The Washington Wizards have fired head coach Flip Saunders after two-and-a-half losing seasons.
Wizards Wave Wand, Coach Disappears
NBA Jam Is Fun, Being 1-12 Less So
Wizards center JaVale McGee put down one of his epic dunks yesterday, and was soon after benched for showing off. Oh, yeah, and the Wizards lost again.
The Wizards Spring Forward, But Will They Fall Back?
Two weeks ago against the Miami Heat, the Washington Wizards played their hearts out for three quarters, only to fall short in the fourth, 102-90. John Wall was ejected, but Jordan Crawford stepped up admirably and scored 39 points in a valiant, but losing effort. After the game, the Heat's Dwyane Wade had some interesting comments about Crawford's performance.
Riding The JaVale McGee Wave
JaVale McGee's play, wildly inconsistent and frustrating -- but, at times, thrilling -- is the epitome of this year's Wizards.
Wizards Try To Look Forward Through Cloud of Old Guard
Earlier this season, after who knows what number post-game press conference where he had to explain a frustrating loss, Wizards coach Flip Saunders exited the media room with an impassioned step. The media followed his path up until the point where Saunders carried forward to his office, per usual, while hurried members of the press took a quick turn left into locker room to interview players. Before disappearing around the corner, in a moment where he probably thought he was alone, Saunders let out a loud expletive, both rhyming with and feeling down on his luck.
Twenty The Hard Way
Going into last night's contest, the Wizards had dropped 19 consecutive road games, and I knew that their 20th chance to break that streak would be intriguing. Either they would finally get off the proverbial schneid and get that first road win, or they would sink even deeper into the abyss of losses.
Consequences of A Bad Win
"Fifteen years and I've never seen anything like that in my life," was the third sentence from Flip Saunders' mouth at his post-game press conference after the Wizards' 136-133 overtime win versus the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. His first line: "Are you sure I have to do this?"
A quick-witted reporter retorted, "Well, we got to write something."
The Wizards Need A Substitute...Teacher, That Is
Over the years, I've had numerous teachers tell me that teaching children is definitely not something that can be taken lightly. Either the passion and the patience to guide children is there, or it's not. A teacher who tries to coast or just collect a paycheck every two weeks will usually get exposed, and eventually fired. The same concept applies to the NBA.
Last Night's Action: Line Change
Wizards 105, Sixers 98: There's changes, and then there's changes -- and just like David Bowie, Wizards head coach Flip Saunders obviously felt like engaging in some strange fascination, fascinating everyone on Tuesday night at the Verizon Center. Saunders grew tired of his starting five's performance after the Sixers took their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter, and proceeded to substitute them all. At once. Saunders wanted to fire up his regulars; and it seemed to work, as subs Earl Boykins and Nick Young brought a spark. "Guys were pissed, mad. I said, 'you can be mad at me, but you aren't half as mad as I was with the effort,'" Saunders said he told his players. "That got the biggest applause of the night, taking [the starters] out." The Wizards vets responded. Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards with 31 points and 8 rebounds -- Agent Zero again came up big, hitting his first three shots of the game, putting the Wizards back into the lead with a twirling hook shot and a nice pass to Caron Butler for a big slam with five minutes left, and then nailing the icing free throws (something he hasn't done much this season). So Flip's scheme worked -- for tonight. Probably not the kind of motivational tactic you want to use every game though, Coach, especially considering the normally fragile ego of the typical NBA player.
Flip Saunders To Be Next Wizards Coach
Yahoo! Sports reports that Flip Saunders, formerly the head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, will be the next head coach of the Wizards. League sources told Yahoo! Sports that Saunders comes to the team on a four-year, $18 million deal. Saunders -- who has done pretty much everything one can do in terms of coaching professional basketball but win a NBA championship -- will take over the helms after this season is up, an away game from now. Current interim coach Ed Tapscott will likely return to the front office.

