Life after All-Star weekend has been tough for Washington, which has lost by an average of 20 points in its first two games since the break. It doesn't get any easier on Friday night in Miami against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat, who will surely be motivated after losing to the Bulls on Thursday.
NBA trade deadline acquisitions Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford and Maurice Evans are expected to debut for the Wizards. Washington will be without Andray Blatche, Al Thornton and Hamady Ndiaye per Michael Lee.
Per Blatche, some people might not be so upset that he is missing in action:
Blatche has had quite a day on Twitter, which you can read more about here. I have yet to see any evidence that his absence is related to that incident, but it is interesting. For what it's worth, Lee said the organization is taking Blatche at his word and will not take disciplinary action.
As for the basketball, we'll get to see how much burn Flip Saunders gives the new pieces tonight and where they fit in. Also we'll see exactly how unhappy Bibby looks. The word is that Bibby wants a buyout so he can join a contender. Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld discussed the possibility, which you can read all about over at Bullets Forever.