Hoops Hype

If Washington’s season-opening win at Indiana felt a bit hollow considering it was against the rebuilding Pacers, this one felt real. The Bulls were without Zach LaVine, their own franchise player, as he recovers from a knee injury, but Chicago figures to be a competitive team again this season. “This was a big step for us tonight,” Kyle Kuzma said. “I think we pooped the bed a … [Read more...] about

https://www.baltimoresports.today/basketball/wizzards/185165/

DeRozan had 32 points, including 12 points in the fourth quarter. But he shot 3-for-9 in the final frame and Beal will take that, knowing what happened in January. Beal requested to guard DeRozan after he was fouled by Deni Avdija with 3:29 to go. DeRozan was 8-of-9 from the free throw line at that point and Beal felt he was less likely to get calls if he was being guarded by … [Read more...] about

https://www.baltimoresports.today/basketball/wizzards/185164/

The Wizards are 2-0 and he has time to work out the kinks. “I know I can score with the best of them. I can score when I need to… Don’t get it twisted. I’ll still go for 30, 40, 50 if I need to,” Beal said. “[But] I’m not required to do that. I don’t have to do that.” Beal ended up with an efficient 19 points on the night. He shot 9-for-14 from the field and 1-for-2 from three. … [Read more...] about

https://www.baltimoresports.today/basketball/wizzards/185163/

He’s not the only one who likes the belt. “I think it gives us a little extra — extra meaning — and it’s also a way to have fun and compete for something within the team,” center Kristaps Porzingis said. “So it’s pretty cool. I think it has a positive effect on our team.” Two games is a small sample, and there may not be a cause-and-effect relationship between the belt and how … [Read more...] about

https://www.baltimoresports.today/basketball/wizzards/185162/

But in an attempt to encourage defensive tenacity, Washington’s coaches also decided to borrow from the worlds of college football and Major League Baseball. Just as the Miami Hurricanes football team used to celebrate fumble recoveries and interceptions with a turnover chain and the Toronto Blue Jays reward home run hitters with The Blue Jacket, the Wizards now recognize their … [Read more...] about

https://www.baltimoresports.today/basketball/wizzards/185161/