Game Thread: Wizards @ 76ers

[MDStar]

Sorry guys if it was someone elses turn but I didn't see anything up and I felt like getting a little more involved on the board.

What: Wizards Basketball
When: Fri, Jan 13 7:00 PM ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center (Philidephia, PA)

Preview from ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?id=320113020

"The Philadelphia 76ers' lengthy winning streak is over. Back-to-back games against the lowly Washington Wizards could help them start another one."

Key Questions:

1) Is Blatche back becuase as unfortunate as it is, we need him? SMDH!

2) What will it take for this team to score 100 points? My guess, combination of both games vs. Philly.

3) Will John Wall make a jumper?

Let's talk Wizards!

[closg00]

* Bad Match-ups
* Philly plays good defense
* We have zero offense (Thanks Ernie)

The only questions is, what will be the margin of victory for Philly? Submit your predictions.

98 - 75

[DallasShalDune]

80-76 76ers. Only a 4 pt. loss.

I can dream, right?

[hands11]

They will always have a fighting chance to keep it close for three quarters if they can keep cranking up the D. This team is build in the mold of the Bulls in its early stages.

But with no help on offense from Dray or Mo, they have little to no chance of keeping it close in the fourth.

Without those two active, you watch the game to see Vesely play his 3rd game.
See if Singleton can expand his offense by taking on more of the offensive load.
Watch McGee make some blocks and another assume looking hook. Maybe he hits from outside again. I'm sure he will try and why not. I have more trust he will hit it then Wall at this point.
Fingers crossed - Booker can hit from outside again like he did two games ago.
Wall will try the cross over drive dunk again. That is becoming his main reliable move.

Things you hope to see
KS not lost on defense and his first bucket of the year. Things should start to slow down for him.
Nick shacking off the ice. Nick hasn't found his Nickness in a while.
Wall under control - one can at least dream it is possible.
A Mo sigthing - they really need some vet presence with a shot.


"He's just right now in a bad rhythm," coach Flip Saunders said. "We've just got to watch some film, talk to him and try to get him to slow things down."

Understantment of the year. Maybe Wall is on some kind of drugs or something. Meth head.

[queridiculo]

At this point any team is a bad matchup for Washington, but I wouldn't necessarily say that the Sixers are in a unique position to exploit mismatches.

Defensively I like the Wizards in the half-court, but what they do on the other end of the court will make a far bigger difference. Philadelphia will absolutely destroy Washington if the Wizards resort to the sort of shot jacking they've been prone to early in the season.

The Sixers to me are a perfect example of where the Wizards need to aspire to get to.

Play defense and turn that into transition opportunities. Obviously Washington lacks the consistent perimeter scoring threats, but hopefully that will get better with time.

I doubt that will happen with Saunders at the helm though, he seems to want to shoehorn this team into an offensive philosophy that they're simply not suited for.

[LyricalRico]

I'm expecting a loss, but I also think the Wiz have a chance. Booker matches up much better with Brand than Blatche does IMO. Booker's got strength and Brand will also have to hustle to keep up with him. Young also seems to have good games against Philly. And Vesely is a wild card. Can he duplicate his Toronto performance?

[The Fax]

Heard Andray Blatche's shoulder is gonna sideline him for a while on the radio during my drive home and couldn't help but smile...am I a bad person?

71-97 Philly

[DallasShalDune]

Heard Andray Blatche's shoulder is gonna sideline him for a while on the radio during my drive home and couldn't help but smile...am I a bad person?

71-97 Philly

Probably, but you're not the only one for certain.

[jking]

how long is "awhile"? Did they say on radio? Like a few games? Or over a month?

Can't find anything other than out tonight and tomorrow, and getting treatment on it.....but no timetable given.

[hands11]

He tweated he went to New York to see a specialist and it wasn't good news.

Sounds like to me he has a torn rotator if I was to guess.

So it will hurt all season or he will get surgery.

That is my guess.

[closg00]

Spencer Hawes is another late-blooming Big Man. Hawes is going to get a nice contract next year, nothing huge, but pretty solid.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... 57686.html

[jking]

He tweated he went to New York to see a specialist and it wasn't good news.

Sounds like to me he has a torn rotator if I was to guess.

So it will hurt all season or he will get surgery.

That is my guess.

this says just a sprained shoulder. But no timetable.....

https://twitter.com/#!/MrMichaelLee

[tontoz]

This game is probably going to be ugly, even more than usual.

[hands11]

He tweated he went to New York to see a specialist and it wasn't good news.

Sounds like to me he has a torn rotator if I was to guess.

So it will hurt all season or he will get surgery.

That is my guess.

this says just a sprained shoulder. But no timetable.....

https://twitter.com/#!/MrMichaelLee

I read Drays twitter.

[hands11]

This game is probably going to be ugly, even more than usual.

Ugly is the Wizard new style. That is what tough D brings. I hope it is ugly. If not, it will be a blow out.

They just need to find some players who can expand their scoring.

Hoping for a big game from Singleton.

[MOrgil]

Oh man, it's gonna be a long night. Hope to see more positives than negative stuff. Go Wizards!

[tontoz]

Nick with the assist?!

[80sballboy]

So much for making any significant trades if Blatche is out. Now that's Blatche and Turiaf.

Nice takes by Singleton and Booker so far.

[80sballboy]

If you aren't going to play Mason, why not give Hamadi a chance or is he still in Podunk, Dakota in the D-league.

[MOrgil]

Blatche some how, in some way always kills Wizards =( Now we're stuck with him forever lol