Standing the East: 14th

Win/Loss Record: 6/29

This week…

• Wizards start the year 0-3

• Weekly Headlines: Kuzma & Jones trade rumors

• The Road Team’s Home Court Advantage

• Upcoming Schedule

Weekly Recap

^{Cavs blow out Wizards in Cleveland 140-101}

The Wizards started off pretty good in this one shooting over 50% from the field in the 1st quarter. They kept it up throughout most of the second quarter but Donavan Mitchell hit 2 big threes at the end of the half to put the Cavs up by 12. It was all downhill after that….

Kuzma led the way with 16 points on over 58% shooting and 3 assists. Mike Muscala brought in 12 points in his best game of the season. Kispert had 12 points as well but went 0-6 from beyond the arc. Poole had another terrible game contributing only 3 points and 1 turnover.

Bilal Coulibaly only scored 5 points but made up for it on the defensive end with 3 steals, 2 blocks and 5 rebounds.

^{Cavs secure 2nd win against Wizards 114-90}

The main difference in this one were the Wizards uniforms and the fact that Tyus Jones and Bilal Coulibaly led Washington in scoring. Besides that, the outcome was pretty much that same.

Tyus Jones is having the best season of his career. He’s improved in every statistical category and it showed in this game. Jones finished with 16 points on 60% shooting, 4/6 from three and 5 assists. He is definitely one of the Wizard’s top trade assets this season.

Bilal Coulibaly had another solid performance with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 1 steal. Here is a sequence we are getting used to and would like to see more of…

^{Knicks hang on to beat Wizards 121-105}

The Knicks came out firing from the get-go and jumped to a 15-point lead by the end of the first quarter. The deficit got as high as 26 points in the second quarter before the Wizards trimmed it down to 20 points by halftime.

The third quarter was different and the Wizards made it interesting. They were making defensive stops, getting points in transition, and Kuzma got hot from three.

The Wizard’s managed to cut the lead to as low as five points but that was the closest they’d get the rest of the game.

Julius Randle always seems to dominate against the Wizards and this game was no different. He had 39 points, Jalen Bruson added 33 points and the Knicks shot 39% from three. The Wizards were led by Kuzma’s 27 points and Deni Avdija had a season-high 23 points.

Not gonna lie, this was the highlight of the game…

@donteyt1

Miles McBride Rises over the defense for the emphatic putback 😱

Wizards Headlines

The Road Team’s Home Court Advantage 

We’ve all noticed this throughout the years at Wizard’s games.  In fact, it’s a well-known issue around Washington sports fans; the visiting team often has more fans than the home team.  It’s even gotten Washington’s players expressing their frustration.  Back in November, Deni Avdija commented “Gets me angry sometimes, honestly.  Playing in your city and having the whole stadium cheering Lets Go Knicks”.

Well last night’s game was also against the Knicks.  I’ve never been to a game at Madison Square Garden, but it felt like a home game for the Knicks.  The Knick fans were loud, they were obnoxious, and they brought the energy.  It’s the not first time we’ve seen the Knicks at home.  I was expecting it.  It also doesn’t help that we sit behind the visiting team’s bench.

@user72393705930077

But each time, it seems like the Knick fans at Capital One cult grows.  Resenting these Knick fans, and wearing my recently gifted Kuzma Wizard’s jersey, I couldn’t hold my discomfort.  After the Wizard’s cut what was once a 25-point Knicks lead down to single digits forcing a Knicks timeout, I got out of my seat and started a “Let’s go Wizards” chant.  Wearing a bright red jersey in a sea blue, the chant got some traction. About 3-4 fans joined me, totaling about half of the dirty looks I received.  To the Knicks’ fans credit, I didn’t get any boos or thumbs down, and the only retaliation was after the game when one of them walked up to me and said “Kuzma sucks”.

Washington, DC is such a transient city that Ted Leonsis doesn’t need the Wizards to be successful to sell tickets.  The fans from the road team’s city will just by the tickets.  It wasn’t always like this.  I remember the playoff years when Wall and Beal were coming up.  Those home game crowds brought the energy.  If the team gets back to that level, we should regain the home court advantage.

Upcoming Schedule

• Monday, Jan. 8th @7:00pm EST: Wizards vs Thunder (Home)

• Wednesday, Jan. 10th @7:00pm EST: Wizards vs Pacers (Away)

• Saturday, Jan. 13th @7:30pm EST: Wizards vs Hawks (Away)

Have a great week!