The Wizards started the season with the firm belief that they could truly be an elite team in the Eastern Conference. Let’s debate after they went down, 104-102, to Boston, earlier tonight.
Point: Against the hottest team in the NBA, the Celtics, the Wizards were sharp from the opening tip, making 10 of their first 15 shots en route to a respectable 26-19 lead with 2:22 left in the first quarter.
Counterpoint: With a chance to stretch the lead to double-digits early, Gilbert Arenas missed a crucial three. Ray Allen countered with his own from long distance at the other end, and Washington went without a field goal for the rest of the quarter, a stretch that included Arenas putting a pass off Andray Blatche’s shin, Randy Foye getting his short jumper pretty-much volleyball spiked by Kevin Garnett, and an atrocious final possession in which Arenas fumbled the ball, which ended up in the hands of Antawn Jamison for a forced airball at the buzzer.
Counterpoint: The Wizards decided not to play defense in the second quarter. Not only did they go without a rebound, they gave up the following horrific buckets: Allen dribbled down the court, past a jogging Caron Butler and into the lane to dunk on Andray Blatche’s face – the signature move of the league’s best outside shooter; Garnett slammed home an alley oop from Rajon Rondo that was so obvious that Wizards assistant coach Sam Cassell was out of his seat screaming before it happened; and coming out of a timeout, Rondo dribbled the length of the court straight down the lane for a layup. That’s a recipe for getting outscored 37-22 if there ever was one.
Point: Brendan Haywood finished the night with 17 points on a perfect 7 for 7 from the field, including nine points right after the break in which the Wizards trimmed the 14-point halftime margin completely with a 22-6 run that culminated with taking the lead, 72-70, when Arenas gave up the ball in the lane to Jamison for the And-1.
Counterpoint: Of course, Jamison missed the free throw and Allen took the lead right back with a three at the other end — a jumper that just so happened to give him 20,000 points in his career. Nice touch. It also sparked a 13-2 run for the Celtics that restored a nine-point advantage at the end of the third.
Point: Blatche had nine of his 17 points off the bench in the fourth quarter, and Arenas was aggressive and into the game at the point — with Earl Boykins on the bench — as the Wizards again clawed back. Three times they tied it — at 94, 96, and 98. The final one was the best, as Jamison dropped in a putback over his shoulder.
Counterpoint: With Jamison and Garnett tangling for position, Rondo rounded them both and Arenas, flying uncontested for a vicious baseline dunk — especially for a guy listed at only 171 pounds – to put Boston ahead for good.
Counterpoint: Why for good? Because Arenas went to the line three times. In the first quarter, he missed the front end of two shots. In the second quarter, he missed both ends. In the fourth quarter, with the score, 100-98, he missed both ends again. He also missed one more three-pointer on the final possession of the game, and although there was still time to make a pass, Foye did too with a forced turnaround airball after racing to the corner to corral the ball and not seeing the clock.
If the counterpoints have it, it’s probably official, given that the Wizards are at the 20-game mark. Not elite.
