WASHINGTON - Wizards coach Randy Wittman signed a contract extension Tuesday after leading the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Luis Gonzalez Jersey . With its young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, Washington beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round before losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Wizards hadnt won a post-season series since 2005. Wittman was promoted to head coach when Flip Saunders was fired in January 2012, the third rebuilding project Wittman has undertaken. He has the worst regular-season record of anyone who has coached at least 400 NBA games — 191-329, a .367 winning percentage — since the league started in 1946. Wittman, in the final year of his contract, operated under a playoff-or-else edict from owner Ted Leonsis this season. "Its really the players who made the big decision, not only in the exit interviews the last couple of years and this off-season, but the way they responded to him on the court," Leonsis said on the teams website. "They respect their coach, they listen and like playing for him, and it shows." This season, Washington went 44-38, a 15-win improvement from a year ago, to finish fifth in a weak Eastern Conference. "This team and this organization have made significant strides over the last 2 1/2 seasons and Im excited to be a part of the next step in that process," Wittman said in a news release issued by the club. Wittman was scheduled to meet with reporters Wednesday. A day after being eliminated by the Pacers last month, Wizards players were full of praise for Wittman, appreciative of his tough-love tactics, his teaching methods and his game-day preparation. "He gets as much credit as the players," veteran forward Al Harrington said then. "I would really be upset if hes not the coach leading this team out of that locker room next year." Arizona Diamondbacks Jorge De La Rosa Jersey . Rinne had surgery on his left hip May 9 and recovered in time to start the season. He then had arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 24 because of a bacterial infection in his hip. Luis Gonzalez Diamondbacks Jersey . Various media outlets, including the Detroit Free Press, indicate a deal is close, while USA Today cited an unidentified person directly involved with the negotiations as saying the pact is for two years.EDMONTON -- Now that the Edmonton Oilers have secured their offensive future, the defence is next on their to-do list. With Thursdays signing of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers have their three key forwards -- Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle -- locked up for the next six or seven years. The focus now shifts to Justin Schultz, the future of the teams blue-line who is in the final year of a two-year contract he signed as a free agent. "Long-term, Justin Schultz is definitely going to be a key ingredient for us," defensive coach Steve Smith said after Fridays skate. "Justin just has a natural gift to be an offensive player. He jumps into the play so well, hes so skilled, he shoots the puck hard, hes able to find open spots in the offensive zone and, quite frankly, hes strong defensively." The 23-year-old is still happy he chose the Oilers when several NHL teams were pursuing him and he sees himself being in Edmonton for a long time. "All of us want to be here for a long time," said the six-foot-two, 185-pound Schultz, adding hes not concerned about his contract. "Not worried about that at all. I have this year to play and well see what happens." What the Oilers see happening is Schultz leading the development of a number of key defensive players and becoming the face of that group, which is fine with him. "You want to be one of those key guys," he said. "Its nice to have the responsibility. Were all a pretty young core group of guys and some veterans who came in who can help us." But Smith noted its not just Schultz, whho had eight goals and 27 points in last years 48-game shortened season. Arizona Diamondbacks Hoodie. "Weve got a bunch of guys who compete real hard," he said. "Its a hard-working group and theres a lot of character in it so theres a lot of promise moving forward." He had particular praise for 25-year-old Jeff Petry, who Smith says carries the puck well and is "as pure a skater as there is the game as far as Im concerned." Smith, a former defenceman with the Oilers, was generally pleased with the way the defence played last year, although he concedes the team did struggle in its own end, partly because of the lack of commitment to defence by the young forwards. "We had some good results offensively," said Smith. "Justin coming in definitely helped us in the offensive zone. And Jeff Petry is another one. They just have abilities that just arent taught. So you look at it and say both of those guys are pretty well-rounded players and the future is very bright." Short-term, he said, the club bolstered its defence with the addition this summer of free agent Andrew Ference from Boston and Nick Schultz last year. Add a pretty consistent Vladislav Smid and the Oilers do have some steady veterans to help the youngsters. Plus, there is young Darnell Nurse, their first-round pick in last springs draft. "Hes raw and hes got some steps to take to get the NHL level, but I have to tell you were really happy with what weve seen of him so far," said Smith. The Oilers are home to the Vancouver Canucks in another pre-season meeting Saturday evening. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '