Wizards Notebook
Stern Attends Game and Lends Support to Pollin
Tuesday, May 1, 2007; Page E09
Commissioner David Stern continued his tour of various playoff cities by visiting Verizon Center for last night's Wizards-Cavaliers game. Stern touched on several issues in a pregame chat with reporters, including Wizards owner Abe Pollin's request for $50 million from the city to help make improvements to Verizon Center.
Pollin built the $220 million arena with his own money in Chinatown nearly a decade ago and wants the money to upgrade the building's luxury suites and replace the scoreboard. The funds would be used to help attract special events such as championship basketball and hockey games.
  David Stern: Abe Pollin should be "applauded" for what he has done for D.C. (By Nick Wass -- Associated Press)
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The city is contributing at least $611 million of public funds for a new baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals in Southeast.
"I don't intervene but what I would say is that at a time when people said Abe was being stubborn and pigheaded by electing to build downtown, he said, 'I don't care, I'm doing this for Washington because I think it's important and the results speak for themselves,' " Stern said. "It has been nothing short of astounding and I think he is to be applauded again and again and again. I think the funding that he is asking to be made available is just a tiny slice of what it is going to take to build a baseball stadium. I think it's an opportunity for the city to express its appreciation for what Abe Pollin has done."
Stern was also asked about the possibility that Las Vegas could serve as a potential home for the SuperSonics if that franchise were to leave Seattle. His answer was emphatic: no.
Stern said the league is not looking to expand beyond 30 teams but is considering sponsoring a league in China.
"There are 300 million people in the United States and 300 million basketball players in China," Stern said. "So there are extraordinary marketing opportunities in China."
Youngsters Stand Out
For the first time all series, Coach Eddie Jordan used reserves Calvin Booth, Andray Blatche and Donell Taylor and those players along with Roger Mason helped the Wizards build an early eight-point lead. After totaling 25 points in Games 1 and 3, the bench contributed 35 points last night.
Blatche (3-of-4 shooting and seven points with five rebounds in 21 minutes) and Taylor (three points and four assists in 15 minutes) were particularly effective considering that they had only seen spot duty in the first three games.
"Our young guys were very good," Jordan said. "I was very hesitant to use them earlier in the series because of their inexperience. Even with the short rotation we had, our veterans were playing a little below average. I was afraid of the unexpected from the young guys but tonight was a pleasant surprise."
Jamison Rolls Along
Antawn Jamison more than did his part for the Wizards, averaging 32 points and 9.8 rebounds while logging heavy minutes all series long. He also earned respect from the Cavaliers, including LeBron James, who was a teammate of Jamison's on the U.S. national team during last summer's World Championships.
"He is definitely one of the premier scorers in the league," James said.
