Washington Wizards @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 12, 2007 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div> <span style="color:#3333FF">Washington Wizards</span> <span style="color:#996633">(20-14)</span><span style="color:#996633">PG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span> <span style="color:#996633">SG</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DeShawn Stevenson</span> <span style="color:#996633">SF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Caron Butler</span> <span style="color:#996633">PF</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antawn Jamison</span> <span style="color:#996633">C</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Brendan Haywood</span> <span style="color:#996633">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Antonio Daniels, Etan Thomas, Jarvis Hayes, Andray Blatche</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(13-22)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Devin Brown</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Desmond Mason</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Rasual Butler</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Marc Jackson</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Tyson Chandler</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Jannero Pargo, Cedric Simmons, Hilton Armstrong, Linton Johnson III</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Darius Songala will not play (recovering from back surgery)</span><span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Michael Ruffin will not play (sprained right foot)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">NOK:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Chris Paul will not play (sprained right ankle)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">NOK:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">David West will not play (recovering from elbow surgery)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">NOK:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Peja Stojakovic will not play (recovering from lower back surgery)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">NOK:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Bobby Jackson will not play (5 cracked ribs)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 30.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.4 apg, 2.0 spg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Antawn Jamison</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 apg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Caron Butler</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 21.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.9 spg</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Tyson Chandler</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 6.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Desmond Mason</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 13.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.6 apg</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Devin Brown</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 10.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.3 apg</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Starter: 13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.7 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#996633">WAS:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">James Lang</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 48 (2003)</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">NOK:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Hilton Armstrong</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 12</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">3.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">NOK:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Cedric Simmons</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 15</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Washington's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Brendan Haywood</span><span style="color:#996633">Season Stats: 6.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#996633">As A Starter: 8.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.3 bpg</span><span style="color:#3333FF">Chandler is very athletic, and he's a very good rebounder. Haywood, however, is bigger and much stronger. He needs to muscle Chandler out of position on the boards, and Haywood needs to control the glass like he did 2 weeks ago.</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">New Orleans/Oklahoma City's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Devin Brown</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 10.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.3 apg</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Starter: 13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.7 apg</span><span style="color:#00CCCC">Brown has been playing excellent basketball for the Hornets this year, he needs to keep it up. But, tonight, he must have most of his focus on his defense. Guys like Gilbert Arenas are nightmares to guard.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#3333FF">Gilbert Arenas</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#00CCCC">Devin Brown</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Arenas is one of the best players in the league, and he has been proving that this year. Brown has been playing well for the Hornets this year, and he's a solid defender, but tonight is going to be hell for him.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesWashington should win this game with their right hands tied behind their backs. CelticBalla's PredictionWashington should take this one by 10-15+ points. The Hornets aren't anywhere close to their talent level with Paul, West, Peja, and Jackson out of the lineup. Arenas has a chance to score 40.

 

New Orleans/OK City is loaded with injuries.. Paul, Peja, West, and Bobby J are all out.. yikes. This should be an easy game to win but we should never underestimate any team, especially a team with a lot of spirit, like the Hornets (even without Chris Paul). I have no idea why this game is on ESPN.

 

Il be watching this game.. !I really wanna see how Marc Jackson does, I haven't seen him play since he was in philly so .. I wanna see him play now cause he never really got the recognition back in philly (though he isnt the best of defenders) sooo yeh il enjoy watching the wizards blowout the hornets tonight, should be good to see.