Washington will face former coach Tuesday
Caron Butler’s personal relationship with Eddie Jordan wasn’t severed when Jordan was fired as Wizards head coach 11 games into last season. Far from it, as their families took a vacation together this past summer to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas.
But while Butler wishes only the best for Jordan, who as the new Philadelphia 76ers head coach will host his former team for the first time on Tuesday, the Wizards All-Star still thinks his team is better off.
“That’s what happens in this business, no matter what accolades that ever happened,” said Butler. “But when stuff runs dry, when the water runs dry, you gotta turn to something new. That’s what happened. Now, our new coach, new voice, is doing a great job, and I love this system. But at the same time, personal feelings for myself, and I’m pretty sure with a lot guys on this team, is that we miss coach Jordan.”
Washington went to the playoffs four straight years under Jordan before last year’s 1-10 start sealed his fate, and injuries may have been mostly to blame. But it’s not what some of the players remember, as Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood have both taken swipes at Jordan’s schemes — criticizing the Princeton offense and a lack of emphasis on defense — and Andray Blatche didn’t want to revisit his frosty association with his former coach after practice on Sunday.
“Why do they keep asking me questions about this,” said Blatche. “We gonna see on Tuesday.”
Nick Young falls into the other end of the spectrum. Both his playing time and minutes took a hit after Jordan was axed.
“He played me a lot, believed in me,” said Young, who has struggled coming off the bench this preseason. “Then, you don’t know what’s going to happen with the next coach. It’s different.”
A preseason game likely won’t alter the now divergent paths of the Wizards and Jordan. But they will meet again. The Sixers visit Washington on Nov. 24 — the one-year anniversary of the day the Wizards let Jordan go.
“I know he’s going to have a lot of success in Philly,” said Butler, “and by seeing what I’m seeing in practice, and attitude and disposition of this team, I know we’re going to have an even better year here.”
