<div align="center">@ <font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (33-26)</font> @ <font color="green">The Boston Celtics(33-29)</font> Time: 6:00 PM Eastern Place: Fleetcenter TV: CSN, NBATV</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- 25.4 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.5 rpg Larry Hughes- 21.7 ppg, 5.0 apg, 6.1 rpg Jared Jeffries- 6.4 ppg, 1.9 apg, 4.6 rpg Kwame Brown- 5.7 ppg, 1.1 apg, 4.8 rpg Brendan Haywood- 9.6 ppg, .9 apg, 6.9 rpg </font></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></font> <font color="green">Gary Payton- 12 ppg, 6 apg, 3.1 rpg Ricky Davis- 15.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.8 rpg Paul Pierce- 21.9 ppg, 4.2 apg, 6.8 rpg Antoine Walker- 20.2 ppg, 3.6 apg, 9.3 rpg Raef Lafrentz- 11 ppg, 1.2 apg, 7.2 rpg </font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="navy">Bench</font><font color="green"> Factors</font></font> (<font color="navy">Steve Blake</font>,<font color="green">Al Jefferson</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="navy">Key</font><font color="green"> Matchup</font></font> (<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>, <font color="green">Ricky Davis</font>) Projected Stats <font color="navy">Larry Hughes: 24 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds</font> <font color="green">Ricky Davis: 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds</font></div> <font size="5"><font color="navy">Keys</font> <font color="green">to</font> <font color="navy">the</font><font color="green"> Game</font></font> <font color="navy">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="navy">Rusty?</font>- Will Washington be rusty after their layoff, they haven't played since Tuesday. It is critical for them to come out strong and not show any rust from their layoff, if they do, Boston will take advantage of that. [*]<font color="navy">No Jamison?</font>- Without him last game, we were blown out by the Knicks, I don't think he will be playing in this one either. We are going to need to learn how to win without him, he isn't our best player, or even our 2nd best..we should be able to win without him, lets do it. [*]<font color="navy">Gilbert</font>- Our best player needs to bring his best game against the Glove. Before the deadline, I would of said this game was a lock for the win, but Boston is one of the most improved teams in the L and Washington has been struggling...lets go Arenas. [/list] <font color="green">Boston:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="green">Come Out Strong</font>- Washington has been in some what of a slump since the break while Boston looks like a lock for that 3rd seed in the playoffs. If they come out strong, Boston will win this game. [*]<font color="green">Payton</font>- Payton is the glove for a reason, he needs to lock down Arenas tonight. They are both big guards, if he can stop Arenas on D, and then take it to him in the post on the offensive, he will neutralize Arenas the best he can be. [*]<font color="green">Take it to Jeffries</font>- Jeffries was forced to come back a little earlier from injury because of the injury to Antawn. PP needs to take it to him early and often, test him. [/list] <font size="5"><font color="navy">Random </font><font color="green">Movie </font><font color="navy">Quote</font>*</font> B-Rad: And If I work hard, I can be the biggest rapper there ever was? Ronnie Rizzat: Rapper? Hell no you stink. B-Rad: Don't be hatin'. Ronnie Rizzat: I'd rather eat garbage then listen to your sorry ass rhymes. *Idea taken from Supersonic <font size="5"> <font color="orange">Prediction</font></font> I really don't think Washington can win this one with their slump lately. Boston has been playing good ball and have an awesome lineup. I take Boston in this one 97-90.
vs Boston at home with a fairly depleted lineup? That isn't a recipe for sucess. Even a fully healthy Wizards team would have a hard time against this new look Boston team at home. Boston 110 - Wizards 105, I don't see this game being in the 90's, both teams average 100+ PPG.
The Wizards are down three at half, 53-50, despite Jared Jeffries amazing efforts. He has 12 points and 11 borads just at the end of the first half. Raef Lafrentz has been killing us inside and out, along with Paul Pierce' 12 points, and four assists. Jamison hasn't done much with six points on three of six shooting. I think Washington can turn this one around and win in the later minutes of the game.
Oh, well I guess Jamison was back, and Kwame came off the bench because I remember them saying he hurt his ankle. Very close game, it was tied at 99 with very little time left, but the Celtics were the ones to come through in the end and win the game. Hughes played a good game, Arenas didn't do too well going 7-22 from the field, and Jared Jeffries was amazing with 13 points and 16 rebounds in the game. The Celtics were lead by 20 points from Pierce, and also got 19 points from Lafrentz, and 12 points and 8 rebounds from Al Jefferson off the bench.
