Wow is all I can say.
What an experience for the students and the University.
Here is a great package of info as follow up on the traveling Hoyas and their trip to China.
With a great animation here.
And the President’s follow on comments here as well to the community at large.
Amazing.
I enjoy reading this one.
I know some folks here. They go see players play. They write well and they care deeply.
They go to camps. They go to tournaments. They go to sanctioned events.
I read this one often. Check ‘em out.
One – thud and ugh. See here. Georgetown’s season comes to a disappointing end.
Two – a tough one but our young players are paying their dues and gaining respect. Click here.
Three – a local team stands up and rises against a higher ranked foe. Mason Nation rocks.
The Dougie has jumped the shark. Regis is doing it. Justin Bieber is doing it. I need to find a new “act.” I want to have fun but don’t want to be passé.
I will say a public and humble thank you for being so patient with us a franchise.
There is no real reason to go 25 games without a win on the road yet that was the situation we found ourselves in.
Last night’s win was hard fought and we had huge mental and psychological barriers to overcome.
The team played hard and I was happy to see us counter attack the runs that came at us with calmness and professionalism. It was a team win and we can now all exhale as a franchise. The record consecutive road game losing streak is over. The work is just beginning though as I would like to see us approach the rest of the season – post All-Star Game – as a brand new season and one where we show progress and play to our capabilities. We all want to see upside and progress and promise. We need to break this season up into two halves and judge our progress and state of play.
I am also happy that we bounced back from such a tough game against a great team, San Antonio. Back to back games are hard to play when you are short-handed and we played the road end of that twin bill with diligence and intensity. Welcome back Josh Howard!
I am also proud of the team for not over celebrating or dancing and acting like the win was a big deal on another team’s home court. That was professional and showed common courtesy as Cleveland is having its own sets of problems as it sets course in its own rebuild.
Thank you. I slept just a little better last night after that win. Thank you for the good analysis written here.
When you only turn the ball over twice in the fourth quarter.
And you out rebound the other team.
And you have a “big” play and puts up lots of points, rebounds and blocked shots at a key juncture. Way to go Andray Blatche! The bobblehead giveaway was a nice touch we all thought!
And your point guard doles out lots of assists. And plays a complete game. Against one of the best point guards I have seen in the NBA.
And the BIG SHOT is hit at the right time at the right place. See play and diagram here! Nick Young drained it. Kudos. Big time.
Two in a row at home. Four games over 500 at home.
Let us get this feeling regained on the road next!
Three of four games ended in a win this weekend at Verizon Center. A long busy long weekend. Three out of four. I will take it. 
The Art of a Beautiful Game by Chris Ballard.
This is a wonderful read if you are a basketball fan.
“The Thinking Fan’s tour of the NBA.”
I liked this one very much. Short – crisp – a fun read!
I loved the chapter on point guards. You will too.
No easy way out.
No magic wand to wave.
No fail safe solution.
Hard work.
Patience.
I know it is hard. I know people freak out. I read it in your email. And in certain blog posts.
But now is the time to NOT panic and NOT have knee jerk reactions. We are 20 games into a long rebuild. I am being honest and truthful with people.
I knew what I signed up for. Everyone can make fun of us. I have heard every insult before – during the Caps rebuild – but having a plan and a strategy and sticking with it and not panicking is the sign of maturity and I believe strong leadership.
It is perfectly fine to vent and to be mad and passionate. I love it. It means you all care.
But we are 20 games into our rebuild, a rebuild that may take years to go from bad to good to great.
See this article. Thank you for the reasonableness!
As noted, if it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger.
That was a tough road trip – back to back games – with more injuries. No Andray Blatche and no John Wall last night.
We take the red eye back and land early this morning. The guys have a day off to sleep and then report back on Friday to practice and play Friday night at home against the red hot New York Knicks.
No rest for the weary.
Don’t despair.
This is all a part of a very tough process.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Hopefully we can get energy from our home crowd and get back on the winning note come this Friday. See you all at the game.
The only ads on this blog are from Groupon and are about food: Donuts, pies and the like – deal of the day.
I wouldn’t make fun of food if I was you. It would be bad for business! Laugh out loud snark.
By the way, if a team plays .500 ball, it is possible that record would qualify for the playoffs in the East this season. I believe last season the team in the 8th spot qualified at a couple of games over .500.
THAT was my point!
Win at home a majority of the time and you are right in the thick of things come playoff time.
The Caps are 7-1 at home so far this season.
The Wizards are 1-1 at home this season.
Win at home. Create an identity. Be hard to play against.
Go from there.
Rebounding matters.
Fundamentals matter.
Adhering to systems matter.
I agree with all of this but we are also rebuilding with many new players and many young players thrown into the mix. They must learn to play together. They must build up a psyche that is positive and confident and selfless. They must learn from stats and see the importance of rebounding and defensive sets and stops to their stat line. That is a long and difficult process.
But we must also remember that with a veteran-laden team, we won 19 and 26 games the last two years (respectively) with many all star players. Talent at times doesn’t matter. Effort and team chemistry matter.
Effort matters. Hard work and repetition matters. We can’t say that enough. Our fans want effort, enthusiasm and signs of progress. Great team chemistry and mutual player support and respect as well.
We will get there. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Bloggers can poke fun of my optimism and belief system all they want. Those who can – do. Those who can’t? Well they just blog. I appreciate the pixels.
Come see us play tonight. We are celebrating Asian Heritage Night. This game will also be shown in China to more than 400 million basketball fans. We will have a big crowd tonight but still no sell out.
Yi and Yao on the same floor will make for an interesting game with some dynamic sub plots.
Earvin Magic Johnson will be in town as well. He will meet our players before the game and talk about effort, teamwork and upside.
I hope to see you all tonight. Thanks for making the effort to attend.