Wizards @ Rockets---02/15/2004

<div align="center"></div>
<div align="center"><font color="blue">Washington Wizards</font> VS <font color="red">Houston Rockets</font></div>

When: Tuesday February 15th, 8:30 PM (EST)/ 7:30PM (CT)
Where: Houston, Toyota Center
Local TV: FSN

<div align="center">Predicted Starters

<font color="purple">Wizards</font>

<font size="1"><font face="Arial"><font color="blue">Gilbert Arenas, Jarvis Hayes, Jared Jefferies, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood</font></font></font></div>

<div align="center"><font color="red">Rockets</font>

<font size="1"><font face="Arial"><font color="red">Bob Sura, David Wesley, Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Yao Ming</font></font></font></div>

Keys to The Game For Washington
<ul>
[*]Gilbert Arenas tears it up, again. Since the injury of Larry Hughes and maybe before that, Gilbert Arenas has been playing like a MVP. He has won games single-handedly, and is having a career year this season. If he can put up 30 and 8, the Wizards should be on their way to a win.
[*]Role players help Jamison, Arenas. Antwan Jamison and Arenas can score a combined 50 points any game. However, that isn't enough to win games. The rest of the team, namely Hayes, Jefferies and the bench players, have to combine for another 50 to outscore the Rockets.
[*]Drain the outside shot. Almost every player other than center on the Wizards' roster can make the three. The Wizards have to stretch the defense by making their shots from the perimeter to give more space for Arenas to penetrate and for Jamison to work down low.


[/list]
Keys To The Game For Houston
<ul>
[*]Defense. The Wizards are a good offensive team, especially when Arenas is on the floor on the break. The Rockets will have to limit their transition points tonight.
[*]Yao/McGrady come up big. The duo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady always determine the outcome of games. Yao has been on a tear lately and he should go for 25 and 10. If McGrady can come out of his shooting slump, they can combine for 50 and 20, and the Rockets should have an easy time.
[*]Ride the streak. Houston has won their last seven games, and luck seemed to be on their side Sunday night as they did everything possible to lose, but still won. If they don't play well again, the Rockets better hope luck is on their side again.


[/list]

Game Outlook
The Rockets are on a seven-game winning streak, and a win here would lead them into the All-Star Break on a winning note. Against the Wizards minus Larry Hughes, the Rockets should take full advantage and ride the streak.

As for the Wizards, they are one of the premier teams in the East and must get big nights from everyone in order to pull out a win on the road against a red-hot Rockets team. They will also be on the back-end of a back-to-back, so fatigue might be a factor.

Prediction
Rockets-105
Wizards-99

 

This will be a great game for sure, two high powered offenses going at eachother. I think both of the teams will score in the 100's, with the Rockets slightly edging out the Wiz. I think the final score will be 108-105.