What can you say about the past week for the Wizards? They've been blown out by one of the NBA's worst teams in the Indiana Pacers, chewed out by their injured leader Antawn Jamison, and seem downright lost out on the court. Needless to say it was a pretty rough week for the boys in blue. Let's jump a little further into the misery that is 2-6 (a.k.a. Redskin Land).

The Good

There isn't a whole lot to like when your team goes 0-4 in a given week, but there were a few bright spots. Brendan Haywood spent the week averaging a double-double, with 12 points and around 12 rebounds a game. He had a career high 19 boards against Indiana, and has been cleaning the offensive glass with at least four rebounds on that end per game (and eight twice). Needless to say, the losing streak can't be blamed on #33.

The Bad

Injuries jump out first and foremost. We started the week without Mike Miller and Antawn Jamison, and ended it with Arenas nursing a bad calf and Randy Foye being carried off the court with a bad ankle. As the body count rises, the Wizards season looks more and more bleak. Other notable ugly aspects of this week were shooting percentage from the line (78.6, 57.7, 42.9, 66.6 respectively), turnovers (Arenas broke a team record with 12 last night against Miami), and inconsistency (I'm staring at you Andray Blatche).

The Surprises

It's pretty unbelievable that a team that failed to win 20 games a season ago would take a team lightly. You might think that they'd be on a mission to prove their doubters wrong, no matter how "lowly" the opponent. However, the Wizards' effort against Indiana was absolutely pathetic, and their normally quiet team leader let them hear it in the form of a profanity-laced tirade in the locker room. Did that seem to fire them up? The managed to go and lose the next two games by a combined 26 points. Not exactly inspired basketball. If the attitudes aren't corrected, Flip Saunders is going to lose this team quickly, and that might mean another lottery pick.

What Does It Mean?

You cannot use injuries as an excuse in professional sports (or on any level for that matter). No matter who is in your lineup, you must do everything you can to win. The Wizards just aren't doing that right now. We've grown accustomed to slow starts over the last few years with this group, but there's a strong possibility that it could fall into the pattern of last season's complete collapse in comparison to the previous years where the Wiz bounced back and made the playoffs. Someone must step up and be a leader on the court while Antawn is out. Until then, they'll continue to look like a team lost in its own little world of big egos.

Player of the Week

Guess you have to lead the charge back to relevance Brendan.

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Comments (3)

anyonebutdetroit said:

Avs / Caps on Dec 15 Hey Miz - appreciate the welcome. I'd love to do a Q&A collaboration before the game. The Caps are my favorite eastern conf team (how can you dislike Ovie) - I'm looking forward to visiting an uncle in March who is taking me and my wife to a Pens / Caps game! Anyway - obviously brand new - any advice you can offer this Bloguin newbie? Go Avs -s PS - My Broncos are going to kill your Skins on Sunday

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November 11, 2009
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tdbowles said:

	... great assessment of the Wiz. I agree on all counts. Haywood not being on the eastern conference all - star ballot is a joke. why do they decide this so quickly anyway? i have not lost hope in the Wiz b/c i have faith in Saunders, but Butler and Arenas have to get their heads on straight. Jamison cannot return too soon.
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November 12, 2009 | url
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tdbowles said:

	... by the way anyonebutdetroit, i think the skins will beat the broncons this sunday and i will be there to witness it.
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November 12, 2009 | url
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