GT #66: Nets (33-30) @ Wizards (34-31) 7 PM CSN

[FAH1223]

HUGE GAME. Which means the Wizards lose.
__________________________________________

-------------------------AT-------------------------


Last game:
Wizards vs. Magic - (W) 105-101 in OT
Nets - HEAT - (W) 96-95


Lineups:











Bench:











Probably WILL NOT PLAY:

[FAH1223]

Wizards are 2-0 vs. the Nets this year.

After knocking off the two-time defending NBA champs again, the surging Brooklyn Nets will try to finally break through against the Washington Wizards.
The visiting Nets try to avoid going winless against the Wizards for the first time in four years when these teams conclude their season series Saturday night.
Brooklyn (33-30) has kicked things into high gear over the last two weeks, going 7-1 while allowing just 91.6 points per game - 7.2 less than its season mark. The Nets are one percentage point ahead of Washington (34-31) for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but both teams are two games behind fourth-place Chicago.
"It feels good, man," veteran forward Paul Pierce told the team's official website. "We were written off early. It feels good for us to be able to turn this thing around. We had these visions of playing like this before the season started. Unfortunately it took longer than we expected, but I'm glad we were able to turn it around at this point in the season at the right time."
Brooklyn stayed hot with Wednesday's 96-95 win at Miami, its third consecutive victory overall and third in a row against the Heat.
"They are a very good team and exploit mismatches," Miami superstar LeBron James said of the Nets. "They have a lot of guys who can beat you."
Pierce did most of the damage, scoring a game-best 29 points for his second-highest total this season. He shot 9 of 12, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range.
"Paul's got too much left in the tank to be a role player," teammate Deron Williams said.
Clamping down defensively has been key for the Nets, who are 31-10 when surrendering 102 points or fewer compared to 2-20 when they don't. Brooklyn hasn't been able to slow down the Wizards this season, falling 112-108 in overtime in its last visit to Washington on Nov. 8 and 113-107 at home Dec. 18.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal finished with 29 points in the first of those wins, and John Wall scored 21 to lead seven Wizards in double figures in the second. Washington hasn't swept the Nets since taking all four meetings in 2009-10.
The Wizards avoided a third straight loss with a 105-101 overtime win at Orlando on Friday. All five starters scored in double figures, including a combined 62 from Beal, Wall and Trevor Ariza. Marcin Gortat added 19 points and 14 rebounds for his third straight double-double.
"We realize that it's about time for us to start winning," Gortat said. "It's about time to clinch that spot and get those wins, especially against teams like Orlando."
Washington shot just 40.0 percent against the Magic, its second-lowest mark in any win this season.
"Hopefully this can be a good character builder for us to have that understanding and belief that we don't have to shoot the ball well to win games," coach Randy Wittman said.
It's unclear if Beal will be able to suit up after exiting with a sprained right ankle in OT. He is averaging 20.3 points over the last six games.
Washington has posted back-to-back wins in the second of back-to-backs after dropping its previous five.

[dlts20]

you already know that I feel that we are night & day from home and on the road. We just have way way way more energy on the road. I dont see us beating any good team at home right now "unless" the opposing team has a million rowdy fans there to the point where it feels like a road game. Seriously, there is some weird vibe going on in the builidng and we jut look so lackluster. I dont mind losing but it sucks when you just like totally flat and boring. Thats how we look every game at home and then on the road we come out running non stop with intensity.

As for the game itself, we dont have Nene to put Pierce in a mismatch. The only thing Im confident about is we still mostly struggle with very big, strong low post bigs the Nets dont have. The other is Wall struggled bad last game but then brought is back with a million clutch plays in what shouldve been a loss. I could see that carrying over and him playing great tonight.

When he does, the rest of the guys usually follow but again, he seems to walk the ball up the court and look lethargic at home compared to on the road. Even when he plays well its ususally because his J is on but that doesnt change the tempo & pace of the game. We need that pep and we dont get it at home. Maybe the Nets will bring it for us since you they like to run.

Again, I think this is like the .500 thing to some degree. We just have to get over that hump and then I feel like we may play better at home after that. For some reason I think Wall could bring it tonight and get us out of that funk. If Im Witt Im telling Wall and the other guys to go inside all day. They have no presence. They start 2 Pg's, 3 guards overall, and PP at PF. They come off the bench with a big guy like Dre but do we fear his D? Attack and rebound. I have a feeling that Witt will try to go inside a ton which I kinda dont like. I dont mind it in the 2nd unit but I would much rather us beat them inside by attacking the rim from Wall and the wings

[dlts20]

also, Wall blew up last year with Beal & Nene out. After the way he finished last game, I would love for Witt to put the rock in his hand and tell him to carry us. I just wanna see if he can go off like last year. He doenst have to do all that because we have more talent so he can put up good numbers without expending as much energy. I want to see 25 & 10 type of stuff. This is the perfect opponent to do it against. He's better than D-Will now. Livisingstion is good but too tall and Thorton plays no D. Wall should attack all game and I think his J will be there when they back off. If he has the pep to his step then he could win this for us but Witt cant screw it up in any way. I think there is a way he can but hopefully he doesnt

[closg00]

The Tragic took us to OT and the Nets have improved so l'll go with the L since we are down Nene and Beal. Webster does look like the 17th worst contract currently.

[Illmatic21]

Who will go off? I'm thinking Dray and Thornton. Livingston will probably have a field day too

[nuposse04]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/444960584237584384[/tweet]

well then, so much for that scare.

[Illmatic21]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/444960584237584384[/tweet]

well then, so much for that scare.

Did Paul Pierce used to walk Beal to school also?

[hands11]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/444960584237584384[/tweet]

well then, so much for that scare.

Get out.

Come on. That's twice in a row now.

Have you ever seen that before .... ever ?

A player carried off the court... twice in a season.. and they returned the next game both times ?

I can't ever recall that. Not on a Wizards or Bullets team.

[AFM]

first off f ya bitch n da clique you claim west side when we ride come eqquipped wit game you claim 2 be a playa but I effed ya wife we bust on bad boys mang we eff for life

[FAH1223]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/444960584237584384[/tweet]

well then, so much for that scare.

I don't like it. I'd be on the cautious side and sit him out.

Ankle injuries are a drag and him playing on it will mean he has one of those stress injuries to that same leg again and he's out 6 weeks... ending his season.

[jeffsays]

first off f ya bitch n da clique you claim west side when we ride come eqquipped wit game you claim 2 be a playa but I effed ya wife we bust on bad boys mang we eff for life

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk2r6EohfT8[/youtube]

[AFM]

take money


you know Wall probably raps that in the locker room to get pumped up


hands, Tupac was a rapper from the 90s

[barelyawake]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/444960584237584384[/tweet]

well then, so much for that scare.

Get out.

Come on. That's twice in a row now.

Have you ever seen that before .... ever ?

A player carried off the court... twice in a season.. and they returned the next game both times ?

I can't ever recall that. Not on a Wizards or Bullets team.

I know he is young, but that boy needs to toughen up. I keep seeing these red flags about the fragility and/or passivity of his mindset. I could list about ten things I've seen him do that I don't like seeing in a basketball player's mental make-up. I know. I know he is young. And I'm certain his injury hurt. He was weeping though. And he is fine today. I'm just saying he needs to get some grit, and hunger, to him.

Then again, maybe he's playing through pain and developing said grit.

[hands11]

take money


you know Wall probably raps that in the locker room to get pumped up


hands, Tupac was a rapper from the 90s

LOL

Thanks AFM. I have heard of him.

Forgive me if rap or gangster rap isn't my thing. I'll listen to some once in a while. I try to stay open minded to all kinds of music, just not a fan of it as something I seek it out.

Honestly, I don't listen to music like I used to in general. I used to be way into music. Not sure what happen.

As for the song posted. I made it though about 5 seconds of it. I find that kind of stuff to be pure garbage.

This is the kind of stuff I was raised on... this song had a big influence on me as a kid. My music teacher turned us onto it. In Potomac MD non the less. She was pretty awesome as a teacher.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfbvm52G8fE[/youtube]

And that turned into stuff like this.. Had a big ass Jim poster on my wall.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJV81mdj1ic[/youtube]

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Still believe Lopez's absence is a big deal...

[Illmatic21]

Still believe Lopez's absence is a big deal...

I legitimately think they would have taken out Miami with Lopez.. even as it stands they might push the Heat to 6-7

That Heat team is looking tiiiired

[AWIZZINGBULLET]

Still believe Lopez's absence is a big deal...

I legitimately think they would have taken out Miami with Lopez.. even as it stands they might push the Heat to 6-7

That Heat team is looking tiiiired

I think the Wizards should take tonight's game...

[Illmatic21]

Gortat is falling asleep on D

[nuposse04]

Wall is getting destroyed.