____________
________VS___________
_________20-8 Overall, 7-3 Last 10, Streak: W1____________________10-17 Overall, 4-6 Last 10, Streak L3
___________14-6 vs Eastern Conf, 13-4 Home________________________8-10 vs Eastern Conf, 3-8 Road
_________2nd Southeast Div / 3rd Eastern Conf____________________3rd Atlantic Div / 9th Eastern Conf
It was a beautiful sight. YOUR Washington Wizards on national TV, toying with the New York Knicks in their house. Merry Christmas to the NBA schedule makers, ESPN, and the folks in the Knicks organization responsible for assembling that horrible roster. Luckiest man on Earth: Steve Kerr. But we digress...that game's over and the Wizards have one last home game before heading out for a five game Texas/OKC/New Orleans road trip. Coming into the Phone booth for a Saturday night game are the Boston Celtics.
The Cs are adjusting to the recent trade of PG Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavs. Incoming PG Jameer Nelson has lost recently lost his starting job at the 2 to rookie PG Marcus Smart. PG Avery Bradley has been manning the 1 for the Cs in Rondo's absence. A familiar face at the 3, SG Jeff Green (Georgetown) has been playing very well for the Cs recently. Their frontline manned by PF Jared Sullinger -- who has been showing some range out to the 3 pt arc -- and C Tyler Zeller.
Wizards PG John Wall is playing at an All-Star level. He's the tip of the spear; the head of the snake; the edge of the knife. As Wall goes, so goes the Wizards. SG Bradley Beal has not wholly rounded into form after a preseason broken hand (to his left, non-shooting hand). Head coach Randy Wittman recently replaced PF Nene into his starting lineup (over now-reserve PF Kris Humphries).
Without further ado, let's meet the anticipated starting lineups:
_____
_______PG John Wall, 6'4" (Kentucky)_________________PG Avery Bradley, 6'2" (Texas)
________18.0 ppg, 10.5 apg, 4.7 rpg____________________12.2 ppg, 1.3 apg, 2.7 rpg
_____
_______SG Bradley Beal, 6'5" (Florida)______________SG Marcus Smart, 6'4" (OK State)
________15.2 ppg, 3.1 apg, 3.4 rpg_____________________5.6 ppg, 1.9 apg, 2.2 rpg
_____
_______SF Paul Pierce, 6'8" (Kansas)__________________SF Jeff Green, 6'9" (Georgetown)
________12.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.3 apg_______________________18.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 apg
_____
______PF Nene Hilario, 6'11" (Brazil)_______________PF Jared Sullinger, 6'9" (Ohio State)
________10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.9 apg_______________________13.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.3 apg
_____
______C Marcin Gortat, 6'11" (Poland)_______________C Tyler Zeller, 7'0" (North Carolina)
________13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg_______________________9.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg
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What: Wizards vs Cs
Where: Verizon Center -- Washington, DC
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
TV: Comcast SportsNet, NBA League Pass, Quasi-legal internet streams
Radio: WNEW 99.1 FM / WFED 1500 AM
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The road trip beckons. YOUR Washington Wizards have done will thus far in "harvesting their nuts" (h/t Eddie Jordan). The visiting Cs, currently sitting in 9th place in the East, have lost three in a row. Can the Wiz take care of business at home without looking ahead at the looming road trip until this game is done?
Drop your thoughts, predictions, and opinions below.
Go Wizards!
