Two disappointing losses to close out 08-09 were the culmination of a basketball season that left the Wizards' players, fans and organization asking one question.. What now?
With a 1-10 record to start, the embarrassment of entering December without a second win was too much for Ernie Grunfeld to stomach. Instead of chalking up the season to injuries and a young squad, Grunfeld took out his anger on one of my favorite coaches in the league. On November 24th, Grunfeld made the decision to fire head coach Eddie Jordan. It was a day I will remember very well. It was my birthday.
With an inexperienced interim coach, detrimental injuries, and at times the worst record in the NBA, the Wizards season was filled with disappointment. Despite Jamison's 38 double-doubles, Caron's 2 buzzer-beaters, McGee's dunking antics, and Crittention's quick skills, the Wizards matched their worst mark in an 82-game season. Their longest losing streak?: 8 games. Back-to-back wins?: Twice, December and Feburary. Largest deficit? 32-points to the Suns, who failed to make the playoffs. And to top it all off... Butler and Jamison weren't even considered as alternates for the All-Star game.
For the Wizards, it was a season that started badly and ended badly. No Arenas or Haywood to start. No Arenas or Haywood to end. Although Gil did return to play in two contests, his double-doubles against Detroit and Cleveland weren't enough to assure victories over both squads. And after the promise of playing in every home game for the rest of the season, Gil's return fell short of expectations.
The one silver lining to this rain cloud: President Barack Obama entered Verizon Center to watch his Chicago Bulls win. The Wizards put on a show, salute and all, and proudly sent the President and his team packing without one.
In their final game at Verizon Center, a 13-point lead over the Raptors, which looked like their 20th win of the season, quickly became the opposite as Chris Bosh hit an uncontested 3 to stun the Wizards in a one point victory.
In their final game of the season, the Wiz kids traveled to Boston to watch a 99-91 lead vanish in the final minutes of the 4th quarter, despite a season-high 39 points from Caron Butler. The Celtics big three sat out in anticipation of the playoffs which left the door wide open for Washington to grab win number 20.
Instead, Eddie House took advantage and set a C's single-season 3-point percentage record. That's the insult. The injury? As if the Wizards haven't suffered enough, Javaris Crittenton left the game late in the third with a sprained right ankle, and the Wizards left The Garden with their heads hung extremely low as they sauntered off the court for the final time.
Now, the Flip side.
The Wizards finally have a real head coach. Say what you will about Flip Saunders. Yes, he's 54-years-old. Yes he has trouble coaching teams past the first round of the playoffs. And yes, he is still without a title. But this isn't the time to think big. Saunders led the T'wolves to the playoffs 8 of the 9 seasons he was there. Following his time in Minnesota, his 3 seasons with the Pistons resulted in 3 Eastern Conference finals appearances. As a coach, you can lead a team to the post season, you can't make them drink the water.
And the golden ticket. The Wizards (potentially) have the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. With the second most balls in the lottery, the Wizards odds of drafting a stud (See: Blake Griffin) are extremely high. I can't do the math but when the 09-10 season begins, and the new-look Wizards walk out of the tunnel, led by Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, followed by Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and Blake Griffin or likewise, and coached by Flip Saunders, there will be something for Washington fans to believe in. They won't be wearing their gold jerseys, but they will look more like a Redeem Team than the USA Olympic Gold Medalists. And they will play like it too. Agent Zero guarantees it.
