<span class="main"><span class="spacing"> <div align="center"> @ (0-0) @ (0-0) Date: 10/31/07 Time: 7:00 pm TV: CSN Projected Starters Wizards Starting Lineup (G. Arenas, D. Stevenson, C. Butler, A. Jamison, B. Haywood)</div> 2006-07 Wizards Stats Leading Scorer: Gilbert Arenas - 28.4 PPG Leading Rebounder: Antawn Jamison - 8.0 RPG Leading Assist Man: Gilbert Arenas - 6.0 APG Points Per Game: 104.3 Field Goal Percentage: 45.0% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 34.8% Rebounds Per Game: 41.2 Assists Per Game: 20.2 <div align="center"> <font color="blue">PG - Gilbert Arenas - PPG: 28.4, APG: 6.0, RPG: 4.6 SG - Deshawn Stevenson - PPG: 11.2, APG: 2.7, RPG: 2.6 SF - Caron Butler - PPG: 19.1, RPG: 7.4, APG: 3.7 PF - Antawn Jamison - PPG: 19.8, RPG: 8.0, APG: 1.9 C - Brendan Haywood - PPG: 6.6, RPG: 6.2, APG: 0.6</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacers Starting Lineup (J. Tinsley, M. Dunleavy, D. Granger, I. Diogu, J. Foster)</div> 2006-07 Pacers Stats Leading Scorer: Jermaine O'neal - 19.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Jermaine O'neal - 9.6 RPG Leading Assist Man: Jamaal Tinsley - 6.9 APG Points Per Game: 95.6 Field Goal Percentage: 43.8% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 34.6% Rebounds Per Game: 41.6 Assists Per Game: 20.5 <div align="center"> <font color="orange">PG - Jamaal Tinsley - PPG: 12.8, APG: 6.6, RPG: 3.3 SG - Mike Dunleavy - PPG: 12.8, RPG: 5.3, APG: 2.8 SF - Danny Granger - PPG: 13.9 PPG, RPG: 4.6, APG: 1.4 PF - Jermaine O'neal - PPG: 19.8, RPG: 9.6, APG: 2.4 C - Jeff Foster - PPG: 4.3, RPG: 8.1, APG: 0.8</font> ------------------------ Keys to the Game <font color="blue">Start Fast, Finish Strong - Eddie Jordan shouldn't underestimate the opponent, but should know when to take advantages of opportunities to start fast. Whenever you have guys who can light up points in seconds with the Big Three along with Deshawn Stevenson and become active on the defensive end, you'll be able to make runs and force the Pacers into droughts. It's the same mentality in the 4th quarter, if the Wizards end up with the sizable lead. No reason to let the Pacers come back in any way and you want to make a statement coming into the season. Who will become that deadly bench scorer? - There are plenty of weapons to look for on the bench from the rookies such as Dominic McGuire and Nick Young and the rising stars such as Darius Songalia and Andray Blatche. These guys need to know cannot let the scoring pace slow down when any of the Big Three heads to the bench. Coach Eddie Jordan will slow down the pace and have Antonio Daniels calls set plays, so it's vital that the Bench gets on fire. Defense, Defense, Defense - It won't take 1 game to fully teach the Wizards about defense, but with the way Randy Ayers has been coaching them, fans want to be able to see that the Wizards look a lot better than the season before on defense. Even if they don't perform well, it's extremely important to perform in the clutch when it matters, since they already know they can score.</font> <font color="orange">Shoot From 3 - The Washington Wizards are a fast scoring team, who could easily score 100 without breaking a sweat. Coach O'Brien has to keep up with them, before it's too late and it's not a bad idea to hit the Wizards where it hurt, from downtown. The Wizards were last in the league last season in 3 point defense and I would not be surprised if they continue on struggling. With Jermaine O'neal getting attention in the paint, expect guys to be open at the 3. Attack the Paint, Own the 'Big' Categories - The Pacers' frontcourt easily matches up well with the Wizards' frontcourt and with Jamison's sensitivity, expect Jermaine to have a field day. This doesn't just mean scoring, but the Pacers want to look to win the rebound category to get second chance points, block shots and keep opportunities alive. Prepare for Track Meet - The Wizards are prepared to run at any point of the game, whether if it is off a steal or the second after the defensive rebound. The Pacers cannot allow any cheap points to occur including fastbreak layups and quick open jumpers. The bench will be a factor here if any players can come out and shut down any Wizards player.</font></div> </span></span></p>
Let's see how long Dunleavy stays in this game. The Wizards team speed is tough to deal with and eventhough the Pacers have a lot of athletic forwards, they don't have the foot speed to keep pace with the Wizards perimeter players.</p> When the Wizards are hitting from the outside they are tough to beat because of all the firepower coming from the big three. The Pacers need to do what they can to slow this game down and limit the Wizards to one and done.</p> I like the Wizards in this game because of the familiarity they have with one another and their ability to execute in Jordan's system. I don't think the Pacers have adapted to Kevin O'Brien's system yet.</p> Jamaal Tinsley is sure to lose his focus in this game and Indiana's game plan will go out the window. Tinsley always gets caught up in one-on-one matchuups and Arenas will be sure to get in his head in this game. You can only take hearing HIBACHI HIBACHI HIBACHI so many times before you lose composure.</p>
Good job AZ.</p> Wizards 112-94 Pacers</p> Arenas 32pts 5rbs 6assts 2stls JOneal 27pts 8rbs 3assts 3bks</p>
Wow, Wizards completely lose it in overtime after a buzzer beater by Gilbert Arenas. The Wizards should've won this game against a team without their superstar. At least it's too early in the season to get really upset over a game like this, hopefully we'll bounce back against Boston, we're the Wizards after all.</p>
yo shape...it's Jim O'Brien in Indiana, haha</p> And wow...call this the surprise of the night. Tinsley with a GREAT game. Looks like the writers were correct with saying he'd be good in O'Brien's system. Granger had a terrific game too. If he can keep that up, the sky's the limit for this kid.</p> And Dunleavy...WOW. Where did this come from? Isn't Dunleavy supposed to suck?</p>
