i95Ballerz.com/SportsGroove Wizards Blog: No Butler, No Service

Ron Bailey, Publisher

February 5, 2009 – Last night, head Wizard Ed Tapscott was faced with dilemma not yet experienced, even in a 10 win, almost 40 loss season; eight players were able to suit up, as the team’s present best hooper, Caron Butler was absent due to the flu. Joining him in not being available were Andray Blatche (knee), Juan Dixon (though he dressed and was listed as a DNP) and DeShawn Stevenson (back).

And that doesn’t even touch upon Gilbert Arenas (knee) – the team’s highest paid baller many perceive as one of the best scorers in the game not having played for months - along with big man Brendan Haywood (wrist), still unable to go. Almost adding insult to injury, Etan Thomas (knee) is also out for an extended period of time.

When it rains, it pours apparently.

In his pre game presser, Tapscott returned to his philosophical ‘steelo’, waxing on the opportunity the absence of veterans provides young players, of which the Wiz have in abundance.

Well, the squad went down 115-88 to the New Jersey Nets. Clearly an opportunity was not unrealized.

Second year player Nick Young dropped 21 points and four assists, shooting 50% from the floor in the process. Tapscott still wanted to see more, saying “Nick doesn’t have to take steps offensively…very little (in their offense) calls for six, seven, eight dribbles”. To be fair, the coach noted some of Young’s copious half court ball patting could be due to a lack of player movement or possibly pending shot time expiration, but nevertheless he wants to see more efficient offensively play from the wunderkind Young.

It goes down hill from there; Young’s draft classmate, Dominic McGuire finished with two points, while fellow NBA sophomores Javaris Crittendon and Oleskiy Pecherov supplied nine and 13 points respectively.

The malaise even seemed to impact veteran Antawn Jamison, a perennial close to 20 and 10 man that mustered only 10 points and 6 rebounds in 40 minutes.

Oh yeah, rookie JaVale McGee provided 10 points and five rebounds. Afterward, he seemed to be slightly unhappy with his playing time, noting “I didn’t get the opportunity” to take advantage of fewer vets ahead of him.

Whew. Tapscott has said the chance to be in the League, coaching or playing, is an opportunity that should be cherished. He’s either an internal optimist (likely) and/or basketball junkie/lifer (true) to have maintained that thought this year.

Hat’s go off to ‘Tap’.