<div align="center"> Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Place: The MCI Center TV: Local <font size="5">Team Records</font> <font color="blue">Washington: 19-13</font> <font color="darkred">Portland: 15-18</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue">Wizards Head Coach</font></font> <font color="blue">Eddie Jordan</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue"> Wizards Projected Starting Lineup</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font color="blue">(Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood) </font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="darkred">Blazers Head Coach</font></font> <font color="darkred">Maurice Cheeks</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="darkred">Blazers Projected Starting Lineup</font></font> <font color="darkred">(Damon Stoudamire, Nick Van Exel, Rubeun Patterson, Zach Randolph, Joel Przybilla)</font> </div> <div align="center"><font size="5">Bench Factors</font> (<font color="blue">Jarvis Hayes</font>,<font color="darkred">Derek Anderson</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5">Key Players</font> (<font color="blue">Gilbert Arenas</font>, <font color="darkred">Zach Randolph</font>) <font color="blue">Gilbert Arenas:</font> 22.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, and 5.0 rpg <font color="darkred">Zach Randolph:</font> 20.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg, and 2.1 apg</div> <font size="5">Keys to the Game</font> <font color="blue">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]Arenas and Hughes- Arenas and Hughes have to both go at Damon Stoudamire and Nick Van Exel, with them having the big size advantage, they need to take it at them, and take advatage of them while they're on. [*]Good Start- The Wizards currently have momentum, and they need to carry it on into this game. Everyone needs to come out and get the lead early, and just worry about maintaining it the rest of the way. [*]Hold it down Defensively- Some players aren't defensive players, so their's no expectation of Jamison stopping his man, but he can put the effort, and at least contest shots. Arenas and Hughes need to play their pressure defense, get at the ball handlers, and force some turnovers. [/list] <font color="darkred">Portland:</font> <ul> [*]Zach Randolph- The Blazers will be looking for a big game for Zach Randolph who should go at Jamison or Jared Jefferies all day. The Wizards are without Kwame who would be able to take it to Randolph, so with that he needs to be active offensively and take the ball inside limiting the mid-range jumpshots. [*]Slow Down the Tempo- The Blazers need to aviod getting into a running game with the Wizards because they will not win that way. They need to slow the game down and play at their own pace in order to have any chance of success. [*]Bench Play- The Blazers need some solid contribution from their bench in this game. Derek Anderson needs to come on and provide some scoring off the bench, and Theo Ratliff's interior presence will be needed in off the bench [/list] <font size="5"> Prediction</font> Washington is on a 4 game winning streak, and they aren't to be stopped now. Portland will have a hard time matching Washington's offensive output, and the Wizards will take this one 106 - 98.
