Wizards' first spell is magic
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
10/27/09 11:49 PM EDT
Wizards 101, Mavericks 92
I'm trying to figure out how many questions were just answered at American Airlines Arena. Not all of them, of course. But you tell me when to stop:
Will the Wizards start off on the right foot after a disjointed preseason? Is Gilbert Arenas back? How much will he thrive under head coach Flip Saunders? Will the Wizards' new arsenal of offensive weapons make a difference? Will the Wizards improve defensively? Will someone step up to fill Antawn Jamison's shoes while he's sidelined? Will it be Andray Blatche? Can Blatche play efficiently and consistently at both ends? There's tons more...
What struck me: Washington trailed in the first quarter by six, 13-7, when Brendan Haywood dunked the first of the Wizards' next three buckets on a feed from Gilbert Arenas. Arenas followed the Haywood dunks with a pull-up jumper to make the score 15-15, and from there, Washington controlled the game. Dallas took one more lead early in the second quarter, 25-23, on J.J. Barea's and-1, but that was it. Fabricio Oberto put Washington back in front with a U-G-L-Y three-point play of his own, and the Wiz never trailed again.
Despite 34 points from Dirk Nowitzki. He was the only consistent weapon -- and an excellent one, obviously -- for the Mavericks, who won 50 games last year. The Wizards held them under 40 percent from the field.
Washington also countered with what seemed like a different guy every time down the floor, namely Arenas (29 points, 9 assists), Blatche (20 points on 8 of 14 shooting, 7 rebounds), Randy Foye (19 points, also on 8 of 14 shooting) and Caron Butler (16 points, 8 rebounds).
Arenas showed pretty good shooting touch and an even better explosive first step, the latter an indicator that perhaps, yes, the questions about his health and fitness should subside darn quick.
Foye played 30 minutes and was a superb backcourt partner, owing in part to Mike Miller's foul trouble. But Miller still knocked down two 3-pointers and grabbed 8 boards. His second three might've been the real dagger, making the score 92-82 and answering Nowitzki's ridiculous fadeaway with Oberto draped all over him at the other end.
First season-opening win since 2005. Saunders is 11-2 in season openers.
Bandwagons don't start after one game. But PTI will have a hard time avoiding talking about this game on Wednesday.
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