Some information was incorrect in the Washington Wizards' regular season schedule in the Oct. 2 Sports section. Inaccurate information on the Wizards' Web site indicated that five games would be televised on WDCW-50. However, the broadcasters for those games have not been determined.
| Page 2 of 2 < |
Wizards' Camp 'Will Be All About Defense'
Gilbert Arenas is considered as quick as any guard in the league, but is also considered by most scouts to be a below-average defender.
(Jonathan Newton - The Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"We're all good athletes, so we know that we have it in us," Songaila said. "At times we've done it and we know we can do it, so it's just a matter of doing it over and over again. Consistency is the key."
[an error occurred while processing this directive]This week and throughout the preseason, practices will focus on containing opposing guards off the dribble, boxing out and grabbing defensive rebounds, and closing out on shooters in half-court situations.
Improvement in those areas will be crucial this season because the Wizards will face a beefed-up Eastern Conference that now includes offensive stars such as Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett with the Boston Celtics, Zach Randolph with the New York Knicks, Rashard Lewis with the Magic and Jason Richardson with the Charlotte Bobcats.
Because so many core players return from last season, Jordan and his veteran players feel that they will be able to place extra emphasis on defense without hurting the offense.
"We don't have to go over the plays so much," Butler said. "Guys know what's going on, they know the system, and they know the style of play we want. The main focus will be defense. How to protect the paint, what your assignment is going to be and having everyone on the same page as far as what defense we are in. We have to get better if we're going to be the kind of team we want to be."
Wizards Notes: Yesterday, center Brendan Haywood said he never asked for a trade following last season and he also addressed the status of his relationship with Jordan and Etan Thomas, with whom Haywood has had at least three physical altercations during the last two seasons.
"I never came out and said I didn't want to be here," Haywood said. "There were a lot of articles written, but there was never a direct quote from myself or [team president] Ernie Grunfeld about what was said in our meeting. So, like I said, if you didn't hear it from me, it's not the truth. I'm happy to be here and we'll see what goes on during the season."
Haywood also said that he doesn't expect to have any more problems with Thomas as the two compete for the starting center job.
"I told somebody that Ali and Frazier only fought three times so that has to be the end of it for me and Etan," Haywood said. "At the end of the day, we both have a mutual respect for each other and we realize that we embarrass ourselves, our team and our families every time we go out there and act silly. You can always talk things out before you fight. Besides, he's a peace activist so he can't do that anyway." Thomas was excused from media day for personal reasons. . . .
The team extended training camp invitations to three players, including former University of Maryland forward-center Tony Massenburg, who has played for NBA teams since leaving College Park in 1990. The team also added Jamon Gordon, a rookie guard from Virginia Tech, and guard Willie Deane, who played in Russia last season.
