Washington Wizards @ Dallas Mavericks Game Thread 10/27/2009

[jholmbe1]

Starters


Bench


vs.


Starters


Bench


Preview

With Gilbert Arenas(notes) healthy for the first time in two seasons, the Wizards hope to overcome an injury to Antawn Jamison(notes) in Tuesday night’s season opener against a retooled Dallas Mavericks team that addressed problems of depth, versatility and strength.

Washington finished 19-63 in 2008-09—worst in the East—and tied the 2000-01 team for the most losses in franchise history. While very little went right for the Wizards, they have reason to believe things will improve.

Washington couldn’t stay healthy last season. Arenas and Brendan Haywood(notes) combined to play in just eight games, and DeShawn Stevenson(notes) missed 50 games with back problems.

The Wizards made four straight trips to the playoffs before last season’s debacle, and new coach Flip Saunders believes if the core of Arenas, Jamison and Caron Butler(notes) can avoid injury, Washington will be back in the postseason.

Dallas finished 50-32 last season to reach the playoffs for a ninth straight time and looked strong in upsetting San Antonio in five games in the first round. The Mavericks ran into trouble in the West semifinals, though, getting knocked around by a far more physical Denver team and was eliminated in five games.

Dallas spent the offseason trying to build a team that can compete with the other West powers, and owner Mark Cuban feels like they’ve acquired the missing pieces.

The Mavericks retained their core of Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terryand Erick Dampier - all starters on the clubs that went to the NBA finals in ’06 and won 67 games the next season - plus Jason Kidd. But they altered the dynamic of their lineup by trading for Shawn Marion to try to solve matchup problems and also added veteran post players Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas

[closg00]

They abused-us in pre-season, I hope one of our guys gets-hot and keeps us competative.

[WizStorm]

Date: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 (Opening Night!)
Time: 8:30pm (EDT)
Place: American Airlines Center (Dallas, TX)

_ Washington Wizards _


___________________ ___________________

Washington Wizards Pre-Season Stats:

Code: Select all

                     MPG   FG%  3P%  FT%  RBDS  APG  SPG   BPG   TO    PPG
PG Gilbert Arenas    24.8 .482 .375 .689  1.30  6.5  0.83  0.33  4.00  14.7
SG Mike Miller       24.3 .472 .429 .615  5.30  2.3  0.67  0.00  1.67   8.0
SF Caron Butler      27.1 .469 .091 .739  3.90  1.9  0.86  0.14  1.57  13.4
PF Fabricio Oberto   17.1 .533 .000 .000  2.50  1.3  1.00  0.25  0.50   2.0
C Brendan Haywood    24.4 .538 .000 .318  7.80  0.0  0.60  1.60  0.80   7.0
F/C Andray Blatche   24.8 .487 .000 .792  7.10  1.9  0.88  0.75  2.25  11.6
G Randy Foye         22.5 .388 .333 .963  2.10  3.1  1.13  0.25  1.63  12.5


____ Dallas Mavericks ____


___________________ ___________________

Dallas Mavericks Pre-Season Stats:

Code: Select all

                     MPG   FG%  3P%  FT%  RBDS  APG  SPG   BPG   TO    PPG
PG Jason Kidd        28.0 .406 .350 .833  6.00  7.3  2.33  0.17  2.50   8.0
SG Jason Terry       25.0 .452 .464 .857  1.20  2.3  1.33  0.33  0.67  13.5
SF Shawn Marion      22.7 .774 .000 .700  4.70  1.0  1.33  0.00  1.67  18.3
PF Dirk Nowitzki     27.2 .554 .400 .882  5.30  1.7  1.00  0.33  2.67  21.5
C Erick Dampier      20.0 .524 .000 .438  4.00  0.5  0.33  0.67  0.83   4.8
F/C Drew Gooden      23.6 .429 .000 .917  6.30  0.6  0.86  0.43  1.43  11.7
G Jose Barea         29.0 .333 .222 .875  1.90  4.3  0.43  0.00  2.43   8.3


Pre-Game Notes:
- Josh Howard may be missing due to a bad ankle. He's been practicing but signs are that he will miss some time at the start of the season.
- Antawn Jamison will be missing for the opening weeks of the season due to a dislocated shoulder.
- Let's get this season started!!!!

[miller31time]

Is that Quentin Ross starting for them at the 2-guard?

This is a tough game to gauge. Both teams look so much different than last year and there will most likely be some big chemistry issues tomorrow. Dallas is playing at home and they have the luxury of Kidd being their floor-general who played with them last season (unlike Gilbert who will be handling the offense for the first time in 2 years).

Should be interesting to say the least.

Go Wizards!

[jholmbe1]

Yeah, from what I read he will be in the starting lineup...

Oct 24 Ross will be a part of the starting rotation until Josh Howard returns from an ankle injury, the Dallas Morning News reports.

[WizStorm]

My bad on the game thread ... could've sworn I checked the page before I submitted to ensure that no-one else had already started one. I merged my page into this thread.

[miller31time]

My bad on the game thread ... could've sworn I checked the page before I submitted to ensure that no-one else had already started one. I merged my page into this thread.

If we lose this game, it's on you my friend.

[jholmbe1]

My bad on the game thread ... could've sworn I checked the page before I submitted to ensure that no-one else had already started one. I merged my page into this thread.

If we lose this game, it's on you my friend.

haha good, i was worried I would have to split the blame

[WizStorm]

My bad on the game thread ... could've sworn I checked the page before I submitted to ensure that no-one else had already started one. I merged my page into this thread.

If we lose this game, it's on you my friend.

My involvement only enhances our chances, not detracts. On the other hand, you posting comments in the game thread before the game .... well, let's just say you did that a lot last season.

[Tiago]

It's a better idea to play Oberto instead of Blatche, he will have a better defensive performance against Nowitzki.

If the Wizards do not have any breakdown in any of the periods, largely in the chronic 4th period, it is possible to win but it will be very difficult.

[MJG]

I'm kind of thinking bad loss here. We are the Wizards, and that just seems like the most fitting way to set sail on our most hopeful season in a long time. Mavs 113, Wizards 97.

[LyricalRico]

Ummm...since the season has already begun with an injury, shouldn't Ji have started the opening thread to try to cancel out the bad ju-ju?

[MOrgil]

This will be a tough one to pull out, but I'm excited that the season is starting.

[dlts20]

Heads up guys. I also think Gooden beat out Dampier for the starting Center spot. Ive been on the Mavs board on different sites and thats what there saying, although it also sounds like it could depend on matchups. Therefore I wouldnt be shocked to see Dampier get the start against Wood but I think most likely Gooden is the starter and since he started the Preseason game when they killed us, I doubt they would change that.

As far as the Preseason game goes, I dont put much stock in it. Its just that, Preseason. Also, that was a different version of Gil. He was still the more laid back guy but the Mavs should definatly be favored. We have 2 really tough games out the blocks so I hope our fans dont trip if we start 0-2. Im glad that Howard will most likely be out. With that being said, most Mavs fans seem to not like him now and think they are a better team without him. It did look that way in that Preseaon game but Id still rather not play against him. I think the lack of O from there starting backcourt could really help us in that matchup.

The big thing for me is if Blatche starts or not. Do you guys know he is for sure because that changes alot of things

[evolushunize]

If we win the season opener against the Mavs, our season will be a success. Even if we lost, I'll still be optimistic! It can't be worse than last season...

[dobrojim]

did I missed the announcement of what our starting lineup was
going to be, or is the above one person's educated guess?

I don't much like the fact they did abuse us badly AT HOME
in the pre-season. Been waiting for this for some time but
fear that things aren't quite where they need to be yet.
Then there's the whole AJ thing <sigh>

[jholmbe1]

I pretty much guessed on the starting lineup. I'm not sure if Flip has any plans to announce the lineup today or if he is going to wait til right before the game to announce it. I don't have too strong of an opinion on whether or not Oberto or Blatche should start but I would really prefer to see Miller in the starting lineup for the time being.

[WizStorm]

Heads up guys. I also think Gooden beat out Dampier for the starting Center spot. Ive been on the Mavs board on different sites and thats what there saying, although it also sounds like it could depend on matchups. Therefore I wouldnt be shocked to see Dampier get the start against Wood but I think most likely Gooden is the starter and since he started the Preseason game when they killed us, I doubt they would change that.

As far as the Preseason game goes, I dont put much stock in it. Its just that, Preseason. Also, that was a different version of Gil. He was still the more laid back guy but the Mavs should definatly be favored. We have 2 really tough games out the blocks so I hope our fans dont trip if we start 0-2. Im glad that Howard will most likely be out. With that being said, most Mavs fans seem to not like him now and think they are a better team without him. It did look that way in that Preseaon game but Id still rather not play against him. I think the lack of O from there starting backcourt could really help us in that matchup.

The big thing for me is if Blatche starts or not. Do you guys know he is for sure because that changes alot of things

Readin WizInsider this morning, it sounded like Oberto was a sure thing and the only question was at SG between Miller and Stevenson. And with AJ out, the offense would most likely need a boost from Miller in the starting lineup.

[nate33]

I do NOT want to see Stevenson, Oberto and Haywood/McGee on the court together! I saw that in the preseason and it wasn't pretty. The team can't score.

Maybe it'll make sense later in the season when Arenas has completely worked off the rust and has regained his Hibachi form; but for now, Arenas is doing his best Chauncey Billups imitation. I wouldn't want to see Billups try to run an offense with Stevenson, Oberto and Haywood either.

[closg00]

Well, I hope that Orberto picks -up a lot of fouls early and that Davis and Blatche divide time guarding Dirk. One plus about Antawn being out is that instead of Dirk abusing Jamison all night, Dirk might have a 7 footer in his face all night to slow him down.