Wizards host Grizzlies at VCU preseason opener

Mike Miller was selected as the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year
following the 2005-06 season when he played for Memphis.
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari).

The Washington Wizards will host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight in a preseason opener at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Richmond, Virginia.

Tonight's 7:00 p.m. ET game will not be televised but you can catch the action by tuning in to 106.7 The Fan (and check out Dave Johnson's live game day blog).  The preseason opener is the first for the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, which has become the annual spot of the Wizards training camp activities for the last few years. 

Wizards Head Coach Flip Saunders announced the probable starters for tonight's game and named Nick Young among the cut over Mike Miller at starting shooting guard to begin the preseason.

Miller picked up Rookie of Year in Orlando and spent three years playing for the Magic before he moved to Memphis, where he spent the majority of his playing career and picked up Sixth Man honors.  When he was sent to Minnesota last season, he did not exactly work out for the T-wolves.  By the end of the year Miller found himself scoring less than a double-digits average for the first time in his career.

As a Wizard, Miller hopes to fit in where he can, and he has been quoted as saying he would not mind to play behind players from the bench.  While known as a career 40.1% three point shooter, Miller is also no slouch on defense, is a great passer, and works the boards.

Game Notes
1st Quarter -- 32-28, Wizards
Early in the first quarter Gilbert Arenas jumped over the scores table to break up a fast break, which not only proves how far Arenas has traveled on his road to recovery, but also puts emphasis on what kind of defensive intensity we can expect from this healthy Wizards team.  Arenas spent the first quarter as a play maker, and finished with 5 points and 7 assists.  Offense looking great with Arenas back.  Caron Butler capped a great offensive quarter with a buzzer-beating two, but the Wizards suffered far too many turnovers and will need to play smarter.

2nd Quarter -- 55-53, Grizzlies
Free throw problems plagued Washington over the first half and some questionable off-the-ball fouls in the second quarter gave Memphis the opportunity to bounce back after shorting the first quarter.  Some nice moves by Mike Miller and Randy Foye.  Great to see defensive intensity from DeShawn Stevenson but he picked up four personal fouls and had to sit.  Foye and Stevenson knocked down the long ball in the second, and Nick Young sunk another buzzer-beater to cap the half.

3rd Quarter -- 71-71
Arenas was supposed to play only 10 minutes today but clocked 16 in the first half alone.  Head Coach Flip Saunders played his starters to begin the third and Arenas reached the 10 assist-mark within about 24 minutes of play.  Memphis has pressured Arenas full court since the first minute, and their defense has keyed in on Young as well, limiting Washington's backcourt offense.  Memphis has some size with rookie Hasheem Thabeet coming in off the bench and veteran Zach Randolph owning the boards.  Caron tried to heave one up at the buzzer again, but no dice this time, 71-all to end the third.

4th Quarter -- 101-92, Wizards
JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche made some noise to begin the fourth quarter, McGee with a rim-rattling jam and Blatche with a showcase of his outside game.  However, without Arenas on the court, Washington lost their offensive rhythm, and at times the Wizards over-passed the ball and played sloppy.  While Washington played from behind for most of the third, Flip stuck with his younger lineup, and a Mike Miller no-look to McGee slam put Washington up 89-87 with 4:07 left.  From there, Washington kept the pedal down, and Blatche continued his hot hand.  A Foye three pointer with only 35 seconds left on the game clock gave Washington a comfortable 97-87 cushion, and the Wizards would go on to defeat Memphis 101-92.  Check out some final game notes by Mike Prada of Bullets Forever.

Tonight fans of the Washington Wizards got to see Arenas as a "true point guard," Brendan Haywood as a shot-changer, and a first look at the offensive powerhouse that is the Washington Wizards.  Stevenson and Foye showed their range while Miller showcased his passing talents.  Frontcourt reserve duo JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche complimented each other inside and out of the paint respectively in the fourth and ushered in the first win of the preseason.

While "only" a preseason game, Blatche's fourth-quarter dare I say heroics may be shadowed by the level of competition, however, starting off with a win has to have everyone smiling as Washington heads back to the Verizon Center Friday night for Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks.  I'll have more on tonight's game tomorrow morning

Mike James, Vincent Grier, and Paul Davis were DNPs in tonight's contest, while Javaris Crittenton would not play due to a tendon strain in his left foot.

[ Box Score ] [ Wizards' Game Day Blog ]

If you enjoy my column here on Examiner, please subscribe for instant notifications of new articles and follow me on Twitter!