WIZARDS INSIDER
Rookies Face a Lull In Playing Time
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Saturday, November 17, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 16 -- Coach Eddie Jordan's decision to tighten his playing rotation means that rookies Nick Young and Dominic McGuire will have to be patient.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Neither one played in Sunday's win at Atlanta or Wednesday's over Indiana. Young totaled 46 minutes of action in the first five games while McGuire played 16 minutes in four of the first five.
"This is when the emotional roller coaster comes in for them as rookies," Jordan said. "They were playing at first and now they're not, so emotionally, they have to handle that and it's tough."
McGuire acknowledged that suddenly not playing after being a star in college will require an adjustment.
"You just have to work hard every day in practice and before games and be ready just in case your number is called," McGuire said. "You always know that anything can happen. God forbid, you know that someone could be injured at any time so you have to stay ready."
Portland Gets Along Without Oden
The Wizards return home Saturday night to face the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland's 4-4 start is something of a surprise given the fact that No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden is out for the season with a knee injury.
Second-year guard Brandon Roy, last season's rookie of the year, had scored 20 or more points five times going into Friday's game at Philadelphia, and second-year forward LaMarcus Aldridge has also been impressive (19 points and 8.1 rebounds per game).
The Wizards lost both games against Portland last season.
UP NEXT Tonight vs.Trail Blazers7 p.m. Comcast SportsNet, WTEM-980 Tuesday vs. 76ers7 p.m. Comcast SportsNet, WTEM-980 UP NEXT Tonight vs.Trail Blazers7 p.m. Comcast SportsNet, WTEM-980 Tuesday vs. 76ers7 p.m. Comcast SportsNet, WTEM-980
