<div align="center">New Jersey vs Washington Place: Continental Airlines Time/Date: Nov. 19th, 7:30pm <u>Starting Lineups:</u></div> <u>Nets</u> Guards: Jason Kidd - Vince Carter Forwards: Richard Jefferson - Cliff Robinson Center: Nenad Krstic <u>Wixards</u> Guards: Gilbert Arenas - Antonio Daniels Forwards: Jared Jefferies - Antawn Jamison Center: Brendon Haywood <div align="center"><u>Records Coming In</u></div> Nets: 4-4; Key Wins: Chicago(100-99), Utah(91-83) Wizards: 5-3; Key Wins: Seattle(137-86), San Antonio(110-95) <u>Key Injuries</u> Nets: Jason Collins; doubtful Wizard: No Key Injuries <div align="center"><u>Brief Spotlight Matchup Breakdown</u></div> Tonights spotlight matchup features to of the leagues premier backcourt players. The matchup is a clash of styles, the Wizards Gilbert Arenas is far from the protypical natural point guard...he looks for his shot more often then not. And is among one of the league's best one on one scoring options. Arenas mixes a unque style of being able to score anytime he wants with a ablity to make plays for others. Arenas' shot selection is questionable at times. But when he does find the perfect blind between playmaking and scoring, its makes the Wizards almost unbeatable with him controlling the show. Arenas counter part in the matchup is definately more of the protypical flooor leader. While Kidd's assist numbers are down this year, his impact and on court presence is not. It is felt thru the contiued leadership, in helping to develope Nets bigman Nenad Krstic and creating easier opportinues for the spectacular wing combination of Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. So tonight's matchup is a clash of the league's best floor general, Jason Kidd and one of the key examples of the transition of that point guard position has made in the last couple of years from not only a leadership position to a position where teams expect great indiviual scoring production, Gilbert Arenas. <div align="center"><u>Quick Summary Of Keys To the Game</u></div> Nets: The Nets have to continue a carry over from their win against Seattle, especially in the bench production department. Tuesday's win was the first sign of life from the Nets bench all season as they combined for 30 points, lead by the play of Scott Padgett's 13 points and 9 rebounds. With the Nets short handed without Collins they will need similar production from their key frontcourt reserves..Marc Jackson and Scott Padgett. Colins' absence in the matchup with mostly be felt on the Boards against Washington. The Nets who already do not have good rebounders in the frontcourt lose a guy who at least is willing to throw his body around to boxout and compete on the backboards against the likes of Haywood and Etan Thomas. So now the Nets have to put even more emphasis on team rebounding then usual. Jefferson, Robinson and Carter have to get down in the paint and compete with Washingtons big boys to help the bigs out. Another then that, contolling Arenas will be key...the Nets have not done a good job keeping pentrators out of the line...so Kidd and Carter are going to have to dig deep in this matchup to keep Arenas out on the perimeter. If the Nets are able to keep Arenas out of the paint then they may have a higher success rate of taking away his ablity to create plays for others. For a guy like Arenas, you cant or at least its very hard to control both the playing and scoring aspects of his game. But at least if you keep him out of the lane...you stand the chance of controlling on of the two. Make Arenas take jumpers, the Nets can live with that if he isnt getting easy looks for Jamison, Butler and some of their other scores thru his penetration. Wizards: Ball movement is definately the #1 key for Washington. As talented as Arenas is, sometimes he gets caught up in the one on one aspect of the game. And that takes away from the overall ball movement and guys start standing and watching...and that takes away from the player movement. And the Wizards offense looks stantionary. No pressure gets put on the defense. Washington has a decent selection of scoring options..Arenas needs to make it a point to get those guys involved into the play. Also the Wizards are going to need a strong bounce back performance from Antawn Jamison, who really struggled against KG and the Timberwolves last game. Jamison went 5-16 from the field. But a matchup against the Nets frontcourt is much more favorable matchup since they dont really have a defensive matcup for him. Jamison is to skilled out on the perimeter for a aging Cliff Robinson and to big for Jefferson to deal with inside. Jamison, if he lets the game come to him..can give the Nets defense fits all night. All discussion on the game goes in this thread. PS Preveiw team this is somewhat of what a shorter preview looks like actually it doesnt have to be this long
We didn't play great but we still won. JC did play limited minutes, and once again, we outrbounded the opposition. I think we've only been outrebounded once this year. I didn't get to see the game, but whoever guarded Arenas (KIdd or Carter) shut him down, which was key. It was good to see we beat a good team who will probably make the playoffs (and beat the Spurs), but we aren't playing near our potential. From what I saw on the ESPN play-by-play, we were still turning the ball over too much, Carter and RJ weren't shooting well, and we have to start getting our post players those open mid-rangers that worked so well in the past. VC had some nice dunks. The bad news: I think our players still haven't gelled together, and VC and RJ still need a bit of work together. We need to get a set rotation so our players can get some rhythm going. Tough road trip coming up. The good news: Once we start to gel as a unit, we are going to be scary. We're starting to play better D, as shown by us keeping a very good scoring team under 90. The Great news: Despite not having gelled yet, we're still winning.
Well I think the key matchup really was at the point, not really what Jason Kidd did, he was solid as usual...but more because of how costly Gilbert Arenas' play was for the Wizards. His game was very selfish..and it cost the Wiz. Eddie Jordan benched him at the start of the 2nd half and he still didnt get the message...he was just chucking.
