Celtics (17-4) at Wizards (7-12)
Game time: 8:00pm, Verizon Center, Washington. TV - CSN, TNT. Radio - WEEI-AM (850).
Team Leaders
Scoring
Bos: Pierce - 18.4 Wizards: Gilbert Arenas - 20.4
Rebounding
Bos: Perkins - 7.5 Wizards: Brendan Haywood - 10.8
Assists
Bos: Rondo - 9.2 Wizards: Arenas - 6.5
Who'll go off: Rajon Rondo. Does anyone think Gilbert Arenas can stay remotely close to him? The Wizards are in the middle of the pack defensively, but especially bad on the perimeter. I can see Rondo driving into the paint and dishing the ball to Paul and Ray at the arc.
Who needs to be stopped: Antawn Jamison. He's a steady inside/out player with a career average of 23 points, 8 rebounds against the Celtics.
The C's will lose if... they get badly out hustled on the boards. Notice I said "badly," because the Celtics have proven they can survive with mediocre efforts. The Wizards are 3rd in the league in rebounds. The green will have to keep Jamison and Haywood in check.
Wildcard: Despite a mediocre record and grumblings of dissension among the troops, the Wizards are a talented team. Arenas, Butler and Jamison can all score. The Celtics will need a maximum defensive effort to secure this win. Washington hasn't played since Sunday, a loss to the Pistons.
Prediction: Celtics 101 - Wizards 90
After the jump, the Wizards Girls. This group has a lot more class than the ones from 2008. Remember what those girls did?