NBA notebook: Haywoode Workman gets worked

Center Drew Gooden, in his first season with the Bucks, on his new teammate Bogut, who is 7-foot, 260 pounds: "He's big. I didn't realize how tall he was and how big he was until actually being his teammate. Playing against him, in my mind, playing against all these guys, I always think they're the same height as me. But being around them every day, he's huge."

WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Houston's 0-4 start heading into Saturday night's game at San Antonio was the Rockets' worst start since 1999-2000 when they began 0-5 and finished 34-48. "I just hope we can win a game before Christmas," center Yao Ming said. "OK, that was a joke."

PEJA INACTIVITY

The Hornets appear to be phasing out guard Peja Stojakovic, who was put on the inactive list last week. Stojakovic is in the final year of his five-year, $64 million contract and lacks the defense which coach Monty Williams seeks.

"It's a tough spot for him, not knowing when he's going to play for the first time in his career," Williams said. "I take all of that blame. I probably didn't do a great job of communicating to him when he was going to play or if he wasn't going to play. I tried to talk to him, but juggling all this stuff for the first time, I could have done a better job of dealing with him."

NOTEWORTHY

The Hornets started 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, with victories over projected playoff teams Miami, Denver, San Antonio and Milwaukee.... The Mavericks play 17 of their first 26 games at home.... Forward Carlos Boozer still isn't close to playing his first game with Chicago, but took the first step in his comeback by getting the hard cast removed from his thumb last Tuesday and beginning rehab on Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to seeing how we do when we're all put back together," Boozer said.

QUOTABLE

Dallas center Brendan Haywood on the high altitude of Denver: "It's not overrated. My lungs were burning at practice like I just finished smoking a pack of Newports. It takes some time to get used to it, especially in the first quarter."