We're #5! We're #5!

It was an ugly game, except for Caron's wizardry (pun intended!), but we got the job done. The 1st quarter was especially sloppy. The Wizards looked tense, and the Pistons starters (minus Chauncey Billups) didn't really look like they cared. The Pistons held a 24-19 lead after one quarter, but the starters gave way to the likes of Carlos Delfino and Jason Maxiell in the 2nd, and the game was pretty much over after that. The Zards took an 8-point lead into half-time and the Pistons never really got any closer: Zards 96, Detroit Ex-Bullets 80.

Caron Butler was spectacular last night: 33 points on 13-for-22 shooting, 12 rebounds, 3 steals. Granted, much of it was against guys like Amir Johnson and Alex Acker, but we can still hope that it's an indication of what's to come in the playoffs. Both Butler and Jamison continued their strong play, and we're going to need top-notch production from them against Cleveland.

The Wizards and Cavaliers kick-off the playoffs on Saturday at 3:30 in Cleveland. This series should get a TON of national hype, being that it's Lebron's first playoff appearance. Hopefully the national attention combined with a series victory over the Cavs will get Gilbert some of the ridiculous, media-bandwagon overhyping that Dwyane "Jumpshot" Wade's been getting for the last 2 years.

Notes (lots of stuff on the web today):

> ESPN’s Daily Dime: Caron was "Wednesday's Best", Chris Webber actually showed up for the Sixers last game (what a professional!), Chris Sheridan calls Zards-Cavs "a toss up" but picks the Cavs in 7, and Marc Stein omits Gilbert from his All-NBA teams... BEHIND TONY FREAKING PARKER!!! SHOW ME ONE NBA GM OR SCOUT WHO WOULD TAKE PARKER OVER ARENAS! ONE! I DARE YOU! (deep breath... and moving on...)

> Sports Illustrated has a small interview this week with Gilbert Arenas. A lot of it is old news, but there are two pretty funny parts:

1. Earlier this season, Gil drenched Awvee Storey with a water hose for 3 minutes while he was on the can. Says Gilbert: "It was hilarious. But for some reason, he still wasn't laughing."
2. We all know about "The Eastern Conference Assassin", but apparently Gilbert has given himself quite a few other nicknames. Previously, he's gone by "Black Fever" and "Hurricane", and he's currently going with "The People's Champ". He even had clear bowling balls custom-made with boxing gloves inside of them.

> Apparently Larry Brown wants to bring Jared Jeffries to the Knicks this off-season for the mid-level exception. He would seem to duplicate alot of the things that David Lee already does for them (at a cheaper price), but whatever, it's the Knicks so logic doesn't apply. I do think the Wizards should let Jeffries go, that money could be better spent elsewhere, but at the same time, I wouldn't wish a contract with the Knicks on a good guy like Jeffries.

> Mitchell Butler sighting! The Washington Times catches up with Gilbert's Arena favorite Mitchell Butler, a mainstay of the mediocre mid-90's squads, unsung star of Blue Chips, and randomly reappearing 2004 12th man.

> George Mason Power Forward Jai Lewis will audition for NFL teams today, in the hopes of following in the foot steps of Antonio Gates. I love this quote: "It's tough to teach a guy to be 6'5, 280 or 290 pounds and to move like that." Thanks, Sherlock.

> Scottie Reynolds, a McDonald's All-American from Northern Virginia, asked for his release from Oklahoma now that Kelvin Sampson jumped to Indiana. I wonder if Georgetown or Maryland has a shot at keeping him home now?

> Speaking of Maryland, Ekene Ibekwe and DJ Strawberry might be declaring for the NBA Draft (apparently they don't realize there's not a 3rd round anymore). However, Gary Williams fired back and said they’re not going anywhere. The Terps program hasn't seemed like much fun since the Juan Dixon days.

> It's pretty funny that Adam Morrison used to look like THIS. Somehow, I don't think Larry Bird was ever into Rage Against the Machine and Che Guevara.

> And just for fun... a statistical wrap-up of Kwame Brown's 2005-2006 season

1. 28 minutes per game, 7 points, 7 rebounds, 0.71 assist-to-turnover ratio (1 assist and 1.4 turnovers per game), 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks
2. Hollinger Stats league ranks: 142nd in Player Efficiency Rating, 167th in Turnover Rate, 33rd in rebound rate (just 20th among Centers)
3. Most statistically similar players at his age? Donald Hodge, J.R. Reid, and Iakovos “Big Jake” Tsakalidis
4. Ernie Grunfeld, my love grows stronger for you by the day.