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This'll be the first serious test in a while. We fared reasonably well
playing not so good teams to put it politely. DET has been a seriously
good team as evidenced by their total destruction of MIL.

I'll be there tonight rooting like all get out for a W. I see that
we've had considerable success vs Det recently
but I think a lot of that was Gil. Gil clearly has some
teams he just plays very well against (and the reciprocal as well).

It'll be nice to get AD back

I wonder if/how much we might see BH/AB together. I think DET
is a team we should do MORE of that against.

BTW- what the OPec story? He should be back soon correct?
Couple weeks?

DET is a top-5 team right now, and they are really clicking offensively & defensively with their current rotation. I am just hoping for monster games by AJ & CB3 to make it competative

...Tall-ball with BTH & AB might be our only hope, but EJ just won't try it for more than 3 minutes.

Frankly, I don't quite understand how Detroit is so good. They have a lot of solid players but they're kind of thin and undersized up front, and they don't have any superstars on the perimeter. I give them all the credit in the world for executing at both ends of the floor with precision, but at the same time, I'm not in awe of them.

I kinda like our matchups with them. Haywood should be able to score a few points in the post against their undersized front line. And, while Rasheed Wallace is an excellent defender, I think he is "less excellent" if he has to spend his time out on the 3-point line guarding Jamison.

One problem is that Tayshaun Prince will probably do a good job guarding Butler. He has the footspeed and long arms to bother his jumpshot and the height to prevent Butler from getting points in the paint.

I think we might be a little better off with Mason and Stevenson in the backcourt rather than Daniels. Against Detroit, I think we will be well served running the offense through Butler and letting him be the primary distributer. That will work much better with Stevenson and Mason on the perimeter canning jumpers. Daniels isn't nearly as good from the outside.

Both teams play smart, consistent basketball. Neither team plays substantially above their baseline, nor substantially below. And since Detroit is a better team overall than us, they'll probably win the game.

We really need Arenas to beat Detroit. He kills them all the time.

Only if Gil were available would I predict a win...

I'll be happy if we don't get blown out by forty like the last team did...

Although we do get AD back Detroit is rolling and I'm sure they will continue that roll against us tonight. Look for Jarvis to hit the open 3 all night.

Detroit 108 Washington 96

Detroit is due for a loss after winning 9 straight (15-2 in December).

Wiz win a tough one tonight.

I say we win. No good reason why; I just always consider Detroit to be the most beatable top tier team for us.

Positives: Daniels should be back / We're a very dangerous team with AD in the starting lineup / We're at home

Negatives: We're facing the Pistons

I'm expecting a close game. Probably a loss, but a win isn't out of the question.

A big L is coming tonight.

They should make Antonio Daniels jerseys. WELCOME BACK AD!

We dont got dis

We're gonna get creamed.

I hope I'm wrong

We have a real chance, and this would be a big win for us, but I'm guessing we won't pull this off. Big games from Haywood and/or Blatche will be key if we do.

I think Prince is probably the most underrated player in the NBA, because he's such a good defender. He can defend the opposition's top perimeter guy (other than PGs) and still play help defense. That's Pippenesque. We always thought Big Ben was the key to their defense, but Prince was maybe just as important.

Their bigs aren't real tall, but they're long and strong and are good all-around players.

And with the addition of Herman, that's yet another player you have to worry about making 3's.

Hopefully the Wizards will be competitive. Maybe catch the Pistons relaxing a bit. They've been blown out by a couple of the top teams (Suns, Celts) and hung around or beaten some others (Spurs, Dallas).

With any luck, Jarvis will return to Arvis since the game is at the Verizon Center

Jarvis started out hot, and then became worthless, and when we activated Herrmann, he got hot again.

The guy can shoot, and for the 12-18minutes he MAY play every night, hes perfect for us.

Maybe your situation was different, but he's just anopther cog in the wheel here in Detroit, and if he doesnt play well, it doesnt really matter. We just plug someone else in whos starved for playing time.

This game I expect a loss and can only be let down if the Wizards outplay the Pistons but somehow lose.

Detroit's got MUCH better Gs. Stuckey's like their fourth guard and he's healthy now. Detroit's got better Fs because Prince and Wallace play both ends of the court. Caron's going to get his, though. Jamison, too. It's just the Wizards don't figure to make many stops in crunch time. Maxiel and McDyess will be going up against a tired Jamison by the fourth quarter if EJ goes extended minutes with the starters. I can't see this game going well for the Wizards.

At C I just can't see Haywood or Blatche doing a whole lot, but I guess it's possible.

So, hopefully, I'm wrong (been wrong a lot lately) and the Wizards don't end up getting killed. Detroit's just so cohesive and Gs are better than the Wizards'.

I just hope Young or Blatche prove me wrong today.

we'll have to play near perfect bball if we wanna have a chance of beating detroit

Most likely: Wiz loss.

We won past games v. the 'Stons by making them chase to keep up, plus drawing Sheed outside to cover Jamison's threeball, which let Gilbert blast down the alley and get fouled by McDyess or whichever slower Big was in the paint. Prince plays Caron about even or better, and beyond that they have the depth and talent to overcome.

I expect JHaze to see minutes and play well, on defense (he knows the team, plays, counters) maybe offense (this team plays loads better D, but still doesn't guard the threeball as well as it oughtta).

X-factor for a Wiz win?

Wiz could surprise if they get a big game from Brendan but only if Jamison is hitting and Daniels comes back passing well (and if he can stay on court despite fouls and struggles on defense with conditioning and knee issues vs Billups).

Detroit guards a post pass well, especially with their nasty Zone looks. If outside shots can force inside looks then if spoonfed, in motion, etc. Brendan could surprise. Ditto Blatche when the Wiz go big to match the length up front, especially if he can stick an early wide open jumper and make 'em guard him.

BUt on defense: few positive mismatches on the Wiz' behalf. And expect early foul trouble for Dray when he gets in.