<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 21, 2006 - 10:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on TNT</span></div> <span style="color:#3333FF">Washington Wizards</span> <span style="color:#996633">(12-12)</span><span style="color:#996633">PG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span> <span style="color:#996633">SG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DeShawn Stevenson</span> <span style="color:#996633">SF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Caron Butler</span> <span style="color:#996633">PF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antawn Jamison</span> <span style="color:#996633">C</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Brendan Haywood</span> <span style="color:#996633">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antonio Daniels, Jarvis Hayes, Donnell Taylor, Roger Mason</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Sacramento Kings</span> <span style="color:#000000">(10-13)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Mike Bibby</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kevin Martin</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">John Salmons</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kenny Thomas</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Brad Miller</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ronnie Price, Corliss Williamson, Francisco Garcia, Jason Hart</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Etan Thomas will not play (sprained left ankle)</span><span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Darius Songala will not play (recovering from back surgery)</span><span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Michael Ruffin will not play (sprained right foot)</span><span style="color:#000000">SAC:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Ron Artest will not play (sore knees)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 29.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.3 apg, 2.1 spg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Antawn Jamison</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 18.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.8 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Caron Butler</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.8 spg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Mike Bibby</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 17.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.7 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Kevin Martin</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 21.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Brad Miller</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 8.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.4 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">SAC:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Quincy Douby</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 19</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">1.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Washington's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Brendan Haywood</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 5.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span><span style="color:#996633">As A Starter: 6.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Haywood is the only above average center on the active roster, with Thomas out. He needs to continue his strong play inside, and he needs to keep up his good rebounding and protecting the basket. He'll have his work cut out for him tonight though, chasing Brad Miller all the way out to 3-point land, same with Adbur-Rahim.</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Sacramento's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#6600CC">John Salmons</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 9.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.9 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 12.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">He really has to step up and fill in for Ron Artest. He has done an OK job so far, but he could do better. Losing Ron Artest is obviously a lot, but Salmons needs to step up and play an efficient game tonight.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Mike Bibby</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Arenas is a top 15 player in the league, while Bibby isn't too shabby himself. He's up there on the top 10 PG's list, and he is effective in a lot of different ways offensively. He's going to have his hands full tonight with Gilbert Arenas (although I'm sure he won't be guarding him all the time), who is one of the best scorers in the NBA. When Gil gets going, he is really unstoppable.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesWashington lost their last game and Sac-Town has dropped their last two. Both teams want a win tonight, so it should be a good one. CelticBalla's PredictionI think Washington will take this on the road. I think Arenas is going to have a good game, and I think Antawn Jamison is going to have a 20/10 night. Sacramento will have a real tough time keeping up with Washington's scoring power without Ron Artest helping defensively.
Wow, your game preview kicks my game preview's ass. :cry2:Whatever, we'll just ignore my game thread and talk in here. Damn, I have to wait 'till 10:30 for this mothafucka to start jumpin'.
Anyone else watch this? If you like offense, you LOVED this game... wow! You had two Wizards score 30, the entire starting frontline for Washington got a double-double, Arenas and Jamison were raining three's like crazy, my boy Kevin Martin goes for 40!, Williamson was awesome off the bench, Salmons did it all, a lot of shots went up, etc. I mean this game was falt out enjoyable.Good road win for Washington, they did an excellent job tonight. They commited too many turnovers, but they got the job done. The offense was obviously outstanding, but the rebounding, constant hustle, and fight is what got them through it all. They kept playing as hard as they could every minute of the game. Excellent road win for Washington.For Sacramento, Martin, Salmons, Miller, and Williamson were awesome. Major props to Martin especially (40 points). But Bibby was off, the defense was terrible, they were owned on the boards, and Washington got to the line way more than them. Artest was much needed tonight.
Yeah, this was a good road win. I really did not want Kevin Martin dropping 40 on us, but that's ok. Major props to him. Haywood played some inspired ball tonight, 12 points and 14 rebounds. Game by game, on this road trip he's showing Eddie Jordan why he should be starting at C. Jamison played great, too, he's the one who actually got us in the game. Gil flirted with a triple double, Caron was Caron, and everyone else was decent (Stevenson, AD, and Hayes).
The Wizards are one of the most exciting teams to watch, proving it this game. Offense = exciting. They provide a ton of offense and, sadly, allow a ton too though. Games that have this much offense are awesome to watch
Man, Kevin Martin had a great game. Did anybody see his dunk towards the end of the 3rd quarter? It was absolutley sick. But the Wizards just went off in the 3rd quarter. There isnt a whole lot that you can do about that.....Jamison, Butler, and Arenas all had good games (especially in the 3rd). Good overall win for te Wizards.
