Washington Wizards @ Charlotte Bobcats Preview

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<font color="Blue">Washington Wizards</font> (1-0) @ <font color="Orange">Charlotte Bobcats</font> (0-0)

Thursday, November 4th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: CSN, NBALP

Previous Games:
Wizards @ Grizzlies 103-91 W

Projected Starting Lineups
WIZARDS

<font size="1">(Eddie Jordan)</font>

<font size="1">(Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes, Jarvis Hayes, Antawn Jamison, Michael Ruffin)</font>
<font size="4">VS</font>
BOBCATS

<font size="1">(Bernie Bickerstaff)</font>

<font size="1">(Brevin Knight, Jason Kapono, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Primoz Brezec)</font>

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Factors off the Bench

<font size="1">(Jared Jeffries, Steve Smith)</font>

Game MVPs

<font size="1">(Gilbert Arenas, Gerald Wallace)</font></div>

Brandon's Analysis
The Wizards are coming off a surprising victory in their season opener against Memphis...even without Kwame, Arenas, Hughes and Haywood. Jamison led the team in points, but shot the ball 30 times, making 13 of those shots...below average for Antawn.

Tonight will be a defensive test for the Bobcats and Emeka Okafor, who will more than likely have trouble against Jamison in his first regular season game in the NBA. Also, Knight and Hart may have trouble containing Arenas and Dixon, who put up 28 points against Jason Williams in the opener (however, an unhealthy Williams).

The key for the Bobcats tonight is rebounding. Okafor and Brezec will have to seriously crash the boards if they want to even hang in there with the Wizards. Gerald Wallace needs to attack the basket, and use Emeka while penetrating, to beat the frontcourt duo of Jamison and Ruffin.

The Wizards need to work on keeping Okafor away from the boards, and keeping an eye out for Kapono and Smith, who aren't afraid to hit the three anytime during the game. If the Wizards go on multiple runs early, this game could be over by the third quarter.

Brandon's Prediction
Emeka should be determined to impress the fans in Charlotte and could have a good night defensively. Offensively, look to Gerald Wallace, who may break through Hayes and have a good performance in the books as well. For the Wizards, expect an offensive onslaught against the weaker defenders. Wizards pull away in the 3rd, and win the game, 89-75.

 

The Wizards should win this, but let's not underatte the Bobcats and come out sluggish.
The Wizards take this game 98-89, and Arenas comes out on fire scoring 21 points to go along with 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, but like always 3 turnovers. The Bobcats PG's can't really hand with him, and Jamison should have a good matchup at PF with Emeka.

The team should also get Larry Hughes go at Kapono if he starts, he's pretty weak defensively, and his speed won't be able to match him, either Hayes or Hughes should go at him.

 

Primo Brezec has been the Bobcats goto guy thus far and has faired well. Wizards aren't shooting well from the field, and the Bobcats aren't getting much execution offensively. Jamison has gotten the ball often thus far and has converted, but other players need to step up (Arenas/Hughes).

 

Arenas, Hughes and Hayes are taking too many outside shots, they need to run the offense and get easy baskets. Brezec is doing very nicely also.

 

I think the Wizards will come away with this one. I meen they beat the Griz without Gilbert, or Hughes, and now they're back in the lineup. I look for them to ease by in this one. They will win by atleast 11 points. It will be fun to watch though.

 

Yes, but Hughes isn't playing selflessly, he's not running the offense and keeps isoing himself. Also Arenas and Hughes aren't playing with the same defensive intensity Dixon and Profit were against Memphis.

 

Another sweet 'W'. 2-0 for the first time since 1994. :thumbsup:

 

Sloppy game, some stupid mistakes, Larry Hughes is a hog, Juan Dixon saved us, and Michael Ruffin was great in the paint.
Dixon has really improved his game, still not a playmaker, but I was happier with him on the floor than Hughes.

Arenas had a nice line with 19-7-8, but committed 7 turnovers, one step on the sideline, an offensive foul, a travel, got the ball stolen from him, lost it on a drive, and 2 bad passes.

 

Wallace and his damn TURNOVERS. Okafor had a great debut though. 19 points, 10 boards, and a block. Bobcats couldn't get it done down the stretch, but this will be a good learning experiece.

 

Here are a few stats, if anyone is interested and too lazy to go on nba.com

Arenas (36 min): 6-14 FG, 7 boards, 8 assists, 7 turnovers, 19 points
Hughes (29 min): 3-11 FG, 5 boards, 1 assist, 4 steals, 14 points
Hayes (43 min): 6-13 FG, 6 boards, 3 assists, 17 points
Jamison (40 min): 10-22 FG, 3 boards, 0 assists, 24 points
Ruffin (28 min): 2-6 FG, 5 boards, 0 assists, 4 points
Dixon (20 min): 5-7 FG, 5 boards, 5 assists, 15 points

 

Arenas turnovers were stupid, Jason Hart pushed him out, the offensive foul was a dumb call, the travel I don't why they'd call that when every NBA player does it, and the 2 bad passes and getting picked were his fault. The drive I'm not sure whether it was poked out of his hand or whether he just lost it.

 

What was up with the Bobcat's passing? it was so sloppy and good thing we were able to take advantage of that to close the game at the 4th quarter.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Well they are a young team, it was their first regular season game ever, there has to be some nerves in that..It will get better with time.</div>

But still, they played like it was their first time playing whatsoever..

 

They didn't play that bad, the Wizards matador defense just harassed them all day, Hughes, Arenas and Dixon have always been great at causing turnovers and pressuring the ball.

Now Arenas moved his feet on defense, and played better on one one defense, the teams backcourt would be very good defensively.

 

I was dissapointed in Jamison's rebounding total, he only grabbed 3. And in the first half Primo Brzec semed to have an easy time, when Jamison was guarding him. But still another impressive win by the Wiz, now let's see if it's a fluke against Miami.

 

Kobe, it's not that Jamison doesn't care about defense, it's that no one has ever tried to teach him D. His offense was always so good that it over shadowed his below average defense. So no coach actually thought about teaching him the basics of D.