The dudes of the television are talking BS.

Wizards look super solid. Hears hoping they continue playing up to there potential.

They say Arena won’t come back this game.

It’s weird to suggest, as they just did, that Arenas gave the confidence,  I mean they played 80% of the season without him. Just saying

Listening to Roger Mason do the halftime interview reminded me of something I don’t think I’ve written about the Wizards; they same like a really good group of guys.

The sports world is full of assholes, even the most likable group of athletes seem like self absorbed whiners. But the Wizards really seem like a group of guys that care about winning, and not letting down the team.

Usually when you write that about a team, you write it about a team that’s winning a lot. Most of the Wizards have let the team down, through injuries or mental mistakes.  Overall they are just the type of team that screws up a fair bit.

But still you really get the sense that they want to make us proud. They want to win, they care about honoring the team.

I remember watching a documentary about the old 60s Celtic teams that said that Red Auberbach used to  threat his players with a trade. When I told my dad about that story he responded that today’s player would respond by saying, “do it”. Indeed Chris , Wallace, couldn’t really care less if you shipped them off to another city.

The Wizards current squad seems to care, and I really appreciate that.

The Wizards look really good right now. Everything is just clicking.

But. Big but.  Arenas just went to locker room to get treatment for some kind of injury. The announcer says you tell he’s limping but I didn’t see it.

Honestly I think they could beat the Cavaliers without Arenas, but for the second round he’s essential.

I’m sad

So basically my take on the game is that all the Wizards need to do is avoid taking stupid shoots, which I think is mostly about not letting the crowd rile them up.

Also: Get Gilbert Arenas more minutes! He only played 9 minutes in the first half and he looks great.

As for game commentary, I know Lebron James is a great player, but the announcers really need to dial down their love for him. I mean he had the same number of points that Brendan Haywood had for crying out loud.

Also Ben Wallace looks awful, he can’t cover Jamison or Haywood. Zydrunas Ilguaskas continues making a strong case for how being tall can completely compensate for being the worst player on the court in all other ways. He’s such a stiff and it doesn’t seem to matter at all.

-Chris

So I was already to say the Refs have gotten better and then they give the Wizards 2 technicals for the shove fest and only one to the Cavs. Bastards! That cost the Wizards the lead!

Also ESPN had a good shot of the assistant coaches keeping the bench players on the bench to avoid getting suspended.

Wow!

A fight!

2nd Quarter 8:02 left.

Looks really good so far. Although the refs seem to that Zydrunas Ilguaskas can’t be touched. Lebron just hit his first field goal.

UPDATE: The Refs really seem to be making stupid call against the Wizards.

-Chris

I went to the Wizards victory over Philadelphia yesterday. It was a good win, but the most encouraging thing was that during the second half Gilbert Arenas looked better then he had all season. He was shooting great and unlike previous games driving with authority.

Like I’ve been telling anyone that will listen, a healthy Wizards are a serious playoff force (in the Eastern Conference at least).

-Chris