Bugs'
February-25th-2005, 12:25 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51939-2005Feb24.html
Wizards, Bulls Finding Common Ground
By Michael Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2005; Page D09
CHICAGO, Feb. 24 -- The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls have more in common than being the only teams for which Michael Jordan played.
Both have anguished over the often upsetting, sometimes inspiring development of the big men they drafted out of high school in 2001. Both can look back to a preseason brawl -- with each other -- as a signature, unifying moment that helped propel them into the Eastern Conference's most surprising stories thus far. And both are young, exciting teams adjusting to success for the first time since the late 1990s.
Bulls leading scorer Eddy Curry, has helped Chicago rebound from an 0-9 start to a 27-24 mark, sixth best in the Eastern Conference. Wizards are fifth. (Mark Duncan -- AP)
The Wizards (31-22) are currently the fifth-seeded team in the East, while the Bulls (27-24) are lurking right behind at sixth -- despite an 0-9 start. "We're having a good year. I mean there is no doubt about that, but what is enough?" said Bulls Coach Scott Skiles, whose team is looking to make the postseason for the first time since Jordan won his last title in 1998. "That's the question we posed to these guys this morning. 'Is it enough that we're better than people thought we were going to be? Or is it more important that we become consistent every single night with our defense, continue to mature and be a factor?' It remains to be seen which one will happen."
The Bulls have only five players with playoff experience, while the Wizards have four. "We feel the same way," Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said. Washington's eight-year playoff drought was so strong that even Michael Jordan couldn't help. "This is the toughest basketball for a young team, like ourselves and like them, who haven't experienced playoff basketball or haven't experienced a playoff run, and it's going to be the toughest thing in their basketball lives -- for them and for us. This is a different animal, but winning is winning. You come in, you work hard, you concentrate more; you have to make a total commitment to your team."
After the Wizards beat the Bulls 95-88 on Dec. 4 at MCI Center, the Bulls were 2-12. Chicago has gone 25-12 since then, relying more on a smothering defense, the fourth-quarter heroics of rookie Ben Gordon and the fiery competitiveness of second-year guard Kirk Hinrich. "They're not the same team. They're playing with a different swagger and a different level of confidence," Wizards center Brendan Haywood said.
This is the first time the Wizards have played in Chicago since the teams waged a preseason brawl that led to regular season suspensions for Haywood, guard Larry Hughes and Chicago's Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis. "We had our little scrap with them, so they're going to come out even extra motivated," point guard Gilbert Arenas said. "It's going to be a hard fought game, both teams are fighting, trying to make pushes."
Both teams also credit that fight for bringing teammates closer together. Hughes, who won't play Friday while recovering from his broken right thumb, said the scuffle let the players know that they had each others' backs. Davis said it had the same effect for the Bulls. "I wish it didn't have to cost me so much for us to stick together as a unit," said Davis, who was suspended for two games without pay. "My intention was to protect my teammate."
Curry, the No. 4 pick in the 2001 draft, was suspended for two games after throwing a punch at Haywood's midsection, but he has come back to lead the Bulls in scoring with 15.8 points per game. Tyson Chandler, the second pick in that year's draft, comes off the bench but leads the Bulls rebounds (9.3) and blocked shots (1.8).
Wizards forward-center Kwame Brown, the No. 1 pick in that draft, has been limited to just 15 games this season because of complications with his surgically repaired right foot. "They got a leg up on me now," Brown said. But after Brown returned to action against Memphis on Wednesday, Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld is looking for him to make an impact later in the season. "Curry and Chandler, they're starting to step up and they're only 22," Grunfeld said. "You have to let young guys develop. There is a big learning curve in the NBA. I've said all along, last year, Kwame made really very positive strides. And I would've been very happy if he made those strides this season, but obviously, he's had his foot injury. But he's worked hard and come back and he's raring to go. If he plays the way he played last year, he'll be a significant contributor."
Wizards, Bulls Finding Common Ground
By Michael Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 2005; Page D09
CHICAGO, Feb. 24 -- The Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls have more in common than being the only teams for which Michael Jordan played.
Both have anguished over the often upsetting, sometimes inspiring development of the big men they drafted out of high school in 2001. Both can look back to a preseason brawl -- with each other -- as a signature, unifying moment that helped propel them into the Eastern Conference's most surprising stories thus far. And both are young, exciting teams adjusting to success for the first time since the late 1990s.
Bulls leading scorer Eddy Curry, has helped Chicago rebound from an 0-9 start to a 27-24 mark, sixth best in the Eastern Conference. Wizards are fifth. (Mark Duncan -- AP)
The Wizards (31-22) are currently the fifth-seeded team in the East, while the Bulls (27-24) are lurking right behind at sixth -- despite an 0-9 start. "We're having a good year. I mean there is no doubt about that, but what is enough?" said Bulls Coach Scott Skiles, whose team is looking to make the postseason for the first time since Jordan won his last title in 1998. "That's the question we posed to these guys this morning. 'Is it enough that we're better than people thought we were going to be? Or is it more important that we become consistent every single night with our defense, continue to mature and be a factor?' It remains to be seen which one will happen."
The Bulls have only five players with playoff experience, while the Wizards have four. "We feel the same way," Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said. Washington's eight-year playoff drought was so strong that even Michael Jordan couldn't help. "This is the toughest basketball for a young team, like ourselves and like them, who haven't experienced playoff basketball or haven't experienced a playoff run, and it's going to be the toughest thing in their basketball lives -- for them and for us. This is a different animal, but winning is winning. You come in, you work hard, you concentrate more; you have to make a total commitment to your team."
After the Wizards beat the Bulls 95-88 on Dec. 4 at MCI Center, the Bulls were 2-12. Chicago has gone 25-12 since then, relying more on a smothering defense, the fourth-quarter heroics of rookie Ben Gordon and the fiery competitiveness of second-year guard Kirk Hinrich. "They're not the same team. They're playing with a different swagger and a different level of confidence," Wizards center Brendan Haywood said.
This is the first time the Wizards have played in Chicago since the teams waged a preseason brawl that led to regular season suspensions for Haywood, guard Larry Hughes and Chicago's Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis. "We had our little scrap with them, so they're going to come out even extra motivated," point guard Gilbert Arenas said. "It's going to be a hard fought game, both teams are fighting, trying to make pushes."
Both teams also credit that fight for bringing teammates closer together. Hughes, who won't play Friday while recovering from his broken right thumb, said the scuffle let the players know that they had each others' backs. Davis said it had the same effect for the Bulls. "I wish it didn't have to cost me so much for us to stick together as a unit," said Davis, who was suspended for two games without pay. "My intention was to protect my teammate."
Curry, the No. 4 pick in the 2001 draft, was suspended for two games after throwing a punch at Haywood's midsection, but he has come back to lead the Bulls in scoring with 15.8 points per game. Tyson Chandler, the second pick in that year's draft, comes off the bench but leads the Bulls rebounds (9.3) and blocked shots (1.8).
Wizards forward-center Kwame Brown, the No. 1 pick in that draft, has been limited to just 15 games this season because of complications with his surgically repaired right foot. "They got a leg up on me now," Brown said. But after Brown returned to action against Memphis on Wednesday, Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld is looking for him to make an impact later in the season. "Curry and Chandler, they're starting to step up and they're only 22," Grunfeld said. "You have to let young guys develop. There is a big learning curve in the NBA. I've said all along, last year, Kwame made really very positive strides. And I would've been very happy if he made those strides this season, but obviously, he's had his foot injury. But he's worked hard and come back and he's raring to go. If he plays the way he played last year, he'll be a significant contributor."