Preview: Blazers versus Wizards
Maddison Bond | Monday, January 21, 2013 at 5:11PM
;)
Last year on my wife’s birthday (also the day we got engaged), I watched the Blazers fall and break into pieces against the Wizards. A month later Nate McMillan was gone. I hate to feel responsible, but I do. That day had reached its allotment of good things. Today I sit here watching the Blazers return to earth having lost five in a row, now confronting the Wizards again. This game is a must win, the fans want to believe and the Blazers need to win to avoid spiraling out of control once more.
In their last meeting, the Wizards beat the Blazers 84-82 when J.J. Hickson missed a 5-footer, and they did so without guard John Wall. With Wall’s return this D.C. club has won three of its last five. I said last game that Lillard needed to break out of his slump after being held to 13 points against Cleveland. He did just that, chipping in 26 points and 10 assists in a losing effort against the Bucks. Look for a battle of these two young point guards to dictate where this game goes.
Stats:
Wizards Offensive Effeciency with out John Wall: 93.1 (30th)
Wizards Offensive Effeciency with John Wall: 104.1 (10th)
In January: Bradley Beal: 18.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 apg
In January: Damian Lillard: 18.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 7.3 apg
Starters:
Washington: John Wall (PG), Bradley Beal (SG,)Martell Webster (SF), Nenê (PF), Emeka Okafor (C)
Portland: Damian Lillard (PG), Wesley Matthews (SG), Nicolas Batum (SF), LaMarcus Aldridge (PF), J.J. Hickson (C)
Possible Headlines:
Wizards Conjure Up Win
Blazers Fireball Spell Too Much For Wizards
Wall and Lillard excite and delight
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