<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The <font color="#0c4790">Washington Wizards</font> were ultimately done in by a bad finish last season, but they also didn't help themselves with a poor start, one that came long before injuries started striking the team's core players.</p> The Wizards lost their 2006-07 season opener at <font color="#0c4790">Cleveland</font> and stumbled to a 4-9 start before turning things around by winning eight of their next 10 games. Washington's ragged beginning included losses in its first eight road games, something the team does not want to repeat when the regular season opens Wednesday night at <font color="#0c4790">Indiana</font> and continues Friday at <font color="#0c4790">Boston</font>.</p> The Wizards' home opener is Saturday night against <font color="#0c4790">Orlando</font> at <font color="#0c4790">Verizon Center</font>.</p> "It's vital that we get off to a good start," forward <font color="#0c4790">Antawn Jamison</font> said. "The last two years, we've started slowly and I think we realize how hard it was for us to do that and then have to make up games. Then you get on a roll and you realize how much of a better record you could have had. It would be ill-advised for us to do that again, especially with so many teams in the East getting better this summer."</p> <font color="#0c4790">Coach Eddie Jordan</font> spent the early portion of last season trying to establish a steady rotation, but he'll go into Wednesday night knowing that he can count on nine veteran players while blending in three raw but talented rookies as opportunities arise.</p> ----------------------------------------------</p> Rookie big man <font color="#0c4790">Oleksiy Pecherov</font>, who has been bothered by a bruised left thigh that forced him to miss two preseason games, suffered another setback yesterday when he sprained his left ankle in practice. Pecherov had to be helped to the locker room and his status is day-to-day.</div></p> Link</p> I did not like how the Wizards were inconsistent throughout the entire year going from up and down in wins and losses like a rollercoaster ride. I know the injuries hurt us, but our bench players needs to be ready to perform and take over what's loss. Hopefully and I express that deeply, that the injuries stay a minimal for this season.</p> </p>
