[hobojoe]

Orlando Magic @ Washington Wizards, 7:00 PM ET



Projected Starting Lineup:

S. Francis | D. Christie | Grant Hill | D. Howard | T. Battie

Key Reserves:

Turkoglu | J. Nelson | P. Garrity





Projected Starting Lineup:

G. Arenas | J. Hayes | J. Jeffries | A. Jamison | B. Haywood

Key Reserves:

J. Dixon | E. Thomas | A. Peeler


Key Matchup:

Steve Francis vs. Gilbert Arenas

[Shanghai Kid]

I said in the other thread, but the Wizards roleplayers usually play better at home which is usually the difference. Juan Dixon who was a non factor last night will probably be a factor tonight. Jeffries/Hayes/Haywood, they all have more energy at home. Francis always plays good at MCI, but the key for the Wiz is not letting Hedo go off again.

[Shanghai Kid]

I said in the other thread, but the Wizards roleplayers usually play better at home which is usually the difference. Juan Dixon who was a non factor last night will probably be a factor tonight. Jeffries/Hayes/Haywood, they all have more energy at home. Francis always plays good at MCI, but the key for the Wiz is not letting Hedo go off again.

It should be another good game but I wonder if the two teams will be tired and will still be able to play at a fast pace.

[hobojoe]

The key for the Magic tonight is going to be getting Hedo going again. He needs to be involved offensively, not just catching and shooting. They need to let him run some plays taking his man off the dribble and either popping that jumper from around the free throw line or taking it all the way to the hole. Either way, I think Hedo's at his best when he's putting the ball on the floor, not settling for that long range shot.

[Shanghai Kid]

Originally posted by hobojoe!
The key for the Magic tonight is going to be getting Hedo going again. He needs to be involved offensively, not just catching and shooting. They need to let him run some plays taking his man off the dribble and either popping that jumper from around the free throw line or taking it all the way to the hole. Either way, I think Hedo's at his best when he's putting the ball on the floor, not settling for that long range shot.

I'm hoping the coach pays more attention to Hedo this time, someone at least needs to put a hand in his face for every shot.

[hobojoe]

Originally posted by Shanghai Kid!


I'm hoping the coach pays more attention to Hedo this time, someone at least needs to put a hand in his face for every shot.

The Wizards played some awful defense on him, especially late in the game. That 5th 3-pointer he hit amazed me. How someone as lethal from behind the arc as Hedo is, who is having one of the best shooting nights of his career can be left so wide open at a critical point in the game behind the 3-point arc is beyond me. But hey, I'll take it.

[Shanghai Kid]

Originally posted by hobojoe!


The Wizards played some awful defense on him, especially late in the game. That 5th 3-pointer he hit amazed me. How someone as lethal from behind the arc as Hedo is, who is having one of the best shooting nights of his career can be left so wide open at a critical point in the game behind the 3-point arc is beyond me. But hey, I'll take it.

Larry Hughes was our best perimeter defender but 3-point shooters always kill the Wiz. That's why Miami killed us, cause Damon Jones/Eddie Jones kept getting open 3s.

Eddie Jordan is the opposite of a defensive coach, that's why I don't buy him as a good coach yet. It seems like the Wizards don't even have a defensive system put in place, he just tells the guards to gamble for steals and the big men have to overcompensate. You noticed that all the Magic had to do is set one pick and suddenly Turk would be guarded by Arenas? That's how it's been all year. Hopefully he puts Jeffries on Turk tonight.

I think the Francis/Arenas matchup will be a little bit less one sided tonight. Christie did do a great job on Arenas, he scored most of his points on Nelson/Francis.

[JNice]

Orlando got a little lucky in the last one. They still could have won it regardless, but Arenas missing those free throws was big. I really hope we can steal this one tonight.

[X-Factor]

Francis needs to contain Arenas in this game in order for the Magic to win. He also needs to take smart shots (and know 'em down). That would guarentee a Magic win in my mind.

[JNice]

Originally posted by Minnesota Magician!
Francis needs to contain Arenas in this game in order for the Magic to win. He also needs to take smart shots (and know 'em down). That would guarentee a Magic win in my mind.

Well, Francis hasn't really contained much of anyone this year at PG. His D hasn't been terrible, but it hasn't been real great either. But he should score some more tonight. I don't see Francis having another scoring night like he did last night.

[JNice]

Magic at Wizards, 7

WHERE: MCI Center, Washington.

RECORDS: Magic 23-19; Wizards 26-16.

BROADCAST : TV -- Sun Sports. Radio -- 580 AM (WDBO); Spanish language: 1030 AM (WONQ).

MAGIC UPDATE: The Magic are playing their second of four consecutive back-to-backs. . . . C Kelvin Cato (sinus infection) missed the game Friday night against the Wizards and will not accompany the team on its road trip to Washington and Atlanta. Tony Battie (11 points, 6 rebounds Friday) will start in his spot. . . . G Doug Christie made his second start of the season against the Wizards, replacing F Hedo Turkoglu, and will remain the starter until further notice -- even though Turkoglu poured in 31 points in Friday's 108-101 victory and the defensive-minded Christie had seven points and two assists.

WIZARDS UPDATE: C Brendan Haywood was originally acquired by the Magic in the 2001 draft from Cleveland in exchange for C Michael Doleac. The Magic then shipped Haywood to the Wizards for a future first-round pick and Laron Profit. Orlando shipped the pick to the Denver Nuggets for Jameer Nelson. . . . G Larry Hughes, averaging 21.2 points, is on the injured list with a broken thumb.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Magic are playing the same team for the second consecutive night, and will have a chance to make immediate adjustments. Obviously, they'll have to find some energy to play defense and control G Gilbert Arenas and F Antawn Jamison. Arenas scored 30 points Friday and Jamison had 28.

[hobojoe]

Originally posted by Minnesota Magician!
Francis needs to contain Arenas in this game in order for the Magic to win. He also needs to take smart shots (and know 'em down). That would guarentee a Magic win in my mind.

Francis barely even guarded Arenas yesterday. It was Christie that was on him and shutting him down for most of the game. Arenas scored almost all of his points in the 4th quarter (a lot on Nelson) when he froze out his teammates.

[hobojoe]

Cato's officially out for the game tonight. Battie's going to need to step up again like he did last night. He hit quite a few tough shots yesterday.