Guard leads league in minutes per game
Wizards head coach Flip Saunders promised a busy preseason for John Wall, and with one game to go before Washington gets a nine-day break ahead of its regular-season opener, the rookie guard has put more wear on the tires than any other player in the NBA.
After six preseason games, Wall began the week leading the league in both minutes played (35.3 per game) and assists (eight per game). He was also tied for eighth in turnovers (3.5 per game) — and if his performance during Las Vegas Summer League was any indication, that’s the number he’ll focus on the most.
Wall (16.5 ppg) hasn’t been distracted by the numbers or the opponents thus far in preseason. Facing Milwaukee point guard Brandon Jennings last week, Wall was cognizant of the matchup but didn’t let it dictate his play — he finished the night with his first double-double (15 points, 11 assists).
“The key thing I gotta do is try to get wins like him,” Wall said after the game. “He got his team into the playoffs last year, and they had a big explosion. I’m not trying to say I’m going to have a big game or I’ll match him to his rookie year, but I just want to do what he did and help this team get to the playoffs.”
The Wizards (3-3) expect to be without guard Gilbert Arenas after he strained his right groin last week against the Bucks and sat out Sunday’s game at New York. Arenas reportedly was fined $50,000 for faking an injury prior to the Wizards preseason home opener against Atlanta on Oct. 12.
