Washington
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
The Wizards got off to their best start in 30 years as they beat the Bulls 95-88on Saturday, bringing their record to 10-5, and just a half game behind Orlando for the top spot in the Southeast. This is the best record they've had after 15 games since the 1974-1975 season.
It's been 16 years since the Wizards last won a game in the postseason and it's been 22 years since the Wizards last won a playoff series. As you might imagine, it takes a little time to warm up the hearts of the desperately cold.
But with 15 games under their belt and still in the middle of a home stand, we are getting perilously close to the 20-game number that most fans handcuff their hopes to, promising themselves neither to get too excited or too morose until their team has got at least twenty notches one way or another under their belt. With five games left till that magic number, the Wizards are already sitting pretty, just half a game behind the equally surprising Magic for the top spot in the Southeast, above the Heat, whom most would have picked to be head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Southeast division.
Yet here we are. Keep it up Washington!
NEXT GAME
The Wizards (10-5, second in the Southeast) continue their four-game home stand on Wednesday, December 8th, as they host the Denver Nuggets (9-7, third in the Northwest). It will be a good chance for the running team to meet the frenetic fast break style of the Nuggets. The game starts at 7:00pm Eastern. It will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Network and NBA League Pass. Tickets are still available at the MCI Center.
TEAM NOTES
The Wizards had 19 fast break points to Chicago's 6 though they were outscored in the paint 38-30. Neither team really racked up the assists: the Bulls totaled 16 while the Wizards totaled 13.
INJURY UPDATE
Peter John Ramos(knee),Laron Profit(knee), andEtan Thomas (abdominal) are all on the injured list.Samaki Walker(back) and Steve Blake(foot) are questionable for Wednesday's game.
Mike McGraw ofThe Chicago Daily Herald writes: Now the Washington Wizards, of all teams, own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 10-5 after topping the Bulls 95-88 Saturday. These are the same Wizards who haven't made the playoffs since 1997 and haven't won a playoff game since 1988 or a playoff series since '82. Apparently, there is hope for the NBA franchises that discarded Michael Jordan.
Lacy J. Banks ofThe Chicago Sun-Times writes: Rid of Michael Jordan, the Washington Wizards appear to be a better team because of improved chemistry, balance and unselfishness, thanks in part to Antawn Jamison, last season's Sixth Man Award winner acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade for Jerry Stackhouse.But center Brendan Haywood, a rookie when Jordan came down from the front office to play again, says he's not ready to call this team better than the ones under Jordan. "The second year Jordan played with us, we won nine straight games,'' Haywood said. "And we were a pretty good team.''