This is the year -new team, new dynamics. As a ST , I am psyched about the coach, about the new players acquired - Mike Miller to name but one, and the fact that Gilbert is in good health and playing like his old self.
If you watched the game last night, the defense was terrific, and the Wizards battled all the way through the 4th quarter to win. It was a riveting game against the Dallas Mavericks.
The first home game is this Saturday, Halloween, at the Verizon Center, and should be fun.
This is a brand new team with a brand new coach, and it is going to be exciting........

The Wizards are still not up there with Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, the Lakers and San Antonio. Those are the five best teams in the NBA this season. If the Wizards make the Eastern Conference Finals, it would be a huge surprise.

1 down, 81 to go....

You never know what is going to happen. But this team looks like it could go to the play-offs..I'm not saying they would win this year......but get ready.....things are changing....and they are lookin mighty, mighty good.
This new coach has a track record of going to the play-offs and winning titles. And he knows what it takes to position his team for that. (As I have been saying with the Nats, this past season, they need a manager who has won titles and knows what it takes to get to that position of being in the play-offs).
But let me say, some of these Wizards players, watching them shoot, is magic - they are that good, when on a roll. When I was at the pre-season game this month, and watched Gilbert drive, weaving and bobbing like on an obstacle course and then dunk a basket - it was unbelievable.
I tell you, to be there in person, and watch Arenas play - you just can't duplicate that. I don't care if you have HD or not, it is not the same. Just like being at the Baseball game vs. watching it on TV - it's just not the same - it's all about being there and seeing all the action with your own eyes.

Hopefully with Gilbert, Caron, Mike Miller, and Haywood all healthy and still playing strong. It's going to be an exciting season - I'm pumped.

"1 down, 81 to go...."

When guys who had to play way too much, like JaVale McGee, Dominic McGuire, and Nick Young are relegated to the bench that makes this team better.

When Gil, and maybe more importantly, Brendan Haywood are healthy, that makes this team better.

When guys like Foye, Miller and Oberto come in as much better role players than the Bullets have had in years, that makes this team better.

When your 6th and 7th guards are Mike James and Javaris Crittenden, that makes this team better.

When your coach is Flip Saunders, that makes this team better.

All of these things have happened. This team may not crack the top 3 in the East, but the Bullets are a legit 10-11 deep in quality players.

I caught the end of that game. They were looking good. Nice to see Phil Chenier broadcasting!

I STILL can't get used to the name change, though. Every time I hear them called "The Wiz", I think they need to go to the men's room.

Now I have to clean off my screen a syou made me choke oncoffee as I rea dyour last comment

Did it mess up your Acta mask? Better clean it off - Halloween is just around the corner.

I got a brand new fedora ...it hasa big C on it also just cam back getting my head shaved

The Celtics killed the Bulls tonight at home. They beat the Cavs in Cleveland to start the season. If the C's stay healthy (and that includes Glenn Davis returning in 6 weeks from his injury due to immaturity), I don't see how even Cleveland or Orlando stands in their way of the NBA Finals.

My early prediction is Celtics over Spurs in June. Artest will be enough of a distraction to keep the Lakers from getting past San Antonio.

I think Artest will be a model citizen in LA. The distraction is going to be Lamar Odom and the idiot Kardisian/ Jenner zoo surrounding him

Halloween at the Verizon Center for the Wizards game was fun, fun, fun. Entrances were all decorated in Halloween colored balloon archways; as you waited to get in to the concourse,they were creating fog to make it Holloweenish at the entrances, so there was a mist all around you; they had huge boxes of candy on tables in the concourse that you could help yourself too, like trick or treat; they had a Halloween costume contest with the best costume winning 2 free season tickets for the rest of the season to the Wizard games - a guy dressed up as Mr. Metro, and it was very creative with all the colors and lines and metro stops - he won the two tickets (he was probably in his early 20's).

For the opening home game announcement of the team, they had special effects, with fire coming out of the top sides of the arena and above the baskets for the introduction of the players; they had a free snack/light buffet for the VIP and Courtside ticket holders for opening night; the Acela club (serviced by Levy, also)was all decorated for Halloween with the gourmet buffet like they have in the National Presidents Club, but more extensive; and they had local celebrities at the game. It was alot of fun.

I go into this much detail because to me its shows that the Wizard organization really go all out for there fans, and do nice little extras and beneys for there fans, especially the Season Ticket holders and 1/2 Season Ticket holders. More so than even the Capitals organization does.
But the key thing was that the game was absolutely fantastic, with fans booing and cheering, and jumping up and down. With Gilbert Arenas making shots that you just couldn't believe, and the Wizards team working together to make the win. It was a fun night.

Next Home game is Wednesday, Nov 4 at 7:00pm against the Miami Heat.............Bring It On....

Sounds like you had a great time. Always good to have SOMETHING to cheer about in Washington! I'll try to follow the Bullets, uh, Wizards, more closely this year than I have in the past.

from a seven year Wizards season ticket holder (400 level) glad you had fun. Unfortunately I could not make the opener nor the next 2 home games. However, there is a buzzz about the team this year and in the end I think they will go farther than the Caps in the playoffs (that should generate some comments). last year was such a disaster did not go to many games.

you are right about the team offering more "things" to season ticket holders than the Nats--free tickets, upgrades, etc. looks like the Nats are trying to catch up this year with that.

I think with the new coach, it is a new day for the Wizards team. Flip is a winning coach and has the experience and drive that is needed. Plus the players they have acquired for this team are really clicking together. It is exciting and I believe you will be at a lot of games this year.

I am astounded at the lengths the Wizard organization goes to, to make the whole experience of attending a Wizards game, fun and exciting. Definitely they take care of the ST fans. And the fact you can be a 1/2 ST, and have VIP seats or seats in any section you want, is great. I cannot believe all the nice things they provided for the opening night Home game,for the fans. I hope the Nats organziation might take some lessons from that, and do more things for their ST, and maybe in the future have 1/2 ST, who could buy seats in any section and not be restricted.

On a side note, I will have to look for Ryan Zimmerman, this year, at the Wizards game. They have a celebrity photo of him attending a game last year on the Wizards web page.

Okay, revamp and revise, get modern and get up to date. You can do it. Just say Wizzzzz-zards. Think of the Wizards of old - Merlin,etc. It's a new day, it's a new team, with a great coach.

It's winter, time for basketball and hockey. I rooted for the Caps last year, however I was hugely disappointed in the play-offs and the Caps performance. This year, I am switching my primary attention to the Wizards; oh yes, I still wave at Ted when I see him, but I am intrigued by the Wizards this year, and see great things happening. It's building, this Wizards team is building.
It's exciting.

The Caps have yet to show they belong with the elite of the NHL.

As a geographically challenged fan, I'm happy to say I'll have the chance to watch the Wiz/Heat game tomorrow since it's on ESPN. However, after watching one game there's still something missing from this team that could make me believe in a playoff berth: inside domination. I'm glad they will be better than the dismal showing of last season, but I'm not going to buy into any kind of championship talk until I see them manhandle in the paint.

Just my opinion.

Hope they prove me wrong.

The Wiz showed last night like the Caps, the pre-season hype is just that.

Both are good teams but not near capable of playing up to the hope of their fans