Wizards struggle from the field in loss to Suns

November 8, 10:14 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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Flip's Wizards are playing solid defense, but have not found
offensive consistency this season. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)

The Washington Wizards couldn't find the basket this afternoon and fell 102-90 to the visiting Phoenix Suns.  Steve Nash led Phoenix with 11 points and 17 assists while Gilbert Arenas and Andray Blatche scored 20 a piece in the loss.

Phoenix arrived in Washington with a team average of 50.1% from the field after six games, including a 110-103 win over the previously undefeated Boston Celtics last Friday.  Should the Los Angeles Lakers lose tonight to the New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix will take first place in the Pacific Division with a record of 6-1.

Prior to today's game, Washington's offense ranked #21 in the NBA (96.5 PPG) while their defense ranked #17 (98.66 PPG).  Washington allowed Phoenix to shoot 47.7% from the field tonight and 44.4% from behind the three point arc, however, for Wizards Head Coach Flip Saunders, offense is the problem, not defense.

Our offense has been stagnant.  We are struggling offensively, which has put a lot of undue pressure on us defensively.  Defensively we were active.  We forced 20 turnovers and 23 points off turnovers which kept us in the game.  We just have to keep on grinding."

While Washington will play stretches of solid defense, they continue to give up shots around the perimeter, which hurt them against a Phoenix team which thrives off of long distance shots.  The Wizards controlled the Phoenix pick-and-roll fairly well in the first half.  However, in the second half, the Suns played with more accuracy, and in the pivotal third quarter, Steve Nash led the Suns with 2 points, 7 assists, and 0 turnovers, while Amar'e Stoudemire scored 8 points.

The Wizards, down 89-75 with 8:11 left in the fourth, substituted Dominic McGuire into the game for Caron Butler.  Washington went on an 8-0 surge to cut the deficit down to 6, then stumbled as Brendan Haywood stepped to the free throw line and missed a set of two shots which could have made it 89-85, Suns, with about five and a half minutes to go.  Following the botched free throws, Phoenix center Channing Frye replied with a statement three, one of Frye's 4-for-8 from downtown in the game.

Frye's three was the dagger.  With just over five minutes left in regulation, down 92-83, the Wizards looked defeated and depleted.  Coach Saunders decided to only play 8 guys in rotation today, and the players felt the strain.  "(We) ran out of gas," Arenas stated, after the game.  Saunders also spoke about Andray Blatche, who clocked 33 minutes.  "Andray can't play the major minutes," Flip said, "Usually when guys get tired you don't want to have a chance at guys getting hurt." 

Butler expended the most minutes in the game with about 41 and a half to lead all players.  Butler missed a lay-up with 9:33 left in the second quarter, and Blatche missed the follow.  The Wizards were just off.  "I had six lay-ups, that I missed, I mean come on" Caron joked post game.  Butler did miss 4-of-5 lay-up attempts in the game, including a late fourth quarter lay-up that was blocked by Nash.  Things were just off.  "It is what it is," Butler said.  "Just remain positive.  We'll be all right.  The fans will be all right. You know, it's a game.  We've got like 70 something left."

Listening to Brendan Haywood especially, as well as Arenas, Butler, Randy Foye, and DeShawn Stevenson, one constant theme that kept popping up was the pick-and-roll offense, something Phoenix lives off of and something Washington could benefit from when it comes to Oberto. 

When I think of Oberto, who had a steady game tonight, no real foul trouble, most minutes he has played all season today, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, I realize the main problem with Oberto being such a great big man passer is he never shoots.  If Arenas or Foye gives the ball to Oberto in the post, nine times out of ten Oberto is going to make an awkward shot fake then pass the ball back out.  Often enough, it's the right pass, but the pick-and-roll is something that could give Oberto an offensive role on this Wizards team, that does not have the luxury of a Tim Duncan, a big that on any given night could give you 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists.

However, Oberto's role is well respected by the Wizards, even if he passes up most of his shot opportunities.  "When your 4 man has 5 assists, that tells you something, tells you your big man is making plays," Arenas said post game regarding Oberto's line.

While Washington opened their season 2-1, including a blow-out home opener victory against the New Jersey Nets, the Wizards now rest firmly at the bottom of the Southeast Division.  The 2-5 Wizards will hope to break their four game skid when they challenge the Miami Heat this Tuesday in the second contest of four between the two division rivals.  Can Washington stop Dwyane Wade?

[ Postgame Interviews: Stevenson, Haywood, Blatche ]
[ Clip: Arenas makes buzzer-beating look easy against Dragic ]

Iron Unkind
Washington has lost their last two games in part to the season debut of a major talent on each opposing team, Tyler Hansbrough in Indiana (okay, he's a Rook, but still), and Leandro Barbosa today.  The Suns' Robin Lopez did not play, and was in fact listed as inactive, however, he practiced for about 35 or more minutes before the pre-game warm-ups, jumping rope while hopping on one foot, taking shots.  He began taking shots from the baseline, about 16 feet out, and he took one shot that had a bounce I've never seen before.  The shot bounced backward from the spin of the ball, landed ever so gently on the rim, bounced again slightly and became stuck on the edge of the rim.

Retro Cassell
I also have to highlight Sam Cassell, who danced at the free throw line to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock after training with bigs Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee, and Brendan Haywood maybe an hour or so before pre-game warm-ups.  From the ball court to the dance floor, Cassell still has it.

The Last Straw
DeShawn Stevenson came out for today's pre-game warm-ups with a straw in his mouth, something Caron Butler made famous.  Will these straws bring the team together?  Will Flip hire another hypnotist?  Will Smooth Sam start a dance-dance revolution? Stay tuned.

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