Tough JuiceFor only the second time this season, all three members of the second-tier trio in the East were together on the floor in uniform. With Gilbert Arenas coming off the bench to play 24 minutes, and Antawn Jamison returning for his first game since a shoulder injury, the Wiz looked as if Eddie Jordan has put out this same lineup for the last 70-something games. They found open shooters, and rarely turned the ball over - as a team, they finished with 25 assists and 10 TO’s.
On the other hand, Boston’s big three looked out of sync after a couple of games in which neither Garnett, nor Pierce, nor Allen played more than 22 minutes. But Doc Rivers kept them on the floor for 30+ a piece last night.
So last night’s Washington win, their third in the four meetings between these two teams, can be boiled down to the revered Big Three being upended by the group that gets no love. And all goes well for both squads, they’re on a crash course to meet in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
“It’ll go down in the second round,” said Caron Butler. “You watch. We find a way to get there, then you’ll see a show.”
As seems to always be the case against the Celts, the Wiz’s unit played with a confident swagger. Case in point, Jamison blew by KG midway through the 3rd and banged a dunk right in front of Kendrick Perkins, sparking a 17-9 Washington run.
“I’m not used to being on ‘SportsCenter,’ ” Jamison said with a laugh. “It happened. It’s not going to define whether we make it to the second round or the Eastern Conference finals. It’s just letting the young fellas know I still got it.”
That run was all the separation the Wiz needed, as they cruised on to a 109-95 win, finishing the season series with the Celtics three games to one in their favor. Barring a serious let-down over their final games, the Wiz look to have the fifth spot in the East locked up, which would slate them for a second round match-up against these Celtics.
“They play great against us, no doubt about it,” said Doc Rivers. “If they were to go against us in the playoff they should have great confidence.”
April 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am
YOUNGFED says:
The Wiz r gonna put the mash on the Celts. Wonder who the pistons will play in the 2nd round.
BTW Caron is killin’em with that suit. Even though dude looks like on of the characters from that Ant movie.
Holla!
April 10th, 2008 at 8:35 am
DT says:
Check out the Wizards record against the east playoff teams…
The Wizards are 3-1 against Boston; 1-1 against Detroit; 1-2 against Orlando; 2-2 against Cleveland; 3-1 against Toronto; 1-2 against Philadelphia; and 2-2 against Atlanta.
They have a chance to even the series with the Magic and Sixers in the next week. As long as they stay healthy, no one wants any part of them in the playoffs.
Jamison is quietly having his best season ever, and has made himself a ton of $$$ since he will be a free agent. If Ernie G can keep this squad intact and add a piece here or there they will be players in the East for the next five years. Look out East, you’ve been warned…
April 10th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Kobeef says:
Keeping this team together will be tough cause they overpaid for a couple of players (etan thomas) and are close to the cap.
They’ll need to re-sign Antawn and Gilbert for a combined $28 million.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Juanito says:
Cavs/Wiz will be a hell of a first round series, and the winner should give Boston fits…that’ll set up Detroit to take down a tired and injured Celtic team…the “big 3″ are too injury-prone to get through two rounds scot free.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Celts Fan says:
Juanito, all good points until your too injury-prone line. They’ve all been healthy this year except KGs ab strain. I think they’ll be fine health-wise.
At least in the 2nd round, it’s either Wash. or Cleveland, so there’s no way we get stuck playing them in the Conf. Finals if Detroit somehow gets knocked off.
By the way, last night was the 2nd night of a back-to-back for the Celtics (both on the road.) An L’s and L, but it should be said…
April 10th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Crabhands says:
“By the way, last night was the 2nd night of a back-to-back for the Celtics (both on the road.) An L’s and L, but it should be said…”
While it was the 2nd night of a Back-to-Back, Doc kept his big guns from playing much in the first half the back to back.
He played them all 35+ minutes the 2nd game.
The Wizards won it, it wasn’t that the “Celtics lost it.”
April 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
GEE...currently trying to learn the the triangle choke hold says:
I got to agree the Celtics just got they collective as$#$ kicked last night.
Plain and simple.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Celts Fan says:
fair enough (and the big 3 all getting 30+ minutes when we’ve already locked up home court for the entire playoffs is RETARDED, but that’s for another post. just remember that when you say all I do is bitch about Doc. he’s not a good game-day coach at all. the big 3 should get about 10-15 mpg each to keep a rhythm but still get rested.)
Just saying, we’re 1 and 1 against them the 2 times our team has been motivated and had something to play for (season debut when we spanked them, and the game after we took an L to them on a home-and-home and one of the big 3 (don’t remember which, Ray maybe?) came back after missing the first L… and we lost the 2nd game worse than the first.)
I think I’m just lying to myself becaues I know the Celtics can contain LeBron and the pips (slow down LeBron, force the rest to beat you, win an 80-75 type game.), but Washington scares the hell out of me in the playoffs more than any team other than Detroit.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Celts Fan says:
Post #8 shortened a lot: I’m a homer (and Doc Rivers needs to give up Ls to rest the Big 3 if necessary, instead of gassing them and still losing to a damn scary Wash. team. Neat…)
April 10th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
PISTONSCHIP08 says:
dont matter. WASH, CLEV, BOS BLOWWWWWWWW i think we know the pistons are the best, so lets just dust off the rafters at the palace and get the parade set up!
April 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
if the Wiz had stayed healthy, they would have smashed bron and the cavs the last 2 years.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
doc says:
If a bitch had a dick she’d be a man.Lebron ran through them jokers healthy already.And Boston mojo goes out the window in the playoffs.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:04 am
bigdre says:
If the Wiz and C’s hook up in the playoffs, I’m smellin another Mavs-Warriors type of upset