Game 47 Preview: Washington Wizards @ Philadelphia 76ers

“Super”, it’s Tuesday.

The Wizards need this win tonight….but you already knew that.

The next 6:
@ Philly
vs. Spurs
@ Denver
@ Phoenix
@ Golden State
@ LA Clippers

Ivan Carter on Wizards Insider wonders what the fan prediction will be for these six.

I would be very happy with 3-3. After more consideration, even going .500 seems to be a little auspicious.

The Nuggets, Suns and Warriors are all very hot right now…..a combined 22-8 in the last 10 games for each team. The 76ers, Spurs and Clippers are a combined 13-17 in the last 10.

The Spurs are still the Spurs, the World Champs. And unfortunately, the game against the Clips, the team among those 6 with the worst record right now, comes at the tail end of the west-coast voyage.

But it all starts with tonight’s game in the city of cracked bells and brothers loving brothers from another. Considering that the Wizards have only won 2 out of the last 7, and factoring in the road ahead, the Washington Wizards need to cut with a double-edged sword tonight. They need to exercise the past demons of inefficient offense and get on a spring board for the next five.

There’s a lot of talk of the Wizards getting back to “staying together” in this article from the Washington Post.

Caron Butler is still limited in practice.

So tonight, here’s what I’m looking for:

• Looking for the Wizards to come out hot…..of course a W is the goal, but if Caron Butler is able to rest, that’s huge bonus.
• Looking for Nick Young to contribute. Burrito missed an open 3 at the last second when the Wizards were down 1 in the last game vs. Philly.
• Looking for Antonio Daniels to “manage” the team. 18 Wiz turnovers to 8 for the 76ers in the Nov. 30th, 85-84 loss.
• Looking for the Wizards to go inside and get to the FT line, the 76ers shot 12 more FTs that game.

Obviously, the Wizards are looking to take care of all these goals in every game. But that’s why that last loss to Philly in game 16 is a quintessential example, a lesson in what’s important.

Hopefully, things will go as they did against the Sixers in game 10, a blowout loss on November 20th, 116-101 (Philly cut a 30 point deficit at the end of the 3rd to 15 by the last buzzer).

The Live Blog will be on Bullets Forever tonight. Here’s the direct link to the Wizards @ 76ers blog.