Open thread and Contest: Game 27

by Mike Prada on Dec 26, 2006 5:38 PM EST in Game Threads

Regular Season Game 27
Grizzlies (6-22) at Wizards (14-12)
Verizon Center
7 PM
CW50 and FSN South

Previous results: Grizzlies 95, Wizards 80.

The Wizards' 95-80 loss to the Grizzlies on November 24 represented the low point of the season. Memphis was without Pau Gasol and were one of the worst teams in the league. Now, as the Grizzlies come into the Verizon Center today, the Wizards are sitting at the opposite end of the spectrum, having gone 3-1 on a key west coast swing.

A lot has changed for both teams. Etan Thomas started at center for the Wizards in their first loss to Memphis, but he still appears to be sidelined with an ankle injury. I've heard no reports thus far that he's going to play, but he's listed as questionable. On the other side, Gasol is back in the lineup, but he's struggled to come back from his injury. The Grizzlies have struggled with him, having gone 2-11 in the month of December. They've made some lineup changes, including replacing former Wizard Chucky Atkins with Damon Stoudamire at the point. Up front, second-round pick Alexander Johnson has been starting instead of Hakim Warrick, and Dahntay Jones started on Saturday against the Jazz over Rudy Gay. They're still struggling to find the right mix, and with a notoriously stingy coach in Mike Fratello, that will probably continue into tonight.

The key to this game will be free throws. In the last matchup, the Grizzlies shot 36 compared to 15 for the Wizards. For a team that attacks and consistently wins the free throw battle, that's a horrible sign for the Wizards. Jones and Warrick shot 17 free throws between them, which simply can't happen tonight. Both teams struggle to guard guys up front, so the Gasol-Antawn Jamison matchup is one to watch tonight.

Grizzlies blogs: The Beale Street Beat.

Your lines for tonight:

Grizzlies at Wizards: Wizards by 7
Over/Under on Big 3: 69.3 points.

Also, if you're going to Verizon Center tonight (or if you were there if you're reading this after the game), please please send me a postgame report of some kind to put up on the blog. I'd love to regularly incorporate these into recaps and such.

As a reminder, this is an open game thread, so post all game-related thoughts here.

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Comments

Picks

Wizards
Over on Big 3

by Mike Prada on Dec 26, 2006 5:38 PM EST reply actions

picks

wizards win by 5
under on the big 3

by Big Easy on Dec 26, 2006 7:04 PM EST reply actions

wow!

Your boys are destroying the Grizz! Between Gil going for 17 in the first quarter and Memphis only mustering 18 points as a team it's looking likesome nice redemption for your team.

Also, nice to see the Wiz score a season high for a quarter (43).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my Raps can come close to matching this sucess Saturday night!

by hoopsaddict on Dec 26, 2006 7:39 PM EST reply actions

WTF!!

I just tuned in start of 2nd: down almost 30 hahhaha, oh I'll wait for your recap Mike... too bad I couldn't've made my picks earlier..

by TheHype on Dec 26, 2006 7:42 PM EST reply actions

Wow

Are you serious? I haven't even been watching. This is crazy

by Mike Prada on Dec 26, 2006 7:43 PM EST reply actions

Gilbert still on fire

Gilbert going for another crazy night. 17 pts in the first quarter.

by gilbertology on Dec 26, 2006 7:47 PM EST reply actions

Tonight's Game

I was actually going to be at the game tonight. The high school I attended was playing our rival in a varsity doubleheader at the MCI center before the Wizards game. Unfortunately, plans fell through for me and I couldn't make it but on the bright side, it did give me a chance to work on a Gilbert Arenas mix that I'm making.

Anyways, the picks:

Wizards win big tonight
Under on the big 3

I think we'll see a complete team effort tonight.

by Jake Whitacre on Dec 26, 2006 7:55 PM EST reply actions

Just curious

Which high school?

by Mike Prada on Dec 26, 2006 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

Matchup

The Millbrook Pioneers and the Handley Judges both of Winchester, VA were playing tonight. The Wizards have a "Play Where the Pros Play" promotion going on where high school teams get to play on the Wizards court. I don't know if they've had it before or plan to have it again, but it sounds like a really great program. Both varsity games and the Wizards game were $25, not bad at all.

by Jake Whitacre on Dec 26, 2006 10:03 PM EST up reply actions

Cool!

I ask because they used to do this with my high school in Rockville, Maryland once a year. We'd go down and play a game at Verizon Center in December and get nice deals on tickets.

by Mike Prada on Dec 27, 2006 1:55 AM EST up reply actions

It's a really good deal

The more I read into it, I'm starting to think that there's a lot of teams that do this, maybe not so much teams in the district, since I think that's there where they play the city championship at, but I think a lot of teams in Virginia and Maryland probably get games like this especially during weekends and any time schools are out. Another team from around here is playing in February the same night as the Lakers, if I can pull the right strings, I might be able to get on that, we'll see.

Oh, and here's that Gilbert Arenas mix I made with the time I wasn't spending watching him in person obliterate Memphis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7CRKbF4JVg

by Jake Whitacre on Dec 27, 2006 9:39 PM EST up reply actions