Point guard thrown into tough position
Few would’ve expected Shaun Livingston to make a difference in his first game, especially since it came on the first day of his 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards. But he had a chance to make a difference when head coach Flip Saunders sent him to inbound the ball with 45.3 seconds remaining in overtime and the Wizards down two points to the New York Knicks.
When Livingston couldn’t find an open man, he turned to referee Scott Foster and called timeout. Foster’s reply was immediate: Five seconds.
“The last time I got one of those, I think I was in fifth grade,” said Livingston. “I’ve been in so many game situations, maybe it’s the lack of playing over the past few months.”
Rust is one of many challenges for Livingston, who is trying to rebuild his career after a horrific knee injury three years to the day of his Washington debut. The 9.3 points and 5.1 assists he averaged in 2007 long forgotten, these days Livingston’s proving ground is a non-game day practice.
“There’s only so many jump shots that you can put up,” said Livingston, who was essentially limited to solo workouts after being released by Oklahoma City in December. But earning his way onto a revamped and rebuilding Wizards team that is finally showing signs of having fun, and winning, isn’t easy.
“It’s a tough position to be thrown into,” said Livingston. “Myself, it’s my job to be ready. But it’s even tougher from a coaching standpoint and a managing standpoint, to throw somebody in when you’ve got a rotation. … There’s not really much confidence in me.”
Saunders said Monday that he was sure the Wizards would wait longer than one 10-day period to evaluate Livingston.
“He’s a guy,” said Saunders last week, “that if he can ever get healthy again — he doesn’t have to get to a hundred percent — he’s got unbelievable basketball instincts, a high IQ and can really pass the ball.”
