<div align="center">@ <font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (14-9)</font>@<font color="purple">The Sacremento Kings (16-7)</font> Time: 10:00 PM Eastern Place: Arco Arena TV: Local</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></div></font> <div align="center"> <font color="navy">(Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood) </font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Kings Head Coach</font></font> <font color="purple">Rick Adelman</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Kings Projected Starting Lineup</font></font> <font color="purple">(Mike Bibby, Doug Christie, Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber, Brad Miller )</font> </div> <div align="center"><font size="5">Bench Factors</font> (<font color="navy">Kwame Brown</font>,<font color="purple">Bobby Jackson</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5">Key Matchup</font> (<font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas</font>, <font color="purple">Mike Bibby</font>) <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas:</font> 22.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, and 4.0 rpg <font color="purple">:Mike Bibby</font>16.0 ppg, 5.9 apg, and 4.4 rpg</div> <font size="5">Keys to the Game</font> <font color="navy">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]Help the Big 3- Last night was the first game someone other than Arenas, Hughes, and/or Jamison scored 10+ in a game since Kwame Brown did it against the Heat 6 games ago. Peeler chipped in 10 and that was a huge lift for us, tonight we are going to need more production from Haywood, Peeler, and Kwame if we want to beat this team. [*]Stop Penetration- The Wizards allowed easy penetration last night. We can not allow this Kings team to do that because they can easily kick it out for the 3 by Peja. Doug Christie can knock down the 3, penetration is a big no no in this one. [*]Efficieny- Antawn Jamison has been producing for us, but has not been efficient shooting the ball. He is shooting a career low 44%, which isn't that bad, but is horrible when compared to last year's 53%. To beat the Kings we need him to shoot 50%, to grab boards, and just be efficient. He is quicker than Chris Webber, not stronger. [/list] <font color="purple"> Sacramento:</font> <ul> [*]Box Out- Last night, Wizard's forward Michael Ruffin killed Golden State on the boards. Grabbing 12 off of the bench. The Kings can't allow second chance opportunities to the new look Wizards because they have been capitalizing on that all year. [*]Webber-Chris Webber should have a huge game if Antawn Jamison is on him all night. Jamison's D is below average and Chris Webber has a very efficient offensive game. If Lamar Odom can take it to Jamison, there is no reason why Chris Webber can't. [*]Bench- This King's bench is average compared to their bench of the past couple of years. Bobby Jackson is averaging 12.3 ppg. But other than him, No other King averages over 7 off of the bench. [/list] <font size="5"> Prediction</font> The Wizards are a much improved team this year, but they are coming off of a close win against Golden State last night. Their legs are going to be tired, I do not see them beating the Kings. Sac wins this one 105-98 NOTE: Washington has not won in Los Angeles against the Lakers and in Sacramento in the same season since 1975-76.
Kobe 8-Ball, Great preview here and at the Kings forum.I'll say what i said on the Kings board,and say that the Wizards have a great team,and are suprising some people in the NBA this year with their record.I Expect the Wizards to give my Kings a run for the money here,but i will predict that the Kings will win this one. Kings 101 Wizards 100
Sacremento 101 - Washington 98 On the road against the Kings, this will be a hard game, whoever can show the first signs of defense should take this game, and just being on the road and in SacTown will not be any help. Kobe8, you have to remember Jamison was on a stacked team last season, he had no defensive attention on him, and was also playing SF as opposed to PF also, and did not shoot jumpshots like he is now. On the Mavs he took it down low, and also scored on a lot of put back's on offensive rebounds. I expect his FG% to be in thr 46% range though, but he's not too far under what I expected from him. I see Webber having a pretty good game, he's been playing well whenever he's been on the floor lately, and should have a good game. I'm a little stomped at how the defensive matchups will work today, Hughes on Peja doesn't really work with the height discrepency, and JJ works but I don't know if it's a good matchup. Arenas - 23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals Hughes - 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists Jamison - 20 points, 10 rebounds Ruffin - 3 blocks [lol] Chris Webber - 27 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists Peja Stojakovic - 18 points, 4 rebounds Mike Bibby - 18 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
I am hoping Kwame shows up tonight to earn back his starting spot with a 20 point performance. I believe he would be able to overpower Chris Webber. Last year he went for 30 and 19 on him. I wouldn't be surprised to see Eddie throw him in the game early, and if he is successful..often.
The team hasn't been able to establish Kwame, and he hasn't been doing to good, threw up a wild shot off the post up and had some turnovers. Arenas is keeping the Wiz in the game in the 3rd, he was just on fire, what was it, 3 or 4 in a row?
Honestly, I think Kwame came back to soon. You don't come back from an injury when your at most 55% better. That only hurts the team and can further hurt you. I would like to see him take off some games, get himself up to 75%-80% healthy..then re-attempt to come back.
Yea maybe he was a little too excited. Too many turnovers, and just not able to clean up the glass and get stops defensively. Hughes didn't play too good, he had a lot of bad misses, backboards and airballs, and the Kings were getting so many offensive boards. Arenas had a good game, I'd give him player of the game, he airballed his last three, but it was no big deal, the game was already out of reach. Another game hurt by EJ's rotations though, Hayes shouldn't have been playing, Kwame was playing Webber well but he kept putting Ruffin back in the game and on Webber, and Haywood didn't play nearly enough.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Yea maybe he was a little too excited.</div> That is it I think <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Too many turnovers, and just not able to clean up the glass and get stops defensively. Hughes didn't play too good, he had a lot of bad misses, backboards and airballs, and the Kings were getting so many offensive boards.</div> Yea, his game has slid a little lately, I think he will pick it back up though. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Arenas had a good game, I'd give him player of the game, he airballed his last three, but it was no big deal, the game was already out of reach.</div> Easily our most consistent and best player all year, not Antawn. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Another game hurt by EJ's rotations though, Hayes shouldn't have been playing, Kwame was playing Webber well but he kept putting Ruffin back in the game and on Webber, and Haywood didn't play nearly enough.</div> Eddie will never learn. Wood should be getting 30+ mins a game, he has been great all year. Michael Ruffin isn't that good. What is scary is going to be Etan and Ruffin in the game at the same time...no frontcourt offense in that. A 2-2 West Coast road trip is not bad at all, beat the Lakers and Warriors..lost the the Kings and Suns...very good In my eyes...I still want Kwame to take off until atleast Mid. January <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Washington's big three were not enough to stop Sacramento's reunited fab four. With Chris Webber back after missing one game with a sore left knee, the Sacramento Kings got a huge effort from Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Mike Bibby and Brad Miller in a 104-93 victory over the Washington Wizards. </div> Wizards/Kings Recap Wizards/Kings Box Score
What a great game last night.The Kings won of course,but i'm impressed with the way the Wizards have been playing all season.the Wizards looked good against us,and i see a bright future for this team. Kudo's for the Wizards,as there heading in a solid direction.
