Monthly Archives: February 2008

Two Tough Losses Followed by Two Wins

Miscellaneous

  First game back after All Star Game we were flat with no energy and suffered a loss to the New York Knicks. It is in games like this that you wonder what would have happened if Caron was healthy or if we had Gil back or Etan. Any of them or any combination of the three. What the heck how about all three. 

  Injuries are part of the game and the coaches have done a great job of dealing with them. The guys that have been healthy and have suited up come to play every night. They work hard in practice and pull for each other. They are a team in every way. The guys root for one another and get along both on and off the court.

   Next up for us was Cleveland and they just made a blockbuster trade. They were in the Finals last year and just traded away Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, Donyell Marshall, Ira Newble and Cedric Simmons. In return they picked up Ben Wallace, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak. They won’t be playing against us as they have to have physicals. Cleveland beat us anyway. This was a game that ESPN had on. They were thinking that it would be a great game and it would’ve been if everyone was healthy and the trade was complete. Instead they got two teams with depleted rosters. At least the game was close.

    This was another game that we could’ve won. There have been quite a few of them this year. We just don’t have enough weapons right now to close games out. 

  The guys bounced back with a home victory over Charlotte. They played without Gerald Wallace. Gerald suffered a concussion against Sacramento when Mikki Moore hit him with an elbow. He was down for quite a long time and had to be taken away on a stretcher. Both teams were coming off of back to backs. We played Cleveland and Charlotte lost a tough one in overtime versus Sacramento. It was a total team effort. Everyone played well for us and the bench was huge too. This is the type of effort and energy that we need every night from every player. We have no margin of error, if we are to win games.

    Had a huge win against New Orleans tonight. DeShawn Stevenson was sensational. He comes to play every single night and he has been injured all year. Most players wouldn’t even try to play. D Steve had a career high 33. His dagger at the end of regulation was the difference. I have so much respect for him as does the rest of the staff and the team. I am so happy for him and the rest of the players and coaches. We have been on the short end of these games the past month, so it was a well deserved victory on the road. Got to see Morris Peterson before the game. He is a classy guy and we had a great time in Toronto last season. He seems to be doing well in New Orleans.

    Now we have to get ready for Houston. They are the hottest team in the league, having won their last twelve in a row. The coaching staff watched them play Chicago Sunday night. It was great watching the game as they are two teams that we will play against this week. We close out our road trip in Chicago on Friday.

    Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the blog. Take care and God Bless. 

All-Star Break

Miscellaneous

After a victory in L.A. over the Clippers we headed home for the break on the red eye. Nick got to stay in L.A. and spend time with his family and friends. Some of the other guys headed to warmer climates. CB and Antawn to New Orleans for the All-Star Game. As for myself, I arrived home and headed to the dentist for an appointment that I had made while being on the road. I cracked a tooth in San Francisco while having breakfast. Went to the dentist had an x-ray and it was determined that I must have a root canal. What a way to spend the day. Everything went well. So far, so good.

My wife Carole cooked an excellent Valentine’s Day dinner. Chicken, potatoes and corn. For dessert she made a caramel bread pudding that was out of this world. It was nice to spend the evening together and to be at home. McKenna loved her Valentine’s card and stuffed animal. Of course she likes the candy too.

Hung out with the family on Friday and then went to dinner with Carole at Cafe Milano. Had some pasta that was very good.

Saturday headed up to Baltimore to see my brother and aunt Jean. It is always a pleasure to see them and spend time with them. I only wish that my mom was still here so she could see McKenna. I always tell McKenna about her grandmother Joan, so she will always know where her middle name comes from. Went to the airport to pick up our nanny’s sister Chelsea. She is on winter break.

Sunday our intentions were good, off to church. We got a late start and then a little lost. So we headed back up to Baltimore for lunch with my aunt and brother. It was a nice and relaxing break for me. Everyone needs it. Hopefully everyone will return healthy and ready to make a post All-Star run.

Monday took McKenna to see Nemo at the Verizon Center in her words it was “very, very sad.” Practice at 6 pm.

Road Trip

Miscellaneous, NBA, Wizards

Well, we are on the road the week before All-Star weekend. Left for Denver on Tuesday, got in to the Ritz. What a beautiful place with a gym next door. After arriving headed over to the gym to work with Etan and Pech. Got a good night’s rest.

Melo had 49 points on us. He is a tough cover. It was great seeing my close friends John Welch and Jahmal Mosley. They are doing a great job, they are excellent coaches but even better friends. I am very blessed to have them as my friends. Good luck the rest of the year. It is always a pleasure to see you guys. I only wish that we could spend more time together talking hoops and catching up on every thing.

Flew to Phoenix after the game. Got into our hotel around 2 in the morning. Had practice with low numbers again. Got some shooting in. Etan and Pech stayed after for some work. Enjoyed a great meal with the coaching staff and Zach our media guy. He is the best, always on top of everything. The weather is fantastic in Phoenix this time of the year. Another good night of rest. That makes two this week! Up early to meet with the staff and then off to shoot-around. The gym is always freezing in Phoenix during shoot-around. It sure does heat up when it is game time. The guys played their hearts out. They were shorthanded but fought for everything. We ended up with a one point loss. Caron and Antonio did not dress. Deshawn is playing on one leg. He is on the All Madden team. D Steve is as tough as they come. Caught the plane to San Francisco afterwards.

Got to our rooms around 2 again, by the time the bags arrive it is 3 and sleep is never long enough. We are at the Hyatt, it is not the Ritz, but what a view of the city and the bay. San Francisco is a great city. Went for a nice walk after our meeting. Play tonight and come back to the hotel for another night before flying to L.A. to play the Clippers on Wednesday. We need to get a win, soon. We also need the All-Star break to get our guys healthy and to rest the others.

Being on the road you not only miss your family but the people at the Verizon Center. They are always helpful and friendly from the top of the organization to the ball boys and ball girls. A great group to be around. Hope everyone back in D.C. is doing well and staying flu free.

Don’t forget Thursday is Valentine’s Day. Enjoy the All-Star game. Take care, until next time.

All-Stars

Miscellaneous, Wizards

     Congratulations to Antawn and Caron on being named All-Stars. It is quite an honor and they both deserve the award. Caron missed a few games and we struggled without him. We had a nice win against Toronto at home (OT). Then we had to play the following night in Toronto. They came out and gave us a good old fashioned beating. I myself started to catch the flu and this did not help. Could not get out of bed for the next couple of days. I am sorry to say that I missed a game versus Utah. They are also playing at a high level and the addition of Korver is huge for them. Finally got back to the gym, it seems like I was away for weeks. Still weak and light headed. Played the Lakers on Super Sunday. Unfortunately it was not super for us or the Patriots. The Lakers took control from the start and never looked back. Kobe is something else. It is scary to think how much better they will be with Gasol and then when Bynum comes back.

Now we have to get ready for Philly. They are a young team that likes to push the ball. We lost at the buzzer up there at the end of November. Nick Young had a good look but it was a little long. He will make many game winners before his career is over. We took the train up to Philly. It is a nice way to travel, very relaxing.

After Philly we head home and play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, the second of a back to back. Practice on Thursday and then off to Denver, Phoenix, Golden State and the Clippers. We are the only team that has not been out west yet. Life is not easy in the NBA. You have got to come ready to play every night.

I am glad to be up and out of bed, back in the gym with the coaches and players. We have a super staff and the guys work hard. Etan is doing more and more every day and Gil has been getting some shots up. When we get them back and everyone is healthy we can be scary. It is hard to believe that we are already closing in on 50 games played. All-Star Break is coming the weekend of February 16-18 in New Orleans.

Hope everyone is healthy and flu free.