<div align="center"> vs. <font color="blue">Washington Wizards (37-29)</font> vs. <font color="orange">Golden State Warriors (32-37)</font> Date: March 23th, 2007 Time: 10:30 P.M. Eastern TV: CSN Place: Oracle Arena</div> <font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="orange">Warriors Starting Lineups</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font size="1">(B. Davis, J. Richardson, S. Jackson, A. Harrington, A. Biedrins)</font></div> <font color="orange">2006-07 Warriors Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Baron Davis - 20.3 PPG Leading Rebounder: Andris Biedrins - 9.7 RPG Leading Assist Man: Baron Davis - 8.2 APG Points Per Game: 104.7 Field Goal Percentage: 45.9% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 34.8% Rebounds Per Game: 41.6 Assists Per Game: 23.1 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/baron_davis.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Baron Davis</font> PPG: 20.3, RPG: 4.5, APG: 8.2 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_richardson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Jason Richardson</font> PPG: 14.5 RPG: 4.7, APG: 3.3 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephen_jackson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Stephen Jackson</font> PPG: 16.4, RPG: 2.9, APG: 4.3 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/al_harrington.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Al Harrington</font> PPG: 18.3, RPG: 6.8, APG: 2.6 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/andris_biedrins.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Andris Biedrins</font> PPG: 10.0, RPG: 9.7, APG: 1.1 <div align="center"><font color="blue"><font size="3">Wizards Starting Lineup</font></font> <font size="1">(G. Arenas, D. Stevenson, A. Blatche, A. Jamison, B. Haywood)</font></div> <font color="blue">2006-07 Wizards Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Gilbert Arenas - 28.9 PPG Leading Rebounder: Antawn Jamison - 7.9 RPG Leading Assist Man: Gilbert Arenas - 6.0 APG Points Per Game: 105.1 Field Goal Percentage: 45.2% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 34.8% Rebounds Per Game: 41.1 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: 28.9, RPG: 4.7, APG: 6.0 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Deshawn Stevenson </font> PPG: 10.4, RPG: 2.5 APG: 2.5 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/andray_blatche.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Andray Blatche</font> PPG: 3.6, RPG: 3.4, APG: 0.7 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Antawn Jamison</font> PPG: 19.9, RPG: 7.9, APG: 1.9 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brendan_haywood.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Brendan Haywood</font> PPG: 7.3, RPG: 6.8, APG: 0.6 <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="orange">Stop The Hibachi</font> – After coming off a 42 point performance with a driving layup to win the game, Gilbert Arenas looks to make his return to Golden State. Ever since the return of Antawn Jamison, Gilbert has shot in his old form, shooting deadly from the 3 and driving to the hole a lot more often. The Warriors know that Gilbert can't shoot lights out again.[*]<font color="orange">Shoot The 3</font> – In the first meeting between these two teams, it seemed like the Warriors wasn't going to be stopped behind the 3 point line pushing their lead furthur up. The Wizards have one of the worst perimeter defenses in the NBA, while the Warriors are one of the best point producing team in the NBA. They're going to need to take advantage on this defense and beat the Wizards through shooting.[*]<font color="orange">Crash The Boards</font> – The Wizards have a hard time boxing out key rebounders such as Chris Wilcox who grabbed 21 boards on Wednesday. Andris Biedrins, Al Harrington, and Jason Richardson who combined for 38 rebounds the last meeting will need to get every rebound they can for any second chance opportunity points they can find on a team who were outrebounded by 20 in the game against the Sonics.[*]<font color="blue">Bench Production</font> - Eddie Jordan recently has been using his bench a lot more using a 11-12 man rotation to get some minute in for his reserves. Guys like Roger Mason will need to set the tone his with 3 point shooting, Songalia making offensive plays inside, and Ruffin to make defensive stops when it counts. The Wizards will go their 3rd straight game without Caron Butler, so it makes it even more important that the bench contributes.[*]<font color="blue">Force Turnovers and Limit Them Yourself</font> - The Wizards are one of the top 5 teams in the league in steals, and they get a lot of points off of those turnovers. It's important for the team to slow down the Warriors by getting steals and setting the tone early in the game.[*]<font color="blue">Control The 4th Quarter</font> - The Wizards cannot afford to get beat on the boards, giving up plays in the last minute against them and make careless turnovers. They're going to need to make their free-throws to seperate themselves in the game and of course if the game is close, they need to make key defensive stops and make plays on the other end.[/list]
Is Caron Butler injured? That may be a break for the Warriors. This is a critical game for the Warriors.
<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Is Caron Butler injured? That may be a break for the Warriors. This is a critical game for the Warriors.</div> Yeah he's injured. He's going to join the Wizards on the road trip sometime this weekend, and there's a chance he might play on Monday against Utah.
Great Preview!! Who's this Blatche guy? Is he any good? That Wizards starting 5 just looks a little weak to me. Of course with Arenas you're always in it, and Antawn is scoring nearly 20 a game. But Stevenson, Blatche, and Haywood? That's rather unimpressive. Warriors need to DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE on Arenas and make one of these secondary players step up.
<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> make one of these secondary players step up.</div> I thought they always did against the Warriors?
This is about as close as you can get to a must win because this is about the weakest team we will be playing for the rest of the season and that is not saying much. We need to enact revenge for the 1 pt loss last time we played. Warriors by 10...
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I thought they always did against the Warriors?</div> That was the OLD Warriors If Dunmurphy were still here, then I wouldn't have asked who Blatche was, because I would know that I was about to find out as he would drop a triple-dub on the Dunmurphy sisters, breaking a backboard in the process. But that was the OLD Warriors. This is the NEW Warriors!
I think it's time for Jason Richardson to explode. Overall Baron/Ellis vs. Arenas and Harrington vs. Jamison are pretty equal, so may Biedrins vs. Haywood (though potentially Biedrins should probably get a slight advantage, whereas potentially Arenas might get the advantage in the PG matchup, and the PF matchup should be interesting), but Stephen Jackson/Jason Richardson vs. Stevenson and Blatche is where the Warriors need to get a huge advantage. If the other matchups remain relatively equal, it will be up to Richardson and Jackson to get the advantage for the Warriors. Also I would not mind seeing Pietrus put some of his old shut down defense similar to what he did a few years ago vs. Steve Francis against Gilbert Arenas (if that is possible depending on how the refs blow their whistle). Since the Wizards are a little short with Caron Butler injured, the Warriors could prosper even more by getting a bench production advantage. If the Warriors win the bench game and Jason Richardson goes off, the Warriors should be sitting in a good position.
<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Who's this Blatche guy? Is he any good? That Wizards starting 5 just looks a little weak to me.</div>Thank you, you just guaranteed Blatche will go off on the Warriors for 20+ tonight!
<div class="quote_poster">Clif25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Also I would not mind seeing Pietrus put some of his old shut down defense similar to what he did a few years ago vs. Steve Francis against Gilbert Arenas (if that is possible depending on how the refs blow their whistle).</div>I find Pietrus' defense to be somewhat overrated. He's not bad defensively (especially with the low bar set by the rest of this team) but I honestly don't recall too many times where I remember him truly "locking down" anyone. And he does stuff like foul people 25' from the basket with the clock expiring, I dunno if that counts more as not playing smart basketball or bad defense, but it's not good in any case.
The Warriors should win this game, but there's always a fear Baron Davis will try to out duel Arenas in a one-on-one showdown between two LA boys. Hopefully Baron doesn't get caught up with Gilbert's antics, and keeps within the gameplan. Washington has been inconsistent lately, and aren't very good away from home. This will be their third game in four days on the road, and their last two games have gone down to buzzer beaters. I don't think they'll have the legs to keep up with Golden State tonight. The Warriors need to keep Arenas off the free throw line. If they can keep him under 6 attepts from the line they should win this game convincingly.
<div class="quote_poster">AlleyOop Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Great Preview!! Who's this Blatche guy? Is he any good? That Wizards starting 5 just looks a little weak to me. Of course with Arenas you're always in it, and Antawn is scoring nearly 20 a game. But Stevenson, Blatche, and Haywood? That's rather unimpressive. Warriors need to DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE on Arenas and make one of these secondary players step up.</div> Blatche is like a Jonathan Bender/Kevin Garnett lite. His potential was better than Chris Taft IMO because he has more skill. But he's a perimeter guy that can rebound and block shots and drive it some. Like Andrew Bynum, he's inconsistent and he needs more work since he missed college and he's not really advanced in skillset like many of today's high school superstars. But he's pretty darn skilled enough for his size. Hopefully, Blatche doesn't show the flashes of all-star potential tonight because at times he's looked very good.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If they can keep him under 6 attepts from the line they should win this game convincingly.</div> I will guarantee that won't happen. In fact, I'd bet he'll easily get 10+ FTAs. This is a game we should win, it would be horrible to lose tonight because the schedule is so tough after this. We should come out fired up after the way we lost in Washington a few weeks ago.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Washington has been inconsistent lately, and aren't very good away from home. This will be their third game in four days on the road, and their last two games have gone down to buzzer beaters. I don't think they'll have the legs to keep up with Golden State tonight. The Warriors need to keep Arenas off the free throw line. If they can keep him under 6 attepts from the line they should win this game convincingly.</div> A day of rest after the Sonics game should get them ready for the Warriors, but it's been the 2nd game of the back-to-back that has killed us. I think we're 4-13 on the second games, but we always play to the opponent's level, and have been known to lose to depleted teams like the Nuggets w/o AI, Melo, Smith, Hornets w/o Paul and Stojakovic, and the Hawks w/o Williams, Johnson and Claxton. If the Warriors fire away from 3 all night long, this game should be no problem for them.
I agree with Run BJM, I think the liklihood of keeping Arenas anywhere near 6 FT attempts is almost nil. The way the Warriors get foul calls, he could easily rack up that many in half a quarter. I'm guessing at least a dozen attempts for the game, and something around 20 wouldn't surprise me much. Biedrins needs to stay in the game tonight and not commit cheap fouls (or appear to commit them which is just as bad).
Alright well, it's a game of 5 on 8 here. Looks like we're not going to get a call throughout the whole game. The Wizards need to make sure they don't feed the ball in the post with the way refs have been officiating, and keep shooting from deep. Then on the other end, quickly spot the shooters and lock them out.
The Wizards have been showing a lot more defensive pressure than they have the entire season with a halfcourt trap. So far it's been working ok with a few exceptions. This game's been all offense so far for both teams, and hopefully it'll keep on going the entire game. Has Deshawn been booed because of the hand motion he does in front of his face when he makes a good play?
