Four thoughts about the Wizards’ 102-86 loss at the Pacers, which was (a) simply an abomination, (b) moved Washington one step closer to legitimate concerns about this season’s prospects, or (c) was simply an exclamation point demonstrating how much the Wiz are hurting with two starters (Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller) sidelined by shoulder injuries [Update before I post — Jamison apparently berated his teammates afterward, making the answer (a)]:
At least Caron Butler got some of his scoring mojo back, with a team-high 24 points to go with 12 rebounds. His three-pointer was still off (1 for 5) and he committed the first of Washington’s seven first-quarter turnovers. Tonight, it wasn’t that the Wizards punched and then couldn’t handle the counter. They went into the ring without any gloves.
Three of the other four Wizards starters sleptwalked through the first quarter and had the proverbial awful game, as did Andray Blatche (zippy for 5) and DeShawn Stevenson (0 for 2 from 3-pt) off the bench. Gilbert Arenas (13 points, 5 assists, 3 turnovers) got torched defensively. Nick Young made a 3-pointer and a block — and then missed his next three shots and was yanked until garbage time in the fourth quarter. Fabricio Oberto’s two assists and two points were cancelled out by two points and an inability to guard rookie Tyler Hansbrough. (Speaking of Hansbrough, there should’ve been odds that his elbow would get in the way on his first rebound in the NBA.) Only Brendan Haywood (9 points, 19 rebounds) falls into the decent night category, as Randy Foye didn’t quite get there with 16 points on 14 shots.
I was at nearly every Georgetown home game during Roy Hibbert’s final two seasons. I don’t think I ever saw him dominate the way he did in the first half against the Wizards, with 12 points in the first 16 minutes. Hibbert, who also had 11 rebounds and 5 blocks, didn’t score in the second half, but the Pacers didn’t need it because they put the game away going 4 for 7 from three-point range in the third quarter. Hibbert is averaging 11.0 points and 10.4 rebounds, not bad for a second-year center.
Mike James turned the ball over and missed his first shot almost immediately after entering the game in his first appearance of the season. Pretty much summed up the night. James still played 22 minutes, finishing with 6 points and 3 assists.
Phoenix next followed by at Miami on Tuesday. A 2-6 record could be frighteningly on the horizon.
