In Revamped East, Good Beginning a Means to an End

The Washington Wizards were ultimately done in by a bad finish last season, but they also didn't help themselves with a poor start, one that came long before injuries started striking the team's core players.

The Wizards lost their 2006-07 season opener at Cleveland and stumbled to a 4-9 start before turning things around by winning eight of their next 10 games. Washington's ragged beginning included losses in its first eight road games, something the team does not want to repeat when the regular season opens Wednesday night at Indiana and continues Friday at Boston.

The Wizards' home opener is Saturday night against Orlando at Verizon Center.

"It's vital that we get off to a good start," forward Antawn Jamison said. "The last two years, we've started slowly and I think we realize how hard it was for us to do that and then have to make up games. Then you get on a roll and you realize how much of a better record you could have had. It would be ill-advised for us to do that again, especially with so many teams in the East getting better this summer."

Coach Eddie Jordan spent the early portion of last season trying to establish a steady rotation, but he'll go into Wednesday night knowing that he can count on nine veteran players while blending in three raw but talented rookies as opportunities arise.

As with everything else for the Wizards, Gilbert Arenas will be a huge factor as the season unfolds. Last November, when the Wizards went 5-9, Arenas averaged 25.9 points on 38.9 percent shooting. In December, when the Wizards went 12-4 with wins over the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets, Arenas averaged 34.1 points on 47.6 percent shooting.

Arenas, who played in five of eight preseason games but sat out Friday's finale in Toronto, was at full speed for an intense practice yesterday morning at Verizon Center. However, the condition of his surgically repaired left knee will be a theme throughout the season.

Arenas said he hasn't experienced any discomfort since having the knee drained last week, but the early part of the schedule could present some challenges.

The Wizards open with three games in four days and November includes five sets of back-to-backs. Also, starting Nov. 20 against Philadelphia at Verizon Center and concluding Nov. 24 at Memphis, Washington will play four games in five days. The month ends with a road trip that includes the game at Memphis, as well as games in Dallas, San Antonio and Philadelphia.

If Arenas and the Wizards can get out of November in decent shape, they will have a chance to get some traction in December when nine of 13 games will be at Verizon Center.

"If we can stay healthy, which we are right now, that will be important because of the continuity we have," Jordan said. "The continuity is as important for us as any team in the league. Those top six, seven guys have been together and we should kind of thrive off of that."

Pecherov Day-to-Day

Rookie big man Oleksiy Pecherov, who has been bothered by a bruised left thigh that forced him to miss two preseason games, suffered another setback yesterday when he sprained his left ankle in practice. Pecherov had to be helped to the locker room and his status is day-to-day.