<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.
What a good story the Wizards are, eh. Eddie Jordan is my coach of the year. He has gotten the most out of his team. I thought the Wiz would be up and down, but I did not expect them to be this good. They have impressed me so far. As for the game tonight, it will come down to the PGs. I hope Troy can run the offense well tonight instead of hoisting stupid shots like he continues to do. I hope the Wolves have enough to win this game tonight. I would be real happy to win back-to-back. It would mean the week better with a win. Thanks for the thread and great breakdown of tonight's matchup, Kobe 8 Ball.
I will be shocked if Hudson doesnt take 12-15 shots honestly, T-Hud is going to feel this is the moment to prove himself. And trying to score the basketball is honestly the only way he feels he can do that. I hope if Huson doesnt have it going Flip doesnt heistate to make the move to AC cause this is the type of game Hudson's long misses can really lead to alot of fastbreak play by the Wizards. But Iam more concerned with how the Wolves are going to rebound the basketball honestly. The Wizards frontcourt is extremely athletic and with Mad Dog out that means EJ gonna have to get extended run compared to his usual 04-05 minutes. I hope he can keep up with Jamison and Haywood on the boards. The Wolves are going to have to find away to keep one of the Wiz Big three out of the game cause if all three are flowing the Wolves probably dont have enough scoring to keep up with no Cassell. The Wolves got to win this game by getting stops on the defensive end of the foor against the Wizards, not trying to keep up with them in a high scoring match.
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.
Not really sure yet, it'll be close with no Cassel I think everyone else'kll step up, especially Hudson
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PF21:</div><div class="quote_post">Not really sure yet, it'll be close with no Cassel I think everyone else'kll step up, especially Hudson</div> ...The game is over
What a miserable night. Stupid Jets won and the Wolves lost. UGH. Sports can be so cruel sometimes. I thought the Wolves played well. Defensively, they could have played better. It seemed Carter ran the offense well and Troy did not. Wizards made big shots tonight down the strech while the Wolves did not. That's the story. Arenas and Hughes are a good guard duo. I felt good about this loss. I was happy with the effort and desire from the Wolves tonight. That was important to me because I have not see that during the losing streak. I hope the Wolves keep working and keep improving and things will take care of itself.
Kandiman: 5 Fouls in 15 Minutes ? Again, we fall behind in the first quarter (which shows that we need Hassell and tough defense from the beginning, he only got into the game with 27 seconds left in the first) but we got back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Timberwolf:</div><div class="quote_post">What a miserable night. Stupid Jets won and the Wolves lost. UGH. Sports can be so cruel sometimes. I thought the Wolves played well. Defensively, they could have played better. It seemed Carter ran the offense well and Troy did not. Wizards made big shots tonight down the strech while the Wolves did not. That's the story. Arenas and Hughes are a good guard duo. I felt good about this loss. I was happy with the effort and desire from the Wolves tonight. That was important to me because I have not see that during the losing streak. I hope the Wolves keep working and keep improving and things will take care of itself.</div> Come on now, dont be so upset dry your eyes and cheer for us on our journey to the Superbowl. Anyway, I did not watch any of this game. I went to a little get together to watch the Jets game. But anyway, its clear that the Wolves got into a game that they really couldnt win. A high scoring game in triple figures without Cassell is not the type of battle the Wolves needed to play. They needed to win this game with their defense. The Wolves perimeter continues to get killed as Arenas and Hughes combined for close to 70 points that is horrible. I said the Wolves need to do to things to win last night, take one of the big 3 out of the game for the Wizards. Arenas 40, Hughes 28, Jamison 23, so its clear they didnt do that at all. And also control the Wizards on the offensive boards, Washington got 18 offensive rebounds, so its clear they didnt succeed at that either. So Iam not surprised the Wolves lost, Iam surpised they mustared up enough offense to keep the game close. Even tho Washindton is the greatest defense, they create alot of turnovers. And in a game where the Wizards score 117pts you would think the Wolves turned the ball over alot allowing the Wiz to get into their open court style. But looking at the boxscore the Wolves are only listed at 10 offical turnover, so I guess the Wolves just couldnt stop the Wiz in a half-court game
Man, I am starting to worry about the Wolves. At first, I though we were just in a slump and we could shake it off. But now, we just keep looking worse and worse. I can't take anything away from Arenas tonight, because he played amazing. He was driving to the bucket and no one was going to stop him. I really think McHale has to get off the recliner and make some moves.
The constant losses is denting the teams morale. They need to pick up some slack, win a game big, and that should help boost confidence. Im a big Spree, KG, and Cassell fan but so far,t he only person living up to their hype is KG. He is just getting better and better, but hes having to carry the team more - which is not his style. KG Plays off other teammates strengths and he dishes when he can - he is the most unselfish forward in the league. His 47 point performance, while spectacular, cannot be repeated every night. KG should only be scoring abt 24 points a night. Cassell and SPrewell should be chipping in 20. ALso, griffin was off to a great start but is not performing as well as he used to.
Heancy: You must have had a good time last night even though Eric Barton must have made you cringe as Brees got a chance to throw that TD to go to OT. Pure: I wouldn't be too upset about the loss Saturday night. Yeah the defense wasn't good, but had KG and Wally made shots down the strech, Wolves might have had won.
