<div align="center">@ <font color="Navy">The Washington Wizards (0-0)</font>@<font color="RoyalBlue">The Memphis Grizzlies (0-0)</font> Time: 8:00 PM Eastern Place: The Pyramid TV: Local</div> <font size="3">Projected Starting Lineups</font> Backcourt Jaun Dixon/Earl Watson Anthony Peeler/Mike Miller Backcourt Breakdown-The Wizards are very thin in the backcourt, with Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes suspended for game 1 and Steve Blake out with injuries. The Grizzlies' Jason Williams is questionable for the game while Mike Miller is probable. This can be very ugly for the Wizards, they need to play team ball and stay out of foul trouble. <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> Jarvis Hayes/Shane Battier Antawn Jamison/Pau Gasol Samaki Walker/Lorenzen Wright Frontcourt Breakdown-The Wizards are also thin in the frontcourt with Brendan Haywood out to suspension, Etan Thomas is doubtful with an ankle injury, Kwame Brown is out with a broken foot. Young gun Peter John Ramos might be seeing some action if any of the Wizards get in foul trouble, while Michael Ruffin will also see time for the Wizards. Pau Gasol is coming off a great olympic run and Lorenzen Wright missed the last preseason game for the Grizz, but should be back and healthy. <font size="3">Keys off of the Bench</font> Jared Jeffries/Stromile Swift <font size="3">Injury/Suspension Report-</font> <font color="Navy">Washington</font> Gilbert Arenas- Suspended Larry Hughes- Suspended Brendan Hawyood- Suspended Kwame Brown- Out Steve Blake- Out Etan Thomas- Doubtful <font color="royalblue">Memphis</font> Jason Williams- Questionable Bonzi Wells- Questionable James Posey- Questionable <div align="center"><font size="3">Key Matchup</font> Antawn Jamison/Pau Gasol This should be a good matchup, Pau Gasol has only gotten better since he has been in the league and had a splendid Olympic showing. Antawn has been one of the most respectable guys in the league, coming off of the bench last year, where he would start anywhere else. Antawn must take control of things for the Wizards because they are THIN. Injuries and suspensions have killed them. Pau can be an allstar this year if he continues to work hard, he isnt as strong as Antawn but should be able to play him well. I think this matchup will determine the flow of the game.</div> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font> <font color="navy">Washington</font> The Wizards are very thin both in the backcourt and frontcourt. They must play team ball. They need to look for the open man and spread the ball around. The players who normally wouldn't start (Samaki Walker, Anthony Peeler, and Juan Dixon) must be on their game. They need to get back on Defense and not turn the ball over. Last year the Wizards led the league in turnovers and were dead last in assists. They need to move the ball around, especially with them missing Larry Hughes who is a good jump shooter. Jarvis Hayes should get some open looks if Antawn Jamison has a good game. On defense they need to defend the permiter..often times last year they let the 3 pointer beat them. This will be an early test for the Wizards and they need to prove that they will not let injuries and suspensions hurt them much. <font color="royalblue">Memphis</font> The Grizzlies were great last year...until playoff time. They fizzeled out and looked lost against the Spurs, but that was last year. Pau had a great Olympics and is looking to continue where he left off at. I think this should be an easy win for the Grizzlies if they are hitting on all clylindars. Jason Williams probably will play, but probably wont start so Earl Watson needs to play big in his footsteps and distribute the ball. Swift off of the bench will be huge, especially against a weak, thin Washington front line. They should dominate the boards and get out and run easily on this weak Wizard team. They only need 2 or 3 players on their A games to beat this team and it should be an easy win for them. <font size="3">Kobe 8 Ball's Outlook</font> UGLY UGLY UGLY if your a Wiz fan, BEAUTIFUL if your a Grizz fan. This should be an easy win for the Grizz, I take them by atleast 10. Let just hope injuries wont be plaguing the Wizards all year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting eYeKey:</div><div class="quote_post">Great post. But isn't Peeler suspended for the Kevin Garnett playoff incident?</div> You know what, I dunno..that would really kill us..he might be, I havent heard anything about that..perks off moving to the west coast... :thumbsdow
Me, and eyekey live in MD, so I'm sure we'll be able to give a full in-depth report on Wednesday's game. Since it's only on CSN.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting S.Livingston14:</div><div class="quote_post">Me, and eyekey live in MD, so I'm sure we'll be able to give a full in-depth report on Wednesday's game. Since it's only on CSN.</div> I actually think I get CSN out here in Cali, I have Directv and I was flipping through and I was watching the Redskins report or something, I dunno ill check it out on Wednesday but that would be appreciated ...thank you
Well the team is depleted, so Memphis should take this one. It's basically Jamison vs the Grizzlies, and this should be a game where the Grizzlies get to play Dahntay Jones .
Good post but a correction on the Grizz side...... Lorenzen Wright is actually suspended because of a fight with a Bucks player during the preseason...
yeah, easy win for the Grizz, but Jamison should be able to outscore everyone. Does anyone thinks its time for Jeffries to shine this year?
Memphis has the upper hand in every position except for maybe PF and PG. I'll take Memphis by 7+ Bob.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sooch_6:</div><div class="quote_post">Memphis has the upper hand in every position except for maybe PF and PG. I'll take Memphis by 7+ Bob.</div> yOU THINK? i THINK gASOL MAY BE A TAD BETTER THA jAMISON.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Need4Sheed:</div><div class="quote_post">This will definitely be a masacre by the Grizz that's not even worth watching IMO.</div> Twhhhhaaaat????? Wizards win 103-91....don't call it an upset. This is a new day in DC. Getting hosed by the refs...didn't matter...8 players dressed. Missing 4 starters against a Western Conference contender..... Oh yeah...and they were down by 19 pts. I guess that's why the play the games...!!!!!!!!!!!!!! game balls to: The 8 players that gave their all...cramping up and riding stationary bikes to get back into the game (Dixon, Jamison)
I'm not going to sugar coat it, Dixon is still not a PG, he had a nice game, but he's still not a capable playmaker. Laron Profit led the team in assists with 6, and had a pretty solid game. Dixon and Jamison carried the team today, and for all those hating on Michael Ruffin before, you better end it now, I told y'all he's a servicable guy. He might not score, and might be short, but is a great defender, rebounder, and hustle player. Michael Ruffin: 6 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 7 blocks, 39 minutes
Total surprise to me. I thought Memphis would win this pretty handidly, but the Wizards played a great game. Congrats.
It will only get better when We get our starters back... Antawn and Dixon (still dont like his game, especially on this team) carried us to the win. Ruffin with 7 blocks was huge, This is going to be a great season I think. THe rest of the Eastern Conference needs to wake up, last year this game would of been over in the 2nd quarter, this year it will be a lot different.
I have to give Juan Dixon and Antwan Jamison the props for leading the team to victory, being down 19 and all. Michael Ruffin was crazy out there with 7 blocks! I smell playoff contention for us, .
Great game . I really didn't think we were going to take this one with just 8 guys on the roster, it was a pleasant suprise. Ruffin was great, he did all the dirty work. I'm proud of our guys for putting on a gutsy performance but this was just one game, we need to take them one at a time before we start screaming playoffs. Remember last year when we blew out Dallas & Chicago at first, then look what happened. Tonight's game should be even harder.
Laron Profit really impressed me, contributing 11 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds. Juan was playing he was in his college days, and Ruffin, and Jamison patroled the paint like they had played together for more than one game. Jamison showed why he can lead the Wizards leading them with 34 points, and grabbing 8 rebounds. Wiz' points took J-Dub out of the game, and held him to only 10 points, and 2 assists.
