Rashard Lewis Struggles in First Game with Washington Wizards
by Evan Dunlap on Dec 22, 2010 11:43 PM EST
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PrintIn his first game with the Washington Wizards since the Orlando Magic traded him for Gilbert Arenas, forward Rashard Lewis struggled. The two-time All-Star shot 4-of-10 from the field, including 0-of-5 on three-pointers, for 8 points in 22 minutes off Washington's bench. He also added 3 rebounds, an assist, and a blocked shot.
Lewis asked to be excused from the Wizards' first game with him available, a 108-75 win over the Charlotte Bobcats, because he was not mentally prepared to play. Thus, he debuted tonight against the Chicago Bulls instead.
As Michael Lee of the Washington Post writes, Wizards coach Flip Saunders says he intends to use Lewis at both forward positions, depending on matchups--something the Magic tried this season to mixed results. Here's Saunders, as Lee quotes him, recalling Lewis' days with the Seattle SuperSonics:
"He was moved around the floor. He wasn't as one dimensional. They brought him off screens into the post. They could post him off little guys. Spread him on the floor against bigger guys and move him around a little bit."
Though Lewis came up a bit short in his Wizards debut, he already has more baskets with his new team than Arenas does with Orlando. In two games serving as a backup combo guard, Arenas has missed 14 of his 17 shots from the floor. Coach Stan Van Gundy has said he believes Arenas is trying a little too hard, but will soon return to form.
Orlando Pinstriped Post was the first to report Lewis' involvement in trade talks between the Magic and the Wizards, which were previously thought to center around a package of Vince Carter and Marcin Gortat.
To keep up with Lewis' post-Magic career, please check out SB Nation sister-site Bullets Forever.
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Yeah...he looked pretty depressed.
Tough to watch him go through it. I really hope that the next time the Wizards play the Magic in Orlando, the fans give him a ton of cheers to let him know how much he meant to the franchise.
by The BBQ Chicken Madness on Dec 23, 2010 8:14 AM EST up reply actions
Hope the Magic prepared an AVP
something like what D. Lee got in NY
He can always go home and count his money that he doesnt deserve.... you know to feel better
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Dec 23, 2010 11:02 AM EST up reply actions
I didn't think he did so bad :x
though yeah, I guess saying he struggled was accurate. He looked sad sitting on the bench :((
I'm a girl.
HEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I am finding enjoyment out of this story for some reason
:) :) :)
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Dec 23, 2010 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
mean!
I'm a girl.
HEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
by TheGiantSquid on Dec 23, 2010 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Hope he plays well versus everyone in the East, but Orlando.
Thanks, Lew.
"...sometimes your eyes lie to you..." ~SVG | I'm on Twitter
Hope we can still get him back after his contract is done
still hoping he gets a title with the Magic
I wouldn't have been mentally prepared either
if I got traded to Hell.
Without Rashard Lewis in '09, the Magic don't make the NBA Finals
Thanks for all the contributions and for playing such a big part on the 2008-’09 Eastern Conference Champs!
Chicago Bears... 2010 NFC North Champions... Go Bears!
Chicago Blackhawks... 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Champions
Orlando Magic... 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Champions
by Mike from Illinois on Dec 23, 2010 4:06 AM EST reply actions
yes this is truw, but that was on the THANK YOU RASHARD LEWIS POST
i can see you still cant get over him being gone
It's been 5 days
Rashard was a HUGE part of this team, who are you to say when others should “get over him being gone”? What’s so bad about an extra thank you? Rashard came to Orlando, helped us win, and did it at the expense of his own individual success.
Our 4th option on offense and a “average defender” was a huge part of tis team???
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Dec 23, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
He made it possible to do our 4 out 1 in.
Sure, other guys could have been employed in that fashion, but it was Lewis. I believe bringing him in was what gave us the idea in the first place. Stan plugged him in at the four, out of necessity, and the guy adapted.
He was VERY important to this team.
You’re entitled to show disappointment in his recent play, but to say that he wasn’t a HUGE part of our championship run the last few years is just short-sighted.
I’m not his biggest fan, but there’s no point in being mean-spirited on his way out.
Best of luck to you Lew.
by Hoop Dreams on Dec 23, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed. Rashard was an integral part of this team in the past 3 years
That 2009 team was incredible to watch, and Rashard’s offensive versatility and solid defense (against players outweighing him by 10-30 pounds, mind you) was one of that team’s strengths.
Proudly mocking the Disciples of Panic (some Magic fans) since October 29, 2010.
by funny80sguy on Dec 23, 2010 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
I will say he was apart of this team for the last 3 years
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Dec 23, 2010 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
:/ I wish we never traded him for Arenas…
by INTOTHEMEATGRINDER on Dec 23, 2010 4:39 AM EST reply actions
E.D. had a point in that Sekou Smith podcast saying
that Otis could have waited for Lewis’ trade and give him a chance to play again with Turk. I also think that Rashard would have benefit of the Sun’s trade but we’ll never find out, I guess.
I hope that Saunders will have a good use of Lewis and that Wizard’s fans will call him Ice-O soon enough.
Don't mind my spelling. I'm a Typo Master.
I agree.
I would’ve waited to see if Rashard and Turk still had that connection since no one else was going to trade for Arenas. However, I do understand the logic of Otis trading for Arenas now in hopes that the Magic would develop chemistry now rather than having to do it again later if we did trade Shard for Arenas right before the deadline.
IT was time for him to go, you guys know that
Everyone was mad about his contract because wew were stuck with him. I was his biggest fan but at some poit i had to smell the roses and realize he camt BE ICE-O anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!
you're right, being appreciative to one of the main reasons that this team turned it around
is very very lame.
Don't mind my spelling. I'm a Typo Master.
Yep
We were stuck with him, now we’re stuck with Arenas. For longer. On a worse contract.
Clearly we should be very happy about that.
by eltharion_doa on Dec 23, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
Arenas is a better player however
I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?
by Souwantmyname on Dec 23, 2010 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
Based on what we've seen so far,
false.
Otis Smith, what you've just done is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard of. At no point in your rambling, incoherent trades were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this blog is now dumber for having witnessed it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
by MoveThoseChains on Dec 23, 2010 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
If you're talking about a guy who scores 16.3 points on 15.1 shot attempts per game...
then yes, Arenas is better in that aspect. But in terms of efficiency which this offense revolves around, Rashard trumps Gil. 52% TS to Gil’s 49.5%.
I don't think that's proven yet
He’s had two terrible games and one good one. Lewis was putting up 1/3 good, 1/3 average and 1/3 bad. Gil hasn’t even got to the point of performing at the same level as Bad Rashard, let alone NBA Finals Rashard.
And even if Gil is better now, it’s pretty unlikely he’ll better than $20m of cap space in a year and a half, or better than what we could have got for an essentially expiring contract in 18 months.
by eltharion_doa on Dec 24, 2010 5:57 AM EST up reply actions
When the Wizards play the Magic next time...
you’ll truly appreciate what Shard did for this franchise.
Please tell me you're joking.
Rashard Lewis added an element to this team, a big man who can shoot 3’s or take other Power Forwards off the dribble. He was a bigger part of our rise to power than Turk. Don’t believe me? Just look at all our 50 win seasons we racked up while he was here and Turk couldn’t lead the Magic to one without the addition of Rashard. Not to mention, we still won 59 games and made it to the ECF last year without Turk. And also, when Turk played PF for Phoenix and we played against them, Rashard DESTROYED him! Now that we have an extremely thin frontline, Rashard’s loss will be felt greatly. Watch him return to all-star form playing alongside John Wall and in a system where he’s not restricted to standing outside the arc.
You know,
adding a bunch of exclamation points doesn’t make you right.
Otis Smith, what you've just done is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard of. At no point in your rambling, incoherent trades were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this blog is now dumber for having witnessed it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
by MoveThoseChains on Dec 23, 2010 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Rashard was vital to our team's success in the past..
But lets be REAL..he was not producing on the floor the past couple of years the way we needed him to..he wasn’t aggressive in looking for his shots..most of the games he played this year, he looked lost out on the floor like he really didn’t know what he was doing..he played lethargically like he really didn’t want to be on the court…you simply can’t have that on your team when the goal is winning championships…sorry…just telling it like it is…
I don't think anybody's saying he was playing great.
Just showing some love to a guy who we all liked to watch at one point or another.
by Hoop Dreams on Dec 23, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
It was going downhill fast after the huge contract..
I think he was too comfortable here, got stale, thought we were stuck with him and had no reason to try to improve, no pep in his step, honestly I feel for him but we’ll be better off without him. He’s a pro and I’ll do him some good.
No
You’re telling it like you think it is, which is fine. But that doesn’t mean it is – lots of people saw Rashard’s last few months in Magic blue/white very differently.
by eltharion_doa on Dec 24, 2010 5:59 AM EST up reply actions
I feel bad for the guy.
Shard was one Magic players I always liked and was thrilled we signed. Unfortunately his contract was an albatross on payroll and we had a guy on the roster who could do pretty much the same thing for 1000% less the price. What I really feel bad for is he is stuck on that team that is going nowhere. His contract is untradeable and about the time they become competitive enough he’s going to be at the end of the contract. Really shitty situation.
"Where do you go from here, Dion?" "I go to Toronto."
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Ryan Anderson's playing for $19,500???
Someone should tell the NBAPA the Magic are rorting the wage scale.
by eltharion_doa on Dec 24, 2010 6:00 AM EST up reply actions
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