<div align="center">vs. <font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (2-0)</font> @ <font color="blue">The Orlando Magic (0-2)</font> Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Place: The MCI Center TV: Local <font size="5"><font color="navy">Wizards' Head Coach</font></font> <font color="navy">Eddie Jordan</font> <font size="5"><font color="navy"> Wizards' Projected Starting Lineup</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font color="navy">Season Stats Gilbert Arenas - 24 PPG, 5 RPG, 5 APG Antonio Daniels - 5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 5 APG Jared Jeffries - 6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.5 APG Antawn Jamison - 24.5 PPG, 8 RPG, 2.5 APG Brendan Haywood - 10.5 PPG, .5 APG, 8 RPG</div></font> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue">Magic Head Coach</font></font> <font color="blue">Brian Hill</font> <font size="5"><font color="blue">Magic Projected Starting Lineup</font></font> <font color="blue">Season Stats Steve Francis - 18.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 7 APG DeShawn Stevenson - 12.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3 APG Hedo Turkoglu - 12 PPG, 4 RPG, 3 APG Dwight Howard - 14 PPG, 5.5 RPG, .5 APG Kelvin Cato - 8.5 PPG, 3 RPG, 0 APG</font> <font size="5"><font color="navy">Bench</font><font color="blue"> Factors</font></font> Season Stats <font color="navy">Caron Butler - 11 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG</font> <font color="blue">Jameer Nelson - 9 PPG, 2RPG, 2.5APG</font> <font size="5"><font color="navy">Key</font><font color="blue"> Matchup</font></font> (<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>, <font color="blue">Steve Francis</font>) Projected Stats <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas: 26 Points, 5 Rebounds, 7 Assists</font> <font color="blue">Steve Francis: 21 Points, 4 Rebounds, 8 Assists</font></div> <font size="5"><font color="navy">Keys</font><font color="blue"> to</font><font color="navy"> the</font><font color="blue"> Game</font></font> <font color="navy">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="navy">Open Big</font>- Washington should get the crowd behind them early. Get out and get easy buckets, play tight d, and make smart decisions. If they get the crowd, it should be smooth sailing. [*]<font color="navy">Stopping Howard</font>- Dwight Howard can have a big game here. Antawn Jamison, like I've stated numerous times, isn't known for his defense, he's actually known for his lack of it. If Dwight Howard can come in here and own this matchup, thing will be a lot harder for the Wizards [*]<font color="navy">Antonio Daniels</font>- In the first two games of the season, he isn't playing like the player we thought we signed. That's ok, it's a new offense, and I don't expect him to get it right away. But tonight, I'm expecting a good game from him. He should come out and do the things he does to help the Wizards win this one. [/list] <font color="blue">Orlando:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="blue">Moving without the Ball</font>- If the Magic plan on winning, they need to move without the ball. When Dwight Howard has the ball on the block, they should cut into the lanes because Washington might try and double Dwight. They need to move along the perimeter also, so he can kick it out. [*]<font color="blue">Turnovers</font>- The Magic need to force turnovers, they need to force Arenas to play erraticly. Turnovers lead to easy baskets and breakaways, something Orlando will need. [*]<font color="purple">Francis on Arenas</font>- What a matchup. This one should be a good one. Steve Francis needs to cut the drive off from Arenas and force him to pass the ball. Once Arenas gets in drive mode, no one can stop him from getting to the hoop and drawing the foul. [/list] <font size="5"><font color="navy">Random</font> <font color="blue">Movie</font><font color="navy"> Quote</font>: </font> <u>Toy Story </u> Rex: What if Andy gets another dinosaur? A mean one? I don't think I can take that kind of rejection. <font size="5"> <font color="blue">Prediction</font></font> I don't see Washington having to big of a problem with this one, unless they're still tired from last night's game. Washington should come in here and control the flow of the game throughout. I see Washington taking this one and improving to 3-0, 99-94.
Nice preview, I also think the Wizards will take this one no problem, they have been pretty solid so far, and I don't really see them slowing down anytime soon. Nice quote btw.
Great preview. I see Washington coming out on top by 8 in this game. But I think it all depends on the play of the guys you have in the key matchup, and if either of them have a substantially better game, their team will come out on top.
Nice preview. I think the Wizards really need to control the paint and limit Orlando's offensive rebound numbers because the Wizards suffered from the second chance points the Knicks produced and I think that was the only problem the Wizards had against the Knicks. Basically, if they can control the paint and shot like they did against NY, the game should be all theirs.