The Washington Wizards visit the Detroit Pistons tonight at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Comcast SportsNet, ESPN and WTEM 980 at 7:00 pm.
"I always look at them as a champion," said Head Coach Eddie Jordan. "We played probably a future champion (Phoenix Suns)…a team that could go down in history as one of the greatest if they continue to play this way. Now we are playing an ex-champion. We have got to get ready to play; we can’t have the same performance. Usually we are ready to come back and play at a high level, but we’ll see."
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"They are a championship caliber team for the last five years, and that’s their tradition," said Caron Butler. "So many guys have been through the wars, so they know how to get it done. We have to be prepared Friday for that challenge, and we will."
"You look at this team and it’s a team that has been there and done it," said Antawn Jamison. "They know when to turn it on and step up their play against pretty good teams. They are in my mind one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference. In order for you to take that next step they are the team and organization that you have to go through."
"We think that it’s not just us matching up against them…they have to match up against us too," said Gilbert Arenas. We feel that we’re one of the top teams in the East right now. We lost to Phoenix, but this is the NBA and you can’t win them all, even though you want to. Detroit is a team that we’re going to see on Friday, and then we have to see them again here next week, so we have to come out and be sharp. There are four games before this month is over, and we’re going to try to get them all."
NOTES:
Tonight’s game marks the third of four meetings between the Wizards and Pistons this season. Last season Washington swept Detroit (3-0), handing the Pistons three of their 18 losses in the regular season, but Detroit has claimed both of the games to date this season. Also last season, the Wizards were the only team in the NBA to win twice in Detroit.
The last three season-series between the Wizards and Pistons (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06) have ended in series sweeps. Detroit emerged victorious in all three games three seasons ago, and took all four games from Washington two seasons back, before the Wizards answered with a 3-0 sweep of their own last year.
After starting this season 0-8 on the road, Washington has since won 7 of its last 12 road games to improve to 7-13 away from Verizon Center this season.
Caron Butler is currently averaging 21.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.05 steals per game this season; all career-highs. Butler joins Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett as the only two players in the NBA averaging at least 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game, and he stands alone as the NBA’s only player averaging 21+ points, 8+ rebounds, 4+ assists and 2+ steals per contest.
Arizona-product Gilbert Arenas has scored 40+ in a game 26 times in his career, including seven times this season, but never against the Detroit Pistons. Arenas’ high against the Pistons came in a 39-point effort last season at The Palace on Nov. 25, 2005.
Currently averaging a combined 69.7 points per game, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are flirting with historic company. With an additional 0.3 points per game boost to their combined scoring averages, Arenas, Butler and Jamison can become the first trio of teammates to average 70+ points per game in a season since Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond combined for 72.5 points per game average for the 1990-91 Golden State Warriors.
Entering play tonight at 24-17, Washington is currently leading the Southeast Division. The last time the Wizards stood atop their division this late in the season was at the end of the 1978-79 season.
Tonight’s game features the Eastern Conference’s two top-seeded teams. The top-seeded Detroit Pistons are currently 24-16, while the second place Wizards enter play tonight at 24-17. By NBA rule, the coach in each Conference with the best record through games played on February 4th will coach his respective Conference in the All-Star game; with the last year’s All-Star Head Coaches being ineligible. Since Detroit’s Flip Saunders helmed the East squad last season, Washington’s Eddie Jordan is currently in line to serve as Eastern Conference Head Coach this season. The Wizards’ franchise has previously had three All-Star coaches: Gene Shue ‘68-69, KC Jones ‘74-75, Dick Motta ‘78-79.
Washington-Detroit connections...Brendan Haywood scored a career-high 23 points against the Pistons on Nov. 29, 2003...Wizards assistant Phil Hubbard played for the Pistons for three seasons from 1979-82, and led the University of Michigan to the 1976 NCAA Championship game...Detroit’s Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber all formerly played for Washington.
In Washington’s last game...Antonio Daniels scored a season-high 20 points...Daniels, Gilbert Arenas (31 points) and Caron Butler (24 points) became the first trio of Wizards other than Arenas, Butler and Antawn Jamison to each score 20+ in the same this season...Washington lost for the first time this season when Brendan Haywood has at least 10 rebounds (now 8-1)...Arenas scored 30+ points for the 21st time this season; Washington is now 18-3 in those contests.