Back in His Home Town, Wizards' Young Is 'More Relaxed'

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 -- Nick Young hit some of his favorite hometown spots Thursday, including the famous Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles, but the Los Angeles native said his latest return home felt a lot different than last season, when he was a rookie.

"I'm a lot more relaxed about it," said Young, who had 27 points in a road loss to the Lakers last March. "I just know that everyone who is coming to see me just wants to see me do well, so that helps. Last year, I was just so excited because it was my first time out here in the NBA."

Young was born in Los Angeles, starred at Cleveland High in Reseda and played college ball at Southern California, so he remains very loyal to his home town.

"Ain't nothing like L.A.," Young said. "It will always be home for me."

Crittenton Learning

Second-year guard Javaris Crittenton, who began his career with the Lakers after the team selected him with the 19th pick in the 2007 draft out of Georgia Tech, has seen an increase in playing time of late because of the injury to veteran guard DeShawn Stevenson, but remains very much a work in progress.

During Wednesday's 110-107 win at Sacramento, Crittenton drew the ire of interim coach Ed Tapscott on several possessions, particularly early in the fourth quarter when the Kings charged back from a 19-point deficit.

"No one plays great every night," Tapscott said. "Nobody. So, if one guy doesn't have a great night, someone else has to step up. But he'll continue to get opportunities. He'll be right back in there [Thursday night against the Lakers]. Some nights, you get the bear and some nights the bear gets you. It's a long season."