Wizards preview: A day without Coach Jordan

November 25, 1:35 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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The Wizards will look to stop Jackson early
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

The Washington Wizards will play their first game of the season without former head coach Eddie Jordan tonight, after the Wizards organization released him yesterday due to a rocky 1-10 start to the season.

Ed Tapscott, the Wizards former Director of Player Development, should be set tonight to guide Washington at home against the 5-8 Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors, led by 43.4-minutes-per-game Stephen Jackson, aren't the Knicks in terms of three-point shooters.  But they have guys who can knock them down, and they have guys that love to run the fast break.  Andris Biedrins is having a breakout year for the Warriors inside, leading them with 13.5 rebounds and 16.8 points per game to go along with 1.54 blocks.

The Wizards, having suffered the most from just about everything, should be able to control the boards tonight if they can control Biedrins.  As for the fast break and three-point opportunities, if the Wizards can find comfort in their point position and not give up turnovers, that's step one.  The next step is a defensive attitude in which the perimeter is guarded for a full 24 seconds.

Winning Habits
In Tapscott's first venture as head coach for the Wizards, there aren't many examples from the 1-10 season to look at, but in the Wizards three wins since preseason, there are a few trends.

• McGee and Young off the Bench
In the last three games, JaVale McGee has earned a starting role, but in the Wizards three wins since preseason, McGee has played off the bench each game and has averaged 14.7 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 2 blocks per game.  As a starter in the last three games, McGee hasn't earned over 10 points or 10 rebounds in a single game.  Perhaps McGee should start from the bench tonight?

Nick Young did not play in one of the Wizards three wins since preseason, but in two games, he averaged 12.5 points per game on 10-for-18 shooting.  Nick Young has remained on the bench, and has not yet earned a starting role.  I'd keep him on the bench for his point-production, due to his turnover to assist ratio this season.

• Shut down the guards, mind the bigs
In the Wizards three wins since preseason, they have not allowed a starting guard to score more than 10 points on them, which includes Tony Parker, O.J. Mayo, and Deron Williams.  Thus, the Wizards are having most of their issues against the bigs in the league.  The only way to combat this problem, in my opinion, is to give Etan Thomas more minutes.  He is the only veteran defender in the low post the Wizards have been able to depend on at the center position this year.

• Rebounds
Second-chance points have killed the Wizards on defense, and in all three wins since preseason, they have beaten or remained close in the rebounding column.  It is important not only for the Wizards to make sure they grab defensive rebounds to prevent second-chance point opportunities for the opposing team, but also to avoid costly, tough shots from the perimeter on offense, which have often led to long rebounds and fast breaks for the other team.  The Wizards have not been able to defend the fast-break too well so far (although, Antawn Jamison has proved himself capable of breaking up a 1-on-4).

Tonight's home game will air on Comcast SportsNet at 7:00 p.m. ET.