Blatche arrives in Wizards home opener rout over Nets

November 1, 12:30 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Washington Wizards Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

'Dray gets an easy dunk during the second half of play.
Blatche looked as good as he did from zero feet as he
did from 19 feet out last night at the Verizon Center. 
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The Washington Wizards picked apart the visiting New Jersey Nets last night in a blow-out 123-104 home opener victory.  Gilbert Arenas led the charge with 32 points and 7 assists but the night belonged to Andray Blatche, who scored a career high 30 points off the bench.

The Nets, without Devin Harris in their line-up, and the Wizards, without Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, Butler most recently sidelined after Friday's loss to Atlanta, both came ready to play in last night's Verizon Center home opener.  However, by the second quarter, Washington became the clear favorite to win the battle of the depth.

The Nets' pick-up point guard Rafer "Skip to my Lou" Alston created some early problems for Washington in their home court debut, scoring 8 points for the Nets in the first quarter.  Gilbert Arenas began the first Wizards' possession with a turnover, in what seemed to be a carry-over from a turnover-filled Friday night loss to Atlanta.  However, Arenas pushed the call away, focused, and matched Alston's momentum.  Unlike Friday night, Arenas did not stumble through turnover situations as he did against the Hawks, and an amazing half court shot at the buzzer gave Arenas 11 first quarter points, the end all to the "he's back" remarks on the season.

With Arenas squared away, 32 points in 29.3 minutes on 9-for-13 shooting, 3-for-4 from downtown and 11-for-12 from the free throw line (Gil's preseason woes officially dismissed), the real story of the night was Andray Blatche, who came off the bench for Washington with about five and a half minutes left in the first quarter. 

Blatche led the Wizards bench last night with 30 points in about 27.7 minutes on an otherworldly 15-for-18 from the field.  And these shots weren't just dunks, they included crazy, no-no-no shots that somehow went in, 19 footers, and more spin in his post moves than Wizards DJ Big Tigger at the deck, except Blatche hardly scratched the rim or anything else last night. 

With exactly three minutes left in the third quarter, Blatche set his feet at about halfcourt in an attempt to draw a charge on New Jersey's Terrence Williams.  However, the referee on hand called a blocking foul on Blatche, which sent Williams to the free throw line.  The Wizards held a 87-72 advantage, and the free throw opportunities were perhaps not as threatening to Washington as they could have been that late in the game, but while Blatche reacted to the call he remained calm -- with some help from Mike Miller, who immediately ushered Blatche away from the referee who made the call. 

At the free throw line, Blatche showed some class by extending a hand to Williams, while other players in his position, after what seemed to be a miscued foul call, would have gone on a "ball don't lie" rant, maybe clap their hands, talk crap, maybe even pick up a technical.  Blatche did attempt the first jumper he could thereafter, and missed on a wild shot, but he regained composure and found his rhythm again, nailing his next shot and the six which followed before he came out for reserve Wizards pick-up Paul Davis.

And about that Blatche blocking foul, that one foul.  Here's a guy who averaged 3 fouls per game last season who comes in and not only plays solid on offense, but on defense as well.  Last night Blatche did not allow Nets forward Yi Jianlian to score a single point, by field goal or otherwise, while he was in the game.  Blatche also played tough on back-up forward Eduardo Najera, and blocked one of  Najera's shots during the pivotal second quarter in which the Wizards began to roll away from the Nets.

A great, career night for Blatche, a confidence boost for the team, who shot 61.5% from the field, and an unfortunately rocky outlook for a Nets team without Devin Harris.  Washington will challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers this Tuesday, Election Day (be sure to get out there and vote), and will need their home court momentum as they take to the road.

[ Video Recap ] [ Game Summary ] [ Costume Contest ] [ Flip's Post Game Presser ]


A Halloween at the Verizon Center: Character, Commitment, Candy!
From Wizards Game Night Host Autria Godfrey dressed as a gorgeous version of celebrity Kate Gosselin (Jon & Kate Plus 8) to the gigantic Wizards logo with an even bigger torch so hot you could feel the warmth well into the back end of the lower deck seats as the opening intros were made, the Wizards put on a show last night and gave fans a Halloween home opener experience they will remember for years to come. 

Headlined by a free Gilbert Arenas mask given out to the first 10,000 fans, a smiling plastic depiction of Agent Zero with full beard, eye holes, and an elastic string to pull around the back of one's head, other incentives for last night's home opener included a generous season schedule magnet with tiny little dates which older Wizards fans might need a magnifying glass to read and free candy provided by Hershey's for the would be trick-or-treaters on the night, swag for fans of all ages.  And you know the adults took more candy than the kids. 

Throughout the night Godfrey collected contestant's for a costume contest, which, strangely, was not won by any of the seven or more highlighted Michael Jackson impersonators in the audience, but instead won by a clever Metro-themed costume.  Other entries included a cake and baker, a 70s girl, a wizard (really?), and of course a Michael Jackson.  Not included in the competition was the winner of last night's "Dance Cam," who looked to be a middle aged man dressed as an "old maid."

However, speaking of Jackson, an artist rendered an amazing likeness of the late pop singer at half time by painting on a spinning canvas at the center of the court to the eventual theme of "Thriller," the Wizard Girls dressed in various Halloween-themed costumes dancing on the sides.

A great spectacle for D.C. fans and an enjoyable experience by all.  Except maybe fans who sat in front or behind the Dance Cam guy all night, but hey it was Halloween.

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