No great pronouncements can be made about the Wizards after they beat Toronto, especially without an injured John Wall. Of course, the Raptors are a team that beat Orlando and played decently against Miami, both on the road, last weekend. But like Houston last week, they are also a team that Washington should beat.
That said, there were a number of positive signs afforded Washington tonight, besides the emergence of Gilbert Arenas, both individually, through the performances of players that took advantage of increased minutes, and as a team, given the way the Wizards were able to carry over some of the tenacity and fight they showed down the stretch against Chicago last weekend.
“I think we’re getting more aggressive,” said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders. “The last week, I think we’re starting to understand what we need to do from a philosophical way, defensively how we have to play, I think that’s giving us a little more aggression. I think we don’t have as much uncertainty in what we’re doing and with a young team, that’s what happens.”
The John Wall Watch (DNP – injured)
“We’re hoping to maybe have John back,” said Saunders. “I talked to John yesterday, and I tried to explain who Wally Pipp was. He wasn’t really sure, and I says, you know who Lou Gehrig is? That’s why you don’t know who Wally Pipp is.”
If you don’t know who Wally Pipp is, he’s the guy who sat out a game with a headache, relinquish his spot at first base to Gehrig, who only went on to play, oh, 2,130 consecutive games.
The Gilbert Arenas Game (20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 turnovers)
It won’t take much more to simply proclaim that Arenas, indeed, is back. It might still take a little bit more than that, however, to proclaim that he’s turned the corner from the incidents of last year.
But the seeds for both have been sown. Just add minutes, three-pointers, and a few more physical drives at the rim.
“At the end of the day, you just have to perform, be a great teammate,” said Arenas. “People are forgiving. I made a mistake, and everybody knows I want to move on.”
Arenas more than a good teammate on Tuesday against Toronto. He was a leader. He wasn’t perfect, of course, but there was a delicate balance in play as Arenas looked for his shot and looked to run the offense. The second part was easier, in part, because Kirk Hinrich played so well and often ran the point, which allowed Arenas to move to the two.
The atmosphere is also more conducive for Arenas to thrive because he is the dominant veteran on a very young team. There is no Caron Butler, no Antawn Jamison. Just don’t mistake the departures of those players as an opening for Arenas to be selfish. His play so far hasn’t looked that way in the least.
Ballers
Andray Blatche (22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 4 turnovers)
It certainly doesn’t feel like Blatche’s best shooting night of the season (9 for 13) was a coincidence. Usually, Blatche opens the game as the Wizards’ only legitimate offensive option. (Al Thornton should be complementary, even on his best nights.) With Arenas in the game from the opening tip, Blatche has no obligation to try and carry the team early and can instead pick his spots and take better shots. He did that against Toronto.
Blatche also was a menace defensively against Andrea Bargnani, who was 3 for 13 from the field.
“I’d seen that he performs well when he’s comfortable,” said Blatche. “My thing was I was going to get into him, put a lot of pressure on him and see how he do with that. It worked out for me.”
Kirk Hinrich (13 points, 12 assists)
His influence over the Wizards is growing with every game, and it gives Saunders a real choice to make about perhaps opening games with a three-guard starting lineup. Hinrich has been honest about the time needed to develop chemistry with Arenas and Wall. It’s starting to come along.
JaVale McGee (8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks)
Before everyone gets too wild over his four offensive rebounds, it’s important to note that three of them came on one play where he missed a tip-in three times but stayed persistent until the ball finally went in. The sequence inflated his stats, but it also set the stage for a strong night on the glass.
“I was just trying to go out there and work as hard as I can on the boards,” said McGee. “We were just real persistent with the rebounding tonight. I felt like we needed to do that, and I had to set the tone so I did.”
“JaVale came out being a man,” said Blatche. “He was hitting the boards, and I was trying to help out, some guards helped out, and that’s what we gotta do to become a great team, rebound and play good defense.”
Nick Young (20 points)
If he’s not the microwave, he could still be the pilot light. Because all it takes is to put him in the game, and he’s going off. Young hit jumpers all over the inside of the arc, mostly shots he created himself with quick moves into the paint that ended with him rising up over his defender.
Trevor Booker (8 points), Hilton Armstrong (10 points)
When Flip Saunders talked about a carryover from the end of the Chicago game, these are a couple of guys who are responsible for it, as much through getting their arms in passing lanes and onto loose balls as their scoring. Armstrong took advantage of Toronto’s weak inside presence for a trio of dunks, and Booker should’ve finished off a traditional three-point play but missed his free throw.
Busts
Not going there tonight.
Portrait Play
Stat of the night
56.3 – the Wizards’ shooting percentage, their best of the season.
40.7 – the Raptors’ shooting percentage, the second lowest of any Wizards’ opponent this season.
