Game Preview #20 - Washington Wizards @ Chicago Bulls

by torch on Dec 6, 2008 11:47 AM CST

[Thanks to torch for today's game preview -ed.]

Game time: 7:30 PM Central
Coverage: Comcast SportsNet, NBATV, ESPN Radio 1000

Ah, the Washington Wizards - one of my favorite rivals to hate. Some of that comes from living in the DC area and some of it from Gilbert Arenas escorting us out of the playoffs in recent years.

But tonight, I hope Washington is just what the doctor ordered. The Wizards are off to their worst start (3-14) since they played up in Baltimore back in the sixties. Most of this can be excused by the absence of Brendan Haywood and the oft-injured Gilbert Arenas. But Washington is on a bit of an uptick, going 2-4 since interim head coach Ed Tapscott took over just before Thanksgiving.

As for tonight's game, we should be able to score a ton on these guys. We're playing at the league's 4th highest pace against a team with the league's 3rd worst defensive efficiency. The Wizards have let their last two opponents shoot 50% and 48% from the field, so hopefully we can recover from our recent poor shooting nights this week. The United Center should also give us a boost, as we're playing much better as a home team (5-3) than they are as a road team (1-6)

Blogging with the Enemy:

Bullets Forever
Agent Zero (is this considered sideline reporting?)

Random subplots:

- Which former front office crony turned new head coach is better suited for stalking the sidelines?
- Many think we should try to pawn Hughes off to the Wizards, where he enjoyed his most productive years. However, what do they have that we'd want back? An undersized center with heart issues? A center who doesn't start when his team is healthy? The second coming of Darius? Those are the major pieces in any deal with Washington that doesn't give us back 2010 salary...
- Will the Wizards have Stevenson guard Gordon (who scores the most) or Rose (who creates the most)?

Our Bulls have a chance to go on a run (that should have started in Milwaukee) hosting Washington, New York, New Jersey while visiting Memphis and Charlotte over the next ten days. Tonight is the starting point on our trip back above .500

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Comments

Good Post

If we lose this game, or if the game is close, i will be very upset. Theres no reason we shouldnt walk over these guys unless last year was really true.

On Behalf of Sue, Wjb, Bullshooter, and all the other Hinrich fans...Ill keep the Hinrich Hope coming...There will be light....

by piccolomair on Dec 6, 2008 12:03 PM CST reply actions

If we lose this game

I will lose all the confidence I gained in this team from the circus trip.

by Hoopster on Dec 6, 2008 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

perfect "trap" game

Washington is still in the honeymoon period with the interim coach, and they took the Lakers to the brink last night. If the Bulls come out tonight thinking that they can “score a ton on these guys” or “walk over these guys”…they’ll lose.

It starts with defense and with rebounding. If they dig in on the defensive end, that should equal success.

by NormVanBeer on Dec 6, 2008 12:49 PM CST reply actions

Exactly

This team cannot go into any game thinking they will win handily. After one of their best games of the season in Philly, they came home expecting to win. They started flat and sloppy, and stayed sloppy all game. If they came out with even moderate intensity they would have won that game.

by El Toro de Goro on Dec 6, 2008 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

In fairness.

The Lakers built a huge lead, pulled their big guns, then the Wiz made the run…it was not exactly against the best talent last night. And they lost. At home. This is the road game of a back to back. So I am thinking if ever there was a game they could just show up and win, this is the one.

" I've looked at these numbers and decided the #1 problem

is that Ben Gordon is selfish :)" -your friendly bulls blogger

by Dionysus2.0 on Dec 6, 2008 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

good points

I STILL don’t think this team is good enough to just “show up” to any game.

by NormVanBeer on Dec 6, 2008 8:41 PM CST up reply actions

I hope Dee Brown plays a lot of minutes,

and plays well.
Man, I was so excited when he got picked up, and then a guard got injured, but really from all the PER things I’ve seen he’s been playing like crap. :/
I should probably pick up Andray Blatche in my league, today.

"You remember the first time you picked up a basketball video game and you had no idea how to run plays, so you just gave the ball to your shooter and you ran around the court aimlessly until a defender was far enough away and then you jacked up a shot? THAT IS LARRY HUGHES!"
-Anonymous fan letter, heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com

by Prevenge on Dec 6, 2008 1:04 PM CST reply actions

Hughes/Kirk for Stephenson or Butler?

I like DS, because of his defense and 3point shooting. Good post btw.

Go Bulls!

"If there’s any haters in here right now that don’t have nobody to hate on, feel free to hate on me." - A.P.N.S.

by Belize on Dec 6, 2008 1:55 PM CST reply actions

The Wizards really aren't that bad

We all know Butler and Jamison, but Nick Young, Blatche, and McGee are all quality youngsters, who if on their game can really tilt the favor of this game.

"It never is, because I'm the Shogun. And before you get to the Shogun, you gotta go through a lot of ninjas."

by Ozzie Montana on Dec 6, 2008 2:00 PM CST reply actions

They are that bad.

You did see they are 3-14 this season. By far the worst team in the conference. The injury to Haywood just killed them.

" I've looked at these numbers and decided the #1 problem

is that Ben Gordon is selfish :)" -your friendly bulls blogger

by Dionysus2.0 on Dec 6, 2008 5:12 PM CST up reply actions

Who cares what their record is

We’re really not that much better talent wise. If Gooden doesn’t have a good shooting night, Jamison will easily have his way.

"It never is, because I'm the Shogun. And before you get to the Shogun, you gotta go through a lot of ninjas."

by Ozzie Montana on Dec 6, 2008 5:36 PM CST up reply actions

No, Ozzie is right

The Wizards are not a good team right now. But they have also been really unlucky in close games. No team has a wider gap between their winning percentage (.176) and their expected winning percentage (.341).

Based on their point differential, the Wizards should be about 6-11 right now.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Dec 6, 2008 6:05 PM CST up reply actions

Must-win game

We lose this we’re not making the playoffs period

The last thing I want to see is ANOTHER lottery pick

by Half-Life on Dec 6, 2008 2:14 PM CST reply actions

I'm excited to see McGee-

didn’t he play at Hales Franciscan?

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Dec 6, 2008 2:21 PM CST reply actions

He did bal HS ball in Chicago

I’m just not sure which one

--Torch

by torch on Dec 6, 2008 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

Nice game preview

I’m hoping we play team ball and let Rose blossom (I couldn’t help myself).

by chgobr on Dec 6, 2008 2:48 PM CST reply actions

Time for TT

to get a triple double: blocks/points/rebounds.
Hope hope hope.

by Prevenge on Dec 6, 2008 3:16 PM CST reply actions

they are losing because they have no inside presence

but that is the case with the Bulls. The battle of the undersized and not ready for NBA bigs. I think the Bulls are in worse shape and they have not lost their center to injury. Wiz by 7.

by Fastbreak on Dec 6, 2008 4:03 PM CST reply actions

Wiz frontcourt

The Wizards young frontcourt is a bit better than us. Blatche is a more developed, slightly more consistent version of Tyrus who happens like hookers btw and McGee is a better conditioned, taller Noah.

This is not a easy game, the Wiz are decent overall and they could easily win. The Bulls need this game badly….

I don’t wanna to see any Noc PT and Gooden needs to avoid those 20ft jumpshots that he loves so much. Less Hughes and give Thabo at least 10 minutes to guard Butler. Also at lest 25 minutes minimum for Tyrus.

And please please pass the rock at least 3 times before a shot. And some screen and rolls run effectively would be great.

by C Smoove on Dec 6, 2008 5:01 PM CST reply actions

haywood

at least he is injured. I am pretty sure he has put up some huge games against the bulls. He is one of those mediocre big man who the bulls make look like an all star on a regular basis.

by Sambossanova on Dec 6, 2008 5:17 PM CST reply actions

FYI

our composite home and road record only adds up to 6-9. We are 8-11. We definitely won 3 games on the road. I don’t know where the other 2 losses are from.

by Basketball Smurf on Dec 6, 2008 5:30 PM CST reply actions

We are 5-3 at home

THEY are 1-6 on the road

--Torch

by torch on Dec 6, 2008 8:44 PM CST up reply actions

my fault!

by Basketball Smurf on Dec 6, 2008 8:48 PM CST up reply actions

np

--Torch

by torch on Dec 7, 2008 4:55 PM CST up reply actions

The run

I wouldn’t expect a win in New Jersey, that team is playing pretty well.

by McCabe on Dec 6, 2008 6:10 PM CST reply actions

Will there be a link

I have the league pass broadband and at school, yet it’s on NBA TV so i don’t get it, complete Crap. Anyways it’d be great if you could get the link up.

by armstrong2389 on Dec 6, 2008 6:40 PM CST reply actions