<div align="center">@ <font color="yellow">Indiana Pacers (0-2)</font> vs. <font color="blue">Washington Wizards (1-2)</font> Date: November 4th, 2006 Time: 7:00 P.M. Eastern TV: ESPN, CSN, FSN Indiana Place: Verizon Center</div> [div=50%] <font color="blue"><font size="3">Wizards Starting Lineup</font> </font><div align="center"> <font size="1">(G. Arenas, D. Stevenson, C. Butler, A. Jamison, E.Thomas)</font></div> <font color="blue">2006-2007 Wizards Season Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Antawn Jamison - 26.0 PPG Leading Rebounder: Etan Thomas - 8.7 RPG Leading Assist Man: Gilbert Arenas - 7.7 APG Points Per Game: 107.0 Field Goal Percentage: 48.3% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 31.9% Rebounds Per Game: 33.0 Assists Per Game: 19.7 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gilbert_arenas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Gilbert Arenas</font> PPG: 25.5, RPG: 2.7, APG: 7.7 Another good performance by Gilbert on Monday night against Orlando, but struggled near the end not being able to make his shots to tie the game. He needs to do his part in helping guard the perimeter and not let them score any long range shots. It's been killing the Wizards these first 3 games, and he needs to take care of the ball espicially in the 4th quarter. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Deshawn Stevenson </font> PPG: 4.3, RPG: 2.7 APG: 3.3 Deshawn didn't make much of an impact in his return to Orlando, since he didn't recieve the ball much. He continues to play his role as Jared Jeffries' replacement, but after Monday night's game, it's questionable if he's been able to do his job on defense. If the backcourt performs the way they did in defending the perimeter, Eddie Jordan may make some changes. <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/caron_butler.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Caron Butler</font> PPG: 19.7, RPG: 5.0, APG: 2.7 Caron Butler was definitely quiet out there against Orlando. He wasn't as active as he was in the first two games where he would breakup passes and create turnovers. He had a decent night with 16 points, but they didn't call his number enough that night. Caron will need to get himself involved, if he wants a big night against Indiana. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Antawn Jamison</font> PPG: 26.0, RPG: 7.3, APG: 1.0 Jamison his best night of the season so far banking in 11 of his 19 shots for 29 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to pull away the victory for the Wizards. He was able to show new moves finishing his shot at the rim, which is a nice sign. On the real, he's going to start make timely shots in the 4th quarter, if he wants to help lift the Wizards into victory. [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/etan_thomas.jpg[/imgl] <font color="blue">Etan Thomas</font> PPG: 11.7, RPG: 8.7, APG: 0.7 Wow, what a career night Etan had against Orlando. 15 points, 9 offensive rebounds totaling it up to 15 total rebounds and 6 blocks alone. He's done a great job containing Dwight Howard, and being active in the paint getting second chance opportunities for the Wizards. With performances like these, he'll soon be looked as the next Ben Wallace with an offensive game.[/div] <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="yellow">Pacers Starting Lineup</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font size="1">(S. Telfair, P. Pierce, W. Szczerbiak, R. Gomes, K.Perkins)</font></div> <font color="yellow">2006-2007 Pacers Season Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Jermaine O'neal - 19.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Al Harrington - 7.8 RPG Leading Assist Man: Jamaal Tinsley - 6.3 APG Points Per Game: 100.8 Field Goal Percentage: 44.6% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 35.4% Rebounds Per Game: 43.5 Assists Per Game: 25.8 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jamaal_tinsley.jpg[/imgl]<font color="yellow">Jamaal Tinsley</font> PPG: 9.0, RPG: 4.5, APG: 6.3 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephen_jackson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="yellow">Stephen Jackson</font> PPG: 13.0, RPG: 3.0, APG: 3.8 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/al_harrington.jpg[/imgl]<font color="yellow">Al Harrington</font> PPG: 14.5, RPG: 7.8, APG: 1.5 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/danny_granger.jpg[/imgl]<font color="yellow">Danny Granger</font> PPG: 9.3, RPG: 5.0, APG: 2.3 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jermaine_oneal.jpg[/imgl]<font color="yellow">Jermaine O'neal</font> PPG: 19.5, RPG: 7.0, APG: 1.5 <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="blue">Identify Key Shooters</font> ? Throughout these three games, the Wizards have had to deal with shooters giving a hard time for the Wizards on defense like Hughes, Szczerbiak, Telfair, Turkoglu and Arroyo. The Wizards haven't done a great job containing the perimeter and with guys like Jasikevicius, Tinsley and Armstrong, they're going to need to watch out for them or they will drain the 3.[*]<font color="blue">Push The Ball</font> ? No matter the situation, once the Wizards had their hands on the ball, they have been able to move the ball up quickly and find an easy shot. Orlando did a good job getting back on defense to prevent that from happening and the Wizards had to work the defense around for shots. If they want score a lot in this game, push the ball and find the open man.[*]<font color="blue">Defensive Awareness</font> ? Orlando was able to take care of the ball and not allow the Wizards to breakup their plays and convert for easy baskets. For the Wizards to win, they'll need to give the Pacers a hard time working their offense and pounce on any opportunities for turnovers.[*] <font color="yellow">Control The Boards</font> ? Etan Thomas has been anchoring the paint for the Wizards so far and he has done an amazing job being active and aggressive. He pulled down 15 rebounds, so he is a guy the Pacers need to box out. Doing so and controlling the boards will help them control the game. [*]<font color="yellow">Perimeter Offense</font> ? The Wizards have done a poor job defending the perimeter, and it has hurt them to a 1-2 record. If the Pacers can establish shooting rhythm from out there, it should spread out the floor and hurt the Wizards.[*]<font color="yellow">Take The Trio Out Of The Equation</font> Orlando did a great job giving Caron Butler a rough start in Monday's night game and he only ended up with 16 points, and Arenas shot 6-20 from the floor that night too. If the Pacers can force them to miss their shots, they'll have a hard time staying in the game and scoring.[/list] <div align="center">Ones To Watch and </div> <font size="3">Prediction:</font> Wizards over Pacers 104-100 Will's Prediction Record: 1-2 (Last: Wizards over Magic 109-103)
The Wizards did a great job running the floor and getting open shots in the 1st quarter letting Arenas and Jamison get in their rhythm. The Pacers are really missing Jermaine O'neal because they are got outrebounded 10 to 4 in the first quarter and giving up second chance opportunity points for the Wiz. The Pacers aren't taking care of the ball at all being outstolen 8-4 and turning it over 10 times.
lol, so far it's just total domination, 99-68 right now, Arenas has 37 already. Note: They don't have JO, but obviously that's not an excuse to get demolished.
Great win for the Wizards tonight. They did a great job not to allow the Pacers fire from deep, and just allowing a few easy transition points in the second quarter for the Pacers. Other than that, the Wizards controlled this game with the tempo moving the ball quickly after the rebound and getting the open shot. They also did a good job rebounding in the first half not allowing any second chance points go for the Pacers and getting those points themselves, although Jermaine O'neal wasn't dressed. Gilbert Arenas was on fire tonight with 14-20 from the floor and 4-6 from three point land, all in 32 minutes. He did a decent job dishing the roc to open men and getting three steals. Jamison and Butler both had decent all-around performances combining for 31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 steals. Lastly, the Wizards were able to take care of the ball throughout the entire game, while creating turnovers on the other end 25 times, and with performances like this, they'll have 10-20 point leads all the time.
