The Essentials:
Wizards (7-25) at Magic (26-8)
7 p.m.
Amway Arena
CSN+
This year:
November 9: Magic 106, Wizards 81
November 27: Magic 105, Wizards 90
Notable Magic numbers this season:
1st in expected winning percentage (.866)
10th in pace factor (92.6 possessions per game)
10th in offensive efficiency/offensive rating (108.2)
3rd in defensive efficiency/defensive rating (100.2)
Key Links: (drop any others in the comments)
Third Quarter Collapse
3QC Game Thread
Wizards Insider: The Other Side: Magic
Starting Lineups:
Wizards
PG: Mike James
SG: Caron Butler
SF: Dominic McGuire
PF: Antawn Jamison
C: Darius Songaila (more on this in a second)
Magic
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: Courtney Lee
SF: Hedo Turkoglu
PF: Rashard Lewis
C: Dwight Howard
Here's to the Boston-Cleveland-Orlando three-game stretch! Before we go further though, apparently Darius Songaila is starting tonight. The reason? Andray Blatche is healthy, but isn't starting because of "a team matter."
Songaila replaces Andray Blatche at center in the starting lineup tonight after Blatche had started the last 10 games. Blatche is healthy but when asked the reason for the move, interim coach Ed Tapscott called it a "team matter." I did a little asking around after Tapscott let us know about an hour before tip but wasn't able to find out what exactly "team matter" means.
Something tells me the "team matter" refers to Blatche asking Tapscott "Hey, I was healthy enough to play most of the Cleveland game, and we were blowing out lead, so why didn't I play down the stretch?" And it's hard to punish the guy in that case because he's right, right?
Regardless, this better be for an important reason. If it's not, it's yet another example of this organization placing more emphasis on appeasing its veterans over developing its youngsters. And seeing as how well Blatche has been playing this season, I don't know how you can justify saying that Songaila actually gives you a better chance to win.
Ugh, I'm annoyed.
Either way, GO WIZARDS!