The main pregame, whiteboard key for the Wizards against the Grizzlies on Monday night? Pace. According to NBA.com, Memphis is the third slowest team in the NBA (91.31 possessions per 48 minutes). The Wizards play at the NBA’s 14th fastest pace (94.37); with John Wall on the court, that pace number jumps to 96.75.
So, the Wizards want to run and take Memphis out of their comfort zone. But to run, you need horses. The Wizards only have nine healthy horses tonight. Who you gonna be without, coach?
To recap: No Nene (weak knee), A.J. Price (groin), Martell Webster (abdomen strain, which is better than the previously reported sports hernia), Bradley Beal (ankle), and Trevor Ariza (flu).
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 63rd game of the season against the New Orleans Hornets in D.C. are TAI’s Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) and guest Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg), who contributes to the ESPN True Hoop Blog Hornets 24/7.
Wizards Starters (21-42):
John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
The epic rematch that everyone’s been clamoring for.
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 61st game of the season at home versus the Charlotte Bobcats are TAI’s Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) and guest Ben Swanson (@CardboardGerald), who runs the Bobcats blog Rufus on Fire.
Wizards Starters (19-41):
John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 60th game of the season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets are TAI’s Adam McGinnis (@adammcginnis) and guest Jeremy Gordon (@jeremypgordon), who writes about the Nets for Brooklyn’s Finest, an ESPN TrueHoop Network blog.
Wizards Starters (19-40):
John Wall, Trevor Ariza, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 56th game of the season at home against the Detroit Pistons are TAI’s Rashad Mobley (@rashad20) and guest Dan Feldman (@PistonPowered) who writes about the Pistons for PistonPowered an ESPN TrueHoop Network blog. Dan also does freelance work for the Associated Press.
Wizards Starters (18-37):
John Wall, Bradley Beal, Martell Webster, Nene, Trevor Booker, Emeka Okafor [Nene is out with a sore shoulder.]
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 54th game of the season at home against the Houston Rockets are TAI’s Rashad Mobley (@rashad20) and guest Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) who writes about the Rockets for Red94, an ESPN TrueHoop Network blog.
Wizards Starters (16-37):
John Wall, Bradley Beal, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 53rd game of the season at home against the Denver Nuggets are TAI’s Rashad Mobley (@rashad20) and guest Matt Cianfrone (@Matt_Ciafrone) who writes about the Nuggets for Roundball Mining Company, an ESPN TrueHoop Network blog.
Wizards Starters (15-37):
John Wall, Bradley Beal, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
Jordan Crawford is obviously in some sort of doghouse, perhaps even an outhouse. He obviously has a name that has come up in trade rumors. He is obviously frustrated, recently tweeting out his December 2012 stats:
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 50th game of the season against the Bucks in Milwaukee are TAI’s Kyle Weidie (@Truth_About_It) and guest Jeremy Schmidt (@Bucksketball), who contributes to the ESPN True Hoop Blog Bucksketball.
Wizards Starters (14-35):
John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
Here to provide the DC Council Opening Statements for Washington’s 48th game of the season at home against the New York Knicks are TAI’s Rashad Mobley (@rashad20) and guest Jim Cavan (@JPCavan) who writes about the Knicks for Knickerblogger, the ESPN TrueHoop blog.
Wizards Starters (12-35):
John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor (Bradley Beal is a game-time decision)
