[MJG]

<center><font color=#004B68>Washington</font> <font color=#C0753C>Wizards</font> (20-42)
vs.
<font color=#007AAD>Orlando</font> <font color=black>Magic</font> (18-48)



3.10.04
7:00 PM on NC8
Orlando leads season series 3-0

Key Matchup: PF
vs.

Matchup to Watch: SG
vs. </center>
<hr><center>
<font color=#004B68>W</font><font color=#C0753C>A</font><font color=#004B68>S</font> 99-108 <font color=#007AAD>O</font><font color=black>R</font><font color=#007AAD>L</font>

Player of the Game

40 points (15-33 FG, 2-5 3P, 8-10 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 44 minutes

ESPN Box Score

Next Game
3.12.04
7:30 PM on NC8
@ <font color=red>Atlanta</font> <font color=#F1C226>Hawks</font> (20-44)</center>

[MJG]

Howard's been on a mini-tear as of late, with 18.4 PPG and 8 RPG over his last five. McGrady is obviously going to tear us up, especially if Dixon spends any time on him, so I think stopping Howard will be key for us winning.

[twinz2gether]

do we really want the wizards to win games anymore?

I want them to show that they might be able to make a run for the playoffs next year, but also bomb completely giving us a good pick. I'll be cheering for us to win, but i think it's better if we lose.

[MJG]

I honestly think the only two teams we're in competition with lottery-wise are the Suns and Hawks. Pretty much every team above us is a lock to finish better than we are, and I think the Bulls and Magic would be hard pressed to pass us. We're only 2.5 and 4 games up on them respectively, but considering how awful we all are, that's a sizable margin. The Suns and Hawks are basically in the same position as us, so any of us could wind up anywhere in the "race" for the third worst team in the league.

I'm not that concerned about our percentages in the lottery per se, but more so us winding up with a pick far later in the draft than we're expecting. Just imagine that we finish up ahead of the Bulls, Magic, Suns, and Hawks -- we'd have the fifth worst record in the league. The lottery comes, and let's say the Hawks get the top pick and the Bulls get the second. The third is a team that moves up, the Warriors. All of a sudden, we're talking about us having the 7th pick in the draft (Hawks-Bulls-Warriors-Bobcats-Magic-Suns-Wizards). That's a far cry from a top of the line pick that many people are thinking about. I mentioned it in my first pick thread, but we need to make sure not to get our hopes up about the first (or even a top three) draft pick.

[MJG]

What a disgusting first quarter. Teams are a combined 12-44 from the field, and we're down 15-14 at the end of one. No Kwame, Hughes, Stackhouse, or Hayes, and both Jeffries and Dixon are playing at less than 100%.

Each team has exactly one player doing anything of note: Arenas for us (7 points, 3-8 FG) and McGrady for them (7 points, 3-6 FG). There really is nothing to say except that this will be one ugly game.

[CP26]

McGrady is on a tear, hasn't missed yet in the 2nd quarter, he is getting double teamed and still finds a way to score.

[twinz2gether]

Why is there no Kwame!?

[MJG]

Originally posted by <b>twinz2gether</b>!
Why is there no Kwame!?

I missed the whole pregame thing, so I didn't hear why, but I'd assume his injury from last night.

McGrady (11-15 for 28 points, 57% of his team's points) and Arenas (9-18 for 22 points, 55% of his team's points) may as well be playing 1 on 1 out there.