<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 28, 2007 - 6:00 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#3333FF">Washington Wizards</span> <span style="color:#996633">(25-17)</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">Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels, Jarvis Hayes, Donnell Taylor, Andray Blatche</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(12-30)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo, Allan Ray, Brian Scalabrine, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe, Michael Olowokandi</span> Injury Report <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">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce will not play (stress reaction in left foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak will not play (knees and ankles)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen is out for season (torn ACL/MCL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (back surgery).</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span> <span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 29.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.3 apg, 2.0 spg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Caron Butler</span> <span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 20.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.0 spg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antawn Jamison</span> <span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 19.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 14.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.9 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 5 Games: 20.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">Last 5 Games: 19.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.8 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 8.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">James Lang</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 48 (2003)</span> <span style="color:#996633">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">4.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">3.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">5.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Washington's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Brendan Haywood</span> <span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 6.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg</span> <span style="color:#996633">As A Starter: 8.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.3 bpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">He's going to have to try and contain Big Al a little bit. Both he, Jamison, and Thomas a little bit will have to guard Al. We'll see what he can do.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 4.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Last week, Rajon really played some outstanding defense on Gil, and he honestly did shut him down in the second half. Can he do it again? I wouldn't bet on it, but hopefully he can at least do a solid job.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Antawn Jamison</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Jamison is an All-Star caliber forward, and Big Al has certainly been playing like one lately. Al might have some trouble chasing Jamison outside, but Jamison will have many problems trying to defend Al on the block as well.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes - Washington is currently the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. - The Celtics have the 2nd worst record in the league, and are on a 10 game losing streak. - GERALD GREEN: DO SOMETHING! CelticBalla's Prediction I don't see how we can win this game. Arenas will NOT put up two stinkers in a row against us, and they are just the much better team. I say Washington wins by 10.
Another game I get to go to. Hopefully they can at least make it entertaining, and maybe even pull a win out of their ass.
Wizards are playing like trash.. Gilbert's in a funk, and everyone besides AJ and Haywood are playing poorly. It is definitely not DeShawn's night tonight, either. 'Tawn is bringing it like he did against Detroit, and his shot is still deadly. Haywood has been extremely active on the offensive glass, and how about that jumpshot in the corner at the end of the half? Caron had a sick dunk.. Boston is finding ways to score thanks to the Wizards' defense. Washington really needs to limit Boston's points in the paint. Score at halftime: WAS 48BOS 50Go Wizards!
Perk is playing like sh*t from what I have seen. He cant keep Haywood off of the boards...He is going to need to start doing that and stop giving the Wiz second chance shots. They arent going to be that cold for forever.
Wizards pulled out this necessary win, but those Boston guards are really pesky on defense. Gil had another mediocre game in the month of January, Jamison was on fire, and Caron bounced back from his sub-par game against Detroit on Friday. A really unfortunate night for DeShawn.. he just didn't get the calls. Haywood does well again, finishing with 11 points and 9 rebounds. This is rare.. back-to-back 30 pt games for Jamison. His statline: 34 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 0 turnovers. Definitely POTG for the Wiz.
I didn't really think anyone played well except for Delonte and Gomes tonight. Al and Perkins were an embarassment on the glass. Rondo didn't play very well, Wally shot terribly, just an all around bad game from the kids. Jamison played the game of his life though. I was really impressed by him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Madness @ Jan 28 2007, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I KNOW we are going to win and I KNOW Kendrick Perkins will be our leading score.</div> We lost by 14 and Perk scored 7 points, but good guess. lol I don't feel like making a giant recap at all, so I'll just jot down some notes: Delonte and Gomes were the only ones that truly played well. Actually, Perk did too. Delonte started off on FIRE and he made some great plays, he also played Arenas very nicely for the most part. Gomes brought the hustle all night and that mid-range shot was lights out. Perk made some beautiful passes. BEAUTIFUL. Gerald started off not so good, played well in the middle, then died down near the end with the rest of them. Big Al has always had trouble with Brendan Haywood, and that happened yet again last night. Not his best game, but I'm not worried at all. He's allowed to have one off night lol. Wally came back right where he left off: shooting terribly, slow, more of a liability on defense than Gerald. His shooting touch will come back eventually, though. Rajon made some beautiful plays, he made some not so beautiful plays. Not a terrible night for Rajon at all, but not a real good one. This is why I believe Antawn Jamison is still an All-Star type player. He had an outstanding game. If Caron Butler isn't an All-Star this year, I'll puke. Arenas has yet another off night against us? Hmmm 11 in a row. Whoopdie doo the dey!
