Boston @ Washington -- 4/5/05

<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
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</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>)
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<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.

 

Like I said..Larry Hughes really hurt us...

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WASHINGTON (Ticker), April 5 -- The Boston Celtics got a total team effort to overcome Antoine Walker's absence and the Washington Wizards' All-Stars.

Paul Pierce scored 25 points to lead seven players in double figures as the Celtics posted a 116-108 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Gilbert Arenas matched a career-high with 43 points and fellow All-Star Antawn Jamison -- activated from the injured list prior to the game -- added 30 for the Wizards (41-32), who lost their second straight game and fell one-half game behind Chicago for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. </div>

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