Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Bullets' lack of offensive leader shows in second loss Date: Sun, 8 Nov 92 15:50:37 EST Message-ID: \SE C;SPORTS \HD Bullets' lack of offensive leader shows in second loss \BY David Hutchinson \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Washington Bullets need a go-to guy. Someone who can guarantee them a basket or a trip to the free throw line on demand. The lack of such a player cost the Bullets again last night, as it did all last season. Trying to score by committee, Washington came up on the short end of a 103-98 decision against the undefeated Orlando Magic (2-0) in their home opener before a sellout crowd of 18,756 at Capital Centre. Washington, which had rallied from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter, blew a 95-88 lead with 4:35 to play. "Those options [of having several players to go to down the stretch] don't mean anything until they hit," said Bullets coach Wes Unseld of the big-time college scorers he has on his roster who are expected to produce. "We have to do more things to get people to the basket." One of the reasons the Bullets (0-2) couldn't get to the basket last night was Magic rookie center Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, including a key swat of a driving layup by Bullets guard Rex Chapman (16 points). Rookie Don MacLean, who was 1-for-5 Friday night against Charlotte, came off the bench determined to atone for his poor play. He hit 4 of 5 shots to spark a fourth-quarter rally that gave the Bullets a 95-88 lead with 4:35 to play. But Washington scored just three points the rest of the game, as veterans Pervis Ellison (a turnover and two missed free throws) and Harvey Grant (a key turnover) didn't deliver. "It's not my young guys that concern me right now," Unseld said. Ellison picked up two early fouls the second consecutive game he has been in foul trouble, and sat out the entire second quarter. He started the third quarter and didn't get his first points until 6:16 remained in the period. "Coach is going to go with the guys doing the job," Ellison said. "It [the foul trouble] is very frustrating. But we have 80 games to go." Rookie MacLean and Brent Price sparked the Bullets' rally, slicing the lead to seven with 4:35 to go. Enter Michael Adams, Ellison and Grant. With the score tied 97-97, Adams and Grant fumbled away a pass with 1:26 left. On the next possession, Ellison missed two free throws. Then, with the Bullets trailing 100-97 with 50.7 seconds to play, Chapman drove the basket and had his shot blocked by O'Neal with 39 seconds left. "We were running a pick and roll," Chapman said. "I was going to either drive to the basket or pull it back out. I had a lane. I got in there but he [O'Neal] was quick enough to block it." ****BOX BULLETS LAST NIGHT Orlando------22-28-26-27--103 Washington---19-29-26-24---98 TOP SCORERS Bullets: Michael Adams (19), Rex Chapman (16) Magic: Shaquille O'Neal (22), Dennis Scott (19) TOP REBOUNDERS Bullets: Pervis Ellison (9), Tom Gugliotta (9) Magic: Shaquille O'Neal (15) This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM