Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Wizards held an open intrasquad scrimmage yesterday and showcased the talents of many of their free agents and young players. With many of their primary stars sidelines through injury, and with the Wizards afraid after last year to rush anyone's return to the court, yesterday's open run featured highlights such as Gerald Fitch's defensive prowess and Michael Ruffin's rebounding.
Fitch is a tough 6-3, 188-pound free agent looking to become a Washington backup. The only reason he has his shot is that Steve Blake is down-and-out for at least six weeks. Juan Dixon is more of a combo guard than head coach Eddie Jordan may want at the backup point position, and Fitch is making a strong case for himself. "I like a lot of things that I see from him," Jordan toldThe Washington Times. "I like his ball pressure and energy on the floor. He's always putting pressure on the ball. He comes to practice, and he stays late. We all can see that he has potential to be a point guard."
Ruffin, meanwhile, is trying to become the league's next great rebounder. He says he has incorporated the movements and techniques of all the great rebounders, from Dennis Rodman to Ben Wallace. He gives this tip: when a shot is in the air, don't watch the rim. That's a rookie mistake. Instead, glance at the trajectory of the ball to determine where it's going to bounce, and then find someone to lean on or box out. "He's relentless on the glass," Jordan told The Washington Post. "I'm not a stats man but one of the coaches said, 'Geez, look at how many rebounds he has in the little minutes.'" Ruffin is averaging almost 18 rebounds per 48 minutes.
Once the Wizards all get healthy, this will be a very deep, young, and hungry team.
NEXT GAME
The Wizards take on the world-champion Detroit Pistons in an exhibition game tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CSN, WDWB/WB20, and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Post notes: Billy Thomas made a half-court shot after the scrimmage and won a pair of airline tickets for a fan in attendance. "I like to think of myself as a people person," Thomas said.
INJURY UPDATE
Steve Blake(recovering from surgery to remove bone chip in right ankle) is likely out till late November or early December.Gilbert Arenas(right ankle),Larry Hughes(left knee),Kwame Brown(foot surgery), and Etan Thomas(abdomen) all sat open the Wizards open scrimmage. Brown will have his foot re-examined on Thursday.
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: When a shot goes up, Michael Ruffin is amused by the players who look at the rim."If you do that, you're only going to get the rebounds that come in your area," said Ruffin, a 6-foot-8 forward who signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards over the summer. While other players stare and wait for the ball to drop, Ruffin is trying to create some space under the basket. He's watching the trajectory of the ball or looking to find someone to lean on for leverage, any advantage he can get to grab the ball first. Ruffin has studied some of the best rebounders, from Dennis Rodman to Ben Wallace, and picked up their tendencies while adding some of his own. "It's something that I focus in on and concentrate on," Ruffin said.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: The Wizards are uncertain when Thomas will be healthy enough to resume practicing at full speed, but they will not rush him back.The team learned its lesson last season with Gilbert Arenas and his troublesome abdominal injury, which turned out to be more severe than first diagnosed.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: As Anthony Peeler tries to break down Juan Dixon just beyond midcourt, the cat-quick Gerald Fitch comes over from his defensive assignment unnoticed, swipes the ball from the 12-year veteran and cruises in for an uncontested layup.Minutes later in the Washington Wizards' open scrimmage at MCI Center yesterday, Fitch knocks the ball from the hands of Laron Profit, a fellow free agent trying to make the club. It looks and sounds like a clean steal — with only about 2,000 in attendance, it would be easy to hear whether a hand is slapped — but Fitch is whistled for a foul. That brings booing from the afternoon crowd.