One Step Forward, Another Three Backward

Leave it to the Wizards to turn a 17-point halftime lead into a one-point loss. This is usually why you can never trust the Wizards. First, they're outscored by the Hornets, who are playing without Chris Paul, by 18 points in the second half. Second, they score a basket to go up by one with .5 seconds left in the game, and they still lose by a point. Incredible. Couple this loss tonight with the inevitable loss to the Mavericks Wednesday night, and they're going into the All-Star break on a nice losing streak, which should really help build confidence for the proverbial second half of the season. It makes me wonder if that five-game winning streak is indicative of this team's talent, or a complete aberration. I don't have an answer for that. What I do know is that this team is not close to being ready to compete daily with the powers of the NBA. Losing to the Hornets, I don't care if they have Chris Paul or not, and I don't care if they're winning games this year or not, is inexcusable. There's no way a team like the Wizards, who consider themselves to be a playoff-caliber bunch, should allow guys like David West, Kirk Snyder and Speedy Claxton to score seemingly at will. More importantly, Caron Butler needs to do better than score 10 points, and Antonio Daniels cannot have a 1-for-10 shooting night.

I'll be interested to see how they respond in Dallas, but I have this sinking suspicion that they'll roll over like dogs in the last game before the break. My sentiments may be correct. From the Washington Post: "It's emotionally draining," said Washington's Caron Butler, who batted the ball to Antawn Jamison before his last-second jumper gave the Wizards the lead. "We got to get over it. It's going to be hard though." You can read the game story HERE.