@ <font color="Blue">The Washington Wizards (12-28)</font>@<font color="Green">The Boston Celtics (21-23)</font> Place: The Fleetwood Center Time: 7:30 Eastern TV: Local ================================== Probable Starting Lineups: BackCourt Steve Blake/Mike James Larry Hughes/Paul Pierce FrontCourt Jarvis Hayes/Jiri Welsch Jared Jeffries/Walter Mccarty Kwame Brow/Mark Blount Sixth Men Etan Thomas/Ricky Davis *Mike James has the advantage on Steve Blake because Mike James can score, Steve Blake struggles creating his own shot *Paul Pierce is a flat out better player than Larry Hughes *Jarvis Hayes has a better shot than Jiri Welsch, and can board better *Walter McCarty should be able to over power Jared Jeffries *Kwame Brown is much more quicker than Mark Blount and should use that to his advantage =============================== Injury Report: <u>WAS-</u>PG Brevin Knight Knuckle Questionable PG Gilbert Arenas Abdominal IL SG Jerry Stackhouse Knee IL PG Chris Whitney Ankle IL <u>BOS-</u> K. Perkins Knee tendinitis out R. LaFrentz Right knee tendinitis out C. Mills Right heel spurs out C. Mihm Hamstring Questionable ==================================== Notes*: <u>WAS-</u> To be so young and have your two key players hurt -- Jerry Stackhouse and Gilbert Arenas. Maybe they should package the lottery pick and one of their young big men for a vet <u>BOS-</u> This team is wacko -- whipping the West, losing to the East. Winning four, losing four. And they remain second in the Atlantic below .500, which speaks volumes. ====================================== Key Players: *Kwame Plays some of his best ball against the Celtics, and with Mark Blount and Vin Baker guarding him, he could go for a new career high, possibly 25 *Paul Pierce is lethal, he can take over a game like it is nothing, he might have to do so in this game. ================================== Keys to Winning: <u>WAS-</u> Keep Pierce in check Get going early Give Kwame the ball in the post, not on the wing Bench Play is crucial <u>BOS-</u> Help Pierce Dont come out sleeping Grab Boards Ricky Davis needs to have a decent game off the bench ========================== Prediction: Close one, Wizards pull an upset 93-90
Pierce has a big game in this one that will help the Celts win a tight one. I believe he is due, being at home helps too.
