Wolff-y, you came through for us big time. I'm sorry. Photo via KCWizards.com
Rather than try to exprees deep, insightful thoughts about Wednesday night’s incredible come from behind victory that kept our dearly beloved Wizards’ playoff dreams on life support, I’ll keep it simple. Actually, I’ll probably do this after most games from now on.
Sometimes, it’s just too dificult to come down off that emotional high of a huge win like this and be rational and thorough. Or, to get back up after a heart-breaking loss. I suppose after a loss, I’ll hand out the “Sad Props.”
With that said, mad props for Wednesday night’s victory go to…
First and foremost, Peter Vermes gets my Man of the Match award. It’s “Man” of the Match, not player of the match. I’ve been hard on him over the last few weeks for his lineup selection. Most notably, the decision to play Birahim Diop as a center forward. (That criticism still stands. Wednesday night’s game is further proof.)
But, the selection of Diop aside, Vermes was brilliant in this one. I, for one, didn’t think he would go with a full regular starting XI, due to fatigue after playing at Chivas USA just 72 hours prior. But, to his credit, he trotted the exact eleven men that took three points on Sunday out against Houston.
Things started not so well. Actually, they started terribly. But, it was the substitutions and tactical changes Vermes made that won this game.
Bringing on Teal Bunbury at half for Diop was a no-brainer, but I’ve thought there were no-brainers at other times this year that he flubbed up. Also, the other halftime substition, taking off the usually bulletproof Stephane Auvray for a much more attack-minded player in Jack Jewsbury, was one I didn’t see coming.
