2008-2009 NBA Forecaster WASHINGTON WIZARDS (43-39, 5TH EAST CONF.)

Injuries hurt the Wizards last season. Not at any point in the season did Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison get to play together.

Everyone knows what Arenas is capable of doing, but knee injuries have slowed him down and have hurt the Wizards during the playoffs. So will Arenas be healthy this season and at least play seventy games? Last season Butler and Jamison shouldered most of the load and got the team into the playoffs. Both of those players can shoot and drive the ball.

To compliment those three players, the Wizards also have DeShawn Stevenson who came into his own last season, and filled in nicely for Arenas. Then there is the inside game which was okay with Brendan Haywood as he put up respectable numbers.

Overall, the Wizards have a good team and could do a lot of damage if they can stay healthy. Their scoring is good, their defence could use some work, and the bench can get the job done as well here and there. They have veteran Antonio Daniels who can run the point once in a while. Juan Dixon who can get into a scoring groove, and hit shots at a high percentage. They also have Nick Young the primary backup or maybe starting point guard. Andray Blatche a power forward who is still young and rookie JaVale McGee. Who could get a lot of paying time if he can play solid defensively, because he has a big seven foot, 237 pound frame.

A lot of respect goes out to head coach Eddie Jordan. He kept this team together through the injuries and when everyone had written the Wizards off.

POSITIVE --> ARENAS, BUTLER AND JAMISON ALL PLAYING TOGETHER.
NEGATIVE --> HEALTH ISSUES FOR ALL THREE PLAYERS LISTED ABOVE.
X-FACTOR --> GILBERT ARENAS AND IF HE CAN STAY HEALTHY, BECAUSE HE CAN DECIDE WHETHER THE WIZARDS WILL BE GOOD OR REALLY GOOD.
SLEEPER PICK --> NICK YOUNG SHOWED A LOT OF PROMISE LAST SEASON.
PREDICTION --> PLAYOFFS YES AND IN THE 5-8 SEEDS. WILL GET 40-45 WINS.
OVERALL --> IF ARENAS, BUTLER AND JAMISON ARE HEALTHY AND PLAYING TOGETHER THEN THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH.


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