WIZARDS: Training Camp Breakdown: Day 1

Training Camp Breakdown: Day 1

By Brian James, Wizards Assistant Coach
October 1, 2002

Coach James

I thought our morning session was very, very good. Guys had a lot of enthusiasm, I thought they worked really hard. We felt that everything was organized, guys were very attentive and then as the night progressed and as the fatigue wore on I thought we got a little bit tired and sloppy in our scrimmage tonight.

We got a little sloppy tonight with our execution and by the end of the night we started getting some guys with some cramps, so we ended our scrimmage a little bit early. I would give us a "B-plus" on the morning practice and a "C" on the night practice.

We understand that the execution is not going to be there as it will later in the week, but we felt that we needed to do a better job of talking on the floor, we needed to do a better job of playing defense with sound principles and that will come, it will come.

I thought Larry Hughes had an exceptional day. Kwame Brown played very well in the scrimmage tonight. Michael Jordan did some very good things offensively tonight in the scrimmage. Tyronn Lue has come into camp in tremendous shape and has shown the coaches that he is ready to pick up 84-feet of the floor. I thought those guys really stood out tonight.

I thought Brendan Haywood played exceptionally well in the first practice today. Christian Laettner played great in both practices, and was probably one of the most consistent players of the day along with Larry Hughes and T-Lue, and if they continue to play like that we are going to be a pretty good team.