Washington Wizards News: Pro Sports Daily

February 12

Washington Post

"Less than 24 hours after losing for the sixth time in seven gamesand for the sixth time in a row against Miami, the Washington Wizards boarded a plane for Detroit to embark on their first extended road trip of the season. The five-game swing over 10 days comes on the heels of a 106-89 defeat on Friday night in which the Wizards pushed the Eastern Conference champions throughout the first 36 minutes but failed to pull ahead despite twice trimming the margin to one late in the third quarter. So players and Coach Randy Wittman reinforced, as they have all season, a commitment to concentration and resolve from tip-off to final whistle. To this point in the season, the Wizards have assembled"

Wizards learn a few lessons after being scorched by Heat

February 11

Washington Times

"Dwyane Wade dribbled up the court and seeing himself surrounded by defenders, took the only logical course of action — he made a 360-spin move, elevated above everyone else on the court and dunked the ball. It was just one of several spectacular moves, which included a couple of Wade alley-oop passes that resulted in LeBron James slam dunks. It was a study in contrast for two teams — the Heat and Wizards — heading in opposite directions. The Heat are considered a favorite to win a championship this season and have a world of expectations on their shoulders — particularly the shoulders of the Big Three: Wade, James and Chris Bosh. Meanwhile, the Wizards are a team filled with developing"

Dwyane Wade torches Washington as Miami rolls to 106-89 win at Verizon Center

February 11

Washington Post

"For most of three quarters on Friday, the Washington Wizards played with enough ambition and resolve that on other nights may have been sufficient to produce a victory. The opponent in this case, though, was reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami, so an incomplete performance instead yielded a 106-89 loss before a Verizon Center crowd of 20,282 that booed the Heat's LeBron James at virtually every turn. The Wizards (5-22), who suffered their sixth loss in seven games, got double-figure scoring from four starters, including a season-high 24 points and 13 rebounds from center JaVale McGee. But Washington shot 38 percent from the field and 19 percent from three-point range and missed 11"

Homecourt disadvantage?

February 10

Washington Post

columnist Michael Lee

"The supposed comforts of home are often absent when the Wizards take the court at Verizon Center, where fans can purchase tickets on the black market for the price of a call from a pay phone, Andray Blatche gets booed every time he touches the ball, and large crowds only come out to support the opposing team. Already this season, the Wizards have heard Chicago's Derrick Rose hear "MVP!" chants, Boston's Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce draw loud ovations for curch-time baskets, and New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin – author of a spectacular and stunning three-game run – turn the building into Madison Square Garden South."

JaVale McGee fighting through 'dog days'

February 10

Washington Post

"JaVale McGee attracted attention for the wrong reasons this week, with his mad dash to get back on defense against Toronto — while the Wizards still had the ball — becoming an unfortunate Internet sensation. But the bizarre sequence — which included him missing a swooping hook shot, John Wall inviting him to come back into the play, then missing a terrible lob from Wall and falling to the ground — has also demonstrated how much McGee has been struggling since the calendar switched to February."

Wizards lose game – and crowd – to Jeremy Lin

February 9

Washington Post

columnist Michael Lee

"When the Wizards get trounced at home, the fans at Verizon Center usually to hit the exits early or send them to the locker room to a chorus of boos. But after the Wizards' disconcerting 107-93 loss on Wednesday against the undermanned New York Knicks, most of the 17,376 fans in attendance stuck around, stood up and applauded — Jeremy Lin and the Knicks. It was a troubling scene for the woeful Wizards, who haven't given their fans much to rally behind and allowed their home arena to morph into Madison Square Garden South. The Wizards are used to feeling like guests when the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston, Chicago and now Miami Heat come to town. But even as Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose have"

Bulls 90, Hornets 67: Bad opponent leads to another fine result

February 9

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bulls are perfecting the underrated art of burying the NBA's worst teams. With Derrick Rose starting but hardly necessary, the Bulls barely broke a sweat in cruising to a 90-67 victory over the short-handed, overwhelmed and 4-22 New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night at New Orleans Arena. Rose, recovering from lower back spasms, scored six points on 3-for-5 shooting with six assists in 22 minutes, but it hardly mattered. C.J. Watson shot 1-for-6 from the field in place of Rose and that didn't matter, either."

Jeremy Lin leads NY Knicks to another victory with 23 points, 10 assists over John Wall and Wizards

February 9

New York Daily News

"And wouldn't you know it, Jeremy Lin can also dunk. "I actually didn't know he could," Tyson Chandler said. For three games now, Lin has evolved into the Knicks' version of Steve Nash. Steve Nash with a vertical leap, that is. The Lin phenomenon took an unexpected turn Wednesday night when the second-year point guard used a crossover dribble to blow past John Wall. The lane opened and instead of simply laying the ball in — that would be too predictable — the 6-3 Lin added another clip to his highlight reel by driving to the basket and elevating for a one-handed dunk. "I think they messed up their coverage," Lin said."

Lin posts double-double as Knicks dump Wizards

February 9

New York Post

"Jeremy Lin continued rising into a national phenomenon in the nation's capital last night, with a soaring dunk that put the exclamation mark on another surreal evening. This is "Linsane!" And if this keeps up, point guard Steve Nash soon will be referred to as the Canadian Jeremy Lin. Lin, the Knicks' savior and coach Mike D'Antoni's angel from heaven, made it a terrific trifecta, lighting up the Verizon Center and John Wall with a third straight virtuoso performance — 23 points and a career-high 10 assists. Lin's third straight spectacular showing energized the Knicks to their third straight win, 107-93 over the Wizards (5-21)."

Wizards veterans ready to get off the bench

February 8

Washington Times

"Maurice Evans has had a great view of the Wizards games so far, but he would prefer the view from on the court than the one at the end of the bench. Evans had played in just three games for the Wizards this season, totaling barely 15 minutes, then played 15 minutes and 22 seconds in Monday's overtime win against the Toronto Raptors. "I had some good minutes, especially the first time getting incorporated back into the rotation," Evans said. "I just wanted to bring a lot of energy and try and focus on making the right plays that would help our team and not hurt us.""

Wizards waive Hamady Ndiaye

February 8

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards waived center Hamady Ndiaye, the team announced on Tuesday night. Recently called up from the Iowa Energy, the Wizards' D-league affiliate, Ndiaye played in just three games this season and did not score."

Rashard Lewis uncertain if he will play Wednesday vs. Knicks

February 8

Washington Post

"After missing Monday night's 111-108 overtime win against Toronto with a sore left knee, Washington Wizards starting forward Rashard Lewis participated only lightly in workouts on Tuesday afternoon and said he was uncertain of his status for Wednesday night's game against the New York Knicks. Lewis participated in the shoot-around following practice, taking jumpers and jogging around the auxillary court at Verizon Center. Lewis has missed three games this season, all with knee soreness. Monday's game, though, was the first he missed because of discomfort in his left knee."

Washington Wizards hold on to beat Toronto Raptors, 111-108 in OT

February 7

Toronto Star

"The ending was full of drama and excitement and emotion and intensity and it was a fun finish to an NBA game. It was the first 36 minutes or so that have to be more troubling to the Raptors than an overtime loss to a team with one of the worst records in the league. Playing with less passion and focus than perhaps at any time this season, the Raptors were so awful in digging a huge hole that there can be absolutely no solace in the fact they rallied to force overtime in an eventual 111-108 loss to the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center here Monday night. "We had an unprofessional start," said coach Dwane Casey. "I don't have an explanation for it and (if) you have to go off on them"

Wizards vs. Raptors: Washington blows big lead, survives in OT to end four-game skid, 111-108

February 7

Washington Post

"Three nights removed from a lopsided loss to Toronto, the Washington Wizards gained a measure of redemption against their Canadian opponent by clinging to a 111-108 overtime victory on Monday despite relinquishing a comfortable lead in the second half before 14,687 at Verizon Center. Washington ended a four-game slide that most recently included consecutive losses by a combined 43 points, but the team couldn't exhale in this one until Raptors guard Jose Calderon failed on a desperation heave as time expired. The miss concluded a triumph in which the Wizards got exceptional play from the starting back court of John Wall and Nick Young, who combined for 60 points."

Wizards rise up defensively in overtime

February 7

Washington Post

"As much as John Wall's 31 points or Nick Young's 29 stood out in the Washington Wizards' 111-108 overtime win against Toronto on Monday night, it was defense that carried the the team when it mattered most. The Raptors failed to score a basket during the extra session, missing all eight of their attempts, including 0 for 3 from three-point range. Reserve forward-center Amir Johnson went 0 for 3 from the field, and starting guard Jerryd Bayless was 0 for 2 after collecting 16 of his team-high 30 points in the fourth quarter. The Wizards also put the clamps on starting point guard Jose Calderon, whose 17 assists contributed substantially to Washington's undoing in a 106-89 loss in Toronto on"

Billups to Wall: Don't forget the pain of losing

February 6

Washington Times

"John Wall sat in front of his locker in a rare, unguarded moment. There were no teammates around to joke with; no circling horde of media members shoving recorders and cameras in his face asking him to explain the team's latest loss. There was only a team trainer, a team official, and a lone reporter standing in the doorway watching, as Wall leaned down to pick up his sneakers, and put them on. It was less than an hour before game time, and although he'd never admit it, Wall looked tired, and probably was. He was about to lead the Wizards against a superior team that was not playing it's second straight game, and barring another Oklahoma City miracle, he knew this night probably would end"

Washington Wizards try to regroup against the visiting Raptors

February 6

Washington Post

"When Randy Wittman took over as coach of the Washington Wizards on Jan. 24, the team was coming off an embarrassing 103-83 loss to Philadelphia that in part caused Flip Saunders his job. In their five subsequent games, the Wizards won twice, albeit against lowly Charlotte, and played with enough resolve two other times to indicate an on-court transformation may be at hand. Any equity the Wizards had accumulated, though, all but vanished following Saturday night's 107-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Coupled with its blowout loss on Friday at Toronto, Washington has dropped the last two games by a combined 43 points, leading Wittman to concede the team may have regressed. "Yeah, a"

Caron Butler feels right at home with Clippers in rout of Wizards

February 5

Washington Post

"Caron Butler was making his way through the hallways at Verizon Center late Saturday when a Wizards front office official greeted him in front of the visiting locker room and gave him a hug. It was that kind of night for Butler, the former Wizards cornerstone player who was back in town as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. It was Butler's first game back in the District since being traded along with Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas in 2009-10 when the Wizards began their rebuild. Butler was hurt last season during the Mavericks' run to the NBA title, but these days, he's a starter for the Clippers, who have designs on winning it all this season. "I mean, it felt weird"

Blake Griffin and Los Angeles dominate Washington

February 5

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards were well on their way to an error-filled 107-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Verizon Center on Saturday when early in the second half, Rashard Lewis and John Wall were exchanging passes during a two-on-one fast break. Clippers guard Chris Paul was doing his best to stay between them, but it appeared two points were in the offing. These are the forlorn Wizards, though, so even routine tasks often come with a high degree of difficulty. Lewis inexplicably threw the ball out of bounds, and seconds later Chauncey Billups, the Clippers' veteran guard, swished a three-pointer. As if that sequence were not indignity enough, Nick Young managed to make it more so with"

Washington is flat in blowout loss

February 4

Washington Post

"He could excuse the errors of aggressiveness and forgive fatigue-fueled lapses, because if Coach Randy Wittman could count on anything from the Washington Wizards during his honeymoon period since replacing Flip Saunders, it was that they were going to give him an honest effort on both ends of the floor. But as the Toronto Raptors pummeled the Wizards, 106-89, on Friday night at Air Canada Centre, Wittman watched his team revert back to being the same passive, sometimes selfish unit that hastened his predecessor's dismissal. Toronto set a franchise record for rebounds in a game, snaring 61 compared to 37 for the Wizards; had 23 offensive rebounds, which led to 28 second-chance points; and"

Orlando Magic work past lowly Washington Wizards for much-needed win

February 3

Orlando Sentinel

"As tipoff approached Wednesday night, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he had no doubt his players would begin their game against the Washington Wizards with plenty of energy. Something concerned him, though. He worried what would happen if the Wizards went on a run. Would the Magic's fragile confidence shatter? Would everything snowball out of control, just as it had several times within the last week? Would the Magic lose a fifth consecutive game for the first time in Van Gundy's tenure? The Magic wound up passing the test. But not without a struggle. Fueled by their 3-point shooting, Orlando overcame a turnover-filled first half to beat Washington 109-103 at Amway Center."

Pace has picked up since Wittman took over Wizards

February 3

Washington Times

"Randy Wittman is 2-3 since taking over as coach of the Wizards, and even though the wins were against the woeful Charlotte Bobcats, there's no question that Washington is playing better under his watch. The players are competing harder, displaying more energy and seem to have a better understanding of what their roles are and what's expected of them. Wittman has simplified the playbook and asked the team to run on offense and play full-court pressure defense. He also rarely answers questions about the team's opponents; for him, it's all about the Wizards."

Randy Wittman's message of accountability coming across to Wizards

February 3

Washington Post

"Nick Young was dribbling above the three-point line, near the Washington Wizards' bench, when Kevin Seraphin moved up to set a pick to free him up. Young moved around the screen but continued to dribble, seemingly without a purpose, until Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard knocked the ball away. Wizards Coach Randy Wittman lifted his hands, shook his head, and started walking down the bench. Before J.J. Redick could even pull up for a wide three-pointer on the other end, Wittman had signaled for Jordan Crawford to enter the game for Young."

Orlando Magic work past lowly Washington Wizards for much-needed win

February 2

Orlando Sentinel

"As tipoff approached Wednesday night, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said he had no doubt his players would begin their game against the Washington Wizards with plenty of energy. Something concerned him, though. He worried what would happen if the Wizards went on a run. Would the Magic's fragile confidence shatter? Would everything snowball out of control, just as it had several times within the last week? Would the Magic lose a fifth consecutive game for the first time in Van Gundy's tenure? The Magic wound up passing the test. But not without a struggle. Fueled by their 3-point shooting, Orlando overcame a turnover-filled first half to beat Washington 109-103 at Amway Center."

Free-throw disparity leaves Wizards' win vs. Magic just out of reach

February 2

Washington Times

"The Wizards were at a distinct disadvantage Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, playing not only the five opponents in white pinstriped jerseys, but the officials as well. The Magic went to the line 39 times to the Wizards' nine and still managed to keep the game close, losing 109-103 at Amway Center. "It's hard to win a game 39 free throws to nine, let alone be in a game," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "I told our guys, 'We can't stop playing as hard as we do.' "We got nine guys on their rookie contracts. Right now, they're, not getting the respect. That will come. We keep playing as hard as we play night in and night out, we'll eventually get calls, but tonight, that's hard to"

Trevor Booker looks to provide offensive spark for Wizards

February 2

Washington Times

"Wizards forward Trevor Booker has never minded the moniker "junkyard dog." It's a common nickname for a tough, defensive-minded, high-energy player. It's something Booker takes pride in. With injuries to Ronny Turiaf and Andray Blatche, Booker knows he'll have an expanded role for Washington and will need to contribute more on offense. But for Booker, it's all in a day's work. "Andray got hurt in the Charlotte game, so somebody had to step up," Booker said. "I just tried to go in and fill his role as best I could, take the shots that's coming to me and keep playing hard on defense.""

Washington battles, but comes up short in Orlando, 109-103

February 2

Washington Post

"John Wall rested his head on a towel on an equipment bag, his back on the parquet floor, flustered with his performance as he couldn't hit a shot or draw a foul. JaVale McGee angrily shook his head as he had his usual struggles trying to contend with Orlando Magic all-star center Dwight Howard. And Nick Young spent most of the game saddled on the bench in foul trouble. Three of the Washington Wizards' starters were having forgettable outings, but somehow, some way, they were in the middle of a hotly contested game, on the road, in a place where they were dominated quite easily last month. Interim coach Randy Wittman managed to get a better, more sustained effort since replacing Flip"

Wizards' Ernie Grunfeld has 'seen some real good signs' since making coaching change

February 2

Washington Post

"Ernie Grunfeld offered his first extended comments since dismissing Flip Saunders and replacing him with Randy Wittman, explaining the direction and the plan in a lengthy telephone interview, but he also expressed his enthusiasm for how the team has played over the past four games. The Wizards have claimed two victories over Charlotte since the move – matching the win total of the first 17 games – and have had the 10th toughest strength of schedule in their past 10 games."

Wizards' woes compounded by assortment of ailments

February 1

Washington Times

"Andray Blatche did not make the trip for the Washington Wizards' game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night; he's been instructed by doctors to stay off his strained calf as much as possible. John Wall has been nursing a head cold for a month. Nick Young missed the lockout-shortened training camp and spent the first 10 games rounding into game shape. And Ronny Turiaf, who broke his hand Jan. 1 in a game against the Boston Celtics, won't be back for a few more weeks. The NBA schedule-makers had to have foreseen this — what a 66-game schedule compressed into a four-month window would look like. The 50-game schedule played after the 1998-99 lockout gave them a blueprint as to what this"

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld not losing sight of the plan

February 1

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards are nearly one-third through a lockout-shortened season that has been filled with more misery than comfort as it relates to their rebuilding plans. Through 21 games, the Wizards have fired coach Flip Saunders, lost two of their most experienced players to serious injury, dealt with chemistry problems and bad body language and are losing at a pace that has them on course to set a new franchise record for worst winning percentage."

Wizards' Trevor Booker gets another chance with Andray Blatche down

February 1

Washington Post

"Trevor Booker received some disappointing news when he arrived at practice on Tuesday and realized that a left-handed jump hook that he was credited with making during the Wizards' 102-99 victory last Saturday over Charlotte actually belonged to Kevin Seraphin. The NBA corrected the mistake, so, instead of scoring 16 points on 6 for 6 shooting, he actually had 14 points on 5 for 5 shooting. "I took his two points, now they gave it back. I didn't want to give it back, but they took it back," Booker said, jokingly."

Derrick Rose leads Chicago past John Wall and Washington, 98-88

January 31

Washington Post

"John Wall squared up against the player whose career he would most like to duplicate and did his best to trade him acrobatic layup for head-scratching layup. And for a half, Wall held his own against Derrick Rose, the reigning league's most valuable player, unwilling to get upstaged on his home turf. But as the game dragged on, and the Washington Wizards continued to miss shots and Rose continued to share the ball with his more-than-capable teammates, the gap between the two players and their respective teams became more magnified."

Derrick Rose scores 35 points in Bulls' victory against Wizards

January 31

Chicago Sun-Times

"The best way to erase a bad memory is to create new ones. That was what Derrick Rose was determined to do Monday against the Washington Wizards in an attempt to forget about missing two free throws with 22.7 seconds left that would have given the Bulls the lead in their loss Sunday to the Miami Heat. ''Tonight, I'm going to try to go crazy,'' Rose said before the game. He was crazy, all right. Crazy good."

Rose works his magic as Bulls top Wizards

January 31

Chicago Tribune

"This is what leadership looks like. This is what defines greatness. Vowing "to try to go crazy" before Monday's game against Washington, Derrick Rose did exactly that in the Bulls' 98-88 bounce-back victory. Yet Rose didn't do so in ballhog, I-gotta-get-mine fashion. Thirteen of his 35 points came in the first quarter. Two of his eight assists came in the second, when Kyle Korver got hot. He took over again in the third with 15 points. Then, trapped consistently in the fourth, Rose found Joakim Noah in the high post as his release point."

Andray Blatche out three to five weeks

January 31

Washington Post

"Andray Blatche will miss three to five weeks with a strained calf muscle in his left leg, Wizards interim coach Randy Wittman said on Monday during his pregame news conference. Tightness in Blatche's calf kept him out of most of Saturday's 102-99 victory over Charlotte, and subsequent evaluation and an MRI exam revealed the injury. Blatche played eight minutes against the Bobcats, scoring four points before the muscle tightened and forced him to the bench with his calf wrapped. Blatche is the Wizards' second-leading rebounder and is averaging 10.3 points per game. Wittman said there "there is a lot of bleeding in there, which leads to inflammation" in the calf. Blatche stayed home from"

Randy Wittman seeks to develop Wizards' character

January 30

Washington Times

"Finding the Washington Wizards a was easy a few days ago — simply look at the bottom of the NBA standings. But with a new coach in place, a couple of more wins in the books — including an all-important road win — the Wizards find themselves trying to become something more than the league's cellar-dwellers. With a quarter of the season gone in the compressed schedule, coach Randy Wittman knows he doesn't have a lot of time to get his players to figure it all out. "We've got to form an identity," Wittman said before the team's first road win of the season, a 102-99 decision Saturday."

Jan Vesely has worked his way into Wizards' starting lineup early in his rookie NBA season

January 30

Washington Post

"When Jan Vesely was preparing to make his NBA debut earlier this month, he responded to a question about how he could help the Washington Wizards with an answer that revealed his self-awareness, sense of humor and the woes of his team. "I'm not sure that I'm the guy that can make some miracles," Vesely said."

JaVale McGee joins Gheorghe Muresan on Wizards' franchise list

January 30

Washington Post

"JaVale McGee, meet Gheorghe Muresan. In the nearly 15 years Muresan played his last game for the Washington Bullets, the franchise has had five players record games with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, but none had ever done it multiple games in the same calendar month – until McGee joined Muresan on Saturday in that exclusive company."

Wizards' Jan Vesely learns "valuable lesson" in first career start

January 29

Washington Post

"Coach Randy Wittman proved that he isn't afraid to gamble and experiment in just his second game, as he benched Andray Blatche and gave rookie Jan Vesely his first career start on Friday against Houston. "Coach's decision. My decision," Wittman explained after the Wizards lost, 103-76, to the Rockets. The move to replace Blatche with Vesely was somewhat surprising since Blatche was coming off his fourth double-double of the season, with 17 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday in the Wizards' 92-75 win against Charlotte. But Vesely provided a spirited effort in his 19-minute stint against the Bobcats as well, scoring six points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking three shots."

Wizards' Trevor Booker steps up with Andray Blatche injured

January 29

Washington Post

"Andray Blatche started on the bench, played a little bit, and finished the game on the bench with a bag of ice wrapped around his left calf muscle. Jan Vesely started his second straight game, played a lot, contributed and was on the floor for the final, critical possession, when Charlotte Bobcats guard Matt Carroll's final three-point attempt hit the front of the rim. But it didn't matter who started or finished, because Trevor Booker was the power forward who provided the most production with the game on the line. After a disappointing effort the night before in Houston, where the Wizards lost to the Rockets and he was upstaged by his older cousin, Jordan Hill, Booker found the comforts"

Washington hangs on for its first road win of NBA season

January 29

Washington Post

"If the Washington Wizards were going to finally join the rest of the teams in the NBA and record a road win, they were going to need a few things to work in their favor. That included John Wall making his first three-pointer of the season, Trevor Booker saving his best game of the season for his homecoming, Nick Young burying a string of clutch baskets, and JaVale McGee getting an opponent to goaltend a seemingly off-target shot in the closing seconds. But more importantly, they would need an opponent so weak and wounded that it wouldn't matter that the Wizards had more than their share of mishaps. It all converged on Saturday at Time Warner Cable Arena, as the Wizards claimed their first"

Sloppy play stops Washington's momentum vs. Houston

January 28

Washington Post

"John Wall trailed Nick Young on a fast break, watched Young miss an uncontested layup, and came soaring from behind to catch the ball and dunk with both hands. Wall screamed so loudly that the boom microphones near the rim ensured all 13,894 fans at Toyota Center could hear him. The Washington Wizards trailed by just two points midway through the third quarter on Friday night, forcing Houston Rockets Coach Kevin McHale to call timeout, but over the next 11 minutes their enthusiasm vanished. Young periodically glanced at the scoreboard, noticing that the deficit was suddenly 10, then 20, then 30, and he gave a confused look at his teammates. "I asked the team, like, 'Dang, what happened?'"

Wizards' Randy Wittman hoping the third time's a charm

January 27

Washington Post

"When Randy Wittman stepped in as a midseason replacement for Dwane Casey in Minnesota on Jan. 23, 2007 — nearly five years to the day before he would be asked to assume the same role in Washington — he thought the job required a massive overhaul of schemes, systems and styles. To make it work, he had to make it his, he thought. He simply made everything too complicated. "The last time, I tried to invent the game of basketball," said Wittman, who didn't last two full years with the Timberwolves, "and I learned from that.""

Rockets' Kevin McHale has "no thoughts" on Wizards' coaching stiuation

January 27

Washington Post

"Kevin McHale hired and fired both Flip Saunders and Randy Wittman in Minnesota. But now that Wittman has replaced Saunders in the latest Wizards' coaching shakeup, McHale was in no mood to reminisce about the time he shared with either man in Minnesota or discuss their current situations. "I'm not too worried about Washington," McHale, now coach of the Houston Rockets, said after a lengthy practice at Toyota Center on Thursday. "We'll play them tomorrow night and that'll be the last time I think about them till next year because we don't play them again. So, I don't think too much.""

Charlotte Bobcats sink to new low in 92-75 loss to Wizards

January 26

Charlotte Observer

"The first two games in D.J. Augustin's absence, Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas let rookie point guard Kemba Walker find his way. Now, after two losses by a combined 50 points, Silas takes back the offense. Expect a heavy dose of called plays when the Bobcats take on the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night. "I don't want him taking 19 (shots), and only making four,'' Silas said of Walker following a 92-75 loss to the Washington Wizards. "We'll start executing the offense, not just (leaning on) the high pick-and-roll, not jacking up shots. He'll learn.''"

New Coach Randy Wittman gets first win with Washington with 92-75 victory over Charlotte

January 26

Washington Post

"Randy Wittman didn't get any sleep the night before he made his debut as the 23rd coach in Washington Wizards franchise history. After taking over as a midseason replacement in Minnesota nearly four years ago, Wittman vowed that he would never do it again, and he wasn't especially eager to step in for his longtime friend, Flip Saunders. But when Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld presented him with the opportunity, Wittman decided to take over, believing that the talent on the roster far exceeded the record and that he could convince the players to share that sentiment. He set roles and challenged each player individually in a lengthy, pull-no-punches meeting early Wednesday morning, then"

Wizards starters John Wall, Nick Young in game late despite blowout of Bobcats

January 26

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards were well on their way to a 92-75 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday night when Coach Randy Wittman, in his first game since Flip Saunders was fired a day earlier, had John Wall report to the scorer's table. It was late in the fourth quarter, and backup Shelvin Mack had done just fine filling in as Washington was closing out the win, but Wittman wasn't taking any chances. Wittman said after the game he also wanted Wall to work on his conditioning in part because the team was going to be more aggressive pushing the ball upcourt."

Wizards' JaVale McGee 'unlikely' to receive contract extension

January 26

Washington Post

"JaVale McGee is "unlikely" to receive a contract extension before Wednesday's midnight deadline, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. McGee is averaging career highs of 11.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots in his fourth year with the organization. He will become a restricted free agent this summer, but the Wizards remain high on the incredibly athletic 7-foot-1 big man and intend to keep him by matching any offer he receives or signing him outright, according to sources with knowledge of the talks."

Former Wizards coach Flip Saunders took fall for failed season

January 25

Washington Post

columnist Michael Lee

"When the Wizards decided to fire Coach Flip Saunders on Tuesday, one league source said the franchise probably didn't go far enough. "It's like an episode of 'Hoarders,' " the person said, "all you did was remove one item." Yes, the Wizards are a mess. And at 2-15, the problems go way beyond the coach. But something had to be done for the franchise to reassure its fan base that it wasn't going to tolerate the current direction. Eight losses by 10 or more points — including the last-straw, 20-point drubbing in Philadelphia — spelled doom for Saunders."