The Essentials:
Wizards (6-13) at Lakers (14-6)
10:30 p.m.
Staples Center
TV: CSN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
Notable early Lakers numbers this season
4th in expected winning percentage (.767)
10th in pace factor (94.1 possessions per game
1st in offensive efficiency (115.2 points/100 possessions)
12th in defensive efficiency (105.8 points/100 possessions
| Tonight's Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wizards | vs. | Lakers |
| John Wall | PG | Derek Fisher |
| Gilbert Arenas | SG | Kobe Bryant |
| Al Thornton | SF | Ron Artest |
| Yi Jianlian | PF | Lamar Odom |
| JaVale McGee | C | Pau Gasol |
UPDATE; Whoa. Michael Lee says Andray Blatche will not play with a hip contusion. Yi Jianlian will start. More strikingly, Flip is putting Gilbert Arenas and Al Thornton in the starting lineup to replace Kirk Hinrich and Alonzo Gee. So we get to see Arenas start after all.
Apologies for the lack of posting recently - Albert Haynesworth stuff has weighed me down at the day job. Here are a bunch of links to read before tonight's Lakers game:
- On Josh Howard's potential return from injury soon. [Michael Lee, or scroll down]
- On the subject of Gilbert Arenas coming off the bench, this is a good article by Fanhouse, and these are good thoughts from Truth About It. Reading between the lines, Arenas doesn't seem too thrilled by it, but I learned long ago to stop bothering reading Arenas quotes between the line. In a rebuilding year, I don't really see the point of purposely avoiding giving John Wall and Arenas time on the court to figure out how to play together, but it's really too early to make a huge judgement from this. If Kirk Hinrich starts and Arenas finishes, I don't mind it as much. I do wish it didn't have to be so complicated.
- Game previews from SB Nation Los Angeles, Silver Screen and Roll, Washington Wizards Examiner and Forum Blue and Gold. Also, a good Q&A on ESPN Los Angeles.
- The Wizards are in search of an identity as we hit the 20-game mark. Sounds a lot like last year. [Michael Lee, Frank Hanrahan]
- John Wall's top five plays of the week, via CSN Washington.
- Cool pics from the Portland game. [Truth About It]
- Happy birthday to Al Thornton (27) and Kevin Seraphin (21)
- Finally, John Wall has the Great Wall of China on his shoes. Why doesn't Yi Jianlian have the Great Wall of China on his shoe?
GO WIZARDS!