Game Thread: WAS @ MEM - Sat 1/29/11

Post #1 » by **nate33** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:25 pm

Time: 8:00 PM

Streaks: Memphis (23-24) has won 4 out of the last 5, though all wins are against losing teams. They won last night against Philly. They've won 5 in a row at home against Washington. Washington is 0-23 on the road and has lost their last 3 games. They're playing a back-to-back after having lost Friday night to OKC in double overtime.

Injuries: Memphis is without O.J. Mayo (suspended). They have no other significant injuries. Washington is without Hinrich (elbow) and Howard (knee). McGee is questionable due to the flu. Wall is banged up and not close to 100%.

Lineups: Memphis starts Conley, Sam Young, Gay, Randolph and Gasol. Key bench players are Tony Allen, Darrell Arthur, Vasquez and Thabeet. Washington starts Wall, Young, Lewis, Blatche and McGee. Key reserves are Shakur, Thornton, Booker and Yi. Without Hinrich, backcourt depth is a problem. Shakur is on a 10-day contract fresh out of the D-League. Cartier Martin is the only other guy on the roster who can play guard.

DallasShalDune · Post #2 » by **DallasShalDune** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:47 pm

I'm going to go out on a limb and call a win. I haven't predicted a road win since we had Gil.

Go Wizards. Last night felt good, so hopefully tonight we show up as well.

tontoz · Post #3 » by **tontoz** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:04 pm

Some of the starters played so many minutes last night it was almost like playing 2 games.

Wizards2Lottery · Post #4 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:21 pm

We're going to get creamed tonight. This is unless the backups can provide quality minutes to give the big minute guys from last night some rest.

RickRoll_inDC · Post #5 » by **RickRoll_inDC** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:06 pm

This is only going to be a tough one because of the ridiculous minutes that a lot of the starters got last night.

Granted, they played well, but Wall was just so tired in that 2nd OT.

Either Wall plays too much, gets tired early, and we lose.
OR we see a lot of Mustafa and we most likely lose because of it.

Is it fair to say that the play and playing time of Mustafa is going to play a huge role in this game?

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #6 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:18 pm

Memphis was getting killed by Philly before a pretty miraculous comeback. They had almost no business winning and the Wizards mostly outplayed a better team yesterday.

This should be a win. Conley is not Westbrook. Gay is not quite Durant. Randolph will get his but so should Blatche.

I think guys like Thornton and Booker and Lewis will make Gay work on offense and defense.

Wall and Young will get theirs. I think not only will Washington win, but they will win by more than 10.

(Going way way out on the hanging tree limb).

DallasShalDune · Post #7 » by **DallasShalDune** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:19 pm

I just hope this doesn't happen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK7lIjFsGvg

closg00 · Post #8 » by **closg00** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:20 pm

What fresh legs do we have available for tonight? Shakur, Armstrong, Yi, and Seraphin.

Shakur is going to have to play more than 3 minutes, AND he will have to be a bit more aggressive on offense. Seraphin will have to do against Zo, as lost as he is.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #9 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:22 pm

RickRoll_inDC wrote:Is it fair to say that the play and playing time of Mustafa is going to play a huge role in this game?

I have faith in him and Cartier Martin.

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #10 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:28 pm

closg00 wrote:What fresh legs do we have available for tonight? Shakur, Armstrong, Yi, and Seraphin.

Shakur is going to have to play more than 3 minutes, AND he will have to be a bit more aggressive on offense. Seraphin will have to do against Zo, as lost as he is.

When Shakur had not practiced with the team he came right in and balled vs Rondo. What I hope like heck is he is not now playing tentatively for fear of making mistakes on offense and defense. I hope Shakur is not now being overcoached or harnessed from just coming out and playing.

Like Martin, he knows how to play and deserves minutes.

dlts20 · Post #11 » by **dlts20** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:13 pm

I say do what we shouldve done late last game and thats ride Dray. Only problem is that he's got some really hard matchups on D this game and he's now sick also which means he will probably be the no energy sucky Dray tonight.

NY played a ton of minutes, scored alot of points, and hit some timely shots but he also had alot of bonehead selfish plays, was gunning way too much, looked like the old NY in spots, and shot very poorly. I mean this in a good way though because the flip side to him playing a ton is that he didnt shoot well so maybe this game he's due to shoot well.

The bad thing for us is that the Grizz are just 1 game under .500 so no way they overlook us. All there fans want this one bad so they can get to that mark and then start a serious playoff run

DallasShalDune · Post #12 » by **DallasShalDune** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:00 pm

Chocolate City Jordanaire wrote:
closg00 wrote:What fresh legs do we have available for tonight? Shakur, Armstrong, Yi, and Seraphin.

Shakur is going to have to play more than 3 minutes, AND he will have to be a bit more aggressive on offense. Seraphin will have to do against Zo, as lost as he is.

When Shakur had not practiced with the team he came right in and balled vs Rondo. What I hope like heck is he is not now playing tentatively for fear of making mistakes on offense and defense. I hope Shakur is not now being overcoached or harnessed from just coming out and playing.

Like Martin, he knows how to play and deserves minutes.

I think teams are prepared for the energy he brings. The Celts had to footage of Mustafa in a Wizards uniform; every team after that game officially did, including the Thunder and now the Grizzlies. I hope he can bring some great energy, but I'm not holding my breath.

DaRealHibachi · Post #13 » by **DaRealHibachi** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:03 am

No Shakur along with McGee. Shakur hurt his right leg on the screen yesterday by Colison.

Saunders hopeful that Hinrich can return and play some tonight.

http://twitter.com/washwizards

hands11 · Post #14 » by **hands11** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:58 am

DaRealHibachi wrote:
No Shakur along with McGee. Shakur hurt his right leg on the screen yesterday by Colison.

Saunders hopeful that Hinrich can return and play some tonight.

http://twitter.com/washwizards

What ? Mustafa is out? Kirk coming off injury ? Wall ? Specially after playing 52 minutes last night.

If we win this one, it will be a miricle.

Maybe they will be to injured to think and that in some way will help. Thats the positive spin.
Other than that, this could get ugly.

80sballboy · Post #15 » by **80sballboy** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:13 am

I'm saying this will be a blowout, but I'll stick with them. So far, no effort on defense in first 3 possessions.

closg00 · Post #16 » by **closg00** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:14 am

DaRealHibachi wrote:
No Shakur along with McGee. Shakur hurt his right leg on the screen yesterday by Colison.

Saunders hopeful that Hinrich can return and play some tonight.

http://twitter.com/washwizards

Damn! That sucks for Shakur, his 10-day will end w/o a re-up probably.

80sballboy · Post #17 » by **80sballboy** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:15 am

I'm saying this will be a blowout, but I'll stick with them. So far, no effort on defense in first 3 possessions.

tontoz · Post #18 » by **tontoz** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:17 am

it will be interesting to see Booker on Randolph.

dlts20 · Post #19 » by **dlts20** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:18 am

Y arent we using Dray more on O right now? He should be the freshest and he has the biggest mismatch. Iso Dray on the permiter with Gasol on him. Put him on one side and the rest of the team on the other side of the floor

80sballboy · Post #20 » by **80sballboy** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 1:20 am

Booker was defending Gay on one series and back to Randolph. Gasol now out, was defending him one one possession. Has to take advantage of his quickness against bigger guys.