizards need to blow up the nucleus of Andray Blatche, Nick Young, and Rashard Lewis. Blatche is a selfish player who does not give 100%, or 50% on some nights. He has the talent to be a 20-10 guy but shows less passion and effort than anyone in a Wizards uniform.
AT
Sunday, January 8th, 2012
1:00 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet HD
Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Radio: 106.7 The Fan - http://bit.ly/5yZqu8
Dave Johnson, Glenn Consor
_________________
WE's to Watch
WE Spotlight
Timberwolves' Projected Starting Lineup
Wizards' Projected Starting Lineup
Funniest Looking Timberwolf
Paying Homage
Proud Moment in Timberwolves' History
Joe Smith's Illegal Signing
Read about it here - http://www.thedraftreview.com/index....963&Itemid=158
Friendly Dancers - Wizard Girls
It was a different game, but the same result for the Washington Wizards as their endless road to victory continued last night against the New York Knicks. The Wizards dropped their 7th straight to start the season in a 99-96 defeat, making them the only team with a donut in the win column.
A players-only team meeting held earlier this week by veteran Maurice Evans seemed to have the players fired up and energetic throughout the night, a vast difference from the horrendous display of effort they showed in their previoius game against the Orlando Magic..
The Wizards came out the gates strong, as 22 combined points by John Wall and Nick Young, along with aggressive defense helped the Wizards jump to a 14 point lead by the end of the first.
The Wizards continued to attack in the second quarter scoring in transition and on fast breaks, but unfortunately, dejavu from opening night eventually kicked in and doomed the Wizards as the huge lead squandered down to 1, thanks to turnovers and poor shot selection.
The Wizards continued their downward spiral in the third quarter as New York's Big 3 in Melo, Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler turned it up for the Knicks, putting them up by as many as 9.
Basketball is an organized sport. So why do the Washington Wizards play a one on one game? During the post game of the first Wizards and Celtics game, coach Flip stated that the best play of the game was a play that did not even lead to a basket. It was actually a miss shot. But it’s the play that resulted in the miss shot.
“Our best offensive play that we played the whole night was when we had the ball, Nick (Young) passed it to Dray (Andray Blatche) on the outside, Dray passed it to John (Wall), John passed it to Rashard (Lewis) and Rashard had a wide open three in the corner and missed it, we didn’t score it but that’s winning basketball plays. Those are winning basketball plays.”
It was a tale of two halves that night for the Wiz Kids. You could see the frustration on the faces of this young squad as assignments were blown on both sides of the court. The Wizards shot just 28 percent in the first half and trailed by 17 at halftime. The 2nd half was a little bit better as the Wizards finished shooting 41%.
The Wizards and Celtics met again the following night and did a much better job of competing. It was a moral victory of sorts. Andray Blatche had a season high 28 points along with 9 rebounds. JaVale McGee had a great game as well hitting the Celtics with his favorite move - the baby hook shots. McGee finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots.
The beauty of this game is the fact that the Wizards hustled hard and actually played team basketball. The first meeting had more of a one on one feel. The second game had a team feel as at least 4 players would touch the ball before a shot went up. There is a reason your high school coach teaches you the value of getting 5 touches before a shot goes up.
Basketball is a team sport and the Wizards are learning that slowly. Hopefully the Wizards can continue with the same intensity going forward.
no commentsAT 
Monday, January 2nd, 2012
7:30 PM ET
TV: Comcast SportsNet HD
Steve Buckhantz, Phil Chenier
Radio: 106.7 The Fan - http://bit.ly/5yZqu8
Dave Johnson, Glenn Consor
Game Preview
A rematch of last night's game, the Wizards (0-4) travel to Boston (2-3) still in search of their first victory. The matchups will be the same, and Washington will look to build on the momentum they had in the second half of last night's game.
The Wizards made a few runs in the 3rd and 4th quarter's yesterday behind strong play from Wall, but could not get closer than 7 points. Everytime the Wizards went on a run, Rajon Rondo seemed to have an answer whether it be scoring, assisting, or rebounding (he had a triple double).
Wall vs. Rondo will again be a huge matchup. Also, look for McGee again to have a big game as they do not have anyone that can match up with him physically. We need to get more scoring out of the post though...and Andray Blatche will need to step up if the Wizards want a chance at a victory.
- Trevor Jackson
_________________
WE's to Watch
WE Spotlight
Wizards' Projected Starting Lineup
Celtics' Projected Starting Lineup
Funniest Looking Celtic
Paying Homage
Proud Moment in Celtics' History
Enemy Dancers
Go Wizards!!!!!!
Since his arrival on the campus of the University of Kentucky we have always associated Wizards PG John Wall with music and dance moves. In case you are in need of a quick refresher.....
Kentucky Big Blue Madness Intro
SEC Tournament 2010
Wizards First Home Game
Then Wall went to the Rookie vs. Sophomore Game and this happened...
Let's not forget about Troop 41 and their actual "John Wall Song"...
And who can forget the John Wall vs. Chris Brown New Years Eve Battle...
Since we are a community of Wizards fans, it'd be anti-friendly for me not to share this video sent to us from France by a group called Nyne and their song titled "John Wall" (If you speak French it will help...A LOT..)
You can also follow us on twitter @WizardsExtreme and read some of our work on Comcast SportsNet
Wizards 84 New Jersey Nets 90
Here is a quick run down by the FIRST LADY OF WizardsExtreme.com: Tara Yavari
Post Game Quotes courtesy of the Wizards PR Staff:
WIZARDS HEAD COACH FLIP SAUNDERS
On the team’s performance:
“When you get up big, you have to find a way to sustain it. In our league teams are always going to make runs, but it is how your respond to those runs. I thought that we responded poorly. When we got up 20 points, we were playing team basketball. We were doing it the right way, and we got away from that.”
On the team:
We are capable, but we missed too many free throws, turned the ball over too much, and made careless mistakes. I thought we had great energy defensively, but in the second half we did not have that same defensive energy.”
WIZARDS GUARD NICK YOUNG
On the new season:
“I felt good out there, my wind was strong and my teammates were finding me. We need to start the year off winning to get a good momentum and get our confidence going. I think we’re going to bounce back though, we have a big game on Wednesday against Atlanta and we just need to focus on that and put this game behind us.”
On the injury:
“I felt like it was over for me but the fans made me feel really special with the way they were cheering for me and made we want to get back out there as soon as I could. It was hurting but I wanted to push through it and come back for my team.”
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