<div align="center"> Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Place: The MCI Center TV: Local <font size="5">Team Records</font> <font color="navy">Washington: 18-13</font> <font color="blue">Minnesota: 17-14</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="navy">Wizards Head Coach</font></font> <font color="navy">Eddie Jordan</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="navy"> Wizards Projected Starting Lineup</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font color="navy">(Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood) </font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue">Timberwolves Head Coach</font></font> <font color="blue">Flip Saunders</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue">Celtics Projected Starting Lineup</font></font> <font color="blue">(Troy Hudson, Latrell Sprewell, Wally Szczerbiak, Kevin Garnett, Michael Olowokandi)</font> </div> <div align="center"><font size="5">Bench Factors</font> (<font color="navy">Jarvis Hayes</font>,<font color="blue">Eddie Griffin</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5">Key Players</font> (<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>, <font color="blue">Kevin Garnett</font>) <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas:</font> 22.5 ppg, 5.0 apg, and 4.2 rpg <font color="blue">Kevin Garnett:</font>23.9 ppg, 6.2 apg, and 14.7 rpg</div> <font size="5">Keys to the Game</font> <font color="navy">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]Arenas- With Sam Cassell being questionable, more than likely out, Arenas needs to use his size, speed, and strength against Troy Hudson. He needs to treat him like he treated Luke Ridnour, just have a more efficient game. [*]Come out Strong- We are coming off of a huge win against the Sonics, we have beat some other good teams this year and lost to some mediocre teams. We need to come out strong in this one and play strong, aggressive ball the whole game. [*]Defense, Please?- Jamison...play some defense. You are going up against the league's MVP and the favorite to win it this year. If we are going to win, we will need Jamison to atleast attempt to play D. [/list] <font color="blue">Minnesota:</font> <ul> [*]PG Play- Hudson can be a starter on some other teams in the league, he can score in bunches and is quick. With Sam Cassell more than liikely out, he needs to be efficient and run this offense...get them in a flow earlier...they have lost 4 out of their last 5 and going into the 2nd game of back to back games on back to back nights, he is going to be huge for them. [*]Play Their Own Style- The Wolves played last night and are coming into this game after a long flight. The Wizards love to run, if the Wizards get out to run they will tire the Wolves out easily and it can turn into a messy and long game. [*]KG- Last year's MVP and going up against one of the worst defenders in the league. What else is there to say? [/list] <font size="5"> Prediction</font> Washington beat Seattle and had Friday off, I believe they will beat the Wolves who will more thank likely be without Cassell and are coming into DC after playing Friday night. Washington is a new team this year and will show it in this game, they will beat the reigning MVP and his squad...105-100.
Washington wins a big one 117-114. Antawn Jamison missed two clutch FT's that would of sealed this for us and I thought that would come back and bite us, but fortunately...it didn't. Gilbert Arenas led us with 40 points, what a huge game for him..he is the real deal. Larry Hughes pitched in 28 pts, 11 boards, and 8 assists. Antawn Jamison had 23 pts and 10 boards but on 9-22 shooting. The Wolves, who were without Cassell were led by Kevin Garnett who had a huge all around game going for 25 pts, 19 boards, 8 assists, and 4 blocks. The Wiz blew a huge lead, and were down with about two minutes left, but they fought hard for this victory..what a huge win for the Wizards. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Gilbert Arenas outdueled Kevin Garnett down the stretch and kept the Minnesota Timberwolves on the skids. Arenas scored eight of his season-high 40 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes as the Washington Wizards rallied for their fourth straight win, a 117-114 victory over the slumping Timberwolves. </div> <div align="center"> <font size="1">(Arenas scored 40 to lead the Wizards to a 117-114 win)</font> Wolves/Wizards Game Recap Wolves/Wizards Box Score</div>
Good game, Arenas had a huge night. Can't wait to see the effects on my fantasy team considering that I have KG and Arenas on my team, lol.
I missed this game, but big games from both Arenas and Hughes, Arenas exploded with the 40 point night, but Hughes had a near triple double with 28-11-8 on 50% shooting. Nice win though, Seattle, and now Minny, though without Cassell.
Eddie Jordan = Coach of the Year Good to see him do well. He was awesome in his time as the Nets defacto coach. I know he was the associate coach for Byron Scott, but Eddie was doing most of the coaching there.
Yes..please never again...This team is winning becuase of the growth of Arenas, the outcoming of Hughes, and the acquisiton of Jamison..not Jordan...
Never overestimate the value of coaching. Eddie may have trouble with his sub patterns, but he knows his X's and O's and he knows how to communicate with his players. Like taking Gil to the NJ playoffs last year. Brilliant. Do you honestly think someone like Gar Heard could do this well? Good win. I could care less about all of this 'no Cassell' b.s. Truth is this team hasn't had it's full lineup all year. I didn't hear Miami fans saying, "yeah..we beat the Wizards, but they didn't have all of their bigs healthy" In the NBA teams go without key players sometimes. Look what the Wizards did to the Grizz on opening night.
The Wiz played hard this whole game, and though it took a while eventually pulled out with the lead. We are on a roll, and if I am correct I think this is our fourth win in a row. IMO Eddie hasn't done that bad of a job this year, he has impressed me. Jamison and Hughes had great nights, both with triple doubles. But tonight was all about Gil, he seemed to be hitting on all cylinders, and he seemed so comfortable out there. I am really excited abou tthis season, at the beginning I sad an 8th spot, with a first round exit, I think we could see a top 5 seed, and a second round trip. Plus I have never seen the Comcast SportsNet anchors so happy, the Wiz scces is rubbing off on the TV station.
Great win, we made a big statement by taking this game & the Seattle game. If we beat Portland then we'll have gone 5-0 on our homestand, we've made a statement to the league with these games. Hopefully we can make an even bigger statement with a win over Phoenix & one of the road games in texas....if not both. I know thats a longshot but could you imagine what that would say to the rest of the league? Let's go Washington!!!!
