Wiz Insider: Wizards are developing chemistry in training camp

Halfwaythrough Wizards training camp, the novelty is beginning to wear off as the intense three-hour practices accumulate. After making a splash byupgrading their roster during the offseason, now its time for the Wizards to work towards preparing and developing the necessary chemistry to accomplish their lofty goals.

Its coming together, forward Paul Pierce said Thursday after the teams third training camp practice. Were putting a lot of different things everyday so its going to take time. Its a work in progress, as we have with a lot of new guys, of course. And the guys that came back, the guys that have been here are really helping us get through it. So everyday as we come in and continue to work on it, well get better.

The Wizards are in a better spot than they were last year. At this time they had not yet acquired starting center Marcin Gortat and a few players, including then-rookie Otto Porter Jr., were limited by injury. Now, the Wizards are nearly at full strength. Only Martell Webster, recovering from back surgery, is not practicing.

Roster and system continuity, players have said, should produce a better start than the 2-7 mark they posted last year.

The good thing, is seeing they know where to go, what spots to be in, and what they have to do, Coach Randy Wittman said. That should be a plus for us, of continuing to build it. The more you can make it the same over repetition in our business is huge. And well continue to keep those reps going and weve tweaked some few things, but nothing worth going, Thats totally different from last year.

Threetraining camp practices remain before the Wizards conclude camp Sunday. They then test their product for the first time when they open their preseason against the Chicago Bulls on Monday.

Usually that third day, guys is tired from the first two days, Pierce said. You go three long hours, but I think the third day is always mental. Youre tired. Your body is kind of fatigued, but you want to get through it. Its the mental, where you got to focus in on everything. The details that were trying to do offensively and defensively. In less than five days we have a game five, six days so we have to really be into it from here on out.

Jorge Castillo writes about the Washington Wizards.

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Wiz Insider: Wizards are developing chemistry in training camp