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Wizards News, Notes & Quotes |
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Written by Media Relations
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Tuesday, 18 December 2007 |
The Washington Wizards will play the Chicago Bulls tomorrow night (Wednesday, Dec. 19th) at Verizon Center on Comcast SportsNet and WTEM 980 AM at 7:00 pm.
* This game marks the first of three meetings between Washington and Chicago this season. The Wizards and Bulls will meet again on February 29 and April 5 in Chicago, as this game represents Chicago’s lone visit this season to Verizon Center.
* Through 23 games to date this season, the Wizards have connected on 458-of-579 free throws as a team. Washington’s current .791 team free throw percentage represents an all-time franchise high, ahead of the 2002-03 Wizards’ franchise-record .779 team free throw percentage.
* The Wizards enter play with a 13-10 record this season; a season-high three-games over .500. With a win against the Bulls, Washington can improve to four-games above the .500 mark for the first time since they were 39-35 after 74 games last season.
* Through games played on November 9, Washington had a 0-5 record — tied with Miami at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Since that time, the Wizards have won 13 of 18 games, and their 13-5 record since November 9 stands second in the Eastern Conference behind only Boston’s 14-2 record over that stretch.
* Five Wizards scored in double figures on Saturday night vs. Sacramento, marking the sixth straight game that at least five Wizards scored 10+ points. If five Wizards score at least 10 points against the Bulls, it will mark the first time since December 8-20, 1995 that at least five Washington players scored in double figures in seven consecutive games.
* In Washington’s last game (W, 92-79 vs. SAC, 12/15)…The Wizards won their fourth consecutive game...Washington won for the first time this season when scoring less than 100 points...The Wizards held Sacramento to an opponent season-low 79 points...DeShawn Stevenson (19 points) led Washington in scoring for the second consecutive game, and finished with a season-high tying seven assists...Brendan Haywood’s 17 points and game-high 11 rebounds marked his third consecutive double-double, and his 10th double-double this season...Antawn Jamison finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, but saw his streak of consecutive double-doubles end at eight...Nick Young made his first career start...Caron Butler had a team-high eight assists...Roger Mason Jr. scored in double figures (13) for the fifth time this season.
* Last season vs. Chicago…The Bulls won three of four games against Washington for the second consecutive season...Washington’s lone win came via a 113-103 decision at Verizon Center on January 10...Caron Butler averaged 20.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in three games against the Bulls, but missed Chicago’s 101-68 win at Verizon Center on April 15.
* Washington-Chicago connections...Wizards forward/guard Caron Butler and Bulls guard Ben Gordon were teammates at UConn for one season in 2001-02...Butler, then a senior, and Gordon, a freshman, led the Huskies to the 2002 Elite Eight...Wizards forward Darius Songaila played one season with the Bulls in 2005-06...Bulls center Ben Wallace played with Washington for three seasons from 1996-99...Bulls forward Joe Smith played collegiately at the nearby University of Maryland...Bulls Head Coach Scott Skiles was a player in Washington during the 1994-95 season.
WIZARDS HEAD COACH EDDIE JORDAN
On the Chicago Bulls:
“They are always a tough opponent. They play great pressure defense and have a terrific offense. Even though they aren’t scoring as well as they’d like, the potential is there. They have good offensive players and rebound well. They have length, athleticism, and are very physical.”
On playing through the injuries:“We are trying to prepare the guys we have. We can’t be distracted by something we can’t control. It isn’t worth it.
” On his coaching:
“It is about the players. They are staying disciplined, positive, and keeping their confidence up. We follow the players; good players make good coaches. It is a testament to our guys and the covenant they have come up with. We have enough weapons in here to be competitive and win some games.”
On the team:“I think we are more efficient. We are in-tune with our execution and understand what we want to do as a team. The continuity is better because we have another year of being together.”
WIZARDS CENTER BRENDAN HAYWOOD
On the Chicago Bulls:
“Chicago has been a team that has played us tough over the years. We expect a high intensity game from a very talented team.”
On Ben Wallace:
“He is a very good rebounder and presents a lot of challenges on the defensive end. I’m going to try and box-out well, stay with him in transition, and play a good game.”
WIZARDS GUARD ROGER MASON JR.
On the Chicago Bulls:
“It is going to be a challenge. They are a talented team and are desperate for wins right now.”
On his role off the bench:
“It doesn’t matter to me. My minutes are up, so that is all I can ask for. I have to be ready to play and contribute any way I can.”
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