[MJG]

10:30PM tipoff time, since we're on the west coast. First time the team will meet up with Kwame since his removal, although it won't quite be the same as when he visits us in DC. Hopefully Arenas can come back and play some.

[Weasel]

Bet on the game here:
http://www.basketballboards.net/foru...d.php?t=208254

[afireinside]

I want Kwame to do good this season, just not against the Wizards.

[MJG]

Recap - Brown and Lakers Take Wizards in OT, 111-108

<table class="tablehead" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"><td colspan="14" style="background: rgb(14, 55, 100) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; text-align: center;">WASHINGTON WIZARDS</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" align="right"> <td align="left">STARTERS</td> <td width="5%">MIN</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="7%">FGM-A</td> <td width="7%">3PM-A</td> <td width="7%">FTM-A</td> <td width="6%">OREB</td> <td width="6%">DREB</td> <td width="6%">REB</td> <td width="6%">AST</td> <td width="6%">STL</td> <td width="6%">BLK</td> <td width="6%">TO</td> <td width="6%">PF</td> <td width="6%">PTS</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Antawn Jamison, F</td><td>24</td><td>3-9</td><td>0-2</td><td>1-2</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>7</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Jared Jeffries, SF</td><td>26</td><td>6-10</td><td>0-0</td><td>3-5</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>15</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Brendan Haywood, C</td><td>25</td><td>4-6</td><td>0-0</td><td>5-12</td><td>7</td><td>5</td><td>12</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>13</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Gilbert Arenas, PG</td><td>32</td><td>10-15</td><td>2-5</td><td>5-7</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>27</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Antonio Daniels, PG</td><td>33</td><td>3-6</td><td>1-1</td><td>2-2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>9</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"> <td align="left">BENCH</td> <td width="5%">MIN</td> <td nowrap="nowrap" width="7%">FGM-A</td> <td width="7%">3PM-A</td> <td width="7%">FTM-A</td> <td width="6%">OREB</td> <td width="6%">DREB</td> <td width="6%">REB</td> <td width="6%">AST</td> <td width="6%">STL</td> <td width="6%">BLK</td> <td width="6%">TO</td> <td width="6%">PF</td> <td width="6%">PTS</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Etan Thomas, FC</td><td>28</td><td>1-6</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-2</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>2</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Caron Butler, SF</td><td>32</td><td>7-11</td><td>0-0</td><td>5-7</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>19</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Chucky Atkins, PG</td><td>23</td><td>3-9</td><td>1-2</td><td>1-2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>8</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Michael Ruffin, PF</td><td>13</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>0</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Billy Thomas, G</td><td>3</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Donell Taylor, G</td><td>15</td><td>2-4</td><td>1-1</td><td>3-4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>8</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"> <td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Awvee Storey, GF</td><td>11</td><td>0-2</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td align="left">TOTALS</td><td>
</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">FGM-A</td> <td>3PM-A</td> <td>FTM-A</td> <td>OREB</td> <td>DREB</td> <td>REB</td> <td>AST</td> <td>STL</td> <td>BLK</td> <td>TO</td> <td>PF</td> <td>PTS</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td colspan="2" align="left">
</td><td>39-78</td><td>5-11</td><td>25-43</td><td>14</td><td>27</td><td>41</td><td>20</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>19</td><td>28</td><td>108</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td colspan="2" align="left">
</td><td>50.0%</td><td>45.5%</td><td>58.1%</td><td colspan="9">Team TO (pts off): 20 (15)</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[MJG]

First game I'm truly bummed that it wasn't shown on TV here. Lots of guys playing well, playing hard, and a competitive contest that goes down to the wire. Jamison had a throwaway game and Daniels' was a yawner, but the quartet of Arenas, Jeffries, Haywood, and Butler really ripped things up. A combined 27-42 shooting would normally lead to a victory I would hope; however, once again our defense is our downfall, with their top four of the game (Bryant, Kwame, George, Odom) going an almost equally impressive 31-51.

Come the regular season, these types of games will make or break us. I figure once again we'll beat on the weak teams and get beat on by the top tier teams -- it's how we fare against the middle of the pack that will determine if we finish with 38 wins or 48 wins. Obviously we can't win them all, but let's hope losing to teams on the level of the Lakers to be in the minority and not the majority.

Originally Posted by AJM

I want Kwame to do good this season, just not against the Wizards.

Heh sadly, I think just the opposite is more likely. I expect a decent but as a whole average year from Kwame (think 12/9), but he'll play extra well against us. A combination of the extra motivation and the defensively-marshmallowy players we'll have guarding him (outside Haywood) will likely make us one of the very best teams for him to play against.

[LakerLunatic]

This kind of game is just so akward for me, i obviously LOVE the Lakers more then anything in Basketball. But there are a few teams i really like, and washington is one of them, especially Arenas/Butler/Jamison. I may just not watch the games between them if there ever on TV.

[BCH]

I found myself not caring about Kwame or what he did at all before the game.

After the game it was pretty much the same except I had the thought that Lakers' fans must think that was the real Kwame.

give it time.