[All Houston info as of *before* Sunday night's game vs San Antonio]
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_________21-8 Overall, 8-2 Last 10, Streak: W2___________________21-7 Overall, 7-3 Last 10, Streak W2
___________6-2 vs Western Conf, 7-4 Road_________________________6-1 vs Eastern Conf, 10-5 Home
_________2nd Southeast Div / 3rd Eastern Conf___________________1st Southwest Div / 3rd Western Conf
It's time for the Wizards to stop gathering their nuts (h/t Eddie Jordan). YOUR Washington Wizards embark on their longest road trip of the season with 5 games in 8 nights, including 2 back-to-backs, across Texas, OKC, and New Orleans. First up is a Monday night match-up with the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets roster, already loaded with stars including All Stars SG James Harden and C Dwight Howard, have recently added SF/PF Josh Smith (waived by Detroit). Former Wizard 3 and D star SF Trevor Ariza starts at the 3 for Houston, whose bench is bolstered by PG/SG Jason Terry and SG/SF Corey Brewer. Head Coach Kevin McHale has the Rockets playing well, as this post is written, Houston currently occupies first place in the Southwest Division and third in the Western Confernce.
Frankly speaking, YOUR Washington Wizards have been feasting on lesser teams and benefiting from a favorable schedule. Their 6-2 record against Western Conference foes is a tad misleadig because they've played some of the west's lesser teams. It all changes Monday night.
Wizards PG John Wall has been playing at an All-NBA level. He's third in the NBA in assists per game (10.3) behind Rajon Rondo (10.5) and Ty Lawson (10.4). Wall is second in the NBA in steals (2.1 per game). He's the only player in the NBA averaging 17 ppg and 10 apg. SG Bradley Beal is struggling a bit, but it's a long season. PF Nene has recently moved back into the starting lineup, albeit with a minutes restriction, after missing six games with a foot injury. Reserves, PF Kris Humphries, SF Rasual Butler, C Kevin Seraphin and PG Andre Miller have played well off of the bench.
Without further ado, let's meet the anticipated starting lineups:


_______PG John Wall, 6'4" (Kentucky)________________PG Patrick Beverley, 6'1" (Arkansas)
________18.0 ppg, 10.5 apg, 4.7 rpg_____________________12.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 5.4 rpg


_______SG Bradley Beal, 6'5" (Florida)______________SG James Harden, 6'5" (Arizona State)
________15.2 ppg, 3.1 apg, 3.4 rpg_____________________27.2 ppg, 7.1 apg, 6.3 rpg


_______SF Paul Pierce, 6'8" (Kansas)____________________SF Trevor Ariza, 6'8" (UCLA)
________12.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg_______________________13.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.0 apg


______PF Nene Hilario, 6'11" (Brazil)______________PF Josh Smith, 6'9" (Oak Hill Academy)
________10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.9 apg_____________________13.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.7 apg


______C Marcin Gortat, 6'11" (Poland)_______________C Dwight Howard, 6'11" (SW Atlanta Christian Academy)
________13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg_______________________18.5 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 2.1 bpg
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What: Wizards at Rockets
Where: Toyota Center -- Houston, TX
When: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus, NBA League Pass, Quasi-legal internet streams
Radio: WNEW 99.1 FM / WFED 1500 AM
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This is a good measuring stick game for YOUR Washington Wizards. If they aspire to being talked about in the same conversation as the league's powers, they'll need a signature win or two. Houston draws fouls on opponents prolifically. Will Washington's depth be a secret weapon against a Rockets team whose bench is not the most impressive? Will Wizards SG/SF Martel Webster be back to add some depth at the 2. Will C DeJuan Blair get some non-garbage time burn to offset the large number of fouls Howard draws and add some bulk on D against him?
Drop your thoughts, predictions, and opinions below.
Go Wizards!
