Big Stages on the Horizon

The US continues to replay the 1972 Olympics this weekend as we take on Lithuania in the semi-finals of the FIBA World Basketball Championships.  

Earlier this week the US defeated Russia by 10.  I was hoping for a bigger, blow out win after Russia's American-born coach, David Blatt, opined that upon further review the Soviet Union was the rightful winner in the gold medal game of the 1972 Olympics in Munich.  What a moron.

For years and years Lithuania was kind of the New York City of the Soviet Union, producing most of the USSR's best players.  This year they are led by Linus Kleiza, who played for George Karl and the Denver Nuggets prior to spending a year in Greece with Olympiacos last season.  But Kleiza went to high school at Montrose Christian near the District.

Lithuania blew out Argentina in their quarterfinal game this week, an impressive achievement, but I can't imagine them hanging with the U.S.  With Argentina, Greece and Spain already eliminated our squad should have a pretty clear path to the U.S.'s first world basketball championship since 1994.  Game time for the tilt against Lithuania is noon eastern on Saturday.

Turkey takes on Serbia in another battle between Ottoman Turks and Byzantine-era Orthodox Christians.  

Champions League

On Wednesday, Greek soccer champion Panathinaikos travels to Catalonia to take on one of soccer's most famous and glamorous clubs, Barcelona.  Barca and PAO are in the same European Champions League group, along with two other teams.  The top two advance to the knock out round of 32.  

Barca features arguably the world's best player in Lionel Messi, and the game will be an interesting test for Pana and Greek soccer.  Game time is 9:30 am on Wednesday. 

Wizards Continue to Slide

Evan and I witnesses another terrible loss by our hometown Wizards tonight, to the suddenly respectable Oklahoma City Thunder, final score 98-110.  Losing to the Thunder is not as shameful as it used to be.  The terrible nature of this loss is that for 3 quarters the Zards led or controlled the game.

But with 52 seconds left in the third quarter, and with Washington nurturing a 76-73 lead, Brendan Haywood left the game for a breather.  With B-Hay resting the Thunder went on a 22-14 run, relentlessly attacking the rim in Haywood's absence. One drive was by Fayetteville native Eric Maynor, who had a nice game off the bench.

When Haywood returned the Wizards made it close again, but the versatile Thunder started hitting from outside, Arenas turned it over a few times, and the game was over.

I think it is safe to say the 10-20 Wizards officially stink (nonetheless, I still like going to the PhoneBooth, and love the Wizards Holiday Pack that I got for Christmas; 2 tickets to 3 games - OKC, New Orleans, and Sean May's Sacramento Kings - plus an XXL Arenas jersey).

It is probably time to admit that the Arenas-Jamison-Butler magic can not be recreated and that Arenas, who was fantastic for 3 quarters tonight, is still not the player he used to be before his multiple knee surgeries.  Perhaps he'll round into form after a few more games, or that he is still not in basketball shape.  

Gil's $110 million contract makes him untradeable but don't be surprised if Butler is packaged for Tracy McGrady or Kevin Martin.  McGrady to Washington is unlikely, though, since that would mean two, oft-injured, former all-star, highly-paid guys - who need to ball in their hands a lot - on one team.

Random Notes

• You can text messages to the scoreboard at the Verizon Center, and tonight my 'It's Gilbert's World, We Just Live In It' message was posted.  My 'Oklahoma's Senators Are Crazy' message did not. 
• I was really impressed by Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, and the Thunder in general.  In two years if their core stays together - those two, plus point guard Russell Westbrook - this team could really make some noise.  
• Ditto the Wizards foes the night before, the Memphis Grizzlies, who feature maturing talents like Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, and OJ Mayo.  If the NBA had an U-25 league those two teams would battle it out for the championship.  
• It's hard to believe what Durant can do at 6'10 (though his legs are as skinny at 5'7' Earl Boykins').  Durant had no trouble generating a good shot, has a great midrange game and can take it to the rack despite his skinny frame.  He doesn't appear that interested in rebounding, but his offensive game is unmatched for a player of his size and age (only 21 years old).
• I was almost more impressed by Jeff Green, and his versatility.  He hit two three-pointers mixed in with some very acrobatic drives and rebounds.  I remember him as almost a lunch-pail kind of forward at Georgetown but he looked like a developing All-Star tonight in his return to the Verizon Center.