Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Could the Wizards extend their current two-game win streak to seven over the course of the next 11 days? They face the lowly Hawks tonight then start a four-game homestand against the Bulls, the Nuggets, the Knicks, and the Hornets. If they continue their winning ways, they could find themselves on December 13 facing Miami twice in a row for the right to be first in the Southeast division.
Head coach Eddie Jordan has already started to wean his players away from talks of making the playoffs and onto dreams of a championship. The funny thing is he is not out of his mind.
The funnier thing is he is doing the best out of all former New Jersey coaches. Byron Scott's Hornets own the worst record in the league. Lawrence Frank, sans Jason Kidd, is worst in the Atlantic and fourth-worst in the league.
Meanwhile Eddie Jordan, who people whispered was a large reason for the Nets consecutive Finals appearances, has guided Washington to an 8-5 record, good enough for third-best in the surprisingly strong Southeast division, and sixth in the East.
NEXT GAME
The Wizards (8-5, third in the Southeast) take a quick road trip to Georgia before their four-game homestand to play the Atlanta Hawks (2-12, fifth in the Southeast), TONIGHT. The game starts at 7:30pm Eastern and will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Network and NBA League Pass.
TEAM NOTES
Off to their best start since the 1984-85 season, the Wizards look for their ninth win of the season on Friday night in Atlanta. Washington has won five of the last six games, and with back-to-back wins in the last two games is in search of another three-game winning streak. Find out about that and more in the Wizards Report.
INJURY UPDATE
Peter John Ramos(knee),Etan Thomas(abdominal injury), andLaron Profit(left knee tendinitis) are on the injured list.
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: Estimating that he is about "50 to 55 percent," Brown said he has a ways to go before he is back to being the player he once was, let alone the player he wants to be.Brown wouldn't even accept a compliment for his dribble drive around New Jersey's Alonzo Mourning in the third quarter. "Don't give me too much credit," Brown said, chuckling. "Zo is a little slower than I am. With a younger guy, I'm not sure I can get that layup."
Michael Lee ofThe Washington Postwrites: Jordan has a problem with his players already beginning to use the "p" word, as in playoffs.Jordan, who claims that he is the "last guy to get carried away," has tried to change that thinking among his players. "I give them the 'c' word -- championship," he said. "In this league, it's talent, toughness and experience. I think we've got all three. The experience factor comes in where we've matured. And we're trying to do things the right way.
Tom Knott ofThe Washington Timeswrites: Antawn Jamison is too sturdy and stellar to be in the employ of the Wizards, accustomed to being first in injuries, first in legal counsel and last in the departed Atlantic Division.The challenge before Abe Pollin, Ernie Grunfeld and Eddie Jordan is to keep Jamison in one piece this season. The deal is this: Hire a bodyguard to shadow him. Build a plastic bubble in the living room of his home. And most importantly, take away his driver's license.
John N. Mitchell ofThe Washington Timeswrites: Members of the surprisingly successful current Washington Wizards don't seem to mind any association with the franchise's dreary recent past.In fact, they love it — especially if it makes opponents overconfident. Off to their best 13-game start (8-5) since the 1984-85 team opened with an identical record, the Wizards hope foes will continue to envision them as losers rather than as today's much improved version that is second in the league in scoring (102.3) and has won five of its last six games.