Injuries Becoming A Big Problem
Sunday, December 31, 2006; Page E04
MILWAUKEE, Dec. 30 -- A group of Wizards were inside the locker room about an hour before Saturday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks when guard DeShawn Stevenson spotted reserve center James Lang walking to his stall.
"Hey, you better be ready because we're almost out of centers," Stevenson said.
TRACKING THE WIZARDS Andray Blatche will attend 'John School,' a day-long seminar on the ills of solicitation. The Wizards re-sign forward Andray Blatche to a multiyear deal. After a delay, the Wizards finalize a trade of guard Juan Carlos Navarro to Memphis for a draft pick. Wizards Insider Ivan Carter and Michael Lee with exclusive coverage and analysis on the Washington Wizards. |
Starter Brendan Haywood missed the game with a sprained right ankle, an injury he suffered during the third quarter of Friday's home win over the Orlando Magic.
Coach Eddie Jordan said Haywood should be ready for Wednesday's home game against Milwaukee, but with Etan Thomas shelved by an ankle injury and Darius Songaila (back) and Michael Ruffin (right foot sprain) out, the Wizards are running out of big men.
Jordan inserted Jarvis Hayes into the lineup and moved Antawn Jamison to center, leaving veteran Calvin Booth and Lang in reserve.
Jordan did indicate that Thomas, who sprained his left ankle in a Dec. 9 home loss to Houston, could return next week.
Second-Round Surprises
Saturday's was the rare NBA game featuring two stars (Gilbert Arenas and Milwaukee's Michael Redd) who were second-round picks.
"Some of the hardest-working players I've been around have been second-round picks," said Bucks Coach Terry Stotts, a second-round pick in 1980. "The mind-set is different. They come in without guarantees and they may play with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder."
