[MJG]

<center><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td></td><td width=20><center>vs</center></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan=3></td></tr><tr><td colspan=3></td></tr><tr><td><center>0</center></td><td width=20></td><td><center>2</center></td></tr></table>

3:00 PM on TNT


<table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td></td><td><center>- Key Match: SF -<br><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font><br><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></center><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=34><p align="right">16.0</p></td><td width=50><center>PPG</center></td><td width=34>17.5</td></tr><tr><td colspan=3><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></td></tr><tr><td width=34><p align="right">7.5</p></td><td width=50><center>RPG</center></td><td width=34>12.5</td></tr><tr><td colspan=3><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></td></tr><tr><td width=34><p align="right">1.0</p></td><td width=50><center>APG</center></td><td width=34>3.0</td></tr><tr><td colspan=3><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></td></tr><tr><td width=34><p align="right">1.0</p></td><td width=50><center>SPG</center></td><td width=34>1.0</td></tr><tr><td colspan=3><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></td></tr><tr><td width=34><p align="right">1.0</p></td><td width=50><center>BPG</center></td><td width=34>2.0</td></tr><tr><td colspan=3><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></td></tr><tr><td width=34><p align="right">36.0</p></td><td width=50><center>MPG</center></td><td width=34>42.0</td></tr><tr><td colspan=3><font color=#DFDFDF>|</font></td></tr></table></td><td></td></tr></table></center>

[MJG]

Problem with the whole "Key Matchup" is that unlike us, Bulls play using their whole team. Any player can get the job done on any night. Therefore, not really a key matchup so much as just an interesting one.

I'm calling the first win in the series, though I am far less sure it will be a turning point so much as a token victory. Will have to see how we do in this one before I make any judgements on how the series as a whole goes.

[One on One]

Well, I won't predict this one, but I do think it can be a turning point. With a win, we get a lot of confidence and game 4 takes on a whole new meaning. The Bulls are so confident right now. It's important we get them rattled early in our building. They don't really play like it, but they are inexperienced as well so hopefully that plays into our hands when we are at home. We better win, though...I have tickets to game 4 and I don't want to go to a Wizards' funeral.

[f22egl]

The Wizards haven't won a playoff game in a while (1987?). They better get it done soon or nobody will care what they did in the regular season.

[twinz2gether]

If they dont win on saturday, i predict a 4 and out.

[The Krakken]

I actually agree. A game 3 wiz win will send the series back to chicago 2-2. A game 3 wiz loss results in a sweep.

[BaLLiStiX17]

Well the Wiz are up right now 37-30..their doing a good job on the boards offensivly grabbing 6 off reb leading to 10 2nd chance points

[MJG]

I'm happy to hear the announcers ripping on our offense, something I haven't heard all that much. Most seem to think that because we score a lot of points, we have a good offense -- sadly, that is far from the case.

Despite that, we're playing decent enough so far in this one, up 37-30 at this point. Of course, Hughes just nabbed his third foul with some nine minutes still left in the second quarter, so we'll see how that lasts.

[afireinside]

I guarantee that Etan won't have an impact in the 2nd half. Eddie Jordan is too stupid to see he is carrying our frontcourt.

Our defense is doing good at the end of 2nd quarter. Kwame messed up Nocioni on that one defensive play where Nocioni pushed off Kwame.

I don't know if I'm the only person who saw this, but we had a 12 point lead then Hughes left and Dixon came in and our lead was diminished and they went up by 2. Thank God we didn't resign Dixon.

Why isn't Peeler playing? He's a veteran who can shoot and play good defense. EJ is obsessed with youth and that's a problem.