Washington @ Phoenix - 12/18

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<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">The Washington Wizards (13-8)</font>@<font color="DarkOrange">The Phoenix Suns (20-3)</font></div>
<div align="center">Time: 9:00 PM Eastern
Place: America West Arena
TV: Local</div>

<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue"><font size="4">Wizards Head Coach</font></font></div>
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<div align="center"><font size="3"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">Eddie Jordan</font></font></div>

<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue"><font size="4">Wizards Projected Starting Lineup</font></font></div>
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<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">(Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood)</font></div>

<div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange"><font size="4">Suns Head Coach</font></font></div>
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<div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">Mike D'Antoni</font></div>

<div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange"><font size="4">Suns Projected Starting Lineups</font></font></div>
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<div align="center"><font color="DarkOrange">(Steve Nash, Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire)</font></div>

<div align="center"><font size="4">Bench Factors</font></div>
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<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">(Kwame Brown, </font> <font color="DarkOrange">Leandro Barbosa)</font></div>

<div align="center"><font size="4">Key Matchup</font></div>
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<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">(Gilbert Arenas, </font><font color="DarkOrange">Steve Nash)</font></div>

<div align="center"><font color="DarkSlateBlue">Gilbert Arenas:</font> 22.4 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG
<font color="DarkOrange">Steve Nash:</font> 15.8 PPG, 11.0 APG, 3.4 RPG</div>

<font size="4">Keys to the Game:</font>

<font color="DarkSlateBlue">Washington:</font><ul>
[*]Haywood on Stoudemire- Amare is coming off of a mediocre(for him that is) 20 points, and nine rebounds performance. While Brendan is coming off a dismal three points, and five rebounds game. Amare has definitely held his own against players of Haywood's size. Look for Amare to start off with his 12-15 foot jumper, and eventually work his way in.
[*]Limit Turning the Ball Over- If we can limit our turn overs we can limit their fast breaks. We had a fantastic game last night on the aspect of ball handling(6 total team turnovers). If we can keep the ball in the hands of Gilbert, and Larry on the fast break we will convert more. Jamison, and Jeffries do not need to be handling the ball. AJ should just go inside, on a weaker Shawn Marion.
[*]Control the Suns Fast Break- Every team coming into a game against the Suns knows they won't be able to stop their fast break. The key is making sure they don't demolish you on it. Phoenix had 26 fast break points last night, against a very athletic Sonics team. We will have to make them play sloppy while they are running down court. We can not leave team mates down so they have a 3 on 2 or 2 on 1 breaks, or else they will almost automattically score.

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<ul>
<font color="DarkOrange">Phoenix</font>
[*]Shoot the Three- Teams shoot 35 percent from three against the Wiz, and the Suns(.38 3PT%) are one of the best three point shooting teams in the league. If Joe Johnson starts off hot from long range he will destroy us, he has connected on 56 of 105 attempts from three, good for a percentage of .533. Also when Richardson touches the ball late in close games, he has been Mr. Clutch.
[*]Get Out and Running- The Suns are built for running, and that's just what they'll do tonight. They are going to try and start off with a big lead. But if they don't they won't be too discoraged, considering the fact that last game they were down by more than 10 after the first quarter but outscored the other team by 20 in the second quarter.
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<font size="4">Prediction</font>

Phoenix is on a roll, having won seven in a row, and are looking like the best team in the NBA. Washington is playing two nights in a row, and coming off of a long game against the Lakers(overtime). I look at them being tremendously tired(not that the Suns won't be tired also), in this game. I think the Suns will take advantage of that, and will be on their way to an eigth win in a row. Final Score: Phoenix-101 washington- 96.

 

Well ya know I know we're gonna loose, but I am desperately hoping that we will not loose by more than 10. I expect a Phoenix win of 106- 94