Miami Heat (4-1) at Washington Wizards (2-3)

By Dan Rodgers

It is a Wednesday night in early November and the Washington Wizards are hoping for a better season than last (19-63). Gilbert Arenas is back and healthy; however, the Wizards can’t help but get bit by the injury bug as Antawn Jamison is out for the first 10 or so games of the season. Andray Blatche is one of the temporary replacements. While Jamison is clearly the better offensive player, Blatche brings a strong defensive presence to the floor that the Wizards lack with Jamison in the lineup. Blatche is receiving starter’s minutes with Jamison out and does have some potential on the offensive side of the ball. He averages 16.0 points-per-game, setting his career high on Halloween against New Jersey putting up 30 points in a 19 point Wizards victory.

Now that we have a bit of background on the Wizards we’ll talk about the Heat game. Upon Mike and mine’s arrival in D.C. we get to out seats about 15 minutes before game time. A girl and her camera man approach us and ask to put us on the JumboTron before the game. Obviously we agree and at the conclusion of the interview the girl offers us FLOOR SEATS! Unreal, yes I know. However, after we get down to the floor with a bunch of fans cheering for us, we are lead to our seats which are located in the 100-level section. Unfortunate, yes I am aware. Well, 100-level seats are good enough and we were damn close to the action.

The Wiz got off to an extremely slow start and the Heat most definitely capitalized. Miami was up 27-8 with 3:30 left in the first quarter, but the Wizards were able to cut the 19 Miami lead to 14 at the end of the first. The second quarter was all about Washington climbing back from the early deficit. Washington showed some signs of life as the cut the lead to nine and trail by single digits at the half. The Wizards owned the third quarter as they rallied behind Arenas’ 11 points in the quarter. Somehow, the Wizards started playing defense and outscored the Heat by nine in the quarter to tie the game going into the forth.

Even though Washington showed a lot of heart coming from a large first quarter deficit, the story of this game was Dwayne Wade and not capitalizing on Miami’s mistakes. The crucial momentum shift in this game was actually with :44 remaining in the game. It was tied at 89-89 and Stevenson steals the ball and drives to the hoop. He is unable to convert but does draw a foul. He missed both free throws and then Wade went right down the court to hit the go-ahead jumper with 24.9 seconds to go. Washington is unable to tie the game on their opportunity and has to foul. That was all she wrote as Miami stole one on the road, 93-89.

Washington Stat Line:

Arenas: 32 points, 3 assists

Haywood: 16 points, 11 rebounds

Butler: 13 points, 10 rebounds

Miami Stat Line:

Wade: 40 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds

Richardson: 19 points, 9 rebounds

Haslem: 13 points, 7 rebounds

The Wizards have no chance at the playoffs this season, especially considering Mike Miller went down with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, if they can’t consistently produce points. Arenas can’t be the whole offense and the team is lacking in the assist department (15). This team better get their act together if they want to fight in an Eastern Conference that lacks in quality depth once you get past the big three (Orlando, Boston, Cleveland). Best of luck to them. Who knows, maybe the Wiz can get through this season without a devastating injury, oh wait, Jamison and Miller. My bad.

Rodgers That