<div align="center">@ <font color="green">The Boston Celtics (39-34)</font> @ <font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (41-31)</font> Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Place: MCI Center TV: Local, NBALP</div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="green">Celtics' Head Coach</font></font> <font color="green">Doc Rivers</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="green"> Celtics' Projected Starting Lineup</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font color="green"></font>Gary Payton- 11.6 ppg, 6 apg, 3.1 rpg Tony Allen- 6.6 ppg, .9 apg, 3 rpg Paul Pierce- 21.5 ppg, 4.3 apg, 6.6 rpg Raef Lafrentz- 10.9 ppg, 1.2 apg, 7.1 rpg Mark Blount- 9.6 ppg, 1.6 apg, 5.1 rpg</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></font> <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas- 25.7 ppg. 5.1 apg. 4.6 rpg Larry Hughes- 22 ppg, 4.8 apg, 6.3 rpg Jared Jeffries- 6.7 ppg, 2 apg, 4.9 rpg Kwame Brown- 6.7 ppg, .9 apg, 5.3 rpg Etan "I'm Not Worth My Contract" Thomas- 6.7 ppg, .4 apg, 4.8 rpg </font> </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="green">Bench</font><font color="navy"> Factors</font></font> (<font color="green">Al Jefferson</font>,<font color="navy">Damone Brown</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="green">Key</font><font color="navy"> Matchup</font></font> (<font color="green">Gary Payton</font>, <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>) Projected Stats <font color="green">Gary Payton: 14 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds</font> <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas: 31 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds</div></font> <font size="5"><font color="green">Keys</font><font color="navy"> to</font><font color="green"> the</font><font color="navy"> Game</font></font> <font color="green">Boston:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="green">Gary Payton</font>- Payton, like Arenas, uses his body very well for a PG. This should be a great matchup, Payton has to post up Arenas and force him to take bad shots when he is playing D. [*]<font color="green">Go at Larry Hughes</font>- Try to isolate him. His shoulder is bothering him and he struggled badly from the field last game. Tony Allen needs to try to make sure that Hughes has to take bad shots so he doesn't get a rythm going. [*]<font color="green">No Antoine</font>- Antoine Walker is doubtful for this game so Raef and Al will def. have to step up. Antoine is a huge piece for the Celtics, no doubt, the injury could be a deciding factor in the game. [/list] <font color="navy">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="navy">Come Out Strong</font>- They have not looked convincing at all lately and have slipped into a tie with the Bulls for the 4th playoff seed. They need to come out gunning, get some momentum for the next couple of games. [*]<font color="navy">Larry</font>- Larry Hughes can't force anything with his injured shoulder. He was 3-16 last game, that really hurt us. Do not do it agian Larry. [*]<font color="navy">Eddie Jordan</font>- I just don't understand the guy, whatever confidence Kwame Brown builds up..Eddie destroys it by taking him out of a game when Kwame is playing awesome. That is why Kwame is inconsistent..what Eddie will show up tonight to coach this team? The one who favors the guards, or the one who wants to win? [/list] <font size="5"><font color="green">Random</font> <font color="navy">Movie</font><font color="green"> Quote</font>*: </font> Maximus: At my signal, unleash hell. *Idea stolen from Supersonic <font size="5"> <font color="navy">Prediction</font></font> This should be a good game. The Wiz need Kwame and Etan to step it up and bench support to win this one. The Wiz also have the home crowd behind them so I have to favor them in this one...104-100.
The Celt's unfortunately picked a bad time to go on a bit of a loosing streak, but there a great team in desperate need of a win. And as soon as they stop being so cocky and wake up and smell the coffee I think they will realize its time to play the great ball they are extremely capable of playing, and beat the Wizards!
Yeah, I'm sick of this garbage that we've been pulling lately. A turnaround is in order, and the Wiz just may be the perfect team to do it against. I hope Doc got into their heads yesterday, because they looked terrible.
So True, and it's upsetting to see them lose like this because, they proved themselves to be a great team..Going on that great run..Beating Pheonix and Houston on the road.. And beating Detriot! They are such a good team when they pull themselves together!
We'll need to get it together for this game. This game is very important in the playoff picture. I've got a meeting at 6pm, so I'm hoping to get back early in the 1st quarter.
Great game. It was nice to see Perk and West in the starting lineup. We did a great job of attacking right away, and we built up a solid lead that held up for a while. What was most impressive was the way we fought off the Wiz when they made their run. Great effort all around. I'm proud of what we did tonight.
I made the trip down to DC for this one, cause apparently I need a hobby... Great move by Doc to put Perk in the lineup. Not a slight against Blount, but when he and Perk are on the floor together they do essentially the same thing. Put him with Raef and then you have an inside/outside big man combo. Plus, I think Blount is much more comfortable coming off the bench and still earning starters money. Lastly, Jefferson was huge for us, but I don't think Doc should EVER have him and Perk on the floor at the same time. Jefferson continues to struggle with his defensive assignments and while Perk is a little better, they both continue to fall for those veteran moves.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CeltsMan54:</div><div class="quote_post">I made the trip down to DC for this one, cause apparently I need a hobby...</div>Haha, that got a good old "laugh out loud" from me. You definitely have a great hobby as far as I'm concerned. I wish I could go to as many games as you. For some reason I haven't made it to any this year, but I'll be at the "Gahhden" for the playoffs. I promise. I just hope I get into the "actual Celtics fan" section, because usually when I go, I end up explaining what happened to Tony Battie, etc..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">I just hope I get into the "actual Celtics fan" section, because usually when I go, I end up explaining what happened to Tony Battie, etc..</div> Isn't that the worst? Nothing annoys me more than the Johnny-come-latelys with good seats...
