ekansekans's blog: "df"

WASHINGTON -- At the midpoint of their season, and with John Wall back in the starting lineup, the Washington Wizards finally lifted themselves off the bottom of the NBA. Wall had 14 points and five assists in his first start of the season, and Washington finally hit double digits in wins Friday night with a 114-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wizards have won four straight at home and no longer have the leagues worst record, their 10-31 record a half-game better than the Charlotte Bobcats 10-32. "Youre not going to hear any good thing about your team or organization if youre not winning games, and thats all were trying to do -- is just win," Wall said. "You dont want to end up as the last team." Wall, who came off the bench for the first seven games after his return from a knee injury, had assists on the Wizards first two baskets in a game in which Washington never trailed. He wowed the crowd with a nice spin move for a layup late in the first half and went 6 for 10 from the field in 21 minutes, his playing time still limited after missing 33 games with a stress injury to his left knee cap. "I think Im still trying to get in basketball shape," Wall said. "And its still tough, but I think Im getting closer and closer." The Wizards are 5-3 since Walls return after going 5-28 without him. Hes one of several Wizards players who missed chunks of games in the first months of the season because of injuries, giving coach Randy Wittman an appreciation for a record that still doesnt look very good. "If you had told me wed play half of them without our top players, I might say Give me 10-31," the coach said. Jordan Crawford added 19 points, and Bradley Beal had 16 points and a career-high four blocks for the Wizards, who shot a season-high 58 per cent. Beal had the best sequence for anyone not named Wall: The rookie chased down Luke Ridnour to block a fast-break layup, crashed into the front row, got up and hit a jumper at the other end to make the score 70-51 in the third. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are starting to look like the early-season Wizards, with too many injuries, ugly losses and even a star player recovering from a knee injury. Minnesota has lost six straight on the road and eight of nine overall. Ricky Rubio had four points on 1-for-8 shooting, six assists, five rebounds and five turnovers, another trying day in a difficult week that included an apology to acting coach Terry Porter for getting upset over playing time in the teams loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. With head coach Rick Adelman away tending to his sick wife, Porter and Rubio met Thursday to clear the air. "I dont think it ever was really an issue," Porter said. "He was frustrated like any player would be who wants to be playing the fourth quarter." Rubio had been on a strict limit of 28 minutes per game since returning last month from reconstructive left knee surgery, but he played 31 minutes Friday night because the game went for a while without a whistle in the fourth quarter. "Im still missing the power of my legs," Rubio said. "But I feel good, but its hard to find my rhythm during the season." Derrick Williams had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points for the Timberwolves, who are missing Kevin Love, Brandon Roy, Malcolm Lee, Chase Budinger, Nikola Pekovic and Alexey Shved. The Wizards know the feeling. "We need to build up like a good team," Washington forward Nene said. "And to be good we need to lose, we need to learn." "So we did it," he added with a laugh. Notes: Washingtons 60 first-half points tied a season-high. ... The Wizards used their 15th starting lineup of the season. ... Wolves C Greg Stiemsma committed two fouls in 9 seconds in the first quarter, and then picked up another quick one in the second quarter. He played only 18 minutes -- but he finished with a career-high six assists. NFL Jerseys China . He was determined to end it. He did, but not before facing several tense moments against one of baseballs hottest team. Wholesale Jerseys China . -- Feeling "a little upset" that Texas didnt move quickly enough to re-sign him, free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton donned a Los Angeles Angels jersey on Saturday after finalizing a $125 million, five-year contract that he called a new chapter in his life. http://bloodcopy.org/wholesale.html . -- For Ty Dillon, racing is the family business. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas defensive co-ordinator Rob Ryan was fired Tuesday after his injury-depleted unit struggled in a pair of season-ending losses that kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs for a third straight year. Ryan was let go a day after running backs coach Skip Peete was fired, and less than a week after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said things were going to get "uncomfortable" at team headquarters in nearby Irving. "At this time, the decision has been made to move forward in a different direction philosophically on defence," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said in a statement. "I have an immense amount of respect for Rob as a person and as a football coach." Ryan spent two seasons with the Cowboys after he was fired two years into the same job in Cleveland. He didnt hide his displeasure over being let go by the Browns before the Cowboys played them this season. He struck a different tone Tuesday. "I enjoyed my time here," Ryan told The Dallas Morning News. "I have no hard feelings. But it doesnt matter if I coach here or not. I will find another spot." The Cowboys finished with four defensive starters on injured reserve, including both Sean Lee and Bruce Carter at inside linebacker -- a critical position for Ryans 3-4 scheeme.dddddddddddd A fifth starter, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, missed all but six games with ankle and groin injuries. Nickel cornerback Orlando Scandrick was sidelined the last five games with a wrist injury. Several Dallas players reacted with surprise on Twitter. "It was a privilege to play under Coach Rob Ryan! One of the greatest," defensive end Jason Hatcher wrote. "Sad day. Im hurting right now." The Cowboys finished 14th in total defence this season under Ryan, the twin brother of New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, but couldnt stop the New Orleans passing game or the Washington rushing attack when they still controlled their playoff fate in the last two weeks of the regular season. Drew Brees threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 overtime win for New Orleans. Dallas still had playoff hopes in the finale against Washington, but rookie Alfred Morris rushed for 200 yards despite quarterback Robert Griffin being limited by a right knee injury in the Redskins 28-18 win. The Cowboys were 19th in total defence in Ryans first year but had one of the worst pass defences in team history. Following consecutive 8-8 seasons, Dallas is 128-128 since the start of 1997 season. The Cowboys have just one playoff win in that span. ' ' '