The Wizards' record matches their worst start in franchise history, tying a mark set in 1966 by the Baltimore Bullets. Jordan's firing came two months after Grunfeld picked up the option on the coach's contract, extending his deal through the 2009-10 season. But after the Wizards failed to overcome the absences of guard Gilbert Arenas (knee surgery) and center Brendan Haywood (wrist surgery) and blew fourth-quarter leads in seven of the 10 losses, Grunfeld had seen enough.

"I felt like things were going in the wrong direction, that things were getting a bit stale," Grunfeld said.

Grunfeld's issue, he said, wasn't with the injuries or the roster, which is filled with players Grunfeld acquired - center Etan Thomas being the lone exception, although Grunfeld in 2004 re-signed Thomas to a six-year, $38 million contract. Instead, Grunfeld said he believed a different philosophy would better suit the Wizards.

"Obviously, I'm aware of our injuries, and other teams have to deal with injuries," he said. "We had injuries last year. We've been through this situation before and were able to have success. This year, we weren't able to do that. Our record is 1-10, and that's an unacceptable record, obviously. We have two All-Stars and some talented young players and some savvy veterans, and we have to get him to play at a higher level, so I felt like we needed to make a change."

Jordan was in his sixth season with the Wizards, whom he guided to the playoffs each of the past four seasons - including last year, when Arenas missed 69 games. He was the third-longest tenured coach in the NBA behind Jerry Sloan and Gregg Popovich and the longest-tenured coach in the Eastern Conference.

The news came as a surprise to the players, who reported to Verizon Center for practice as usual, then learned the news.

"Why wouldn't I be shocked?" said team captain Antawn Jamison, a two-time All-Star. "This team was 1-10, not the coach. Next question."

Butler left Verizon Center following practice, declining comment and saying he couldn't bring himself to talk. Juan Dixon agreed that the slow start was the players' fault, not Jordan's.

"I wouldn't say he lost the locker room," the guard said. "Someone had to be the fall guy, and unfortunately it was Coach. I wish we could've had a better start for him because, personally, I think he's a tremendous coach, great teacher and he worked hard preparing us."

Jordan did not return calls seeking comment.

Tapscott, whose ties to Grunfeld date to 1991 when Grunfeld hired him while working for the New York Knicks, has never coached in the NBA. His only head coaching experience was from 1982 to 1990, when he guided American University to a 109-117 record.

He brings a unique perspective having worked as an NBA executive - both for the Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats - a broadcaster and, the past two years, a mentor/tutor to the Wizards' youngest players: guard Nick Young and forward Dominic McGuire. Grunfeld trusts him because of his strengths as a communicator and motivator and because of his high Basketball IQ. He passed over fellow assistant Randy Ayers, who has NBA head coaching experience, but promoted Ayers to the top assistant position.

Tapscott said the first thing he hopes to change is the Wizards' level of physicality and intensity, citing the high number of easy drives they give up and soft defense as key troubles. He said for now he will stick with the starting lineup of Dee Brown, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and JaVale McGee.

"We need to be a more physical as a team. That doesn't mean I'm going to try to turn greyhounds into Clydesdales, but we have not been a very physical team," said Tapscott, who will make his debut Tuesday night at home against the Golden State Warriors. "We're going to try to play more physical on defense. We're going to try to be more of an execution team. We really have to execute and be efficient on offense. ... We have to finish, which means we have to rebound, and we have to play defensively until we have procured the ball

"We're not that far away," he added. "We're not talking about completely changing the character of this team. We are simply giving new definitions and refining what we do. We are going to be very emphatic about what we ask for and the level that we ask for."

After a 1-10 start, the injury-riddled, salary cap-strapped Washington Wizards fired coach Eddie Jordan, raising a number of questions involving the future of the team. Wizards beat writer Mike Jones of The Washington Times answers three here and three more inside.

Why fire Eddie Jordan now?

The Wizards' 122-117 loss on Saturday to a Knicks team that dressed just seven players forced the move. With or without injuries, team president Ernie Grunfeld had seen enough; he felt the Wizards, who have blown seven fourth-quarter leads, weren't getting better. Grunfeld said he doesn't blame Jordan for the 1-10 start, but he felt some things should have been handled differently and that all the pieces are in place for the team to compete. Someone had to be the fall guy; that guy was Jordan.

Why Ed Tapscott?

The former American University coach served as director of player development for the Wizards the last two seasons, and Grunfeld trusts him. Associate head coach Mike O'Koren was fired along with Jordan. Grunfeld believed their philosophies were too similar to promote O'Koren - and because of his loyalty to Jordan he likely wouldn't have accepted the job anyway. Randy Ayers has head coaching experience, but Grunfeld is more closely associated with Tapscott; he moved Ayers to top lieutenant.

Who is Ed Tapscott?

Tapscott is a D.C. native who worked under Gary Williams at American in the 1970s before taking over as coach at AU in 1982. He guided the Eagles to a 109-117 mark in eight years. Grunfeld hired him to serve on his staff in New York in 1991 when he was the Knicks' general manager. Tapscott later served as interim president and general manager of the Knicks. He was president and chief executive officer for the Charlotte Bobcats from 2003 to 2006 before Michael Jordan fired him. Tapscott returned to do TV broadcasts for the Wizards before they hired him as director of player development.

BY THE NUMBERS

197-224

Record in Eddie Jordan's five-plus seasons with the Wizards, a .468 winning percentage.

4

Playoff appearances the Wizards made during Jordan's tenure.

8-18

Record in those playoff appearances under Jordan, a .308 winning percentage.

2

Coaches who had more wins than Jordan with the franchise: Gene Shue (522 wins) and Wes Unseld (202).

UPS AND DOWNS

When the Washington Wizards acquired Caron Butler, the third piece of their "Big Three," in the summer before the 2005-06 season, Eddie Jordan's tenure went in a different direction. Jordan was hired June 19, 2003, to replace Doug Collins, and the Wizards were a combined 70-94 in his first two years, including a second-round playoff loss to Miami in 2005. When Butler came aboard, it became a wild ride for Jordan and the Wizards until they fired him Monday, 11 games into his sixth season.

Aug. 2, 2005

Washington acquires Caron Butler from the Los Angeles Lakers while ridding the franchise of former top pick Kwame Brown.

May 5, 2006

Washington loses in the first round of the playoffs, falling to Cleveland in six games.

July 5, 2006 Jordan signs a contract extension.

Dec. 15, 2006

After a 4-9 November, Washington evens its record at 11-11 with a win against Miami.

Jan. 4, 2007

Washington wins its fourth game in a row, giving it the top record in the Eastern Conference.

Feb. 1, 2007

Jordan is tabbed to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team, which features two of his players: Butler and Gilbert Arenas.

April 1, 2007

Butler fractures his hand, an injury that costs him the rest of his season and the playoffs.

April 4, 2007

Arenas joins Butler on the sideline after tearing the lateral meniscus in his left knee in a loss to Charlotte. He later has season-ending surgery.

April 30, 2007

Cleveland finishes a first-round sweep of Washington, knocking the Wizards out of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Nov. 21, 2007

Arenas undergoes a second knee surgery to repair the same torn meniscus.

April 30, 2008

A month after his return, Arenas announces before Game 5 of the Wizards' first-round playoff series - which they go on to lose - that he won't play again that season.

June 30, 2008

Antawn Jamison agrees to a four-year, $50 million extension.

July 3, 2008

Arenas agrees to a six-year, $111 million contract.

Sept. 17, 2008

Arenas has a third operation on his knee to clean out debris, which is expected to keep him out until at least December.

Sept. 23, 2008

The Wizards pick up another option on Jordan's contract, extending him through 2010.

Oct. 2, 2008

Center Brendan Haywood tears a wrist ligament in training camp; he likely will miss most if not all of the season.

Saturday Washington drops to 1-10, tying the worst start in franchise history.

Monday The Wizards fire Jordan and promote Ed Tapscott to interim coach for the rest of the season.

After the Washington Wizards fired coach Eddie Jordan and replaced him on an interim basis with Ed Tapscott, beat writer Mike Jones of The Washington Times answered some of the lingering questions.

Will the move work?

You can never tell - the Nets never imagined Lawrence Frank was their man when they fired Byron Scott and named him interim coach - but it's not likely. The Wizards' problem wasn't coaching. It's an inability to get healthy, a roster weighed down with large contracts and unmovable players and a collection of young players who aren't ready to shoulder the load placed upon them. Tapscott has a high Basketball IQ, however, and a good relationship with the players - especially the young guys - so perhaps he can turn this team around.

Who's next?

For now, no one. Ernie Grunfeld and his staff will monitor how Tapscott handles things, how the players respond and what the outcome is. This is Tapscott's audition in a way. But at the same time, they will take a survey of who's available this summer - by way of additional firings this season or by way of a coach who's without a job. Flip Saunders, Avery Johnson and Jeff Van Gundy are all unemployed - and you never know who could join them.

Back to this season: Playoff tickets or lottery balls?

Lottery balls. Tapscott has his work cut out for him, and it will take some time to turn things around. Looking at the schedule, the wins will be hard to come by, and even by the time Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood return - if they return - the Wizards will have dug too large a hole to earn a playoff spot. Even before the firing, reaching the playoffs looked to be tougher this year with Boston still being Boston, Detroit being Detroit and Cleveland, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando and Toronto improving over the offseason.