With the All-Star Break looming, Wizards coach Randy Wittman wants to make sure his team is tuned in and not already playing with one foot out the door against the Kings.
“There’s no question, these games are games in the league that can be stolen because of that, and we’ve got to make sure we’re not the team checking out,” Wittman said. “The game after All-Star break is another one of them. You’ve been gone, doing your own thing for 4-5 days, coming back, that’s another one that can be stolen. It’s always been that case and so we stressed that coming in tonight.”
Wittman expects rebounding to play a key role. It’s a department where Sacramento is among the best in the NBA, leading all teams in offensive boards (13.9 per game) and tied for fifth in rebounding overall (43.6 per game). The Wizards are 21st overall (41.4 per game) and 13th at the offensive end (13.8 per game).
Washington is still without injured big men Ronny Turiaf (hand) and Andray Blatche (calf). Wittman said Turiaf was expected to see a doctor next week while Blatche took part in pregame drills tonight even though he’s not expected back until after the break.
Given his arrival just barely 90 minutes before the game, one could’ve guessed that Nick Young wasn’t in time to play, either. He and Rashard Lewis both have the opportunity to break out of their shooting woes against the Kings, who’ve given up 111 points per game during their current six-game losing streak. Their focus on scoring has been part of their problem.
“You can’t be a player that that’s going to be your only effect on the game,” Wittman said. “You can do other things to put your imprint on the game, and that’s what we got to continue to try to strive for.”
Lewis said he was feeling better during the Wizards’ five-game road trip – having missed the three games before that due to soreness in his left knee, which only bothered him during the Wizards’ back-to-back games against Portland and Los Angeles.
“Overall, I’m feeling good especially coming into tonight,” Lewis said. “Not only that, knowing the next four days I have off so I should be able to be ready to roll next week.”
