Friday, April 6, 2012

Game 57 Preview: Washington Wizards (12-43) at Nets (19-37)

John Wall went 1st overall the season after the Nets had the worst record in the NBA, we can dream
The Nets return home to New Jersey after a relatively solid 2-2 West Coast road trip. They took care of the bad Warriors and Kings before losing to the Lakers and Blazers. As is usual with the Nets, injuries ensued and D-Will missed a few of the contests, leaving New Jersey with Sundiata Gaines running the team most of the game in Portland. No wonder they got killed. 

Background on Washington
The Wizards stink and hold the 2nd-worst record in the whole league. Yep, good characteristics to beat the Nets who for some reason, play terrible basketball against all the bottom-dwellers of the NBA, except for the Bobcats of course. The last time these teams faced each other, March 21st in Newark, the Nets got crushed by 19 points to a Washington team that was energized by the debut of Nene, who was acquired from Denver at the trade deadline in exchange for much-maligned center JaVale McGee. Also to be noted, the Wizards are 1-9 since that game. That hasn't been helped by the absence of Nene who has missed the last four games with a foot injury. He's a game-time decision for tonight's game.
Previous Game
The banged-up Wizards, without Nene and Trevor Booker due to foot injuries, fell to the Detroit Pistons at the Palace last night even with John Wall putting up 28 points and 10 assists. However, the Wizards played like they normally do and let the offensively-challenged Pistons shoot an inexplicable 53 percent from the field. The only other real bright spot for Washington was the Frenchman, Kevin Seraphin, who scored 15 on 7-12 shooting.

In his return to Portland since being traded from there to the Nets a few weeks ago at the trade deadline, Gerald Wallace played his worst game with his new team in a 101-88 loss to the Blazers. Wallace scored 8 points in just 3-12 shooting for a Nets team that only hit 37 percent on their shots for the whole game without the help of star point guard Deron Williams who was out with a stomach virus. Kris Humphries (21), Gerald Green (20), and Anthony Morrow (20) led the Nets in scoring and were basically the only players who could hit their shots on Wednesday. Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge took advantage of the undermanned and undersized Nets for 24 points and 11 boards.


Probable Lineups 
WAS- Wall (PG), Jordan Crawford (SG), Singleton (SF), Seraphin (PF), Vesely (C)
NJN- D.Williams (PG), Brooks (SG), Wallace (SF), Humphries (PF), Petro (C)

Three Keys to a Nets Win
1. Get Marshon Brooks to take better shots

2. Get D-Will involved early after missing Wednesday's game

3. Guard the perimeter at all costs

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