Washington Wizards 2010 Preview & Predictions

Washington Wizards 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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Washington Wizards 2009-2010 NBA Record: 26-56, 5th in Southeast Division

Washington Wizards Betting Trends & Betting Angles:
• 1-15-1 ATS past 17 at home to Miami
• OVER is 11-2 past 13 games at home to 76ers
• 1-8 SU, 2-7 ATS past 9 vs Charlotte
• 3-13 SU past 16 trips to Miami
• 4-16 SU past 20 games within Southeast
• 1-7 ATS past 8 at home to Magic
• OVER is 9-2-1 past 12 Dec home games

Washington Wizards 2010 Preview & Prediction

In hindsight, it looks like denial. But it made some sense when the Washington Wizards followed an injury-marred 19-win season in ’08-09 by reloading with veteran role players for ’09-10 and forging ahead as if they were planning to play deep into June. After all, centerpiece scorer and fan favorite Gilbert Arenas was coming back from injury, complementary stars Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler were still in the fold, and a crew of steady veterans was on hand for support. What went wrong? Everything. Not even the most pessimistic fan could’ve foreseen just how badly things would go for Washington in ’09-10. After one of the most nightmarish seasons in recent NBA memory – a 26-56 mess that ended with Arenas suspended and in disgrace after a spectacularly idiotic gun-related prank – the Wizards finally caught a break when the NBA Draft Lottery handed Washington brilliant Kentucky playmaker John Wall with the first overall pick. While Wall seems every bit a franchise cornerstone, the Wizards’ roster is still a mess of bad contracts, mediocre performers and bold face question marks.

Washington Wizards Coach: Flip Saunders (2nd season)

Washington Wizards Projected Starters: PG John Wall, SG Gilbert Arenas, SF Josh Howard, PF Andray Blatche, C JaVale McGee.

Washington Wizards Key Additions: F Yi Jianlian, G Kirk Hinrich.

Washington Wizards Key Losses: G Randy Foye, G Mike Miller.

2010 Washington Wizards Point Guards:

Rookie guard Wall was named the top performer in the NBA’s summer league and that looks like just the beginning. A blur on the court, Wall’s end-to-end game instantly improves the offense, and his quickness and dedication to defense is a component the Wizards haven’t had out front arguably since the late ’70s. Of course Wall will be learning on the job and it won’t always be smooth but it should be fun. The addition of a steady veteran on draft night, the Hinrich Maneuver, was a great insurance policy and gives the Wizards a formidable rotation with Wall, Hinrich and former point Arenas.

2010 Washington Wizards Off Guards:

Some observers have been saying Arenas has been “off’ for years, flamboyantly leading the team for good or bad. It remains to be seen how he will react to being off the ball for the first time in D.C., but for once, he has been saying the right things, embracing the selection of Wall. Arenas can be a solid off-guard but his defense will again be scrutinized along with his durability and reliability. For various reasons, the team’s $111 -Million Man hasn’t finished his last four seasons, and that simple fact more than any other kept Grunfeld & Co. (and fans) from ever really knowing what they had put together on the court. If Arenas buys in and isn’t shipped out he can help the offense, as his career averages of 22.7 points and 5.6 assists attest. Hinrich, off the ball setting up as a shooter, will also be effective with Arenas and Wall driving to the basket. Free agent Cartier Martin, a late-season pickup, could also earn a spot in the backcourt if re-signed.

2010 Washington Wizards Small Forwards:

Josh Howard, coming off an ACL injury, was signed to a one-year deal late in the summer. He and scrappy Al Thornton were the only two natural small forwards on the roster entering camp. Athletic Nick Young, the third-year man, added seven pounds of muscle this offseason to put more oomph in his defense to go with a sometimes-spectacular offensive repertoire, including 16.5 ppg over the last nine games. The 6-6 Young is undersized at the spot and 6-7 Trevor Booker may be oversized. Another tough, hustling player, Booker played in the post at Clemson, but he’s one of the fastest players on the team and a tlreless defender. He could work himself into a role, and don’t be surprised if it’s closer to the basket where he can use his considerable muscle. Also look for Saunders to go small at times with Wall, Arenas and Hinrich on the floor together.

2010 Washington Wizards Power Forwards:

Andray Blatche took a star turn when Arenas was suspended and Jamison, Butler and Haywood were traded. The 6-11 swingman averaged 22.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and shot 48 percent the last 32 games. Blatche began to live up to his vast potential as a 6-11 forward with some open-court skills, but he still hasn’t mastered consistency and that’s a bigger issue now that he is one of the team’s greybeards. The 7-foot Jianlian, who averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in New Jersey last year, should also see a lot of time, and his pick-and-pop game should fit in nice with Wall. He’s also extra important early on as Blatche is corning back from June surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot. Kevin Seraphin, the 17th pick in the draft, was picked up in a draft night trade with Chicago, and seemed a commodity coveted by several tearns. He averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in the French A League, and may add some needed physicality around the basket. Seraphin is athletic and runs the floor, filling the new Wizards’ model.

2010 Washington Wizards Centers:

JaVale McGee had a breakout offseason, running the floor and dunking Wall passes at the NBA summer league where he averaged 19.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Grunfeld added some depth, signing 6-11 Hilton Armstrong to a one-year deal, and drafting Big East Defensive Player of the Year Harnady Ndiaye out of Rutgers. The 7-foot McGee, who has a tangible chemistry with Wall, could be primed for a great season, one of many reasons the team didn’t seem inclined to bring Fabricio Oberto back. McGee even caught USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo’s eye, earning a bid to tryout for the national team.

Washington Wizards 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Washington Wizards will finish 5th in the NBA Southeast Division .

Washington Wizards Betting

Washington Wizards NBA Championship Odds: +20000

Washington Wizards Eastern Conference Odds: +10000

Washington Wizards 2009-2010 Betting Stats

Washington Wizards Straight Up: 19-63
Washington Wizards ATS: 31-48-3
Washington Wizards Home ATS: 16-25
Washington Wizards Away ATS: 15-23-3
Washington Wizards Record As Favorite: 5-9
Washington Wizards Record As Dog: 14-54
Washington Wizards Over/Under: 40-40-2

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