Saturday Nov 20th: Washington @ New Jersey

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<div align="center"> <font color="Blue">Washington Wizards</font> 4-4 <font color="DimGrey">New Jersey Nets</font> 2-6</div>

<div align="center">Time 8:00 PM,EST
Location:Continental Airlines Arena, East Ruther
TV:CSN, NBA League Pass</div>

<div align="center">Projected Starters</div>

<div align="center"><font color="Blue">Washington Wizards</font></div>

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<div align="center"><font color="DimGrey">New Jersey Nets</font></div>

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<div align="center"><font color="blue">Head Coaches</font></div>

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<font color="blue"><div align="center">Eddie Jordan - Lawrence Frank</div></font>

<div align="center">Key Matchup</div>
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Jamison will likely be guarding Jefferson as opposed to Hughes, not because he's a better defender obviously but because Hughes has a big disadvantage against RJ size wise. Jefferson should drive at Jamison and try to get to the basket like he usually does, and maybe wear Jamison down. On the other end he'll probably be relieved and guard Hughes instead of Jamison, that won't be a easy matchup in itself, but Jamison will likely see more of the ball.
Jamison should also go at Jefferson whenever he's on him, and play him hard, he's one of their only good offensive options, and if he's not active they'll have a very tough time scoring any points.


<div align="center">Keys To The Game</div>

<div align="center"><font color="Blue">Washington Wizards</font></div>
The Wizards need to go hard at the Nets early on, and push the ball on them to tire out their starters. The Nets have a pretty weak starting lineup, and and even weaker bench, and if the Wizards can get the sarters tired it will hurt the Nets. Pushing the ball will also affect Jefferson who has been logging a lot of minutes, and being tired will make him make mistakes and cough up the ball for more fastbreak oppurtunities.

<div align="center"><font color="Dimgrey">New Jersey Nets</font></div>
The Nets don't really have an answer to the Wizards vast amount of offensive players, they'll just have to come out playing hard, and hope to cause some turnovers by the Wizards guards and get easy baskets.
They should get the ball to Alonzo against Haywood, and hope he can do some damage down low. Haywood is not a bad post defender himself so it won't be an easy matchup, but Zo should be able to get something going.


<div align="center">The Bench</div>
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The Wizards have a big advantage in the bench for the most part, and it should come in handy when the Nets starters go out. The Wizards bench should look to extend the lead while they're in there, and open up the game for the team. The Nets bench has to play defense, and hope to slow down all the offensive weapons. If Juan Dixon can get minutes he should go hard at New Jersey's PG's, and put some points on the board.


<div align="center">My Predictions</div>
The Wizards take this one in a nice up and down game 103-87. The Nets offense is reliant on Richard Jefferson, and secondly on Alonzo Mourning. The Wizards will have to pressure Jefferson and force him to cough up the ball, and get double team Alonzo while going at him on defense to get him in foul trouble. The Nets will have a tough battle with the Wizards quick perimeter players, and without a PG who can drive and dish effectively, they won't be able to take advantage of Arenas' lackadasical man to man defense. The Wizards should'nt have too hard a time in this game and should be able to get the bench some minutes.

 

The team is missing this:

 

Good preview OG15, Hopefully my Nets can pull this one out. We have a serious Western Conference road trip coming up after this game against the Nuggets, Clippers, Sonics, & Portland. So we definately need the confidence of finishing this 4 game homestand with a W, before we go on the raod.

Anyway, The Nets have done a solid job of keeping High scoring teams some what contained with the exception of the Suns & Heat(when they started the season dropping a 100 plus every game). So I think the defensive effort will be there for Jersey. It all comes down to how productive the Nets can be on the offensive end. They have to create some easy baskets in the open court. And establish Zo early in the paint, something they really havent been doing of recent. Zoran Planinic must keep his turnover down as well. I think Travis Best will see his most minutes of the season in this game. Coach Frank is starting to understand the Nets are most productive offensively with Best in the game as the lead guard.

Bench Production will be key from Jersey, to make up for the difference in offense the Wiz starters will probably bring to the table compared to Nets starters. The bench will have to find away to combine for about 15-20pts between Rodney Buford, Scalabrine, Best and hopefully Aaron Williams will play a productive role.

Anyway if the Nets come out & compete on Defense. And keep this game in the low 80's, they should be in the game right to the end with a chance to pull it out in the 4th.

 

I see the wizards sliding by in this one with a 5-13 point lead at the end of the game. NJ will put up a good fight, but not good enough. This will be a good game though. I will definitely tune in for this one.

 

Wizards win 97-86. Antawn Jamison and Larry Hughes played great basketball out there combining for 49 points.