Washington @ Detroit -- 2/12/05

<div align="center">@
<font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (30-19)</font> @<font color="blue">The Detroit Pistons (29-19)</font>
Time: 7:30 PM Eastern
Place: The Palace at Auburn Hills
TV: Local</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, Jarvis Hayes, Jared Jeffries, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood) </font></div>

<div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue">Pistons' Head Coach</font></font>

<font color="blue">Larry Brown</font></div>

<div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="blue">Pistons' Projected Starting Lineup</font></font>

<font color="blue">(Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace)
</font>
</div>

<div align="center"><font size="5">Bench Factors</font>

(<font color="navy">Juann Dixon</font>,<font color="blue">Carlos Arroyo</font>)
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<div align="center"><font size="5">Key Matchup</font>

(<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>, <font color="blue">Chauncey Billups</font>)[/i]
<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas:</font> 24.9 ppg, 5.3 apg, and 4.3 rpg
<font color="blue">Chauncey Billups:</font>16.3 ppg, 6.4 apg, and 3.8 rpg</div>

<font size="5">Keys to the Game</font>
<font color="navy">Washington:</font>
<ul>
[*]Come Out Strong- Washington has had great games against the Pistons this year, they have just fallen apart in the 4th quarter. They need to come out strong and stay strong throughout the entire 48 minutes of the game.
[*]Stop Billups- Billups always plays some of his best ball against the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas needs to D him up and play him aggressively. When he drives the lane, we need to knock him on his butt. Our bigs need to make their presence felt in this one.
[*]Jarvis, Jeffries, and Juan- Our key role players need to have good games. Jarvis especially, he needs to hit his shots, this can't be a game where is shooting is off, we need the Jarvis from the first part of last year, the one that hit everything, not the streaky one.
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<font color="blue">Detroit:</font>
<ul>
[*]Chauncey- This kid has it out for the Wizards, I swear. He plays his best ball against us everytime, if he can come out and drop 25+, and throw 7 dimes and grab some boards, that is 1/2 of what the Pistons need to win.
[*]Slow the Game Down- Washington likes to play a fast-paced game, while Detroit plays a more boring, defensive game. If they can get that defensive game in play, make Washington struggle for shots and force turnovers, the Pistons can easily win this game.
[*]Box Out- Washington is one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the league, Ben and Rasheed are going to have to get under their men and grab as many boards as they can, Washington is deadly when they get 2nd chances.
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<font size="5"> Prediction</font>
Washington hasn't beaten Detroit since 2001 I believe, all streaks have to end. I think Washington will come in here and get big games from Dixon and Arenas. The usual from Antawn, and another player will step up. They will steal one from the Pistons, extending their winning streak to 5 games. Washington wins...104-100.