Do we have to go through this again? Okay, the Wizards (7-16) lose, 112-109, at the Kings (11-13), their sixth defeat in a row, a half-dozen that they’ve dropped by a total of 14 points. I’ve tried to stay away from using the “basketball gods” jargon that Wizards head coach Flip Saunders prefers but it’s more clear tonight than ever before that there ain’t no good ju-ju with Washington right now.
Shockingly — and by that, I mean not shockingly at all — the seeds were again sown in the first quarter. It’s as if the playbook was ripped up and thrown away. Tonight, it became the Big Three’s season. If the Wizards were to break out of their funk, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler had to take ownership. They seemed to do it with blatant disregard for anything resembing a team concept. Not that Jamison (30 points) should’ve done anything different early, as he scored eight of the Wizards’ first 14 points. But with the ESPN analysts absoluting gushing over the Kings’ inability to guard ‘Twan, Arenas (33 points, 6 assists) decided it was his turn anyway, dive-bombing his way to the hoop to earn foul shots and get himself on the scoreboard. Butler (16 points) then missed one of a seemingly countless stream of no-rhythm, jab-step jumpers in a desperate attempt to get going, too. Saunders even tried to refocus the team, calling Jamison’s number out of a timeout, but it only took one possession before it was Arenas again and again in attack mode until the first quarter was over. When interviewed by Kevin Calabro between the 1st and 2nd periods, Saudners simply lambasted the defense, as if he’s given up trying to orchestrate offensive chemsitry.
Don’t forget a familiar rollercoaster third quarter. After combining their patented selfish play at one end with little to no defense whatsoever at the other for a 59-54 halftime deficit, the Wiz actually opened the second half with a 12-4 run that included six points from Butler, which almost made them look like a team that was taking what it was given offensively and concentrating on defense. Except, they were outscored 26-14 over the rest of the period. Of course, they lost the lead on a couple discouraging plays — Arenas making a block on Beno Urdih only to have Butler and Jamison miss layups and then Andres Nocioni turning a four-point play; and then Butler was denied on what looked like an obvious shot clock reset mistake — but the inordinate amount of fast break points (33-12, Kings) exemplified that if nothing else, the Wizards weren’t the team winning the battle of effort. That’s not a sign of solidarity.
And yet another excruciating ending. Perhaps this team has no other choice but to let Arenas do his thing. If he’s getting better with every game — and his explosiveness seemed to find a new level down the stretch — surely the Wizards won’t lose every one of them. The telling sign of Agent Zero’s confidence was the fist pump after Tyreke Evans (26 points) was called for the dead ball foul, which allowed the Wizards to pull within one and get the ball back again. But Evans got redepmtion and the best of Arenas at the same time, poking the ball free, getting fouled and hitting two free throws for the final margin. Butler’s game-tying three going in and out was only fitting.
Lastly, the unbiased announcing from the ESPN crew should’ve made it clear to those watching at home, the Wizards are in disarray, even if they came within a three-pointer of going to overtime. Wins may help provide a buffer from the brewing storm, but the foundation is starting to come unglued.
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