Chris "Touchdown" Cooley
March-7th-2005, 03:26 PM
Jamison Will Have His Knee Examined
By Michael Lee
Washington Wizards all-star forward Antawn Jamison will meet with team doctors today to determine the cause of the sore right knee that led to his removal in the third quarter of the Wizards' 86-84 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday.
Jamison left the game with 9 minutes 50 seconds left in the third period after scoring just two points on 1-of-5 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. Although he couldn't comment on the specifics of the injury yesterday, Jamison said he expects to play for the Wizards tomorrow night in New York.
"I always plan on playing. It's not that bad," Jamison said. "I'll just rest today and tomorrow and we'll get going back at it."
Back in his home town of Charlotte, Jamison missed his first four shots against the Bobcats before connecting on a driving layup with 51 seconds left in the second quarter. When he was pulled from the game, Jamison wondered aloud about why he was taken out. "If I sit, it'll stiffen up," Jamison said before walking off the court with team trainer Eric Waters. He did not return. "I definitely wanted to be out there playing, but I wasn't really upset with being taken out; just with my performance," Jamison said, adding that he knew he wouldn't return. "I was through. I wasn't productive. Any time I'm not productive and I'm hurting my team, it's good for me not to be out there. I wasn't helping those guys. It was one of those things; I couldn't get it going."
Jamison is the Wizards' third-leading scorer (20.0) and leading rebounder (8.0) but his numbers have taken a noticeable decline since the seventh-year forward made his first appearance in the All-Star Game in Denver. He scored 27 points with 10 rebounds in a win against Memphis on Feb. 23 but has averaged 10 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 turnovers in the past five games. He also has shot just 19 of 65 (29 percent) from the floor. Jamison admitted he has experienced discomfort in his knee but he wouldn't blame it for his diminished production -- although he clearly has not been himself lately.
"I don't make excuses. I've still been able to play," Jamison said. "I'll be all right."
In recent days, he has blamed himself for not playing with enough energy. After going 3 of 12 for just nine points in a loss to Golden State on Friday, Jamison stood by his locker with both knees wrapped and simply said, "I have to look at myself in the mirror."
Jamison hasn't missed a game since the start of the 2000-01 season and holds the longest active consecutive games played streak at 386 games. He has started all 58 games for the Wizards this season and leads the team in total minutes (2,276).
The Wizards (33-25) possess the Eastern Conference's third-best record and didn't practice yesterday to allow their ailing players some much needed rest. The team has lost small forward Jarvis Hayes for four to six weeks with a fractured patella; forward Jared Jeffries, who started 47 consecutive games, has missed the past four games with a bruised right knee; and the flu forced center Etan Thomas to miss the past two games.
And Saturday night, Jamison was limited to 22 minutes; point guard Gilbert Arenas played 47 minutes despite some pain in his left knee; guard Larry Hughes was still trying to find his legs in his third game since missing 6 1/2 weeks with a broken right thumb; and reserve guard Juan Dixon played 10 minutes although his sprained right ankle hasn't fully healed.
"Sometimes your body won't let you do what you want it to do, but we fought it out and got the victory," center Brendan Haywood said.
Coach Eddie Jordan was limited to nine available players in the second half against the Bobcats, but reserve guard Anthony Peeler didn't play. "A gutsy effort like that is what we're looking for," Jordan said after the game. "The way we came back and fought, being undermanned, really undermanned, especially when Antawn went out."
Jamison watched the final 22 minutes of the game from the locker room. His two-point output against Charlotte was his lowest since March 17, when he was a reserve for the Dallas Mavericks. But he laughed when he was reminded that the Wizards needed those two points in a game that was decided on reserve forward Laron Profit's rebound tip with 3.1 seconds left.
"I'm glad I was able to get those two points," Jamison said, chuckling. "I was glad to see Prof and those guys play well when I wasn't able to go in the second half. I was like a little cheerleader [in the locker room]. We're focused. We know we've got the overall picture, which is to make it to the playoffs and we're going to do everything possible to make sure it happens."
-Michael Lee
By Michael Lee
Washington Wizards all-star forward Antawn Jamison will meet with team doctors today to determine the cause of the sore right knee that led to his removal in the third quarter of the Wizards' 86-84 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday.
Jamison left the game with 9 minutes 50 seconds left in the third period after scoring just two points on 1-of-5 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. Although he couldn't comment on the specifics of the injury yesterday, Jamison said he expects to play for the Wizards tomorrow night in New York.
"I always plan on playing. It's not that bad," Jamison said. "I'll just rest today and tomorrow and we'll get going back at it."
Back in his home town of Charlotte, Jamison missed his first four shots against the Bobcats before connecting on a driving layup with 51 seconds left in the second quarter. When he was pulled from the game, Jamison wondered aloud about why he was taken out. "If I sit, it'll stiffen up," Jamison said before walking off the court with team trainer Eric Waters. He did not return. "I definitely wanted to be out there playing, but I wasn't really upset with being taken out; just with my performance," Jamison said, adding that he knew he wouldn't return. "I was through. I wasn't productive. Any time I'm not productive and I'm hurting my team, it's good for me not to be out there. I wasn't helping those guys. It was one of those things; I couldn't get it going."
Jamison is the Wizards' third-leading scorer (20.0) and leading rebounder (8.0) but his numbers have taken a noticeable decline since the seventh-year forward made his first appearance in the All-Star Game in Denver. He scored 27 points with 10 rebounds in a win against Memphis on Feb. 23 but has averaged 10 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 turnovers in the past five games. He also has shot just 19 of 65 (29 percent) from the floor. Jamison admitted he has experienced discomfort in his knee but he wouldn't blame it for his diminished production -- although he clearly has not been himself lately.
"I don't make excuses. I've still been able to play," Jamison said. "I'll be all right."
In recent days, he has blamed himself for not playing with enough energy. After going 3 of 12 for just nine points in a loss to Golden State on Friday, Jamison stood by his locker with both knees wrapped and simply said, "I have to look at myself in the mirror."
Jamison hasn't missed a game since the start of the 2000-01 season and holds the longest active consecutive games played streak at 386 games. He has started all 58 games for the Wizards this season and leads the team in total minutes (2,276).
The Wizards (33-25) possess the Eastern Conference's third-best record and didn't practice yesterday to allow their ailing players some much needed rest. The team has lost small forward Jarvis Hayes for four to six weeks with a fractured patella; forward Jared Jeffries, who started 47 consecutive games, has missed the past four games with a bruised right knee; and the flu forced center Etan Thomas to miss the past two games.
And Saturday night, Jamison was limited to 22 minutes; point guard Gilbert Arenas played 47 minutes despite some pain in his left knee; guard Larry Hughes was still trying to find his legs in his third game since missing 6 1/2 weeks with a broken right thumb; and reserve guard Juan Dixon played 10 minutes although his sprained right ankle hasn't fully healed.
"Sometimes your body won't let you do what you want it to do, but we fought it out and got the victory," center Brendan Haywood said.
Coach Eddie Jordan was limited to nine available players in the second half against the Bobcats, but reserve guard Anthony Peeler didn't play. "A gutsy effort like that is what we're looking for," Jordan said after the game. "The way we came back and fought, being undermanned, really undermanned, especially when Antawn went out."
Jamison watched the final 22 minutes of the game from the locker room. His two-point output against Charlotte was his lowest since March 17, when he was a reserve for the Dallas Mavericks. But he laughed when he was reminded that the Wizards needed those two points in a game that was decided on reserve forward Laron Profit's rebound tip with 3.1 seconds left.
"I'm glad I was able to get those two points," Jamison said, chuckling. "I was glad to see Prof and those guys play well when I wasn't able to go in the second half. I was like a little cheerleader [in the locker room]. We're focused. We know we've got the overall picture, which is to make it to the playoffs and we're going to do everything possible to make sure it happens."
-Michael Lee